Digital inclinometer improves off-road safety

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 31, 2002

The Rieker RDI Series digital inclinometer is a complete angle monitoring and warning system.

The Rieker RDI Series digital inclinometer is a complete angle monitoring and warning system which can greatly improve a vehicle operator's ability to detect dangerous roll over situations before equipment damage or injury can happen.

"The RDI Series of digital inclinometers provides single- or dual-axis inclination sensing in a rugged environmentally protected housing", reports Joann Coates, Rieker's Senior Engineer.

"The internal sensing components incorporate a modular design allowing the user to select the measurement range and temperature compensation that best suits the individual application".

Designed with multiple output configurations the RDI can be supplied with any combination of digital LCD, analogue 0.25 to 4.25V output, and RS232 output, with three open-collector outputs providing maximum functionality.

The three open-collector outputs can be optionally set to switch anywhere within the measurement range and be set to trip an external buzzer, horn, lamp, solenoid, or relay for additional audible/visual warnings or as an equipment shut-down controller.

The outputs on the LCD model are tied directly to the LEDs and configured to indicate when switching occurs.

This model comes standard with green, yellow, and red LEDs - providing the operator with a bright visual alert signal for determining safe and unsafe conditions.

Each switch output can be delayed from 0 to 16s to eliminate false triggering on mobile vehicles.

Multiple mounting configurations are available including dual axis units with both channels reading the same direction for redundancy in safety applications.