Method for estimating a roughness of a surface

摘要

The method involves measuring a force perceived by a force sensor along a direction, which is roughly orthogonal to a movement direction (152) and parallel to a surface (150) during relative movement of the sensor relative to the surface. A statistical parameter representative of variations of a value of the measured force is calculated. Roughness is calculated using a function whose coefficients have values that are dependent on characteristics of the sensor and based on a force with which the sensor is applied on the surface during the movement. An independent claim is also included for a method for characterizing a surface state.