Wheatstone Bridge 2

[Stanmar]

Hi, I have researched how strain gauges and Wheatstone bridge are used in robotics and found that apparently the Wheatstone bridge circuit can be used for sensors in robotics, but am struggling to understand how this works, if anyone has any idea on this subject it would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

[djs]

A Wheatstone bridge is a combination of four resistors connected in a ring. This results in four junctions, which I will call 1, 2, 3 and 4. Power is applied across junctions 1 an 3. Voltage is measured across junctions 2 and 4. If all resistors are equal the voltage will be zero. if one resistor has a slightly different resistance, then a voltage will be produced across junctions 2 and 4. This voltage will always be a fixed ratio to the applied voltage. A special circuit is used to measure this ratio. This makes the circuit independent of the applied voltage.

Typically one resistor is replaced by a strain gauge. The ratio is then a measure of the amount of strain applied.

Hope this helps.

 

[IRstuff]

see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat...-,Significance,a sample, with an explosimeter

It's primary utility is to measure a change in resistance, instead of the absolute resistance of the strain gage. This allows one to minimize the dynamic range of the measurement, thereby increasing resolution/sensitivity

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[Stanmar]

Thanks a lot very helpful, any chance anyone knows any books or websites I could use to read about the applications of the Wheatstone bridge in the robotic or mechanical sector. I am finding it hard to find any information on this specifically thanks.

 

[BrianE22]

I'd look around the Micro-Measurements web site.