The Bulgarian Bat Detector - Simulating Bat Echolocation
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYIndustryIssue 32 - 2015Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlSimple PLCSystem IntegratorsUser Solutions

The Bulgarian Bat Detector - Simulating Bat Echolocation

Over my years working as an Automation Systems Integrator, I occasionally get projects that are different from the normal industrial, process and manufacturing systems. I was recently asked to develop the controls for a museum exhibit to simulate a bat’s echolocation. The museum, Children’s Center of Sofia, in Sofia, Bulgaria, and I promptly named the…
Fuji Electric: Looking to the East for Technology and Corporate Social Responsibility
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Fuji Electric: Looking to the East for Technology and Corporate Social Responsibility

The country of Japan is known as the “land of the rising sun” or the “sun’s origin” as people on the mainland of Asia looked toward the sunrise and knew Japan was located where the sun first appeared. Today, the name is still an appropriate description of the country and its people where beautiful cherry…
HPS: Transforming an Industry While Reaching Out to Others
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HPS: Transforming an Industry While Reaching Out to Others

Transformers to the rescue! No, not the kind of “transformers” made famous by Hasbro™ and Hollywood. These transformers manufactured by Hammond Power Solutions came to the rescue of the much-loved Canadian event known as the Calgary Stampede after massive flooding in 2013 brought the city to a standstill and threatened to cancel the event that…
Wera Tools: Ergonomics Helps “Get a Grip” On Products
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Wera Tools: Ergonomics Helps “Get a Grip” On Products

When medieval knights first used a primitive screwdriver to secure their jousting armor, they never could have imagined that such a tool would still be used centuries later. In fact, the general concept of a screwdriver hasn’t changed very much since the Middle Ages. People still need a screwdriver to turn screws and fasten things…
Hubbell-Wiegmann| History of World Class Electrical Enclosures
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Hubbell-Wiegmann| History of World Class Electrical Enclosures

The early 20th Century was full of technological advances and great historical moments. In 1928, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart were in the news for their famous feats of flying. The first television broadcasts began to appear on tiny black and white screens. Mickey Mouse was making movies – with sound. And, sliced bread made…
Technical College Students Understand Protective Relays
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYHMIIndustryIssue 31 - 2015Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent SpotlightVariable Speed Drives

Technical College Students Understand Protective Relays

Protective relays are specialized devices designed to sense abnormal conditions in electric power systems, commanding circuit breakers to trip or close when needed. These relays are absolutely essential to the reliable operation of the electric power generating stations, substations, transmission lines, and distribution systems that comprise any large-scale electric power grid; they are increasingly finding…
Contrinex: Lighting the Way for Women CEOs
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Contrinex: Lighting the Way for Women CEOs

In Switzerland, where just over 4% of companies have women as their CEO, Contrinex stands out with Annette Heimlicher leading the organization. Even in the Fortune 1000 companies, women  represent only 5.2% of the CEO position. This demonstrates how Contrinex is at the forefront of the world’s largest companies. Since 2012, Heimlicher has held the position of CEO…
UCONN Student Design Team Automates RFID Tagging
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 30 - 2014Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMotion ControlNotebook IssuePLCPneumaticsProductStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

UCONN Student Design Team Automates RFID Tagging

In the aerospace industry, any substance that is foreign to the aircraft engine and could potentially cause damage is known as FOD (foreign object debris). FOD costs the industry 4 billion dollars per year on average. Some of the most common causes of FOD damage are the tools required to build or maintain the engine….
People's Choice for a Cost-Effective and Energy-Efficient Solar-Powered Home
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightDrivesEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesHMIIndustryIssue 29 - 2014Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent SpotlightVariable Speed Drives

People's Choice for a Cost-Effective and Energy-Efficient Solar-Powered Home

UrbanEden, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s entry to the Solar Decathlon 2013, is a concept home consisting of four connected indoor and outdoor spaces that create a unique