Performance Data

Evaluate our MaxSonar Ultrasonic Sensors

1. MaxSonar Reliability Demonstration (MTBF)(Mean Time Between Failure)
2. Swinging Ball Test
3. XL-MaxSonar Calibrated Beam Patterns
4. LV-MaxSonar-EZ Calibrated Beam Patterns

MaxSonar Reliability Demonstration (MTBF)

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This test was conducted to verify and document the reliability of the MaxBotix Inc., MaxSonar product lines. Test parameters were selected that, if met, would establish and verify a mean time between failure (MTBF) of at least 200,000 hours. Additionally, industry practice states that product performance at temperature extremes (-40°C, +70°C), during and after a significant number of temperature cycles, is required to validate the MTBF.

Operational Life Test Conditions for an MTBF of 232,896 hours with a 90% Confidence Level

Our product lifetime test was setup in an industry standard way. To facilitate reasonable test duration, the test temperature of 85°C allowed an acceleration factor. For the purposes of this test, the Arrhenius model was used. The equations used in the calculation of the acceleration factor can be found in the full report. The test was conducted on 25 of the WR products (both the LV and the XL in the WR product lines) and 25 of the XL products. The product lifetime (MTBF) test started on January 18, 2010, and the test was stopped March 15, 2010, for an actual test duration of 67,025 cumulative test hours. During the course of the product life test there were no failures. As a result, the MTBF value was calculated using an acceleration factor and a standard Chi-squared distribution. The MTBF of the MaxSonar product line is 232,896 hours, with a 90% confidence, for products operated at 45°C or less. Because no failures were observed during our testing, MaxBotix Inc., believes that the values in this report can be taken as a conservative estimate of product lifetime.

Temperature Cycling Test Conditions for 229,139 hours with a 90% Confidence Level

The goal for this temperature test was to demonstrate product performance with the sensors subjected to a large number of temperature cycles. The test was completed on twenty of the MaxBotix MaxSonar™ products consisting of ten WR products (both the LV and the XL in the WR product lines) and ten indoor XL products. These products were subjected to 177 temperature cycles from –40°C to +70°C. For each cycle the product soaked at the temperature extreme for 30 minutes. Product operation was daily verified during the first 101 temperature cycles. At 101 cycles the products received a full test. Then an additional 76 temperature cycles were ran and the product was again tested and verified to operate properly. The cumulative total of 3540 temperature cycles was completed. No products failed during this temperature cycling test. The mathematical relationship of temperature cycling to product lifetime showed a product lifetime MTBF value of 229,139 hours. The equations used in the calculation can be found in the full report.

Extending the Test Results to the LV-MaxSonar-EZ Products

The LV-MaxSonar-EZ (LV-EZ) line of sensors was not subjected to this test, but MaxBotix Inc., believes that these test results can be extended to the LV-EZ products because the LVEZ products use very similar circuits (expect with fewer components) and the LV-EZ product lines actually subject the transducer and circuitry to less stress than the products that were tested during this evaluation.

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Swinging Ball Test (Part 1)

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The primary goal during the building of the original LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 was to make a high performance ultrasonic range finder that provided readings, so stable, that unless the object moved, the readings didn’t vary. This was the first and primary goal during the initial design of the LV-MaxSonar-EZ1, these goals have continued and been improved upon for all of our subsequent products. MaxBotix Inc., has virtually reached that goal. The original LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 ranges objects between 6” and 254” and objects closer than 6” report 6”. Below is an actual plot to a swinging ball showing the stability of readings provided by the LV-MaxSonar-EZ1.

Figure1.1.

Figure 1.1 is taken with a LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 sensor, where the sensor measures the distance to a swinging ball. Every reading is correct and the only place where the data is uneven is the place where the ball is picked up (about reading 850) and started the test over again. The LV-MaxSonar-EZ1 is a sensor that provides data that you can trust.