IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine

Securing the future of human society as we know it requires us to solve some grand challenges for which we must find long term solutions, such as reducing environmental pollution, providing better healthcare for an aging population, and finding new and sustainable energy and food resources. We now live in an age where there are enormous potentials to help solve some of these grand challenges-the f... 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 compete in t... 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»

In this article we gave an overview of vision-based measurement (VBM), its various components, and uncertainty in the correct IM (instrumentation and measurement) metrological perspective. VBM is a fast rising technology due to the increasing affordability and capability of camera and computing hardware/software. While originally a specialized application, VBM is expected to become more ubiquitous... View full abstract»

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»

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 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»

Currently, very little technology is used in real-world demining activities. Active programs by the U.S. Army in both land mine detection sensor development and systems integration are evaluating new technologies, incrementally improving existing technologies, increasing the probability of detection, reducing the false alarm rate, and planning out usable deployment scenarios. Through iterative des... 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»

The demand for ubiquitous connectivity is challenging the physical constraints placed upon current communication systems. In addition, customers expect higher and higher quality from their service providers. Consequently, equipment manufacturers are required to produce systems that can be quickly deployed and provide bandwidth-efficient communications. To meet this goal, instrumentation and measur... View full abstract»

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) concerns the continuous monitoring of civil and industrial buildings to increase human safety and to reduce maintenance costs. The SHM system furnishes information about the alterations in a single part or in the whole structure caused by materials aging, action of the environment, or accidental events. Typically, SHM systems are devoted to monitoring: humidity, ... View full abstract»

Nowadays, accelerometers have become very popular sensors because they offer new possibilities for developing humancentered applications in different domains such as ambient assisted living or rehabilitation [1]. These sensors allow monitoring human activities [2] in a non-invasive way because they are included in many smart devices, like smartphones, smartwatches or fit bands. 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»

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»

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»

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»

Why is measuring image similarity useful? There are abundant computer imaging applications requiring some kind of similarity measurement as part of their processes. Although the applications are quite varied, and the implementation details of each solution are unique, all share the common thread in that features or attributes of the image (in each specific application) are measured and then compar... 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»

In spite of the significant recent progress, the incorporation of haptics into virtual environments is still in its infancy due to limitations in the hardware, the cost of development, as well as the level of reality they provide. Nonetheless, we believe that the field will one day be one of the groundbreaking media of the future. It has its current holdups but the promise of the future is worth t... 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»

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»

Since starting work in the automotive sector, things have grown at an incredible rate. Automotive design is facing new challenges due to the technological advances of the last decades. The demand from companies for development around principles of human factors and user experiences has become more and more prevalent, reaching a place where even the most skeptical engineers are developing systems a... View full abstract»

Heath maintenance is one of the most challenging objectives of science and technology. Nowadays, with the rapid progress in the field of biomedical engineering, implantable medical sensors and devices are widely used for prognosis, diagnosis and treatment [1] without interfering in a patient's normal life activities. These implantable devices include cochlear implants, pacemakers, nerve stimulator... View full abstract»

The automobile is one of the few industrial products in continuous evolution both from an aesthetic and (I would say fortunately) a technological point of view. In less than thirty years the auto seems to have passed from the stone age to the future era of some movies. 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»

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 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»

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»

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»

Using a sensor should be as easy and trouble free as plugging a mouse into a computer. An IEEE standard that is currently being developed may be the answer for self-describing, plug and play sensors. The IEEE P1451.4 standard defines the mechanism for adding self-describing behavior to transducers with an analog signal interface. Rather than defining yet another network, or bus, for sensors, IEEE ... 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»

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 challenge we take up in this fourth installment in a series of tutorials in instrumentation and measurement is to consider how to make a sensor work in a measurement system. Signal conditioning broadly includes the steps needed to make the sensor an active part of a measurement system by providing excitation, if required, and then performing the preliminary actions needed to obtain a signal th... View full abstract»

Uncertainty analysis can be viewed as the activity that quantifies the range where the true value of a physical quantity lies. This aspect of measurement has been in use and given a paramount importance for many decades primarily by metrologists, instrumentation engineers, and practitioners who deal with measurement devices in carrying out their professional duties. In recent years, however, it ha... 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»

A simplified distinction between passive and active safety systems in the automotive industry is that while the former mitigate the consequences of an accident, the latter prevent its occurrence. In this overview, the reader can find a survey of the main active safety systems which can be classified as Driver Assistance Systems (DAS), although only Advanced DAS (ADAS) will be the focus. View full abstract»

At present, the EN50121 standards are the main reference for electromagnetic compatibility in European railway systems. These standards should improve as technology and testing develops. Therefore, major sources of EMI in a railway environment need to be better understood. This study is complex because many different railway power systems exist in Europe (1.5 kV DC, 3 kV DC, 15 kV 16.7 Hz, 25 kV 5... View full abstract»

Signal identification, which initially found applications in electronic warfare and spectrum monitoring and surveillance, has been recently considered for commercial communications in the context of software defined and cognitive radios. In this article, I present a snapshot of the status of signal identification algorithms, starting from a general description of maximum likelihood (ML) and featur... View full abstract»

With the consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs) and portable product markets growing, design of battery packs can challenge the designer because they are no longer a simple configuration of cells. They could contain many safety features, intelligence, energy aware models and selective batteries feeding the host product, serial data communication, and even recycling suggestions. In all these... View full abstract»

This article proposes a middleware architecture for an Automation based on IoT Technologies. The proposed architecture is built from open platforms and results in an effective solution that allows bidirectional data flow with low latency, is fully compatible with the Wi-Fi network, works with the local network, and consequently, there is the possibility to use it in environments that do not have a... View full abstract»

The following fundamental concepts of measurement science have been briefly reported in this tutorial article: 1) The result of a measurement provides only incomplete knowledge of the measurand, whose true value remains unknown and unknowable; 2) The uncertainty concept plays a key role in quantifying the incompleteness of the knowledge provided by the measurement result; and 3) A measurement resu... View full abstract»

Oscilloscopes are one of the main tools for analyzing electrical signals. The primary information obtained from the waveform of the signal is visualization of its amplitude variation over time. Oscilloscopes are excellent tools for testing, debugging, and troubleshooting because they can easily detect waveforms and demonstrate if the electrical components or circuit modules properly. The aim of th... View full abstract»

The serious problem of car accidents has sensitized the manufacturers to the construction of increasingly safer vehicles, trying to prevent possible accidents (such as drivers subject to falling asleep) and decrease the impact to the occupants. View full abstract»

As the common metal structure type, welded structures are widely used in civil infrastructure, bridges, ships and engineering machinery. Fatigue cracks often originate in welds enduring intense stress concentration or in welding defects under long-term continuous alternating loading [1]. Once these cracks propagate to a critical length, the structural integrity will be challenged. As a result, wel... View full abstract»

Quartz clocks are the most common timekeepers of all. Billions of quartz oscillators are manufactured annually for use inside clocks, watches, mobile phones, computers, radios, and televisions. In this article, Part 2 of a five-part series, I discuss the evolution of quartz clocks, beginning with the discovery of piezoelectricity. 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»

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»

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»

In recent years, as Cloud Computing and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies develop rapidly, smart home technology has entered a new stage: smart electric power usage, which will break the traditional extensive management situation for electric power loads, particularly under the background of an energy crisis. People will gradually gravitate towards the demands for more energy-related and intel... View full abstract»

This tutorial has addressed the structure and basics of TIADCs, including errors, implementation concerns and possible solutions. While the past few years have shown a sharp increase in patents and industry participation, academic research around the world is still ongoing to improve performance while reducing computational complexity, particularly in the area of nonlinear mismatch correction and ... View full abstract»