accelerometri

An accelerometer is a sensor that measures acceleration along one or more axes. It detects the proper acceleration acting on its sensing mass, which includes inertial forces and, when stationary, the force of gravity. Most modern accelerometers are microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in which a suspended proof mass displaces a transduction element, such as a capacitor or piezoelectric structure, producing an electrical signal that corresponds to acceleration.

Accelerometers come in various configurations, including 1-, 2-, and 3-axis devices. Capacitive MEMS and piezoelectric designs are common, with 3-axis sensors providing simultaneous measurements in orthogonal directions. Typical measurement ranges span from about ±2 g to ±16 g, though specialized devices can exceed these values. Key performance characteristics include sensitivity, noise density, bias (offset) stability, scale factor, and temperature drift. The devices can measure both dynamic motions and static acceleration, the latter arising from gravity.

Applications span consumer electronics, automotive safety, navigation, and science. In smartphones and wearables, accelerometers support screen orientation, gesture recognition, and activity tracking. In vehicles, they trigger airbags, assist stability controls, and enable ride dynamics analysis. In inertial navigation and motion tracking, accelerometers are combined with gyroscopes and sometimes magnetometers to form inertial measurement units (IMUs) used in aviation, robotics, and VR/AR systems. In research, accelerometers serve in seismology and biomechanics to quantify movement and forces.

Calibration and reliability are ongoing considerations. Manufacturers address bias, scale factor, and temperature dependence through factory and in-field calibration, self-test features, and fault-detection schemes. Advances focus on higher integration, lower power, broader bandwidth, and improved noise performance.