Skip to main content

Pressure Sensor

Pressure Sensor Overview

Pressure sensors measure fluid/gas pressure for robotic gripper force feedback and control, depth sensing, altitude measurement, or system pressure monitoring. The system supports dual pressure sensor configuration for dual-pad gripper control with load distribution feedback.

Hardware Specifications

Parameter

Value

Sensor Count

2 (independent)

Interface

Analog ADC or I2C

Measurement Range

Variable (typically 0-300 kPa)

Update Rate

Configurable

Data Structure

typedef struct {
    float pressure_kpa;         // Pressure in kilopascals (kPa)
    float temperature_c;        // Temperature in Celsius (°C)
    float voltage;              // Sensor output voltage
    bool is_calibrated;         // Calibration status flag
} pressure_sensor_data_t;

Initialization

Initialize Pressure Sensors

pressure_sensor_data_t pressure_data[2];  // Support 2 sensors

for (size_t i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
    pressure_sensor_init(&pressure_data[i]);
}

Poll Pressure Sensor

result_t ps_result = poll_pressure_sensor(&pressure_data[0]);

if (ps_result == RESULT_OK) {
    float pressure_kpa = pressure_data[0].pressure_kpa;
    float temperature_c = pressure_data[0].temperature_c;
}

Data Access Functions

// Get pressure in kilopascals
result_t pressure_sensor_get_pressure_kpa(
    const pressure_sensor_data_t *data,
    float *pressure_kpa
);

// Get temperature in Celsius
result_t pressure_sensor_get_temperature_c(
    const pressure_sensor_data_t *data,
    float *temperature_c
);

// Get raw sensor voltage
result_t pressure_sensor_get_voltage(
    const pressure_sensor_data_t *data,
    float *voltage
);

// Verify sensor validity
result_t pressure_sensor_is_valid(
    const pressure_sensor_data_t *data,
    bool *is_valid
);

Pressure Unit Conversions

Function-Based Conversions

// Convert pressure from bar to psi
result_t bar_to_psi(float bar, float *psi);

// Convert pressure from psi to bar
result_t psi_to_bar(float psi, float *bar);

Conversion Table

From

To

Multiply By

bar

kPa

100

psi

kPa

6.895

atm

kPa

101.325

kPa

bar

0.01

kPa

psi

0.145

kPa

atm

0.00987

Examples

// 100 kPa = 1 bar
float kpa = 100.0f;
float bar = kpa * 0.01f;  // Result: 1.0 bar

// 50 psi to bar
float psi = 50.0f;
float bar = psi / 14.504f;  // Result: 3.45 bar

// Altitude from pressure (simplified)
// Altitude ≈ 44330 × (1 - (P/P0)^(1/5.255))
float altitude_m = 44330.0f * (1.0f - pow(pressure_kpa/101.325f, 1.0f/5.255f));

Protobuf Message Format

message SensorBoardPressureInfo {
    uint32 sensor_index;         // 0 or 1
    float pressure_kpa;
    float temperature_c;
    SensorState state;
    PressureErrorCode error_code;
}

Dual Sensor Management

Configuration Example

// Initialize both sensors
for (size_t i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
    pressure_sensor_init(&pressure_data[i]);
}

// Poll both in sequence
poll_pressure_sensor(&pressure_data[0]);
poll_pressure_sensor(&pressure_data[1]);

// Access by index
float pressure_0_kpa = pressure_data[0].pressure_kpa;
float pressure_1_kpa = pressure_data[1].pressure_kpa;

Temperature Compensation

Pressure readings often need temperature compensation for accuracy:

// Simplified temperature compensation
float compensated_pressure = pressure_data[0].pressure_kpa * 
    (reference_temperature + 273.15f) / 
    (pressure_data[0].temperature_c + 273.15f);

Applications

Robotic Gripper Control (Primary Use Case)

// Gripper force feedback for adaptive grip strength
// Pressure reading controls servo/motor PWM to regulate grip force

#define GRIPPER_MIN_PRESSURE_KPA 20.0f   // Minimum safe grip
#define GRIPPER_MAX_PRESSURE_KPA 150.0f  // Maximum allowed grip
#define GRIPPER_TARGET_PRESSURE_KPA 80.0f // Desired grip force

// PID controller for gripper force regulation
typedef struct {
    float kp, ki, kd;            // PID coefficients
    float integral_error;
    float previous_error;
} gripper_pid_t;

// Adjust servo PWM based on pressure feedback
void adjust_gripper_force(float current_pressure_kpa, gripper_pid_t *pid) {
    float error = GRIPPER_TARGET_PRESSURE_KPA - current_pressure_kpa;
    
    pid->integral_error += error;
    float derivative_error = error - pid->previous_error;
    
    float pid_output = (pid->kp * error) + 
                       (pid->ki * pid->integral_error) + 
                       (pid->kd * derivative_error);
    
    // Clamp servo PWM to valid range
    uint16_t servo_pwm = (uint16_t)(GRIPPER_NEUTRAL_PWM + pid_output);
    servo_pwm = (servo_pwm < GRIPPER_MIN_PWM) ? GRIPPER_MIN_PWM : servo_pwm;
    servo_pwm = (servo_pwm > GRIPPER_MAX_PWM) ? GRIPPER_MAX_PWM : servo_pwm;
    
    set_gripper_pwm(servo_pwm);
    pid->previous_error = error;
}

Gripper Control Features:

  • Grip force feedback for object handling
  • Object presence detection (pressure spike threshold)
  • Adaptive compliance for varying object sizes/materials
  • Dual sensors support load sharing across gripper pads

Implemented but Not Primary

Depth Sensing (Water)

// Pressure to depth in water
// P = ρ × g × h
// where ρ = 1025 kg/m³ (seawater), g = 9.81 m/s²
float depth_meters = (pressure_kpa - atmospheric_pressure_kpa) / 10.0f;

Altitude Sensing (Air)

// Barometric formula (simplified)
float altitude_m = 44330.0f * (1.0f - pow(pressure_kpa/101.325f, 1.0f/5.255f));

System Pressure Monitoring

if (pressure_kpa > PRESSURE_WARNING_THRESHOLD) {
    // High pressure detected - safety alert
}

Common Pressure Sensor Ranges

Application

Range

Typical Sensor

Altitude (aviation)

10-110 kPa

BMP280/BMP390

Depth (diving)

0-300+ kPa

Custom depth sensor

System pressure

0-500+ kPa

Industrial pressure transducer

Integration Notes

  • Primary Application: Robotic gripper force feedback and control
  • Supports up to 2 independent pressure sensors (dual gripper pads)
  • Temperature measurement for compensation algorithms
  • Hardware-specific ADC or I2C implementation
  • Pressure-voltage conversion implemented internally
  • Real-time depth/altitude sensing capability
  • PID control loop integration for adaptive grip force
  • Each sensor maintains independent calibration
  • Temperature tracking for accuracy improvements
  • Slip detection via pressure variance analysis
Back to top