Each week, the editor of Planet Analog finds items of interest and then features them in two sections, entitled “Also of Interest” and “Elementals”. Each cites items from publications outside the Planet Analog and EETimes portfolios.

It's an extension of our belief that engineers are interested in on-going tutorial on obviously relevant topics, as well as the serendipity of exploring topics which are not directly related to their jobs, but which will broaden their knowledge and sometimes spurs innovative and creative approaches. The first box highlights a few items of general interest to the engineer, while the second highlights some basic and tutorial electronic-engineering material.

Among the publications we check are IEEE Spectrum , Machine Design , Design News , Laser Focus World , EDN , Electronic Design , NASA Tech Briefs , and Physics Today , among others.

Consider these items as “online-only” extras, and worth a look! (Please note: there are also links to the previous weeks' editions, at the bottom).

Also of Interest:

• Bearings for big loads demand that designers pay special attention to contact area, heat management, and resiliency:
  “Rugged Bearings Hold the Weight of Heavy Equipment,”
  Machine Design , July 10, 2008
• Laser systems are proving invaluable for monitoring the terrestrial environment and for exploring the solar system:
  “The Expanding Role of Lidar at NASA,”
  Photonics Spectra , July 2008
• The melting points and densities of the so-called Noble Metals, coupled with their resistance to chemical attack, sets them apart from most other materials:
  “Materials Engineering: Little-known facts about precious metals,”
  Machine Design , May 8, 2008
• Multiphysics helps researchers make full-color direct thermal printing a reality:
  “COMSOL Models Direct Thermal Printing,”
  Desktop Engineering , June 2008

Elementals:

• http://www.edn.com/article/CA6574658.html:
  “Way, way off the grid: Powering the Phoenix Mars Lander,”
  EDN , July 10, 2008
• Infolytica simulates electromagnetic failure in brushless motors in the name of efficiency:
  “MagNet & ThermNet Tackle Hybrid Motor Heat Limits,”
  Desktop Engineering , July 2008
• A new technology for Class D amps is now available, giving a typical Class D audio amplifier an efficiency of 80% or more:
  “High-Efficiency Audio Designs for Portable Devices,”
  Portable Design , June 2008
• Vivaldi antennas can provide outstanding directional propagation at microwave frequencies, with a simple design that offers broad bandwidth:
  “Design An X-Band Vivaldi Antenna,”
  Microwaves & RF , July 2008

Previous Editions:

• September 1, 2008
• August 25, 2008
• August 18, 2008
• August 11, 2008
• August 4, 2008
• July 28, 2008
• July 21, 2008
• July 14, 2008