For more information visit: http://www.electronicsweekly.com/products/2012/06/05/22220/ni-creates-compactrio-based-power-analysis-tool.htm

It uses a chip, UJA1018. This contains all components to interface the MPU and protect it from the car’s LIN bus and power rails. As such, it has LIN transceivers, a 5V regulator, a reset generator, and three low-current high-side load switches – nominally for red, green and blue LEDs. Data connection to each subsequent node in the chain is via the previous node’s LIN switch. If the MPU has flash, nodes only need be programmed once, rather than at every power-up. Control from the MPU to the LIN switch and load switches is through individual I/O lines, with PWM from the MPU required for LED dimming.

For more information visit: http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/led-lights/2012/07/nxp-chip-for-multi-colour-led-modules-aimed-at-car-interiors.html

In this case, it is Via’s WonderMedia SoC, usually aimed at tablets.  The PC, called APC, integrates memory, storage, and consumer-focussed I/Os in a 170x 85mm ‘Neo-ITX’ footprint.

“APC brings the familiarity and convenience of Android to the PC at a $49 price point that will open up markets and applications,” said Via marketing v-p Richard Brown.

The system features a custom build of Android 2.3 that has been optimised for keyboard and mouse input. This customisation has to be done well, as insufficient keyboard + mouse optimisation of Android sunk Toshiba’s otherwise excellent non-touchscreen AC100 smartbook. The board comes with a browser and a selection of pre-installed apps including a YouTube viewer.

Power consumption is 4W idle and 13.5W flat-out.

TweakTown has a video of the user-interface: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dNA3yHEl2s&feature=related

For more information visit: http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/23/05/2012/53732/49-android-pc-from-via.htm

So how does it work?

Basically it works using a USB that can be connected to the computer and allows you to reassign arrow keys, space bar and left mouse click objects. All you have to do is use the wire which can be connected with a crocodile clip, connected to the other end of your new computer key.

More advance users can reassign other keys and mouse motions. So if you want to make a musical instrument out of banana’s you can with the DIY circuit.

MaKey MaKey works with any laptop or computer with a USB port and a recent operating system.

You can watch the video here- http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joylabs/makey-makey-an-invention-kit-for-everyone

About the new rocket: The ATV thruster has been tested using robotic practice landings. A rocket motor used by ESA engineers was confirmed fit to do the job when it was used on a simulated lunar descent and touchdown using an Automated Transfer Vehicle. This has also been demonstrated on International Space Station resupply missions confirming that it will be reliable.

Launch: This will be a leisurely flight plan. It will launch from Kourou, French Guiana and will be followed a one or two month cruise to lunar orbit.

Landing: The mission study manager Bérengère Houdou says the landing should take about 1.5h from a 100km lunar orbit. The final part of the landing predicted to be about 10min long will be very challenging due to large amounts of fuel burn, similar to that of the launch carried out by rocket power. As it approaches the moon, the rocket will have to undergo an immense change in mass. It will be so powerful that it could cause it to “bounce back” of the surface due to it being powerful enough to slow the craft’s early descent.

Houdou will create a cluster of motors which can be switched on or off which will mean vary in the total thrust. The ATV engine has been shown to be accurate and controllable even in high-frequency pulses. The 700-800kg robot would be aimed at the lunar South Pole, using automated systems to guide itself into a gentle, precision landing. This allows the spacecraft to avoid the effects of temperatures plunging as low as -170°C due to it being in constant sunshine for several months.

Michael Menking from the company observed: “This is an important technology project. For sure, it’s dedicated to the Moon but if you can make a soft, precision landing on the lunar surface you can also do it on other planetary bodies as well.”

Reliability and cost: Testing the rocket further they will need to analyse the performance of several engines when connected by shared fuel lines. This should review the design and should within the coming months outline the mission requirements and cost. Pending budget approval at this November’s meeting of ESA member-state government ministers, Houdou hopes to have the mission ready for final preparation in 2015. According to ESA’s Bérengère Houdou the results are positive: “The thruster operations were smooth and stable, with great performance, even under the stress of a lunar lander’s operating conditions.”

Electrical Test Equipment

In need of power sources, test or measurment equipment? Check out Caltest Instruments limited. They are distributors of precision electronic test equipment in the UK and Ireland, and are dedicated to providing You, the customerr with the best possible technical support and service.

http://caltest.co.uk/

Caltest were proud to sponsor the Passive and Electromech award at the Elektra Awards 2011 in a joint venture with LeCroy.

The 2011 winners were:

Business Awards

• Design Team of the Year – ByteSnap Design
• Distributor of the Year – RS Components
• Environmental Award - Axiom Manufacturing Services – Programme to cut carbon emissions by 40% (Will add the complete list)
• Manufacture Export Award – IQE
• New Company of the Year – United EMS

Engineers of the Future

• Rising Start New Engineer of the Year – Adrian Carter
• Educational Support Award – The MathWorks – Funds graduate fellowships and studentships at 12 universities
• University Department of the Year – University of Cambridge

Product Technologies

• Design Tools and Development Software Award – Microchip Technology – MPLAB X open source integrated development environment.
• Embedded System Product of the Year – Xilinx – Zynq-7000 extensible processing platform.
• Passive & Electromechanical Product of the Year – Harting – Han-Yellock connector system
• Power System Product of the Year – TDK-Lambda – EFE400M digitally-controlled medical power supply.
• Renewable Energy Design Award – National Instruments – cRIO modules used by Whitfield Solar
• Semiconductor Product of the Year – Analogue- austriamicrosystems – AS540x 3D Hall magnetic encoder
• Semiconductor Product of the Year – Digital – Altera – 28nm FPGA product ranges
• Solid-State Lighting Application Award – Analog Devices – ADP8866 programmable LED driver
• Test Product of the Year – Tektronix – MDO4000 series mixed domain oscilloscop
• Product Innovation Award, Readers Choice – EnOcean – ECT 310 voltage converter energy harvesting for wireless sensors
• Company of the Year – RS Components
• Life Time Achievement Award – Dick Skipworth

Congratulations to all the winners and all the 2011 Shortlist contenders.

Caltest are proud to present and sponsor the Passive and Electromech award at the Elektra Awards 2011 in a joint venture with LeCroy.

The awards ceremony is to take place on 14th December at the Park Plaza Hotel in London.

Now in their 9th year the Elektra European Electronics Industry Awards will once again be the high point of the year for the European electronics industry.

For more information vist – http://www.elektraawards.co.uk/

The ElectroGraph project is investigating technology for the development of both electrode materials as well as the electrolyte solutions as required for optimising the overall performance of supercapacitors.

The focus of the research is the combination of graphene and graphene-based material as electrode materials, and use of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as electrolyte is the target of development.

These materials will be demonstrated in the functional model of supercapacitor.

For more information visit – http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/05/12/2011/52451/eu-project-develops-graphene-supercapacitor.htm

Launched four years ago through Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, the so-called Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal (RE < C) initiative included a team of engineers dedicated to researching renewable energy technologies, with a focus on solar energy.

For more information visit – http://blog.cleantechies.com/2011/11/25/google-green-energy-program-is-cut-as-company-narrows-focus/.