What's New in Measurement and Control?

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

Role of Sensors in Automotive Applications to Grow - (Found June 19, 2008 )

New analysis from Frost and Sullivan, Advances in Sensors for Automotive Applications, finds that the availability of better next-generation sensors makes electronics one of the fastest growing areas in automotive technology. Sensors advancements include those affecting tire pressure, engine control, vehicle safety and fuel efficiency.
http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/press-release.pag?docid=129720471

Climate for change - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Sensors that could help some of the most impoverished farmers in Africa maximise their crop yields are being tested at London's Kew Gardens. The sensors gather data on air temperature, humidity, air pressure, light, and soil moisture and temperature - information crucial to making key agricultural decisions about planting, fertilisation, irrigation, pest and disease control and harvesting.
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/306432/Climate+for+change.htm

Traffic tracker - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Engineers have created a system that captures Bluetooth data from wireless devices and uses it to determine how long it takes vehicles or pedestrians to travel from one point to another. The system detects and records "Media Access Control" identification signals every time a Bluetooth device passes a detector. Because each device has its own distinct digital signature, its travel time can be tracked by detectors installed at intersections or along highways and other locations.
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/306426/Traffic+tracker.htm

Demand for Industrial Controls Takes a Hit During the First Quarter of 2008 - (Found June 19, 2008 )

NEMA's US Primary Industrial Controls Index reversed nearly all of its prior period's gains during the first quarter of 2008 as the index contracted 5.9 percent.
http://www.nema.org/media/pr/20080508a.cfm

Automotive safety systems get more dependable - (Found June 19, 2008 )

As automotive safety systems become more complex, the risk of failure increases. But European researchers believe they have found a way to improve dependability...
http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/BrowsingType/Feature...

SIEE - Pollutec - (Found June 19, 2008 )

International exhibition of equipment and services for water is on in Algiers from 19 - 22 June.
http://www.siee-pollutec.com/

Monitor 118 now On-Line - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Issue 118 of Monitor, the newsletter for PC-based data acquisition and control, is now freely available on-line. This month: example messages from RS232 measuring instruments and more on using Excel to monitor for alarm conditions and e-mail an alert when necessary.
http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor118.html

Robot fish may track whales or pollution - (Found June 19, 2008 )

In the world of underwater robots, new Robofish are a team of pioneers. While most ocean robots require periodic communication with scientist or satellite intermediaries to share information, these can work cooperatively communicating only with each other, wirelessly, underwater. Messages were sent between the robots using low-frequency sonar pulses, or pressure waves. The new results showed that only about half the information was received successfully, yet because of the way the Robofish...
http://www.news.scubatravel.co.uk/2008/06/robot-fish-may-track-whales-or.html

Robotic Jellyfish Swim and Fly - (Found June 19, 2008 )

The biggest draws at Festo's Hannover Fair exhibits have been biologically inspired robotic creatures that show off cutting-edge automation technologies. Turning once again to nature for inspiration, the company's engineers this year came up with robotic jellyfish that either swim or fly. AquaJelly robots also manage their own battery-charging behavior. They communicate with an in-tank charging dock wirelessly via ZigBee, for example, to make sure the dock isn't occupied when they need to...
http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6553745.html

Automation Vietnam Starts Tomorrow - (Found June 19, 2008 )

Exhibition and conference on factory automation, electrical and power transmission and material handling starts tomorrow in Hanoi, Vietnam.
http://www.automationvietnam.com/