Features
CO2 emissions in US drop to 20-year low
August 16, 2012 2:57 pm | by KEVIN BEGOS, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn a surprising turnaround, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in the U.S. has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years, and government officials say the biggest reason is that cheap and plentiful natural gas has led many power plant operators to switch from dirtier-burning coal.
Lowering the cost of healthcare from a design perspective
August 15, 2012 4:47 pm | by Ron Moore, Avnet Electronics | Blogs | CommentsThere are two advances (among many) that will lower healthcare costs in the future. The growing ubiquity of high speed connectivity will allow for remote telemetry and monitoring of patients. Advanced sensors will allow doctors to keep track of patients well being without them venturing to the doctor's office. If they do need to come in all the basic tests will be completed, reducing time to treatment.
Would you trust brakes that think for you?
August 14, 2012 11:34 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsIn keeping with the vehicle safety theme I’ve self-cultivated with Signal and the inflatable seatbelt, let’s take a look at the world of brakes, specifically Automatic Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS). The idea behind AEBS is that in the event that you, the driver, are unable or incapable of braking in order to avoid a collision with a car, pedestrian, object, your garage door, etc. the car will take (complete or partial) control...
Internet sales tax could foster anti-business climate
August 14, 2012 10:44 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsThe prospect of an Internet sales tax has hung over the head of e-commerce like the Sword of Damocles. It’s the boogeyman that threatens to pull the World Wide Web into the stone age of brick-and-mortar. But the ugly rumors may finally be true. A bill under consideration in the Senate would impose an Internet sales tax and amend any “competitive” disparity. Prepare to spend a lot more for your online purchases.
NI deploys LabVIEW and CompactRIO in wake of Fukushima nuclear disaster
August 8, 2012 10:19 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsOne of the more unique applications of National Instruments’ LabVIEW design platform was its recent deployment during the Fukushima nuclear disaster. In conjunction with Kyoto University, NI created the Kyoto University RAdiation MApping (KURAMA) system, which measured gamma rays in the Fukushima Prefecture. At NI Week 2012, I learned more about this intriguing development.
Power considerations in advanced embedded systems
August 8, 2012 11:16 am | by Alix Paultre, Globtek, www.globtek.com | Blogs | CommentsThe migration of smart subsystems into products at every level of operation represents a true fusion of the electronic and mechanical, representing the next, and possibly the culmination of, the industrial revolution. However, the integration of sense, motion, and logic into all portions of a system also brings with it new (or old in new clothing) challenges in power management.
Keithley donation to Oregon State University Solar Vehicle Team boosts power by 50 percent
August 8, 2012 10:28 am | News | CommentsKeithley Instruments, Inc. is helping the electrical engineers of tomorrow characterize photovoltaic devices accurately and efficiently. Oregon State University’s Solar Vehicle Team (OSUSVT) has been putting the company’s donated Model 2440 5A SourceMeter instrument to work in analyzing and troubleshooting mono-crystalline silicon solar modules. These modules are powering
New tech center has big plans for small devices
August 1, 2012 11:40 am | by Chris Warner | Blogs | CommentsThis week I learned about an exciting new facility that promises to help microsystems vendors meet their manufacturing challenges head-on and get their devices to market faster. Lorain County Community College’s (LCCC) SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems
LEDs: Redefining the basic assumptions of lighting
August 1, 2012 9:57 am | by Doug Bailey, Power Integrations | Articles | CommentsOver the past 150 years or so, the lighting industry has evolved into a mass production industry built around the concept of standardized bulbs, designed with built-in obsolescence. Consumers find themselves frequently replacing identical, short-lived products with more of the same. This trend is supported by a small number of large manufacturers that meet demand by building billions of identical products at low cost.
Do you have what it takes to be a Roundtable expert?
July 31, 2012 4:30 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsWe here at ECN love to hear what you have to say, so for our October issue we’re opening up the Roundtable discussion to our faithful readers. Typically, the Roundtable is an editorial section consisting of short commentary by five or six experts in a particular vertical market. Check out the most recent Roundtable from August here.
Enough with the Twitter Olympics
July 31, 2012 3:38 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsIt’s official, people: Twitter has taken over the Olympics. Yes, we all know about Ryan Loche and Michael Phelps. Even the Queen’s granddaughter (a silver medalist) is popping up in the Olympic news, but let’s focus on what’s important during this competition: Twitter. It seems for every story you read about the craziness of antiquated gymnastic rules and disappointing defeats, there is a story about Twitter.
Full steam ahead for the Navy’s controversial “Great Green Fleet”
July 30, 2012 4:43 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsThe Navy has embarked on an ambitious green energy program, which could cost upwards of $2 billion per year. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus must convince a skeptical Congress, Senate, and public that investing in pricey alternative fuels — in the midst of the worst recession in decades — will reap dividends.
Why YouTube should remain anonymous
July 27, 2012 9:45 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsAnyone who has ever spent any time on YouTube reading the comments is familiar with—as Slate calls it-- the “abandon all hope ye who enter here” atmosphere of the community. When you dare scroll down past the episode of Hogan’s Heroes you’ve been watching, you’ll find all manner of misogynistic, racist, homophobic, anti-liberal, anti-conservative, anti-religion...
NIST measurement advance could speed innovation in solar devices
July 26, 2012 2:21 pm | News | CommentsA new versatile measurement system devised by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) accurately and quickly measures the electric power output of solar energy devices, capabilities useful to researchers and manufacturers working to develop and make next-generation solar energy cells.
New method to encourage virtual power plants for efficient renewable energy production
July 26, 2012 10:06 am | News | CommentsResearchers from the University of Southampton have devised a novel method for forming virtual power plants to provide renewable energy production in the UK. In the last decade, small and distributed energy resources (DERs), like wind farms and solar panels, have begun to appear in greater numbers in the electricity supply network (Grid).
Global PV inverter market to return to growth in 2012 and exceed $7 billion, according to new IMS research report
July 25, 2012 9:01 am | News | CommentsThe global photovoltaic (PV) inverter market is predicted to grow by 23 percent in 2012 and hit almost 32 GW according to the 5th edition of IMS Research’s annual report on this industry. However, the report, The World Market for PV Inverters provided a much more sobering outlook for industry revenues which are forecast to grow by just 3 percent in 2012 to hit $7 billion for the first time.
Brainstorm: Power
July 23, 2012 1:44 pm | Articles | CommentsPower sources in the future will be used and developed based upon economic, political, environmental and technological considerations. Changes will be dramatic but evolving over decades; the changes will be both in the sources of power and perhaps more so in the consequences of creating and using that power.
In what application areas are end users getting the most ROI from green technology?
July 18, 2012 11:54 am | Articles | CommentsThe greatest ROI in green technology is undoubtedly in the manufacturing sector. First, “green” technologies provide great branding and a competitive advantage. Taking advantage of advanced low-power electronics is one major way to do this. With the added intelligence of programmable devices, manufacturing becomes more efficient, faster, and more flexible at the same time.
Near-field communications
July 18, 2012 9:29 am | by Jon Titus, Technical Contributor | Articles | CommentsNear-field communications, which arose from earlier RFID applications, have gained in popularity as manufacturers added NFC capabilities to smart-phone and tablet-computer and as merchants have installed NFC payment devices. So instead of carrying a wallet full of credit and debit cards, consumers can use their smart phones as a mobile-payment "account"...
China PV market set to boom as government raises 2015 installation target to 21 GW
July 16, 2012 3:47 pm | News | CommentsPhotovoltaic (PV) installations in China are set to reach over 4 gigawatts (GW) in the second half of the year, according to a new report from IMS Research (recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS)). The latest version of China’s Five-Year-Plan for the PV industry reveals that China’s regulatory and planning body, NDRC, has lifted its installation target from 15 GW to 21 GW by 2015. This positive guideline will
China PV market set to boom as government raises 2015 installation target to 21GW
July 16, 2012 11:33 am | News | CommentsPhotovoltaic (PV) installations in China are set to reach over 4 gigawatts (GW) in the second half of the year, according to a new report from IMS Research (recently acquired by IHS. The latest version of China’s Five-Year-Plan for the PV industry reveals that China’s regulatory and planning body, NDRC, has lifted its installation target from 15 GW to 21 GW by 2015.
What’s the deal with Apple’s environmental policy?
July 16, 2012 8:44 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsYou may have heard that Apple recently asked environmental watchdog EPEAT to remove 39 of its products from its registry and informed the organization it will no longer submit its computers for testing. It seems like an odd request, considering Apple helped create EPEAT in 2006 along with the government and several other big computer players.
Who is minding the Fourth Amendment gate?
July 13, 2012 9:33 am | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Articles | CommentsFor all the cool and exciting features that our smart phones provide, it’s easy to forget that these pocket-sized computers/entertainment centers aren’t always as liberating as they seem – and I’m not just talking about the burdens that come with the data plans. Recently, Rep. Edward J. Markey, co-chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, requested the 2011 surveillance records from the nation’s cellular carriers.
Researchers develop new possibilities for solar power
July 10, 2012 2:12 pm | News | CommentsTwo Queen's researchers have contributed to a significant breakthrough in solar technology. Their research has led to a new solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system that generates both electricity and heat. Solar PVTs are normally made with crystal silicon cells which generate electricity, but little heat. Stephen Harrison and Joshua Pearce (Mechanical and Materials Engineering) designed and tested amorphous silicon cells in a PVT system.
CCID Consulting: China's test and measurement instrument market expanded significantly in 2011
July 9, 2012 11:19 am | News | CommentsChina's test and measurement instrument market saw a significant expansion in 2011, with its market size up 13.5 percent year-on-year to reach RMB 7.41 billion, thanks to the stable macro economy, the growth of the terminal product (such as smart phones) market, the continuous introduction and the commercial use of the new-generation telecommunications standards.
