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Frank Jones wrote-

| I recently noted in the November 22, 2007 issue of EDN (Electronic
| Design News - <>), page 19 a brief announcement
| regarding a MEMS-based (microelectromechanical-system)
| inclinometer apparently capable of accurately measuring the
| deviation from vertical by sensing the downward G force.  The
| device/s is described as an Analog Devices (<>)
| ADIS16209.
|
| All the key elements are obviously available to designers for
| construction of an advanced sextant now, even one that
| automatically tracks objects day or night.  I suspect a gimballed
| arrangement would make the software engineering easier although
| it might be avoided at the expense of much more complicated
| tracking schemes.  I recently saw optical sensors for similar
| systems go for several hundred dollars each on eBay.  The cost of a
| 'new' sensor like these in small quantities would be much pricer.
====================

Comment from George-

If they have somehow succeeded in disentangling the "downward G force" from
all the other accelerations that apply to a sextant in a vessel in waves on
the sea, then there may be a future in it. But I doubt if they have. In
which case, it would suffer from all the defects of a pendulum or spirit
level or other form of artificial horizon, that render them all unusable at
sea.

George.

contact George Huxtable at george@huxtable.u-net.com
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.


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