According to one embodiment, a physical quantity measuring apparatus includes a signal measurer configured to include sensors configured to measure component values of two axes from among component values of three axes including an X(Hx), a Y(Hy) and a Z(Hz) measured component value of a physical quantity to be measured, a sensor controller configured to select one from among the sensors to be controlled to output a measured value from the selected sensor, an A/D transformer configured to transform an outputted signal selected by the sensor control unit into a digital signal, and a signal processor configured to receive the digital signal from the A/D transformer and to combine the received digital signal with other received digital signals to calculate X, Y and Z component values of the physical quantity.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for tracking and determining the position of an object, the method comprising determining a primary position indication based on signals received from an external positioning system and using said primary position indication to determine a first position of said object, recording acceleration data of a cyclically moving object using inertial sensor signals or accelerometer sensor signals and integrating said acceleration data over a selected period of time to determine a tilting of said cyclically moving part of the object relative to a horizontal plane, recording direction data of said moving object based on measuring an external magnetic field of the cyclically moving part of the object using a magnetometer sensor to determine an orientation of said cyclically moving part relative to the external magnetic field, computing the velocity of said moving object in any direction based on said inertial sensor signals or accelerometer sensor signals, determining a secondary position indication of said object based on said first position, said direction data and said velocity data, and using said secondary position indication to determine a second position of said object.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for tracking and determining the position of an object, the method comprising determining a primary position indication based on signals received from an external positioning system and using said primary position indication to determine a first position of said object, recording acceleration data of a cyclically moving object using inertial sensor signals or accelerometer sensor signals and integrating said acceleration data over a selected period of time to determine a tilting of said cyclically moving part of the object relative to a horizontal plane, recording direction data of said moving object based on measuring an external magnetic field of the cyclically moving part of the object using a magnetometer sensor to determine an orientation of said cyclically moving part relative to the external magnetic field, computing the velocity of said moving object in any direction based on said inertial sensor signals or accelerometer sensor signals, determining a secondary position indication of said object based on said first position, said direction data and said velocity data, and using said secondary position indication to determine a second position of said object.

An inertial sensor includes a base portion, a weight portion, a connection portion, and a first sensing element unit. The connection portion connects the weight portion and the base portion and is capable of being deformed in accordance with a change in relative position of the weight portion with respect to the position of the base portion. The first sensing element unit is provided on a first portion of the connection portion and includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic first intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic first intermediate layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

An inertial sensor includes a base portion, a weight portion, a connection portion, and a first sensing element unit. The connection portion connects the weight portion and the base portion and is capable of being deformed in accordance with a change in relative position of the weight portion with respect to the position of the base portion. The first sensing element unit is provided on a first portion of the connection portion and includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic first intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic first intermediate layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

A system and related method for hybrid headtracking receives head-referenced pose data from a head-mounted IMU and platform-referenced or georeferenced position and orientation (pose) data from a platform-mounted IMU, determines error models corresponding to uncertainties associated with both IMUs, and performs an initial estimate of head pose relative to the platform reference frame based on the head-referenced and platform-referenced pose data. A numerically stable UD factorization of the Kalman filter propagates the estimated head pose data forward in time and corrects the initial head pose estimate (and may correct the error models associated with the head-mounted and platform-mounted IMUs) based on secondary head pose estimates, and corresponding error models, received from an optical or magnetic aiding device. The corrected head pose data is forward to a head-worn display to ensure high accuracy of displayed imagery and symbology.

A system and related method for hybrid headtracking receives head-referenced pose data from a head-mounted IMU and platform-referenced or georeferenced position and orientation (pose) data from a platform-mounted IMU, determines error models corresponding to uncertainties associated with both IMUs, and performs an initial estimate of head pose relative to the platform reference frame based on the head-referenced and platform-referenced pose data. A numerically stable UD factorization of the Kalman filter propagates the estimated head pose data forward in time and corrects the initial head pose estimate (and may correct the error models associated with the head-mounted and platform-mounted IMUs) based on secondary head pose estimates, and corresponding error models, received from an optical or magnetic aiding device. The corrected head pose data is forward to a head-worn display to ensure high accuracy of displayed imagery and symbology.

A system and related method for hybrid headtracking receives head-referenced pose data from a head-mounted IMU and platform-referenced or georeferenced position and orientation (pose) data from a platform-mounted IMU, determines error models corresponding to uncertainties associated with both IMUs, and performs an initial estimate of head pose relative to the platform reference frame based on the head-referenced and platform-referenced pose data. A numerically stable UD factorization of the Kalman filter propagates the estimated head pose data forward in time and corrects the initial head pose estimate (and may correct the error models associated with the head-mounted and platform-mounted IMUs) based on secondary head pose estimates, and corresponding error models, received from an optical or magnetic aiding device. The corrected head pose data is forward to a head-worn display to ensure high accuracy of displayed imagery and symbology.

A system and related method for hybrid headtracking receives head-referenced pose data from a head-mounted IMU and platform-referenced or georeferenced position and orientation (pose) data from a platform-mounted IMU, determines error models corresponding to uncertainties associated with both IMUs, and performs an initial estimate of head pose relative to the platform reference frame based on the head-referenced and platform-referenced pose data. A numerically stable UD factorization of the Kalman filter propagates the estimated head pose data forward in time and corrects the initial head pose estimate (and may correct the error models associated with the head-mounted and platform-mounted IMUs) based on secondary head pose estimates, and corresponding error models, received from an optical or magnetic aiding device. The corrected head pose data is forward to a head-worn display to ensure high accuracy of displayed imagery and symbology.

A novel sensor, intended for use in applications for robots, prosthetics, biomedical devices, or the internet of things, using a ferrous magnetic fluid is presented here. The sensor includes a deformable member containing the magnetic fluid therein and an array of Hall effect sensors to measure the changing magnetic field in the fluid as the deformable member is deformed. The sensor was found to be sensitive to varying applied pressure and is capable of resolving both the location and amplitude of externally applied forces. The range of applications for this novel pressure sensor are broad, ranging from robotics to biomedical devices and the Internet of things. The novel sensor can also be used as an orientation sensor or an accelerometer, torque detector and linear shear forces detector.