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Designing for Manufacturability

Designing for Manufacturability

A guideline for proper considerations when making electrical platforms that can be easily, cheaply, and quickly manufactured. The purpose and methods of proper board design, validation, testing, and technical support is discussed, from small to large scale production.


An Introduction to Control Systems: Designing a PID Controller Using MATLAB’s SISO Tool

An Introduction to Control Systems: Designing a PID Controller Using MATLAB’s SISO Tool

Control systems engineering requires knowledge of at least two basic components of a system: the plant, which describes the mathematically described behavior of your system, and the output, which is the goal you are trying to reach.


The NI Week Report

The NI Week Report

A look back at National Instruments' Week, a technology conference held in Austin, TX, from August 3-6th every year. Attended by major players in nearly every industry, this event sets out to determine the course of technology.


News Aug 14, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Build a Thermocouple Amplifier and Custom KiCad Libraries

Build a Thermocouple Amplifier and Custom KiCad Libraries

Building on skills developed in the introductory KiCad tutorial, this article will focus on creating custom parts and adding them to a local library, expanding the default libraries to include community repositories, and contributing parts back into the open source ecosystem. The end product will be a MAX31855 K-type thermocouple amplifier which can be used for a huge array of temperature sensing projects.


Projects Aug 10, 2015 by Patrick Lloyd
Fundamentals Of Quantum Computing

Fundamentals Of Quantum Computing

This article walks through the very basics of quantum computing and how they are designed. It will also provide accurate information about the principles behind quantum theory that helps quantum computing work. The objective is to help you understand this new age technology and its benefits.


Microsemi’s New Inductive Sensor Interface ICs

Microsemi’s New Inductive Sensor Interface ICs

The new Ics are based on inductive sensing technology, eliminating current Hall-effect sensors currently used.


News Jul 31, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Transformer Isolation

Transformer Isolation

An in-depth look at transformer isolation. Electrical isolation is necessary to protect circuits, equipment, and people from shocks and short circuits, as well as to make accurate measurements. Isolation transformers are one way to go.


Introduction to KiCad on Ubuntu

Introduction to KiCad on Ubuntu

Learn how to install the new and improved KiCad on Ubuntu 15.04 and then build a simple microcontroller board to blink an RGB LED.


Industry 4.0 and the Friendly Robot

Industry 4.0 and the Friendly Robot

Rethink Robotics is proving that robots don't have to be in competition with humans, but can instead form collaborative environments that increase efficiency while ensuring safer work places. This collaboration may be the key to industry 4.0: not eliminating the human element, but maximizing it.


News Jul 19, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Renesas Electronics Diminishes Obstacles in IoT and Industrial Markets

Renesas Electronics Diminishes Obstacles in IoT and Industrial Markets

The new Renesas Synergy Platform is designed to aid engineers in the race to market.


News Jun 17, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
How to Use Relays to Control High-Voltage Circuits with an Arduino

How to Use Relays to Control High-Voltage Circuits with an Arduino

To control high-voltage or high-power circuits with an Arduino, you have to isolate them from the Arduino with a relay. Here's how!


Use an Arduino to Control a Motor

Use an Arduino to Control a Motor

Controlling a motor with an Arduino is relatively easy. In addition to simply spinning the motor, you can control the position of the motor shaft if the motor has a rotary encoder.


Projects Jun 03, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
Communicating Serially with the Arduino

Communicating Serially with the Arduino

Communicating serially with the Arduino is easy! Here, we'll show how to take some temperature measurements and then send the measurements over the serial link.


Projects Jun 01, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
The Sitara AM437x Industrial Development Kit (IDK)

The Sitara AM437x Industrial Development Kit (IDK)

The SitaraAM437x Industrial Single-Chip Drive Solution for Multi-Protocol Industrial Communication and Motor Feedback is Now Available.


News Apr 06, 2015 by Tim Youngblood