Sensor Developments' system measures steering drift pull

-- Test & Measurement World, 11/21/2008 3:00:00 PM

Easily clamped to a vehicle’s steering wheel, the 90408 Series sensor system from Sensor Developments evaluates steering-wheel drift pull caused by errors in wheel alignment. The system measures and records torque and angle to determine whether a vehicle has been properly aligned before the vehicle is shipped to a car dealership.

The 90408 features an integrated strain-gage–based sensor and gravitational angle measurement system. Once attached to the vehicle’s steering wheel, it is tared to establish vehicle ground and allowed to run for a preset recording period. Standard torque measurement capacity is 13 lbs/58 Newtons of moment force (approximately 85 in-lbs/9.5 Nm of torque). Angle range is ±20 degrees. Higher capacities are optionally available.

A USB connection powers and acquires the data from the senor and turns a laptop computer into a portable data acquisition system. The supplied interface software features an easy-to-use setup screen and display.

Sensor Developments, www.sendev.com.