MR318 is the world's first commercially-available rotary
position sensor which can operate with complete "transparency" in
extreme electromagnetic fields such as MRI machines. An enabler for functional-MRI (fMRI)
research, the encoder allows medical researchers to develop MRI-compatible test
apparatus where measuring position, angle or speed is required. Doctors can monitor brain activity of stroke
and other impaired patients while pedaling, observing how brain and body adjust
to therapy and rehabilitation techniques.
Also enables development of phantom devices for MRI calibration and
teaching. Non-medical applications
include motion control where EMC "transparency" is required, including
radar scanners, anechoic chambers and DEW weapons. Prior to commercial availability of the MR318
encoder, engineers had no commercial solution for measuring continuous position
within an MRI chamber. Motors or
actuators could be hydraulic or pneumatic but no commercial position sensor
existed. A homemade fiber optic
proximity/limit switch was the best solution - but this was awkward to design,
package and only provided position information at discrete points. The company says the MR318 encoder is the world's
first and only commercially available, non-metallic rotary position sensor
which operates "transparently" in extreme electromagnetic
fields. There is no comparable product
on the market.
Andrew Morris designed a circuit that could detect a stroke victim's groan and convert the sound into a signal so caregivers would know when help was needed.
New disc magnet motors fit into the design trend of stepping up to closed loop performance while maintaining the cost advantage of stepper motor technology.
At the Design News webinar on June 27, learn all about aluminum extrusion: designing the right shape so it costs the least, is simplest to manufacture, and best fits the application's structural requirements.
On April 21, NASA launched a novel project, putting into orbit three satellites that employ an off-the-shelf commercial smartphone as the control system.
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For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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