Applications
Engineering Newswire 37: Boeing makes hypersonic history
May 13, 2013 9:24 am | Videos | CommentsThe Boeing X-51A WaveRider unmanned hypersonic vehicle has achieved the longest air-breathing, scramjet-powered hypersonic flight in history. Last summer, an infestation took control of the Harvard robotics laboratory. The situation posed no need to call an exterminator, for this demonstration featured the first controlled flight of an insect-sized robot inspired by the biology of a fly.
New technique to improve quality control of lithium-ion batteries
May 10, 2013 12:44 pm | by Purdue University | News | CommentsResearchers have created a new tool to detect flaws in lithium-ion batteries as they are being manufactured, a step toward reducing defects and inconsistencies in the thickness of electrodes that affect battery life and reliability. The electrodes, called anodes and cathodes, are the building blocks of powerful battery arrays...
NRL shatters endurance record for small electric UAV
May 10, 2013 12:40 pm | by U.S. Naval Research Laboratory | News | CommentsResearchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory flew their fuel cell powered Ion Tiger UAV for 48 hours and 1 minute on April 16-18 by using liquid hydrogen fuel in a new, NRL-developed, cryogenic fuel storage tank and delivery system. This flight shatters their previous record of 26 hours and 2 minutes set in 2009 using the same vehicle...
Kit helps developers gain fast entry into the world of embedded ARM processors
May 10, 2013 11:25 am | Kontron | Product Releases | CommentsKontron announced the ready-to-use SMARC Starterkit. The kit offers developers fast entry into the world of embedded ARM processors, which is now highly scalable owing to SMARC Computer-on-Modules. The kit comes in a sturdy transport case, has all the cables already connected and is
Tesla Model S gets Consumer Reports' top score
May 10, 2013 11:15 am | by TOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric car has tied an older Lexus for the highest score ever recorded in Consumer Reports magazine's automotive testing. The Model S, which starts at $62,400 after a federal tax credit, scored 99 points on a scale of 100 in the magazine's battery of tests.
Encoders and inclinometers have J1939 interface
May 10, 2013 10:52 am | Fraba / Posital | Product Releases | CommentsPOSITAL announced its inclinometers and absolute rotary encoders are available with J1939 communications interfaces. (The J1939 protocol was developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers for use in heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, fire trucks and construction machinery. The protocol
AT&T launches prepaid cellphone business
May 10, 2013 10:05 am | News | CommentsAT&T is launching a prepaid cellphone service - Aio Wireless. The new subsidiary will offer nationwide wireless service to value-conscious customers interested in unlimited talk, text and data plans without an annual contract. Aio launches Thursday in select stores in Houston, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa, Fla.
More than just a mother, now she's your 'friend'
May 10, 2013 9:48 am | by MARTHA MENDOZA, AP National Writer | News | CommentsJosh Knoller, a young professional in New York City, spent years refusing his mother's "Friend Request" on Facebook before, eventually, "caving in." Today they have an agreement: she'll try not to make embarrassing comments, and he can delete them if she does.
UK budget airline to test ash cloud detector
May 10, 2013 9:35 am | by SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press | News | CommentsA U.K. budget airline will create an artificial volcanic ash cloud over Europe this summer to test ash detection technology. The experiment aims to avoid the kind of chaos that paralyzed air traffic during eruptions three years ago. Thursday's announcement was made by easyJet....
Connector features 16 auxiliary positions & selective mate keys
May 9, 2013 4:23 pm | Anderson Power Products | Product Releases | CommentsAnderson Power Products announces a new addition to their multipole connector selection with the release of the new SB Smart connector. The SB Smart is designed to meet the connection needs for high power storage batteries which are integrated into a larger system or where batteries require monitoring & control circuits.
Benchtop power supply satisfies a wide range of applications between 60V/20A and 20V/50A
May 9, 2013 4:11 pm | Saelig Company, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsSaelig Company has introduced the QPX1200SP - a 1.2kW DC bench-top power supply featuring PowerFlex regulation, designed to meet the need for flexibility in the choice of voltage and current. It offers voltage and current combinations for a very wide range of applications between 60V/20A and 20V/50A.
Hit a 90 mph baseball? Scientists pinpoint how we see it coming
May 9, 2013 3:47 pm | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsHow does San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval swat a 95 mph fastball, or tennis icon Venus Williams see the oncoming ball, let alone return her sister Serena's 120 mph serves? For the first time, vision scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have pinpointed how the brain tracks fast-moving objects.
Low noise power
May 9, 2013 3:28 pm | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | Blogs | CommentsI recently designed a low power, low noise, power supply for digital work. The nominal output voltages as designed are +5 volts and +3.3 volts. One hundred and fifty milliamps each. With a lightly regulated five volt supply for powering LED back lights.
Mid-power LEDs achieve up to 140 lm/W efficacy
May 9, 2013 11:51 am | Philips Lumileds | Product Releases | CommentsPhilips Lumileds introduced the LUXEON 3535 2D, which combines two LED chips in a package to enable reduction in LED count and cost of designing retrofit lamps, consumer downlights and diffuse industrial lamps. Its efficacy of 140 lm/W is achieved for cool white light at 4000K and minimum 80 CRI. The new
Engineering Update #10: Smart home robots & the printable bionic ear
May 9, 2013 11:20 am | Videos | CommentsThis episode of Engineering Update from ECN is brought to you by Mouser Electronics. In this week's headlines: Honda has recently announced that it is teaming up with Japan's Sekisui to design model households using smart technologies. So far, the robotics program has created humanoid robots and a personal mobility vehicle.
World's first handheld sound camera ready for market
May 9, 2013 10:55 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsMost car drivers have had the experience of hearing a buzzing, squeaky, or rattling sound while driving but not being able to figure out where the noise is coming from. The problem could be simple, requiring a quick fix, or could be serious enough to bring a car to a mechanic.
Wearable robots getting lighter, more portable
May 9, 2013 10:47 am | by CARLA K. JOHNSON, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsWhen Michael Gore stands, it's a triumph of science and engineering. Eleven years ago, Gore was paralyzed from the waist down in a workplace accident, yet he rises from his wheelchair to his full 6-foot-2-inches and walks across the room with help from a lightweight wearable robot.
Improved material for 'laser welding' of tissue in intestinal surgery
May 9, 2013 10:46 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsA new "solder" for laser welding of tissue during surgical operations has the potential to produce stronger seals and expand use of this alternative to conventional sutures and stapling in intestinal surgery, scientists are reporting. Their study, which involves use of a gold-based solder...
Batteries that bend and flex will transform electronics, transportation
May 9, 2013 10:41 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsImagine a TV screen that hangs on the wall like a poster and rolls up like a window shade — or a smartphone that can fold up and fit into a pocket. It may sound like science fiction, but those technological marvels are moving closer to reality, thanks to advances toward development of flexible batteries....
Cast of Broadway's 'Matilda' chat with astronaut
May 9, 2013 9:23 am | by MARK KENNEDY, AP Drama Writer | News | CommentsThe cast members of the Tony Award-nominated "Matilda" are arguably all stars. This week, they chatted with a man closer to the actual cosmic ones. About three dozen cast members - including many children - packed a small room near Times Square on Tuesday to speak to an astronaut aboard the International Space Station
Implementing remote tamper detection with wireless and capacitive sensing technologies
May 8, 2013 1:51 pm | by Parker Dorris, Senior Applications Engineer, Microcontroller Products, Silicon Labs | Silicon Laboratories Inc. | Articles | CommentsThe advent of wireless connectivity in the home automation market has enabled developers to create many innovative products that make end users feel safer and more aware of their personal property. Remote tamper detection is one example of innovation made possible through wireless connectivity.
Connectors satisfy solid state lighting fixture applications
May 8, 2013 12:13 pm | Hirose Electric Usa | Product Releases | CommentsHirose Electric has developed a complete series of wire-to-board, board-to-board joint, and in-line connectors to satisfy solid state lighting fixture applications. Providing space savings, high cable pull force, and a secure connection upon installation, the DF Series connectors
Illuminated pushbutton switches offer RGB color options
May 8, 2013 11:51 am | E-Switch | Product Releases | CommentsE-Switch announced its LP6 Series LED illuminated pushbutton switch includes a color option. The switch is available with either SPST or DPST circuit options, and it is a momentary switch. It offers a 15-mm square sculptured cap with LED color options that now include
Engineering Newswire 36: Electric car charge time cut in half
May 8, 2013 9:54 am | Videos | CommentsThe new fast-charging system from Volvo and Siemens is cutting recharge times in electric vehicles down to 90 minutes. The new 22 kilowatt fast-charger system is an on-board charger that operates on a 3-phase supply, and uses a 3-phase outlet to provide enough charge for a range of 102 miles in 90 minutes.
Photo interrupter intended for optical switches, digital cameras, and printers
May 7, 2013 4:28 pm | Everlight Americas, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsEverlight Electronics has introduced the latest member of its ITR series of photo interrupters for use in optical switches, digital cameras and printers, the ultra small outline slotted type ITR1205ST11A/TR. A slotted type opto interrupter detects an object when it enters the gap of the slotted switch....
