In a recent discussion with some engineers, the idea came up to detect weight via the current draw on a motor being used to move an object.
For simplicity's sake, the motor has the ability to move said object. For now, we will eliminate the factors of friction and air resistance. Having the motor lift the object on an inclined plane or vertical
Here are some of the ideas that came up during the discussion
● Find a relation between Lift and current(or power) through moving known weights. Compile a chart, and see where the mystery weight falls in the graph.
● Have a set motor torque rating in, say, ft/lbs (oz/in). Then compare how close the motor performs with the mystery weight vs the maximum capabilities (Get a % of the maximum force). Then calculate the force at the motor's sprocket based on the percentage difference. (Torque of a DC motor scales 1:1 with armature current.) (My contribution)
Thoughts?
Cabe