<a href="https://www.projectceti.org/" target="_blank">Project CETI</a> (Cetacean Translation Initiative) aims to collect millions to billions of high-quality, highly contextualized vocalizations in order to understand how sperm whales communicate. But finding the whales and knowing where they will surface to capture the data is challenging — making it difficult to attach listening devices and collect visual information.&nbsp;Today, a Project CETI research team led by&nbsp;<a href="https://gil.seas.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Stephanie Gil</a>, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), have proposed a new reinforcement learning framework with autonomous drones to find sperm whales and predict where they will surface.&nbsp;The research is published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adn7299" target="_blank">Science Robotics.&nbsp;</a>This new study uses various sensing devices, such as Project CETI aerial drones with very high frequency (VHF) signal sensing capability that leverage signal phase along with the drone’s motion to emulate an ‘antenna array in air’ for estimating directionality of received pings from CETI’s on-whale tags. It demonstrates that it’s possible to predict when and where a whale may surface by using these various sensor data as well as predictive models of sperm whales dive behavior. With that information, Project CETI can now design algorithms for the most efficient route for a drone to rendezvous—or encounter—a whale at the surface. This also opens up possible conservation applications to help ships avoid striking whales while at the surface.Presenting the Autonomous Vehicles for whAle Tracking And Rendezvous by remote Sensing, or AVATARS framework, this study jointly develops two interrelated components of autonomy and sensing: autonomy, which determines the positioning commands of the autonomous robots to maximize visual whale encounters; and sensing, which measures the Angle-of-Arrival (AOA) from whale tags to inform the decision-making process. Measurements from our autonomous drone to surfaced tags, acoustic AOA from existing underwater sensors, and whale motion models from previous biological studies of sperm whales are provided as inputs to the AVATARS autonomous decision-making algorithm, which in turn aims to minimize missed rendezvous opportunities with whales.&nbsp;AVATARS is the first co-development of VHF sensing and reinforcement learning decision-making for maximizing rendezvous of robots and whales at sea. A well-known application of time-critical rendezvous is used with rideshare apps, which uses real-time sensing to note the dynamic paths and positions of drivers and potential riders. When a rider requests a ride, it can assign a driver to rendezvous with the rider as efficiently and as timely as possible. Project CETI’s case is similar in that they are real-time tracking the whale, with the goal of coordinating the drone’s rendezvous to meet the whale at the surface.&nbsp;This research advances Project CETI's goal of obtaining millions to billions of high-quality, highly contextualized whale vocalizations. The addition of diverse types of data will improve location estimates and routing algorithms—helping Project CETI meet that goal more efficiently.“I’m excited to contribute to this breakthrough for Project CETI. By leveraging autonomous systems and advanced sensor integration, we’re able to solve key challenges in tracking and studying whales in their natural habitats. This is not only a technological advancement, but also a critical step in helping us understand the complex communications and behaviors of these creatures,” said Gil. “This research is a major milestone for Project CETI’s mission. We can now significantly enhance our ability to gather high-quality and large-scale dataset on whale vocalizations and the associated behavioral context, putting us one step closer to better listening to and translating what sperm whales are saying,” said David Gruber, Founder and Lead of Project CETI.“'This research was an amazing opportunity to test our systems and algorithms in a challenging marine environment. This interdisciplinary work, that combines wireless sensing, artificial intelligence and marine biology, is a prime example of how robotics can be part of the solution for further deciphering the social behavior of sperm whales,” said&nbsp;Ninad Jadhav, Harvard University PhD candidate and first author on the paper.“This project provides an excellent opportunity to test our algorithms in the field, where robotics and artificial intelligence can enrich data collection and expedite research for broader science in language processing and marine biology, ultimately protecting the health and habitat of sperm whales,” said Sushmita Bhattacharya, a postdoctoral researcher in Gil's REACT Lab at SEAS.

Project CETI and Harvard have established a new reinforcement learning framework for rendezvous with whales using autonomous robots, combining sensing from diverse sensor streams

New methods for whale tracking and rendezvous using autonomous robots

This article explores the principles behind optical encoders, their types, and their advantages, highlighting how they enhance performance, ensure accuracy, and meet demanding standards in complex control environments.

Optical Encoder Technology: Advanced Guide to Precision Motion Control Systems

The ocean is a hostile environment for humans, so much so that some would consider it even more hostile than space. Like space, the deep ocean is extremely cold and completely dark; but unlike space's absence of pressure, the deep ocean has extreme pressure. Deep ocean explorers can only reach these depths using either a submarine or a submersible.Submarines, like those from the US Navy, are ships that can navigate long distances underwater without having to surface. They can navigate the world’s oceans with precision and at speeds upwards of 25 knots (46km/h). Their highly engineered hulls are constructed of layers of steel, titanium, and other metal alloys, capable of withstanding the extreme pressure of the ocean’s depths. These submarines are also highly compartmentalized to help mitigate any potential hull breach.Submarines are sleek, self-contained ships with mission-critical redundant safety systems, pinpoint accuracy navigation capabilities, and powerful propulsion systems capable of circumnavigating the globe without refueling. For the most part, a submarine’s crew can move about freely and carry on with normal life, close quarters notwithstanding. &nbsp;A submersible’s mission typically revolves around exploration or excursions and, like submarines, they can descend into the ocean’s depths. But that is about where the similarities end. Compared to submarines, submersibles are almost the complete opposite. In general, submersibles tend to be small and clunky and lack sleekness. Submersibles are usually only capable of carrying a limited crew of 1–3 individuals who serve as operators and researchers. Also, their hulls are generally engineered as a unibody structure, not necessarily made of steel, and typically feature port holes or large plexiglass globes as windows for the crew—something submarines lack. Additionally, submersibles have limited propulsion systems powered by batteries that propel the vessel at low speeds.Because of their size, submersibles lack water-tight compartmentalization, meaning a hull breach can have disastrous consequences. A submersible’s dive missions are typically short—in the order of hours— and typically rely on a surface mother ship for support, so many of their onboard safety, navigation, and life support systems do not typically employ redundancy.<h2 dir="ltr">Extreme Water Pressure</h2>To get an idea of the immense pressure at the depth of the Titanic wreckage, let’s consider that the air pressure that surrounds us (referred to as one atmosphere) is 1013mbar or 14.7 pounds per square inch (PSI). We humans do not feel this pressure because the fluids in our bodies are pushing out, helping to equalize this pressure. But this all changes the deeper you go under the ocean; the pressure of the water pushing down on you increases approximately one atmosphere for every 10 meters of water depth. For example, at the depth where the Titanic wreckage lies, the pressure is approximately 385 atmospheres, or 385 times greater than the pressure at sea level. The fact that numerous sea-dwelling creatures face no difficulty coping with this high pressure, frigid 2.5°C water, and total darkness is simply nature at work.<h2 dir="ltr">Featured Products</h2>This week's New Tech Tuesday introduces two sensing products. One enables wireless monitoring of water leaks, while the other allows monitoring of humidity and temperature in critical electronics. With precise measurements and ultra-low power consumption, these dependable products can help keep water and moisture under control in your future engineering projects.The <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/multitech/multitech-wireless-water-leak-sensors/">LoRaWAN®&nbsp;Wireless Leak Detection Sensors from MultiTech</a> offer a highly effective solution to mitigate water damage in a range of environments. These sensors are available as 1-meter rope sensors for indoor, outdoor, or industrial use. In puck form, these sensors can promptly send alerts over a wireless network upon detection of water to prevent catastrophic damage. Leveraging LoRaWAN technology, these remote detectors can be strategically placed near water heaters, standing tanks, toilets, septic systems, floor drains, and other potential leakage points to preempt costly water damage.The sensors are built for IoT applications, engineered for long-range transmission, and offer an extended battery life of 5–10 years at an affordable cost. They feature an open architecture design, allowing for flexible integration with other systems. A notable advantage is the optional web-based console for real-time provisioning, monitoring, and configuration of sensors in the field.These sensors also have applications in monitoring plumbing and reservoir leaks, burst water pipe surveillance, data center leak, and water intrusion monitoring. These capabilities make them ideal for complex facilities, with custom designs available to meet specific needs.Integrating these sensors on the same network allows monitoring from even the most remote locations. The sensors also feature long-range, excellent wireless penetration through structures, enclosure tamper detection, automatic error reporting, and over-the-air configuration. All these features and benefits reinforce the role of MultiTech's wireless leak detection sensors in effectively managing and reducing liquid leak-related risks.The <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/sensirion/sensirion-sht4x-digital-sensor/">Sensirion 4th Generation SHT4x Digital Humidity and Temperature Sensors</a> offer a range of benefits for climatic management of critical electronics. These sensors feature high accuracy and ultra-low power consumption, making them ideal for mobile and battery-driven applications. With their extended supply voltage range and improved accuracy specifications, they are well-suited for climate control, anti-fogging, and relative humidity/temperature (RH/T) condition monitoring. The sensors are compact and housed in a robust DFN package, allowing for easy integration into challenging designs while meeting the highest reliability standards. Additionally, the <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/sensirion/sensirion-senseval-sht4xv1-eval-board/">SENSEVAL-SHT4xV1 Evaluation Board</a> simplifies sensor evaluation and prototyping, with compatibility for various STMicroelectronics boards. The I²C interface provides flexibility, and the internal heater enables sensor operation in demanding environments. These sensors are packaged in a surface mount technology (SMT) compatible format, making them suitable for high-volume applications. Sensirion's proven sensor solutions are widely used across different applications and markets.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730708637663-sensor.webp" style="width: 832px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">MultiTech LoRaWAN Wireless IoT Sensors<h3 id="isPasted"> </h3> <h2>Conclusion</h2>The ocean’s immense water pressure at great depths poses a significant threat to humans and machines alike.In the realm of technology, this week’s featured products offer innovative solutions for detecting water leaks and monitoring moisture and temperature. The potential damage caused by water leaks and moisture to electronics cannot be overlooked. The featured products from MultiTech and Sensirion play a crucial role in preventing such damage by providing early detection and monitoring capabilities. Implementing these innovative sensing technologies enables engineers to effectively mitigate the risks associated with water leakages or moisture buildup, ensuring the longevity and optimal performance of critical electronic systems.

This article introduces two sensing products. One enables wireless monitoring of water leaks, while the other allows monitoring of humidity and temperature in critical electronics. 

Perils of the Deep: Mission Critical Sensing Technology Solutions

It happens all the time, legacy equipment functions as intended but doesn’t offer today’s remote monitoring capabilities. Facility management and staff know that capturing performance data from their equipment would enable better decisions but often fear it’s difficult to add the technology. That may have been true in the past, but today – with Banner’s Snap Signal plug-and-play products – it’s easier than you may think. This guide will walk you through a simple approach to upgrading legacy equipment and gaining new insights into your operation.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730079732912-1730079732912.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">1. Identifying Actionable Data Locked Inside Your Equipment</h2>Have you ever looked at the sensor on your conveyor, or tower light on your case packer and considered how much information it could potentially provide you with? At Banner, we call this “actionable data.” Photoelectric sensors may be currently used to trigger various steps of the process on your machine, but they can also be a source of measuring overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Once your data is unlocked, each time a product passes a sensor, the data becomes actionable. The same could be true for tower lights, which are commonly used to notify staff whether the machine is operating correctly, is out of materials, or is stopped for some reason. While this indicator provides local benefits, think how helpful the data would be to someone who was trending the downtime of all machines based on the tower light status. Comparing downtime among machines can help drive your continuous improvement efforts by aiming your projects at the underperforming machines.Traditional approaches to IIoT may require removing all existing sensors and other control devices and adding new. Not only is this expensive, but it generates waste from removing components that are working well. And it introduces risk, as you’re making large changes to equipment that could create unnecessary downtime. Another approach that is often considered is accessing the data inside the PLC or HMI on the machine. However, these devices are often locked down after the machine build, and making changes could pose further risk to the performance and uptime of the machine. At Banner Engineering, we take a less invasive approach by tapping the data from the devices you already have installed by creating an “overlay network” that operates alongside your existing device infrastructure.<h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730101897087-Screenshot+2024-10-28+at+8.49.33%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></h2><h2 id="isPasted">2. Unlocking Actionable Data</h2>Start by looking at the devices you have on your machines and consider whether the data is useful or needed. In the bottling example above, not every sensing point may be valuable, but some certainly will be. Also, look beyond sensors. Do your control panels have indicator lights that tell operators if something is wrong? This is actionable data. You can begin monitoring this machine data to trend how often a particular condition presents itself and then make a plan to improve it.Unlocking this data from existing devices is usually as simple as adding a splitter connection to “listen in” on the signals. For example, the bottling application’s photoelectric sensor – being used by the existing control system – likely has an M12 connector. If not, a field-wireable one can be easily added. This connector makes it easy to use a splitter cable to begin monitoring the signal. It is important to point out that with this method, you are not interrupting anything, you are simply listening in. With the splitter connected to the sensor, one branch of the splitter stays connected to the the PLC and the other branch goes to the new Snap Signal overlay network.Snap Signal is a portfolio of modular IIoT hardware and software that converts existing sensor signals to a unified protocol and then brings the data to an edge device to monitor machine conditions in the cloud or distribute the data to a SCADA control system or PLC. Snap Signal products are easily deployable and deliver actionable machine data from across your factory floor. Snap Signal helps minimize disruptions when upgrading equipment. Your existing control system architecture remains unchanged. Alternative methods like upgrading your PLC typically require significant down time and present the possibility of problems upon re-commissioning, but that isn’t the case with Snap Signal.<h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730101908786-Screenshot+2024-10-28+at+8.49.58%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></h2><h2 id="isPasted">3. Adding New Sensors to Unlock Additional Machine Data</h2>During your assessment of existing devices, you may realize there are points you want to monitor that don’t currently have sensors installed. For example, you may realize that monitoring the vibration and temperature of an electric motor could give you insights into when it may need service or replacement. You can quickly add a vibration &amp; temperature sensor and connect it into the overlay network. This is a simple problem to solve using your new overlay network from Snap Signal, as there’s no need to integrate these I/O points with your PLC.<h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730102023324-Screenshot+2024-10-28+at+8.50.20%E2%80%AFAM.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></h2><h2 id="isPasted">4. Simplifying Equipment Data with Unified Protocols</h2>Industrial equipment and control systems often come with a variety of communication protocols, making it difficult to monitor existing equipment. The Snap Signal family of products unifies these into a single communication protocol allowing you access to existing device data and any new sensors you have added which you need to monitor.Snap Signal makes this easy by offering a portfolio of in-line signal converters. These devices take signals like 0-10Vdc analog and convert them to a serial protocol. The converters require little to no configuration and install quickly via M12 connectors on either end. Building your overlay network involves identifying the signal types you have, so you can find the corresponding converters to capture the data and get it streaming. Once the signals are on a common serial protocol, you can bring them all together by creating cable networks with tees and M12 connectors.The industrial controller moves the data to a location it can be consumed. Locations you might send data to include cloud dashboards, SCADA systems, and HMIs. Banner’s Snap Signal IIoT portfolio includes a DXMR90 controller, which has the ability to connect to several serial networks and push data out via a single Industrial Ethernet port. The DXMR90 can perform logic, math, and other functions. Configurating the device is accomplished using Banner’s free software, and scripting can be performed using MicroPython for even more advanced functionality.<h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730102043503-Screenshot+2024-10-28+at+8.50.41%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></h2><h2 id="isPasted">5. Providing Your Organization with Actionable Data</h2>Now that you have access to all this actionable data, here are 5 real-world applications where you can begin using it immediately:<ol><li>Use sensor data to monitor the level of raw materials and schedule refills. Rather than having machine operators call in for more materials, let the machine tell the operators when they need to act. Use a cloud dashboard to view all the new data you have and create alerts when more materials are needed. <a href="https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/solutions/iiot-data-driven-factory/increase-machine-uptime0.html?utm_campaign=snap-signal&utm_medium=pdf&utm_source=snap-guide&utm_content=cloud-dashboard">Click Here to Read More.</a></li><li>Monitor Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). Use sensor data from input, reject, and output lines, along with machine uptime, to provide insights by monitoring a cloud dashboard that can help identify machines which are performing well or poorly. <a href="https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/solutions/iiot-data-driven-factory/measure-throughput-and-oee-on-case-sealer.html?utm_campaign=snap-signal&utm_medium=pdf&utm_source=snap-guide&utm_content=monitor-oee">Click Here to Read More</a></li><li>Predict when hydraulic power units will need maintenance by monitoring a cloud dashboard containing vibration, temperature, and motor current data. <a href="https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/solutions/iiot-data-driven-factory/monitor-hydraulic-power-units.html?utm_campaign=snap-signal&utm_medium=pdf&utm_source=snap-guide&utm_content=remote-monitoring">Click Here to Read More</a></li><li>Monitor tank levels remotely. Snap Signal products connect sensors of all signal types to bring tank level data onto your industrial network or to the cloud. <a href="https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/solutions/iiot-data-driven-factory/monitor-tank-level-remotely-in-a-snap.html?utm_campaign=snap-signal&utm_medium=pdf&utm_source=snap-guide&utm_content=monitor-tank-levels">Click Here to Read More</a></li><li>Monitor the condition of dust collection systems. Monitor vibration and temperature, boiler temperatures, level, and differential pressure. Then bring this data to a Banner DXM and the option of aggregating in a cloud dashboard. <a href="https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/solutions/iiot-data-driven-factory/condition-monitoring-of-dust-collection-system--.html?utm_campaign=snap-signal&utm_medium=pdf&utm_source=snap-guide&utm_content=dust-collection">Click Here to Read More</a></li></ol>The move to a smart factory – which was once a daunting prospect – has become easier with the use of Snap Signal products, from Banner Engineering. Snap Signal is brand-agnostic, and flexible enough to be implemented at any point along your data-flow chain and is an ideal solution for both modernizing legacy equipment and integrating with new machine builds. Increase productivity and unlock your factory’s true potential with Snap Signal – a hardware and software tool-kit for your IIoT evolution. <a href="https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/lp/snapsignal/snap-signal-guide-form.html?srsltid=AfmBOopef7Gq13YBKeqW0so-JI-dRjrUy8RWmuLVpMh9LxWWGgQgCJpW">Banner </a>products and solutions have been trusted for over 50 years and are designed and built to meet and exceed industry standards.

Unlocking Data from Your Existing Equipment is Easier Than You Think

The 5-Step Guide to Modernizing Your Factory

Delve into the basics of absolute encoders, its applications, advancements in technologies, calibration techniques, and the advantages over encoder types.


Absolute Encoder: Precision Positioning in the Digital Age

Where verbal communication is hindered, such as in locations with lots of background noise or where an individual has an existing speech impairment, SSI systems are a cutting-edge solution, enabling verbal communication without vocalisation. As such, it is a type of electronic lip-reading using human-computer interaction.In new research, led by the University of Cambridge, an overlying structured graphene layer is applied to an integrated textile strain sensor for robust speech recognition performance, even in noisy environments.Worn around the neck, the smart choker captures micromovements in the throat, which are then picked up by the strain sensor as an electrical signal and fed into brain-inspired computer software models for processing and speech recognition. It can pick up even silently mouthed words and broadcast it, which could help someone who is unable to speak following laryngeal surgery, for example.The smart choker’s unique structure features ordered thorough cracks on graphene-coated textiles. The structured graphene layer significantly enhances the sensitivity of the strain sensor. It can dynamically respond to throat micromovements, enabling the capture of information-rich speech signals. These signals are then processed through a computationally efficient neural network, with a record accuracy of 95.25% in speech decoding.&nbsp;The <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-024-00315-1" target="_blank">results</a>, reported in the journal npj Flexible Electronics, offer a promising, non-invasive solution for practical, wearable SSI systems, paving the way for seamless, natural silent communication in diverse settings.The proposed SSI system is robust and able to decode a wide range of words, while swiftly adapting to new users and vocabularies. The technology was recently showcased as a live demonstration at the <a href="https://2024.ieee-biosensors.org/" target="_blank">IEEE Biosensors 2024</a> conference, attracting the attention of 180 plus participants to the event.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728346384523-Screenshot+2024-08-15+at+15.51.32.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">An overview of the wearable SSI, featuring an ultrasensitive strain sensor and a neural network for efficient speech recognition.The research was led by <a href="https://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/lgo23" target="_blank">Dr Luigi G. Occhipinti</a>, Director of Research in Smart Electronics, Biosystems and AI, and Head of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.occhipintigroup.com/" target="_blank">Occhipinti Group</a> in the&nbsp;<a href="https://ee.eng.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Electrical Engineering Division</a> at the Department of Engineering and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.graphene.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Cambridge Graphene Centre</a>.Dr Occhipinti said: “Our user-friendly smart choker demonstrates a remarkable ability to efficiently perform in real-world scenarios with users of different genders, geographical, and ethnic backgrounds, across new and potentially ambiguous words of varying lengths and familiarity, and at varying reading speeds.“Our SSI system operates with high precision and computational efficiency in distinguishing the speech of different users against different types of noise, caused by sensor imperfections, the external environment, and/or from the users’ own body movements while wearing the device.“Furthermore, the fabrication method of our ultrasensitive textile strain sensor technology is biocompatible, simple, low cost, and scalable. It is also adaptable to prolonged use and can withstand more than 10,000 stretching-releasing cycles while maintaining stable and reliable electrical functionality.“Put simply, the synergy of our sensor design and neural network optimisation sets a new standard in wearable silent speech communication technologies, offering a comfortable smart choker with groundbreaking potential.”<hr>Reference: Chenyu Tang, Muzi Xu, Wentian Yi, Luigi Giuseppe Occhipinti, et al. ‘<a href="http://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-024-00315-1" target="_blank">Ultrasensitive textile strain sensors redefine wearable silent speech interfaces with high machine learning efficiency’</a>. npj Flexible Electronics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41528-024-00315-1

Micromovements in the throat are captured by an ultrasensitive strain sensor integrated into a smart choker, comprising a textile substrate with an overlying structured graphene layer. Credit: Mr Zibo Zhang from University College London

A wearable ‘smart’ choker for speech recognition has the potential to redefine the field of silent speech interface (SSI), say researchers – thanks to embedded ultrasensitive textile strain sensor technology.

Graphene-based wearable strain sensor can detect and broadcast silently mouthed words

In this episode, we explore an innovative and sustainable wearable device designed by researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to improve posture and we discuss why AI isn’t just a novelty in this product but a core feature that sets it apart from the rest!<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/d57569bc-03b3-422f-b7d5-738ddd6707a9?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><hr><h3 id="isPasted">Episode Notes</h3>(0:50) - <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/innovative-wearable-sustainably-improving-posture" target="_blank">Innovative Wearable: Sustainably Improving Posture</a>Become a founding reader of our newsletter: <a href="http://read.thenextbyte.com/" target="_blank">http://read.thenextbyte.com/</a><hr><h2 data-attrid="title" data-local-attribute="d3bn" data-ved="2ahUKEwiBhLnmu4aAAxVmwjgGHcDWC38Q3B0oAXoECEgQEQ" id="isPasted">Transcript</h2>Gosh, my neck, my back, they hurt so bad from my poor posture. If you're just like me, you're not alone, right? Poor posture is impacting millions of people around the world. And if your back hurts from poor posture, the way that Farbod and my back hurts from carrying the podcast game, you're going to want to check out this episode. Cause we're talking about a startup called StraightUp. That's making a wearable device to help you correct your posture over time.I'm Daniel, and I'm Farbod. And this is the NextByte Podcast. Every week, we explore interesting and impactful tech and engineering content from Wevolver.com and deliver it to you in bite sized episodes that are easy to understand, regardless of your background.&nbsp;Daniel:&nbsp;What's up folks? Like we said on today's podcast episode, we're talking all about back pain and neck pain, which is a widespread issue. And this basically fledgling startup of students from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT, they made a startup called StraightUp. That's StraightUp gonna fix your back, StraightUp gonna fix your neck problems and make sure that you're StraightUp, standing StraightUp and sitting StraightUp all the time because I don't know, I think it's awesome the way that they've used technology in this sustainable user-friendly approach. I don't want to jump too fast into it. Maybe we talk a little bit more about the why first, but I think it's StraightUp interesting.Farbod: I StraightUp agree with you. And I think I'm very relevant to the why. They talk about how in the Western world, our sedentary life has led to us having a lot of back problems, a lot of neck problems. And then, a lot of people don't exercise a lot. So, I'm gonna call myself out from 8 a.m. today. It's almost 8 p.m. now. I have basically been slouched on the couch looking at a monitor. And even right now, like I had to straighten up as you started talking about the topic. My back has just kind of been hunched over. You know, I'm a youngish man right now. So, the effects have been somewhat minimal, but I feel like if I don't correct this, it's gonna catch up with me and I'm gonna feel the pain down the road. Now, Daniel over here, he's already ahead of the curve. This man is religious about his standing desk. So, he obviously has no idea what the rest of us in the Western world are talking about.Daniel:&nbsp;I know exactly what you're talking about. This is exactly why I stand up every day when I'm working at my desk, because I do have back pain. I do have neck pain from sitting on the couch or sitting in a chair and slouching. And my dad, like, had to have like really invasive back surgery and all this stuff. And he says a lot of it is probably because of his sedentary office environment, lack of movement during the day, poor posture, created a chronic issue in his back that could only be fixed by surgery. So, I'm trying to take some preventative measures along the way, but I still think there's a lot that I can do to improve my posture. And what's crazy is like a vast majority of back pain and back surgeries, chiropractor visits, et cetera. Doctors contribute a vast majority of those actually to just people's posture, right? Something that you do every single day, you know, 99 plus percent of the time, whenever you're sitting in a chair, staring at a screen or staring at your phone, that creates a lot of long-term impact on your body. And the traditional solutions for posture correcting either restrict your mobility. Right. They feel like you're like strapped into something or there's even like these new startups trying to think of one, I think it's called Upright. Which is crazy because this one's called StraightUp. So maybe they've got some beef already. But Upright is something that I've seen a lot of Instagram ads for. And it basically looks like about something about size of an AirPods case. And it hangs on a necklace on your back and it's supposed to like vibrate and let you know when you've bent over too far like you're slouching a little bit. But one of the challenges with that, and I've actually, no joke, like I'm not trying to just show StraightUp here. I've actually like looked into it and saw people on Reddit saying like, this thing's so freaking annoying. It vibrates like whenever I bend down to pick something up off the ground, I'm like, I'm not slouching. I'm just literally picking something up off the ground. So, traditional solutions either restrict your mobility, you're in a brace or they give inaccurate feedback during common most common movements. So, both of those, less effective than they could be. So, enter this team straight up, spin-off from Karlsruhe institutes at technology, I think it's three students.Farbod: Three students and a physiotherapist. Yeah.Daniel: And a physiotherapist from KIT, right? They're teaming up to try and tackle this problem with a more user-friendly approach. And this more user-friendly approach is correcting posture using haptic feedback. So, for those of you that don't know what haptic feedback is, that's like when you're typing on your phone and it vibrates a little bit, or you press a button on your phone and it vibrates a little bit, lets your body know with a physical response that the way it's interacting with something. So, in this case, the way you interact with this device is it does small vibrations, haptic feedback, to let you know when you have bad posture, to try and remind you, hey, it's time to maybe put your shoulder blades back a little bit and straighten out your neck. That gives you a little bit of a vibration as a reminder for that. It's not very restrictive like a brace. And essentially, it's this wearable that helps correct your posture. It measures your shoulder position, measures your back inclination, measures the position of your neck and tries to help encourage you to learn healthy posture. And that's one of the challenges, let's say with like a normal back brace right now to try and fix this. And Nellie even bought a posture corrector and had the same complaint, which is like, it feels like it's forcing my body to be in the right position rather than teaching it to be in the right position. So, the second you take it off, your body hasn't learned to make this its new natural home. You just go back to slouching like you were before, and it just feels kind of uncomfortable when you're wearing it. So instead of forcing your body to be in the right position, it's slowly teaching it and encouraging it with haptic feedback to maintain proper posture.Farbod: Yeah, and I mean, we can kind of start jumping into their solution, but they kind of got the best of both worlds figured out. On the material side, they chose this elastic metal alloy. So, as the name implies, it's made of metal, but it's elastic so it can conform to your body. So, it's not super rigid. Instead of having a, you know what you were talking about, I think Upright, I don't know how Upright technology works. I'm guessing that little necklace has some sort of sensor that says if you've been tilted this much, give it vibration. These folks over at StraightUp are using an AI, which I am guessing takes into account a bunch of different feedback from the harness to then say, yeah, this person's actually been crouching over their computer for an extended period of time versus, oh, they're just bending over to pick something up, or maybe they're playing a sport. And just being able to differentiate between what your body's doing in different conditions instead of a binary, oh, you're in a bad posture, or no, you're in a perfect posture.Daniel:&nbsp;Yeah, I think this is like the more nuanced next generation version of some of the things that we've seen before. Not to dog on Upright at all, right? It's a great idea. But this feels like almost like an extra twist on that, that uses these, they call them conductive super elastic metal alloys, which basically in my mind, my interpretation of this is they've got these metal wires that are weaved into the fabric of this harness that avoids all the bulkiness of having external components like an accelerometer or something like that. And what it does is it flexes with the user's movements and because it's super stretchy and because they also mentioned it's conductive, I’m imagining all they're doing is measuring the resistance of this wire and as the person changes position the resistance of the wire changes as it stretches or contracts with the body. And that allows them to gain a lot of insight on the body's position and then that allows them to you know use their AI process or whatever using the sensor data to distinguish between a normal forward bending motion versus harmful slouching. And then give the person direct haptic feedback. So, instead of locking your back into a rigid position, like a brace, what are giving you errant feedback, like some other solutions do, it tries to make sure that it knows exactly when you're holding bad posture, gives you a subtle vibration to try and train your body, say, oh, I actually have bad posture. I'm going to put my shoulders back. I'm going to straighten out my neck a little bit and it promotes you actively correcting your posture. Building better muscles to stabilize your shoulder blades in your spine and your neck as opposed to like forcing your body to do it or giving you too many notifications. So, you do it at the wrong time.Farbod: Yeah. And that in itself is already pretty promising. What I found to be even more impressive is that it looks like they're now working with the German Institute for Textile and Fiber Research. I'm guessing they're doing this to better understand how they can kind of merge this technology into a shirt or something that you would just wear. So, it's not like a separate device. And that is like, it just kind of plants the seed in my brain where I'm like, if you're able to extract that much information about posture, could you then make this a wearable that assist folks that are doing general physiotherapy and getting their movements in to heal from some sort of injury? Or for the average Joe on a day-to-day basis, could you use that to collect health data and provide, I don't know, more detailed feedback in terms of how your muscles are responding to different stimuli?Daniel:&nbsp;That's exactly where my brain went to man. Like Nellie and I are, we're in the pain cave right now for marathon training. Like we're in the thick of it. We're a couple of weeks out from the marathon race and we're dealing with some nagging injuries. And one of the things that they say potentially a lot of these injuries stem from is like poor form, poor running form, which is basically just your posture while you're running and then overuse of your muscles in that poor posture and I went exactly there too, man. I'm like, well, this is just focusing on posture of your neck and shoulders. What if there were other, I could put on a different type of harness or belt that looks at the posture of my hips and my glutes and my legs during my running, or look at the pronation of my feet, socks that look at the pronation of my feet during running and try and give me active reminders to correct my form and do it in a proper way. Also think about like lifting weights. People get hurt all the time lifting weights because they're doing it with the wrong form. They put on too much weight, they're trying to be strong, and then they do it the wrong way, and then bang, they injure the rotator cuff in their shoulder. Like there's a lot of other types of posture, not just the one that's when we're sedentary at our desk, that matters a lot to how our bodies perform and recover and interact with the world around us. I think that straight up starting with this, but they could absolutely apply this technology to other types of applications and get similar results.Farbod: Me too. It's crazy that you and I both went to the same spot given that I spend most of my time in a chair and you spent most of your time getting ready for a marathon. So, great minds think alike despite how lazy they might be.Daniel: I don't, I think I'm an equal amount of lazy. We're just, we're signed up for it. We're committed at this point, going to try and make it across the finish line. But I do want to mention, I think in terms of pros and cons. This wearable definitely could help lots and lots of people. I don't know from an adoption perspective; how many people are gonna be more willing to put this thing on. It looks a little bit more like a bra, like a harness than it does like a necklace. Feels a lot easier to try and convince someone like, oh, put on this necklace versus like put on this harness every single day. That being said, it does look like it's pretty sleek. Does look like it won't, you don't have to wear it over your clothes and it does look like it would be pretty form fitting. So, I think that that's interesting. I would be interested in how many, how many people of the millions of people suffering from posture related back pain would be willing to adopt this. But that goes to my pros, which is like, it seems like they've challenged, they overcome a lot of the challenges with AI based feedback system. Seems like they've overcome a lot of the challenges related to sustainability, right? Using haptic feedback and encouraging the person to use the right posture instead of forcing them to use the right posture. That feels like it's more sustainable. Having sensor accuracy in diverse environments, right? You want to get reminded to have correct posture when you're sitting. You maybe don't care too much if you're bending down to pick up the pencil off the ground. Like those, that's crucial in real world use. I would love to see how this compares with a competitor like Upright. And we've kind of alluded to it a couple of times, but these folks have created their own company called StraightUp. I think based on their website, I was on it earlier today, they're planning on launching in Kickstarter in 163 days. They've got a countdown, which is pretty cool. So, we'll definitely be following you, StraightUp team. And we'd love to see how this, how this tech solution continues to evolve and develop and hopefully make it to market and make a lot of impact. I say this on so many podcast episodes, but my biggest pet peeve about technology is when someone develops it and it could impact a lot of people and then it sits on a shelf and collects dust. This team from StraightUp is doing the exact opposite, right? They're taking their technology and sprinting to market as fast as they can, which is something that I really, really appreciate.Farbod:&nbsp;Yeah, and as a listener, if you're interested in something like this, make sure you check out their page, give them support as they launch. If you got feedback, it's a perfect time to just kind of get in on the ground floor and voice your opinions.Daniel: Yeah, I'm with you. And well, in addition to the article, which we, every single time, link in the show notes, we're gonna also link StraightUp's website so you can check it out and check out some of their content and watch the countdown till the Kickstarter launch, the way that I'm going to for the next 163 days and 11 hours and 53 minutes and five seconds.Farbod: If only it was before your marathon. Alas. All right, man, you wanna give us a quick wrap up?Daniel:&nbsp;Yes, I do. Do your neck and back hurt after hours of slouching at your desk, staring at your phone? If yes, like Farbod and me, you're not alone. Poor posture is pretty much our modern-day epidemic. Millions of people in the world struggle with their back and their neck pain that's caused specifically by poor posture, but a lot of the solutions out there, like braces actually just limit your mobility instead of training your body to do the right thing. So, what if your clothes or a slim wearable could silently train you to sit and stand correctly all day long? Enter the startup called StraightUp. They developed a slim wearable device that uses AI and sensors woven into the fabric to help correct your posture with the gentle vibrations, just training your body, teaching your body over time to move and to hold the right posture. I think of this as like the Garmin for exercise or the aura ring for sleep, but this is for posture I wonder if one day millions of people in the world will be using StraightUp to move the posture game forward in the future.Farbod:&nbsp;Money that was straight-up money.Daniel:&nbsp;Thanks, dawg.Farbod:&nbsp;Anytime. All right folks. Thank you so much for listening as always. We'll catch in the next one.Daniel:&nbsp;Peace.<hr id="isPasted">As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.To learn more about this show, please visit our<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">&nbsp;shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published. Be sure to give us a follow and review on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Apple</a> podcasts,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!--The Next Byte: We're two engineers on a mission to simplify complex science &amp; technology, making it easy to understand. In each episode of our show, we dive into world-changing tech (such as AI, robotics, 3D printing, IoT, &amp; much more), all while keeping it entertaining &amp; engaging along the way.

In this episode, we explore an innovative and sustainable wearable device designed by researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to improve posture and we discuss why AI isn’t just a novelty in this product but a core feature that sets it apart from the rest!

Podcast: You Don't Stand Straight But This AI Wearable Will Fix It

Sensors and actuators are essential elements of industrial systems, instrumental to any application that requires automated control. Sensors measure changes in the environment while actuators control physical changes, with both devices serving as mediator between the physical environment and the electronic system where they are embedded.Raspberry Pi provides general purpose header pins that can be connected to sensors, making the innovative low-cost board a popular and valuable choice for engineering prototypes. However, Pi’s GPIO pins are designed for driving low current devices such as LEDs, so is it possible to connect to the I/O necessary for industrial environments?The type of sensors you’ll need to connect to your Pi will depend on the particular job your prototype is designed to perform. In manufacturing, the most common processes are concerned with monitoring and control:<ul><li>Temperature: Both contact and contactless sensors can be used to measure temperature.</li><li>Photoelectric: Ideal for counting specific objects using light or lasers.</li><li>Button and Switches: Simple human inputs used to control the functioning of a system.</li><li>Dial: Simple human input providing analogue/continuous control of a signal over a range of values.</li><li>Pressure: Useful for detecting blockages, and signalling when a system needs servicing.</li><li>Vibration: Often the first sign of a problem, sensors that detect changes in vibration are great for predictive maintenance.</li><li>RFID: Used to track and/or locate devices, personnel, and/or equipment.</li><li>Inductive: The typical automation sensor, alerting to the presence of metal.</li><li>Power Consumption: Key to understanding energy usage, also a useful signal for predictive maintenance</li></ul>Industrial sensors typically require 12-24V power and signal changes using the same voltage. Raspberry Pi’s GPIO input circuitry can be driven to either 3.3V (high) or 0V (low). This means that whilst a 12V water flow sensor might initially work hooked straight up to a Raspberry Pi, in long- term industrial projects the incompatibility of the currents will almost certainly cause problems.<h2>Does this mean Raspberry Pi can’t be connected to industrial sensors beyond a prototype?</h2>Connecting a sensor to Raspberry Pi directly often means stripping the sensors wiring and soldering the cable to the correct GPIO pin. The 12 or 24V of an industrial sensor will then be driven straight to the Pi with nothing in the way to protect Pi internal circuitry, including the processor. By adding extra circuitry as a buffer between the input pin and the Pi, it’s possible to extend the processor’s source/ sink current capabilities, and prevent excessive power dissipation in the chip.<h2>Breadboards and the Factory Floor</h2><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI3NjY2MTkzNzgzLXZpc2hudS1tb2hhbmFuLXZ0Zzh0QWRvV1ZRLXVuc3BsYXNoLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Photo by Vishnu Mohanan on UnsplashBreadboards are solderless circuit boards that can house the most complex circuits, making them an invaluable option for prototyping. The impermanence afforded by the boards allows you to build and test multiple circuits without the need to constantly solder rewired connections. In this way, breadboards are great for testing new parts, integrated circuits and for troubleshooting.Some circuits will require a considerable amount of space, another feature of breadboards that makes them useful tools in industrial prototyping is the ability to extend the surface size by connecting multiples together.While breadboards can go a long way in adapting Raspberry Pi for industrial applications, certain considerations may be prohibitive to deploying such a prototype directly to a factory environment. The completed set-up is undeniably still a prototype; the connections, whilst providing industrial I/O options, are not optimised for the rigours of the factory floor.&nbsp;<h2>Industrialised Pi</h2>Powered by Raspberry Pi, Brainboxes BB-400 is a smart industrial controller that allows prototypes to be deployed straight into industrial environments.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI3NjY2NTk4MTgyLWJiLTQwMC1waTMtMTAyNHg2ODEuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Rather than adding protection to the GPIO using a breadboard and external circuitry, the built in circuitry of the BB-400 allows 12V and 24V sensors to be directly connected to the IO lines without the need to add additional components to step down the voltages.<h2>Never Lose a Configuration with Removable Terminal Blocks</h2>Using a screwdriver to connect sensors’ wires/cables into the embedded terminal blocks means that the circuitry doesn’t require soldering to create strong and secure connections, allowing multiple reconfigurations. As the terminal blocks can be unplugged, it’s easy to take the module out without affecting any of the pre-wired terminals.As a single misplaced component leg can cause the whole circuit to malfunction or even cease to function at all, another useful feature of the terminal blocks is their numbering. It’s a lot easier to decipher the correct connection when you eliminate the need to count down a row of tiny header pins!The BB-400 has 8 onboard digital I/O and multiple connectivity options: RS232/422/485 Serial port,Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Dual Ethernet, making it usable straight out of the box without the need for any add-on units. Packaged in an industrial DIN rail enclosure, the BB-400 is the perfect solution for deploying a Raspberry Pi prototype straight onto the factory floor.<a href="https://offer.brainboxes.com/prototyping-on-a-pi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Download the Prototyping with Pi E-book here. </a>

The type of sensors you’ll need to connect to your Pi will depend on the particular job your prototype is designed to perform. In manufacturing, the most common processes are concerned with monitoring and control

Unlock Industrial Prototyping: Your Guide to Connecting Industrial Sensors to Raspberry Pi

Sometimes a researcher goes into the lab and comes out with a discovery. Sometimes that discovery is issued a patent. Very rarely does the process also involve an undergraduate, a potential breakthrough for biomedical printing and cell therapy, and a little help from Bill Nye ’77 the Science Guy.As an ambitious sophomore, Jared Matthews ’21 was looking for a research project and he approached <a href="https://www.bme.cornell.edu/faculty-directory/lawrence-bonassar" target="_blank">Lawrence Bonassar</a>, the Daljit S. and Elaine Sarkaria Professor in Biomedical Engineering and in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Cornell Engineering. Together they created a smart sensor that attaches to the tip of a syringe to measure, in real time, the concentration and viability of the cells that pass through it – a device that would enable surgeons and biomanufacturers to produce higher quality implants of living tissue, even organs.“A lot of inventions come out of this university,” Bonassar said. “Not a lot of them involve undergraduates, and not a lot of them happened during COVID. Most of our peers didn’t even have undergraduates on campus in fall 2020. And here we have an undergraduate not only on campus, but working in a lab and inventing and patenting something that could be really impactful.”For two decades, Bonassar’s lab has been making bioprinting technology that combines cells with materials such as hydrogel ink to fabricate new <a href="https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2022/06/cornellian-founded-company-implants-3d-bioprinted-ear" target="_blank">living tissues and organs</a> that function better than inanimate implants. But in bringing this technology from the lab to the clinic, one persistent problem has remained.“One of the real challenges in manufacturing is the quality control,” Bonassar said. “If you’re going to print something that’s alive with cells in it, the first thing you need to know is how many cells are in it? And what fraction of them are alive?”Previous attempts to make those types of measurements with bioprinting have relied upon optical detectors, which measure the light reflected off cells as they are squeezed through a channel. However, such approaches require the concentration of cells to be low, greatly limiting the range of applications to which this idea is applicable and stymieing attempts to construct anything with a high cell density, such as organs. And it couldn’t be done in real time.‘A crazy idea’When Matthews arrived at Cornell as a freshman, he already had a field of interest – biomedical engineering – and a head start on research. During his senior year of high school in central Massachusetts, he’d worked for Washington University professor Farshid Guilak, analyzing computed tomography images of biological samples and building specialized lab apparatuses that combined CAD software and 3D printing.Upon being accepted to Cornell, Matthews visited campus in April 2017, and he made a bold move. He stopped by the office of Guilak’s close colleague, Larry Bonassar.“I was like, man, I should probably start to network a little bit. I thought I was being clever,” Matthews said. “It was early morning, and he happened to be in his office. We sat down and talked for an hour or two, which, you don’t know when you’re 18, but that’s a huge commitment for a professor. And I guess it was a sign of what was to come.”Two years later, as a sophomore mechanical engineering major, Matthews came back to Bonassar with a specific ask. Was there a research project Matthews could work on?What Bonassar had, in his own words, was “a crazy idea” that he’d been kicking around for a long time but hadn’t been able to investigate. While his lab had successfully demonstrated 3D printing living tissue with homogeneous materials for replacement ears and cartilage, the next step was doing that for more sophisticated, functional structures, i.e., organs and skin.The project had a greater scope than what an undergrad would traditionally tackle, but Matthews found the challenge compelling. That’s not to say it wasn’t a little daunting.&nbsp;“It was my first experience really reading a research paper,” Matthews said. “I didn’t know what I was reading. But I was like, you know, I’m gonna try it.”Developing a new method wouldn’t just be an academic exercise, he recognized, but a “very applied, practically useful device, with implications in industry for manufacturing tissue at scale.”&nbsp;Bonassar and Matthews brainstormed ideas and hit upon an alternate mode of sensing: dielectric impedance spectroscopy (DIS), whereby a pair of electrodes creates a current. Because cell membranes are not permeable to charge, the current would be forced to go around the cells as their internal ions became polarized. That combination of effects would create a unique impedance signature for each cell that could ultimately be measured to determine the number of cells and their size, intactness and density.It was a smart design, indeed. It just needed to be built. And tested. And studied.Because Matthews was deep in his undergraduate studies, he didn’t have much free time during the semester to get the project off the ground. So he applied for, and received, a grant from <a href="https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/eli" target="_blank">Engineering Learning Initiatives</a> to work in the lab through the summer of 2019.In addition to covering his living and research expenses, the grant carried some extra cachet. It came from a donation made by Bill Nye.&nbsp;As the 2019 Nye Fellow, Matthews had an opportunity to meet the “Science Guy” himself that summer and tell him a bit about the smart syringe and its potential impact.“He said, ‘Well, go on and <a href="https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/04/slide-rules-sundials-and-comedy-bill-nye-hails-scientific-solutions" target="_blank">change the world</a>.’ It left an impression on me, for sure,” Matthews said. “That was a great little introduction to my research work, to have a celebrity backing it.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Something kind of special’</h2>By the end of fall 2019, Matthews had constructed a protype, conducted the initial experiments and presented the work-in-progress to the Biomedical Engineering Society in Philadelphia. But the ensuing months would not go as smoothly. In March 2020, the pandemic hit, derailing all on-campus research and activities. So Matthews pivoted and focused on data analysis and reviewing the relevant literature to put his experimental results in context.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1726702480144-0918_syringe2.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A smart sensor that attaches to the tip of a syringe can measure, in real time, the concentration and viability of the cells that pass through it – a potential breakthrough for biomedical 3D printing and cell therapy. Jason Koski/Cornell University“You don’t just get a yes or no answer from the device. It doesn’t just tell you if it worked or not. You get back waveforms, signal, there’s going to be noise, artifacts, and you have to interpret that in the context of the physical chemistry and the algorithms you used to process it,” Matthews said. “It was not a pure mechanical engineering problem. It pulled from so many different fields. You had to know, at some level of competency, control theory, and interface theory from chemistry, fluid dynamics. All these disciplines came together, and you had to be able to attend to them individually.”By the time Matthews was ready to graduate, in spring 2021, “we knew we had something kind of special,” Bonassar said. “That’s when we disclosed it to Cornell and filed the provisional patents.”Within three years of submitting their application, the patent was issued in June. By Bonassar’s count, this is his 25th patent. He’s never had one approved so quickly.“We’ve had patents that have taken us seven years to get through the process. For people in the know, two to three years from initial application to issue is quite fast,” he said. “What that often means is there isn’t much like it, and we didn’t get hit with, ‘Oh, it looks like seven other people have tried things like this, why is yours different?’ My impression is there’s really not much out there where people are doing assessment of cell properties at these really high concentrations.”In addition to capturing 2,000 different measurements in real time, the device creates a series of feedback loops that can help control the flow rate and temperature as cell viability changes. That in itself would be revolutionary for the bioprinting field, but the device has applications in other fields as well. Hospitals in developing countries could use it for getting instant blood counts on patients. Doctors could deliver precise infusions of cells, bone marrow and lipos for cell therapy, treating cancer or for regenerative medicine.“If we can measure it, then instead of saying, ‘Well, deliver 10 CCs of this solution that we think has a million cells per CC,’ you can now make a device that just delivers 10 million cells and then stops,” Bonassar said.Bonassar’s lab has collaborated with Dr. Jason Spector, professor of plastic surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, to demonstrate how the smart syringe can assist in clinic samples.After Matthews graduated from Cornell, he headed to Georgia Tech, where he extended what he had learned from the smart syringe project into developing more next-generation medical devices, such as soft, wearable biosensors and remote telemedicine platforms for optimizing strength and metabolism, and cardiovascular monitoring. Even when the technology was different, the underlying skills were the same: problem solving, interpreting data, presenting findings to a skeptical audience.That research experience, in turn, led him to his current role working for GE HealthCare, developing large neural networks for optimizing patient care.&nbsp;Now, he and Bonassar are mulling their options to commercialize the smart syringe, although in many ways, it’s already been a success.“I wouldn’t be here, privileged to do what I do, without having worked on the smart syringe project, specifically with Larry,” Matthews said. “He grants a lot of autonomy, he trusts in his students, and that comes through to the student. Larry was always there as a fallback to help steer the project when it began to drift. I remember he said a design I had was ‘orthogonal,’ meaning it was perpendicular to the direction we should be going. I had never had anyone tell me that before. It was delivered so well, I wasn’t upset by it. It was like, OK, let’s try something different. It was sort of a humbling experience in that way.”The time he spent in Bonassar’s lab paid off in other ways, too. That was where, in the summer of 2019, he first met another undergraduate researcher, Emily Jiang ’20.&nbsp;She is now his fiancée.“That’s a little happy ending there,” Matthews said.

Lawrence Bonassar, the Daljit S. and Elaine Sarkaria Professor in Biomedical Engineering and in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and doctoral student Alicia Matavosian examine a smart sensor developed with Jared Matthews ’21.

Researchers created a smart sensor that attaches to the tip of a syringe to measure, in real time, the concentration and viability of the cells that pass through it – a device that would enable surgeons and biomanufacturers to produce higher quality

From lab to patent: Undergrad creates smart syringe for bioprinting

For plants, cleaning the air, providing food and medicines, and preserving our ecosystem is just another day’s work. In the <a href="https://www.meche.engineering.cmu.edu/index.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Department of Mechanical EngineeringOpens in new window</a> at Carnegie Mellon University, however, plants are being studied in new ways to inspire future biohybrid <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/softbotics/index.html" target="_blank">Softbotic</a> designs.“Plants are a system much like planes, trains, and automobiles,” explained <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/directory/bios/leduc-philip.html" target="_blank">Phil LeDuc</a>, professor of mechanical engineering. “We want to understand plants’ mechanical systems, especially their sensing and signaling behavior, to potentially integrate them into biohybrid systems.”Mimosa pudica, the subject of the study recently published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202404578" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Advanced ScienceOpens in new window</a>, rapidly closes its leaves when exposed to touch, wind, temperature, and various other stimuli. Researchers theorize that this response is potentially an evolutionary advantage to protect against predators.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHChJURzcHs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;</iframe>Alex Naglich, a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering, observed Mimosa pudica’s responses to three different mechanical stimuli to gain a better understanding of its macroscopic behavior. To emulate a predator, Naglich cut a cluster of leaves from the plant and watched as nearby clusters folded together immediately, seemingly in self-defense. When Naglich prodded just one leaf on the plant to create a mild disturbance, like that an insect might cause, only the affected leaf folded. After repeated poking, however, the leaves folded one after another the whole way down the plant. For the final test, Naglich used an air pulse to imitate wind and found that only the leaves directly affected by the pulse of air folded.“When mimosa folds, it’s less efficient for photosynthesis, so it makes sense why it wouldn’t want to stay folded,” Naglich said. “If a light breeze is only hitting a couple of leaves, why hide the entire plant?”While the “intelligent” plant's small size, impressive power density, and high efficiency makes it a promising candidate to act as a biohybrid actuator, Naglich also believes its response system could be the foundation for improved agricultural health monitoring.<blockquote>Plants are one of those complex and sophisticated systems that we need to be studying more.<cite>Phil LeDuc, Professor, Mechanical Engineering</cite></blockquote>“If we can continue to explore this plant’s intelligence, its ability to distinguish against threats and respond accordingly, we could integrate it with electronics to create a biohybrid sensor and place it among crops so that farmers can be notified in real time when there’s a disturbance in the field.”Moving forward, the lab plans to explore how mimosa pudica’s physical structure plays a role in its behavior.“When it comes to biohybrid robotic research, there are a lot of naturally occurring mechanisms that could advance the field, and we just haven’t looked into them yet,” said LeDuc. “Plants are one of those complex and sophisticated systems that we need to be studying more.”

Complex and sophisticated, a plant’s mechanical systems could be the key to more advanced biohybrid softbotic designs.

New moves for self-defense: How plants can inspire future Softbotic design

This article was discussed in our <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/d57569bc-03b3-422f-b7d5-738ddd6707a9?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> The full article will continue below.<hr>Back pain is one of the main causes of everyday discomfort and sick leave in the western world. The reason for this is often a lack of exercise in the sedentary office routine combined with a lack of compensatory activities such as sport and gymnastics. The aim of the spin-off StraightUp by three graduates of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is to combat back pain in the long term and sustainably with an innovative idea. To this end, they have developed a wearable textile product that uses woven elastic wires and appropriate sensors to measure the shoulder position and inclination of the back and ensures a sustainable improvement in posture through haptic feedback.Previous posture stabilizers are designed to simply fix the back, which in the long term severely limits the mobility of the user. Other approaches with built-in inclination sensors that trigger a vibration impulse when the body bends forward have the disadvantage that many everyday and sports activities take place in a forward-leaning position and thus lead to incorrect vibration impulses.<h2>Novel approach using elastic metal alloy and AI implementation</h2>The spin-off StraightUp is tackling this problem with an innovative idea. Erik Vautrin, Marcus Hamann-Schroer and Jan Bartenbach, three KIT graduates, in collaboration with physiotherapist Tobias Baierle, developed the vision of a wearable textile that can measure the shoulder position and inclination of the back using elastic wires incorporated into the fabric. Using the data obtained from this and a woven-in chip controlled by artificial intelligence (AI), the system generates haptic feedback through vibrations, which is intended to encourage users to correct their posture. The use of the sensors in the wearable was made possible by a conductive super-elastic metal alloy that adapts to the movements of the person wearing it. "Through the haptic feedback, the body learns to maintain a healthier posture on its own, which leads to long-term improvement. The feedback system promotes active shoulder blade stabilization and posture correction of the spine," explains Baierle. The wearable can be worn in everyday life as well as during leisure and sports activities.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI2MTAxNjg5MjI5LTIwMjRfMDY5X0lubm92YXRpdmVzIFdlYXJhYmxlX0tvZXJwZXJoYWx0dW5nIG5hY2hoYWx0aWcgdmVyYmVzc2VybkJpbGQyXzcyZHBpLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Sustainable support for the back: StraightUp's concept relies on sensors, AI and haptic feedback. (Photo: StraightUp)<h2 id="isPasted">Further steps on the way to spin-off and market readiness</h2>The team is currently working with the German Institute for Textile and Fiber Research to enable the best possible integration of the sensors into the wearable. "This partnership brings us a big step closer to market readiness," explains Vautrin. In collaboration with doctors, physiotherapists and other specialists, optimization tests are to take place this year. The aim is to test the further developed product with potential customers at the end of the year.<h2>Support for founders at KIT</h2>The three founders of StraightUp met in the course “Microsystem product design for young entrepreneurs” at KIT. “In the course we learned the basics of developing and implementing a product idea. We also learned practical things like writing a business plan,” explains Bartenbach. The young team then met the physiotherapist Baierle through a lecturer.On their journey so far, the founders have used the support options at KIT. These include the KIT start-up forge and other offers from the KIT's Innovation and Relations Management (IRM) service unit. With the support of IRM, the StraightUp team successfully acquired an EXIST start-up grant for preparation and early-stage financing of the upcoming spin-off. "From the very beginning, we had a great impression of the competence of the individual people and how they interact with each other in the StraightUp team," says Dr. Rolf Blattner, Business Development Manager at IRM.&nbsp;

In the future, StraightUp could improve posture in everyday office life and thus reduce back pain, as demonstrated here in the prototype. (Photo: StraightUp)

KIT spin-off StraightUp aims to permanently relieve posture-related back pain

Innovative Wearable: Sustainably Improving Posture

<h2 id="isPasted">Enhancing Security Using the Latest Technology</h2>Security is a topic on everyone’s minds today, and as technology gets more advanced, it can be easier to bypass the older systems that others have built. Large-scale system hacks are highly publicized and can affect a wide range of people, but smaller scale hacks can be just as devastating. Therefore, it’s essential to use the best technology to protect what matters most, such as your home and family. Face recognition can provide a more effective home security solution than traditional keys and keypads. Physical keys can be duplicated, stolen, lost, or forgotten, and key codes can be guessed, forgotten, or shared with unauthorized users. Accurate face recognition technology has none of those disadvantages, and owners can easily manage the authorization of each person and log their entries.With some of these legacy security systems becoming easier to bypass, we need to constantly develop new solutions using the latest technology to keep the highest level of security. This is where the smart door lock, utilizing machine learning and 3D facial recognition from AMD technology partner Makarena Labs, comes into play. In this blog, we discuss how smart door technology is bringing peace of mind to the front door and more with a superior level of security.<h2>Addressing Current Security Problems in Smart Door Locks</h2>Smart door locks can provide increased protection for homes and other consumer dwelling spaces, like garages or sheds, but previous versions of smart locks can be easily tricked. Due to the incorporated technology—generally a standard CMOS sensor—previous smart locks can be fooled into opening by using 2D pictures of an authorized person’s face. This results in a false recognition and the system will allow an unauthorized person entry, which is a major security breach that needs to be addressed. &nbsp;AMD, in partnership with Makarena, have developed a capable solution, based on the AMD <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/xilinx/xilinx-zynq-7000-socs/" target="_blank">Zynq™ 7000 SoC</a>, that provides a fully functional and robust design using 3D facial recognition. This advanced facial recognition is achieved through a camera that uses IR Time-of-Flight (TOF) or Lidar technology to bounce a pattern off the face of the person attempting to gain entry, while the sensors in the smart lock capture the reflection (Figure 1).<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1725853250211-Figure_1_Makarena_Labs_Smart_Lock.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 1: This smart lock design, developed by AMD and their partner Makarena, is based on the AMD Zynq 7000 SoC, incorporates IR TOF or Lidar technology to detect and create a 3D map of the face, and compares the 3D map to the authorized users in the system, only unlocking if a match is found. (Source: AMD)Using the reflection captured by the sensors, the system creates a 3D map of the face and compares it to the authorized users in the system, only unlocking if a match is found (Figure 2). The CMOS sensor provides an added layer of accuracy and simplifies user management for the homeowner by providing images of each authorized user.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1725853270469-Figure2_Detection_authorization_process.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2: The smart door lock’s detection and authorization process ensures accuracy while simplifying user management. (Source: AMD)This advanced smart door lock system also works in complete darkness and can recognize authorized people even while they are wearing glasses, hats, or facial covers.The AMD Zynq 7000 SoC design can be easily configured and customized by OEMs with help on hand from Makarena Labs, providing a lock that can store a family’s authorized faces and accurately authorize or reject them in under a second. For applications that need to store a larger number of faces, such as a neighborhood’s security gate, the higher performance AMD&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/xilinx/xilinx-zynq-ultrascale-mpsocs/" target="_blank">Zynq UltraScale+™ MPSoC</a> can support fast recognition even with hundreds of authorized faces. Both parts include robust security engines, which OEM customers can configure to load only authentically signed, encrypted firmware.If you're interested in hearing more about the smart lock solution, please reach out to sales@makarenalabs.com.AMD, and the AMD Arrow logo, UltraScale+, Zynq, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.The <a href="https://community.amd.com/t5/adaptive-computing/smart-door-locks-enhancing-security-with-machine-learning/ba-p/583320" rel="noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Smart Door Locks – Enhancing Security with Machine Learning</a> blog was first published on amd.com and was reposted here with permission.<hr>Xilinx develops highly flexible and adaptive processing platforms that enable rapid innovation across a variety of technologies, from the endpoint to the edge to the cloud. Specializing in programmable logic devices, Xilinx is the semiconductor company that invented the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), the hardware programmable System on Chip (SoC), and the Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP).

In this blog, we discuss how smart door technology is bringing peace of mind to the front door and more with a superior level of security.

Smart Door Locks - Enhancing Security with Machine Learning

CMOS and CCD sensors both convert light into electronic signals, with CMOS using pixel-level transistors for faster, energy-efficient processing, while CCD transfers charge across the chip for superior image quality but with slower speed and higher power consumption.

CCD vs CMOS Image Sensors: A Comprehensive Guide for Engineering Professionals

Traditional mechanical flow sensors, which rely on moving parts, face significant challenges in harsh environments, such as wear and tear, fluid contamination, and pressure drops. These issues lead to inefficiencies and costly maintenance and are exacerbated in applications where precision and durability are paramount, such as water heaters, purifiers, industrial coolant systems, and water management.To address these challenges, <a href="https://www.sciosense.com/about/" target="_blank">ScioSense</a> has developed the UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module. The UFM-01 leverages advanced ultrasonic technology to provide highly accurate and contactless flow measurements, eliminating the drawbacks of mechanical sensors. The UFM-01 stands out for its contactless measurement capabilities because of no moving parts, which ensures long-term reliability by eliminating the wear and tear associated with traditional mechanical flow sensors.The UFM-01 is engineered to deliver precise flow measurements across a wide range of applications. Its design is centered around ease of integration, making it an ideal choice for engineers seeking to enhance system performance.<h1 dir="ltr">Technological Advantages</h1>Traditional mechanical flow sensors that use turbine rotors or actuators often face significant challenges in fluid measurement as they rely on moving parts, which are prone to wear and tear, especially in abrasive or corrosive environments. This wear and tear leads to not only fluid contamination but also reduced accuracy over time, which necessitates constant maintenance and even replacements. Traditional mechanical flow sensors also introduce obstructions into the flow path, causing pressure drops in the system and reducing energy efficiency. Moreover, their performance is often affected by changes in fluid viscosity, temperature, and pressure, leading to inconsistent measurements.UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module bypasses all these challenges by using sound waves to measure fluid velocity, eliminating the need for moving mechanical parts and thus increasing durability. Moreover, due to the non-intrusive nature of these ultrasonic sensors, they do not affect the liquids and are well suited for food applications.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI0MTM2MDI5MzM0LTE3MjQxMzYwMjkzMzQucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="624" height="468" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Figure 1: UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module. Source: ScioSense.com<h1 dir="ltr">Technical Specifications of UFM-01</h1><h2 dir="ltr">Flow range</h2>A wide flow range is always crucial for any flow sensor as it ensures that the sensor can accommodate fluctuations in flow rates without compromising performance. The UFM-01 supports a wide flow range of 10 to 2000 liters per hour, making it suitable in both low and high-flow scenarios for a broad spectrum of applications. For example, in water distribution systems, the sensor can handle everything from small leaks to full-flow scenarios, which eliminates the requirement for multiple sensors to cover different flow ranges.<h2 dir="ltr">Accuracy</h2>Accuracy is also a critical aspect of flow measurement, especially in processes where precise control of fluid flow is necessary. In this regard, the UFM-01 offers an accuracy of ±5% for flow rates above 60 liters per hour, which ensures that the measurements are dependable even at higher flow rates. This level of accuracy is particularly important in applications like boilers, where incorrect flow &nbsp;measurements can lead to inefficiencies or even safety hazards.<h2 dir="ltr">Communication Interfaces</h2>The UFM-01 is equipped with a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) protocol with 2400 bits per second baud rate and 8 data bit capacity, as well as single-wire communication&nbsp;<iframe id="66a22fbc1e6d3a7555231f98" width="250" class="specs-iframe" height="440" src="https://wevolver.com/iframe/specs/sciosense-ufm-01-ultrasonic-flow-sensing-module?iframe=true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe> interfaces, which facilitate easy integration into a variety of systems. These interfaces allow the sensor to communicate seamlessly with microcontrollers, data loggers, or other digital systems, enabling real-time monitoring and control. Moreover, the ease of integration reduces development time and complexity, making the UFM-01 a convenient choice for both new designs and retrofit applications.<h2 dir="ltr">Power Requirements</h2>The UFM-01 operates at 5V with a low power consumption of just 2mA. This low power draw is beneficial in systems where energy efficiency is critical, such as in continuous monitoring applications or embedded systems where minimizing power consumption helps reduce overall system costs. The efficient power usage of the sensor module also ensures its reliability within power-constrained environments, contributing to the longevity and stability of the entire system without overloading power supplies.<h1 dir="ltr">Application Areas</h1>The versatility of the UFM-01 makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, as discussed here:<h2 dir="ltr">Water Management</h2>In water distribution and management systems, accurate flow measurement across a wide range is crucial for efficient resource utilization and conservation. The UFM-01 serves this exact purpose by allowing users to measure flow rates across a wide range. This precise measurement capability supports effective water management strategies, enabling operators to promptly identify inefficiencies and implement corrective actions.&nbsp;The UFM-01 helps both households and industries to conserve water, reduce waste, and optimize the distribution of this vital resource. For instance, the UFM-01 supports applications like smart faucets that dispense exact volumes of water for cooking and cleaning, as well as irrigation systems that deliver water based on real-time soil moisture levels. Similarly, in tankless water heaters, the sensor measurements are used to ensure that hot water is delivered only when needed, avoiding the energy waste of maintaining a hot water tank. In this way, the UFM-01 not only helps save water but also supports broader environmental goals by reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon footprints.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI0MTM2MDY2MzQ1LTE3MjQxMzYwNjYzNDUucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="477" height="318" id="isPasted" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Figure 2: Kitchen setting with tap water Ultrasonic flow module. Source: ScioSense.com<h2 dir="ltr">Coolant Systems</h2>The UFM-01 is an ideal choice to monitor coolant flow in industrial processes. Coolant systems are critical for maintaining the proper temperature of machinery and processes, and any disruption in coolant flow can lead to overheating equipment damage or process inefficiencies. In this regard, UFM-01's dual capability of providing flow rate as well as temperature measurements provides users with a complete picture of coolant systems, allowing for real-time adjustments to maintain optimal thermal management and preventing costly downtime.<h2 dir="ltr">Food and Beverage Processing</h2>In food and beverage processing, maintaining cleanliness and safety is paramount. The UFM-01 is particularly suited for the food and beverage industry as it measures flow without direct contact with the fluid, eliminating the risk of contamination and providing a hygienic and non-intrusive environment. This feature is crucial in applications such as beverage dispensers, coffee machines, and other food-grade systems, where even minimal contamination can lead to significant quality and safety issues.<h1 dir="ltr">Benefits for Engineers</h1>The UFM-01 ultrasonic flow meter is developed to provide a multitude of benefits for engineers looking to simplify the design and deployment of flow-sensing solutions.<h2 dir="ltr">Ease of Integration&nbsp;</h2>UFM-01 is designed by prioritizing user-friendliness as it comes equipped with standard mechanical and communication interfaces to ensure seamless integration into existing systems. This sensing unit is equipped with a versatile 5-pin connector, a spool piece, and a serial communication module, making it adaptable to diverse application needs. A key feature that simplifies installation is the inclusion of a standard BSP ½" thread, which allows for simple and secure attachment to water lines. These standard interfaces and mounting options enable the UFM-01 to accelerate the development process, allowing engineers to bring products to market more swiftly and with fewer integration challenges.<h2 dir="ltr">Food-Grade Applications</h2>The UFM-01 is designed for use with food-grade material, making it ideal for applications involving consumable products. This feature is critical for industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology, where stringent safety and hygiene standards are imperative. Moreover, the sensor is engineered to function effectively in drinking and non-drinking-water systems, withstanding temperatures ranging from 1 to 60°C. Engineers can confidently deploy the UFM-01 in environments where product safety is paramount, knowing that it meets regulatory requirements and protects consumer health.<h2 dir="ltr">Enhanced Precision and Reliability</h2>The UFM-01 excels in delivering high accuracy and reliability in flow measurements. The advanced ultrasonic technology of UFM-01 provides precise readings, even in challenging environments. Moreover, since it is constructed with no moving, it offers an unlimited lifetime if operated in accordance with the specifications mentioned in the <a href="https://www.sciosense.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UFM-01-Datasheet.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">datasheet.</a> For engineers, this reliability translates into lower operational costs and enhanced trust in the performance of their designs.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1724224203327-shutterstock_2200033193.jpeg" style="width: 832px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 3. &nbsp;Pool maintenance using advanced sensors. Source: Shutterstock.<h2 dir="ltr">Maintenance</h2>Another huge benefit for engineers using UFM-01 is that its design eliminates the need for regular maintenance, providing a hassle-free solution for long-term operation. The risk of failure is significantly reduced due to the absence of moving parts, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns. This also translates to a longer lifespan and high accuracy over time, lowering operational costs while ensuring reliable performance throughout the sensor's life.The Developers of UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module The manufacturer behind UFM-01 technology is <a href="https://www.sciosense.com/about/" target="_blank">ScioSense</a>, a leading innovator in sensor technology dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of various industries. ScioSense has established itself as a trusted partner for engineers and developers seeking advanced sensing capabilities with a strong reputation for quality and reliability. Their team has 30 years of combined experience in the semiconductor industry, and their UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module is a testament to their commitment to delivering exceptional products that enhance system performance and efficiency.<h1 dir="ltr">Call to Action</h1>UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module is a great option for engineers looking for a reliable and efficient flow measurement sensor. Whether working on water management systems, control devices, or food processing equipment, the UFM-01 offers a reliable and accurate solution for flow measurement. To learn more, request a sample, or provide feedback on the module, visit ScioSense's <a href="https://www.sciosense.com/ufm-01-ultrasonic-flow-sensing-module/" target="_blank">website</a>. This is just the first iteration, and the company is keen for engineers to share their needs and ideas with them.<h1 dir="ltr">&nbsp;References</h1><ol><li dir="ltr">UFM-01 Ultrasonic Flow Sensing Module. ScioSense [Online], Available at: <a href="https://www.sciosense.com/ufm-01-ultrasonic-flow-sensing-module/" target="_blank">https://www.sciosense.com/ufm-01-ultrasonic-flow-sensing-module/</a></li><li dir="ltr">Check your flow to save water and energy. ScioSense [Online], Available at: <a href="https://www.sciosense.com/check-your-flow-to-save-water-and-energy/" target="_blank">https://www.sciosense.com/check-your-flow-to-save-water-and-energy/</a>&nbsp;</li></ol>

This article discusses how the ultrasonic flow sensing module provides precise, maintenance-free fluid measurement.

Advanced Flow Sensing: High Accuracy and Long Lifespan

In 2023, more than 100,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. The most effective way to save someone who has overdosed is to administer a drug called naloxone, but a first responder or bystander can’t always reach the person who has overdosed in time.Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed a new device that they hope will help to eliminate those delays and potentially save the lives of people who overdose. The device, about the size of a stick of gum, can be implanted under the skin, where it monitors heart rate, breathing rate, and other vital signs. When it determines that an overdose has occurred, it rapidly pumps out a dose of naloxone.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ZObB_mONE0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe>In a study&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.device.2024.100517" target="_blank">appearing today in the journal&nbsp;Device</a>, the researchers showed that the device can successfully reverse overdoses in animals. With further development, the researchers envision that this approach could provide a new option for helping to prevent overdose deaths in high-risk populations, such as people who have already survived an overdose.“This could really address a significant unmet need in the population that suffers from substance abuse and opiate dependency to help mitigate overdoses, with the initial focus on the high-risk population,” says Giovanni Traverso,&nbsp;an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the senior author of the study.The paper’s lead authors are Hen-Wei Huang, a former MIT visiting scientist and currently an assistant professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; Peter Chai, an associate professor of emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; SeungHo Lee, a research scientist at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Tom Kerssemakers and Ali Imani, former master’s students at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; and Jack Chen, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at MIT.<h2>An implantable device</h2>Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning that it can bind to opioid receptors and block the effects of other opioids, including heroin and fentanyl. The drug, which is given by injection or as a nasal spray, can restore normal breathing within just a few minutes of being administered.However, many people are alone when they overdose, and may not receive assistance in time to save their lives. Additionally, with a new wave of synthetic, more potent opioids sweeping the U.S., opioid overdoses can be more rapid in onset and unpredictable. To try to overcome that, some researchers are developing wearable devices that could detect an overdose and administer naloxone, but none of those have yet proven successful. The MIT/BWH team set out to design an implantable device that would be less bulky, provide direct injection of naloxone into the subcutaneous tissue, and eliminate the need for the patient to remember to wear it.The device that the researchers came up with includes sensors that can detect heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. In an animal study, the researchers used the sensors to measure all of these signals and determine exactly how they change during an overdose of fentanyl. This resulted in a unique algorithm that increases the sensitivity of the device to accurately detect opioid overdose and distinguish it from other conditions where breathing is decreased, such as sleep apnea.This study showed that fentanyl first leads to a drop in heart rate, followed quickly by a slowdown of breathing. By measuring how these signals changed, the researchers were able to calculate the point at which naloxone administration should be triggered.“The most challenging aspect of developing an engineering solution to prevent overdose mortality is simultaneously addressing patient adherence and willingness to adopt new technology, combating stigma, minimizing false positive detections, and ensuring the rapid delivery of antidotes,” says Huang. “Our proposed solution tackles these unmet needs by developing a miniaturized robotic implant equipped with multisensing modalities, continuous monitoring capabilities, on-board decision making, and an innovative micropumping mechanism.”The device also includes a small reservoir that can carry up to 10 milligrams of naloxone. When an overdose is detected, it triggers a pump that ejects the naloxone, which is released within about 10 seconds.In their animal studies, the researchers found that this drug administration could reverse the effects of an overdose 96 percent of the time.“We created a closed-loop system that can sense the onset of the opiate overdose and then release the antidote, and then you see that recovery,” Traverso says.<h2>Preventing overdoses</h2>The researchers envision that this technology could be used to help people who are at the highest risk of overdose, beginning with people who have had a previous overdose. They now plan to investigate how to make the device as user-friendly as possible, studying factors such as the optimal location for implantation.“A key pillar of addressing the opioid epidemic is providing naloxone to individuals at key moments of risk. Our vision for this device is for it to integrate into the cascade of harm-reduction strategies to efficiently and safely deliver naloxone, preventing death from opioid overdose and providing the opportunity to support individuals with opioid use disorder,” says Chai.The researchers hope to be able to test the device in humans within the next three to five years. They are now working on miniaturizing the device further and optimizing the on-board battery, which currently can provide power for about two weeks.

A new device, which can be implanted under the skin, rapidly releases naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose. Credit: Courtesy of the researchers, edited by MIT News

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