Hi, I am controlling a single axis DC motor to follow the elevation of the Sun using two light sensors. The motor moves 180 degrees in a day. The control circuitry of the motor ( solar tracker) will be mounted on the moving solar panel mechanical assembly. I want to know the changing tilt / position. I choose the following accelerometer to calculate the tilt from dimension engineering https://www.dimensionengineering.com/datasheets/DE-ACCM3D.pdf The accelerometer part number is ADXL335B. The accelerometer is 3 axis. It operates at 3.3V with sensitivity of 333mV/g. Its data sheet is as follows http://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/ADXL335.pdf My questions are 1. How to choose the accelerometer for such an application? 2. Did I choose the right accelerometer? Can it follow 180 degrees? How should I proceed with the software? jess
Accelerometer
Started by ●November 29, 2015
Reply by ●November 30, 20152015-11-30
On 2015-11-29, jsscshaw88@gmail.com <jsscshaw88@gmail.com> wrote:> Hi, > > I am controlling a single axis DC motor to follow the elevation of the Sun using two light sensors. The motor moves 180 degrees in a day. > > The control circuitry of the motor ( solar tracker) will be mounted on the moving solar panel mechanical assembly. I want to know the changing tilt / position. > > > I choose the following accelerometer to calculate the tilt from dimension engineering > > https://www.dimensionengineering.com/datasheets/DE-ACCM3D.pdf > > The accelerometer part number is ADXL335B. The accelerometer is 3 axis. It operates at 3.3V with sensitivity of 333mV/g. Its data sheet is as follows > > http://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/ADXL335.pdf > > > My questions are > > 1. How to choose the accelerometer for such an application?it seems ok.> 2. Did I choose the right accelerometer? Can it follow 180 degrees? > How should I proceed with the software?I would have chosen with with built-in DAC 180 degrees is no probelem atan2() -- \_(ツ)_
Reply by ●November 30, 20152015-11-30
Hi,=20 The thing is that I measured single x axis tilt with respect to earth. The= accelerometer was sitting flat on the table. I used arc sin to calculate t= he tilt. I used protractor to confirm the calculated tilt. It was ok. Then I measured single y axis tilt and used arc sin and the result was good= .=20 I get confused when I tried to measure the tilt with x and y axes. Someone = advised me to measure the tilt using "arc tan" and with respect to z axis. = How does this work?=20 I will mount the accelerometer on the box and the box will move with the pa= nel from its resting position. There will be some values of x, y and z. I w= ill subtract these values from the future values of the x, y and z and cal= culate the tilt or current position using arc tan.=20 I sound confused and horrible. Please help what direction should I take.=20 jess
Reply by ●November 30, 20152015-11-30
On Mon, 30 Nov 2015 07:08:35 -0800, jsscshaw88 wrote:> Hi, > > The thing is that I measured single x axis tilt with respect to earth. > The accelerometer was sitting flat on the table. I used arc sin to > calculate the tilt. I used protractor to confirm the calculated tilt. It > was ok. > > Then I measured single y axis tilt and used arc sin and the result was > good. > > I get confused when I tried to measure the tilt with x and y axes. > Someone advised me to measure the tilt using "arc tan" and with respect > to z axis. How does this work? > > I will mount the accelerometer on the box and the box will move with the > panel from its resting position. There will be some values of x, y and > z. I will subtract these values from the future values of the x, y and > z and calculate the tilt or current position using arc tan. > > I sound confused and horrible. Please help what direction should I take. > jessYou haven't defined your axes. Each axis should respond to the acceleration due to gravity as cos (theta), where theta is the angle of _that axis_ from vertical (so you really have theta_x, theta_y, theta_z). You ought to be able to work backwards from there, after coiling yourself in much trigonometry. It's best to do the math yourself -- that way you know that it applies to your situation, and you're not depending on someone else's competence or assumptions. -- www.wescottdesign.com