Adding simple RFID tags to hospitals’ widely used pneumatic-tube systems has dramatically improved performance without needing a system rebuild. Wireless solves the problem — and does more Modern electronic technology has reinvigorated the pneumatic tube system to do more and do better without requiring more tube pathways. This can apply to upgrading an existing installed […]
RFID upgrade pushes “ancient” pneumatic-tube system into the 21st century: Part 1
The addition of simple RFID tags to hospitals’ widely used pneumatic tube system has dramatically improved performance without needing a system rebuild. Although email and the web have greatly diminished the need for physical mail in many situations, it’s important to remember that there are many real-world scenarios where a tangible, physical object must be […]
MOSA and SOSA join the lexicon of military frameworks: Part 2
These two military-focused architectural standards provide approaches to system-level development and sensor-centric designs. The previous part of this article discussed the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) Reference Frameworks in Defense Acquisition Programs. This part looks at one realization via the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA). Q: What is SOSA, anyway? A: (Warning: there’s a lot […]
MOSA and SOSA join the lexicon of military frameworks: Part 1
These two military-focused architectural standards provide approaches to system-level development and sensor-centric designs. The military services have long had a dilemma with respect to technical standards and the long-term viability and compatibility of associated systems. On one side, they would like to be able to leverage the latest, newest technologies for the performance and cost […]
What? LORAN may be back? Why? How? Part 3
The defunct, obsolete LORAN navigation system is being revived with enhancements to overcome GNSS’s potential performance and availability risks. Congress debated whether to retain and upgrade the LORAN-C infrastructure to become enhanced LORAN (eLORAN), a national backup to GPS. In October 2009, Congress enacted a Department of Homeland Security appropriations measure allowing LORAN-C termination. […]
What? LORAN may be back? Why? How? Part 2
The defunct, obsolete LORAN navigation system is being revived with enhancements to overcome the potential performance and availability risks of GNSS. Before GNSS and GPS, and before INS systems were available, another type of RF-based position-determining system was in wide use: LORAN. Q: What is LORAN? A: LORAN is short for LOng RAnge Navigation. LORAN, […]
What? LORAN may be back? Why? How? Part 1
The defunct, obsolete LORAN navigation system is being revived with enhancements to overcome the potential performance and availability risks of GNSS. There’s no need to tell the readers of this FAQ about the impact of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) on positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services from global, regional, or even localized perspectives. Billions […]
The Doppler effect: From highly ridiculed to absolutely indispensable, Part 2
Originally derided as scientifically erroneous, the Doppler effect is now a vital tool in all aspects of technology, ranging from microscopic to galactic. Doppler, back in the day – and now The explanation of the Doppler effect is almost intuitive to us, with our understanding of wave phenomena along with available frequency sources and measurement […]
The Doppler effect: From highly ridiculed to absolutely indispensable, Part 1
Originally derided as scientifically erroneous, the Doppler effect is now a vital tool in all aspects of technology, ranging from microscopic to galactic. Engineers are familiar with many “effects” ranging from widely used ones such as the piezoelectric effect to somewhat lesser-known ones such as the RF skin effect and even less-familiar ones such as […]
Satellite-based search-and-rescue, Part 4: Enhancements, even the moon
A sophisticated satellite-based system allows pinpointing a person’s location in a dangerous, isolated situation on land or sea. It thus hopefully speeds their subsequent rescue in many cases. This final part looks at the next generation of system satellites and some ideas for a similar lunar system. The MEOSAR satellites The most recent enhancement to […]
