Torque Telemetry
Measuring Turning Force Wirelessly

Torque telemetry systems help you turn a difficult measurement exercise into a simple and effective solution.

Torque is a 'turning force'; the force that has to be applied to turn something.

Usually, you can’t use wires when you want to measure the torque on a shaft or anything else that’s moving.

If you need to make a non-contact connection, wireless technology is the answer.

It's the answer to the two challenges that have to be overcome to do this type of measurement.

But first let's consider a working definition.

What is Torque Telemetry?


It means measuring torque at a distance. It lets you get the result of the measurement back to where you want to receive it.


Torque is a turning force, and if you want to measure it you can’t use wires… unless you want to measure static torque on a shaft that doesn’t rotate more than 360 degrees, otherwise any wires connected to it will just break.


Telemetry is the answer.


Rotating telemetry systems overcome these two specific problems...

  • Getting power to, and...

  • Getting measurement data or information from...


the sensors attached to rotating shafts.

Here are two wireless ways to transfer power and measurement data to and from the torque sensor unit.

  • Use slip rings to transfer power and data, or better...

  • Transfer power by electromagnetic induction (when you can’t or don’t want to use batteries) and transfer torque data by radio (RF) transmission.


Find out how Wireless Torque Sensors make a difficult task easy



Here's an interesting application of wireless torque telemetry that doesn't involve continuous rotation...

Have you ever carefully tightened bolts to the specified torque, knowing that if those bolts ever became loose that the consequences may be very expensive or dangerous?

Now you can get bolts that continuously monitor their own tightness. This may be of value in a critical application where there is continuous vibration or impact that may, over time, loosen bolts.

One option, where you can fit new bolts, is to use the type that has a sensor built into it. However, if you need to use the existing bolts, another option lets you fit a washer, containing a load sensor, under the head of the bolt.

The bolt then wirelessly transmits its 'tightness' data to a receiving station that can direct alarms or notifications to engineers to investigate.


Torque isn't the only kind of telemetry. You can remotely measure any physical property that you can convert into an electrical signal, using a sensor or transducer. For a more general discussion on wireless telemetry and examples of some applications.

Go from Torque Telemetry to Wireless Telemetry


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