Roger Allan

Instrumentation: More bang for the buck: Test gear exploits complex integrated circuits to do more, faster

The use of large scale integrated circuits for measuring instruments especially the capacitance measurement is shown.

Microprocessors: The amazing micromice: See how they won: Probing the innards of the smartest and fastest entries in the Amazing Micro-Mouse Maze Contest

Discusses the uses of microprocessors and all the functions they are able to perform and in particular the author discusses microprocessor mice having the capability of solving a maze.

Busy robots spur productivity

Presents a general discussion on the use of robots in industry. The author points out two general types of robots indicating their cost and the functions they can perform, comparisons being made with manual labour.

Biomedical electronics: Electronics aids the disabled: Engineering advances are making possible electronic arms for amputees and mobile work stations for the totally disabled

Outlines engineering advances in proportional myoelectric arm prostheses and multifunctional arms using microprocessors. Describes a telescoping arm on the VAPC Quad manipulator wheelchair for quadriplegics, which provides nine degrees of motion freedom. It allows its user, through chin manipulation of a joystick, to do everything a normal person can do (through the attached pseudoarm) and permits total patient mobility.

Instrumentation: Ingenuity abounds: Trends: In-field diagnostics, in-plant and in-process testing, and smarter portables

In-field diagnostics, in-plant and in-process testing, and smarter portables are instanced as current trends.

What went wrong I: The failure tracers: A review off how reliability experts and analysts probe for the primary cause off device and systems faults

A review is given of how reliability experts and analysts probe for the primary cause of device and systems faults.

Solid State: VLSI: Scoping its future: The experts probe the alternatives among markets, business structures, and resources, as well as technical challenges

The semiconductor industrys ability to make laboratory VLSI devices is no longer seriously doubted. What to do with those ICS is really the challenge.

Industry: Lasers in the factory: Nd: YAG and CO2 lasers are growing in popularity for cutting, drilling, welding, scribing, and heat-treating a host of metals and nonmetals

Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers are growing in popularity for cutting, drilling, welding, scribing, and heat-treating a host of metals and nonmetals.

Digital telephony slowly taking over

Although the worlds telecommunications networks are going digital, the changeover from analog is occurring gradually. It would be impractical and prohibitively expensive to attempt to retire the present largely analog telephone network overnight and replace it with a digital one. Digital systems are being phased into existing installations with minimum interruption of subscriber services and the least inconvenience.

The microcomputer invades the production line

Although the application of electronics to manufacturing has been somewhat slow, despite the availability of the technology, distinct trends can be observed. These include a proliferation of microcomputers in process-control applications; a new generation of robots for small-parts assembly, and the appearance on the production line of smarter robots; an increase in the use of electronic tools to treat materials; new electronic data-logging instruments; and greater use of computer software.