A low-cost high-precision measurement method of string motion

The high-precision measurement of a string?s motion requires either the use of an expensive apparatus or the development of a dedicated system. In this paper, a cheaper alternative based on opto-switch sensors combined with a suitable calibration is proposed. A sensitivity model requiring only two straightforward preliminary measurements to determine the parameters is presented. A comparison on a bench test between the opto-switch sensor and a high-speed camera has been performed. Results indicate that the calibrated opto-switch provides more accurate measurements of the string?s motion in quasi-static as well as in dynamic states.