Engineering TV : Safety

Paragon Dive System

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:06:00 GMT

The Paragon Dive System isolates a diver in a “space-suit like environment”, incorporating a Return Surface Exhaust design and upgraded materials, completely protecting divers from contaminants and hazardous materials present in their surrounding environment. The US Navy funded Paragon to redesign their existing surface supplied diving system because of the health risks posed to divers operating in contaminated water environments such as the USS Cole incident and Hurricane Katrina. Also watch this episode: Constellation Space Suit. For more information, go to: Paragon Space Development Corporation.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1515 Views, 0 Comments)

Single Chip Automotive Imaging

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT
The single-chip design of Aptina Imaging's MT9V126 provides new scene viewing functionality that automotive and after-market manufacturers have been seeking. The SOC features the industry’s smallest automotive-grade (AEC-Q100) package, excellent low-light sensitivity, on-chip lens distortion correction, perspective correction and a dynamic graphic overlay capability. Also watch this episode: Aptina TrueSNAP Global Shutter. For more information, go to: Aptina Imaging.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1843 Views, 0 Comments)

Aptina TrueSNAP Global Shutter

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT
Caleb Williams from Aptina Imaging discusses the TrueSNAP Global Shutter feature in their line of CMOS image sensors. The sensor’s state-of-the-art shutter control, established using Aptina’s proprietary TrueSNAP (Shutter Node Active Pixel) technology, reduces image smearing or tearing when capturing fast-moving objects, especially useful for automotive solutions or high-speed industrial applications. Also watch this episode: Single Chip Automotive Imaging. For more information, go to: Aptina Imaging.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1657 Views, 0 Comments)

Zoombak Personal GPS Locator

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT
Engineering TV found Simon Buckingham, CEO of Zoombak, at CES 2009 to talk about their line of personal GPS locators. A-GPS technology helps you precisely and reliably determine the location of the Zoombak Locator unit. Continuous tracking, location tracking, device alerts -- all are available on-demand via Zoombak.com, text message alerts, or accessing customer care for live location support. Zoombak is great for monitoring those with special needs, teen drivers, your family pets, and staying connected to the things that matter most to you. For more information, go to: Zoombak.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(3491 Views, 2 Comments)

Home Heartbeat Broadband Portal

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT
The Home Heartbeat Base Station acts as a wireless relay. It takes in information from the sensors and reports that information back out, to your Home Key device when within range of the home, and to your cell phone via text messaging when you are outside of the home. Eaton has also set up a broadband gateway option - allowing you to log in to an internet page and view the status of all your sensors in real time. Dave Richards, Eaton's Product Manager, elaborates on this new feature for Engineering TV. For more information, go to: Home Heartbeat.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(964 Views, 0 Comments)

Engineering Home Awareness

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:00:00 GMT
Eaton Product Manager Dave Richards shares the engineering and design approach Eaton took to home awareness with their Home Heartbeat system. Home Heartbeat’s wireless sensors monitor critical areas in your home and alert you before a minor malfunction becomes a major problem. The wireless network uses IEEE radio technology (802.15.4): reliable, cost-effective, and ultra-low-power, giving sensors a three to five year battery life. Network communications are capable of 128-bit security encryption. A USB port on the base allows for firmware updates and customization, and the entire wireless communication capability is upgradeable to whatever the current standards are. For more information, go to: Home Heartbeat.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(991 Views, 1 Comments)

Eaton Home Heartbeat

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT
The Home Heartbeat System is a new and innovative way to increase your home awareness by giving you vital information about the essential systems in your home, 24/7. From CES 2009, Dave Richards, Eaton's Product Manager, gives us a walk-through of the system's key components: the Base Station, the Home Key, and the sensors that keep the pulse of your home in check. For more information, go to: Home Heartbeat.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1121 Views, 0 Comments)

Microchip Microcontrollers

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT
At Electronica in Munich, Germany, Fanie Duvenhage, Applications Director for Microchip Technology Inc., shows off some of the varied applications that utilize Microchip microcontrollers. Various devices include the Wi-Safe Remote Warning Handset from FireAngel, wearable iPod controllers from QIO Systems, the SensoGlove computerized golf glove, slot car racers from Scalextric, DigiFlux dimmable energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs, Therm-ic Power Gloves (heated ski gloves), and USB rechargeable batteries from Moixa. Also watch this episode: Bathomatic Automated Bathtub. For more information, go to: Microchip.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1273 Views, 0 Comments)

Velodyne LIDAR

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT
The idea and deployment of TOF (time of flight) systems is not new - if you've ever been caught in a LIDAR speed trap this same technology was in use. Velodyne's unique contribution to the state-of-the art in sensing comes from its approach of using multiple emitter/detector pairs and rotating the entire unit. The first member of Velodyne's LIDAR product line is the HDL-64E, a 64-element LIDAR sensor that delivers a 360-degree HFOV and a 26.8-degree VFOV. The HDL-64E was used by five out of six of the finishing teams at the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, including the winning and second place teams. It was also used by Radiohead for their recent "House of Cards" music video that was shot entirely without cameras. Velodyne's unique LIDAR technology can be used wherever sophisticated 3-D environment understanding is required: robotics, map capture, surveying, autonomous navigation, automotive safety systems, and industrial applications. For more info, go to: Velodyne LIDAR.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(3586 Views, 2 Comments)

IMAPCAR Image Processor for Automobiles

CurtisEllzey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT
Seventy percent of vehicle accidents resulting in death or serious injury are caused by delayed driver recognition of danger. Safety systems that use image recognition and other sensing technologies to detect hazards and warn the driver can play an important role in reducing the number of serious vehicle accidents. Using the IMAPCAR processor from NEC Electronics, a computer can recognize road markers such as white lines, as well as moving vehicles and pedestrians, in real time. This new technology will allow automobile manufacturers to create collision-avoidance and other vehicle-safety systems. For more info, go to: NEC Electronics' IMAPCAR.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1535 Views, 1 Comments)

Distributed Database Biometrics

CurtisEllzey — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT
Identica's Universal Controller (UC-2) combined with the iCLASS contactless smart cards from HID are combined to create a smart solution. Biometric templates are securely stored on iCLASS credentials, not in the biometric readers, making iCLASS contactless smart cards portable databases that are well suited for installations spanning multiple sites. Storing the template on the card simplifies system start-up and enables the support of unlimited user populations. It also eliminates the redundant wiring requirement for biometric template management, significantly lowering installation costs.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1142 Views, 0 Comments)

Identica VP-II Vascular Security Scanner

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:50:00 GMT
The VP-II biometric security system from Identica verifies users by utilizing a patented recognition algorithm based on veins and capillaries found on the back of the human hand. The Vascular Pattern Scanner uses passive infrared technology to capture an individual’s unique vascular pattern from below the surface of the skin. The VP-II system can be configured to operate in stand-alone and/or networked environments using proprietary, TCP/IP and Wiegand protocols.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1322 Views, 0 Comments)

Siemens Integrated Automation

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:40:00 GMT
With Totally Integrated Automation (TIA), Siemens provides a comprehensive, integrated range of products and systems for efficient automation of the entire production workflow – for all industries. TIA enables the entire production workflow to be automated from goods receiving, through production, to dispatch. Ed Housler from Siemens explains what integrated automation is all about, demonstrates RFID solutions in a packaging line and outbound logistics, and discusses "light-out" factories and how Siemens can help companies profit at every stage of the process: higher cycle rates, significantly better availability and maximum product quality resulting in a considerable increase in productivity.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1249 Views, 0 Comments)

PROFINET and Machine Vision

CurtisEllzey — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:39:00 GMT
Ed Housler continues his demonstration of Siemens automation solutions, including PROFINET and SIMATIC machine vision sensors. PROFINET is the open and manufacturer independent Industrial Ethernet Standard from PROFIBUS International, ensuring a uniform communication from the office-world through to the field level. PROFINET makes use of IT-Standards, such as TCP/IP and makes real-time communication for automation tasks and high performance motion control applications a reality. In addition to RFID systems, SIMATIC sensor solutions include: proximity switches (recording, counting, measuring, monitoring or positioning solid, liquid or powdery substances), vision sensors (for automatic parts recognition by means of shapes, dimensions, samples, outlines, or colors), fail-safe sensors (for protecting both man and machine in an industrial environment) and code reading systems (for reading and verification of 1-D and 2-D codes, such as bar codes and data matrix codes).

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1051 Views, 0 Comments)

Seismic Protection System

CurtisEllzey — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:13:00 GMT
While woodframe structures have historically performed well with regard to life safety in regions of moderate to high seismicity, these types of low-rise structures have sustained significant structural and non-structural damage in recent earthquakes. This NEESWood project, funded by the National Science Foundation, seeks to take on the challenge of developing a seismic design philosophy that will provide the necessary mechanisms to safely increase the height of woodframe structures in active seismic zones of the U.S. as well as mitigating damage to low-rise woodframe structures. This project incorporates the use of economical seismic protection systems such as supplemental dampers and base isolation systems in order to further increase energy dissipation capacity and/or increase the natural period of the woodframe buildings. In Part 2 of this Engineering TV interview at Colorado State University, Prof. van de Lindt digs deeper into the Friction Pendulum Sliders used to remove ground acceleration away from the structures to minimize damage.

Have a story suggestion? Want to be featured on Engineering TV?
Send us a tip at: EngineeringTV@Penton.com!

(1692 Views, 0 Comments)