GPS navigation in cars
As time goes on, more and more people are relying on GPS systems installed into their car to guide them on a journey. These are usually to places they have never been before. No doubt they’re great systems, but there are pitfalls when using one, and pitfalls when buying one.
What is GPS?
GPS stands for Global Position System. It was designed by the US military for accuracy in long range attacks, surveillance, and R&D. There are currently about 2 dozen GPS satellites in orbit. They can calculate your position from your signal, its position and three or more satellites. This is a technique called trilateration (for more info on trilateration, click here. There are two levels of accuracy – the military one, which is about 3m, and the civilian one, which is about 15m.
Who are the suppliers of in-car navigation systems?
There are many suppliers – Garmin, TomTom, NavMan, Mitec to name a few. It is important to look around and see what you are willing to pay, and what is available. Don’t buy something because someone else says it’s good.
Why are they good?
Navigation systems tend to replace maps. Maps that get used a lot tend to get dog-eared and pages can go missing. You can also set the system to guide you to your destination, and it will give clear directions where to turn.
Why are they bad?
First things first, people are beginning to rely too much. There are cases where people have gone off the road following the instructions of the GPS, regardless of what the roads signs said – especially more so in construction zones, which may change condition daily. Also, the map in the system may become old – new roads may not have been added in. It’s possible to update the map – most companies use cards or a CD which can be replaced, but is far more expensive.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Robotics today and the future – are they good for us?
Robotics today and the future – are they good for us?
There is no doubt that all of us want a robot, whether it’s for company, for protection or for help. Robots can be good or bad, depending on what we want from them, and what limitations we may decide to impose on them, but are robots really good for us? Today we discuss one of the cons of the robots of the future.
On thing which may not surprise you is that we are becoming fatter each year. The cause of this is said to be fast food and junk food, but I think this may not be the case. You only have to look at the Amish to see the fallacy in blaming fatty foods – they are fit and healthy. Why?
As more cars get on the road, we get lazier. We refuse to get up and walk somewhere if we can drive there. If it’s 400km away, walking may take you a long time, so driving is OK. If it’s down the street, or two block away, walk. Most of us will drive even if it’s only 1km away. We refuse to let our kids out because it’s dangerous. We lack exercise.
I fear that the robots of the future will take away our need to exercise. We may even ask them to exercise for us – not good! The reason why we have developed so many tools is because humans are inherently lazy – if there is an easier or faster way to do the same thing, we will try it or invent it. Robots may be just another symptom of this, and that we will all eventually become fat.
There is no doubt that all of us want a robot, whether it’s for company, for protection or for help. Robots can be good or bad, depending on what we want from them, and what limitations we may decide to impose on them, but are robots really good for us? Today we discuss one of the cons of the robots of the future.
On thing which may not surprise you is that we are becoming fatter each year. The cause of this is said to be fast food and junk food, but I think this may not be the case. You only have to look at the Amish to see the fallacy in blaming fatty foods – they are fit and healthy. Why?
As more cars get on the road, we get lazier. We refuse to get up and walk somewhere if we can drive there. If it’s 400km away, walking may take you a long time, so driving is OK. If it’s down the street, or two block away, walk. Most of us will drive even if it’s only 1km away. We refuse to let our kids out because it’s dangerous. We lack exercise.
I fear that the robots of the future will take away our need to exercise. We may even ask them to exercise for us – not good! The reason why we have developed so many tools is because humans are inherently lazy – if there is an easier or faster way to do the same thing, we will try it or invent it. Robots may be just another symptom of this, and that we will all eventually become fat.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
DARPA grand challenge - what can we learn from this?
What can we learn from all this?
Autonomous vehicles are hard to design. There is always the risk of component failure, and a greater risk of not foreseeing flaws that could be potentially very nasty. Given the limited timeframe in which to develop these vehicles, there have been some very good innovations.
Autonomous vehicles are a form of robotics in which the car becomes the robot. I think many of us (including myself) would like to own an autonomous vehicle some day
Autonomous vehicles are hard to design. There is always the risk of component failure, and a greater risk of not foreseeing flaws that could be potentially very nasty. Given the limited timeframe in which to develop these vehicles, there have been some very good innovations.
Autonomous vehicles are a form of robotics in which the car becomes the robot. I think many of us (including myself) would like to own an autonomous vehicle some day
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
DARPA Grand challenge - an exercise in robotics
DARPA grand challenge
What is it?
The DARPA grand challenge is a US based challenge sponsored by the Department of Defense under the ‘Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’ arm. DARPA is unique in that it gives technological option to the Department of Defense. It accelerates development of technological advances to make what might be possible in the future possible.
The grand challenge is a result of the goal by the military to develop unmanned vehicles for use in warfare. In order to accelerate development in the field, DARPA created a challenge open to teams around the world to develop autonomous vehicles to drive around a preset path. The vehicles had to have no human intervention.
Sadly, no vehicle completed the race, but it did highlight some of the dangers and pitfalls when designing an autonomous vehicle. Encouraged by the result that they did move autonomously for some distance, DARPA announced a second grand challenge to be held in the desert in 2005. The goal was to drive to path in less than 5 hours. 3 vehicles managed to successfully do this, and a fourth finished the course after being parked on a hilltop overnight due to lack of battery power and low sunlight. The rest had various problems with components.
In 2006, DARPA announced another grand challenge. Dubbed the urban challenge, he vehicles must now successfully navigate traffic, and follow local traffic laws (including traffic lights). It will be held late in 2007
What is it?
The DARPA grand challenge is a US based challenge sponsored by the Department of Defense under the ‘Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’ arm. DARPA is unique in that it gives technological option to the Department of Defense. It accelerates development of technological advances to make what might be possible in the future possible.
The grand challenge is a result of the goal by the military to develop unmanned vehicles for use in warfare. In order to accelerate development in the field, DARPA created a challenge open to teams around the world to develop autonomous vehicles to drive around a preset path. The vehicles had to have no human intervention.
Sadly, no vehicle completed the race, but it did highlight some of the dangers and pitfalls when designing an autonomous vehicle. Encouraged by the result that they did move autonomously for some distance, DARPA announced a second grand challenge to be held in the desert in 2005. The goal was to drive to path in less than 5 hours. 3 vehicles managed to successfully do this, and a fourth finished the course after being parked on a hilltop overnight due to lack of battery power and low sunlight. The rest had various problems with components.
In 2006, DARPA announced another grand challenge. Dubbed the urban challenge, he vehicles must now successfully navigate traffic, and follow local traffic laws (including traffic lights). It will be held late in 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Mechatronics and you - electronic stability in cars
Mechatronics and you:
Electronic stability in cars – how it works.
Electronic stability control (ESC) (marketed under different marketing names by different companies) is a program in some newer cars that tries to prevent oversteer and understeer in cars. ESC cannot prevent crashes – merely reduce the severity of impact.
Electronic stability works by comparing the drivers intended direction to the actual response of the vehicle by sensing lateral acceleration, individual wheel speeds and rotation and responds accordingly.
ESC is an example of mechatronics at work – it is a moving system using electronics to control and get a desired response.
Electronic stability in cars – how it works.
Electronic stability control (ESC) (marketed under different marketing names by different companies) is a program in some newer cars that tries to prevent oversteer and understeer in cars. ESC cannot prevent crashes – merely reduce the severity of impact.
Electronic stability works by comparing the drivers intended direction to the actual response of the vehicle by sensing lateral acceleration, individual wheel speeds and rotation and responds accordingly.
ESC is an example of mechatronics at work – it is a moving system using electronics to control and get a desired response.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Robotics and Mechatronics part 2
How does Mechatronic engineering apply to robotics?
The common dream of most Mechatronic engineer is to build robots. In the meantime, Mechatronic engineering graduates design and supervise construction of systems automation. Industrial robots are programmed and maintained by Mechatronic engineers.
Robotics and mechatronics part 2
Robotics and their associated programming requires knowledge of electrical systems and mechanical movement. Robots are constrained in their movement. This can be 1-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis, or multiple axis robots.
Multiple axis robots can be hard to program. It is easier to program a 2 axis robot than a 3-axis one, as you have limitations on its motion based on its wires and its motors.
As I mentioned in a previous article, robotics have invaded many industries to increase productivity. They are far more precise, accurate, and less prone to boredom. Robots can be programmed to do anything within their capabilities.
The common dream of most Mechatronic engineer is to build robots. In the meantime, Mechatronic engineering graduates design and supervise construction of systems automation. Industrial robots are programmed and maintained by Mechatronic engineers.
Robotics and mechatronics part 2
Robotics and their associated programming requires knowledge of electrical systems and mechanical movement. Robots are constrained in their movement. This can be 1-axis, 2-axis, 3-axis, or multiple axis robots.
Multiple axis robots can be hard to program. It is easier to program a 2 axis robot than a 3-axis one, as you have limitations on its motion based on its wires and its motors.
As I mentioned in a previous article, robotics have invaded many industries to increase productivity. They are far more precise, accurate, and less prone to boredom. Robots can be programmed to do anything within their capabilities.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
what do companies usually advertise that relate to mechatronics engineering?
I look at the employment section in my local paper and I don’t see a lot of engineering firms advertising for ‘mechatronics engineers’. What’s up with that?
You may be looking for the words ‘mechatronics engineers’ specifically, and you wont find a lot of companies advertising this way. Mechatronics is a new engineering field, so you won’t find a lot of senior mechatronics engineers. In order to not restrict their search, they don’t advertise for mechatronics engineers specifically. Some of the more common positions which a mechatronics engineers can apply for are:
• Asset Engineer
• Automation engineer
• Data Logging engineer
• Electrical/Electronic engineer
• Electro mechanical engineer
• Instrumentation engineer
• Maintenance engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Plant engineer
• Process engineer
• Process monitoring and plant systems engineer
• Project engineer
• Software engineer
• Systems engineer
You may be looking for the words ‘mechatronics engineers’ specifically, and you wont find a lot of companies advertising this way. Mechatronics is a new engineering field, so you won’t find a lot of senior mechatronics engineers. In order to not restrict their search, they don’t advertise for mechatronics engineers specifically. Some of the more common positions which a mechatronics engineers can apply for are:
• Asset Engineer
• Automation engineer
• Data Logging engineer
• Electrical/Electronic engineer
• Electro mechanical engineer
• Instrumentation engineer
• Maintenance engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Plant engineer
• Process engineer
• Process monitoring and plant systems engineer
• Project engineer
• Software engineer
• Systems engineer
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