Evaluation of Angular Displacement Measurement Techniques for Tracking the Motion of Anthropomorphic Test Devices

The measurement of angular rotation has many applications in crash testing, particularly in tracking the motion of crash dummies. There are currently a few devices for determining angular rotation. These include accelerometer arrays, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) sensors, potentiometers, and high speed films. However, there are problems associated with all of these methods. Systron Donner has developed a new device called a “Quartz Rate Sensor” or “QRS”. The QRS utilizes a piezoelectric chip which produces a DC voltage proportional to the rate of rotation of the sensor about its sensitive axis. Angular displacement can then be determined from a simple integration. Results of preliminary tests performed at The U.S. Department of Transportation's Vehicle Research and Test Center suggest that the QRS's yield very accurate results.