Methodology
Components part
As the signal that comes from the load cell and the amplifier is not a clear
value of weight or force, it needs to be calibrated to your required unit,
even if it is mass or force unit.
Calibration is done by Dead weight principle using a known weight.
The change of calibration factor from one to one is due to the change in
sensitivity, the connection between the load cell and amplifier, and
environmental conditions like temperature.
#include "HX711.h"
// HX711 circuit wiring
const int LOADCELL_DOUT_PIN = 2;
const int LOADCELL_SCK_PIN = 3;
HX711 scale;
void setup() {
[Link](57600);
[Link](LOADCELL_DOUT_PIN, LOADCELL_SCK_PIN);
}
void loop() {
if (scale.is_ready()) {
scale.set_scale();
[Link]("Tare... remove any weights from the scale.");
delay(5000);
[Link]();
[Link]("Tare done...");
[Link]("Place a known weight on the scale...");
delay(5000);
long reading = scale.get_units(10);
[Link]("Result: ");
[Link](reading);
}
else {
[Link]("HX711 not found.");
}
delay(1000);
Procedure:
1. Connect the load cell to amplifier .
2. Connect the amplifier to microcontroller.
3. if (scale.is_ready())
check that the amplifier is connected or not
4. scale.set_scale();
to set the scaling factor for the load cell. Which allows you to scale the readings
to the desired unit.
5. [Link]("Tare... remove any weights from the scale.");
[Link]();
[Link]("Tare done...");
Remove weights form the load cell, as any thing on the load cell in this stage will
be considered as zero.
5. [Link]("Place a known weight on the scale...");
apply a known weight
6. [Link]("Place a known weight on the scale...");
add a known weight.
7. long reading = scale.get_units(10);
it will take 10 readings and average them, that helps in reducing noise and
improve the reliability of the reading.
8. [Link](reading);
getting the result from the monitor
9. to get the calibration factor we need to use this formula (reading)/(known
weight)
Results
By using calibration factor on our real project we get calibration factor to be
…….. which we will use in the project code.
Figure represent the real data from the calibration process.
According to our model the airbag on when the load is bigger than 5 kg and the
led is off
Figure present when 6 kg load applied
Figure present when 2 kg load is applied and the led is on
Take photos from the real project
Error calculation
%E =( (True value-recorded value)/ True value )* 100
Additions
Using the principle of deflection of high tensile strength material when load is
applied on it and converting it into proportional electrical signal by using strain
gauges will give accurate way of measuring load.
super tough alloy of high tensile strength steel that deforms very minutely under
load.
This deformation is converted to electrical signal through strain gauges bonded
on the column and connected to form a wheat stone bridge. This electrical
output is proportional to the load acting on the columns.
Load cell analog signal into a digital signal that can be processed by the system.
The principle involves using known weights, often referred to as "dead
weights," to calibrate or verify the accuracy of a scale or load measurement
system. These weights serve as a reference standard, allowing you to check if
the system is measuring correctly.
Simulation
As the limitation of free software that we can use we use Wokiwi as a free
software but with limits as we can only test on 5 kg load cell
The code is the same as the experimental model the only change is in the load
cell capacity.
Simulation calibration results
Calibration factor of the simulation calibration is = 2100/5 =420
Place calibration factor on the main simulation
When there is no load