Each week, the editor of Planet Analog finds technical items of interest and highlights them in this “Also of Interest” feature. In addition, we also provide an archive of recent weekly Planet Analog Newsletters, viewable as pdf files; see the list at the very bottom.

[Sharp-eyed regular readers or those with good memories will notice that we no longer have our “Elementals” sub-section; it was just getting to be a lot of extra work for little return, since most of the items there could be found by basic keyword search. This is unlike “Also of Interest”, which has the special serendipity factor.]

The “Also of Interest” listing is the embodiment of our belief that engineers are interested in exploring topics which are not directly related to their jobs, but which will broaden their knowledge and sometimes spur further innovative and creative approaches.

Among the publications we check are IEEE Spectrum , Machine Design , Design News , Laser Focus World , Photonics Spectra , NASA Tech Briefs (in its various manifestations, Microwave Journal , RF & Microwaves , and Physics Today —and there are others, as well.

Consider these items as online “extras”, and worth a look and a few minutes of your time. (Please note: there are also links to the past weeks' editions of this feature, in the “Navigate” box to the right.)

Also of Interest:

• This technique has applications in automotive ride and steering sensors, and in industrial vibration and process monitors:
  “Remote Sensing and Quantization of Analog Sensors,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , June 2011
• Potential users include commercial and military power supply manufacturers, and high-reliability electronic product companies:
  “Early Oscillation Detection Technique for Hybrid DC/DC Converters,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , June 2011
• There’s more than one way to make good use of the Stirling cycle:
  “Infinia uses Stirling cycle for solar power and air conditioning,”
  Machine Design , August 11, 2011
• Mechanical batteries hold promise for making wind and solar energy more reliable:
  “Reinventing the flywheel,”
  Machine Design , August 11, 2011
• Nanotechnology could make rare earth magnets even stronger:
  “The Incredible Pull of Nanocomposite Magnets,”
  IEEE Spectrum , August 2011
• The random-number generator uses digital circuits to stump the smartest hackers:
  “Behind Intel’s New Random-Number Generator,”
  IEEE Spectrum , September 2011
• Scientists can now probe polar ice sheets better than ever using synthetic-aperture radar:
  “A Next-Generation Ice Radar,”
  IEEE Spectrum , September 2011
• Transforming the electrocardiogram (ECG) from a complicated jumble of wires to a tiny electronic patch about the size of a bar of soap:
  “Heart Monitors Pose Miniaturization Challenge,”
  Design News , August 2011
• Use ECO Manager to streamline the engineering change order process:
  “Change is Good,”
  Desktop Engineering , October 2011

Recent Planet Analog Newsletters (click to see as a pdf):

• October 26, 2011
• October 19, 2011
• October 12, 2011
• October 5, 2011