Sensors

10829 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Emerging Cytokine Biosensors with Optical Detection Modalities and Nanomaterial-Enabled Signal Enhancement

by Manpreet Singh¹, Johnson Truong¹, W. Brian Reeves²

and Jong-in Hahm^1,*

¹ Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, 37th & O Sts. NW., Washington, DC 20057, USA

² Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020428 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 11000

Abstract

Protein biomarkers, especially cytokines, play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases. Therefore, a critical need for advanced cytokine sensors has been rapidly growing and will continue to expand to promote clinical testing, new biomarker development, [...] Read more.

Protein biomarkers, especially cytokines, play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases. Therefore, a critical need for advanced cytokine sensors has been rapidly growing and will continue to expand to promote clinical testing, new biomarker development, and disease studies. In particular, sensors employing transduction principles of various optical modalities have emerged as the most common means of detection. In typical cytokine assays which are based on the binding affinities between the analytes of cytokines and their specific antibodies, optical schemes represent the most widely used mechanisms, with some serving as the gold standard against which all existing and new sensors are benchmarked. With recent advancements in nanoscience and nanotechnology, many of the recently emerging technologies for cytokine detection exploit various forms of nanomaterials for improved sensing capabilities. Nanomaterials have been demonstrated to exhibit exceptional optical properties unique to their reduced dimensionality. Novel sensing approaches based on the newly identified properties of nanomaterials have shown drastically improved performances in both the qualitative and quantitative analyses of cytokines. This article brings together the fundamentals in the literature that are central to different optical modalities developed for cytokine detection. Recent advancements in the applications of novel technologies are also discussed in terms of those that enable highly sensitive and multiplexed cytokine quantification spanning a wide dynamic range. For each highlighted optical technique, its current detection capabilities as well as associated challenges are discussed. Lastly, an outlook for nanomaterial-based cytokine sensors is provided from the perspective of optimizing the technologies for sensitivity and multiplexity as well as promoting widespread adaptations of the emerging optical techniques by lowering high thresholds currently present in the new approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Materials on Biosensors Application)

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Graphical abstract

2777 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dual MIMU Pedestrian Navigation by Inequality Constraint Kalman Filtering

by Wei Shi^1,*

, Yang Wang¹ and Yuanxin Wu²

¹ School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

² Shanghai Key Laboratory of Navigation and Location based Services, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020427 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5428

Abstract

The foot-mounted inertial navigation system is an important method of pedestrian navigation as it, in principle, does not rely any external assistance. A real-time range decomposition constraint method is proposed in this paper to combine the information of dual foot-mounted inertial navigation systems. [...] Read more.

The foot-mounted inertial navigation system is an important method of pedestrian navigation as it, in principle, does not rely any external assistance. A real-time range decomposition constraint method is proposed in this paper to combine the information of dual foot-mounted inertial navigation systems. It is well known that low-cost inertial pedestrian navigation aided with both ZUPT (zero velocity update) and the range decomposition constraint performs better than those in their own respective methods. This paper recommends that the separation distance between the position estimates of the two foot-mounted inertial navigation systems be restricted by an ellipsoidal constraint that relates to the maximum step length and the leg height. The performance of the proposed method is studied by utilizing experimental data, and the results indicate that the method can effectively correct the dual navigation systems’ position over the traditional spherical constraint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue System-Integrated Intelligence and Intelligent Systems)

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Open AccessArticle

The Impact of 3D Stacking and Technology Scaling on the Power and Area of Stereo Matching Processors

by Seung-Ho Ok¹, Yong-Hwan Lee², Jae Hoon Shim³, Sung Kyu Lim⁴ and Byungin Moon^3,*

¹ Samsung Electronics, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 18448, Korea

² School of Electronic Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Korea

³ School of Electronics Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea

⁴ School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020426 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5791

Abstract

Recently, stereo matching processors have been adopted in real-time embedded systems such as intelligent robots and autonomous vehicles, which require minimal hardware resources and low power consumption. Meanwhile, thanks to the through-silicon via (TSV), three-dimensional (3D) stacking technology has emerged as a practical [...] Read more.

Recently, stereo matching processors have been adopted in real-time embedded systems such as intelligent robots and autonomous vehicles, which require minimal hardware resources and low power consumption. Meanwhile, thanks to the through-silicon via (TSV), three-dimensional (3D) stacking technology has emerged as a practical solution to achieving the desired requirements of a high-performance circuit. In this paper, we present the benefits of 3D stacking and process technology scaling on stereo matching processors. We implemented 2-tier 3D-stacked stereo matching processors with GlobalFoundries 130-nm and Nangate 45-nm process design kits and compare them with their two-dimensional (2D) counterparts to identify comprehensive design benefits. In addition, we examine the findings from various analyses to identify the power benefits of 3D-stacked integrated circuit (IC) and device technology advancements. From experiments, we observe that the proposed 3D-stacked ICs, compared to their 2D IC counterparts, obtain 43% area, 13% power, and 14% wire length reductions. In addition, we present a logic partitioning method suitable for a pipeline-based hardware architecture that minimizes the use of TSVs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances on Resources Management for Multi-Platform Infrastructures)

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Open AccessArticle

A New Deep Learning Model for Fault Diagnosis with Good Anti-Noise and Domain Adaptation Ability on Raw Vibration Signals

by Wei Zhang, Gaoliang Peng^*, Chuanhao Li, Yuanhang Chen and Zhujun Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92 Xidazhi Street, Harbin 150001, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020425 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 1289 | Viewed by 28766

Abstract

Intelligent fault diagnosis techniques have replaced time-consuming and unreliable human analysis, increasing the efficiency of fault diagnosis. Deep learning models can improve the accuracy of intelligent fault diagnosis with the help of their multilayer nonlinear mapping ability. This paper proposes a novel method [...] Read more.

Intelligent fault diagnosis techniques have replaced time-consuming and unreliable human analysis, increasing the efficiency of fault diagnosis. Deep learning models can improve the accuracy of intelligent fault diagnosis with the help of their multilayer nonlinear mapping ability. This paper proposes a novel method named Deep Convolutional Neural Networks with Wide First-layer Kernels (WDCNN). The proposed method uses raw vibration signals as input (data augmentation is used to generate more inputs), and uses the wide kernels in the first convolutional layer for extracting features and suppressing high frequency noise. Small convolutional kernels in the preceding layers are used for multilayer nonlinear mapping. AdaBN is implemented to improve the domain adaptation ability of the model. The proposed model addresses the problem that currently, the accuracy of CNN applied to fault diagnosis is not very high. WDCNN can not only achieve 100% classification accuracy on normal signals, but also outperform the state-of-the-art DNN model which is based on frequency features under different working load and noisy environment conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

Experimental Validation of Depth Cameras for the Parameterization of Functional Balance of Patients in Clinical Tests

by Francisco-Ángel Moreno^1,†, José Antonio Merchán-Baeza^2,†, Manuel González-Sánchez^2,3, Javier González-Jiménez¹

and Antonio I. Cuesta-Vargas^2,4,*

¹ MAPIR-UMA Group, Department Ingeniería de Sistemas y Automática. Universidad de Málaga, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga 29071, Spain

² Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidad de Málaga, Grupo Clinimetría FE-14, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga 29071, Spain

³ Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén 23071, Spain

⁴ School of Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Health, the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020424 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6070

Abstract

In clinical practice, patients’ balance can be assessed using standard scales. Two of the most validated clinical tests for measuring balance are the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the MultiDirectional Reach Test (MDRT). Nowadays, inertial sensors (IS) are employed for kinematic [...] Read more.

In clinical practice, patients’ balance can be assessed using standard scales. Two of the most validated clinical tests for measuring balance are the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the MultiDirectional Reach Test (MDRT). Nowadays, inertial sensors (IS) are employed for kinematic analysis of functional tests in the clinical setting, and have become an alternative to expensive, 3D optical motion capture systems. In daily clinical practice, however, IS-based setups are yet cumbersome and inconvenient to apply. Current depth cameras have the potential for such application, presenting many advantages as, for instance, being portable, low-cost and minimally-invasive. This paper aims at experimentally validating to what extent this technology can substitute IS for the parameterization and kinematic analysis of the TUG and the MDRT tests. Twenty healthy young adults were recruited as participants to perform five different balance tests while kinematic data from their movements were measured by both a depth camera and an inertial sensor placed on their trunk. The reliability of the camera’s measurements is examined through the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), whilst the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (r) is computed to evaluate the correlation between both sensor’s measurements, revealing excellent reliability and strong correlations in most cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sensors for Globalized Healthy Living and Wellbeing)

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Open AccessArticle

A Temperature-Dependent Battery Model for Wireless Sensor Networks

by Leonardo M. Rodrigues^1,*, Carlos Montez¹

, Ricardo Moraes², Paulo Portugal³ and Francisco Vasques³

¹ Department of Automation and Systems, UFSC—Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Brazil

² Department of Computing, UFSC—Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88905-120 Araranguá, Brazil

³ INEGI/INESC-TEC—Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020422 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 7507

Abstract

Energy consumption is a major issue in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), as nodes are powered by chemical batteries with an upper bounded lifetime. Estimating the lifetime of batteries is a difficult task, as it depends on several factors, such as operating temperatures and [...] Read more.

Energy consumption is a major issue in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), as nodes are powered by chemical batteries with an upper bounded lifetime. Estimating the lifetime of batteries is a difficult task, as it depends on several factors, such as operating temperatures and discharge rates. Analytical battery models can be used for estimating both the battery lifetime and the voltage behavior over time. Still, available models usually do not consider the impact of operating temperatures on the battery behavior. The target of this work is to extend the widely-used Kinetic Battery Model (KiBaM) to include the effect of temperature on the battery behavior. The proposed Temperature-Dependent KiBaM (T-KiBaM) is able to handle operating temperatures, providing better estimates for the battery lifetime and voltage behavior. The performed experimental validation shows that T-KiBaM achieves an average accuracy error smaller than 0.33%, when estimating the lifetime of Ni-MH batteries for different temperature conditions. In addition, T-KiBaM significantly improves the original KiBaM voltage model. The proposed model can be easily adapted to handle other battery technologies, enabling the consideration of different WSN deployments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks)

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Open AccessArticle

Efficient Data Collection in Widely Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks with Time Window and Precedence Constraints

by Peng Liu, Tingting Fu^*, Jia Xu and Yue Ding

Key Laboratory of Complex Systems Modeling and Simulation, School of Computer Science, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020421 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4825

Abstract

In addition to the traditional densely deployed cases, widely distributed wireless sensor networks (WDWSNs) have begun to emerge. In these networks, sensors are far away from each other and have no network connections. In this paper, a special application of data collection for [...] Read more.

In addition to the traditional densely deployed cases, widely distributed wireless sensor networks (WDWSNs) have begun to emerge. In these networks, sensors are far away from each other and have no network connections. In this paper, a special application of data collection for WDWSNs is considered where each sensor (Unmanned Ground Vehicle, UGV) moves in a hazardous and complex terrain with many obstacles. They have their own work cycles and can be accessed only at a few locations. A mobile sink cruises on the ground to collect data gathered from these UGVs. Considerable delay is inevitable if the UGV and the mobile sink miss the meeting window or wait idly at the meeting spot. The unique challenge here is that, for each cycle of an UGV, there is only a limited time window for it to appear in front of the mobile sink. Therefore, we propose scheduling the path of a single mobile sink, targeted at visiting a maximum number of UGVs in a timely manner with the shortest path, according to the timing constraints bound by the cycles of UGVs. We then propose a bipartite matching based algorithm to reduce the number of mobile sinks. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve performance close to the theoretical maximum determined by the duty cycle instance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enabling the Move from Wireless Sensor Networks to Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems)

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Open AccessArticle

A Soft Sensor-Based Three-Dimensional (3-D) Finger Motion Measurement System

by Wookeun Park

, Kyongkwan Ro, Suin Kim and Joonbum Bae^*

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Korea

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020420 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 17060

Abstract

In this study, a soft sensor-based three-dimensional (3-D) finger motion measurement system is proposed. The sensors, made of the soft material Ecoflex, comprise embedded microchannels filled with a conductive liquid metal (EGaln). The superior elasticity, light weight, and sensitivity of soft sensors allows [...] Read more.

In this study, a soft sensor-based three-dimensional (3-D) finger motion measurement system is proposed. The sensors, made of the soft material Ecoflex, comprise embedded microchannels filled with a conductive liquid metal (EGaln). The superior elasticity, light weight, and sensitivity of soft sensors allows them to be embedded in environments in which conventional sensors cannot. Complicated finger joints, such as the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the thumb are modeled to specify the location of the sensors. Algorithms to decouple the signals from soft sensors are proposed to extract the pure flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction joint angles. The performance of the proposed system and algorithms are verified by comparison with a camera-based motion capture system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Electronics and Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

Long Term Amperometric Recordings in the Brain Extracellular Fluid of Freely Moving Immunocompromised NOD SCID Mice

by Caroline H. Reid and Niall J. Finnerty^*

Chemistry Department, Maynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare W23 F2H6, Ireland

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020419 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4584

Abstract

We describe the in vivo characterization of microamperometric sensors for the real-time monitoring of nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O₂) in the striatum of immunocompromised NOD SCID mice. The latter strain has been utilized routinely in the establishment of humanized models [...] Read more.

We describe the in vivo characterization of microamperometric sensors for the real-time monitoring of nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O₂) in the striatum of immunocompromised NOD SCID mice. The latter strain has been utilized routinely in the establishment of humanized models of disease e.g., Parkinson’s disease. NOD SCID mice were implanted with highly sensitive and selective NO and O₂ sensors that have been previously characterized both in vitro and in freely moving rats. Animals were systemically administered compounds that perturbed the amperometric current and confirmed sensor performance. Furthermore, the stability of the amperometric current was investigated and 24 h recordings examined. Saline injections caused transient changes in both currents that were not significant from baseline. l-NAME caused significant decreases in NO (p < 0.05) and O₂ (p < 0.001) currents compared to saline. l-Arginine produced a significant increase (p < 0.001) in NO current, and chloral hydrate and Diamox (acetazolamide) caused significant increases in O₂ signal (p < 0.01) compared against saline. The stability of both currents were confirmed over an eight-day period and analysis of 24-h recordings identified diurnal variations in both signals. These findings confirm the efficacy of the amperometric sensors to perform continuous and reliable recordings in immunocompromised mice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors)

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Open AccessArticle

Data Collection and Analysis Using Wearable Sensors for Monitoring Knee Range of Motion after Total Knee Arthroplasty

by Chih-Yen Chiang¹

, Kun-Hui Chen^1,2, Kai-Chun Liu¹

, Steen Jun-Ping Hsu³

and Chia-Tai Chan^1,*

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Nong St., Section 2, Peitou, Taipei 11221, Taiwan

² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650 Taiwan Boulevard Section 4, Taichung 40705, Taiwan

³ Department of Information Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, No.1, Xinxing Road, Hsinchu 30401, Taiwan

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020418 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 9187

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most common treatment for degenerative osteoarthritis of that articulation. However, either in rehabilitation clinics or in hospital wards, the knee range of motion (ROM) can currently only be assessed using a goniometer. In order to provide continuous [...] Read more.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most common treatment for degenerative osteoarthritis of that articulation. However, either in rehabilitation clinics or in hospital wards, the knee range of motion (ROM) can currently only be assessed using a goniometer. In order to provide continuous and objective measurements of knee ROM, we propose the use of wearable inertial sensors to record the knee ROM during the recovery progress. Digitalized and objective data can assist the surgeons to control the recovery status and flexibly adjust rehabilitation programs during the early acute inpatient stage. The more knee flexion ROM regained during the early inpatient period, the better the long-term knee recovery will be and the sooner early discharge can be achieved. The results of this work show that the proposed wearable sensor approach can provide an alternative for continuous monitoring and objective assessment of knee ROM recovery progress for TKA patients compared to the traditional goniometer measurements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable and Ambient Sensors for Healthcare and Wellness Applications)

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5264 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

Inertial Navigation System/Doppler Velocity Log (INS/DVL) Fusion with Partial DVL Measurements

by Asaf Tal^1,2,*, Itzik Klein² and Reuven Katz¹

¹ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel

² Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, Haifa 3102102, Israel

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020415 - 22 Feb 2017

Cited by 127 | Viewed by 13689

Abstract

The Technion autonomous underwater vehicle (TAUV) is an ongoing project aiming to develop and produce a small AUV to carry on research missions, including payload dropping, and to demonstrate acoustic communication. Its navigation system is based on an inertial navigation system (INS) aided [...] Read more.

The Technion autonomous underwater vehicle (TAUV) is an ongoing project aiming to develop and produce a small AUV to carry on research missions, including payload dropping, and to demonstrate acoustic communication. Its navigation system is based on an inertial navigation system (INS) aided by a Doppler velocity log (DVL), magnetometer, and pressure sensor (PS). In many INSs, such as the one used in TAUV, only the velocity vector (provided by the DVL) can be used for aiding the INS, i.e., enabling only a loosely coupled integration approach. In cases of partial DVL measurements, such as failure to maintain bottom lock, the DVL cannot estimate the vehicle velocity. Thus, in partial DVL situations no velocity data can be integrated into the TAUV INS, and as a result its navigation solution will drift in time. To circumvent that problem, we propose a DVL-based vehicle velocity solution using the measured partial raw data of the DVL and additional information, thereby deriving an extended loosely coupled (ELC) approach. The implementation of the ELC approach requires only software modification. In addition, we present the TAUV six degrees of freedom (6DOF) simulation that includes all functional subsystems. Using this simulation, the proposed approach is evaluated and the benefit of using it is shown. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inertial Sensors and Systems 2016)

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Open AccessArticle

A Sensor Data Fusion System Based on k-Nearest Neighbor Pattern Classification for Structural Health Monitoring Applications

by Jaime Vitola^1,4,†, Francesc Pozo^1,*,†

, Diego A. Tibaduiza^2,†

and Maribel Anaya^3,†

¹ Control, Dynamics and Applications (CoDAlab), Departament de Matemàtiques, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Campus Diagonal-Besòs (CDB), Eduard Maristany, 6–12, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona 08930, Spain

² Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra 45 No. 26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia

³ Faculty of Engineering, Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores, Cra 16 No. 63A-68, Bogotá 111221, Colombia

⁴ MEM (Materials-Electronics and Modelling Research Group), Faculty of Electronics Engineering, Universidad Santo Tomás, Cra 9 No. 51-11, Bogotá 110231, Colombia

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020417 - 21 Feb 2017

Cited by 129 | Viewed by 11079

Abstract

Civil and military structures are susceptible and vulnerable to damage due to the environmental and operational conditions. Therefore, the implementation of technology to provide robust solutions in damage identification (by using signals acquired directly from the structure) is a requirement to reduce operational [...] Read more.

Civil and military structures are susceptible and vulnerable to damage due to the environmental and operational conditions. Therefore, the implementation of technology to provide robust solutions in damage identification (by using signals acquired directly from the structure) is a requirement to reduce operational and maintenance costs. In this sense, the use of sensors permanently attached to the structures has demonstrated a great versatility and benefit since the inspection system can be automated. This automation is carried out with signal processing tasks with the aim of a pattern recognition analysis. This work presents the detailed description of a structural health monitoring (SHM) system based on the use of a piezoelectric (PZT) active system. The SHM system includes: (i) the use of a piezoelectric sensor network to excite the structure and collect the measured dynamic response, in several actuation phases; (ii) data organization; (iii) advanced signal processing techniques to define the feature vectors; and finally; (iv) the nearest neighbor algorithm as a machine learning approach to classify different kinds of damage. A description of the experimental setup, the experimental validation and a discussion of the results from two different structures are included and analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue System-Integrated Intelligence and Intelligent Systems)

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Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Fluid in a Porous Transducer-Based Angular Accelerometer

by Siyuan Cheng¹

, Mengyin Fu^1,2, Meiling Wang^1,*, Li Ming¹, Huijin Fu¹ and Tonglei Wang^1,3

¹ School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China

² School of Automation, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China

³ Beijing Automation Control Equipment Institute, Beijing 100074, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020416 - 21 Feb 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5383

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model of the dynamics of liquid flow in an angular accelerometer comprising a porous transducer in a circular tube of liquid. Wave speed and dynamic permeability of the transducer are considered to describe the relation between angular acceleration [...] Read more.

This paper presents a theoretical model of the dynamics of liquid flow in an angular accelerometer comprising a porous transducer in a circular tube of liquid. Wave speed and dynamic permeability of the transducer are considered to describe the relation between angular acceleration and the differential pressure on the transducer. The permeability and streaming potential coupling coefficient of the transducer are determined in the experiments, and special prototypes are utilized to validate the theoretical model in both the frequency and time domains. The model is applied to analyze the influence of structural parameters on the frequency response and the transient response of the fluidic system. It is shown that the radius of the circular tube and the wave speed affect the low frequency gain, as well as the bandwidth of the sensor. The hydrodynamic resistance of the transducer and the cross-section radius of the circular tube can be used to control the transient performance. The proposed model provides the basic techniques to achieve the optimization of the angular accelerometer together with the methodology to control the wave speed and the hydrodynamic resistance of the transducer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

An Adaptive Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Method Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Fault Diagnosis of Planetary Gearbox

by Luyang Jing¹, Taiyong Wang^1,*, Ming Zhao²

and Peng Wang¹

¹ School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China

² School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020414 - 21 Feb 2017

Cited by 341 | Viewed by 19445

Abstract

A fault diagnosis approach based on multi-sensor data fusion is a promising tool to deal with complicated damage detection problems of mechanical systems. Nevertheless, this approach suffers from two challenges, which are (1) the feature extraction from various types of sensory data and [...] Read more.

A fault diagnosis approach based on multi-sensor data fusion is a promising tool to deal with complicated damage detection problems of mechanical systems. Nevertheless, this approach suffers from two challenges, which are (1) the feature extraction from various types of sensory data and (2) the selection of a suitable fusion level. It is usually difficult to choose an optimal feature or fusion level for a specific fault diagnosis task, and extensive domain expertise and human labor are also highly required during these selections. To address these two challenges, we propose an adaptive multi-sensor data fusion method based on deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) for fault diagnosis. The proposed method can learn features from raw data and optimize a combination of different fusion levels adaptively to satisfy the requirements of any fault diagnosis task. The proposed method is tested through a planetary gearbox test rig. Handcraft features, manual-selected fusion levels, single sensory data, and two traditional intelligent models, back-propagation neural networks (BPNN) and a support vector machine (SVM), are used as comparisons in the experiment. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is able to detect the conditions of the planetary gearbox effectively with the best diagnosis accuracy among all comparative methods in the experiment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

Analyzing the Effects of UAV Mobility Patterns on Data Collection in Wireless Sensor Networks

by Sarmad Rashed and Mujdat Soyturk^*

Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020413 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6706

Abstract

Sensor nodes in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) can be dispersed over a remote sensing area (e.g., the regions that are hardly accessed by human beings). In such kinds of networks, datacollectionbecomesoneofthemajorissues. Getting connected to each sensor node and retrieving the information in [...] Read more.

Sensor nodes in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) can be dispersed over a remote sensing area (e.g., the regions that are hardly accessed by human beings). In such kinds of networks, datacollectionbecomesoneofthemajorissues. Getting connected to each sensor node and retrieving the information in time introduces new challenges. Mobile sink usage—especially Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—is the most convenient approach to covering the area and accessing each sensor node in such a large-scale WSN. However, the operation of the UAV depends on some parameters, such as endurance time, altitude, speed, radio type in use, and the path. In this paper, we explore various UAV mobility patterns that follow different paths to sweep the operation area in order to seek the best area coverage with the maximum number of covered nodes in the least amount of time needed by the mobile sink. We also introduce a new metric to formulate the tradeoff between maximizing the covered nodes and minimizing the operation time when choosing the appropriate mobility pattern. A realistic simulation environment is used in order to compare and evaluate the performance of the system. We present the performance results for the explored UAV mobility patterns. The results are very useful to present the tradeoff between maximizing the covered nodes and minimizing the operation time to choose the appropriate mobility pattern. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

An Improved Azimuth Angle Estimation Method with a Single Acoustic Vector Sensor Based on an Active Sonar Detection System

by Anbang Zhao^1,2, Lin Ma^1,2, Xuefei Ma^1,2,*

and Juan Hui^1,2

¹ College of Underwater Acoustic Engineering, Harbin 150001, China

² Science and Technology Underwater Acoustic Laboratory, Harbin 150001, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020412 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6690

Abstract

In this paper, an improved azimuth angle estimation method with a single acoustic vector sensor (AVS) is proposed based on matched filtering theory. The proposed method is mainly applied in an active sonar detection system. According to the conventional passive method based on [...] Read more.

In this paper, an improved azimuth angle estimation method with a single acoustic vector sensor (AVS) is proposed based on matched filtering theory. The proposed method is mainly applied in an active sonar detection system. According to the conventional passive method based on complex acoustic intensity measurement, the mathematical and physical model of this proposed method is described in detail. The computer simulation and lake experiments results indicate that this method can realize the azimuth angle estimation with high precision by using only a single AVS. Compared with the conventional method, the proposed method achieves better estimation performance. Moreover, the proposed method does not require complex operations in frequencydomain and achieves computational complexity reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Method of Neutral Axis Position Determination and Damage Identification with Distributed Long-Gauge FBG Sensors

by Yongsheng Tang^1,*

and Zhongdao Ren²

¹ School of Urban Rail Transportation, Soochow University, Suzhou 215137, China

² Department of Civil Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020411 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6221

Abstract

The neutral axis position (NAP) is a key parameter of a flexural member for structure design and safety evaluation. The accuracy of NAP measurement based on traditional methods does not satisfy the demands of structural performance assessment especially under live traffic loads. In [...] Read more.

The neutral axis position (NAP) is a key parameter of a flexural member for structure design and safety evaluation. The accuracy of NAP measurement based on traditional methods does not satisfy the demands of structural performance assessment especially under live traffic loads. In this paper, a new method to determine NAP is developed by using modal macro-strain (MMS). In the proposed method, macro-strain is first measured with long-gauge Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors; then the MMS is generated from the measured macro-strain with Fourier transform; and finally the neutral axis position coefficient (NAPC) is determined from the MMS and the neutral axis depth is calculated with NAPC. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, some experiments on FE models, steel beam and reinforced concrete (RC) beam were conducted. From the results, the plane section was first verified with MMS of the first bending mode. Then the results confirmed the high accuracy and stability for assessing NAP. The results also proved that the NAPC was a good indicator of local damage. In summary, with the proposed method, accurate assessment of flexural structures can be facilitated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Fiber Bragg Grating Sensing)

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3874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toward Improving Electrocardiogram (ECG) Biometric Verification using Mobile Sensors: A Two-Stage Classifier Approach

by Robin Tan

and Marek Perkowski^*

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020410 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 67 | Viewed by 6933

Abstract

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals sensed from mobile devices pertain the potential for biometric identity recognition applicable in remote access control systems where enhanced data security is demanding. In this study, we propose a new algorithm that consists of a two-stage classifier combining random forest [...] Read more.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals sensed from mobile devices pertain the potential for biometric identity recognition applicable in remote access control systems where enhanced data security is demanding. In this study, we propose a new algorithm that consists of a two-stage classifier combining random forest and wavelet distance measure through a probabilistic threshold schema, to improve the effectiveness and robustness of a biometric recognition system using ECG data acquired from a biosensor integrated into mobile devices. The proposed algorithm is evaluated using a mixed dataset from 184 subjects under different health conditions. The proposed two-stage classifier achieves a total of 99.52% subject verification accuracy, better than the 98.33% accuracy from random forest alone and 96.31% accuracy from wavelet distance measure algorithm alone. These results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm for biometric identification, hence supporting its practicality in areas such as cloud data security, cyber-security or remote healthcare systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors)

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3048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quasi-Static Calibration Method of a High-g Accelerometer

by Yan Wang^1,2,*, Jinbiao Fan², Jing Zu¹ and Peng Xu¹

¹ Science and Technology on Electronic Test and Measurement Laboratory, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China

² School of Computer Science and Control Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020409 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5306

Abstract

To solve the problem of resonance during quasi-static calibration of high-g accelerometers, we deduce the relationship between the minimum excitation pulse width and the resonant frequency of the calibrated accelerometer according to the second-order mathematical model of the accelerometer, and improve the quasi-static [...] Read more.

To solve the problem of resonance during quasi-static calibration of high-g accelerometers, we deduce the relationship between the minimum excitation pulse width and the resonant frequency of the calibrated accelerometer according to the second-order mathematical model of the accelerometer, and improve the quasi-static calibration theory. We establish a quasi-static calibration testing system, which uses a gas gun to generate high-g acceleration signals, and apply a laser interferometer to reproduce the impact acceleration. These signals are used to drive the calibrated accelerometer. By comparing the excitation acceleration signal and the output responses of the calibrated accelerometer to the excitation signals, the impact sensitivity of the calibrated accelerometer is obtained. As indicated by the calibration test results, this calibration system produces excitation acceleration signals with a pulse width of less than 1000 μs, and realize the quasi-static calibration of high-g accelerometers with a resonant frequency above 20 kHz when the calibration error was 3%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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Open AccessArticle

Formal Uncertainty and Dispersion of Single and Double Difference Models for GNSS-Based Attitude Determination

by Wen Chen^1,2,3

, Chao Yu^1,2,3,*, Danan Dong^1,2,3, Miaomiao Cai¹, Feng Zhou¹, Zhiren Wang¹, Lei Zhang^1,2,3 and Zhengqi Zheng^1,3

¹ Engineering Center of SHMEC for Space Information and GNSS, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China

² Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China

³ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multidimensional Information Processing, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020408 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5348

Abstract

With multi-antenna synchronized global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, the single difference (SD) between two antennas is able to eliminate both satellite and receiver clock error, thus it becomes necessary to reconsider the equivalency problem between the SD and double difference (DD) models. [...] Read more.

With multi-antenna synchronized global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, the single difference (SD) between two antennas is able to eliminate both satellite and receiver clock error, thus it becomes necessary to reconsider the equivalency problem between the SD and double difference (DD) models. In this paper, we quantitatively compared the formal uncertainties and dispersions between multiple SD models and the DD model, and also carried out static and kinematic short baseline experiments. The theoretical and experimental results show that under a non-common clock scheme the SD and DD model are equivalent. Under a common clock scheme, if we estimate stochastic uncalibrated phase delay (UPD) parameters every epoch, this SD model is still equivalent to the DD model, but if we estimate only one UPD parameter for all epochs or take it as a known constant, the SD (here called SD2) and DD models are no longer equivalent. For the vertical component of baseline solutions, the formal uncertainties of the SD2 model are two times smaller than those of the DD model, and the dispersions of the SD2 model are even more than twice smaller than those of the DD model. In addition, to obtain baseline solutions, the SD2 model requires a minimum of three satellites, while the DD model requires a minimum of four satellites, which makes the SD2 more advantageous in attitude determination under sheltered environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensors)

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7251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Semantic Web of Things: A Hybrid Semantic Annotation, Extraction, and Reasoning Framework for Cyber-Physical System

by Zhenyu Wu^1,*, Yuan Xu², Yunong Yang², Chunhong Zhang², Xinning Zhu² and Yang Ji^1,2

¹ Information Network Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China

² State Key Laboratory of Networking and Switching Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020403 - 20 Feb 2017

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 8982

Abstract

Web of Things (WoT) facilitates the discovery and interoperability of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in a cyber-physical system (CPS). Moreover, a uniform knowledge representation of physical resources is quite necessary for further composition, collaboration, and decision-making process in CPS. Though several efforts [...] Read more.

Web of Things (WoT) facilitates the discovery and interoperability of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in a cyber-physical system (CPS). Moreover, a uniform knowledge representation of physical resources is quite necessary for further composition, collaboration, and decision-making process in CPS. Though several efforts have integrated semantics with WoT, such as knowledge engineering methods based on semantic sensor networks (SSN), it still could not represent the complex relationships between devices when dynamic composition and collaboration occur, and it totally depends on manual construction of a knowledge base with low scalability. In this paper, to addresses these limitations, we propose the semantic Web of Things (SWoT) framework for CPS (SWoT4CPS). SWoT4CPS provides a hybrid solution with both ontological engineering methods by extending SSN and machine learning methods based on an entity linking (EL) model. To testify to the feasibility and performance, we demonstrate the framework by implementing a temperature anomaly diagnosis and automatic control use case in a building automation system. Evaluation results on the EL method show that linking domain knowledge to DBpedia has a relative high accuracy and the time complexity is at a tolerant level. Advantages and disadvantages of SWoT4CPS with future work are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue System-Integrated Intelligence and Intelligent Systems)

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1556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compliment Graphene Oxide Coating on Silk Fiber Surface via Electrostatic Force for Capacitive Humidity Sensor Applications

by Kook In Han¹, Seungdu Kim¹, In Gyu Lee¹, Jong Pil Kim², Jung-Ha Kim², Suck Won Hong³

, Byung Jin Cho⁴ and Wan Sik Hwang^1,*

¹ Department of Materials Engineering, Korea Aerospace University, Goyang 10540, Korea

² Division of High Technology Materials Research & Molecular Materials Research Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, Busan 168-230, Korea

³ Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Department of Optics and Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea

⁴ Department of Electrical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020407 - 19 Feb 2017

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8174

Abstract

Cylindrical silk fiber (SF) was coated with Graphene oxide (GO) for capacitive humidity sensor applications. Negatively charged GO in the solution was attracted to the positively charged SF surface via electrostatic force without any help from adhesive intermediates. The magnitude of the positively [...] Read more.

Cylindrical silk fiber (SF) was coated with Graphene oxide (GO) for capacitive humidity sensor applications. Negatively charged GO in the solution was attracted to the positively charged SF surface via electrostatic force without any help from adhesive intermediates. The magnitude of the positively charged SF surface was controlled through the static electricity charges created on the SF surface. The GO coating ability on the SF improved as the SF’s positive charge increased. The GO-coated SFs at various conditions were characterized using an optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, and LCR meter. Unlike the intact SF, the GO-coated SF showed clear response-recovery behavior and well-behaved repeatability when it was exposed to 20% relative humidity (RH) and 90% RH alternatively in a capacitive mode. This approach allows humidity sensors to take advantage of GO’s excellent sensing properties and SF’s flexibility, expediting the production of flexible, low power consumption devices at relatively low costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Humidity Sensors)

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4400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Optical Fibre Depth (Pressure) Sensor for Remote Operated Vehicles in Underwater Applications

by Dinesh Babu Duraibabu^1,*

, Sven Poeggel¹

, Edin Omerdic²

, Romano Capocci², Elfed Lewis^1,*

, Thomas Newe^1,2

, Gabriel Leen¹

, Daniel Toal²

and Gerard Dooly²

¹ Optical Fibre Sensors Research Centre, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland

² Mobile & Marine Robotics Research Centre, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020406 - 19 Feb 2017

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 8229

Abstract

A miniature sensor for accurate measurement of pressure (depth) with temperature compensation in the ocean environment is described. The sensor is based on an optical fibre Extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) combined with a Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG). The EFPI provides pressure measurements while [...] Read more.

A miniature sensor for accurate measurement of pressure (depth) with temperature compensation in the ocean environment is described. The sensor is based on an optical fibre Extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) combined with a Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG). The EFPI provides pressure measurements while the Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) provides temperature measurements. The sensor is mechanically robust, corrosion-resistant and suitable for use in underwater applications. The combined pressure and temperature sensor system was mounted on-board a mini remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) in order to monitor the pressure changes at various depths. The reflected optical spectrum from the sensor was monitored online and a pressure or temperature change caused a corresponding observable shift in the received optical spectrum. The sensor exhibited excellent stability when measured over a 2 h period underwater and its performance is compared with a commercially available reference sensor also mounted on the ROV. The measurements illustrates that the EFPI/FBG sensor is more accurate for depth measurements (depth of ~0.020 m). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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3238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Biocompatible Colorimetric Triphenylamine- Dicyanovinyl Conjugated Fluorescent Probe for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Cyanide Ion in Aqueous Media and Living Cells

by Zi-Hua Zheng^1,2, Zhi-Ke Li³, Lin-Jiang Song³, Qi-Wei Wang¹, Qing-Fei Huang^1,* and Li Yang^3,*

¹ Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China

² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

³ Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020405 - 19 Feb 2017

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8207

Abstract

A colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent probe 1 bearing triphenylamine-thiophene and dicyanovinyl groups has been synthesized and used to detect cyanide anion via a nucleophilic addition reaction. Probe 1 exhibited prominent selectivity and sensitivity towards CN⁻ in aqueous media, even in the presence [...] Read more.

A colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent probe 1 bearing triphenylamine-thiophene and dicyanovinyl groups has been synthesized and used to detect cyanide anion via a nucleophilic addition reaction. Probe 1 exhibited prominent selectivity and sensitivity towards CN⁻ in aqueous media, even in the presence of other anions such as S²⁻, HS⁻, SO₃²⁻, S₂O₃²⁻, S₂O₈²⁻, I⁻, Br⁻, Cl⁻, F⁻, NO₂⁻, N₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, SCN⁻, HCO₃⁻, CO₃²⁻ and AcO⁻. Moreover, a low detection limit (LOD, 51 nM) was observed. In addition, good cell membrane permeability and low cytotoxicity to HeLa cells were also observed, suggesting its promising potential in bio-imaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensor)

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13945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Sensing of Urban Microclimate Change in L’Aquila City (Italy) after Post-Earthquake Depopulation in an Open Source GIS Environment

by Valerio Baiocchi^1,*

, Fabio Zottele²

and Donatella Dominici³

¹ Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineeering (DICEA), Sapienza University of Rome, I-00184 Rome, Italy

² Fondazione Mach, Centre for Technology Transfer, I-38010 S. Michele all’Adige (TN), Italy

³ Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural and Environmental Engineering (DICEAA), University of L’Aquila, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020404 - 19 Feb 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6083

Abstract

This work reports a first attempt to use Landsat satellite imagery to identify possible urban microclimate changes in a city center after a seismic event that affected L’Aquila City (Abruzzo Region, Italy), on 6 April 2009. After the main seismic event, the collapse [...] Read more.

This work reports a first attempt to use Landsat satellite imagery to identify possible urban microclimate changes in a city center after a seismic event that affected L’Aquila City (Abruzzo Region, Italy), on 6 April 2009. After the main seismic event, the collapse of part of the buildings, and the damaging of most of them, with the consequence of an almost total depopulation of the historic city center, may have caused alterations to the microclimate. This work develops an inexpensive work flow—using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) scenes—to construct the evolution of urban land use after the catastrophic main seismic event that hit L’Aquila. We hypothesized, that, possibly, before the event, the temperature was higher in the city center due to the presence of inhabitants (and thus home heating); while the opposite case occurred in the surrounding areas, where new settlements of inhabitants grew over a period of a few months. We decided not to look to independent meteorological data in order to avoid being biased in their investigations; thus, only the smallest dataset of Landsat ETM+ scenes were considered as input data in order to describe the thermal evolution of the land surface after the earthquake. We managed to use the Landsat archive images to provide thermal change indications, useful for understanding the urban changes induced by catastrophic events, setting up an easy to implement, robust, reproducible, and fast procedure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Remote Sensing: Monitoring, Synthesis and Modeling in the Urban Environment)

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5114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gimbal Influence on the Stability of Exterior Orientation Parameters of UAV Acquired Images

by Mateo Gašparović^*

and Luka Jurjević

Chair of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020401 - 18 Feb 2017

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 12276

Abstract

In this paper, results from the analysis of the gimbal impact on the determination of the camera exterior orientation parameters of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) are presented and interpreted. Additionally, a new approach and methodology for testing the influence of gimbals on [...] Read more.

In this paper, results from the analysis of the gimbal impact on the determination of the camera exterior orientation parameters of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) are presented and interpreted. Additionally, a new approach and methodology for testing the influence of gimbals on the exterior orientation parameters of UAV acquired images is presented. The main motive of this study is to examine the possibility of obtaining better geometry and favorable spatial bundles of rays of images in UAV photogrammetric surveying. The subject is a 3-axis brushless gimbal based on a controller board (Storm32). Only two gimbal axes are taken into consideration: roll and pitch axes. Testing was done in a flight simulation, and in indoor and outdoor flight mode, to analyze the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and photogrammetric data. Within these tests the change of the exterior orientation parameters without the use of a gimbal is determined, as well as the potential accuracy of the stabilization with the use of a gimbal. The results show that using a gimbal has huge potential. Significantly, smaller discrepancies between data are noticed when a gimbal is used in flight simulation mode, even four times smaller than in other test modes. In this test the potential accuracy of a low budget gimbal for application in real conditions is determined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue UAV-Based Remote Sensing)

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3483 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of Different Methods for Soot Sensing and Filter Monitoring in Diesel Exhausts

by Markus Feulner, Gunter Hagen, Kathrin Hottner, Sabrina Redel, Andreas Müller and Ralf Moos^*

Bayreuth Engine Research Center (BERC), Department of Functional Materials, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020400 - 18 Feb 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9332

Abstract

Due to increasingly tighter emission limits for diesel and gasoline engines, especially concerning particulate matter emissions, particulate filters are becoming indispensable devices for exhaust gas after treatment. Thereby, for an efficient engine and filter control strategy and a cost-efficient filter design, reliable technologies [...] Read more.

Due to increasingly tighter emission limits for diesel and gasoline engines, especially concerning particulate matter emissions, particulate filters are becoming indispensable devices for exhaust gas after treatment. Thereby, for an efficient engine and filter control strategy and a cost-efficient filter design, reliable technologies to determine the soot load of the filters and to measure particulate matter concentrations in the exhaust gas during vehicle operation are highly needed. In this study, different approaches for soot sensing are compared. Measurements were conducted on a dynamometer diesel engine test bench with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The DPF was monitored by a relatively new microwave-based approach. Simultaneously, a resistive type soot sensor and a Pegasor soot sensing device as a reference system measured the soot concentration exhaust upstream of the DPF. By changing engine parameters, different engine out soot emission rates were set. It was found that the microwave-based signal may not only indicate directly the filter loading, but by a time derivative, the engine out soot emission rate can be deduced. Furthermore, by integrating the measured particulate mass in the exhaust, the soot load of the filter can be determined. In summary, all systems coincide well within certain boundaries and the filter itself can act as a soot sensor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Gas Sensors)

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362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Dispersive Infrared Sensor for Online Condition Monitoring of Gearbox Oil

by Markus S. Rauscher^*, Anton J. Tremmel, Michael Schardt and Alexander W. Koch

Institute for Measurement Systems and Sensor Technology, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020399 - 18 Feb 2017

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8254

Abstract

The condition of lubricating oil used in automotive and industrial gearboxes must be controlled in order to guarantee optimum performance and prevent damage to machinery parts. In normal practice, this is done by regular oil change intervals and routine laboratory analysis, both of [...] Read more.

The condition of lubricating oil used in automotive and industrial gearboxes must be controlled in order to guarantee optimum performance and prevent damage to machinery parts. In normal practice, this is done by regular oil change intervals and routine laboratory analysis, both of which involve considerable operating costs. In this paper, we present a compact and robust optical sensor that can be installed in the lubrication circuit to provide quasi-continuous information about the condition of the oil. The measuring principle is based on non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy. The implemented sensor setup consists of an optical measurement cell, two thin-film infrared emitters, and two four-channel pyroelectric detectors equipped with optical bandpass filters. We present a method based on multivariate partial least squares regression to select appropriate optical bandpass filters for monitoring the oxidation, water content, and acid number of the oil. We perform a ray tracing analysis to analyze and correct the influence of the light path in the optical setup on the optical parameters of the bandpass filters. The measurement values acquired with the sensor for three different gearbox oil types show high correlation with laboratory reference data for the oxidation, water content, and acid number. The presented sensor can thus be a useful supplementary tool for the online condition monitoring of lubricants when integrated into a gearbox oil circuit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Sensors)

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5461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Formation and Applications of the Secondary Fiber Bragg Grating

by Bai-Ou Guan^*, Yang Ran

, Fu-Rong Feng

and Long Jin

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications, Institute of Photonics Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020398 - 18 Feb 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5850

Abstract

Being one of the most proven fiber optic devices, the fiber Bragg grating has developed continually to extend its applications, particularly in extreme environments. Accompanying the growth of Type-IIa Bragg gratings in some active fibers, a new resonance appears at the shorter wavelength. [...] Read more.

Being one of the most proven fiber optic devices, the fiber Bragg grating has developed continually to extend its applications, particularly in extreme environments. Accompanying the growth of Type-IIa Bragg gratings in some active fibers, a new resonance appears at the shorter wavelength. This new type of grating was named “secondary Bragg grating” (SBG). This paper describes the formation and applications of the SBGs. The formation of the SBG is attributed to the intracore Talbot-type-fringes as a result of multi-order diffractions of the inscribing beams. The SBG presents a variety of interesting characteristics, including dip merge, high-temperature resistance, distinct temperature response, and the strong higher-order harmonic reflection. These features enable its promising applications in fiber lasers and fiber sensing technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Fiber Bragg Grating Sensing)

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3023 KiB

Open AccessArticle

UW Imaging of Seismic-Physical-Models in Air Using Fiber-Optic Fabry-Perot Interferometer

by Qiangzhou Rong, Yongxin Hao, Ruixiang Zhou, Xunli Yin, Zhihua Shao, Lei Liang and Xueguang Qiao^*

Physics Department, Northwest University, No.229, Taibai Road (North), Xi’an 710069, China

Sensors 2017, 17(2), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17020397 - 17 Feb 2017

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5452

Abstract

A fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) has been proposed and demonstrated for the ultrasound wave (UW) imaging of seismic-physical models. The sensor probe comprises a single mode fiber (SMF) that is inserted into a ceramic tube terminated by an ultra-thin gold film. The probe [...] Read more.

A fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) has been proposed and demonstrated for the ultrasound wave (UW) imaging of seismic-physical models. The sensor probe comprises a single mode fiber (SMF) that is inserted into a ceramic tube terminated by an ultra-thin gold film. The probe performs with an excellent UW sensitivity thanks to the nanolayer gold film, and thus is capable of detecting a weak UW in air medium. Furthermore, the compact sensor is a symmetrical structure so that it presents a good directionality in the UW detection. The spectral band-side filter technique is used for UW interrogation. After scanning the models using the sensing probe in air, the two-dimensional (2D) images of four physical models are reconstructed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)

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