How the EMBSGB200 Amplifier is Shaping Innovations in Technology and Industry
When you think of a load cell amplifier, you might picture its typical uses in precise weight measurement systems or industrial equipment. But have you ever considered the full range of possibilities? From cutting-edge manufacturing processes and ballistics testing to medical devices and smart farming solutions, the applications for this small, affordable device are practically endless. In this article, we’ll explore just a few of the remarkable ways our EMBSGB200 load cell amplifier is advancing technology, and by the end, you might just find yourself imagining even more uses!
Green Energy: Testing Advanced Wave Power Generation Systems
The Tacuna Systems EMBSGB200 appears in many “green tech” applications, including this one from Azura Wave Technologies. Azura manufactures wave energy conversion technology that harnesses the power of ocean waves to generate electricity. In 2017, they prototyped an innovative design that would generate power from motion in all directions (vertically, forward and backward, and rotationally), rather than just from vertical motion in traditional wave energy systems. Azura tested this design at the Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory at the University of Maine – Orono (UMO) using a 1:15 scale model. This laboratory can emulate various ocean depths, wave frequencies, and extreme conditions.
Azura’s system has a unique float or buoy at the surface connected to a rotating arm beneath. As this float moves, the rotating arm transfers energy to the Power Take-Off (PTO) system, which drives electrical generators. Control systems add resistance (damping) to the arm’s movement, optimizing its response to extreme wave conditions and maximizing energy capture.
Tests at the UMO laboratory gave Azura insight into how damping settings affected power generation efficiency. They also helped assess how the device would respond to extreme ocean conditions. Essential to these tests were torque sensor measurements on the system’s rotational arm, amplified using EMBSGB200 boards. These tests were foundational to the current Azura wave generation system design in the marketplace today.
You can read more about this research here: Azura Full-Scale Design: Test Plan for Wave Tank Testing.
Farming in Developing Areas: Making Modernization Viable
In rural, underserved areas, farmers often rely on draft animals to till and harvest their fields. This is because large farming equipment can be too expensive and impractical to maneuver in small plots. However, draft animals can be costly to keep, and to keep healthy over the long run.
To address this, a pair of researchers from MIT developed a compact “mini-tractor” prototype called the Bullkey. Their aim was to invent a practical tool that could replace bullocks on small farms in rural India. The design had big challenges. It had to be small and maneuverable, yet offer a draft animal’s pulling force and agility, even in difficult terrain. Its acquisition price needed to be similar to livestock, with added benefits like reduced maintenance and ease of operation. No compact tractor in the market at the time of the study had met these design challenges.
As with any prototype, a proof-of-concept study is vital. And that is where the Tacuna Systems EMBSGB200 amplifier got involved. Already popular with MIT researchers for its small size and cost, accuracy, and ease of use, our amplifier helped measure forces on this innovative tractor’s tillage tool. Load cell data acquired in field testing proved that the experimental tractor had a higher drawbar pull per unit mass than conventional tractors, matching the peak pull of animals.
Figure 8 from the cited source showing various possible small tractor configurations. Configuration D was ultimately chosen.
Figure 7 from the cited source showing (A) an isometric view of the Bullkey with labeled soil-contacting components and (B) a free-body diagram with acting vector forces shown
The Bullkey met its design challenge of maximizing draw forces through strategic weight distribution and tillage positioning. Nearly the full vehicle weight was applied to the drive wheels, which were aligned single-file like a motorcycle, with the tillage tool affixed between both axles. This configuration allowed the Bullkey to navigate narrow crop rows while maintaining traction on muddy, uneven terrain—conditions that typically challenge lighter vehicles.
Beyond matching the draft animals’ performance, the Bullkey offers less physical strain on the farmer since it is operated from a seat instead of on foot with reins in hand. Initial farmer feedback was positive, indicating that a similar design may be in their commercial future.
You can read more about this research at: Design of a Specialized Tractor to Replace Draft Animals in Small Farms, by Guillermo F. Diaz Lankenau and Amos G. Winter, V.
Ballistics: Measuring Chamber Pressure and Testing Bulletproof Cladding
Sometimes, Tacuna Systems appears in enthusiast blogs. In this exchange from the EEVBlog Electronics Community Forum, contributors discuss how to capture the pressure in a shotgun chamber when the weapon fires. The consensus was that affixing a strain gauge to the chamber’s exterior could transduce the blast with the highest accuracy. However, the challenge was finding an amplifier with low enough noise and a high enough frequency range to handle the signal from the sudden peak pressure at the blast moment. According to one contributor, “I’ve settled upon a low noise Tacuna Systems EMBSGB200 Amplifier with the 930 kHz option by which to amplify the rapid voltage spike evolving across the Wheatstone Bridge, and a Rigol DHO802 Oscilloscope.”
This isn’t the only time our amplifier has been used in the field of ballistics. Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil used the Tacuna Systems amplifier to study the characteristics of various ceramic composites under ballistic impact. The goal was to test their viability as protective cladding for aircraft and other vehicles.
Read more at these two links: ESTUDO DA CARACTERIZAÇÃO DINÂMICA DE MATERIAIS SUBMETIDOS A ALTAS TAXAS DE DEFORMAÇÃO UTILIZANDO A BARRA DE HOPKINSON by Gustavo Fontoura de Aguiar and UM ESTUDO DA DISSIPAÇÃO DE ENERGIA EM MATERIAIS CERÂMICOS SUBMETIDO A IMPACTO UTILIZANDO A BARRA DE HOPKINSON by Guilherme Augusto Jacometo.
Advancing Medicine: Better Muscle Response Detection
Mechanomyography (MMG) is a big word for a sensor technology that records really small muscle movements. Unlike the alternative, electromyography (EMG), which detects the body’s electrical signals, MMG senses mechanical muscle contractions, making it less susceptible to electrical interference. This is a major advantage in environments like operating rooms, where myriad electrical equipment can distort signals. Although MMG had fallen out of favor for a time vs. EMG, its non-invasive nature and low distortion have spurred renewed interest in fields like prosthetics, physical rehabilitation, and muscle research.
An article published last year in Anesthesiology magazine describes the prototyping of a more modern mechanomyography. The testing measured subtle thumb movements in response to ulnar nerve stimulation. To prove its viability, the creators compared measurements from their new device to those of a circa 1970s version. Our EMBSGB200 amplifier was chosen as part of the data collection system for its measurement range, small size, and precision.
From the source document, a depiction of the experiment setup
Testing results from the new device as compared to the historical one showed both produced essentially the same measurement curves. The main difference was that with updated technology, the new system had improved precision, resolution, and sensitivity compared to the archival mechanomyography system. These findings position MMG as a promising option for anesthesiology, where real-time muscle monitoring is vital for assessing neuromuscular blockade. Moreover, MMG could become a staple in prosthetic development, allowing devices to adapt more naturally to a user’s muscle signals.
You can read more about this research by clicking here: Comparison of a Modern Digital Mechanomyograph to a Mechanomyograph Utilizing an Archival Grass Force Transducer, Kelly E. Michaelsen, M.D., Ph.D.; Srdjan Jelacic, M.D., F.A.S.E.; Sharon T. Nguyen, B.S.; Kishanee J. Haththotuwegama, B.S.; Kei Togashi, M.D., M.P.H.; Andrew Bowdle, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.S.E.
Manufacturing: Making Precision Assembly Even More Precise
Those familiar with Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing, or PBAM, know that this technique enables the creation of highly precise components by incrementally layering and then fusing powdered polymers, ceramics, or metals. Achieving consistent quality in PBAM hinges on optimizing several variables: powder type, particle size, layer thickness, and spreading technique. Yet historically, the interaction between powder properties and layering and spreading techniques has not been well understood.
Researchers at the University of Montreal sought to change that. They developed a testing device (pictured) to study the effects of varying spreading speeds and layer thicknesses on layer uniformity and density—two properties that affect the final product’s quality. Their initial test aimed to prove the device’s effectiveness; therefore, the powder material and particle size were held constant. If its results proved reliable, the device would advance the discovery of optimal manufacturing variable combinations (material, particle size, layer thickness, and spreading technique). This, in turn, would greatly increase PBAM efficiency and quality especially where precision is paramount.
Detail of the spreading module depicted in green in the first test device image
The EMBSGB200 was chosen to amplify signals from two 300g rated ANYLOAD 108AA load cells embedded in the testing device. These sensors measured the amount of powder layered onto a spreading platform, designed to emulate the part-building area of a PBAM machine. The researchers chose the EMBSGB200 in part for its simplicity, having factory-preset gain settings.
The research proved the device’s effectiveness in revealing a powder’s behavior when spreading and layering techniques vary. Future studies will explore how intrinsic powder characteristics, like particle shape and size distribution, further influence layer quality. With these insights, PBAM could soon reach new levels of precision, reliability, and material performance.
Learn more at: A Novel Apparatus for the Simulation of Powder Spreading Procedures in Powder-Bed-Based Additive Manufacturing Processes: Design, Calibration, and Case Study by Salah Eddine Brika and Vladimir Brailovski.
All Technologies: Amplifying the Future
As the examples here show, the Tacuna Systems EMBSGB200 amplifier is more than a component; it’s a driving force behind innovation across diverse fields. From green tech and manufacturing to ballistics and healthcare, this compact, cost-effective amplifier brings high precision, low noise, and adaptability to the forefront of both controlled labs and cutting-edge industries. Its versatility and ease of use have made it one of the most widely used amplifiers in transformative tech, underscoring Tacuna Systems’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of possibility.
If you’ve used the EMBSGB200 in a unique application and are willing to share your story, let us know!
