An on‐vehicle loading measurement system with capacitance and acceleration transducers

Abstract

Purpose

In some developing countries, vehicles are often over‐loaded, which causes road accidents and damage to road surfaces. Currently, large measuring facilities are used to measure the vehicle‐loading on highways. A major limitation is that they can measure vehicle‐loading at fixed locations only. This paper seeks to present an on‐vehicle loading measurement system with capacitance and acceleration transducers.

Design/methodology/approach

A description and analysis of the system are presented.

Findings

The capacitance transducers sense the variation in distance between electrodes, using the on‐vehicle leaf springs as weighing elastomers. The acceleration transducers deal with the influence of acceleration to vehicle‐loading measurement. The major advantage of this system over the existing systems is that both static and dynamic loading can be measured.

Practical implications

This system is simple and easy to install.

Originality/value

The paper shows that with this system both a driver and an inspector can check vehicle‐loading at any time and any location through radio communication, thus identifying over‐loaded vehicles on highways.

Citation

Yang, S., Yin, B. and Yang, W. (2007), "An on‐vehicle loading measurement system with capacitance and acceleration transducers", Sensor Review, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 324-331. https://doi.org/10.1108/02602280710821461