Crossbow Technology's Inertial System Measures the Forces Inside an Avalanche.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Crossbow Technology, Inc., a leading developer of Inertial Systems for commercial, general aviation and military applications is always inspired, and sometimes amazed, by the unique and innovative ways that its products are used. In a recent scientific investigation conducted on the mountains of Utah, researchers used a Crossbow solid-state Inertial Measurement Unit
Avalanches are a very serious threat to off-terrain skiers, snowmobilers and climbers. Although ski resort safety officers analyze the snow profile daily, and carry out controlled explosions to loosen the ice and snow when necessary, more than one hundred people die in avalanches each year. Snow flow velocities can often exceed 250 kph, creating forces that are sufficient to crush entire buildings. The highlights of this investigation were recently featured in the TV show "Disaster Lab: Buried Alive" presented by National Geographic. Crossbow's Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was installed inside "Ironman"; an anthropomorphic Having the characteristics of a human being. For example, an anthropomorphic robot has a head, arms and legs. dummy used to represent a human caught up inside an avalanche. About Crossbow Technology Founded in 1995, Crossbow has pioneered the use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) Tiny mechanical devices that are built onto semiconductor chips and are measured in micrometers. In the research labs since the 1980s, MEMS devices began to materialize as commercial products in the mid-1990s. ) Inertial System technology in a wide variety of airborne, land and marine applications. Crossbow was the first company to introduce FAA-certified MEMS-based Attitude and Heading Reference Systems Attitude and Heading Reference Systems or better known as Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) are 3-axis sensors that provide heading, attitude and yaw information for aircraft. (AHRS AHRS Attitude Heading Reference System AHRS Attitude and Heading Reference System AHRS Attempted Hours (educational transcript) AHRS Altitude Heading Reference System AHRS Army Human Resources System AHRS Automatic Heading Reference System ) to General Aviation (FAA Capstone program), and continues to be at the forefront of AHRS and Inertial Systems technology and product development. With corporate headquarters in San Jose, CA, and Asian offices in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, Crossbow is represented by distributors in 24 countries worldwide. Crossbow is ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9001/2000 certified, holds several FAA TSO approvals, and operates an FAA MIDO MIDO Manufacturing Inspection District Offices approved facility. Phone +1-408-965-3300, email info@xbow.com, or online at www.xbow.com/Home/iHomePage.aspx Crossbow Technology is a registered trademark of Crossbow Technology, Inc. Copyright [c] 2009 Crossbow Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion