Tiny Module is Sophisticated, Precise “Personal” Earthquake Detector (.PDF Download)

When we think of earthquakes and seismic events, we naturally think of relatively large, complex laboratory instruments, and rightfully so. However, there’s also a need for smaller-scale, highly localized earthquake detectors for applications such as triggering of automatic doors, stopping equipment operation, shutting down unmanned transport vehicles, and marking of infrastructure (roads, bridges) with possible earthquake damage.

These units should focus on basic detection and yes/no decision-making with only modest data storage, in contrast to a complex lab unit. The traditional solution to the basic detection problem has been to use a mechanical vibration detector, but this lacks the ability to distinguish basic vibration from a true earthquake and its seismic patterns. The result is either missed events or false positives, both of which are obviously undesirable decisions. False detection can also be initiated due to the complex vibrations caused by collisions with external objects.

seis