#humidity monitoring devices

[vasthi-instruments12]

[icu-fetish]

ICU

Where am I? What happened? I was lying on a hospital bed in a large white room, surrounded by various medical equipment. My neck was immobilized by a medical cervical collar.

I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. An attempt to raise my hand was unsuccessful. My body was completely paralyzed. The room smelled too strongly of... medicine. The quiet beeping of the machines created a monotonous background, reminding me that I was chained to this bed. These tubes... What are they for?

I couldn't even speak... In my mouth, I felt a cold, smooth plastic endotracheal tube that restricted the movement of my tongue and cheeks. Could I not breathe on my own? It seemed so. This large blue plastic holder on my face... to keep me from pulling out the tube? The air supplied by the ventilator had a constant temperature and humidity. Each ventilation cycle was accompanied by a characteristic click of the valve opening and closing, allowing air into my lungs.

I looked at the ceiling, trying to distract myself from these unpleasant sensations, but to no avail. Finally, a nurse came in. I tried to give a sign, but she didn't pay attention. I at least wanted to understand why I was in the hospital. And why was I connected to a ventilator. But she only adjusted the IV drip with a mechanical movement, as if I were just another object in the room. The nurse's gaze slid over me indifferently. In her eyes, I saw only another patient.

A lot of time has passed. The doctor came in, glanced at the monitor, and said, "The condition is stable." I still didn't understand what was happening to me. "Can you hear us well?" she added, but there was no warmth in her voice. "Of course you can't speak, but try to blink if you hear me," the doctor continued, watching my eyelids.

“Your body is paralyzed, so we are providing you with mechanical ventilation, enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube, and parenteral drug administration through intravenous catheters. In addition, urinary catheter is used to maintain body hygiene. This is a complex of measures necessary to support your vital functions. We will regularly conduct examinations and adjust treatment depending on your condition.”

The doctor left. Tears rolled down my face, but I couldn't wipe them away. I waited again. I waited a long time. Suddenly, the door opened, and a young nurse entered the room. The nurse paused over my tests and frowned slightly. "We have some news for you," she said slowly.

Could it be worse? I can't move or breathe. I'm connected to medical devices. The white ceiling, the colorless wall, the hum of the machines – all this reminds me of the hopelessness of my situation. The nurse uttered this phrase as if pronouncing a sentence. "Soon you will have a new operation. Of course, you will be connected to a ventilator. You will have a tracheostomy. But at least you will be able to speak in a whisper." My eyes were dry from crying. What will it change? I will still be chained to this bed…

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Stretchable transistors used in wearable devices enable in-sensor edge computing

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are neuromorphic transistors made of carbon-based materials that combine both electronic and ionic charge carriers. These transistors could be particularly effective solutions for amplifying and switching electronic signals in devices designed to be placed on the human skin, such as smart watches, trackers that monitor physiological signals and other wearable technologies. In contrast with conventional neuromorphic transistors, OECTs could operate reliably in wet or humid environments, which would be highly advantageous for both medical and wearable devices. Despite their potential, most existing OECTs are based on stiff materials, which can reduce the comfort of wearables and thus hinder their large-scale deployment.

Read more.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference saved in our archive (Daily updates!)

The catharsis this study gave me by comparing humidity and UV's effects on aerosol spread: Even if farUV is as good as the three or so small-scale studies claim, just take a look at those whiskers. I like my range of efficacy to have a much smaller confidence interval, plus air filters and humidifiers are cheaper and easier to maintain.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of indoor environments on disease transmission. However, our understanding of how transmission occurred evolved as the pandemic progressed. Enclosed spaces where pathogen-laden aerosols accumulate were strongly linked to increased transmission events. Most classrooms, particulalry in the U.S., do not have any mechanical ventilation systems but do have many people congregating indoors for long periods of time. Here we employ a safe, non-pathogenic surrogate virus, the bacteriophage phi6, to interrogate aerosol transmission in classroom environments that do not have any natural or mechanical ventilation in order to provide baseline understanding of how effectively aerosols facilitate new infections. We measure exposure risk using a modified passive monitoring technique compliant with applicable standards, including ISO 14698–1:2003. We find that virus-laden aerosols establish new infections over all distances tested within minutes and that the time of exposure did not change transmission rate. We further find that relative humidity, but not temperature nor a UV-based disinfection device, significantly lowered transmission rates. Our data suggest that, even without mechanical ventilation, relative humidity remains an inexpensive and highly effective mitigation strategy while UV air treatment may not.

[wolfliving]

Bossware Surveillance Buildings

A case study on technologies for behavioral monitoring and profiling using motion sensors and wireless networking infrastructure inside offices and other facilities"

Wolfie Christl, Cracked Labs, November 2024

This case study is part of the ongoing project “Surveillance and Digital Control at Work” (2023-2024) led by Cracked Labs, which aims to explore how companies use personal data on workers in Europe, together with AlgorithmWatch, Jeremias Prassl (Oxford), UNI Europa and GPA, funded by the Austrian Arbeiterkammer.

Case study “Tracking Indoor Location, Movement and Desk Occupancy in the Workplace” (PDF, 25 pages) Summary

As offices, buildings and other corporate facilities become networked environments, there is a growing desire among employers to exploit data gathered from their existing digital infrastructure or additional sensors for various purposes. Whether intentionally or as a byproduct, this includes personal data about employees, their movements and behaviors.

Technology vendors are promoting solutions that repurpose an organization’s wireless networking infrastructure as a means to monitor and analyze the indoor movements of employees and others within buildings. While GPS technology is too imprecise to track indoor location, Wi-Fi access points that provide internet connectivity for laptops, smartphones, tables and other networked devices can be used to track the location of these devices. Bluetooth, another wireless technology, can also be used to monitor indoor location. This can involve Wi-Fi access points that track Bluetooth-enabled devices, so-called “beacons” that are installed throughout buildings and Bluetooth-enabled badges carried by employees. In addition, employers can utilize badging systems, security cameras and video conferencing technology installed in meeting rooms for behavioral monitoring, or even environmental sensors that record room temperature, humidity and light intensity. Several technology vendors provide systems that use motion sensors installed under desks or in the ceilings of rooms to track room and desk attendance.

This case study explores software systems and technologies that utilize personal data on employees to monitor room and desk occupancy and track employees’ location and movements inside offices and other corporate facilities. It focuses on the potential implications for employees in Europe. To illustrate wider practices, it investigates systems for occupancy monitoring and indoor location tracking offered by Cisco, Juniper, Spacewell, Locatee and other technology vendors, based on an analysis of technical documentation and other publicly available sources. It briefly addresses how workers resisted the installation of motion sensors by their employers. This summary presents an overview of the findings of this case study….

[mjmagics]

Chapter 2

Warnings: MC almost gets kidnapped, anxiety of large places, MC swearing a lot, teenage hormonal responses

Rating: 14+ THE ONLY STORY ON MY ACCOUNT NOT 18+

Word Count: 1,500+

I’m not an idiot 

Gotham City,  New Jersey. USA 

Robin watched as a plane landed at the Gotham International  Airport or the GIA. According to his father’s research, a gang leader who went by the name of King of Spades would be coming home to America from the United Kingdom, where he robbed a series of banks. He caused quite a stir for Batman’s allies in the UK, and the whole team was eager to end his criminal career, along with his gang members. 

“Batman, I see the target,” Robin stated, pressing down on the earpiece he wore so those on the comlink could hear him. 

“Great job, Robin,” Batman replied. “Now get to the next zone, Red Robin and Nightwing are in the building to monitor the target. Do not engage. We are to follow him to the hideout of the Royal Flush Gang.” 

The boy in red and green sighed. “I know, Batman, I’m not an idiot.” 

“I was simply reminding you,” Batman pointed out. “There is a break-in at a local retail store, Spoiler and I will handle it,” The man announced before cutting off the conversation.  

“You know what would be useful right now?” A voice came through on the intercom. 

“What, Nightwing?”  Robin asked. 

“Oo! Let me guess,” yet another voice exclaimed. “Miss Martian’s mental link?” 

“Ding ding ding,” Nightwing replied. “Red Robin is our winner.” Then the man sighed, “I’m missing my old team. Missions like this always remind me of them.” 

“Sorry we’re not good enough for you, Grayson,” Robin spat. 

“Boys, focus,” Batman’s voice came through on the earpiece. “And no real names, you all know this.” 

Robin tutted in frustration. “Yes sir.” 

“I can feel your anger from here, Robin,” Nightwing stated, there was a shutter in his voice before he let out a dry laugh. “Shit, I see our target. He is making his way to the far east exit.” 

“On it,” Red Robin replied. “I have eyes on him, is Batgirl and Red Hood ready?” 

“They are,” Batman answered. “Robin, can you tag his car?” 

“That’s easy,” Robin stated. “I was trained since a child for missions much more strenuous than this.” 

“Strenuous?” Nightwing asked. 

“It’s a synonym for hard,” the younger chuckled. “It’s a bit disappointing you don’t know the word.” 

“Ouch, how does that burn feel, Nightwing,” Red Robin chimed with a chuckle.

“I know what strenuous means, I’ m just surprised you know,” Nightwing sighed with defeat. 

“I’m not an idiot.” 

“I never said you were!”

“I’m heading to the car now,” Robin growled before switching off his Bluetooth device and storming out of the area. 

On the other side of the airport, Jade Knutsvig was just stepping off the warm plane and into the humid building full of bodies pushing and pulling to board their flights on time. Her eyes widened as she assessed the large building. In all her years she had never been in an airport as large as GIA. Other than the Mall of America, she had never been in a place this large. She had barely traveled outside of her home state. It was completely foreign to the girl.

After the first wave of shock passed, she found herself sitting on a bench, taking in the glass walls that allowed the pale orange light of the setting sun into the structure. It reminded her of tree sap, and she pulled a piece of crystallized amber from her carry-on. Amber could absorb negative energy, and ever since she was a young girl she was able to rely on the smooth stone to ease her anxieties. 

Jade whispered a small prayer to herself. It wasn’t to any god, but it was a cry for the universe to help guide her through the maze of the airport. After a few deep breaths, Jade pulled out her phone to message her sister. As the device turned on she could see the shadow of a man looming over her. Without looking at him she could already feel an untrustworthy energy radiating from his aura. 

“Are you lost?” The man questioned. “Where is your mom?” 

“I’m by myself,” She swiftly answered. The girl was unfamiliar with the hostilities of larger communities. Jade grew up in the comfort of small towns where everyone knew their neighbors and had their noses in one another's business. Her eyes glanced up at the man, and once she made eye contact with him her stomach dropped. 

“My name is Bruce Wayne. You might not know of me, but I’m a bit of a celebrity around here. I saw you got off a fight from Minneapolis. Are you from there?” 

“No,” Jade whispered. Where is Eliza she found herself thinking. She flies me all the way out to Gotham only to abandon me in an airport! 

Being stuck in her thoughts, Jade missed the moment that the man before her reached for her right forearm. His large hand grasped her body, and a rough pull brought her to her feet. 

“Woah, dude,” She exclaimed, trying to tug away from him. Her attempt to escape his friends was useless and it only made him hold tighter. “You don’t know what you’re doing! My sister is waiting for me, she will know I’m missing.” 

Pleading wasn’t helping Jade’s case, and the man began to lead Jade into the crowd of the airport. Her bag was left behind on the bench, along with her phone. Panic began to set in. This was nothing like home. 

“Help!” Jade screamed, “Help me! Someone!”

The man began to dig his nails into her skin, “shut up,” he growled. He then turned to the crowd the circled them. “Sorry, my daughter is just throwing a fit.” 

“Help! Please. I don’t know this man!” The young woman began to recall what her older sister taught her many years ago. “Please! This isn’t my dad!” 

“Barbra?” A voice sounded from the crowd, and a man with bright blue eyes and dark hair stepped out. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” 

Another stranger? Why couldn’t her sister be here to grab her? Yet, this guy seemed a lot better than the man who has dragged her across the airport. “Uh- Hi,” Jade said awkwardly. “I don’t know this man. I think he’s trying to kidnap me.” 

The assailant let go of the teen and began to push his way through the crowd. The man who referee to her as Barbara stepped closer. “Hey, let me help you.” 

“I’m okay,” Jade snapped. She was anxious, homesick, and had her life flash before her eyes. Overthinking took over her, and her brain visualized each situation that could have come to her if the man hadn’t saved her. 

“It's no bother,” The man stated. 

“I thank you for your help,” Jade huffed, checking her pockets for anything she might have. The girl found nothing but wanted to gift the man something. She closed her eyes while her right hand was shoved in her hoodie pocket and created a shard of jade stone. She presented it to him, flat in her palm. “Here, a token of my appreciation.” 

The man accepted it and opened his mouth as if he was going to comment on it. Before he could another man, closer to Jade’s sister’s age, stood next to him. “Hey, I know you’re trying to play hero but she’s safe. We have things to do.” 

The man who saved Jade nodded. “Thank you,” He stated, shaking the piece of jade that was in his hands to signify his gratitude. Jade simply nodded before she ran back to her stuff, surprised to see it had not been stolen by a thief. 

The moment she found her phone she called her sister. Her heart was still racing, and then a mix of fear and adrenaline made her legs weak. “Where are you?” Her voice was a whisper, and the moment Eliza replied with: “I’m at the gate c-19. Is that not yours?” 

“No,” The girl said, but as the syllables left her mouth so did a sob of fear. 

“Hey, what’s wrong? Where are you? I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

“I’m at “ Jade choked down another sob. “I’m at gate C-13. I wanna go home,” The girl cried, trying to hide in her hoodie. “Eliza, a man grabbed me.” 

“Oh my god,” Eliza gasped. In the background of the call, Jade could hear Eliza’s pace go from a brisk walk to a run. “I see you,” She replied quickly. 

Jade looked around before her eyes met Eliza’s. She felt a wave of warmth wash over her. It wasn’t natural, it was Eliza’s power soothing her. The two finally met, and Jade didn’t have time to hang up the call before Eliza’s arms were around her, her body heat matching the temperature of warmth that was soothed Jade meer seconds before. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Eliza repeated. 

After the two calmed down, filed a police report with airport security and Gotham PD, and retrieved Jade’s bags, the two began their car ride to their home. Jade fell asleep in traffic, and Eliza pondered if the man trying to kidnap her sister was an omen to get her sister out of Gotham already.

[army-navy-air]

How did pilots of the SR-71 Blackbird prevent the aircraft from leaving contrails over 65,000 feet?

The SR-71 Blackbird was designed to fly at Mach 3.2, or more than three times the speed of sound, and at altitudes up to 85,000 feet. At such extreme conditions, the air temperature was very low, around -60°C, and the air pressure was very low, around 0.9 psi. This meant that the air was very dry and could not hold much water vapor.

The SR-71 had two powerful Pratt & Whitney J58 engines that used a special fuel called JP-7, which had a very high flash point and low vapor pressure. The fuel was also used as a coolant for the engines and the airframe, which heated up due to aerodynamic friction. The fuel was circulated through heat exchangers and then sprayed into the engines’ afterburners, where it ignited and produced thrust.

The SR-71’s engines had a unique feature called “ejector nozzles”, which allowed them to operate efficiently at both subsonic and supersonic speeds. The nozzles consisted of two concentric rings: an inner ring that could move forward and backward to adjust the exhaust area, and an outer ring that had slots to allow air to enter the exhaust stream. The air entering the slots created a shock wave that increased the pressure and temperature of the exhaust gases, making them expand faster and produce more thrust. The air also diluted the exhaust gases, reducing their water content and making them less likely to form contrails.

The SR-71 pilots had to carefully monitor the engine performance and adjust the nozzle position to avoid contrail formation. They also had to avoid flying through clouds or areas of high humidity, which could trigger contrail formation. They used a device called a “contrail light”, which was mounted on the tail of the aircraft and projected a beam of light downward. If the light reflected off a contrail, the pilots would know they had to change their altitude or speed.

One example of a close encounter with a Soviet fighter occurred on Oct. 6, 1986, when an SR-71 was flying along the coast of Murmansk. The pilot, Ed Yeilding, spotted a long white contrail coming towards him at lower altitude. He realized it was a MiG-31 interceptor, one of the few aircraft that could reach the SR-71’s altitude. He raised his periscope and saw that he was also leaving a contrail behind him. He knew that the MiG-31 pilot could see his contrail as well and might try to fire his missiles at him if he crossed into Soviet airspace. He decided to stick to his planned track and get his pictures while depending on his speed and altitude for survival. The MiG-31 came as close as eight miles before running out of airspeed at 65,000 feet.

If you want to learn more about it, I recommend reading some of these books:

Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (Revised Edition) by Paul Crickmore

Sled Driver: Flying the World’s Fastest Jet by Brian Shul

Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed by Ben Rich

[republicsecurity]

Sleeping Pods for Conscripts

Sleeping Pods for Conscripts

The Sleeping Pods for Conscripts are advanced, integrated rest modules designed for use by military personnel in the Republic's paramilitary forces. These pods are engineered to accommodate conscripts sleeping in their full-body armor, including helmets, providing a seamless, secure, and efficient method of rest and recuperation.

Overview

The sleeping pods represent the pinnacle of military sleep technology, blending comfort with utility to ensure that conscripts remain battle-ready even while at rest. Each pod is constructed from a durable, high-grade composite material that offers protection and insulation, effectively creating a self-contained micro-environment.

Functions and Features

Waste Evacuation System Each pod is equipped with an integrated waste management system that connects directly to the conscripts' armor suits. This system efficiently handles all biological waste, ensuring hygiene and comfort without the need for the conscript to leave the pod.

Power Charging Interface The pods feature a sophisticated power interface that connects to the conscripts' armor suits, ensuring that all electronic systems, including communication devices, HUDs (heads-up displays), and life support systems, are fully charged and operational upon waking.

Life Support Integration The pods are equipped with advanced life support systems that monitor and regulate the conscripts' vital signs, providing real-time data to the central command system. This includes oxygen supply management, temperature control, and emergency medical response capabilities.

Hydration System To maintain optimal hydration levels, the pods are fitted with a hydration system that supplies water directly to the conscripts' armor suits. This system ensures that conscripts remain hydrated throughout their rest period without needing to remove their helmets.

Sensory Deprivation and Noise Cancellation To ensure optimal rest, the pods utilize state-of-the-art sensory deprivation technology, including noise-canceling mechanisms and adjustable ambient lighting. This creates a tranquil environment, free from external disturbances.

Communications Link Each pod maintains a secure communication link with central command, allowing for instant alert and mobilization if necessary. This link also enables conscripts to receive updates and briefings without leaving their pods.

Ergonomic Design Despite the full armor requirement, the pods are ergonomically designed to offer maximum comfort. Adjustable internal padding and support structures conform to the contours of the armor, reducing pressure points and ensuring a restful sleep.

Quick Egress System In the event of an emergency, the pods are equipped with a rapid egress system that allows conscripts to exit and mobilize within seconds. This system is synchronized with the conscripts' armor to ensure immediate readiness.

Environmental Conditioning The pods maintain a controlled internal climate, adjusting temperature and humidity to optimal levels for rest. This conditioning also includes air filtration systems to remove contaminants and ensure a clean breathing environment.

Hot Bunking Capability Designed for efficiency, the pods support hot bunking, allowing multiple conscripts to use the same pod in shifts. The pod’s systems quickly sanitize and reset between uses, ensuring each conscript has a clean and ready environment.

Operational Benefits

The integration of sleeping pods into the conscripts' daily routine offers several operational advantages:

Enhanced Readiness: Conscripts remain in their armor and can be deployed instantly, reducing response times during critical situations.

Improved Health Monitoring: Continuous vital sign monitoring ensures early detection of health issues, allowing for prompt medical intervention.

Increased Efficiency: By managing waste, hydration, and charging needs within the pod, conscripts can maximize their rest periods, leading to improved performance during active duty.

Resource Optimization: Hot bunking capability allows for efficient use of space and resources, accommodating more conscripts with fewer pods.

Usage

The sleeping pods are deployed in all major barracks and outposts within the Republic's territory. They are a standard feature in the accommodation of Enforcer Cadets, Paramedic Corps members, Lifeguards, and other paramilitary units. Each pod is assigned to an individual conscript and is programmed to recognize and interface exclusively with their specific armor suit.

See Also

Armor Suits of the Republic

Neuro-Based VR Training Modules

Life Support Systems

References

Republic Defense Technologies Manual, 2047 Edition

Advanced Military Rest Systems: Enhancing Soldier Efficiency and Readiness by Dr. V. Harkness

The Integration of Technology in Modern Warfare by Prof. K. Linwood

This article is part of the Republic's Military Technology Series, providing detailed information on the advanced systems used to maintain the security and efficiency of our paramilitary forces. For more articles, visit the Republic Military Archive.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Wearable tech for space station research

Many of us wear devices that count our steps, measure our heart rate, track sleep patterns, and more. This information can help us make healthy decisions—research shows the devices encourage people to move more, for example—and could flag possible problems, such as an irregular heartbeat.

Wearable monitors also have become common tools for research on human health, including studies on the International Space Station. Astronauts have worn special watches, headbands, vests, and other devices to help scientists examine sleep quality, effectiveness of exercise, heart health, and more.

Warm to the core

Spaceflight can affect body temperature regulation and daily rhythms due to factors such as the absence of convection (a natural process that transfers heat away from the body) and changes in the cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

A current investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), Thermo-Mini or T-Mini examines how the body regulates its core temperature during spaceflight. The study uses a non-invasive headband monitor that astronauts can wear for hours at a time.

Data from the monitor allow researchers to determine the effect on body temperature from environmental and physiological factors such as room temperature and humidity, time of day, and physical stress. The same type of sensor is already used on Earth for research in clinical environments, such as improving incubators, and studies of how hotter environments affect human health.

Thermolab, an earlier ESA investigation, examined thermoregulatory and cardiovascular adaptations during rest and exercise in microgravity. Researchers found that core body temperature rises higher and faster during exercise in space than on Earth and that the increase was sustained during rest, a phenomenon that could affect the health of crew members on long-term spaceflight.

The finding also raises questions about the thermoregulatory set point humans are assumed to have as well as our ability to adapt to climate change on Earth.

To sleep, perchance to dream

Spaceflight is known to disrupt sleep-wake patterns. Actiwatch Spectrum, a device worn on the wrist, contains an accelerometer to measure motion and photodetectors to monitor ambient lighting. It is an upgrade of previous technology used on the space station to monitor the length and quality of crew member sleep.

Data from earlier missions show that crew members slept significantly less during spaceflight than before and after. The Actiwatch Sleep-Long investigation used an earlier version of the device to examine how ambient light affects the sleep-wake cycle and found an association between sleep deficiency and changes during spaceflight in circadian patterns, or the body's response to a normal 24-hour light and dark cycle.

Follow-up studies are testing lighting systems to address these effects and help astronauts maintain healthy circadian rhythms.

Wearable Monitoring tested a lightweight vest with embedded sensors to monitor heart rate and breathing patterns during sleep and help determine whether changes in heart activity affect sleep quality. The technology offers a significant advantage by monitoring heart activity without waking the test subject and could help patients on Earth with sleep disorders.

Researchers reported positive performance and good quality of recorded signals, suggesting that the vest can contribute to comprehensive monitoring of individual health on future spaceflight and in some settings on Earth as well.

These and other studies support development of countermeasures to improve sleep for crew members, helping to maintain alertness and lessen fatigue during missions.

(Not) waiting to exhale

Humans exhale carbon dioxide and too much of it can build up in closed environments, causing headaches, dizziness, and other symptoms. Spacecraft have systems to remove this substance from cabin air, but pockets of carbon dioxide can form and be difficult to detect and remove.

Personal CO2 Monitor tested specially designed sensors attached to clothing to monitor the wearer's immediate surroundings. Researchers reported that the devices functioned adequately as either crew-worn or static monitors, an important step toward using them to determine how carbon dioxide behaves in enclosed systems like spacecraft.

Radiation in real time

EVARM, an investigation from CSA (Canadian Space Agency), used small wireless dosimeters carried in a pocket to measure radiation exposure during spacewalks. The data showed that this method is a feasible way to measure radiation exposure, which could help focus routine dosage monitoring where it is most needed. Any shielding and countermeasures developed also could help protect people who work in high-radiation areas on Earth.

ESA's Active Dosimeter tested a radiation dosimeter worn by crew members to measure changes in their exposure over time based on the space station's orbit and altitude, the solar cycle, and solar flares. Measurements from the device allowed researchers to analyze radiation dosage across an entire space mission.

The Active Dosimeter also was among the instruments used to measure radiation on NASA's Orion spacecraft during its 25.5-day uncrewed Artemis I mission around the moon and back in 2022.

Another device tested on the space station and then on Artemis I, AstroRad Vest is designed to protect astronauts from solar particle events. Researchers used these and other radiation measuring devices to show that Orion's design can protect its crew from potentially hazardous radiation levels during lunar missions.

The International Space Station serves as an important testbed for these technologies and many others being developed for future missions to the moon and beyond.

TOP IMAGE: NASA astronaut Nick Hague wears the T-mini device while exercising. Credit: NASA

CENTRE IMAGE: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams wears an Actiwatch as she conducts research. Credit: NASA

LOWER IMAGE: ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet holds one of the mobile units for the Active Dosimeter study. Credit: NASA

[75fmarketing]

The 75F Smart Sensors page highlights advanced, IoT-enabled devices designed to monitor and optimize indoor environments. These sensors capture real-time data on temperature, humidity, light, and occupancy, ensuring precise environmental control. Ideal for commercial buildings, they integrate seamlessly with 75F’s intuitive building management systems, enhancing comfort, energy efficiency, and automation. Explore innovative solutions that empower businesses to create smarter, more sustainable spaces effortlessly.

Visit:

[jcmarchi]

Interactive mouthpiece opens new opportunities for health data, assistive technology, and hands-free interactions

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/interactive-mouthpiece-opens-new-opportunities-for-health-data-assistive-technology-and-hands-free-interactions/

Interactive mouthpiece opens new opportunities for health data, assistive technology, and hands-free interactions

When you think about hands-free devices, you might picture Alexa and other voice-activated in-home assistants, Bluetooth earpieces, or asking Siri to make a phone call in your car. You might not imagine using your mouth to communicate with other devices like a computer or a phone remotely. 

Thinking outside the box, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Aarhus University researchers have now engineered “MouthIO,” a dental brace that can be fabricated with sensors and feedback components to capture in-mouth interactions and data. This interactive wearable could eventually assist dentists and other doctors with collecting health data and help motor-impaired individuals interact with a phone, computer, or fitness tracker using their mouths.

Resembling an electronic retainer, MouthIO is a see-through brace that fits the specifications of your upper or lower set of teeth from a scan. The researchers created a plugin for the modeling software Blender to help users tailor the device to fit a dental scan, where you can then 3D print your design in dental resin. This computer-aided design tool allows users to digitally customize a panel (called PCB housing) on the side to integrate electronic components like batteries, sensors (including detectors for temperature and acceleration, as well as tongue-touch sensors), and actuators (like vibration motors and LEDs for feedback). You can also place small electronics outside of the PCB housing on individual teeth.

Play video

MouthIO: Fabricating Customizable Oral User Interfaces with Integrated Sensing and Actuation Video: MIT CSAIL

The active mouth

“The mouth is a really interesting place for an interactive wearable and can open up many opportunities, but has remained largely unexplored due to its complexity,” says senior author Michael Wessely, a former CSAIL postdoc and senior author on a paper about MouthIO who is now an assistant professor at Aarhus University. “This compact, humid environment has elaborate geometries, making it hard to build a wearable interface to place inside. With MouthIO, though, we’ve developed a new kind of device that’s comfortable, safe, and almost invisible to others. Dentists and other doctors are eager about MouthIO for its potential to provide new health insights, tracking things like teeth grinding and potentially bacteria in your saliva.”

The excitement for MouthIO’s potential in health monitoring stems from initial experiments. The team found that their device could track bruxism (the habit of grinding teeth) by embedding an accelerometer within the brace to track jaw movements. When attached to the lower set of teeth, MouthIO detected when users grind and bite, with the data charted to show how often users did each.

Wessely and his colleagues’ customizable brace could one day help users with motor impairments, too. The team connected small touchpads to MouthIO, helping detect when a user’s tongue taps their teeth. These interactions could be sent via Bluetooth to scroll across a webpage, for example, allowing the tongue to act as a “third hand” to open up a new avenue for hands-free interaction.

“MouthIO is a great example how miniature electronics now allow us to integrate sensing into a broad range of everyday interactions,” says study co-author Stefanie Mueller, the TIBCO Career Development Associate Professor in the MIT departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering and leader of the HCI Engineering Group at CSAIL. “I’m especially excited about the potential to help improve accessibility and track potential health issues among users.”

Molding and making MouthIO

To get a 3D model of your teeth, you can first create a physical impression and fill it with plaster. You can then scan your mold with a mobile app like Polycam and upload that to Blender. Using the researchers’ plugin within this program, you can clean up your dental scan to outline a precise brace design. Finally, you 3D print your digital creation in clear dental resin, where the electronic components can then be soldered on. Users can create a standard brace that covers their teeth, or opt for an “open-bite” design within their Blender plugin. The latter fits more like open-finger gloves, exposing the tips of your teeth, which helps users avoid lisping and talk naturally.

This “do it yourself” method costs roughly $15 to produce and takes two hours to be 3D-printed. MouthIO can also be fabricated with a more expensive, professional-level teeth scanner similar to what dentists and orthodontists use, which is faster and less labor-intensive.

Compared to its closed counterpart, which fully covers your teeth, the researchers view the open-bite design as a more comfortable option. The team preferred to use it for beverage monitoring experiments, where they fabricated a brace capable of alerting users when a drink was too hot. This iteration of MouthIO had a temperature sensor and a monitor embedded within the PCB housing that vibrated when a drink exceeded 65 degrees Celsius (or 149 degrees Fahrenheit). This could help individuals with mouth numbness better understand what they’re consuming.

In a user study, participants also preferred the open-bite version of MouthIO. “We found that our device could be suitable for everyday use in the future,” says study lead author and Aarhus University PhD student Yijing Jiang. “Since the tongue can touch the front teeth in our open-bite design, users don’t have a lisp. This made users feel more comfortable wearing the device during extended periods with breaks, similar to how people use retainers.”

The team’s initial findings indicate that MouthIO is a cost-effective, accessible, and customizable interface, and the team is working on a more long-term study to evaluate its viability further. They’re looking to improve its design, including experimenting with more flexible materials, and placing it in other parts of the mouth, like the cheek and the palate. Among these ideas, the researchers have already prototyped two new designs for MouthIO: a single-sided brace for even higher comfort when wearing MouthIO while also being fully invisible to others, and another fully capable of wireless charging and communication.

Jiang, Mueller, and Wessely’s co-authors include PhD student Julia Kleinau, master’s student Till Max Eckroth, and associate professor Eve Hoggan, all of Aarhus University. Their work was supported by a Novo Nordisk Foundation grant and was presented at ACM’s Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology.

[vasthi-instruments12]

[tiffyfoundsomething]

I am a doll collector with BJD and buying parts or making hybrids can be a pain to color match. Just like playline dolls there’s not much consistency between brands. Some resins age differently, too.

The most reliable color matching source would probably be something like Pantone color cards, but those are FREAKING EXPENSIVE and it’s not reasonable to expect everyone to have them.

BJD collecting is an expensive luxury hobby and there are some of us that do need to keep our spending as minimal as possible.

This skintone chips set (https://www.pantone.com/products/fashion-home-interiors/skintone-guide-limited-edition) has an excellent range of skin tones, but seems to be lacking the pasty pale practically white colors a lot of Asian BJD come in and costs as much as a lower-priced BJD.

This set (https://www.pantone.com/products/plastics/the-pantone-matching-system-plastic-standard-chips-collection) seems ideal for color matching plastics, which resin is, at first but it’s polypropylene chips which will degrade in a few years, and not all colors of urethane or epoxy resins can be replicated in polypropylene. It’s also NINE THOUSAND FREAKING DOLLARS.

We all know I’m always looking for something functional and accessible and $9k that’s going to discolor and maybe even crumble in a decade is not my idea of accessible.

-

@maleficentmrsofallevil​ suggested a digital resource (https://redketchup.io/color-picker) which is free and accessible to most collectors that have an internet connection and using HEX codes is consistent across devices, however there are a few problems that we might run into.

Everyone’s monitors/phone screens and cameras would have to be calibrated exactly the same, and everyone’s lighting when making comparisons would have to be identical for this to be a viable resource. The hex chart being backlit could also skew the way it looks compared to a tangible resin sample.

That’s frustrating. Free and easy for most people to get a hold of is the ideal.

The main benefit of a physical vs digital resource for color matching is that the color sample and the doll are both subjected to the same lighting conditions, monitor settings, and camera settings so even if those factors vary between users, the comparison will still be relatively accurate.

-

A bunch of us sat around discussing different options. International hobby paint brands like Vallejo or Mr. Color, international makeup foundation color cards, etc. etc.

I’ve decided to give DMC embroidery floss color cards a try.

There are two versions.

One has samples of the actual floss in the book and costs about $40.

https://amzn.to/3Oq8G2f

The other has printed color blocks that presumably match the floss colors and costs about $10.

https://amzn.to/3Q2H8Bb

DMC are sticklers for their colors being the same across dye lots. Sometimes they change the numbers on colors and sometimes they discontinue colors all together, so we do still run into the issue of whether everyone’s looking at the same color cards or different versions.

At $10, needing to replace or update the color card every few years isn’t nearly as daunting as a $9k plastic samples set falling apart in your hands once a decade.

(Can you tell I hate polypropylene when used in conjunction with dolls?)

Other variables that will affect the efficacy of using DMC color cards are the conditions under which the color cards are kept like sun exposure, temperature, humidity etc. affecting either the color of the thread samples or the quality of the printed samples.

Another factor is consistency between printed samples.

I have not received these, yet, but my plan is to first compare them to each other to see how well the printed samples match the swatched samples, and then proceed from there.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

A new method to fabricate stretchable and breathable electronics

In recent years, engineers and material scientists have introduced increasingly flexible electronics that could be used to create new wearable devices, such as smart watches, biosensors and health-monitoring technologies. To be safely worn by humans for prolonged periods of time, these electronics should also be permeable (i.e., letting air and humidity pass through) and bio-compatible (i.e., not harmful to the human body). Researchers at Soochow University in China recently introduced a new methodology to fabricate liquid metal-based stretchable electronics that are stretchable, breathable and bio-compatible. Their proposed method, outlined in a paper in Nature Electronics, entails the use of circuit-patterned stamps to create multi-functional flexible electronic components for wearable devices. "Liquid metal-based stretchable electronics have garnered substantial interest in recent times, owing to their promising prospects in the realm of wearable electronics," Feng Yan, co-author of the paper, told Tech Xplore.

Read more.

[ymishraofficial]

Top 10 Projects for BE Electrical Engineering Students

Embarking on a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering opens up a world of innovation and creativity. One of the best ways to apply theoretical knowledge is through practical projects that not only enhance your skills but also boost your resume. Here are the top 10 projects for BE Electrical Engineering students, designed to challenge you and showcase your talents.

1. Smart Home Automation System

Overview: Develop a system that allows users to control home appliances remotely using a smartphone app or voice commands.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module

Sensors (temperature, motion, light)

Learning Outcome: Understand IoT concepts and the integration of hardware and software.

2. Solar Power Generation System

Overview: Create a solar panel system that converts sunlight into electricity, suitable for powering small devices or homes.

Key Components:

Solar panels

Charge controller

Inverter

Battery storage

Learning Outcome: Gain insights into renewable energy sources and energy conversion.

3. Automated Irrigation System

Overview: Design a system that automates the watering of plants based on soil moisture levels.

Key Components:

Soil moisture sensor

Water pump

Microcontroller

Relay module

Learning Outcome: Learn about sensor integration and automation in agriculture.

4. Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Overview: Build a prototype for an electric vehicle (EV) charging station that monitors and controls charging processes.

Key Components:

Power electronics (rectifier, inverter)

Microcontroller

LCD display

Safety features (fuses, circuit breakers)

Learning Outcome: Explore the fundamentals of electric vehicles and charging technologies.

5. Gesture-Controlled Robot

Overview: Develop a robot that can be controlled using hand gestures via sensors or cameras.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

Motors and wheels

Ultrasonic or infrared sensors

Gesture recognition module

Learning Outcome: Understand robotics, programming, and sensor technologies.

6. Power Factor Correction System

Overview: Create a system that improves the power factor in electrical circuits to enhance efficiency.

Key Components:

Capacitors

Microcontroller

Current and voltage sensors

Relay for switching

Learning Outcome: Learn about power quality and its importance in electrical systems.

7. Wireless Power Transmission

Overview: Experiment with transmitting power wirelessly over short distances.

Key Components:

Resonant inductive coupling setup

Power source

Load (LED, small motor)

Learning Outcome: Explore concepts of electromagnetic fields and energy transfer.

8. Voice-Controlled Home Assistant

Overview: Build a home assistant that can respond to voice commands to control devices or provide information.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Raspberry Pi preferred)

Voice recognition module

Wi-Fi module

Connected devices (lights, speakers)

Learning Outcome: Gain experience in natural language processing and AI integration.

9. Traffic Light Control System Using Microcontroller

Overview: Design a smart traffic light system that optimizes traffic flow based on real-time data.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

LED lights

Sensors (for vehicle detection)

Timer module

Learning Outcome: Understand traffic management systems and embedded programming.

10. Data Acquisition System

Overview: Develop a system that collects and analyzes data from various sensors (temperature, humidity, etc.).

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Multiple sensors

Data logging software

Display (LCD or web interface)

Learning Outcome: Learn about data collection, processing, and analysis.

Conclusion

Engaging in these projects not only enhances your practical skills but also reinforces your theoretical knowledge. Whether you aim to develop sustainable technologies, innovate in robotics, or contribute to smart cities, these projects can serve as stepping stones in your journey as an electrical engineer. Choose a project that aligns with your interests, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your professors and peers. Happy engineering!