To meet the current demand for ventilators, many universities have risen to the challenge to create easily-constructed, low-cost ventilators from readily available parts. While the traditional ventilator with all the bells and whistles could cost from $30,00 to $40, 000 or more, university teams have been able to demonstrate working prototypes – often with less […]
Sensor Tips
How can the world solve the global ventilator shortage problem? Pt 1
Hospital ventilators are complex pieces of machinery that can use several sensors to control airflow and pressure. Existing suppliers’ monthly production is typically in the 10,000 or so range. New production capacity will take months. As hospital and local governments have pleaded to get more ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, several organizations have responded quickly, […]
New distance sensors combine IO-Link, voltage, analog
The newest additions to Balluff’s line of distance sensors feature selectable modes that allow users to choose between IO-Link, voltage (0…10 V or 1…10 V), or analog (4…20 mA) outputs. The two new variations — the BOD002M with a 50 to 100 mm working distance and a resolution down to 10 μm, and the BOD002N […]
How does heterogeneous integration impact sensors?
For those not familiar with the term, heterogeneous integration (HI) occurs when diverse components are assembled into System-in-Package (SiP) architectures. Late in 2019, SEMI, the global industry association representing the electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, announced the 2019 release of the Heterogeneous Integration Roadmap (HIR). Prominent examples of the roadmap are wireless and mixed […]
How is MEMS involved in coronavirus testing?
Testing for the presence or absence of coronavirus (COVID-19) is one of the major issues during the current pandemic. On March 21, 2020, Cepheid, a company that designs and manufacturers molecular testing systems and products announced that it received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 […]
LVIT position sensors for submersible ROVs
LVITs (Linear Variable Inductance Transducers) are contactless linear position sensors that offer high reliability, durability, and performance, particularly an excellent stroke-to-length ratio, at reasonable cost. These features make them suitable for various internal systems functions within many Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for subsea activities. Typical ROV system functions include maneuvering controls, rudder and directional positioning […]
Proximity sensors from Omron feature IO-Link, world’s longest sensing range
Manufacturers in the automotive industry are striving to make the most of the current trend towards electric vehicles and low fuel consumption by building lighter-weight vehicles and favoring aluminum over iron. As the prevalence of mixed production lines containing both iron and aluminum increases, the demand for same-sensing-distance proximity sensors with suitably long sensing ranges […]
New flexCoder sensors for robotics and handling automation
New developments in robotics, automation and many other rotative applications are aiming for ever more compact designs and often cannot be implemented using the standard components available on the market. To prevent restricting the scope of design for the customer, SIKO offers a new flexCoder technology – an encoder system comprising a sensor and rule […]
Video: Lab equipment for students, working from home in Seattle
Imagine being a university student studying EE/ECE, physics, chemistry, biology, or other sciences and not having access to your lab equipment. What will you do, sitting there bored at home because your university is closed? Digilent, a company that serves the academic market with measurement and FPGA tools for students, has lowered its prices on […]
What can sensor experts do while isolated?
With the coronavirus dictating what people can and cannot do for the short term, and many conferences cancelling or postponing, especially those in the April timeframe, healthy sensors experts should focus on what they can do to move forward. One suggestion is attending the Commercialization of Emerging Technologies Conference (COMS2020) that will occur October 19-22 […]