When COTS Isn’t Enough: Why You Need a NIST 800.171 Compliant Supplier Like Everight Position

The COTS Conundrum: In today’s digital landscape, Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) sensors seem like an easy button for compliances purposes. They’re readily available, cost-effective, and offer familiar functionality. But when it comes to identifying strategic suppliers, COTS alone isn’t enough.

MEMS Inclinometer Specifications

Inclinometers, also called tilt sensors, clinometers, or slope sensors, are designed to measure the angle of an object with respect to the force of gravity. These tilt or level meters determine the pitch and/or roll angle and output these values via the appropriate electrical interface.

Inductosyn: End of an Era, New Opportunities or Both?

Recently, obtaining the Inductosyn and components for maintenance has become more difficult. For decades the Inductosyn from Farrand Controls / Ruhle Companies sat near the top of the rotary sensor hierarchy. Providing sub 2 arcsec (0.5 mdeg) accuracies, it combined the robustness of a resolver with the performance of the best optical encoders. Despite its shortcomings, it found plenty of customers, from airborne infrared and radar systems, to telescopes, satellite communication antennae (SATCOM), machine tooling and low-pressure vacuum chambers.

Exploring Inclinometers with Digital Interfaces: CANopen, J1939, Modbus RTU, and SSI

While they may be small, the role of rotary encoders in spacecraft is vital, demanding a balance between performance, reliability, and the unforgiving environment of space. From NASA’s Robonaut II to automated material handling systems on the International Space Station, Everight has worked with engineers to put rotary encoders into ‘the final frontier.’