Features

Algorithm Helps Lunar Rover Move Through Clutter

Today’s robots easily execute “pick-and-place” tasks: finding an object in one specified location and bringing it to another. But what if there are obstacles in a robot’s way? And what if...

Ground Tactical Vision Comes Full-Circle

The “always-true” use case for 360º vision systems is to avoid blind spots. Blind spots are a byproduct of conventional cameras. They have a limited field of view and they only see in the direction...

Product of the Month

Stratasys, Eden Prairie, MN, introduced the J750 3D printer that produces full-color, multi-material prototypes and parts in a single 3D print without post-processing. Users can choose from more than 360,000 different color...

Joe Munchak, Research Meteorologist, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Using the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satellite, launched in 2014, NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency researchers have...

Hexapod

Aerotech (Pittsburgh, PA) offers the HEX500-350HL high-load, six-degree-of-freedom hexapod for applications in sensor testing and high-force device manipulation. It is actuated with six struts that are built with preloaded bearings,...

Level Indicator

The Model BM-T tilt Switch from BinMaster (Lincoln, NE) is a level indicator used for point level detection of heavy materials in bins, tanks, or silos, or over a conveyor belt or open pile. It is suspended vertically over a...

Machine Controller

Mitsubishi Electric Automation (Vernon Hills, IL) introduced the iQ-R Series machine control system that incorporates sequence, motion, safety, process, and C language control into one platform. The control platform is...

Door Protection System

An electromechanical function from Kiekert AG (Heiligenhaus, Germany/Wixom, MI) prevents car doors from unintentionally striking nearby obstacles. The “i-protect” technology features a door-brake and sensor system for...

Microcontrollers

Toshiba America Electronic Components (San Jose, CA) has released a group of 30 microcontrollers (MCUs) based on the ARM® Cortex®-M3 core. The M3H MCUs are fabricated with an embedded flash memory process. Target...

Multimeter

Fluke (Everett, WA) has announced the 279 FC TRMS Thermal Multimeter. The test tool integrates a digital multimeter (DMM) with a thermal camera. Using the 279 FC imager, technicians can check for hot spots in fuses, wires,...

Pyrometer

The IGA 140/23 pyrometer from LumaSense Technologies (Santa Clara, CA) offers non-contact temperature measurement on metals, ceramics, and graphite. The device, equipped with RS232 and RS485 serial interfaces, reads parameters via...

Sensor ICs

Allegro MicroSystems (Worcester, MA) offers two new current sensor ICs for AC or DC current sensing. Both the ACS724KMA (5 V) and the ACS725KMA (3.3 V) are set in a high-isolation SOIC16 wide-body surface mount package that provides...

IC and Module

An IC and module from Sendyne (New York, NY) performs ground fault detection and isolation monitoring while simultaneously measuring current, voltage, and temperature. The AEC-Q100-qualified SFPGFD adheres to international...

Touchless Variable Gap Sensor

PIHER Sensors and Controls S.A. (Brighton MI), a Meggitt company, has introduced a two-piece magnetic Hall effect variable gap sensor that maintains stable electrical output and specified linearity on mobile...

Sensor Kits

The UFS (Universal Fluid Sensor) line of sensor kits from Pillar Point Electronics (Sarasota, FL) uses an infrared (IR) emitter and microprocessor to detect the presence of air in tanks or lines containing non-particulate bearing...

Spectroradiometer

The RS-3500 field portable spectro-radiometer from Spectral Evolution (Lawrence, MA) supports fast, non-destructive remote sensing applications, such as chlorophyll/moisture analysis, plant species identification, and forest...

Proximity Sensor

Littelfuse (Chicago, IL) has released the 59040 Series press-fit reed sensor. No screws, brackets, or attachment accessories are needed for installation. The magnetically operated Firecracker sensor press-fits securely into a...

Current Sensors

TDK Corporation (Tokyo, Japan/Irving, TX) has added the new 600-A CCT series to its clamp AC current sensors. The CCT406393-600-36 sensor has a clamp inner diameter of 36 mm and external dimensions of 56 × 67× 96 mm. Output...

Three-Axis Magnetic Sensor

MEMSIC (Andover, MA) offers the MMC3630KJ magnetometer for portable devices. The magnetometer includes an integrated monolithic 3-axis AMR sensor and a signal conditioning ASIC. The BGA package measures 1.2 × 1.2 ×...

Pressure Sensors

All Sensors Corp. (Morgan Hill, CA) has announced the SPM 401 Series of stainless-steel, media-isolated pressure sensors. The pressure sensor is compatible with 316L stainless steel, a type of steel that increases corrosion...

Night-Vision Imaging

OleaVision™ See-Through Wall Technology from Olea Sensor Networks (Reno, NV) functions optimally at a distance of 3 to 4 meters from the target surface, requiring no contact with the wall. The lightweight device, smaller...

Vision Sensors

The SBSI series of vision sensors from Festo (Hauppauge, NY) feature rugged IP67 housing, built-in lighting, and EtherNet/IP capability. SBSI sensors, which read 1D and 2D bar codes, can be ordered as components, portions of a...

Surface Profiling Sensors

OGP® (Rochester NY), a division of Quality Vision International (QVI®), has introduced its TeleStar® Probe sensor. TeleStar Probe, a self-contained off-axis partial coherence interferometric range sensor for...

Magnetic Position Sensors

The new AS5170 and AS5171 automotive sensors from ams AG (Premstaetten, Austria) were developed as SEooC (Safety Element out of Context) devices, as defined in the ISO26262 functional safety standard. The magnetic...

Surface Sensors

Sensofar Metrology (Terrassa, Spain/Scottsdale, AZ) has released two new surface metrology systems. The S lynx, a non-contact 3D surface profiler, integrates confocal, interferometry, and focus variation techniques into the...

Wireless Switches

New wireless, batteryless limit switches from Steute Industrial Controls (Ridgefield, CT) include an internal electrodynamic energy generator. Displacement of the actuator generates power to send a uniquely coded signal to...

Products of Tomorrow

The technologies NASA develops don’t just blast off into space. They also improve our lives here on Earth. Life-saving search-and-rescue tools, implantable medical devices, advances in commercial aircraft safety,...

Advances in Coating Technology Take Shape at NASA Goddard

The Contamination and Coatings Engineering Branch at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, provides system-level support in contamination engineering and thermal...

Control Solutions Synchronize Operation of Space Launch System Heavy Transporters

Beckhoff Automation Savage, MN 952-890-0000 www.beckhoffautomation.com Large NASA production facilities, such as the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New...