Calculation of vehicle pitch rate and roll rate from acceleration

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating the pitch rate and roll rate of a vehicle using data from three axial accelerometers. Participants explore methodologies for measuring these rates based on the placement of accelerometers and the challenges posed by vehicle dynamics and alignment issues.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest placing accelerometers at various points on the vehicle, such as the nose, center of mass, and tail for pitch, and at wing tips for roll, to analyze accelerations.
  • Others argue that if the accelerometers are axial, their placement is less critical as long as they are aligned with the desired axes of pitch, roll, and yaw.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty about measuring pitch rate without aligning the accelerometers and seeks clarification on separating pitch from roll.
  • Some participants propose using a mathematical coordinate system rotation (Euler angles) to align accelerometer data with vehicle axes if alignment is not possible.
  • There are discussions about the challenges of accurately knowing axis angle offsets when using non-aligned accelerometers.
  • A participant inquires whether it is possible to derive pitch and roll angles from acceleration data, referencing external resources for equations related to angular and translational accelerations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best methodology for measuring pitch and roll rates, and multiple competing views on the placement and alignment of accelerometers remain. The discussion includes various proposed approaches and uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of these methods.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the accurate placement and alignment of accelerometers, the need for knowledge of the vehicle's dimensions, and the challenges in separating pitch from roll in dynamic conditions.

serbring
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I have to estimate the pitch rate and the roll rate of a vehicle, from measured accelerations. I have many three axial accelerometers. How can i accomplish it?
 
Last edited:
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serbring said:
I have to estimate the pitch rate and the roll rate of a vehicle, from measured accelerations. I have many three axial accelerometers. How can i accomplish it?

For pitch, you might place an acc. in the nose, at the center of mass, and in the tail, and analyze on that basis. Similarly, for roll an acc. in each wing tip and one at the cm might be worth considering. Of course you need your aircraft's dimensions in order to translate linear accelerations into angular velocities, etc.
 
GRDixon said:
For pitch, you might place an acc. in the nose, at the center of mass, and in the tail, and analyze on that basis. Similarly, for roll an acc. in each wing tip and one at the cm might be worth considering. Of course you need your aircraft's dimensions in order to translate linear accelerations into angular velocities, etc.

i have to measuring these quantities in a vehicle for measuring the roll rate and pitch rate inducted from the road roughness. Moreover i don't know where the centre of mass is placed, and also it isn't possibile to place accelerometer in that point. Does your methodology work the same one?
 
If these are "axial" accelerometers, than placement doesn't matter, as long as you get the "axis" of the accelertometers aligned with the desired axis, pitch, roll, yaw. You wouldn't need to calculate anything, just convert the outputs of the "axial" accelerometers into a rate such as radians / second. Radio control helicopter generally use silicon based "gyros" which include axial accelerometers in the form of a vibrating component that varies electrical output based on rate of rotation.
 
For an accelerating automobile, the torque in the propeller shaft (into the differential) creates an axial pitch (torque). For a propeller plane, the prop torque (power/radians per sec) may create a pitch also.
Bob S
 
Jeff Reid said:
If these are "axial" accelerometers, than placement doesn't matter, as long as you get the "axis" of the accelertometers aligned with the desired axis, pitch, roll, yaw. You wouldn't need to calculate anything, just convert the outputs of the "axial" accelerometers into a rate such as radians / second. Radio control helicopter generally use silicon based "gyros" which include axial accelerometers in the form of a vibrating component that varies electrical output based on rate of rotation.

thank you. I have understand. A question, if i can't align the accelerometers with the desired axis, how can measure the pitch rate? I ask you this only for better comprehension of the vehicle dynamic
 
serbring said:
thank you. I have understand. A question, if i can't align the accelerometers with the desired axis, how can measure the pitch rate? I ask you this only for better comprehension of the vehicle dynamic
If the 3 accelerometers are mutually orthogonal, then a simple mathematical coordinate system rotation of axes (Euler angles)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler_angles
will align the accelerometer readout with the vehicle axes.
Bob S
 
serbring said:
If i can't align the accelerometers with the desired axis, how can measure the pitch rate?
If you can't align them, but you have 3, then you can do a conversion as mentioned in previous post, but you'd need to accurately know the axis angle offsets, which would probably be just as difficult as aligning them.

If you can setup or buy a 3 orthogonal axis cluster, then you could mount the cluster, then accelerate and brake, adjusting the cluster until you just get a readout for pitch. Yaw and roll would be more difficult to separate, perhaps pushing on the car from the side. You could use a level to make sure the cluster was vertically and horizontally aligned, but the yaw axis would still be an issue.
 
Jeff Reid said:
If you can't align them, but you have 3, then you can do a conversion as mentioned in previous post, but you'd need to accurately know the axis angle offsets, which would probably be just as difficult as aligning them.

If you can setup or buy a 3 orthogonal axis cluster, then you could mount the cluster, then accelerate and brake, adjusting the cluster until you just get a readout for pitch. Yaw and roll would be more difficult to separate, perhaps pushing on the car from the side. You could use a level to make sure the cluster was vertically and horizontally aligned, but the yaw axis would still be an issue.

i don't understand how i can separate the pitch from roll, could you explain me better, please?
 
  • #10
I need some information from you guys.
I have readings from acceleration sensors i.e. Acceleration along X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis.

I want to find the Pitch and roll angle from the above data. Is it possible to find the Pitch and roll data from acceleration data.

Regards
waiting for your kind and early reply
 
  • #11
faisalzia84 said:
I need some information from you guys.
I have readings from acceleration sensors i.e. Acceleration along X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis.

I want to find the Pitch and roll angle from the above data. Is it possible to find the Pitch and roll data from acceleration data.

Regards
waiting for your kind and early reply

Try to take a look at pag 193 of this book.
http://elib.tu-darmstadt.de/tocs/209699132.pdf

You can read it from google books.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
Dear

Actually this book is not frequently available. Can you upload those equation which help for combine angular and translational accelerations?
 

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