Liquid‐Based Digital Readable Tilt Sensor

Abstract

Abstract It is crucial for tilt sensors to be driven by simple systems for motion‐tracking devices, robot control, and aviation equipment. However, in current tilt sensors, measurement error accumulation, which is known as drift, occurs owing to complicated calculations. Moreover, to mitigate drift, an alternating current or optical equipment is required, which increases the complexity of the observation system. Thus, for further application of tilt sensors, a simple measurement system is essential. In this study, a sensor that can detect tilt by simply turning a direct current on and off using a conductive liquid material is developed. This sensor detects the direction and angle of the tilt in two dimensions, and it does not require an external calculation mechanism because it detects the tilt directly as a digital signal. A leveling machine with thermal actuators and a wearable device is demonstrated as applications of the developed sensor. This sensor realizes angle detection with a simple mechanism and structural solution, which is significant in the field of wearable devices and robots.