WIP, Simple LED Tilt Sensor

[Afton Grant]

I just thought I'd share a little tilt sensor I've been toying with the past couple days. Right now, it's just in the concept stage, but seems to work alright. The materials are very cheap and easy to get at Radio Shack and online. About $70 so far.

 

It's similar to the cheap LED level that was discussed here a while ago, but this has the addition of the Range and Sensitivity adjustments. There is a zero-out function as well that allows you to set the zero point at any angle and begin sensing from there.

 

 

Here's what I'm still working on:

It is sensitive to simple inertia - whether it be tilting or not, it will indicate as such if moved suddenly. Though, it will quickly return to zero once the acceleration is constant. The accelerometer is only two axis. I wonder if a three axis accelerometer would be able to reduce or eliminate that effect by comparing both the horizontal and vertical axes simultaneously.

 

Obviously, were I to use it on my rig, it would have to be cleaned up and enclosed in a small, sturdy package, but that will come last.

 

I'm putting this in the Off Topic forum as I don't necessarily intend to produce this for any sort of distribution. It's more just experimenting and seeing what can be done. I'm curious if anyone else has attempted anything similar and what the result was.

 

Cheers,

Afton

[RobVanGelder]

Hi Afton, It looks good, for a start. I use a similar thing since years, analog sensor but with led's like yours, build around a LM3914.

http://www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM3914.html

Thats a very convenient driver for this kind of applications.

 

You say "software" in your demo, so i guess your tilt sensor is read digitally and the sensitivity is therefore adjustable.

Mine is working with the tilt module from an original Steadicam IIIa rig, which has a fixed range and sensitivity.

I am interested to know what sensor you found at Radio Shack.

 

keep improving!

 

Rob

[Afton Grant]

You say "software" in your demo, so i guess your tilt sensor is read digitally and the sensitivity is therefore adjustable.

Mine is working with the tilt module from an original Steadicam IIIa rig, which has a fixed range and sensitivity. I am interested to know what sensor you found at Radio Shack.

 

Hi Rob,

 

The sensor doesn't have a true sensitivity adjustment. Basically, it is controlling the sample rate of the software - which sort of fakes itself as a sensitivity adjustment. The sensor is the Memsic 2125. Sells for about $32 at Radio Shack and online.

[Amando Crespo]

Hi!. Fantastic about all sensors, electronic bubles...or other gadgets who helps us to hold right the sled... But... My 2 cts. When you´re involved in a trepidant and spectacular, acction, shock-shot....I think, the best level is your eyes, your brain, and...all years of experience working... I know, all bubles, levels, helps us to ...be sure...But, when the Director sais "Acction...", Is our brain who works...

Thanks for my 2 cts.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Would love to see a schematic of what all was required to get it going.

 

~Jess