Yaw-Rate Sensors

Basic Description

Yaw rate sensors measure a vehicle's angular velocity about its vertical axis in degrees per second or radians per second. These instruments use gyroscopes to monitor the slip angle, the angle between the vehicle’s heading and actual movement direction. The main application of these sensors is to determine the orientation of the vehicle as it starts to roll over. Yaw rate sensors play a key role in electronic stability control systems.

In general, these sensors are available in two types:

Piezoelectric: This type of sensor consists of a tuning fork shaped structure containing four piezo elements, two on the top and two below. While driving on a straight path, the upper piezo elements do not generate a voltage due to no existing Coriolis force. In case of cornering, the orientation movement causes the upper division of the tuning fork to leave the oscillatory plane, which generates a voltage proportional to the yaw rate and oscillatory speed. The polarity of the voltage is determined by the cornering direction (left or right).

Micromechanical: In this type of sensor, a micro mechanical capacitive acceleration sensor is placed on an oscillating element. This measured acceleration is proportional to the product of yaw rate and the oscillatory velocity.

Yaw Rate Sensor System

Manufacturers

Analog Devices, Bosch, Continental, M-Tech, MicroStrain, Silicon Sensing, Systron, Tamagawa Seiki

For More Information

[1] Yaw Rate Sensor, Wikipedia.

[2] Gyroscope, Wikipedia.