IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine

The evolving fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless networks are envisioned to provide higher data rates, enhance end-user quality-of-experience (QoE), reduce end-to-end latency, and lower energy consumption. This article presents several emerging technologies which could enable and define future 5G mobile communication standards and cellular networks. We highlight the key ideas for each technolo... View full abstract»

Today, at the low end of the communication protocols we find the inter-integrated circuit (I²C) and the serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocols. Both protocols are well suited for communications between integrated circuits for slow communication with on-board peripherals. The two protocols coexist in modern digital electronics systems, and they probably will continue to ... View full abstract»

This article focuses on three recent applications of microwave and millimeter wave NDT&E techniques that involve novel instrumentation development and measurements, including: 1) disbond detection in strengthened concrete bridge members retrofitted with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates; 2) corrosion and precursor pitting detection in painted aluminum and steel sub... View full abstract»

Nowadays, the Internet of Things (IoT) can be considered an important technological revolution related to smart cities, smart homes, smart factories and smart ports implementations. As the presence of smart sensing systems in ports becomes a reality, different operation areas are working today in automatic mode. Examples of challenging projects related to smart ports in the IoT era can be found fr... View full abstract»

Digital signal processing (DSP) is the process of taking a signal and performing an algorithm on it to analyze, modify, or better identify that signal. To take advantage of DSP advances, one must have at least a basic understanding of DSP theory along with an understanding of the hardware architecture designed to support these new advances. There are several programming techniques that maximize th... View full abstract»

The initial focus for the cyber security community has been to make operating systems and networks more secure and harder to penetrate. These improvements are making it more difficult to exploit these systems, driving attackers to turn their attention to embedded systems and hardware exploitation. It is expected that new threats from improperly secured embedded operating systems, poorly defended f... View full abstract»

As presented in [1], the fourth industrial revolution is coming: one which promises to marry the worlds of production and network connectivity in an Internet of Things (IOT). "Smart production" becomes the norm in a world where intelligent information and communication technology or ICT-based machines, systems and networks are capable of independently exchanging and responding to information to ma... View full abstract»

Wireless power transfer (WPT) is an old subject, introduced for the first time by Nikola Tesla in the twentieth century [1]. His patent proposal was based on the magnetic resonance of two coils to distribute large amounts of energy to distant places of consumption. The subject returned to the mainstream in the last decade due to the exponential growth in the number of electronic devices. Currently... View full abstract»

Recognition of human movements is very useful for several applications, such as smart rooms, interactive virtual reality systems, human detection and environment modeling. The objective of this work focuses on the detection and classification of falls based on variations in human silhouette shape, a key challenge in computer vision. Falls are a major health concern, specifically for the elderly. I... View full abstract»

Nowadays, almost all of us transfer data (especially personal data) to someone or something (usually through web pages), and we do not precisely know how those data are managed. All of those data, considered altogether, represent what is generally called “Big Data”. Big data offer a big opportunity of growth for probably all human activities, since they make available important data collected in d... View full abstract»

Food companies worldwide must constantly engage in product development to stay competitive, cover existing markets, explore new markets, and meet key consumer requirements. This ongoing development places high demands on achieving quality at all levels, particularly in terms of food safety, integrity, quality, nutrition, and other health effects. Food product research is required to convert the in... View full abstract»

Modern smart grids require the improvement of measurement and communication infrastructures of distribution networks, at both medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) levels. Distributed sensing and measurement systems are needed to provide all necessary data for grid monitoring, control and management, as well as for the implementation of a number of smart functionalities, such as remote control ... View full abstract»

We have developed a Maglev train under the guidance of the Japanese Ministry of Transport. The Maglev train is an advanced train that can run more than 500 km/h with a linear synchronous motor (LSM) that has both a superconducting magnet on board and an armature coil in the ground. The Maglev train was tested on the Yamanashi Maglev test line. Tests began in 1997, which exercised various functions... View full abstract»

This is the second of a three-part series on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor technology. In the first part, a general introduction to MEMS sensing was given, including its underlying principles [1]. Biomedical MEMS sensors were also described by reviewing the principles of bio-sensing and describing a typical set of biologically inspired sensors. In this part, mechanical sensors for ... View full abstract»

This research project aims to expand the capability of a current US Navy Automated Test Equipment (ATE) family of testers known as the Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS). Industry research is now focused on breaking the historical construct of test equipment. Advances in the field of Synthetic Instruments have opened the door to test avionics in new ways. Every year new capabilities are ... View full abstract»

The demands on dielectric material measurements have increased over the years as electrical components have been miniaturized and device frequency bands have increased. Well-characterized dielectric measurements on thin materials are needed for circuit design, minimization of crosstalk, and characterization of signal-propagation speed. Bulk material applications have also increased. For accurate d... View full abstract»

This paper includes a brief tutorial on digital spectrum analysis and FFT-related issues to form spectral estimates on digitized signals. Some review of the DFT has been presented, and some discussion on the computational advantages of the FFT calculation has also been presented. Finally, the main considerations on windowing and window characteristics have been briefly discussed. View full abstract»

In determining the optimal allocation of spare parts and labor in a machine shop, in addition to the planned inspections, the random failures must be considered. The expected number of failures must be therefore assessed. At present, literature on the subject mostly discusses minimal repairs and failure replacement, giving only a little attention to partial repairs. These models ignored the time p... View full abstract»

Next generation networks such as Software Defined Networks (SDN) must support the integration of new paradigms of service offerings such as virtual cloud computing, big data applications, data centers services, and rich multimedia content. Operators of next generation SDNs are responsible for configuring policies that employ traffic monitoring tools and measurement mechanisms to detect and react t... View full abstract»

To have a meaningful discussion on the future trends in electronic testing, we should first try to understand the trends in the semiconductor industry over the past two decades. The early 1980s to late 1990s saw tremendous growth of the global semiconductor market, with an overall compound annual growth rate of 14.9%. During this time, the demand for integrated circuits kept growing, pushing the p... View full abstract»

Today, most of the signal processing performed in electronic systems is digital, and the performance of the analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) present at the borders of the digital domain become very important. The most recent applications in telecommunication, measurement, and consumer electronics call for ever-increasing ADC resolution and speed. The uncertainty of ADC performance strongly affe... View full abstract»

When supporting commercial or defense systems such as aircraft avionics, guidance and control, electronic warfare, or propulsion systems, a perennial challenge is providing effective test and diagnosis strategies to minimize downtime, thereby maximizing system availability. One can argue that one of the most effective ways to maximize downtime is to be able to detect and isolate as many faults tha... View full abstract»

Three-phase induction motors are the workhorses of industry because of their widespread use. They are used extensively for heating, cooling, refrigeration, pumping, conveyors, and similar applications. They offer users simple, rugged construction, easy maintenance, and cost-effective pricing. These factors have promoted standardization and development of a manufacturing infrastructure that has led... View full abstract»

The First-Year Engineering (FYE) program at the University of Kentucky (UK) is a three course sequence intended to recruit and retain engineering and computer science students by engaging them in exploration and design experiences. Transfer students are also welcomed into the College of Engineering through a course developed specifically for students entering the College with a previous degree or ... View full abstract»

The distribution grid is the infrastructure that transports electrical energy generated by large plants that are long distances away to the final user. A typical distribution grid consists of High-to-Medium Voltage (HV/MV) transformation centers; the MV grid; Medium-to-Low Voltage (MV/LV) transformation centers; and the LV grid, both three-phase and single-phase. Residential and commercial custome... View full abstract»

Measurement of the signal amplitude of radio frequency (RF) waves is an important function in a wide range of applications. Some of these applications are signal-level adjustment and verification for radar and communication radio and measurements made to control and ensure safety in industrial and home microwave heating processes. Frequencies that are normally considered to be "microwave" are typi... View full abstract»

From FabLabs new and important business opportunities can emerge in the world of Adaptive Manufacturing and the Internet of Things (IoT), by leveraging the services provided by large information technology (IT) companies, such as cloud computing. FabLabs aim to foster the creation of small start-ups, able to survive in a global market with rising fierce competition. Therefore, governance action is... View full abstract»

In this article, we examine prognostics and health management (PHM) issues using battery health management of Gen 2 cells, an 18650-size lithium-ion cell, as a test case. We will show where advanced regression, classification, and state estimation algorithms have an important role in the solution of the problem and in the data collection scheme for battery health management that we used for this c... View full abstract»

Despite women's relatively recent entrance into many male-dominated fields, women currently make up 17 percent of the engineering workforce, with as few as 8 percent in mechanical engineering and as many as 34 percent in environmental engineering [1]. Of the 17 percent of the engineering workforce that are women, 68 percent are White women [2]. Why does the male-domination of engineering persist? ... View full abstract»

Sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) are driving the next wave of technological innovation, transforming lives and growing the economy. By connecting digital devices to the physical world around them, the impact of these emerging technologies on our data-driven society is limitless. The sensor market is growing at over 10% per year, and it is currently worth around US $500 billion globally. Th... View full abstract»

The Need for STEM Professionals We are increasingly exposed to complex societal and technological problems. Qualified Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals are needed to solve these problems and cope with contemporary demands such as sustainable energy and efficient healthcare [1]. It is not surprising then that the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report (2016... View full abstract»

In the December 2016 issue of I&M Magazine, there is a fine bit of history about the rise and fall of the slide rule [1]. The slide rule as used for multiplication and division qualifies as an analog computer, and analog computing will be the topic of this column. The best way to understand how a slide rule works is to make one. I started with a piece of semilog graph paper. Interestingly, som... View full abstract»

Smart grids pose two sorts of interesting challenges to phasor measurement techniques. The main challenge results from estimating the parameters of voltage and current signals. It has been a hot topic since the advent of the phasor measurement unit (PMU) in the acquisition of synchrophasors of a power system under dynamic conditions. There are several research groups working in this field who have... View full abstract»

Load cells have long been used to sense and measure force and torque. When properly designed and used, they are very accurate and reliable sensors. Load cells are applied in several different fields, usually for weighing measurements. Among many other things, food, vehicles, and animals are weighed daily with load cells. The gripper of a robotic arm that picks up an object can be equipped with loa... View full abstract»

The amount of visible and near infrared light reflected by plants varies depending on their health. In this study, multispectral images were acquired by a quadcopter for high throughput phenotyping of tomato spot wilt disease resistance among twenty genotypes of peanuts. The plants were visually assessed to acquire ground truth ratings of disease incidence. Multispectral images were processed into... View full abstract»

Quality sleep is important for sustenance of good health. With changing life style and work cultures, it is increasingly becoming a prized thing. No wonder, sleep related problems are among the most widely reported health concerns. This is bringing sleep labs, their instrumentation and related matters into the spotlight. The gold standard instrumentation for sleep studies is polysomnography (PSG).... View full abstract»

This paper presents an human sensing (HS) system based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) for classifying physical activities: walking, walking-upstairs, walking-downstairs, sitting, standing and lying down. The system includes a feature extractor (developed by the authors and presented in a previous work), an HMMs training module and an HAR module. All experiments have been done using a publicly avai... View full abstract»

The energy problem in wireless sensor networks remains one of the major barriers preventing the complete exploitation of this technology. Sensor nodes are typically powered by batteries with a limited lifetime, and even when additional energy can be harvested from the external environment, it remains a limited resource to be consumed judiciously. Efficient energy management is thus a key requireme... View full abstract»

This paper presents an overview of the portion of the real-time simulation laboratory of the Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems at RWTH Aachen University, dedicated to the testing of instrumentation, measurement and monitoring applications. Its key feature is the ability to test monitoring systems and complex monitoring methods as integrated systems as well as a set of individual co... View full abstract»

This article introduces the IEEE 1451 standard for networked smart transducers. It discusses the concepts of smart transducers, IEEE 1451 smart transducers, the architecture of the IEEE 1451 family of standards, application of IEEE 1451, and example implementations of the IEEE 1451 standards. In conclusion, the IEEE 1451 suite of standards provides a set of standard interfaces for networked smart ... View full abstract»

Engineers and scientists use instrumentation and measurement equipment to obtain information for specific environments, such as temperature and pressure. This task can be performed manually using portable gauges. However, there are many instances in which this approach may be impractical; when gathering data from remote sites or from potentially hostile environments. In these applications, autonom... View full abstract»

With the advent of a more severe energy crisis and environment contamination, wind energy, as one of the green and renewable energy resources, has attracted more and more attention worldwide [1], [2]. According to statistics issued by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), by the end of 2014, the global installed capacity had reached 360,000 MW, while the installed capacity in China accounted for ... View full abstract»

There is a saying that the eyes are the gate to one's soul and the witnesses for various internal cognitive or emotional processes. Starting from this observation, a multitude of lesstraditional areas of research involving eye measures and gaze tracking were developed. As examples one can note the detection of deception as part of hostile intention perception, the estimation of pain intensity via ... View full abstract»

APL have developed a guidance system evaluation concept based on tracking signals received at a missile from a satellite-based navigation system. The designers have named this program SATRACK to emphasize its capability to receive, rebroadcast, record, and track the satellite signals. This article presents the SATRACK concept, along with the descriptions of various GPS translators, signal recordin... View full abstract»

Thousands of wireless communication systems have been fielded, with hundreds more under development. The RF spectrum has growing economic value to consumers, businesses, and governments worldwide. This has generated such a demand for wireless bandwidth that spectrum allocation, the existing primary method of spectrum management, is becoming increasingly inadequate. In this paper, we briefly summar... View full abstract»

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) use microminiature sensors and actuators. MEMS technology provides the benefits of small size, low weight, high performance, easy mass-production and low cost. This article is the first part of a three-part series on MEMS sensors. In the present article, we provide a general introduction to MEMS sensing and the primary sensing techniques. Next, MEMS-based bio... View full abstract»

In the first (Fowler and Schmalzel,vol.7,no.1,pp.38-46,Mar. 2004), the context for the tutorial articles was set up by addressing the question of why we measure. Hence many of the common sensor strategies that constitute the first stage in the measurement chain are introduced. While every element of that chain is important, the choice of an appropriate, robust sensor is one of the critical decisio... View full abstract»

Modern Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) must perform many tasks to support testing of devices. The devices being tested may be anything from simple circuit cards to complex multi-device systems. In addition, they may employ analog, digital and / or radio frequency testing. This, coupled with the desire to test the devices as quickly as possible, can drive ATE systems to employ multiple systems with ... View full abstract»

In this article, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology used to implement fiber sensors is explained and some applications in temperature and strain measurements are presented. In the first section, the fundamentals and operation principles of FBGs are shown as well as optical fiber sensing interrogators. The second part of the article presents applications of temperature measurements in power trans... View full abstract»

For better benefits and yields, a good estimation of the quantity of grapes in a vineyard is necessary. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) imagery technique using conventional 24 GHz frequency-modulated continuous- wave (FMCW) radar is applied for detecting and remotely estimating the intra-parcel quantity of grapes. An estimation is possible even in the presence of natural or artificial clut... View full abstract»