For thousands of years, people of all cultures have made and used clocks, from the city sundials of ancient Rome to the medieval water clocks of imperial China, hourglasses fomenting revolution in the Middle Ages, the Stock Exchange clock of Amsterdam in 1611, Enlightenment observatories in India, and the high-precision clocks circling the Earth on a fleet of GPS satellites that have been launched since 1978. Clocks have helped us navigate the world and build empires, and have even taken us to the brink of destruction. Elites have used them to wield power, make money, govern citizens, and control lives-and sometimes the people have used them to fight back. Through the stories of twelve clocks, About Time brings pivotal moments from the past vividly to life. Historian and lifelong clock enthusiast David Rooney takes us from the unveiling of al-Jazari's castle clock in 1206, in present-day Turkey; to the Cape of Good Hope observatory at the southern tip of Africa, where nineteenth-century British government astronomers moved the gears of empire with a time ball and a gun; to the burial of a plutonium clock now sealed beneath a public park in Osaka, where it will keep time for 5,000 years. Rooney shows, through these artifacts, how time has been imagined, politicized, and weaponized over the centuries-and how it might bring peace. Ultimately, he writes, the technical history of horology is only the start of the story. A history of clocks is a history of civilization.

The recent explosion in the use of analytical chemistry, particularly in the biological sciences, has led to a need for fast, reliable and highly sensitive tools able to handle small sample sizes. This book illustrates how microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices can satisfy the growing need for miniaturized and enhanced analysis. They lend themselves well to mass spectrometric detection as they use samples in the low microlitre range and are handled on a chip. Miniaturization and Mass Spectrometry focuses on one particular technique, mass spectrometry, whose popularity has increased dramatically in the last two decades with the increase in use of biological analysis and the development of two "soft" ionization techniques, ESI and MALDI. These enable the analysis of large but fragile biological molecules such as DNA, proteins and oligosaccharides. The book starts with an introduction to the coupling of microfluidics to mass spectrometry techniques. It then goes on demonstrate the advantages of such a coupling: the MS analysis benefits from improved sample preparation when performed on a chip while MS yields more information on the sample handled on the chip compared to conventional optical detection. A history on the developments in this field, starting from the off-chip coupling to the on-chip ionization, is also provided. Daniel Figeys, a pioneer in the development of microfluidic systems for MS analysis, describes the early beginnings of this hyphenated analysis technique. Solutions to couple microfluidic systems to the two most popular ionization methods, ESI and MALDI, are presented throughout the chapters. Various examples are given of the application of this microfluidics-MS hyphenated analysis technique to proteomics, metabolomics, organic chemistry and forensics. Coverage is not limited to academic research. The development of commercialized systems and their current use for routine biological analysis are also presented. Lastly, a future vision of the integration of the mass spectrometer on the chip is raised, as a last step to yield fully portable systems for on-site analysis.

This book deals with nonlinear dynamics of electronic circuits, which could be used in robot control, secure communications, sensors and synchronized networks. The genesis of the content is related to a course on complex adaptive systems that has been held at the University of Catania since 2005. The efforts are devoted in order to emulate with nonlinear electronic circuits nonlinear dynamics. Step-by-step methods show the essential concepts of complex systems by using the Varela diagrams and accompanying MATLAB (R) exercises to reinforce new information. Special attention has been devoted to chaotic systems and networks of chaotic circuits by exploring the fundamentals, such as synchronization and control. The aim of the book is to give to readers a comprehensive view of the main concepts of nonlinear dynamics to help them better understand complex systems and their control through the use of electronics devices.

This text provides an introduction to the important physics underpinning current technologies, highlighting key concepts in areas that include linear and rotational motion, energy, work, power, heat, temperature, fluids, waves, and magnetism. This revision reflects the latest technology advances, from smart phones to the Internet of Things, and all kinds of sensors. The author also provides more modern worked examples with useful appendices and laboratories for hands-on practice. There are also two brand new chapters covering sensors as well as electric fields and electromagnetic radiation as applied to current technologies.

Do you have a smartphone? Billions of people on the planet now navigate their daily lives with the kind of advanced Global Positioning System capabilities once reserved for the most secretive elements of America's military-industrial complex. But when so many people have access to the most powerful technologies humanity has ever devised for the precise determination of geographical coordinates, do we still need a specialized field of knowledge called geography?Just as big data and artificial intelligence promise to automate occupations ranging from customer service and truck driving to stock trading and financial analysis, our age of algorithmic efficiency seems to eliminate the need for humans who call themselves geographers-at the precise moment when engaging with information about the peoples, places, and environments of a diverse world is more popular than ever before. How did we get here? This book traces the recent history of geography, information, and technology through the biography of Edward A. Ackerman, an important but forgotten figure in geography's "quantitative revolution." It argues that Ackerman's work helped encode the hidden logics of a distorted philosophical heritage-a dangerous, cybernetic form of thought known as militant neo-Kantianism-into the network architectures of today's pervasive worlds of surveillance capitalism.

In the field of mechanical measurements, Mechanical Measurements continues to set the standard. With an emphasis on precision and clarity, the authors have consistently crafted a text that has helped thousands of students grasp the fundamentals of the field. "Mechanical ""Measurements 6th edition " gives students a methodical, well thought-out presentation that covers fundamental issues common to all areas of measurement in Part One, followed by individual chapters on applied areas of measurement in Part Two. This modular format fits several different course formats and accommodates a wide variety of skill levels.

Instrumentation, Measurements, and Experiments in Fluids, Second Edition is primarily focused on essentials required for experimentation in fluids, explaining basic principles, and addressing the tools and methods needed for advanced experimentation. It also provides insight into the vital topics and issues associated with the devices and instruments used for fluid mechanics and gas dynamics experiments. The second edition adds exercise problems with answers, along with PIV systems of flow visualization, water flow channel for flow visualization, and pictures with Schlieren and shadowgraph-from which possible quantitative information can be extracted. Ancillary materials include detailed solutions manual and lecture slides for the instructors.

Introduction to RF Power Amplifier Design and Simulation fills a gap in the existing literature by providing step-by-step guidance for the design of radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers, from analytical formulation to simulation, implementation, and measurement. Featuring numerous illustrations and examples of real-world engineering applications, this book: Gives an overview of intermodulation and elaborates on the difference between linear and nonlinear amplifiers Describes the high-frequency model and transient characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors Details active device modeling techniques for transistors and parasitic extraction methods for active devices Explores network and scattering parameters, resonators, matching networks, and tools such as the Smith chart Covers power-sensing devices including four-port directional couplers and new types of reflectometers Presents RF filter designs for power amplifiers as well as application examples of special filter types Demonstrates the use of computer-aided design (CAD) tools, implementing systematic design techniques Blending theory with practice, Introduction to RF Power Amplifier Design and Simulation supplies engineers, researchers, and RF/microwave engineering students with a valuable resource for the creation of efficient, better-performing, low-profile, high-power RF amplifiers.

Impedance Spectroscopy is a powerful measurement method used in many application fields such as electrochemistry, material science, biology and medicine, semiconductor industry and sensors. Using the complex impedance at various frequencies increases the informational basis that can be gained during a measurement. It helps to separate different effects that contribute to a measurement and, together with advanced mathematical methods, non-accessible quantities can be calculated. This book is the fifth in the series Lecture Notes on Impedance Spectroscopy (LNIS). The series covers new advances in the field of impedance spectroscopy including fundamentals, methods and applications. It releases scientific contributions as extended chapters including detailed information about recent scientific research results. This book is including proceedings of the International Workshop on Impedance Spectroscopy (IWIS) which has been launched already in June 2008 with the aim to serve as a platform for specialists in this field. Since 2009 it became an international workshop gaining increasingly more acceptance in both scientific and industrial fields. It is organized regularly one time per year. This book is interesting for graduated students, engineers, researchers and specialists dealing with impedance spectroscopy. It includes fundamentals of impedance spectroscopy as well as specific aspects form manifold applications in various fields.

Networked Control Systems (NCSs) are spatially distributed systems for which the communication between sensors, actuators and controllers is realized by a shared (wired or wireless) communication network. NCSs offer several advantages, such as reduced installation and maintenance costs, as well as greater flexibility, over conventional control systems in which parts of control loops exchange information via dedicated point-to-point connections. The principal goal of this book is to present a coherent and versatile framework applicable to various settings investigated by the authors over the last several years. This framework is applicable to nonlinear time-varying dynamic plants and controllers with delayed dynamics; a large class of static, dynamic, probabilistic and priority-oriented scheduling protocols; delayed, noisy, lossy and intermittent information exchange; decentralized control problems of heterogeneous agents with time-varying directed (not necessarily balanced) communication topologies; state- and output-feedback; off-line and on-line intermittent feedback; optimal intermittent feedback through Approximate Dynamic Programming (ADP) and Reinforcement Learning (RL); and control systems with exogenous disturbances and modeling uncertainties.

Achieve the Best Camera Design: Up-to-Date Information on MCMs Miniature camera modules (MCMs), such as webcams, have rapidly become ubiquitous in our day-to-day devices, from mobile phones to interactive TV systems. MCMs-or "smart" cameras-can zoom, adjust their frame rate automatically with illumination change, focus at different distances, compensate for hand shake, and transform captured images. With contributions from academics and field engineers, Smart Mini-Cameras discusses the structure, operation principles, applications, and future trends of miniature mobile cameras. It compares this technology with traditional digital still cameras and explains the specific requirements of MCM components (imposed by the size or type of application) in terms of optical design, image sensor, and functionalities. The book describes the implementation of several active functionalities, including liquid crystal auto focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS). It also explores how new technologies, such as the curved detector and transforming optics, are stimulating novel trends, including a miniature panoramic lens on mobile phones. By providing you with an understanding of the components and performance tradeoffs of MCMs, this book will help you achieve the best camera design. It also answers frequently asked questions, such as the importance of the number of megapixels in a mobile phone camera and the value of AF and OIS features.

Machine vision technology has revolutionised the process of automated inspection in manufacturing. The specialist techniques required for inspection of natural products, such as food, leather, textiles and stone is still a challenging area of research. Topological variations make image processing algorithm development, system integration and mechanical handling issues much more complex. The practical issues of making machine vision systems operate robustly in often hostile environments together with the latest technological advancements are reviewed in this volume. Features:- Case studies based on real-world problems to demonstrate the practical application of machine vision systems.- In-depth description of system components including image processing, illumination, real-time hardware, mechanical handling, sensing and on-line testing.- Systems-level integration of constituent technologies for bespoke applications across a variety of industries.- A diverse range of example applications that a system may be required to handle from live fish to ceramic tiles.Machine Vision for the Inspection of Natural Products will be a valuable resource for researchers developing innovative machine vision systems in collaboration with food technology, textile and agriculture sectors. It will also appeal to practising engineers and managers in industries where the application of machine vision can enhance product safety and process efficiency.

Sensors and Their Applications XII discusses novel research in the areas of sensors and transducers and provides insight into new and topical applications of this technology. It covers the underlying physics, fabrication technologies, and commercial applications of sensors. Some of the topics discussed include optical sensing, sensing materials, nondestructive monitoring, imaging sensors, system networks, and water quality monitoring.

The introduction of the ISO 9000 quality standard resulted in renewed interest and pressure on industry to strengthen their quality and metrology standards. To meet this renewed interest Practical Density Measurement and Hydrometry provides invaluable, contemporary information on mass metrology. The book highlights the principles of physics involved and the technology needed to accurately measure the density of solids and liquids to high precision to meet the increasing demands on the metrology industry. Starting with national and international density standards, the book proceeds to discuss the variety of methods used to accurately measure solid and liquid density, to compare and contrast these techniques, and to thoroughly explain the thermal dilation of liquids. It also examines interferometers used in dimensional measurements of solid-based density standards, corrections applicable due to finite aperture, phase change due to reflection and ringing, and special methods for density determination. The final chapters detail specific points of relevance to density measurements and hydrometry for materials commonly used in industry. Complimented with practical guidance on applying these measurement techniques, calibration procedures, and data tables, this book is an essential reference for metrologists and a valuable introduction for graduate students.

Most chemists today have either taken part in, or been affected by, the chemical revolution that has taken place over the course of the last century. Developments in instrumentation have changed not just what chemists do, but also how they think about chemistry. New and exciting areas of previously inaccessible research have been opened up as a direct result of this revolution. This is the first book to examine this instrumental revolution and goes on to assess the impact on chemical practice in areas ranging from organic chemistry and biochemistry to environmental analysis and process control, thus demonstrating how fundamental and extensive are the changes that have occurred. With contributions from internationally recognised specialists, this lavishly illustrated book provides a focal point for any historian of chemistry or chemist with an interest in this fascinating topic. This book is published in association with the Science Museum, London, UK and the Chemical Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia.

Based on research funded by the European Commission, this important handbook provides a basis for a unified approach to three-dimensional surface finish assessment. It covers a broad range of issues related to 3-D micro-topography, with particular emphasis on standardisation, measurement, characterisation and interpretation. This reprint includes an updating introductory section. This work is to be the basis for a 3D international standard.
.Updated version of noted previous publication
.Contains basis, for the first time, for a unified approach to the subject
.The basis for a 3D international standard

Methods and types of devices used for measuring humidity use different measurement principles, materials and varying configurations, making it difficult to compare capabilities. Data presented provides detailed information on types of humidity sensors accompanied by an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, allowing for comparison and selection of the best method for specific applications. The first volume focuses on devices based on optical principles of measurement, the second volume focuses on electronic and electrical devices. Numerous strategies for the fabrication and characterization of humidity-sensitive materials and sensing structures are described throughout. The second volume is entirely devoted to the consideration of different types of solid-state devices developed for humidity measurement. The third volume offers an analysis on various humidity sensitive materials and sensor technologies used in the fabrication of humidity sensors and methods acceptable for their testing.

Due to the increased use of composite materials in aerospace, energy, automobile, and civil infrastructure applications, concern over composite material failures has grown, creating a need for smart composite structures that are able to self-diagnose and self-heal. Structural Health Monitoring Technologies and Next-Generation Smart Composite Structures provides valuable insight into cutting-edge advances in SHM, smart materials, and smart structures. Comprised of chapters authored by leading researchers in their respective fields, this edited book showcases exciting developments in general embedded sensor technologies, general sensor technologies, sensor response interrogation and data communication, damage matrix formulation, damage mechanics and analysis, smart materials and structures, and SHM in aerospace applications. Each chapter makes a significant contribution to the prevention of structural failures by describing methods that increase safety and reduce maintenance costs in a variety of SHM applications.

A practical introduction to intelligent computer vision theory, design, implementation, and technology The past decade has witnessed epic growth in image processing and intelligent computer vision technology. Advancements in machine learning methods especially among adaboost varieties and particle filtering methods have made machine learning in intelligent computer vision more accurate and reliable than ever before. The need for expert coverage of the state of the art in this burgeoning field has never been greater, and this book satisfies that need. Fully updated and extensively revised, this 2nd Edition of the popular guide provides designers, data analysts, researchers and advanced post-graduates with a fundamental yet wholly practical introduction to intelligent computer vision. The authors walk you through the basics of computer vision, past and present, and they explore the more subtle intricacies of intelligent computer vision, with an emphasis on intelligent measurement systems. Using many timely, real-world examples, they explain and vividly demonstrate the latest developments in image and video processing techniques and technologies for machine learning in computer vision systems, including: * PRTools5 software for MATLAB especially the latest representation and generalization software toolbox for PRTools5 * Machine learning applications for computer vision, with detailed discussions of contemporary state estimation techniques vs older content of particle filter methods * The latest techniques for classification and supervised learning, with an emphasis on Neural Network, Genetic State Estimation and other particle filter and AI state estimation methods * All new coverage of the Adaboost and its implementation in PRTools5. A valuable working resource for professionals and an excellent introduction for advanced-level students, this 2nd Edition features a wealth of illustrative examples, ranging from basic techniques to advanced intelligent computer vision system implementations. Additional examples and tutorials, as well as a question and solution forum, can be found on a companion website.

The rapidly emerging fields of nanotechnology and nano-fabrication have enabled the creation of new sensors with dramatic improvements in sensitivity and range, along with substantial miniaturization. And, although there are many books on nanotechnology, recent advances in micro and nano-scale sensors and transducers are not adequately represented in most books. This book fills that gap. Micro- and Nano-Scale Sensors and Transducers provides a summary of the state of the art in sensor and transducer technology. Teaching you how to make more informed selections of sensors or transducers for particular applications, it describes the differences between new sensor and transducer technologies based on nanotechnology and nano-fabrication and the older or "classical" sensor technologies. The book presents the new structures of pressure sensors being used in such applications as mechanical pressure sensing, gas pressure sensing, and atmospheric pressure sensing. It illustrates the novel structures and characteristics of new motion and acceleration sensors. Describing highly sensitive miniature gas and smoke sensors based on nano-structured electrodes, the book presents novel techniques for detecting atmospheric moisture and moisture inside small electronic components. It also covers applications of optoelectronic and photonic sensors. The book examines multi-purpose biological and chemical analysis devices where each device is fully contained in one integrated circuit (Lab on a Chip) as well as other advanced chemical and biological sensors. It describes electric, magnetic, and RF / microwave sensors and their applications and also considers integrated sensor / actuator units and special-purpose sensors. Each chapter in the book includes a set of quizzes / short questions, along with answers.

Electronic Noses and Olfaction 2000 reflects the state of progress toward the development and application of electronic instruments called electronic noses (e-noses). These instruments are generally based on arrays of sensors for volatile chemicals with broadly tuned selectivity, coupled to appropriate pattern recognition systems. They are capable of detecting and discriminating a number of different simple and complex odors, such as the headspace of coffee and olive oil, as well as being able to perform simple multicomponent gas analysis.
Written by international scientists, engineers, technologists, clinicians, investigators, and instrument manufacturers working in the applied research of e-noses as well as in the applications of olfaction and taste, this volume is essential reading for anyone who wants a review of the latest developments in odor sensors, instrumentation and signal processing, and their medical, agricultural, and food-related applications.

Metal Oxide Nanostructures as Gas Sensing Devices explores the development of an integrated micro gas sensor that is based on advanced metal oxide nanostructures and is compatible with modern semiconductor fabrication technology. This sensor can then be used to create a compact, low-power, handheld device for analyzing air ambience. The book first covers current gas sensing tools and discusses the necessity for miniaturized sensors. It then focuses on the materials, devices, and techniques used for gas sensing applications, such as resistance and capacitance variations. The author addresses the issues of sensitivity, concentration, and temperature dependency as well as the response and recovery times crucial for sensors. He also presents techniques for synthesizing different metal oxides, particularly those with nanodimensional structures. The text goes on to highlight the gas sensing properties of many nanostructured metal oxides, from aluminum and cerium to iron and titanium to zinc and zirconium. The final chapters deal with existing and future devices that are based on nanostructures. Miniaturized systems that analyze air ambience need sensors capable of identifying different gaseous species. Exploring state-of-the-art gas sensing devices, this book shows how nanostructured metal oxides are ideally suited for use as gas sensing elements.

This fully illustrated text explains the basic measurement techniques, describes the commercially available instruments and provides an overview of the current perception of 3-D topography analysis in the academic world and industry, and the commonly used 3-D parameters and plots for the characterizing and visualizing 3-D surface topography.
It also includes new sections providing full treatment of surface characterization, filtering technology and engineered surfaces, as well as a fully updated bibliography.

CONTENTS - 1. SCALES - Nature and Properties of Scales - Methods for Constructing Scales - Altering Moduli of Scales - Standard Scales - Mechanical Aspects of Scale Construction - Exercises - 2. CALCULATING WITH SCALES - Adjacent Scales - Parallel Scales With Index Line - Standard Slide Rules - Slide Rule Routines - Special Slide Rules - Methods of Reproduction - Other Forms of Special Slide Rules - Differential Gear Rules - Exercises - 3. GRAPH PAPERS - Common Types of Graph Papers - Construction of Graph Papers - Exercises - 4. CALCULATING WITH GRAPH PAPERS - Hyperbolic Paper - Linear Paper - Semilogarithmic Paper - Logarithmic Paper - Exercises - 5. GRAPHS - Relationship of Graph to Table and Function - Graphs of Regular Functions - Interpolation and Extrapolation - Graphs of Empirical Data - Complex Graphs - Condensed Graphs - Exercises - 6. CALCULATING WITH GRAPHS - Position Relationships - Vertical and Horizontal Displacements - General Distance Relationships - Isometric Translation - Slopes; Graphical Differentiation - Areas; Graphical Integration - Exercises - 7. NOMOGRAPHY - Nomographic Methods - Some Characteristics of Nomographs - 8. NOMOGRAPHS BY SYNTHETIC METHODS - Synthetic Methods - Figures With One Straight Index Line - Figures With Two Parallel Index Lines - Figures With Perpendicular Index Lines - Review of Synthetic Methods - Exercises - 9. NOMOGRAPHS WITH CARTESIAN COORDINATES, - Relationship of Defining Equation to Type - Matrix Transformations - Exercises - 10. NOMOGRAPHS WITH HYPERBOLIC COORDINATES - The Semihyperbolic Coordinate System - Application to Construction of Nomographs - 11. PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF CONSTRUCTING NOMOGRAPHS - Nomographs With Parallel Scales - Nomographs With Oblique Scales - Nomographs With Curved Scales - Exercises - 12. USE OF GENERAL HYPERBOLIC COORDINATES - Hyperbolic Plane Coordinates - The V-Type Nomograph - Fitting Nomograph to a Rectangle - 13. THREE-DIMENSIONED NOMOGRAPHS - Three-Dimensional Hyperbolic Coordinates - Defining Equation for Nomographs - Applications - 14. PROPERTIES OF HYPERBOLIC COORDINATE SYSTEMS - Hyperbolic Plane Coordinates - Semihyperbolic Coordinates - Hyperbolic Solid Coordinates - Semihyperbolic Solid Coordinates - 15. NOMOGRAPHS FROM GRAPHS AND TABLES - Relationship of Graph to Nomograph - Constructing Nomographs From Tables: Symmetrical - Constructing Nomographs From Tables: General - APPENDIX - Values of x = -p/p-r- and 1 - x INDEX -

Details infallible techniques for designing electronic hardware to withstand severe thermal environments. Using both SI and English units throughout, it presents methods for the development of various reliable electronic systems without the need of high-speed computers. It also offers mathematical modeling applications, using analog resistor networks, to provide the breakup of complex systems into numerous individual thermal resistors and nodes for those who prefer high-speed digital computer solutions to thermal problems.