Today’s cuff technique for measuring blood pressure (BP) goes back 100 years or so. While the sensors used to measure pressure have changed considerably, the inflate, deflate, and then-measure approach is quite similar. It has even been automated for home use. However, it is not a continuous measurement. In contrast, researchers are exploring several continuous, […]
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What sensor accuracy is required?
While many parameters are used to determine the right sensor choice for a specific application, one of the most commonly required is accuracy. This single, seemingly straightforward term is easily understood but also frequently misunderstood, and is one way to determine whether a sensor technology or design meets the application requirements. Of course, many other […]
How do sensors reveal hidden aspects of the world’s oceans?
Oceans comprise about 96.5% of the water-covered surface (71%) of the Earth. Surprisingly, the salinity of these huge bodies of water varies considerably. Interconnected masses and layers mix together and split apart through currents, eddies, and changes to temperature and salinity, where salinity is measured in practical salinity units or PSUs. The Practical Salinity Scale 1978, […]
Integrating MEMS technology into next-gen vehicle safety features
Sensor technology has revolutionized the automotive sector, enabling significant advancements in safety, comfort, and automation. Today, vehicles have systems that leverage precise sensing capabilities to enhance the driver and passenger experience while reducing road risks. MEMS (Micro-Electrical Mechanical Systems) technology is at the forefront of this innovation, providing the compactness, accuracy, and reliability required for […]
How does multi-sensor calibration work in autonomous vehicles?
Multi-sensor calibration of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in autonomous vehicles ensures accurate data fusion by aligning various sensors (like cameras, LiDAR, and radar) into a unified coordinate system, enabling precise perception and localization. This article reviews the types and techniques of multi-sensor calibration of ADAS. ADAS sensor calibration uses a combination of intrinsic considerations […]
How are sensors in driver monitoring systems changing?
Government regulations, such as European Union (EU) General Safety Regulations and various New Car Assessment Programs (NCAP) requiring driver monitoring system (DMS) and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandating child presence detection (CPD) systems in new cars, are incentivizing car makers and system suppliers to add more sophisticated sensors inside of new vehicles. The […]
What tools are available for calibrating sensors?
Tools used for calibrating sensors range from basic multimeters and multi-product calibrators to application-specific tools, like pressure calibrators, calibration baths, and infrared blackbody calibrators, depending on the type of sensor and the measurement requirements. As sensors get more sophisticated and precise, so do the tools used to calibrate them. Sensors require calibration to deliver consistent […]
What are simple ways to improve sensor performance?
Although improving a sensor’s actual performance is not usually possible, with proper selection, system design, and integration, improving sensor performance at the system level is very possible. Tools available for sensor performance optimization include selection, placement, operation, and signal conditioning/processing. It begins by selecting a sensor with the appropriate range, resolution, sensitivity, accuracy, response time, […]
What’s the difference between Maxwell’s equations and Maxwell’s relations?
Maxwell’s equations are fundamental tools for electric and magnetic fields, while Maxwell’s relations focus on thermodynamic quantities like temperature, pressure, volume, and entropy. For more on Maxwell’s equations, see “What are the fundamentals of Maxwell’s equations and how do they relate to TENGs?” Maxwell’s relations give designers a powerful tool for analyzing thermodynamic systems like […]
How did sensing help identify the Las Vegas Tesla torcher?
As part of a global campaign targeting and seeking to punish Elon Musk for his involvement in DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency), many people damaged Tesla vehicles, Tesla sales and service centers, and even Tesla public chargers. One of the more significant attacks occurred at a Las Vegas dealership where several (at least 5) […]
