# 9: Kidnapped and Blindfolded

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-07-09
- Length: 1h 03m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep9-mp3

## Summary

Elecia White explains the physics and engineering of inertial sensors, distinguishing between MEMS accelerometers (which measure static gravity/tilt) and rate sensors (which measure angular velocity). She details how to combine these with magnetometers and GPS using Kalman filters to estimate orientation (roll, pitch, yaw) and position, while highlighting challenges like temperature compensation and sensor mounting.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=6) Introduction and Accelerometer Basics
- [1:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=119) Accelerometers as Gravitometers and Tilt Sensors
- [9:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=579) Integration Errors and Velocity Estimation
- [17:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=1026) Rate Sensors vs. Gyroscopes and Axes
- [24:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=1497) Roll, Pitch, Yaw and Orientation Matrices
- [32:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=1967) Kalman Filters and Quaternions
- [40:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=2459) Temperature Compensation and Manufacturing
- [44:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=2653) Magnetometers and Hard/Soft Calibration
- [50:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded#t=3014) Live Demo of Sensor Data and GPS Fusion

## Topics

- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Sparkfun (company)
- Digiki (company)
- Ada fruit (company)
- Wii (product)
- Kalman filter (tool)
- MEMS (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

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- [Ep 347: Breaking Kindles, Baby's First Synth, and Barcodes!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-28-ep-347-breaking-kindles-babys-first-synth-and-barcodes) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [MEMS & Sensors Summit | WiFi & LoRa Make Nice | How to Blow A Recovery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-10-04-mems-sensors-summit-wifi-lora-make-nice-how-to-blow-a-recovery) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-07-09-9-kidnapped-and-blindfolded. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.