3 Ways the Industrial Environment Is Tackling the IoT Revolution

Internet of Things (IoT), simply put, is a network of smart devices that are connected to the internet and are capable of sharing information and data with one another. On a more complex level, IoT helps connect various functions in an industry, right from manufacturing, logistics, and inventory and project management to cyber security and data protocols. There is both horizontal as well as vertical interaction between devices, thereby paving way for inter-industrial connectivity as well.

As IoT grows and exerts its influence over every aspect of our lives, there is no field that has come under its influence more than heavy industries. Manufacturing and production rely on massive and internet-connected equipment and processes that can share data, and make informed and cost-saving changes in workflow.

But for all the good things that come with IoT, there comes a fair amount of complex problems too. Compromised security, lack of interoperability between devices from various companies and too many technologies that enable IoT with no widely accepted technical standards are some of the issues plaguing IoT today.

Here are a few ways in which industrial operations are tackling the issues associated with IoT.

3 Ways the Industrial Environment Is Tackling the IoT Revolution

Internet of Things (IoT), simply put, is a network of smart devices that are connected to the internet and are capable of sharing information and data with one another. On a more complex level, IoT helps connect various functions in an industry, right from manufacturing, logistics, and inventory and project management to cyber security and data protocols. There is both horizontal as well as vertical interaction between devices, thereby paving way for inter-industrial connectivity as well.

As IoT grows and exerts its influence over every aspect of our lives, there is no field that has come under its influence more than heavy industries. Manufacturing and production rely on massive and internet-connected equipment and processes that can share data, and make informed and cost-saving changes in workflow.

But for all the good things that come with IoT, there comes a fair amount of complex problems too. Compromised security, lack of interoperability between devices from various companies and too many technologies that enable IoT with no widely accepted technical standards are some of the issues plaguing IoT today.

Here are a few ways in which industrial operations are tackling the issues associated with IoT.

Thermodynamic Theory of the Ideal Stirling Engine

Stirling engines are one of those devices that have fascinated many engineers (including myself) over the years, especially when we’re young and impressionable, before we’ve gotten too cynical about the world. It’s also one of those technologies that hasn’t really been widely adopted, despite YouTubers cries of "free energy," so it obviously isn’t the perfect solution for many problems, but for certain applications they really are neat engines. 

The Midé team has been recently putting in long hours to get a new Stirling project up and running for the US Marines. I chose the Stirling cycle engine for this application because of its naturally high efficiency and because it's an external combustion engine. To support this project I had a significant amount of research to do on the theory that govern Stirling engines – so that we could better design a solution for our military.  In this post I’ll share with you some of the basics I learned and provide a tool to help visualize the Stirling cycle. Hopefully this tool will help you double check some of the basic calculations you might like to do, as well as provide a handy way of plotting some of the properties for an ideal Stirling cycle. You can find the calculator on this page: Ideal Stirling Cycle Calculator

Thermodynamic Theory of the Ideal Stirling Engine

Stirling engines are one of those devices that have fascinated many engineers (including myself) over the years, especially when we’re young and impressionable, before we’ve gotten too cynical about the world. It’s also one of those technologies that hasn’t really been widely adopted, despite YouTubers cries of "free energy," so it obviously isn’t the perfect solution for many problems, but for certain applications they really are neat engines. 

The Midé team has been recently putting in long hours to get a new Stirling project up and running for the US Marines. I chose the Stirling cycle engine for this application because of its naturally high efficiency and because it's an external combustion engine. To support this project I had a significant amount of research to do on the theory that govern Stirling engines – so that we could better design a solution for our military.  In this post I’ll share with you some of the basics I learned and provide a tool to help visualize the Stirling cycle. Hopefully this tool will help you double check some of the basic calculations you might like to do, as well as provide a handy way of plotting some of the properties for an ideal Stirling cycle. You can find the calculator on this page: Ideal Stirling Cycle Calculator

Traction Drive Technology

Throughout modern industrial times gear systems and belt systems have been the norm in the main stream thinking for power transmission. However, a different type of system, traction drives, have been around for many years and offer significant improvements in efficiency, noise/vibration and simplicity. Traction drives were first invented in the 1800s, but their benefit could not be realized until today when advancements in manufacturing, materials and fluids made it possible.

How Electronic Components Work

Electronic gadgets have become an integral part of our lives. They have made our lives more comfortable and convenient. From aviation to medical and healthcare industries, electronic gadgets have a wide range of applications in the modern world. In fact, the electronics revolution and the computer revolution go hand in hand.

Most gadgets have tiny electronic circuits that can control machines and process information. Simply put, electronic circuits are the lifelines of various electrical appliances. This guide explains in detail about common electronic components used in electronic circuits and how they work.

In this article I will provide an overview on electronic circuits.  Then I will provide more information on 7 different types of components.  For each type I'll discuss the composition, how it works, and the function & significance of the component.

1. Capacitor
2. Resistor
3. Diode
4. Transistor
5. Inductor
6. Relay
7. Quartz Crystal

[Video] Deflategate -How Temperature Can Influence Pressure in a Football

As an engineer I was intrigued by the #deflategate controversy and theories surrounding the New England Patriots. Again, as an engineer I like to test theories against real-world conditions. Basically I wanted to find out whether or not temperature can actually influence the pressure (measured in psi) of an official NFL football enough to account for what was seen during that infamous Patriots Colts playoff game - so I set up the following test:

The Test

I placed two official NFL footballs in our calibrated thermal chamber and let the footballs reach equilibrium at 24 C (75F) - the approximate temperature when the NFL officials tested the pressure of the Pats' balls.