Speed Sensors Then and Now

Ever since people first climbed into a moving vehicle to carry them they have wanted to know the speed that they were moving at. The very first speed sensors that were used to calculate the speed of movement was a rope with a series of knots tied to it. It was tossed overboard on a moving ship in ancient times and then the knots were counted at they floated by to determine how many knots the ship was traveling at.

Knots Still Used

A ships speed is still calculated in knots and the phrase is still used however, a rope has long since been replaced by a more accurate mechanical speed sensor. At the same time, speed sensors on land based vehicles have undergone numerous advancements as well.

Older Style cable Systems

For decades, speed sensors on land based vehicles were connected to cables that ran to gages that told the driver the speed that the vehicle was traveling at. While it was the best that technology had to offer at that time, this type of cable system did have its limitations.

Limitations of Cables

For instance, tire size on a vehicle could have an effect on the actual speed that was being registered on the dashboard gage. The larger the tire, the slower the speed that was shown and smaller tires in turn caused a greater speed to be shown as they effected the number of RPMs that the wheel made in a given distance.

Advanced Speed Sensors of Tomorrow

ABS or anti lock braking systems have pioneered the used of magnetic speed sensors that use no cable to transmit the speed that is detected at a source. These new high tech speed sensors have allowed for far more complex accurate and reliable systems to be used in today’s vehicles. Even now, visionary developmental engineers are working to bring forth new types of advanced speed sensors that will be used in the vehicles of tomorrow.


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