For developers of IoT devices and networks, the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-3 and the Common Criteria (CC) serve different but complementary functions. FIPS 140-3 is designed for validating software and hardware in cryptographic modules, while CC is designed to evaluate security functions in IT software and hardware. In both cases, there are related […]
FAQ
How can quantum sensors and quantum batteries improve electric vehicle operation?
In the near term, quantum sensors are being developed that can more accurately measure EV battery capacity, assess battery safety, and reduce vehicle weight. In the longer term, quantum batteries have been proposed that could dramatically improve the speed and efficiency of battery charging. The energy remaining in an EV battery has been estimated using…
How do you test an Open RAN installation?
Open RAN telecom networks need testing for each disaggregated component, but that’s not enough. End-to-end testing is also necessary. In How do Open RAN interfaces work?, we covered how Open RAN redefines traditional RAN architecture by disaggregating it into three primary components: the radio unit (RU), distributed unit (DU), and centralized unit (CU). This paradigm…
What technologies are used to make quantum sensors?
Quantum sensors rely on quantum mechanical principles like entanglement, interference (also called superposition), discrete quantum states, and coherence. They are unlike quantum computers, which need highly stable environments for operation. Some quantum sensors can operate at room temperature. As a result, quantum computers are still a work in progress, while quantum sensors are used today. […]
What are the seven types of quantum sensors?
The seven types of quantum sensors include chemical sensors, clocks, gravimeters, imaging, interferometers, magnetometers, and thermometers. Several types of quantum sensors are already in use, and more are being developed for commercialization. They can be used in a wide variety of applications from earth sciences to molecular biology and wide band gap power semiconductors. Chemical […]
FAQ on servo motors: part 2
The servo motor is an older precise-positioning motor arrangement now facing some competition from the stepper motor. Part 1 of this article introduced the concept of servo motors along with servo amplifiers and servo controllers. This part continues that exploration. Q: What’s the history of servo motors? A: There were purely mechanical, closed-loop servo systems […]
FAQ on servo motors: part 1
The servomotor is an older precise-positioning motor arrangement now facing some competition from the stepper motor. When engineers need precise positioning of a motor’s shaft (rotor) angle and associated mechanical system, their first thought in many cases may be to use a stepper motor (aka “stepper”). That makes sense, as stepper motors have the attributes […]
Why does the Fourier transform provide apparently inaccurate results, and what can I do about it? Part 4
The FFT can measure phase angle, but what appears to be a meaningful result might just be the arctangent of a ratio of rounding errors. Throughout this series, we reviewed the fast Fourier transform (FFT) as implemented in Microsoft Excel and investigated windowing functions. In this final part, we’ll cover phase measurements, but first, let’s […]
How is sensor fusion used in medicine?
Sensor fusion is most frequently discussed in smartphone and automotive control applications. However, the fusion aspect was initially created for military analysis. From the analysis standpoint, for improved decision making, medical applications can and have benefited from sensor fusion. One example is in cancer detection and focused surgery. Specifically, the detection of and surgery for […]
Review: Electronic bug and hidden camera detectors
Do you want assurance that cameras embedded in everyday devices don’t spy on you? Then you should check for cameras, SD card slots, and Wi-Fi-connections. We reviewed two devices that help to find those lurking spies. While discovering a hidden camera in an Airbnb, VRBO, or hotel is rare, there have been reports of travelers […]