'Human' 3D force sensors detect smallest deformation

7th January 2015

Mick Elliott

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Conrad Business Supplies is now exclusively stocking OptoForce’s latest 3D Force Sensors, the OMD range. OptoForce’s patented technology provides a radical new way of gripping and measuring forces. Using infrared light, combined with optical grade elastomers to detect even the smallest deformation in the shape of the outer surface, the OMD sensor can almost ‘feel’ like a human, offering users precise results of the direction and intensity of the applied force.

OptoForce transducers are much more robust than strain-gauge based load cells and feature deforming surfaces physically separated from the actual sensing element.

With exceptional ruggedness, heat and cold resistance between -10 and 40 °C (40 and 85 °C on request) plus construction safely ‘overloadable’ up to 600%, OptoForce’s OMD sensors are suited to the most demanding tasks in tough operating environments. Adaptability and ease-of-use are key aspects of the design, with a standard USB interface bundled with OptoForce’s customizable DAQ software package offered as standard.

Conrad is stocking all types of OptoForce’s 3D sensor-development kits currently available, both in flat-top and semispherical form factors. Sizes range from 10mm in diameter to 30mm, and nominal capacities span 10N to 1600N.

Ákos Dömötör, Sales Manager at OptoForce commented: “The next frontier is automating fine assembly tasks that currently only humans can do. Technology developments are resulting in robotic solutions that are increasingly able to perform the delicate tasks previously only completed manually with human hands and fingers.”

Holger Morgenstern, Product Manager, Category Business Supplies at Conrad added, “Conrad is very excited to introduce such an innovative and advanced range of 3D sensors to our client base. We are certain that this new technology will appeal to facilities and equipment specialists, research organisations and industrial robot manufacturers of all scales and applications”.