I need to develop solution for monitoring movement & rotation of components in 3D space (integrated logistical and production workspace). Components have a size of circa 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.25 meters. Both movement as well as rotation of components need to be measured. Workspace where components are being moved & rotated is circa 10 x 10 x 4 meters. Total number of moves and rotations to each component can be high, counted in hundreds. Frequency is high as well, a few movements or rotations per second. Required precision: +/- 3 centimeters (movement), +/- 2 degrees (rotation).

I am thinking about system consisting of two modules:

• few (3?) dedicated “stations” emitting electromagnetic field with specific signature;
• a detachable, small magnetic field sensors, which could be attached to each of the components in question.

Rough idea is following:

• each of the “stations” is located in different corner of the workspace (at least one of them has to be on height different from the other two);
• a to-be-monitored component is introduced to the workspace; a small magnetic field sensor is attached to the component and “calibrated” at place we can call “position 0”;
• with each movement/ rotation of the component, the sensor detect change in magnetic field of each of the “stations”; information from the sensor is send via wi-fi to a dedicated computer;
• based on information received, computer determines position/ rotation of the component in the production workspace.

A few questions to the above:

• Does the general concept make any sense?
• What type of magnetometers would be suggested for sensors (e.g. Hall? Reed? Any particular solutions/ models?)?
• What components could be used for the “stations” emitting electromagnetic field?

 

I would consider optical imaging, lasers, and MEMS sensors.

 

Something like this perhaps: https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1695

 

I would consider optical imaging, lasers, and MEMS sensors.

I worry that base drift in MEMS would lead to unreliable information about component positioning after certain number of moves. Could that be an issue? Also, wouldn't MEMS/ Laser be more expensive than magnetic field sensor?

 

... Here is at least something that may be worth investigating. The position coordinates of objects is mentioned. However, object rotation may require innovation of some sort.:
nvidia controller

 

One company that already offers this is Polhemus: https://polhemus.com/applications/electromagnetics