With extreme weather conditions, people directly impacted by the pending situation need to know how severe it will be. For hurricanes, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale provides a rating from 1 (very dangerous winds that will produce some damage) to 5 (catastrophic damage will occur) based on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed. This approach […]
Temperature
Vented miniature LVDTs for hydraulic and material testing applications
NewTek offers a vented design for its miniaturized series of AC-operated position sensors that provides greater endurance to pressure, temperature, shock, and vibration. These attributes result in greater accuracy and the ability to fit into restrictive spaces when measuring the deformation of samples in test chambers for hydraulics and material testing applications. In geologic […]
What sensors indicate the weather: part 1
Temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, and possible rainfall (or snowfall) in specific areas are common indicators of current and future weather conditions. However, other sensor inputs, such as pressure drop, air quality, particulate matter (including dust), and more (storm surge), are frequently required to identify and react to extreme weather conditions. The recent hurricanes […]
What sensors are in a digit?
In this case, the digit is a finger. Advanced robots designed to interact on a personal level with humans will need hands that can sense a variety of interactions. Several sensing techniques could be employed to achieve the right level of dexterity and avoid excessive force — some simultaneously and far less for specific applications. Getting the […]
FAQ on thermistors for temperature sensing
The thermistor is a widely used temperature sensor and an attractive alternative to thermocouples and RTDs — but only in some applications. Temperature is the most commonly assessed and measured physical parameter if you add all the consumer, industrial, commercial, medical, food-related, product tests and measurements and other places where it needs to be sensed. […]
Radiometric version of compact thermal camera core
Teledyne DALSA announced a radiometric version of its MicroCalibir Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) compact camera platform that delivers accurate temperature measurements of +/-2°C or +/-2%. Developed and manufactured in Canada, the small and lightweight MicroCalibir platform is the result of the latest advances made by Teledyne DALSA’s integration of their in-house 12 μm microbolometer pixel technology with […]
What are the seven types of quantum sensors?
The seven types of quantum sensors include chemical sensors, clocks, gravimeters, imaging, interferometers, magnetometers, and thermometers. Several types of quantum sensors are already in use, and more are being developed for commercialization. They can be used in a wide variety of applications from earth sciences to molecular biology and wide band gap power semiconductors. Chemical […]
How many ways are there to measure temperature?
Temperature is the most commonly measured physical quantity. Thermometry, the measurement of temperature, involves a wide range of technologies. Its uses range from maintaining a comfortable and safe environment for people to industrial processes operating at over 3,000 °C and quantum computing operating at near absolute zero. This article reviews some of the more common […]
Position sensors with extended 400°F temperature range
NewTek Sensor Solutions offers several LVDTs with an extended 400°F temperature range for use in applications where temperature spikes are possible. The high-temp, AC-operated position transducers ensure reliable position measurement without failure in applications with fluctuating temperatures where standard-temperature sensors can fail, due to deteriorating insulation and intermittent connections. For example, standard-temperature position sensors […]
What’s the difference between sensors used in underwater, flying, and creeping robots or drones? part 1
Obviously, different design requirements exist depending on the targeted applications, but autonomous or remotely piloted drones also dictate different criteria. One of the more unique underwater applications involved undersea (in the ice) measurements in Antarctica. The intent of the expedition was to gather sufficient, highly accurate information to improve modeling of ice shelf melting and […]
