Torque Telemetry Goes Digital

Digital RF technology leads the way to more accurate noncontact measurement of torque. If you haven’t taken a good look lately at torque-measurement technology, it may surprise you. Particularly noteworthy is the transfer of signals from the sensor. Original designs for rotating- torque sensors used contact mechanisms like slip rings and brushes. The technology soon moved to noncontact methods using Torque telemetry goes digital Digital RF technology leads the way to more accurate noncontact measurement of torque. transformers and optics. However, the sensor itself still needs bearing contact. Analog-based telemetry was tried, but initial technology was bulky and costly to implement. Today, digital-based telemetry is economical and sophisticated. Its advance sparks ideas for torque measurement in a multitude of industries. Modern torque sensors have specially designed structures that deform in a predictable and repeatable manner with the application of torque. Strain gages mounted on the structure in a four-arm Wheatstone-bridge configuration translate the degree of deformation into a voltage signal. Of course, the torque sensor still