As large trucks use more electronics, it's becoming easier to monitor things like tires, door latches, temperature sensors and cargo sensors. Digi International's ConnectPort™ X5 provides an array of connectivity options, supporting cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS, vehicle area networks and satellites. Digi's XBee® 802.15.4/ZigBee or point-to-multi-point 2.4- GHz radio technology lets drivers deploy low-power sensor networks throughout the vehicle, giving them real-time information about critical elements on their trucks. The system also lets drivers use Wi-Fi-enabled devices like vehicle displays and handheld devices. Fleet managers can use satellite or cellular links to monitor vehicle locations, even employing GPS to fence vehicles into certain areas.
Smith Electric Vehicles teamed with Trans Tech Bus to roll out a 42-passenger, 26,000-lb electric bus called the Newton eTrans, which it hopes will change the way children get to school every morning.
Doug Conner's self-starting, solar-powered Stirling engine runs all year when the sun is visible from the sculpture’s location. The engine can shut down when the sun isn’t visible, and it can restart by itself when the sun comes back up.
Thanks to embedded electronics, medical devices are getting smaller and smarter than ever. Pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are now able to call physicians. MRIs, CT scanners, and ultrasound machines are gaining mobility. And the venerable Band-Aid may soon be able to detect illnesses ranging from fevers to heart arrhythmias. On February 21, join Design News senior editor Charles Murray for a wide-ranging discussion, "Embedded Angles for Medical Products," which will explore the latest developments in medical electronics. The discussion will examine advances in medical device technology and offer an inside look at the embedded electronics behind it.
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