MEMS Vibrational Micro Power Generation

MEMS Vibrational Micro Power Generation MEMS Vibrational Micro Power Generation MEMS Vibrational Micro Power GenerationNew devices are adapting to the vibrations in their environments to generate energy. Many sensors and wireless technologies have very low power needs so that micro-watts of power or less are now sufficient for measuring and transmitting small amounts of data to a receiver or dashboard nearby.Vibrational energy harvesting (VEH) with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) is helping power what many consider the ultimate goal wireless, battery-free, autonomous sensing, monitoring, and reporting.Powering wireless sensors and networks with VEH power sources is being considered for use and is being field tested in many applications in which other ambient energy sources like solar or thermal are not available industries such as structural monitoring, roads bridges, industrial process control, appliances, environmental, human power, aerospace, machine monitoring, home autom ation, or automotive.Many different MEMS VEH device designs and processes have demonstrated that sufficient power can be harvested to wirelessly beam data or charge a battery using mainly electrostatic or piezoelectric (and less often electromagnetic) techniques. Typically a moving mass/spring assembly is tuned to operate and return the fruchtwein power at specific frequencies. MEMS devices and technologies have gathered and transformed ambient mechanical vibrations to electrical energy when vibrations occur within a narrow range of frequencies.But most real-world devices start and stop, run at varying speeds, and have varying vibration profiles.Vibrational ChallengesThe challenge of vibrational energy harvesters has been to find the right device tuned for the specific frequency, and getting enough power out of those frequencies for long enough, says Steve Grady from Cymbet Corporation, power management provider for sensors integrated with MEMS VEH and other energy harvesting techno logies.The holy grail of vibration harvesting would be a broadband or broad-frequency device whose power harvesting ability doesnt fall off quickly around a resonant frequency to continue to capture power as vibration conditions change, Grady says. Using arrays of harvesters each tuned to a slightly different frequency is costly.Creative SolutionsMEMS VEH designs, therefore, are improving. In a recent report, Dibin Zhu and others from the University of Southampton, UK, summarized and discussed strategies publicly available in literature for extending vibrational frequency ranges of micro-range VEH that use mass spring systems. They are toperiodically tune the system with mechanical or electrical methods, consuming power intermittently or continuouslywiden the bandwidth by using a generator array, a mechanical stopper, nonlinear (e.g., magnetic) springs, or bi-stable structures.Researchers at the CEA-Laboratory for Electronics Information Technology, Grenoble, France, adopted piezoe lectric tuning with an active powered feedback loop into their electrostatic VEH and reported that the device automatically tunes the system to increase their bandwidth by a range of up to 30% of the resonant frequency, at the cost of less than 5 micro-watts. They also implemented nonlinear springs thatimproved the vibration amplitude as well as frequency range.MicroGen Systems, Inc., Ithaca, NY also plans to implement tuning and other patented strategies to increase frequency bandwidth into future versions of their piezoelectric MEMS V energy harvesters, according to Robert Andosca, the companys founder, president, and CTO. The engineering samples they currently offer are designed for specific frequencies (plus or minus 2 Hz) and acceleration levels of vibrations the device will experience.As the only commercial company in the world producing MEMS VEH, according to Andosca, MicroGen Systems is expecting to release and sell second rev demonstration kits in summer of 2011 and high ba ndwidth products in 2012. With these improvements, MEMS VEH products are becoming more viable for commercial use.Debbie Sniderman is a consultant, an engineer, and a contributing writer to Mechanical Engineering.The challenge of vibrational energy harvesters has been to find the right device tuned for the specific frequency, and getting enough power out of those frequencies for long enough.Steve Grady, Cymbet Corporation

Eleven General Orders of the Sentry

Eleven General Orders of the SentryEleven General Orders of the SentryIn the Navy and Marine Corps, there are eleven General Orders of a Sentry, also known as General Orders of the Watch. The Army and Air Force have condensed these eleven orders into three. Who Needs to Know the Orders of a Sentry? These are the rules the gate guards, duty officers, and officers of the watch must abide by when on guard duty. Their job is to protect the base or area on the base where people and property reside. Failure to adhere to these standards can cause big problems for you as an individual. Or worse, negligence can result in immense damage to people or property. The Eleven General Orders of a Sentry as listed in the Navys DEP(Delayed Enlistment Program)study guide are below. During boot camp, recruits will be required to quote any one of, or all of the Eleven General Orders ofthe Sentry from memory anytime, anywhere and to anyone. When Recruits Should Learn the Orders of a Sentry Recruits should learn the Eleven General Orders of a Sentry while inDEPprior to departure for Recruit Training. This will give them an advantage over others in their division and will provide some valuable time to perform additional required items for the first few days in boot camp. The Navy version below is slightly different than theMarine Corps version(mostly because ranks and titles differ between the Navy and USMC), and a whole lot different than theArmy version. Standing duty, standing guard, guarding your deutsche bundespost, or standing watch all are terms used by the military to mean that you are the person to holdsecurityfor that area for that particular time. Navy General Orders of the Sentry To take charge of this post and all government property in view.To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.To repeat all calls from pos ts more distant from theguard housethan my own.To quit my post only when properly relieved.To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.To be especially watchful at night, and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority. Army General Orders of the Sentry I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.. I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instru ctions to the commander of the relief. Marine General Orders of the Sentry Take charge of this post and all government property in view.Walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.To repeat all calls from postsmore distant from the guardhouse than my own.Quit my post only when properly relieved.To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, Officers, and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only. Talk to no one except in the line of duty.It is all business when on duty.Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.To call the Corporal of the Guard in any case not covered by instructions.Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.Be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to al low no one to pass without proper authority.

How to Create a Book Marketing and Publicity Campaign

How to Create a Book Marketing and Publicity CampaignHow to Create a Book Marketing and Publicity CampaignCreating a book marketing and publicity plan is necessary for all authors, whether your publisher is a traditional house or youre trying to self-publish. Authors who set up some personal market tactics to execute, whether standalone efforts or those in tandem with their publisher, sell more copies. A strategic publicity and marketing campaign helps spread the du sagst es about your finished book. When youre the publisher, its obviously critical to devise your own detailed plan for your books publicity and marketing. But even when a traditional publisher is releasing your book, paying attention to publicity and marketing is critical. The book marketing department and the publicity department sometimes have dozens of other books to be concerned with, so your efforts as an author to create opportunities are important to the books success. Pre-Publication Platform The books launc h is really important to give it sales momentum. To set up a proper launch, a year or more before the books publication, lay the groundwork for the books publication. For example, you should Establish an online presence.At minimum, produce a website and create an author Facebook page for your book. EstablishTwitter and Instagram accounts to help get yourself out there.Set yourself up on other social media sites that apply to your book, such as Goodreads.com, Pinterest if your book is visual, etc.Try to guest blog or be interviewed on websites and podcasts that align with your books target audience. Network Publishers ask authors to utilize all their contacts with a tool called the author questionnaire, which helps gather all the resources an author brings to the marketing and publicity campaign. It could be as grand as having a media platform like a radio show, or as modest as finding a college alumni magazine willing to make an announcement about your books publication. The que stionnaire will help you put on your thinking cap about your friends and family who might be useful the friend of a friend who writes for the local newspaper, or your cousin who owns a caf and might be willing to host a book launch event. Publicity Planning Especially if youre doing your own marketing and publicity, find a solid newsworthy reason for the press to pay attention to you believe it or not, the fact that you published a book doesnt qualify as news to most media. Note that if book publicists work on your book, they will most likely take care of most of this but it doesnt hurt to be informed as to the process. Use an existing event as a media hook for your book.Craft a great press release for your book using your strategy.Create a list of media contacts and bloggers who might be interested.Attend major book conferences and be on panels. Promotional Materials zugnglich promotion is most important. Book trailers can be inexpensive to produce, practically free to distribute, and best of all, are easy to share. People who find your book trailer, or the book it describes, appealing, may spread the word with their own networks. You never know who you might run into, so have information about your book handy a business card with your website address and social media handles, a postcard to send to friends and media outlets these can help your book get noticed. Execute Your Plan Self-published authors need to reach out to media and event venues to set up readings, book signings, or talks. You might also hire a freelance book PR pro to help you. Either way, its good to start with at least some idea of the publicity avenues available to you as an author schmelzglas your press release to your media list follow up within a weekOrganize a book launch eventReach out to book festival organizersAlert your social media network, as well as your offline networkSet up readings and signings with local and regional bookstores Making a solid pre-publicatio n marketing and publicity plan and following it through might not be as glamorous as writing a book, but they are important steps toward sharing your book with the world.