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At construction sites, temporary facilities have caused continuous collapse accidents, causing damage to human life. If the concrete placing height is high and the worker is pushed into one place at the time of placing, the working load may be exceeded and a collapse accident may occur. In order to solve this problem, in this research, we developed a monitoring load-measurement program based on a Bluetooth wireless load cell (load-cell sensor) so that the load can be converted to digital and the numerical value can be confirmed by the pressure sensor. The load cell using Bluetooth was designed and manufactured according to the support. Then, the performance was verified through 3D finite element analysis by modeling and experimental tests. In addition, we constructed a system to generate notifications and warnings step by step when the load is close to a dangerous load, confirmed the load distribution pattern by position, and established a method to confirm real-time data numerically and graphically. Finally, we evaluated the practical application of the load-monitoring system using field-test data using a wireless load-cell.

The open-source microcontroller Arduino is simple to program, erase, and reprogram at any moment. It is an open-source computing platform for creating and programming electronic devices based on basic microcontroller boards. In agriculture, soil moisture content must be monitored soil monitoring continuously to understand the relationship between soil moisture content status and plant water use to minimize under and over-irrigation. Current methods have a short lifespan due to possible corrosion on the electrode. In this project, we introduce a new indirect method for monitoring soil moisture, especially for soil in the container or pot, based on a low-cost bar-based load-cell sensor with an acrylic plate. This study’s objectives were to compare the number of bar load cell sensors that affect the soil weight and to formulate a calibration model to predict soil moisture content using soil weight. A model design of 10kg and 5kg bar-based load cell sensors will be used to compare the number of bar load cell sensors affecting the soil weight. The measurement result of each method was very similar and constant for the various positions on the design. There is no significant difference in average soil weight for any technique, and there is no difference in average soil weight for each sample. R 2 values and the calibration equation were tabulated in Table 2.

The occurrence of bias drift due to temperature effects in a load cell is a source of measurement error that deeply impacts experimental tests, and cannot be avoided in all cases. In wind tunnel tests with installed propulsion, for instance, the force sensor may be positioned close to an electric motor, resulting in heat being conducted through the load cell. As a result, the temperature varies during the test and its effect cannot be removed by a simple offset measurement, in which case a compensation of temperature effects is suggested. However, there’s a current lack of an in-depth description of the calibration procedure and its validation, as well as a discussion on less known effects such as heterogeneous temperature distributions. This work addresses these topics, by explaining the procedure behind a new approach based on two thermocouple readings in strategic regions of the load cell and the study of different heating scenarios in a controlled environment, which results in an improved compensation that considers the strain caused by both homogeneous and heterogeneous heating of the sensor. This method is then later validated by a test case, in which the resulting compensation reduced the bias error from 7.1 to 0.3 N for a 18 ∘ C temperature increase.

The development of electric aircraft propulsion systems has brought the need for further advancements in the design and testing of small-scale propellers, particularly for emerging applications such as distributed electric propulsion aircraft, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, and drones. This need also extends to the development of horizontal axis wind turbines, autonomous underwater vehicles, tidal turbines, and reduced-scale testing of marine propellers. This study introduces a new load cell design capable of simultaneously measuring thrust and torque in small propeller systems. Unlike commercially available solutions, the proposed design integrates separate deformable elements for each measurement while ensuring compactness and low manufacturing cost. The iterative development process included proof of concept through finite element analysis, experimental calibration, and evaluation of cross-talk effects, leading to an optimized second-generation prototype with improved durability and measurement accuracy. The final design of the load cell demonstrates robust performance in thrust and torque measurements while addressing the limitations of the initial prototypes. These improvements provide a reliable solution for experimental propeller research. The main scientific contribution of this work lies in providing an open source, customizable, and cost-effective load cell capable of decoupled thrust and torque measurements with performance comparable to commercial systems.

The accurate measurement of forces and torques acting on a vehicle’s chassis, originating from wheel-pavement interactions, is essential for optimizing suspension systems, axles, and other structural components. A critical challenge in optimizing wheel load cell (WLC) design is to enhance sensitivity without compromising mechanical robustness. To address this question, this study developed a six-axis load cell designed to decouple force and torque measurements, achieving high sensitivity and reliability. The objective was to design an optimized WLC for multi-axis force measurement by maximizing sensitivity through a metamodel-based hybrid optimization framework. The methodology began with a fractional factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) to identify key parameters affecting load cell sensitivity and to define the optimization search space. This was followed by a dual-step parametric optimization process, utilizing the finite element method (FEM) to evaluate load cell performance and an inner-point optimization algorithm for convergence. After completing the DOE and FEM stages, the load cell was physically constructed and calibrated using a universal testing machine MTS 810, where experimental data closely matched simulation results, validating the design’s effectiveness. The main findings indicate that the optimized load cell can reliably measure six components, with a sensitivity increase of 14% compared to conventional designs. Numerical results from FEM analyses showed stress levels at 215 MPa, displacements around 0.16 mm, and a first-mode vibration frequency of 1351 Hz, meeting all structural integrity and performance requirements. Calibration confirmed minimal cross-talk effects, supporting the robustness of the final design. The developed load cell met optimal design criteria, showing substantial improvements in sensitivity and accuracy over existing designs, with potential applications in automotive, aerospace, and engineering testing.

This paper presents the design, analysis and development of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based load cell integrated with a titanium transducer for monitoring the weight of Cesium (Cs) pencils in radiation and elevated temperature environment. Finite element analysis was employed to evaluate strain transfer, with the FBG modeled as an equivalent axial spring. The simulation results were further used to optimize the cantilever geometry. The predicted load sensitivities were 4.82 pm/g, 1.83 pm/g, and 0.92 pm/g for thicknesses of 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, and 1.0 mm, respectively. Prototypes with thicknesses of 0.7 mm and 1.0 mm were fabricated and experimentally evaluated, yielding sensitivities of 1.34 pm/g and 0.76 pm/g, respectively. The observed deviation between simulation and experimental results is attributed to incomplete strain transfer through the adhesive bonding layer. The developed FBG based load cell was optimized for measuring the weight of stainless steel containers containing vitrified Cs glass with a measurement range up to ~ 500 g and an accuracy of ± 5 g. The results confirm the suitability of the proposed FBG based load sensor for accurate and long-term operation in radiation environment.

This paper focuses on validating the design of a Load cell by investigating its accuracy to check weight. Coppeliasim, the simulation software, is used in these projects because it is easy to access the resources and integrate the hardware and software. The load cell holds significant importance in robotics applications, particularly in scenarios like calculating the weight of objects lifted by robotic arms. This paper highlights the pivotal role of load cells in robotics by presenting a detailed guide on integrating a physical load cell with a dynamic simulation environment (CoppeliaSim) using Arduino. The Coppeliasim model in Lua language for a load cell allows initialisation, actuation, and UI functions to be executed sequentially for the optimisation of control and operation. The accuracy assessment of the load cell model, constructed through the outlined steps in this paper, revealed a precision of 99.514% for individual loads and 98.023% for cumulative load scenarios.

Background Wire ropes or cables are widely used solutions for force transmission in several industrial applications. Their hysteretic behavior may significantly influence control accuracy or the force transmission’s efficiency. Cables traveling through sheaves can suffer a relatively high tension loss, which this article addresses. Objective This paper aims to present a simple measurement method for the tension loss in cables traveling over sheaves on bearings. Methods The presented measurement method uses a cable-pulley system with a spring installed at one cable end. The pulley is moved in a zig-zag pattern. The force is measured on both cable ends; this way, the tension loss can be determined as a function of the cable tension. The force was measured with S-type load cells, which are highly sensitive to off-axis loads; this problem can be overcome by proving that the force measurement has a proportional error, which can be eliminated from the frictional coefficient. The measurements are compared to two models from the literature; one approximates the power loss of a cable drive by calculating the work of the cable’s inner friction, and the other is a cable bending model, which is used to determine the hysteretic energy of the cyclic bending. Results The result of the measurement evaluation is a coefficient of tension loss that contains the loss coming from the cable bending and the bearing friction. Four cable types and a steel strip with negligible bending hysteresis were measured, the latter for control measurement. It is demonstrated that a significant part of the tension loss originates from the inner friction of the cable and that it is equal to the hysteretic energy of the cyclic bending. Conclusion The presented method provides a robust measurement for the tension loss factor in cables traveling over pulleys. It is proven that the off-axis loads cause a proportional error in the force measured by S-type load cells, and this measurement error can be eliminated from the tension loss factor. The results demonstrated that the presented models can be used to predict the tension loss in cables traveling over sheaves.

In plant factories, plants are usually cultivated in nutrient solution under a controllable environment. Plant quality and growth are closely monitored and precisely controlled. For plant growth evaluation, plant weight is an important and commonly used indicator. Traditional plant weight measurements are destructive and laborious. In order to measure and record the plant weight during plant growth, an automated measurement system was designed and developed herein. The weight measurement system comprises a weight measurement device and an imaging system. The weight measurement device consists of a top disk, a bottom disk, a plant holder and a load cell. The load cell with a resolution of 0.1 g converts the plant weight on the plant holder disk to an analog electrical signal for a precise measurement. The top disk and bottom disk are designed to be durable for different plant sizes, so plant weight can be measured continuously throughout the whole growth period, without hindering plant growth. The results show that plant weights measured by the weight measurement device are highly correlated with the weights estimated by the stereo-vision imaging system; hence, plant weight can be measured by either method. The weight growth of selected vegetables growing in the National Taiwan University plant factory were monitored and measured using our automated plant growth weight measurement system. The experimental results demonstrate the functionality, stability and durability of this system. The information gathered by this weight system can be valuable and beneficial for hydroponic plants monitoring research and agricultural research applications.

An embedded load cell sensor is proposed for the tool life prognosis and thrust force control of a band saw machine. The sensor enables the tool life and surface quality of the machined workpiece to be effectively improved through the use of a single sensing device strategically located in the cutting machine. The feasibility of the proposed sensor is demonstrated experimentally using a double-column horizontal sawing machine with medium carbon steel bars as the workpiece material. An investigation is performed into the effects of the cutting force, feed rate, and machining time on the machined workpiece’s tool wear and surface roughness. It is shown that the machined workpiece’s thrust force, tool wear, and surface roughness are strongly correlated and increase over time. Based on the experimental results, a feedback control system is proposed for maintaining a constant thrust force on the band saw during cutting under even the most challenging conditions. Overall, the results confirm that a single embedded load cell sensor located in a key position can provide effective force monitoring. Such force monitoring enables a control methodology to maintain the optimal cutting conditions in the sawing of medium carbon steel and improve the tool life and machined part quality.