What's New in Measurement and Control?

The latest news, tutorials and articles on data acquisition and control using personal computers.

Wireless Ad hoc and Sensor Networks: Protocols, Performance, and Control - (Found June 19, 2008 )

New book addresses the basic theory, architectures, and technologies that are necessary to implement quality of service (QoS) control in wired and wireless networks. This book provides understanding of technical concepts related to computer network and wireless Internet control protocols as well as those specific to wired, cellular, wireless ad hoc, and sensor networks.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0824726758/mussoutdoorpursu

First Buoy to Monitor Ocean Acidification Launched - (Found June 19, 2008 )

The first buoy to monitor ocean acidification has been launched in the Gulf of Alaska. Attached to the 3-metre-diameter buoy are sensors to measure climate indicators. These transmit their readings via satellite. The instruments will measure the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen gas in addition to the pH. This is the first system specifically designed to monitor ocean acidification. The buoy is anchored in water nearly 5,000 meters deep.
http://www.news.scubatravel.co.uk/2007/06/first-buoy-to-monitor-ocean.html

30 Tips and Tricks on using Excel for Data Acquisition - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Tips on using Excel for data acquisition: data logging with Excel, creating virtual instruments, showing live data in Excel forms, recovering data from corrupted worksheets...
http://www.windmill.co.uk/excel.html

Low-Cost People Counting through One or Two Doorways - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Biodata are pleased to announce a new, low-cost, people counting system. Called Video Tally, the new system uses CCTV cameras and intelligent units to count people. The counts are collected on the PC every 5 seconds using Windows Software. With Video Tally you can see live, updating counts on your PC and at the same time view an historical record of logged data. Video Tally measures just 140 x 65 x 27 mm and weighs 150 g.
http://www.videoturnstile.com/videotally.html

NMEA data on a PC: How to collect it - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Guide to using free software to continually collect readings from an NMEA instrument. Many instruments use NMEA messages to communicate with a computer, including GPS receivers, echo sounders and anemometers. You plug your device into the PC's COM port then run the free Windmill data acquisition software. Data can be transferred to Excel in real time.
http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor109.html#NMEA

8 Tips Aid USB Use - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Here are eight tips on successfully using a USB-Serial convertor for data acquisition on a Windows computer.
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/win/win108.html

Theory and Design for Mechanical Measurements - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Figliola and Beasley's Fourth Edition provides a timely and in-depth reference to the theory of engineering measurements, measurement system performance and instrumentation. The authors show you how to develop, operate and analyse measurement systems and report results.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471754927/1286

Excel for Scientists and Engineers: Numerical Methods - (Found June 19, 2008 )

This new book is loaded with examples ranging from very basic to highly sophisticated solutions. More than 100 end of chapter problems help you test and put your knowledge to practice solving real world problems. The CD-ROM that accompanies this text provides several useful features: all the spreadsheets, charts and VBA code needed to perform the examples from the text; solutions to most of the end of chapter problems; and an add in workbook with more than twenty custom functions. No...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471387347/1286

Climate Change Research Benefits from Low-Cost Microlink DAQ System - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and temperature are increasing. Periods of low water availability are expected to increase in Mediterranean and other ecosystems. Researchers in Spain have simulated predicted increases in CO2 and temperature, and investigated the effects on crops. To monitor and control environmental conditions they used a Microlink 751 data acquisition unit which they connected to their PC's USB port.
http://www.microlink.co.uk/climate.html

CCTV footfall counting system - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Biodata new Video Turnstile people counting system designed for large-scale installations, monitoring hundreds of doorways.
http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/bod/bod101.html