Methodology of calibration of FSR sensor for seat occupancy detection in vehicles

Background/Objectives: The implementation of a methodology for the calibration of a force sensor, applied to a commercial-type FSR for a seat occupancy detection application in a vehicle. This methodology is basedon the use of an Arduino® board, to establish a direct conversion between the sensor output, and the measured variable, which in this case correspond to the force applied. Methods: With the study of the behavior of the sensor response when coupled with a conditioning circuit, and the following calibration of this, to program a direct conversion between the circuit output voltage and the force detected by the sensor. Findings: It was found that using the programming of the Arduino board, the force value given by the Arduino GUI, have a maximum deviation from the real ones of approximately 1%, which can be attributed to conversion issues, but for the application required, the system studied has a great potential to use. Application: To calibrate a FSR force sensor, using a circuit conformed by a conditioning signal system, the sensor and the transducer element between the sensor and the graphical interface on a PC. Keywords: Arduino, Calibration, Conditioning, Force-Sensing Resistor, Seat Occupancy Detection