How It Works

Integrate acceleration once for velocity, twice for distance

Relative measurement from an initial position

Distance = 1/2 AT^2

Important Specifications

Bias stability: any offset is integrated as an acceleration

Noise and resolution; Small signals must be measured

Similar to tilt, but need 10X or better accuracy

Gravity and orientation effects on acceleration

A tilt will look like an acceleration and thus a change in position

A rotation will change the accelerometer axis of sensitivity

Gyroscopes are needed to determine tilt Vs acceleration