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Sensors, Volume 12, Issue 8 (August 2012) – 83 articles , Pages 9951-11434

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29 pages, 819 KiB  
Review
Development and Application of Integrated Optical Sensors for Intense E-Field Measurement
by Rong Zeng *, Bo Wang, Ben Niu and Zhanqing Yu
State Key Lab of Power Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11406-11434; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811406 - 21 Aug 2012
Cited by 94 | Viewed by 10762
Abstract
The measurement of intense E-fields is a fundamental need in various research areas. Integrated optical E-field sensors (IOESs) have important advantages and are potentially suitable for intense E-field detection. This paper comprehensively reviews the development and applications of several types of IOESs over [...] Read more.
The measurement of intense E-fields is a fundamental need in various research areas. Integrated optical E-field sensors (IOESs) have important advantages and are potentially suitable for intense E-field detection. This paper comprehensively reviews the development and applications of several types of IOESs over the last 30 years, including the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), coupler interferometer (CI) and common path interferometer (CPI). The features of the different types of IOESs are compared, showing that the MZI has higher sensitivity, the CI has a controllable optical bias, and the CPI has better temperature stability. More specifically, the improvement work of applying IOESs to intense E-field measurement is illustrated. Finally, typical uses of IOESs in the measurement of intense E-fields are demonstrated, including application areas such as E-fields with different frequency ranges in high-voltage engineering, simulated nuclear electromagnetic pulse in high-power electromagnetic pulses, and ion-accelerating field in high-energy physics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra-Small Sensor Systems and Components)
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15 pages, 1439 KiB  
Article
Real Time Voltage and Current Phase Shift Analyzer for Power Saving Applications
by Ondrej Krejcar * and Robert Frischer
Department of Information Technologies, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Rokitanskeho 62, Hradec Kralove 50003, Czech Republic
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11391-11405; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811391 - 21 Aug 2012
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7762
Abstract
Nowadays, high importance is given to low energy devices (such as refrigerators, deep-freezers, washing machines, pumps, etc.) that are able to produce reactive power in power lines which can be optimized (reduced). Reactive power is the main component which overloads power lines [...] Read more.
Nowadays, high importance is given to low energy devices (such as refrigerators, deep-freezers, washing machines, pumps, etc.) that are able to produce reactive power in power lines which can be optimized (reduced). Reactive power is the main component which overloads power lines and brings excessive thermal stress to conductors. If the reactive power is optimized, it can significantly lower the electricity consumption (from 10 to 30%—varies between countries). This paper will examine and discuss the development of a measuring device for analyzing reactive power. However, the main problem is the precise real time measurement of the input and output voltage and current. Such quality measurement is needed to allow adequate action intervention (feedback which reduces or fully compensates reactive power). Several other issues, such as the accuracy and measurement speed, must be examined while designing this device. The price and the size of the final product need to remain low as they are the two important parameters of this solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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19 pages, 2928 KiB  
Article
Miniaturized Integrated Platform for Electrical and Optical Monitoring of Cell Cultures
by Carmen Moldovan 1,*, Rodica Iosub 1, Cecilia Codreanu 1, Bogdan Firtat 1, Daniel Necula 1, Costin Brasoveanu 1 and Ion Stan 2
1 National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, 126 Erou Iancu Nicolae, Bucharest 077190, Romania
2 Romelgen SRL, Ion Berindei 11, Sector 2, Bucharest 077190, Romania
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11372-11390; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811372 - 21 Aug 2012
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 7409
Abstract
The following paper describes the design and functions of a miniaturized integrated platform for optical and electrical monitoring of cell cultures and the necessary steps in the fabrication and testing of a silicon microchip Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based technology for cell data recording, [...] Read more.
The following paper describes the design and functions of a miniaturized integrated platform for optical and electrical monitoring of cell cultures and the necessary steps in the fabrication and testing of a silicon microchip Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based technology for cell data recording, monitoring and stimulation. The silicon microchip consists of a MEMS machined device containing a shank of 240 μm width, 3 mm long and 50 μm thick and an enlarged area of 5 mm × 5 mm hosting the pads for electrical connections. Ten platinum electrodes and five sensors are placed on the shank and are connected with the external electronics through the pads. The sensors aim to monitor the pH, the temperature and the impedance of the cell culture. The electrodes are bidirectional and can be used both for electrical potential recording and stimulation of cells. The fabrication steps are presented, along with the electrical and optical characterization of the system. The target of the research is to develop a new and reconfigurable platform according to the particular applications needs, as a tool for the biologist, chemists and medical doctors working is the field of cell culture monitoring in terms of growth, maintenance conditions, reaction to electrical or chemical stimulation (drugs, toxicants, etc.). HaCaT (Immortalised Human Keratinocyte) cell culture has been used for demonstration purposes in order to provide information on the platform electrical and optical functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors)
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12 pages, 342 KiB  
Article
An Improved Force Feedback Control Algorithm for Active Tendons
by Tieneng Guo, Zhifeng Liu * and Ligang Cai
School of Mechanical Engineering & Applied Electronics Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11360-11371; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811360 - 20 Aug 2012
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6024
Abstract
An active tendon, consisting of a displacement actuator and a co-located force sensor, has been adopted by many studies to suppress the vibration of large space flexible structures. The damping, provided by the force feedback control algorithm in these studies, is small and [...] Read more.
An active tendon, consisting of a displacement actuator and a co-located force sensor, has been adopted by many studies to suppress the vibration of large space flexible structures. The damping, provided by the force feedback control algorithm in these studies, is small and can increase, especially for tendons with low axial stiffness. This study introduces an improved force feedback algorithm, which is based on the idea of velocity feedback. The algorithm provides a large damping ratio for space flexible structures and does not require a structure model. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated on a structure similar to JPL-MPI. The results show that large damping can be achieved for the vibration control of large space structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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26 pages, 342 KiB  
Article
Energy-Efficient Scheduling for Hybrid Tasks in Control Devices for the Internet of Things
by Zhigang Gao 1,*, Yifan Wu 1, Guojun Dai 1 and Haixia Xia 2
1 College of Computer Science, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
2 College of Informatics & Electronics, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11334-11359; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811334 - 17 Aug 2012
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6864
Abstract
In control devices for the Internet of Things (IoT), energy is one of the critical restriction factors. Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) has been proved to be an effective method for reducing the energy consumption of processors. This paper proposes an energy-efficient scheduling algorithm [...] Read more.
In control devices for the Internet of Things (IoT), energy is one of the critical restriction factors. Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) has been proved to be an effective method for reducing the energy consumption of processors. This paper proposes an energy-efficient scheduling algorithm for IoT control devices with hard real-time control tasks (HRCTs) and soft real-time tasks (SRTs). The main contribution of this paper includes two parts. First, it builds the Hybrid tasks with multi-subtasks of different function Weight (HoW) task model for IoT control devices. HoW describes the structure of HRCTs and SRTs, and their properties, e.g., deadlines, execution time, preemption properties, and energy-saving goals, etc. Second, it presents the Hybrid Tasks’ Dynamic Voltage Scaling (HTDVS) algorithm. HTDVS first sets the slowdown factors of subtasks while meeting the different real-time requirements of HRCTs and SRTs, and then dynamically reclaims, reserves, and reuses the slack time of the subtasks to meet their ideal energy-saving goals. Experimental results show HTDVS can reduce energy consumption about 10%–80% while meeting the real-time requirements of HRCTs, HRCTs help to reduce the deadline miss ratio (DMR) of systems, and HTDVS has comparable performance with the greedy algorithm and is more favorable to keep the subtasks’ ideal speeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ubiquitous Sensing)
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27 pages, 1118 KiB  
Article
A Self-Optimizing Scheme for Energy Balanced Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks Using SensorAnt
by Ahmed M. Shamsan Saleh *, Borhanuddin Mohd Ali, Mohd Fadlee A. Rasid and Alyani Ismail
Department of Computer and Communication Systems Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11307-11333; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811307 - 15 Aug 2012
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 8201
Abstract
Planning of energy-efficient protocols is critical for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) because of the constraints on the sensor nodes’ energy. The routing protocol should be able to provide uniform power dissipation during transmission to the sink node. In this paper, we present a [...] Read more.
Planning of energy-efficient protocols is critical for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) because of the constraints on the sensor nodes’ energy. The routing protocol should be able to provide uniform power dissipation during transmission to the sink node. In this paper, we present a self-optimization scheme for WSNs which is able to utilize and optimize the sensor nodes’ resources, especially the batteries, to achieve balanced energy consumption across all sensor nodes. This method is based on the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) metaheuristic which is adopted to enhance the paths with the best quality function. The assessment of this function depends on multi-criteria metrics such as the minimum residual battery power, hop count and average energy of both route and network. This method also distributes the traffic load of sensor nodes throughout the WSN leading to reduced energy usage, extended network life time and reduced packet loss. Simulation results show that our scheme performs much better than the Energy Efficient Ant-Based Routing (EEABR) in terms of energy consumption, balancing and efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensor Networks)
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13 pages, 394 KiB  
Article
Switching Algorithm for Maglev Train Double-Modular Redundant Positioning Sensors
by Ning He, Zhiqiang Long * and Song Xue
College of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11294-11306; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811294 - 15 Aug 2012
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7409
Abstract
High-resolution positioning for maglev trains is implemented by detecting the tooth-slot structure of the long stator installed along the rail, but there are large joint gaps between long stator sections. When a positioning sensor is below a large joint gap, its positioning signal [...] Read more.
High-resolution positioning for maglev trains is implemented by detecting the tooth-slot structure of the long stator installed along the rail, but there are large joint gaps between long stator sections. When a positioning sensor is below a large joint gap, its positioning signal is invalidated, thus double-modular redundant positioning sensors are introduced into the system. This paper studies switching algorithms for these redundant positioning sensors. At first, adaptive prediction is applied to the sensor signals. The prediction errors are used to trigger sensor switching. In order to enhance the reliability of the switching algorithm, wavelet analysis is introduced to suppress measuring disturbances without weakening the signal characteristics reflecting the stator joint gap based on the correlation between the wavelet coefficients of adjacent scales. The time delay characteristics of the method are analyzed to guide the algorithm simplification. Finally, the effectiveness of the simplified switching algorithm is verified through experiments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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23 pages, 2364 KiB  
Article
A Semi-Automatic Image-Based Close Range 3D Modeling Pipeline Using a Multi-Camera Configuration
by Jiann-Yeou Rau * and Po-Chia Yeh
Department of Geomatics, National Cheng-Kung University, No.1, University Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11271-11293; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811271 - 14 Aug 2012
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 8668
Abstract
The generation of photo-realistic 3D models is an important task for digital recording of cultural heritage objects. This study proposes an image-based 3D modeling pipeline which takes advantage of a multi-camera configuration and multi-image matching technique that does not require any markers on [...] Read more.
The generation of photo-realistic 3D models is an important task for digital recording of cultural heritage objects. This study proposes an image-based 3D modeling pipeline which takes advantage of a multi-camera configuration and multi-image matching technique that does not require any markers on or around the object. Multiple digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are adopted and fixed with invariant relative orientations. Instead of photo-triangulation after image acquisition, calibration is performed to estimate the exterior orientation parameters of the multi-camera configuration which can be processed fully automatically using coded targets. The calibrated orientation parameters of all cameras are applied to images taken using the same camera configuration. This means that when performing multi-image matching for surface point cloud generation, the orientation parameters will remain the same as the calibrated results, even when the target has changed. Base on this invariant character, the whole 3D modeling pipeline can be performed completely automatically, once the whole system has been calibrated and the software was seamlessly integrated. Several experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility of the proposed system. Images observed include that of a human being, eight Buddhist statues, and a stone sculpture. The results for the stone sculpture, obtained with several multi-camera configurations were compared with a reference model acquired by an ATOS-I 2M active scanner. The best result has an absolute accuracy of 0.26 mm and a relative accuracy of 1:17,333. It demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed low-cost image-based 3D modeling pipeline and its applicability to a large quantity of antiques stored in a museum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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Graphical abstract

22 pages, 891 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning for Geometry Documentation and Construction Management of Highway Tunnels during Excavation
by Vassilis Gikas
School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 I Polytechniou Str., Zographou, Athens 15780, Greece
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11249-11270; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811249 - 14 Aug 2012
Cited by 124 | Viewed by 14866
Abstract
Driven by progress in sensor technology, computer software and data processing capabilities, terrestrial laser scanning has recently proved a revolutionary technique for high accuracy, 3D mapping and documentation of physical scenarios and man-made structures. Particularly, this is of great importance in the underground [...] Read more.
Driven by progress in sensor technology, computer software and data processing capabilities, terrestrial laser scanning has recently proved a revolutionary technique for high accuracy, 3D mapping and documentation of physical scenarios and man-made structures. Particularly, this is of great importance in the underground space and tunnel construction environment as surveying engineering operations have a great impact on both technical and economic aspects of a project. This paper discusses the use and explores the potential of laser scanning technology to accurately track excavation and construction activities of highway tunnels. It provides a detailed overview of the static laser scanning method, its principles of operation and applications for tunnel construction operations. Also, it discusses the planning, execution, data processing and analysis phases of laser scanning activities, with emphasis given on geo-referencing, mesh model generation and cross-section extraction. Specific case studies are considered based on two construction sites in Greece. Particularly, the potential of the method is examined for checking the tunnel profile, producing volume computations and validating the smoothness/thickness of shotcrete layers at an excavation stage and during the completion of excavation support and primary lining. An additional example of the use of the method in the geometric documentation of the concrete lining formwork is examined and comparisons against dimensional tolerances are examined. Experimental comparisons and analyses of the laser scanning method against conventional surveying techniques are also considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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11 pages, 533 KiB  
Article
Biotin-Functionalized Semiconducting Polymer in an Organic Field Effect Transistor and Application as a Biosensor
by Zin-Sig Kim 1,*, Sang Chul Lim 1, Seong Hyun Kim 1, Yong Suk Yang 1 and Do-Hoon Hwang 2
1 Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeongno, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-700, Korea
2 Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Department of Chemistry, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11238-11248; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811238 - 13 Aug 2012
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 8872
Abstract
This report presents biotin-functionalized semiconducting polymers that are based on fluorene and bithiophene co-polymers (F8T2). Also presented is the application of these polymers to an organic thin film transistor used as a biosensor. The side chains of fluorene were partially biotinylated after the [...] Read more.
This report presents biotin-functionalized semiconducting polymers that are based on fluorene and bithiophene co-polymers (F8T2). Also presented is the application of these polymers to an organic thin film transistor used as a biosensor. The side chains of fluorene were partially biotinylated after the esterification of the biotin with corresponding alcohol-groups at the side chain in F8T2. Their properties as an organic semiconductor were tested using an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and were found to show typical p-type semiconductor curves. The functionality of this biosensor in the sensing of biologically active molecules such as avidin in comparison with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was established through a selective decrease in the conductivity of the transistor, as measured with a device that was developed by the authors. Changes to the optical properties of this polymer were also measured through the change in the color of the UV-fluorescence before and after a reaction with avidin or BSA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors)
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Graphical abstract

17 pages, 1232 KiB  
Article
Complete Scene Recovery and Terrain Classification in Textured Terrain Meshes
by Wei Song 1, Kyungeun Cho 1,*, Kyhyun Um 1, Chee Sun Won 2 and Sungdae Sim 3
1 Department of Multimedia Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, 26 Pildong 3 Ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-715, Korea
2 Division of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, 26 Pildong 3 Ga, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-715, Korea
3 Agency for Defense Development, Bugyuseong daero 488 beon gi, Yoseong, Daejeon 305-152, Korea
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11221-11237; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811221 - 13 Aug 2012
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6798
Abstract
Terrain classification allows a mobile robot to create an annotated map of its local environment from the three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) datasets collected by its array of sensors, including a GPS receiver, gyroscope, video camera, and range sensor. However, parts of objects [...] Read more.
Terrain classification allows a mobile robot to create an annotated map of its local environment from the three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) datasets collected by its array of sensors, including a GPS receiver, gyroscope, video camera, and range sensor. However, parts of objects that are outside the measurement range of the range sensor will not be detected. To overcome this problem, this paper describes an edge estimation method for complete scene recovery and complete terrain reconstruction. Here, the Gibbs-Markov random field is used to segment the ground from 2D videos and 3D point clouds. Further, a masking method is proposed to classify buildings and trees in a terrain mesh. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ubiquitous Sensing)
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16 pages, 822 KiB  
Article
Noise Smoothing for Structural Vibration Test Signals Using an Improved Wavelet Thresholding Technique
by Ting-Hua Yi 1,*, Hong-Nan Li 1 and Xiao-Yan Zhao 2
1 Faculty of Infrastructure Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, China
2 Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (group) Co. Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11205-11220; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811205 - 10 Aug 2012
Cited by 130 | Viewed by 10730
Abstract
In structural vibration tests, one of the main factors which disturb the reliability and accuracy of the results are the noise signals encountered. To overcome this deficiency, this paper presents a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) approach to denoise the measured signals. The denoising [...] Read more.
In structural vibration tests, one of the main factors which disturb the reliability and accuracy of the results are the noise signals encountered. To overcome this deficiency, this paper presents a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) approach to denoise the measured signals. The denoising performance of DWT is discussed by several processing parameters, including the type of wavelet, decomposition level, thresholding method, and threshold selection rules. To overcome the disadvantages of the traditional hard- and soft-thresholding methods, an improved thresholding technique called the sigmoid function-based thresholding scheme is presented. The procedure is validated by using four benchmarks signals with three degrees of degradation as well as a real measured signal obtained from a three-story reinforced concrete scale model shaking table experiment. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by computing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) after denoising. Results reveal that the proposed method offers superior performance than the traditional methods no matter whether the signals have heavy or light noises embedded. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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18 pages, 2022 KiB  
Article
A Hybrid TOA-Fingerprinting Based Localization of Mobile Nodes Using UWB Signaling for Non Line-Of-Sight Conditions
by Md. Humayun Kabir * and Ryuji Kohno
Division of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11187-11204; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811187 - 10 Aug 2012
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7848
Abstract
Recently, Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband (IR-UWB) signaling has become popular for providing precise location accuracy for mobile and wireless sensor node localization in the indoor environment due to its large bandwidth and high time resolution while providing ultra-high transmission capacity. However, the Non-line-of-sight [...] Read more.
Recently, Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband (IR-UWB) signaling has become popular for providing precise location accuracy for mobile and wireless sensor node localization in the indoor environment due to its large bandwidth and high time resolution while providing ultra-high transmission capacity. However, the Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) error mitigation has considerable importance in localization of wireless nodes. In order to mitigate NLOS errors in indoor localization this paper proposes and investigates a novel approach which creates a hybrid combination of channel impulse response (CIR)-based fingerprinting (FP) positioning and an iterative Time of Arrival (TOA) real time positioning method using Ultra Wideband (UWB) signaling. Besides, to reduce the calculation complexities in FP method, this paper also introduces a unique idea for the arrangement of reference nodes (or tags) to create a fingerprinting database. The simulation results confirm that the proposed hybrid method yields better positioning accuracies and is much more robust in NLOS error mitigation than TOA only and FP only and a conventional iterative positioning method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ubiquitous Sensing)
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33 pages, 2442 KiB  
Article
An Intelligent Knowledge-Based and Customizable Home Care System Framework with Ubiquitous Patient Monitoring and Alerting Techniques
by Yen-Lin Chen 1, Hsin-Han Chiang 2, Chao-Wei Yu 1, Chuan-Yen Chiang 3, Chuan-Ming Liu 1 and Jenq-Haur Wang 1,*
1 Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Sec. 3, Chung-hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan
2 Department of Electrical Engineering, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan
3 Department of Computer Science, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu 30050, Taiwan
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11154-11186; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811154 - 10 Aug 2012
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 13734
Abstract
This study develops and integrates an efficient knowledge-based system and a component-based framework to design an intelligent and flexible home health care system. The proposed knowledge-based system integrates an efficient rule-based reasoning model and flexible knowledge rules for determining efficiently and rapidly the [...] Read more.
This study develops and integrates an efficient knowledge-based system and a component-based framework to design an intelligent and flexible home health care system. The proposed knowledge-based system integrates an efficient rule-based reasoning model and flexible knowledge rules for determining efficiently and rapidly the necessary physiological and medication treatment procedures based on software modules, video camera sensors, communication devices, and physiological sensor information. This knowledge-based system offers high flexibility for improving and extending the system further to meet the monitoring demands of new patient and caregiver health care by updating the knowledge rules in the inference mechanism. All of the proposed functional components in this study are reusable, configurable, and extensible for system developers. Based on the experimental results, the proposed intelligent homecare system demonstrates that it can accomplish the extensible, customizable, and configurable demands of the ubiquitous healthcare systems to meet the different demands of patients and caregivers under various rehabilitation and nursing conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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Graphical abstract

41 pages, 579 KiB  
Review
A Survey on Clustering Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks
by Xuxun Liu
School of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11113-11153; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811113 - 9 Aug 2012
Cited by 565 | Viewed by 28200
Abstract
The past few years have witnessed increased interest in the potential use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in a wide range of applications and it has become a hot research area. Based on network structure, routing protocols in WSNs can be divided into [...] Read more.
The past few years have witnessed increased interest in the potential use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in a wide range of applications and it has become a hot research area. Based on network structure, routing protocols in WSNs can be divided into two categories: flat routing and hierarchical or clustering routing. Owing to a variety of advantages, clustering is becoming an active branch of routing technology in WSNs. In this paper, we present a comprehensive and fine grained survey on clustering routing protocols proposed in the literature for WSNs. We outline the advantages and objectives of clustering for WSNs, and develop a novel taxonomy of WSN clustering routing methods based on complete and detailed clustering attributes. In particular, we systematically analyze a few prominent WSN clustering routing protocols and compare these different approaches according to our taxonomy and several significant metrics. Finally, we summarize and conclude the paper with some future directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensor Networks)
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13 pages, 1006 KiB  
Article
Design and Fabrication of a Large-Stroke Deformable Mirror Using a Gear-Shape Ionic-Conductive Polymer Metal Composite
by Hsiang-Chun Wei and Guo-Dung John Su *
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Roosevelt Road, Section 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11100-11112; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811100 - 9 Aug 2012
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7216
Abstract
Conventional camera modules with image sensors manipulate the focus or zoom by moving lenses. Although motors, such as voice-coil motors, can move the lens sets precisely, large volume, high power consumption, and long moving time are critical issues for motor-type camera modules. A [...] Read more.
Conventional camera modules with image sensors manipulate the focus or zoom by moving lenses. Although motors, such as voice-coil motors, can move the lens sets precisely, large volume, high power consumption, and long moving time are critical issues for motor-type camera modules. A deformable mirror (DM) provides a good opportunity to improve these issues. The DM is a reflective type optical component which can alter the optical power to focus the lights on the two dimensional optical image sensors. It can make the camera system operate rapidly. Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) is a promising electro-actuated polymer material that can be used in micromachining devices because of its large deformation with low actuation voltage. We developed a convenient simulation model based on Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. We divided an ion exchange polymer, also known as Nafion®, into two virtual layers in the simulation model: one was expansive and the other was contractive, caused by opposite constant surface forces on each surface of the elements. Therefore, the deformation for different IPMC shapes can be described more easily. A standard experiment of voltage vs. tip displacement was used to verify the proposed modeling. Finally, a gear shaped IPMC actuator was designed and tested. Optical power of the IPMC deformable mirror is experimentally demonstrated to be 17 diopters with two volts. The needed voltage was about two orders lower than conventional silicon deformable mirrors and about one order lower than the liquid lens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra-Small Sensor Systems and Components)
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9 pages, 281 KiB  
Letter
Long-Term Stability of the SGA-WZ Strapdown Airborne Gravimeter
by Shaokun Cai *, Kaidong Zhang, Meiping Wu and Yangming Huang
College of Mechatronics and Automation, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410072, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11091-11099; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811091 - 9 Aug 2012
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6944
Abstract
Accelerometers are one of the most important sensors in a strapdown airborne gravimeter. The accelerometer’s drift determines the long-term accuracy of the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS), which is the primary and most critical component of the strapdown airborne gravimeter. A long-term stability [...] Read more.
Accelerometers are one of the most important sensors in a strapdown airborne gravimeter. The accelerometer’s drift determines the long-term accuracy of the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS), which is the primary and most critical component of the strapdown airborne gravimeter. A long-term stability test lasting 104 days was conducted to determine the characteristics of the strapdown airborne gravimeter’s long-term drift. This stability test was based on the first set of strapdown airborne gravimeters built in China, the SGA-WZ. The test results reveal a quadratic drift in the strapdown airborne gravimeter data. A drift model was developed using the static data in the two end sections, and then this model was used to correct the test data. After compensating for the drift, the drift effect improved from 70 mGal to 3.46 mGal with a standard deviation of 0.63 mGal. The quadratic curve better reflects the drift’s real characteristics. In comparison with other methodologies, modelling the drift as a quadratic curve was shown to be more appropriate. Furthermore, this method allows the drift to be adjusted throughout the course of the entire campaign. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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14 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Closed Loop Control of Penetration Depth during CO2 Laser Lap Welding Processes
by Teresa Sibillano 1,*, Domenico Rizzi 1, Francesco P. Mezzapesa 1, Pietro Mario Lugarà 1, Ali Riza Konuk 2, Ronald Aarts 2, Bert Huis in ’t Veld 2 and Antonio Ancona 1
1 CNR-IFN Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, UOS Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
2 Laboratory of Mechanical Automation, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11077-11090; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811077 - 9 Aug 2012
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7440
Abstract
In this paper we describe a novel spectroscopic closed loop control system capable of stabilizing the penetration depth during laser welding processes by controlling the laser power. Our novel approach is to analyze the optical emission from the laser generated plasma plume above [...] Read more.
In this paper we describe a novel spectroscopic closed loop control system capable of stabilizing the penetration depth during laser welding processes by controlling the laser power. Our novel approach is to analyze the optical emission from the laser generated plasma plume above the keyhole, to calculate its electron temperature as a process-monitoring signal. Laser power has been controlled by using a quantitative relationship between the penetration depth and the plasma electron temperature. The sensor is able to correlate in real time the difference between the measured electron temperature and its reference value for the requested penetration depth. Accordingly the closed loop system adjusts the power, thus maintaining the penetration depth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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16 pages, 553 KiB  
Article
Fault Diagnostics for Turbo-Shaft Engine Sensors Based on a Simplified On-Board Model
by Feng Lu *, Jinquan Huang and Yaodong Xing
College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11061-11076; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811061 - 9 Aug 2012
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7693
Abstract
Combining a simplified on-board turbo-shaft model with sensor fault diagnostic logic, a model-based sensor fault diagnosis method is proposed. The existing fault diagnosis method for turbo-shaft engine key sensors is mainly based on a double redundancies technique, and this can’t be satisfied in [...] Read more.
Combining a simplified on-board turbo-shaft model with sensor fault diagnostic logic, a model-based sensor fault diagnosis method is proposed. The existing fault diagnosis method for turbo-shaft engine key sensors is mainly based on a double redundancies technique, and this can’t be satisfied in some occasions as lack of judgment. The simplified on-board model provides the analytical third channel against which the dual channel measurements are compared, while the hardware redundancy will increase the structure complexity and weight. The simplified turbo-shaft model contains the gas generator model and the power turbine model with loads, this is built up via dynamic parameters method. Sensor fault detection, diagnosis (FDD) logic is designed, and two types of sensor failures, such as the step faults and the drift faults, are simulated. When the discrepancy among the triplex channels exceeds a tolerance level, the fault diagnosis logic determines the cause of the difference. Through this approach, the sensor fault diagnosis system achieves the objectives of anomaly detection, sensor fault diagnosis and redundancy recovery. Finally, experiments on this method are carried out on a turbo-shaft engine, and two types of faults under different channel combinations are presented. The experimental results show that the proposed method for sensor fault diagnostics is efficient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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48 pages, 971 KiB  
Review
Fully Integrated Biochip Platforms for Advanced Healthcare
by Sandro Carrara 1,*, Sara Ghoreishizadeh 1, Jacopo Olivo 1, Irene Taurino 1, Camilla Baj-Rossi 1, Andrea Cavallini 1, Maaike Op de Beeck 2, Catherine Dehollain 1, Wayne Burleson 3, Francis Gabriel Moussy 4, Anthony Guiseppi-Elie 5,6 and Giovanni De Micheli 1
1 École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
2 Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
3 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
4 Brunel Institute for Bioengineering, University of Brunel, West London, UB8 3PH, UK
5 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips, Clemson University, Anderson, SC 29625, USA
6 ABTECH Scientific, Inc., Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 11013-11060; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120811013 - 8 Aug 2012
Cited by 70 | Viewed by 16810
Abstract
Recent advances in microelectronics and biosensors are enabling developments of innovative biochips for advanced healthcare by providing fully integrated platforms for continuous monitoring of a large set of human disease biomarkers. Continuous monitoring of several human metabolites can be addressed by using fully [...] Read more.
Recent advances in microelectronics and biosensors are enabling developments of innovative biochips for advanced healthcare by providing fully integrated platforms for continuous monitoring of a large set of human disease biomarkers. Continuous monitoring of several human metabolites can be addressed by using fully integrated and minimally invasive devices located in the sub-cutis, typically in the peritoneal region. This extends the techniques of continuous monitoring of glucose currently being pursued with diabetic patients. However, several issues have to be considered in order to succeed in developing fully integrated and minimally invasive implantable devices. These innovative devices require a high-degree of integration, minimal invasive surgery, long-term biocompatibility, security and privacy in data transmission, high reliability, high reproducibility, high specificity, low detection limit and high sensitivity. Recent advances in the field have already proposed possible solutions for several of these issues. The aim of the present paper is to present a broad spectrum of recent results and to propose future directions of development in order to obtain fully implantable systems for the continuous monitoring of the human metabolism in advanced healthcare applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochips)
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23 pages, 1296 KiB  
Article
A Comparison between Metaheuristics as Strategies for Minimizing Cyclic Instability in Ambient Intelligence
by Leoncio A. Romero 1,*, Victor Zamudio 1, Rosario Baltazar 1, Efren Mezura 2, Marco Sotelo 1 and Vic Callaghan 3
1 Division of Research and Postgraduate Studies, Leon Institute of Technology, Leon, Guanajuato 37290, Mexico
2 Laboratorio Nacional de Informatica Avanzada, Xalapa, Veracruz 91000, Mexico
3 School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex,Wivenhoe Park CO4 3SQ, UK
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10990-11012; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810990 - 8 Aug 2012
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6975
Abstract
In this paper we present a comparison between six novel approaches to the fundamental problem of cyclic instability in Ambient Intelligence. These approaches are based on different optimization algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Bee Swarm Optimization (BSO), micro Particle Swarm Optimization (μ-PSO), Artificial [...] Read more.
In this paper we present a comparison between six novel approaches to the fundamental problem of cyclic instability in Ambient Intelligence. These approaches are based on different optimization algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Bee Swarm Optimization (BSO), micro Particle Swarm Optimization (μ-PSO), Artificial Immune System (AIS), Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Mutual Information Maximization for Input Clustering (MIMIC). In order to be able to use these algorithms, we introduced the concept of Average Cumulative Oscillation (ACO), which enabled us to measure the average behavior of the system. This approach has the advantage that it does not need to analyze the topological properties of the system, in particular the loops, which can be computationally expensive. In order to test these algorithms we used the well-known discrete system called the Game of Life for 9, 25, 49 and 289 agents. It was found that PSO and μ-PSO have the best performance in terms of the number of agents locked. These results were confirmed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. This novel and successful approach is very promising and can be used to remove instabilities in real scenarios with a large number of agents (including nomadic agents) and complex interactions and dependencies among them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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10 pages, 321 KiB  
Article
Use of a Combined SpO2/PtcCO2 Sensor in the Delivery Room
by Serena Antonia Rubortone, Maria Pia De Carolis *, Serafina Lacerenza, Iliana Bersani, Federica Occhipinti and Costantino Romagnoli
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 8, I-00168 Rome, Italy
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10980-10989; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810980 - 8 Aug 2012
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 11146
Abstract
Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) are important respiratory parameters in critically ill neonates. A sensor combining a pulse oximeter with the Stow-Severinghaus electrode, required for the measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO [...] Read more.
Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) are important respiratory parameters in critically ill neonates. A sensor combining a pulse oximeter with the Stow-Severinghaus electrode, required for the measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PtcCO2), respectively, has been recently used in neonatal clinical practice (TOSCA500ÒRadiometer). We evaluated TOSCA usability and reliability in the delivery room (DR), throughout three different periods, on term, late-preterm, and preterm neonates. During the first period (period A), 30 healthy term neonates were simultaneously monitored with both TOSCA and a MASIMO pulse oximeter. During the second period (period B), 10 healthy late-preterm neonates were monitored with both TOSCA and a transcutaneous device measuring PtcCO2 (TINAÒ TCM3, Radiometer). During the third period (period C), 15 preterm neonates were monitored with TOSCA and MASIMO after birth, during stabilization, and during transport to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Blood gas analyses were performed to compare transcutaneous and blood gas values. TOSCA resulted easily and safely usable in the DR, allowing reliable noninvasive SaO2 estimation. Since PtcCO2 measurements with TOSCA required at least 10 min to be stable and reliable, this parameter was not useful during the early resuscitation immediately after birth. Moreover, PtcCO2 levels were less precise if compared to the conventional transcutaneous monitoring. However, PtcCO2 measurement by TOSCA was useful as trend-monitoring after stabilization and during transport to NICU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Sensors Technology in Italy 2012)
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16 pages, 583 KiB  
Article
The Combined Application of Impinger System and Permeation Tube for the Generation of Volatile Organic Compound Standard Gas Mixtures at Varying Diluent Flow Rates
by Ki-Hyun Kim 1,*, Janice Susaya 1, Jinwoo Cho 1 and David Parker 2
1 Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea
2 College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX 79016, USA
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10964-10979; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810964 - 8 Aug 2012
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7807
Abstract
Commercial standard gas generators are often complex and expensive devices. The objective of this research was to assess the performance of a simplified glass impinger system for standard gas generation from a permeation tube (PT) device. The performance of the impinger standard gas [...] Read more.
Commercial standard gas generators are often complex and expensive devices. The objective of this research was to assess the performance of a simplified glass impinger system for standard gas generation from a permeation tube (PT) device. The performance of the impinger standard gas generation system was assessed for four aromatic VOCs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m-xylene; BTEX) at varying flow rates (FR) of 50 to 800 mL·min−1. Because actual permeation rate (APR) values deviated from those computed by the manufacturer’s formula (MPR), new empirical relationships were developed to derive the predicted PR (PPR) of the target components. Experimental results corrected by such a formula indicate that the compatibility between the APR and MPR generally increased with low FR, while the reproducibility was generally reduced with decreasing flow rate. Although compatibility between different PRs is at a relatively small and narrow FR range, the use of correction formula is recommendable for the accurate use of PT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Odor Detection: Electronic Nose, Olfactometer, and Advanced Instrumentation)
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17 pages, 2439 KiB  
Article
Adaptive Color Calibration Based One-Shot Structured Light System
by Yu Zhou *, Dongwei Zhao, Yao Yu, Jie Yuan and Sidan Du *
School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10947-10963; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810947 - 8 Aug 2012
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7981
Abstract
In one-shot color structured light systems, the color of stripe patterns are typically distorted with respect to color crosstalk, ambient light and the albedo of the scanned objects, leading to mismatch in the correspondence of color stripes between the projected and captured images. [...] Read more.
In one-shot color structured light systems, the color of stripe patterns are typically distorted with respect to color crosstalk, ambient light and the albedo of the scanned objects, leading to mismatch in the correspondence of color stripes between the projected and captured images. In this paper, an adaptive color calibration and Discrete Trend Transform algorithm are presented to achieve high-resolution 3D reconstructions. The adaptive color calibration, according to the relative albedo in RGB channels, can improve the accuracy of labeling stripe by alleviating the effect of albedo and ambient light while decoding the color. Furthermore, the Discrete Trend Transform in the M channel makes the color calibration an effective method for detecting weak stripes due to the uneven surfaces or reflectance characteristics of the scanned objects. With this approach, the presented system is suitable for scanning moving objects and generating high-resolution 3D reconstructions without the need of dark laboratory environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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17 pages, 372 KiB  
Article
A Beacon Interval Shifting Scheme for Interference Mitigation in Body Area Networks
by Seungku Kim, Seokhwan Kim, Jin-Woo Kim and Doo-Seop Eom *
Department of Electrical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Korea
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10930-10946; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810930 - 7 Aug 2012
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6620
Abstract
This paper investigates the issue of interference avoidance in body area networks (BANs). IEEE 802.15 Task Group 6 presented several schemes to reduce such interference, but these schemes are still not proper solutions for BANs. We present a novel distributed TDMA-based beacon interval [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the issue of interference avoidance in body area networks (BANs). IEEE 802.15 Task Group 6 presented several schemes to reduce such interference, but these schemes are still not proper solutions for BANs. We present a novel distributed TDMA-based beacon interval shifting scheme that reduces interference in the BANs. A design goal of the scheme is to avoid the wakeup period of each BAN coinciding with other networks by employing carrier sensing before a beacon transmission. We analyze the beacon interval shifting scheme and investigate the proper back-off length when the channel is busy. We compare the performance of the proposed scheme with the schemes presented in IEEE 802.15 Task Group 6 using an OMNeT++ simulation. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme has a lower packet loss, energy consumption, and delivery-latency than the schemes of IEEE 802.15 Task Group 6. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensor Networks)
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10 pages, 477 KiB  
Article
Aircraft Aerodynamic Parameter Detection Using Micro Hot-Film Flow Sensor Array and BP Neural Network Identification
by Ruiyi Que and Rong Zhu *
State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments and Mechanology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10920-10929; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810920 - 7 Aug 2012
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 9439
Abstract
Air speed, angle of sideslip and angle of attack are fundamental aerodynamic parameters for controlling most aircraft. For small aircraft for which conventional detecting devices are too bulky and heavy to be utilized, a novel and practical methodology by which the aerodynamic parameters [...] Read more.
Air speed, angle of sideslip and angle of attack are fundamental aerodynamic parameters for controlling most aircraft. For small aircraft for which conventional detecting devices are too bulky and heavy to be utilized, a novel and practical methodology by which the aerodynamic parameters are inferred using a micro hot-film flow sensor array mounted on the surface of the wing is proposed. A back-propagation neural network is used to model the coupling relationship between readings of the sensor array and aerodynamic parameters. Two different sensor arrangements are tested in wind tunnel experiments and dependence of the system performance on the sensor arrangement is analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultra-Small Sensor Systems and Components)
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14 pages, 679 KiB  
Article
Novel Fiber Optic Sensor Probe with a Pair of Highly Reflected Connectors and a Vessel of Water Absorption Material for Water Leak Detection
by Tae-Sik Cho 1, Ki-Sun Choi 1, Dae-Cheol Seo 1, Il-Bum Kwon 1,* and Jung-Ryul Lee 2
1 Center for Safety Measurement, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, 1 Doryong-dong Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-340, Korea
2 Department of Aerospace Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10906-10919; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810906 - 7 Aug 2012
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8684
Abstract
The use of a fiber optic quasi-distributed sensing technique for detecting the location and severity of water leakage is suggested. A novel fiber optic sensor probe is devised with a vessel of water absorption material called as water combination soil (WCS) located between [...] Read more.
The use of a fiber optic quasi-distributed sensing technique for detecting the location and severity of water leakage is suggested. A novel fiber optic sensor probe is devised with a vessel of water absorption material called as water combination soil (WCS) located between two highly reflected connectors: one is a reference connector and the other is a sensing connector. In this study, the sensing output is calculated from the reflected light signals of the two connectors. The first reflected light signal is a reference and the second is a sensing signal which is attenuated by the optical fiber bending loss due to the WCS expansion absorbing water. Also, the bending loss of each sensor probe is determined by referring to the total number of sensor probes and the total power budget of an entire system. We have investigated several probe characteristics to show the design feasibility of the novel fiber sensor probe. The effects of vessel sizes of the probes on the water detection sensitivity are studied. The largest vessel probe provides the highest sensitivity of 0.267 dB/mL, while the smallest shows relatively low sensitivity of 0.067 dB/mL, and unstable response. The sensor probe with a high output value provides a high sensitivity with various detection levels while the number of total installable sensor probes decreases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Fiber Sensors 2012)
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16 pages, 1298 KiB  
Article
Determination of Soil Pore Water Salinity Using an FDR Sensor Working at Various Frequencies up to 500 MHz
by Andrzej Wilczek 1, Agnieszka Szypłowska 1,*, Wojciech Skierucha 1, Jolanta Cieśla 1, Viliam Pichler 2 and Grzegorz Janik 3
1 Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
2 Department of Natural Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia
3 Institute of Environmental Protection and Development, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Pl. Grunwaldzki 24, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10890-10905; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810890 - 7 Aug 2012
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 9734
Abstract
This paper presents the application of a frequency-domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor designed for soil salinity assessment of sandy mineral soils in a wide range of soil moisture and bulk electrical conductivity, through the determination of soil complex dielectric permittivity spectra in the frequency [...] Read more.
This paper presents the application of a frequency-domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor designed for soil salinity assessment of sandy mineral soils in a wide range of soil moisture and bulk electrical conductivity, through the determination of soil complex dielectric permittivity spectra in the frequency range 10–500 MHz. The real part of dielectric permittivity was assessed from the 380–440 MHz, while the bulk electrical conductivity was calculated from the 165–325 MHz range. The FDR technique allows determination of bulk electrical conductivity from the imaginary part of the complex dielectric permittivity, without disregarding the dielectric losses. The soil salinity status was determined using the salinity index, defined as a partial derivative of the soil bulk electrical conductivity with respect to the real part of the soil complex dielectric permittivity. The salinity index method enables determining the soil water electrical conductivity value. For the five sandy mineral soils that have been tested, the relationship between bulk electrical conductivity and the real part of dielectric permittivity is essentially linear. As a result, the salinity index method applied for FDR measurements may be adapted to field use after examination of loam and clayey soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor-Based Technologies and Processes in Agriculture and Forestry)
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9 pages, 373 KiB  
Article
A Comb-Drive Actuator Driven by Capacitively-Coupled-Power
by Chao-Min Chang 1,2, Shao-Yu Wang 2, Rongshun Chen 1, J. Andrew Yeh 1 and Max T. Hou 2,*
1 Institute of NanoEngineering and MicroSystems, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National United University, 1, Lienda, Miaoli 36003, Taiwan
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10881-10889; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810881 - 7 Aug 2012
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 10845
Abstract
This paper presents a new actuation mechanism to drive comb-drive actuators. An asymmetric configuration of the finger overlap was used to generate capacitive coupling for the actuation mechanism. When the driving voltages were applied on the stators, a voltage would be induced at [...] Read more.
This paper presents a new actuation mechanism to drive comb-drive actuators. An asymmetric configuration of the finger overlap was used to generate capacitive coupling for the actuation mechanism. When the driving voltages were applied on the stators, a voltage would be induced at the rotor due to the capacitive coupling. Then, an electrostatic force would be exerted onto the rotor due to the voltage differences between the stators and the rotor. The actuator’s static displacement and resonant frequency were theoretically analyzed. To verify the design, a comb-drive actuator with different initial finger overlaps, i.e., 159.3 μm and 48.9 μm on each side, was fabricated and tested. The results show that the actuator worked well using the proposed actuation mechanism. A static displacement of 41.7 μm and a resonant frequency of 577 Hz were achieved. Using the actuation mechanism, no electrical connection is required between the rotor and the outside power supply. This makes some comb-drive actuators containing heterogeneous structures easy to design and actuate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transducer Systems)
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10 pages, 673 KiB  
Article
Fast Analysis of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity in Barley Leaves Using Visible and Near Infrared Spectroscopy
by Wenwen Kong 1, Yun Zhao 1,2, Fei Liu 1, Yong He 1,*, Tian Tian 3 and Weijun Zhou 3
1 College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
2 School of Information and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
3 College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Sensors 2012, 12(8), 10871-10880; https://doi.org/10.3390/s120810871 - 7 Aug 2012
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 8229
Abstract
Visible and near infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy was investigated for the fast analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaves. Seven different spectra preprocessing methods were compared. Four regression methods were used for comparison of prediction performance, including partial [...] Read more.
Visible and near infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy was investigated for the fast analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaves. Seven different spectra preprocessing methods were compared. Four regression methods were used for comparison of prediction performance, including partial least squares (PLS), multiple linear regression (MLR), least squares-support vector machine (LS-SVM) and Gaussian process regress (GPR). Successive projections algorithm (SPA) and regression coefficients (RC) were applied to select effective wavelengths (EWs) to develop more parsimonious models. The results indicated that Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG) and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) should be selected as the optimum preprocessing methods. The best prediction performance was achieved by the LV-LS-SVM model on SG spectra, and the correlation coefficients (r) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) were 0.9064 and 0.5336, respectively. The conclusion was that Vis/NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis could be successfully applied for the fast estimation of SOD activity in barley leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Sensors)
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