Automotive
Lessons from cockroaches could inform robotics
February 26, 2013 11:23 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsANN ARBOR—Running cockroaches start to recover from being shoved sideways before their dawdling nervous system kicks in to tell their legs what to do, researchers have found. These new insights on how biological systems stabilize could one day help engineers design steadier robots and improve doctors' understanding of human gait abnormalities.
Music service Spotify hooks up with Ford in first vehicle foray
February 25, 2013 2:34 pm | by Reuters | News | CommentsStreaming music service Spotify has partnered with Ford Motor Co (F.N) to allow its subscribers to listen to music in more than one million Ford vehicles in North America. Owners of Ford models with SYNC AppLink can access Spotify's catalog of more than 20 million songs through voice activation using its smartphone app. The deal, announced by both companies on Monday, is Spotify's first collaboration with an automaker
Smart agriculture: Using intelligent system to improve age-old farming techniques
February 22, 2013 12:23 pm | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsClimate change, population growth and increasingly scarce resources are putting agriculture under pressure. Farmers must harvest as much as possible from the smallest possible land surface. Until now, the industry confronted this challenge with innovations in individual sectors: Intelligent systems regulate engines in order to save on gas, for instance. With the aid of satellites and sensor technology, farming equipment can automatically perform the field work; in doing so, they efficiently distribute seed, fertilizer and pesticides on the arable land.
Multi-core microcontroller (MCU) family aimed at functional safety applications for car electronics
February 21, 2013 3:55 pm | Stmicroelectronics | Product Releases | CommentsSTMicroelectronics announced a new member in its multi-core microcontroller (MCU) family aimed at functional safety applications for car electronics. The new device combines compliance with the most stringent automotive safety standards (ISO 26262)...
Greater security in the subways
February 20, 2013 8:56 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsTecnalia is participating in the SECUREMETRO project which is aimed at the development and investigation of protective systems for metro vehicles that can enable us to travel with a greater level of safety in the case of a disastrous event.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
February 19, 2013 4:18 pm | by Polygon Solutions Inc. | Blogs | CommentsOn February 21, 2013, women engineers, along with their male counterparts, will engage and mentor as many as one million girls around the country during National Engineers Week Foundation’s 12th Annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.
Low power sensors consume only 300 µA of current at a power supply level of 3.3 V
February 11, 2013 4:47 pm | Novotechnik U.S., Inc | Product Releases | CommentsNovotechnik U.S. introduces the Contelec Vert-X 21 LP Series of low power sensors. These non-contact angle sensors consume only 300 µA of current at a power supply level of 3.3 V. Other key specifications for Vert-X 21 LP include 0 to 360° measurement range, 12-bit resolution, repeatability to 0.1°,
Automotive electronics in 2013 and beyond: Batteries bear a burden
February 7, 2013 2:58 pm | by David Carey, Mouser Electronics | Mouser Electronics | Blogs | CommentsThis year will see automotive electronics designers approach power management (PM) more like their mobile industry counterparts. While it may seem a fringe concern, the burgeoning security, convenience, connectivity, safety, and infotainment features of tomorrow’s vehicles will drive design and component choices that address standby power consumption.
Mechatronics security by design
February 6, 2013 12:06 pm | by Peter Thorne, Managing Director, Cambashi Ltd. | Articles | CommentsEngineers responsible for mechatronics development have always known that it’s not just PCs that can suffer from malware. A study in 20111 used experiment rather than theory to identify vulnerabilities of in-vehicle automotive systems. Not only was this a strong reminder of the seriousness of the issue...
Automotive display demand to reach 70 million by 2016
February 1, 2013 9:16 am | News | CommentsShipments of TFT-LCDs (thin film transistor-liquid crystal display) used in automobiles for devices such as navigation and rear seat DVD players increased 16% Y/Y to 49 million in 2012, according to the NPD DisplaySearch 2012 Automotive Displays Report. Shipments are expected to increase to 70 million by 2016.
Ultra-flexible flat silicon cables designed for telepresence robot applications
January 31, 2013 2:43 pm | Cicoil Corp. | Product Releases | CommentsDesigned for today’s demanding Mobile Video-Conference & Telepresence Robot applications, Cicoil's ultra-flexible flat silicone cables are halogen-free, flame retardant and perform exceptionally well in confined area environments. In addition, Cicoil’s unique designs provide premium current carrying capacity,
Light yet safe contender for city streets
January 30, 2013 1:05 pm | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsUp to now, it has been a case of "either/or." On the one hand, we have the typical ultra-compact, lightweight electric car, where designers have had to compromise on safety. With larger e-cars on the other hand, the heavier frames and crumple zones come at the expense of battery range.
DC/DC converters with an internal driver capable of 18V operation
January 28, 2013 1:06 pm | Product Releases | CommentsThe XC9248 series are bootstrap-type Nch-Nch drive step-down synchronous DC/DC converters with an internal driver Tr that is capable of 18V operation. The input voltage range is 4.5V to 18V and the maximum output current is 2.2A. A 0.8V reference voltage supply is incorporated, and the output voltage can be set using an external resistor ladder.
Fame and fortune await the inventor _ along with angry mobs, burnings, exile. A brief history
January 25, 2013 9:04 am | by BERNARD CONDON AP Business Writer | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) -- For every clever man who invents a labor-saving machine, it seems a crowd of angry men rises up to destroy it. The most famous of the machine haters were the Luddites, the skilled weavers of England who, in 1811, began smashing power looms that were threatening to take their jobs.
Meet the Luddites: They fought the future with hammers and lost, but their legacy lives on
January 25, 2013 9:02 am | by PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsTheir name is synonymous with futile attempts to roll back technology - and with fuddy-duddies who can't figure out how to use the iPhone. The Luddites were British textile artisans who 200 years ago smashed the mechanized looms they thought threatened their jobs.
Preparing for the worst: Author Martin Ford imagines a future when machines have all the jobs
January 24, 2013 9:38 am | by PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsMartin Ford saw it everywhere, even in his own business. Smarter machines and better software were helping companies do more work with fewer people. His Silicon Valley software firm used to put its programs on disks and ship them to customers. The disks were made, packaged and
Vibrating steering wheel might prevent car accidents
January 23, 2013 9:12 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsI’ve talked a lot about intelligent systems in cars that are steering the industry towards a safer overall product by allow computers to take over where human error would mean an accident.There has been talk of new seatbelts, new braking system, and sensors that communicate with traffic lights and other cars,
Developing quality electronic systems for cars
January 22, 2013 10:20 am | by Anthony Le, Windbond Electronics, www.winbond.com | Winbond | Blogs | CommentsDifferent systems in the car have varying quality requirements. The engine, safety and mission critical systems have the highest and most stringent specification. However, this doesn’t mean the infotainment system and connectivity systems skimp on quality. The environment in a car is harsh — road conditions and simple wear-and-tear use take their toll — so the goal is to
What technology do you expect to take the consumer space by storm in 2013? (Part II)
January 21, 2013 11:31 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe question of, "What technology do you expect to take the consumer space by storm in 2013?" continues in part II of the February Brainstorm series as experts take on the question of what will be popular in consumer electronics and the consumer technology space in the next 12 months.
What technology do you expect to take the consumer space by storm in 2013?
January 21, 2013 11:30 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe question of, "What technology do you expect to take the consumer space by storm in 2013?" begins in part I of the February Brainstorm series as experts take on the question of what will be popular in consumer electronics and the consumer technology space in the next 12 months.
New robotic fish glides indefinitely
January 17, 2013 9:05 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsA high-tech robotic fish hatched at Michigan State University has a new look. A new skill. And a new name. MSU scientists have made a number of improvements on the fish, including the ability to glide long distances, which is the most important change to date. The fish now has the ability to glide through the water
New Jersey’s power and fuel infrastructure was no match for Sandy
January 16, 2013 12:14 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Articles | CommentsThe love-hate relationship we have with "the grid" was inescapable during Superstorm Sandy. We don’t think about it much when our homes are lit and appliances are humming – we have the freedom to do anything we want. But when there’s an interruption, there’s that nagging wish to be free from the grip of our local utility....
Flash microcontroller family includes advanced connectivity peripherals and floating point unit
January 14, 2013 2:34 pm | Atmel Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsAtmelCorporation announced it has expanded its ARM Cortex-M4 based Flash family to include the SAM4E series, which features advanced connectivity peripherals, a floating point unit (FPU), advanced analog capabilities, and higher processing power.
GM and Ford unveil app maker programs, but voice integration with some apps still a far cry
January 11, 2013 8:58 am | by RYAN NAKASHIMA Associated Press | News | CommentsIt's not wise to Google the nearest gas station, compose email, or use your smartphone to check the latest sports scores while driving. But many Americans do. Drivers have grown so accustomed to their on-the-go tasks that automakers are increasingly trying to make those things easier to pull off with both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road.
High-voltage Battery Simulator and Test Systems Critical for Hybrid Vehicle Development
January 8, 2013 3:03 pm | by Randall Beattie, SAKOR | Articles | CommentsHigh voltage battery simulator and test systems are essential for conducting testing of the high voltage DC power systems that are such a critical element of electric (EV) and hybrid/electric (HEV) vehicles. To accurately test a high voltage hybrid
