Low-cost and Low-Size Interferometer for Accelerometers Replacement

Parisa Esmaili, Federico Cavedo, Loredana Cristaldi, Michele Norgia
Abstract:
This paper presents the development and characterization of a self-mixing interferometer, especially designed to replace normal accelerometers, used for measuring vibrations to detect defects or malfunctions. The sensor’s design emphasizes minimal footprint with a straightforward baseband signal decoding enabled by the intrinsic distortion in the SMI waveform, resulting in vibration measurement of the target, with a resolution better than 10 nm. Experimental validation on the ISE OneX test bench, equipped with a commercial axial accelerometer and fault-simulated bearings, demonstrates that the SMI system delivers a signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity at least two orders of magnitude higher than the accelerometer, particularly in the low-frequency range. These results confirm the potential of the proposed interferometer as a high-performance, contactless solution for industrial condition monitoring and its suitability for integration into advanced diagnostic platforms.
Download:
IMEKO-TC2-2025-017.pdf
DOI:
10.21014/tc2-2025.017
Event details
IMEKO TC:
TC2
Event name:
IMEKO TC2 PhotoMet 2025
Title:

2025 IMEKO TC2 International Symposium on Modern Photonic Metrology

PhotoMet 2025 - Shaping the Future of Photonic Metrology

Place:
Modena, ITALY
Time:
01 September 2025 - 03 September 2025