Blog

Antenna Measurement with the R&S FPC1500 Vector Network Analyzer

shabaz

IntroductionOne really useful use-case for a VNA is to characterise antennas. When radio transmitters operate, the signal travels with virtually no loss over a cable (often a coax cable) and then is radiated by an antenna. But some of the energy may ...
- 19 Aug 2018
Programmable Electronic Load - LabVIEW Test Automation: Characterise the Instrument

Jan Cumps

Peter, Jon and I are building a Programmable Electronic Load. In this post I use LabVIEW to automate the measurements on the load itself. I'm buitlding an automated test setup to characterise its behaviourThe process tests the load for a range of vol...
- 16 Aug 2018
Programmable Electronic Load - Write a LabVIEW Library part 7: Raw ADC Block

Jan Cumps

Peter, Jon and I are building a Programmable Electronic Load. In this series of blogs I'm building a LabVIEW library of reusable components In this seventh article I introduce the first advanced block: Raw ADC control. LabVIEW has a set of ...
- 15 Aug 2018
Programmable Electronic Load - Write a LabVIEW Library part 6: Raw DAC Block

Jan Cumps

Peter, Jon and I are building a Programmable Electronic Load. In this series of blogs I'm building a LabVIEW library of reusable components In this sixth article I introduce the first advanced block: Raw DAC control. LabVIEW has a set o...
- 14 Aug 2018
SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 4: TCP/IP SCPI and Instrument Service

Jan Cumps

I'm building a SCPI electronics lab instrument for Linux.This post connects the C SCPI parser service together with the C++ Instrument service.I've split up the SCPI interpreter and the instrument control for my own learning. I'm trying t...
- 21 Jul 2018
A New Skin for Prostheses Can Improve Sensations

Catwell

A new research could enable amputees who use a prosthesis to experience pain again. A special skin-like material has the ability to transmit pain to the brain. Pieces of the synthetic skin on the mechanical hand’s thumb and index finger. (Image via J...
- 5 Jul 2018
Google And Apple: Smartphones That Measure

Catwell

Google and Apple are competing to provide consumers with the best possible app that will turn smartphones into measure tapes. Image of the app, Measure, used to determine the height of a table, the size appeared in the black space with white writing ...
- 3 Jul 2018
Chauvin Arnoux CA6526 Insulation Tester Review

three-phase

Introduction The CA6526 is the first insulation tester to be added to my portfolio for my grand scheme of testing it against the Keysight U1461AU1461A that has failed me and the Megger MIT420/2MIT420/2 that I road tested for element1...
- 26 Jun 2018
MIT: A Tiny Chip to Guide Micro-Drones

Catwell

Last year, new research resulted in a tiny chip specially designed to fit in and power bee-sized drones. This year, the size of the chip was reduced even more along with its consumption of power. Here Navion placed next to a quarter and a small drone...
- 26 Jun 2018
SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 3minor: C++ programming - using BOOST library

Jan Cumps

This is just a utilitarian blog post on how to integrate the BOOST library in your project, in support of SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 3: TCP/IP Socket C++ programming.Targeted to cross-compile people that build the project on Windows and execute the...
- 24 Jun 2018
SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 3: TCP/IP Socket C++ programming

Jan Cumps

I'm building a SCPI electronics lab instrument for Linux.This post is an object oriented one again: testing if I can create a stream-like socket server in C++.TL;DR yesIf you are interested in object oriented design, you may want to stay and read...
- 24 Jun 2018
SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 2b: PiFace Digital C++ programming

Jan Cumps

I'm building a SCPI electronics lab instrument for Linux.This post is an object oriented one: porting the PiFace Digital API to C++.If you aren't interested in object oriented design, you may want to walk away from this blog. API and Abstr...
- 22 Jun 2018
Artificial intelligence can see you through walls

Catwell

The technology allows researchers to study patients with Parkinson's disease and allows them to monitor mobility. Artificial intelligence demonstrates the movement of a person behind a wall by using a stick figure as a representative of their body. (...
- 21 Jun 2018
Smartphone X-Ray Machine Detects Weapons

Catwell

A new phone protection case turns the smartphone into a weapon and explosive detector. Image of the SWORD app scanning a guy. (Image via Royal Holdings) Every owner of a smartphone knows that it is wise to protect the device. For that purpose, c...
- 20 Jun 2018
SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 2a: PiFace Digital C programming

Jan Cumps

I'm building a SCPI device for Linux.I have the basis working over TCP/IP.This morning I received a PiFace Digital 2PiFace Digital 2 from element14 (thank you!)This board, with digital inputs, outputs, relays and LEDs can be a nice LAB automation uti...
- 16 Jun 2018
MIT’s new transmitter promises to thwart hackers with ultra-fast frequency hopping

Catwell

MIT thinks they have a way to stop hackers, but can anything truly be unhackable? (Photo via Wiley Systems) Whether you love them or hate them, smart devices are taking over. It feels like everything we own and do is connected to the internet: o...
- 15 Jun 2018
Microsoft and Apple Unite For Braille HID

Catwell

Many tech companies come together to devise a tool that will allow blind people to have a more normal life and feel more included in social dynamics. USB-IF HID plugged into a phone. (Image via Microsoft) In the United States, it is a crime to ...
- 6 Jun 2018
Build your own MP3 Deck Player with a Cassette Tape

Catwell

Have you ever wondered if it's possible to convert your cassette tape players into an mp3 music player? Thanks to TapelessDeckPlayer, the idea is now possible and seems both inviting and enticing for music enthusiasts who are still in possession ...
- 4 Jun 2018
Lynq: wireless tracking of people and things

Catwell

How often do people complain about not being able to stay connected or together at big events, or in areas that don’t allow for internet connectivity? Well, now, for all those issues, there is a solution. The Lynq device, one of the many colors avail...
- 1 Jun 2018
SCPI on a Linux Board - Part 1: Proof of Concept

Jan Cumps

I'm building a SCPI shell for Linux.I have the basis working over TCP/IP on a Raspberry Pi and a BeagleBone. In this post I'll show the basics: the Pi or BB listens to SCPI commands and sends replies.I'll include the LabVIEW test bed that I used...
- 27 May 2018
Jacket To Feel Star Wars “Force”

Catwell

Disney’s research team is pushing augmented and virtual reality to the next level with a jacket that let the wearer immerse his senses into whatever game he is playing. The Force Jacket on a volunteer (left and right), one of the 26 bags inside the j...
- 23 May 2018
Programmable Electronic Load - Measurements Part 1: Control Circuit

Jan Cumps

Analog Time !I've prepared the DC Load to measure the behaviour of the circuit. In this blog series I'll show dynamic aspects of the instrument.The first blog shows the points of interest and some initial teaser measurements. If you want a particular...
- 19 May 2018
RoboRace' - AI race car to potentially outpace humans

Catwell

A newly designed driverless car called Roborace will make a new spin on wheels, and it isn't something ordinary, either because the vehicle isn't operated with a human driver behind the wheels. It's completely AI-controlled. The leaders behind Robora...
- 18 May 2018
Review of the Keysight DSO1102G relative to the Tektronix TBS 1202B-EDU

kas.lewis

I recently received a new oscilloscope, the Keysight DSO1102G, for my workbench. I’ve had the Tektronix TBS1202B-EDU on my desk for a long while. Having never read through its manual I thought now would be a good time do a thorough read of both manua...
- 14 May 2018
Which 50 ohm Loads are any good? Finding out with the FPC1500 Vector Network Analyzer

shabaz

IntroductionThis short blog post explores the difference between home-made, low-cost, a mid-cost and a high end 50 ohm load! They have many uses. The larger ones are often used to test transmitters, such as for Ham radio or Citizens' Band (CB) radio....
- 12 May 2018