When well over 1” of rain fell rather quickly in various parts of Phoenix recently, areas prone to flooding accumulated much more. As one of the highest amounts of rain to fall within the past seven years, it provided a new scenario to Waymo robotaxis. Several of the driverless vehicles confronted “Do Not Enter When […]
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Ultrasonic sensing part 2: dynamic fluid flow
This second part looks at measuring fluid flow rates instead of object presence. Find part one here. Sensing fluid flow Beyond basic object detection, ultrasonic transducers are used for non-invasive, non-contact measurement of liquid and gas flow rates (velocity). For these applications, the transducers operate at higher frequencies, typically above 200 kHz, to provide the […]
Automotive sensor requirements for software-defined vehicles: latency, resolution, and zonal architecture
The automotive industry’s shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDV) and electrification is forcing a fundamental rethink of development processes, component specifications, and cross-industry collaboration. During a recent technical briefing, three engineers from TE Connectivity outlined how these changes are impacting everything from 30-year-old Stage-Gate processes to sensor latency requirements and the implementation of zonal architecture across […]
Ultrasonic sensing part 1: static presence
Ultrasonic energy is widely used to sense the presence of nearby objects and even determine their distance if needed, as well as to measure fluid flow rates in industrial and scientific applications. The advantages of ultrasound are that it is relatively easy to apply, is accurate, has very minimal safety or risk factors, carries no […]
How to implement multi-sensor fusion algorithms for autonomous vehicles
To achieve autonomous vehicle (AV) operation, sensing techniques include radar, LiDAR, and cameras, as well as infrared (IR) and/or ultrasonic sensors, among others. No single sensing technique is adequate by itself, and each of these sensors has its strengths and weaknesses. As shown in Table 1, one or more sensing techniques overcome the weaknesses of […]
The power of sensor fusion
Industrial machines have long relied on a variety of sensors to execute their targeted mission and obtain the desired performance and reliability. Sensor fusion provides a more comprehensive approach to achieving these results and makes the appropriate decision(s) in these and other applications, as well as offering other benefits. Actually, a subcategory of data fusion, […]
High-current, low-impedance systems need advanced current sensing technology
The global demand for power supplies is expected to exceed USD 46.5 billion by 2031. This growth is fueled by the proliferation of EVs, renewable energy systems, and industrial automation, particularly for AC-DC power supplies. These applications require current sensors with high accuracy, low noise, and fast response times. As the demand for higher power […]
Have you got mail?
Since 1989, America Online’s (AOL’s) phrase “You’ve got mail” has been associated with the arrival of digital messages. More recently, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has provided a digital message (email) to alert customers of the arrival of physical mail and packages. The email notifications are part of the USPS Informed Delivery system and […]
Sensors expert talks data acquisition, IoT, wearables, and AI
Sensors veteran Roger Grace spoke with EE World about his award, data acquisition, IoT, and the trouble with AI.
How do restrooms get smarter?
In a busy airport, if you’re making the long trek from where you are to the gate you depart from, a WOW! moment can occur when a digital display informs you of an available restroom stall along the way and removes one source of frustration and anxiety. In a public restroom, sensors provide several automatic […]
