Where did the motion-sensing chip come from?

Even before the release of next-gen consoles Wii and PS3, it is no secret that both of their controllers would be using motion sensing technology. In Sony‘s case, the tilt can be used to control dragon mounts in the game Lair while Nintendo’s need no further explanation as they have been big on the Wiimote ever since day one.

Given such advance gaming features, the technology behind it has actually been around for a while now. It’s just that the advancements we’ve had the past few years brought down its price and size paving the way for its mass production. Prior to it being adapted to games, the motion sensing chip otherwise known as accelerometer had been used for military and navigational purposes.

“Accelerometers have been used to guide missiles and aircraft. We had a $25,000 inertial system that was probably comparable to the one in the Sony controller,” explains SCEA Special Projects Head Richard Marks, who used to work on an underwater robot. Before accelerometers came in their today’s chip form, they used to be large mechanical devices with liquids that sensed orientation and movement.

STMicroelectronics NV head Benedetto Vigna further compares the technology to microelectromechanical systems or MEMS. The former is a Switzerland-based manufacturer that provides motion sensing chips to Nintendo. “What ST is doing now is bringing this from the automotive industry to the consumer,” says Vigna. MEMS were actually used first for the sensors that activate air bags back in 1980s.

Via CNN

Even before the release of next-gen consoles Wii and PS3, it is no secret that both of their controllers would be using motion sensing technology. In Sony‘s case, the tilt can be used to control dragon mounts in the game Lair while Nintendo’s need no further explanation as they have been big on the Wiimote ever since day one.

Given such advance gaming features, the technology behind it has actually been around for a while now. It’s just that the advancements we’ve had the past few years brought down its price and size paving the way for its mass production. Prior to it being adapted to games, the motion sensing chip otherwise known as accelerometer had been used for military and navigational purposes.

“Accelerometers have been used to guide missiles and aircraft. We had a $25,000 inertial system that was probably comparable to the one in the Sony controller,” explains SCEA Special Projects Head Richard Marks, who used to work on an underwater robot. Before accelerometers came in their today’s chip form, they used to be large mechanical devices with liquids that sensed orientation and movement.

STMicroelectronics NV head Benedetto Vigna further compares the technology to microelectromechanical systems or MEMS. The former is a Switzerland-based manufacturer that provides motion sensing chips to Nintendo. “What ST is doing now is bringing this from the automotive industry to the consumer,” says Vigna. MEMS were actually used first for the sensors that activate air bags back in 1980s.

Via CNN