Pressure sensors are used in a number of sporting disciplines and adapted to suit the relevant application. They either provide direct information on the pressure or on variables derived from this. Examples are found in:

  • Diving
  • Aeronautics
  • Running, climbing and cycling sports

 

Diving

It is absolutely crucial to know the pressure when diving. Whether the breathing air or water pressure is to be measured, there are various applications in this sport and thus many opportunities for using pressure sensors:

  • Mobile depth gages
  • Diving computers and diver’s watches
  • Cylinder pressure monitoring
  • Compressors

Diving computers and diver’s watches

Diving computers and diver’s watches are devices which give the diving depth (among various other data) by measuring the hydrostatic pressure. Absolute pressure sensors of up to 10 bar are used for this purpose. To date only calibrated analog sensors were applied. However, digitization has now also reached this field of application, with calibrated digital pressure sensors finding increasing use as gages of depth.

Cylinder pressure monitoring

Compressed air cylinders or scuba tanks for divers have a fill pressure of 200 bar at the start of a dive and have to be monitored while the diver is underwater.

  • Absolute pressure sensors of > 30 bar with an analog output are used which facilitates the display on the cylinder pressure gage.

Compressors 

Compressors compress the drawn in volume of gas and increase the pressure in the sealed volume. They are usually connected by a valve to a tank which acts as a compressed air buffer and supplies the connected system with compressed air.

  • The pressure in a compressor is always measured by relative pressure transmitters*(< 200 bar) and given as a positive pressure (compared to atmospheric pressure).

Aeronautics

  • Gliding and paragliding
  • Parachuting

Gliding and paragliding

In these kinds of sport both the actual altitude (collision control) and the relative altitude (position from the starting point) must be known. Both variables can be determined using an offset-calibrated, digital, barometric pressure sensor and suitable electronics.

Parachuting

When parachuting it is absolutely essential to know the height of fall in order to trigger the parachute at the right altitude. Safety devices automatically open the parachute at a preset altitude regardless of whether the parachuter is conscious or not.

 

Running, climbing and cycling sports

In many sports which involve much movement, such as running, climbing and cycling, the height is measured by recording the ambient pressure. For years mobile sports and multifunctional watches have been available on the market which take the difference in altitude covered and the absolute height into account when gaging performance. Lifetrackers must also be included in this category which are increasingly being used as mobile monitors of a person’s general health instead of just a simple fitness app.

 

*Transmitters are calibrated, amplified, ready-to-use sensors with a standardized output in a package for direct installation.