Engineering TV : Instrumentation

Dimension Icon AFM Walkthrough

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Veeco's John Thornton takes us through the operation of their Dimension Icon Atomic Force Microscope to scan the surface of a gallium nitride wafer. Many of the Dimension Icon AFM’s new features are engineered specifically to enhance technical performance while simultaneously increasing usability and productivity for both new and expert AFM users. The system utilizes a revolutionary XYZ closed-loop head that scans at high-speed rates while delivering extremely low drift and low noise. These features combine to drastically cut stabilization times, allowing the system to acquire artifact-free data in much less time than is possible with any competing AFM on the market. Also watch this episode: Dimension Icon Atomic Force Microscope. For more information, go to: Veeco.

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Dimension Icon Atomic Force Microscope

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Veeco's Dimension Icon Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) brings new levels of performance, functionality, and AFM accessibility to nanoscale researchers in science and industry. Incorporating the latest evolution of Veeco’s industry-leading tip-scanning AFM technology, the Icon’s temperature-compensating position sensors render noise levels in the sub-angstroms range for the Z-axis, and angstroms in X-Y. This is extraordinary performance in a large-sample, 90-micron scan range system, surpassing the noise performance of most open-loop, high-resolution AFMs. Also watch this episode: Dimension Icon AFM Walkthrough. For more information, go to: Veeco.

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Inertial Instruments for Space Navigation

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Paul Manley, of L-3 Space & Navigation, discusses some of the most accurate gyros in the world that L-3 manufactures for use in satellite navigation: Fiber Optic Gyros (FOGs), Ring Laser Gyros (RLGs), and Star Sensors. In addition, the RIFCA (Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly), comprised of a six ring laser gyro and six accelerometer system, provides guidance, flight control and mission sequencing functions and has flown over 100 missions to date with 100% success without ever having tripped redundancy. L-3 Space & Navigation is a major supplier of inertial systems, guidance, control and positioning equipment for satellites, artillery and launch vehicles. For more information, go to: L-3 Space & Navigation.

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Growing Plants on the Moon

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:00:00 GMT
What does it take to grow plants on the Moon? Paragon Space Development Corporation CEO Taber MacCallum answers that question from the 25th International Space Symposium. Growing the first plant on another world has enormous symbolic importance as well as important scientific research value for creating self contained lunar outposts and eventual settlements. In addition to leading the design of biological payloads, Paragon’s responsibilities on the Odyssey Moon team include robotic lunar lander design support and the lander’s thermal control system. Also watch this episode: Lunar Oasis: Greenhouse on the Moon. For more information, go to: Paragon Space Development Corporation.

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Lunar Oasis: Greenhouse on the Moon

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT
The first Moon flower will become a reality when private lunar expedition partners Odyssey Moon and Paragon Space Development Corporation deliver a biological greenhouse to the lunar surface. Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon partnered with Paragon, a Tucson-based firm and manufacturer of key components for NASA’s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. The lunar plant will be another space biology first for Paragon, having bred the first animals through complete life cycles in space, and grown the first aquatic plant in space. Also watch this episode: Growing Plants on the Moon. For more information, go to: Paragon Space Development Corporation.

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SimpleCast Weather Forecaster

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Power up the SimpleCast, enter your zip code, and your local weather information instantly appears on the portable device. Covering 99% of the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, the SimpleCast displays today's iconic weather forecast and gives temperature highs/lows, relative humidity, chance of precipitation and precipitation in inches. SimpleCast also shows the next three days' weather forecast, provides weather advisories from the National Weather Service, and includes a built-in clock with alarm. For more information, go to: Oregon Scientific.

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Oregon Scientific Wireless Weather Stations

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Oregon Scientific's David Fuhriman gave us a run-down of their 2009 line-up of weather stations, which include wireless devices that display and sense temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind, rainfall, dew point, wind-chill, and heat index data. Their new Multi-Room Climate Monitor, the ECO Plus, can monitor the temperature and humidity (even mold levels) in up to four separate rooms, divided into easy-to-read segments on the large LCD display. For more information, go to: Oregon Scientific.

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THINERGY Application Development Platform

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT
THINERGY thin-film micro-energy cells deliver a highly efficient, safe, rechargeable and powerful energy storage solution in an extremely thin form factor—roughly the size of a postage stamp. The newly released Application Development Platform (ADP) tool from Infinite Power Solutions provides a simple method to charge, discharge and monitor THINERGY MECs during device evaluation and system integration. The ADP’s built-in demo mode provides pre-defined loads (constant resistance, constant current, pulsed current and standard LED load) to discharge the battery while displaying the time, state of charge, and discharge voltage/current. In addition, the ADP serves as a development platform to allow users to develop their own applications on a separate breadboard, and allows the user to connect various energy harvesting circuits to charge the battery—enabling the developer to easily prototype and emulate their entire microelectronic system. Also watch this episode: THINERGY Micro-Energy Cells. For more information, go to: Infinite Power Solutions.

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TouchCell Field-Effect Switch

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:58:00 GMT
Streamlining control and cockpit design while reducing operator distraction and fatigue is a major initiative among vehicle designers and manufacturers. TouchSensor delivers an innovative alternative to present switch and control systems. TouchCells are manufactured by TouchSensor on a rigid or flexible PCB. When 5 volts is applied to the TS100, an electric field is created. The field emanates through any dielectric substrate such as glass, plastic or leather. When a conductive mass enters the field, the sensor detects the change and indicates an event has occurred. The input stimulus to the field can take the form of the human finger, metal or liquid. TouchSensor has used over 75 million TouchCells on their custom user-interface panels since 1999. Also watch this episode: Methode and TouchSensor Technologies. For more info, go to: TouchSensor Technologies.

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Methode and TouchSensor Technologies

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT
At SAE Convergence 2008, Paul Kaliher discusses automotive applications from TouchSensor Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Methode Electronics, which specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of innovative human/machine interface solutions. TouchSensor patented the world’s only Field-Effect switch - a software free, solid-state switch. A TouchSensor keypad has a wide operating range, adjustable sensitivity, and is moisture and contaminant resistant. TouchSensor switches and keypads are easily integrated into current and new interface designs with no need for electronic modification. Because no software is required, they are a direct, easy and aesthetic replacement for membrane and mechanical switches. Also watch this episode: TouchCell Field-Effect Switch. For more info, go to: TouchSensor Technologies.

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Freescale's Mad Mac Concept Car

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT
Freescale’s Mad Mac Concept Car (named for the lead designer, Tom MacDonald) was designed to highlight many of the automotive system innovations powered by Freescale’s silicon products and provide a view into possible future systems. The design of the vehicle allows easy upgrades to the systems which enables this display to be constantly refreshed. In addition to a show car, it's a learning tool also. Young engineers get to design automotive systems using Freescale tools, silicon, and industry software and operating systems. The knowledge obtained from these projects allow the engineers to provide more value to Freescale’s customers in the form of their systems expertise. They also provide insight to product engineers on future features. This vehicle's systems where designed and supported by Freescale's global engineering team. The car has accumulated many miles during its trips to Europe, China, and Mexico. It's projects like this that help make Freescale an outstanding supplier to the automotive industry. For more info, go to: Freescale Semiconductor.

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RFID "Sniffer" Architecture

Terry Knight — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT
As RFID adoption continues to grow, engineers are faced with an increasing need to validate tags both for interoperability with products from other vendors and for conformance with the specified protocol. The "sniffer" RFID tag test system uses a vector signal analyzer to “sniff” the air interface between an interrogator and a tag. This system uses a reference “gold” reader or RFID simulator to initiate an interrogation round with the tag. Meanwhile, the RF VSA (vector signal analyzer) is used to record and analyze both tag and reader transmissions over an RF air interface.

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NexJen RFID Test System

Terry Knight — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT
The NEXJEN-VISN-100 RFID Test System is the result of a partnership between VI Services Network and Nexjen Systems. The system is a conformance test and measurement solution for RFID devices, and is the first instrument in the world with an integrated RFID protocol stack and real-time communication capability. The tester is based on National Instruments vector RF modules, including the 2.7GHz Upconverter, the 2.7 GHz Downconverter, the 3 GHz RF Preamplifier and the FPGA based RF Transceiver.

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Challenges and Trends in Condition Monitoring

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:22:00 GMT
Signal.X specializes in engineering services and custom application development in diverse fields related to machinery noise and vibration. For machine diagnostics and online surveillance, National Instruments condition monitoring systems have been successfully implemented on a variety of turbines, compressors, generators, and other devices. Machine condition monitoring can help your organization stop unscheduled outages, optimize machine performance, and reduce repair time and maintenance costs. Mike Albright, General Manager at Signal.X Technologies, and Stuart Gillen, Sound & Vibration Group Manager from National Instruments, discuss some of the challenges they've encountered and trends they've observed in the world of condition monitoring.

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Condition Monitoring and Mapping

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:55:00 GMT
Mike Albright, General Manager at Signal.X Technologies and Stuart Gillen, Sound & Vibration Group Manager from National Instruments, discuss some applications for condition monitoring. Condition monitoring is the process of monitoring a parameter of condition in machinery, such that a significant change is indicative of a developing failure. The use of conditional monitoring allows maintenance to be scheduled, or other actions to be taken to avoid the consequences of failure, before the failure occurs.

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