Product category:
Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors
News Release from: Endevco
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 February 2008
Still measuring after all these years
An accelerometer that was involved in the testing of the gyroscopes used on the earliest Apollo missions has been named the world's oldest functioning Endevco sensor.
Endevco has named the winner of its competition to find the world's oldest functioning Endevco sensor As part of its 60th anniversary celebration in 2007, Endevco created several fun and informative contests for customers to mark this important milestone
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 31 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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One of those competitions was to find and submit the world's oldest functioning Endevco sensor.
After a review of the entries over the course of the year, the grand prize winner is Michael Donaruma in the Environmental Test Facility of CS Draper Laboratory in Boston.
The Endevco model 2224C he submitted was factory calibrated by Endevco in July 1962 and purchased by Dr Charles Stark Draper, a professor at MIT who also ran the MIT Instrumentation Lab.
In the early 1970s, Dr Draper and MIT spun the lab off as a nonprofit operation.
In keeping with Endevco's long-standing involvement in providing advanced sensing solutions for the aerospace industry, the accelerometer was used in the testing of the gyroscopes that were used on the earliest Apollo missions.
Consistent and reliable performance over time is a critical factor for any measurement application, but particularly so in spaceflight with human safety and large investments at stake.
When tested in 2007 after being received from Donaruma, the device showed extraordinary stability over a period of four decades with original against current frequency deviations of +2.0% and +1.19% at 20Hz, 0% and +0.02% at 50Hz, 0% and -0.76% at 100Hz, and 0% and -1.46% at 200Hz.
"It is always intriguing to hear the stories behind the applications for Endevco devices", said Endevco President Scott Silcock.
"And it's truly astounding to ponder the advances made in aerospace technology from the early days of the Apollo programme to the programs that seem routine today".
"We are very proud of the role Endevco plays in that legacy".
"Our goal is to deliver this high level of quality in all our products, so that we may continue to hear stories like this for many years to come".
As grand prize winner, Donaruma will receive US $5000 in Endevco Test Essential products or training services; a gift package including an Endevco backpack, folio and thermal mug; a 15% discount on calibration services for one year; and a framed award certificate.
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