By the Numbers – 2008-10-01

4 advances in sensors from Keyence, Pepperl + Fuchs (P+F), Sick, and Turck include Turck's economical magnetic-inductive sensors, washdown sensor lines from Sick and P+F, plus a new no-error digital contact sensor series from Keyence. Key attributes include easy integration, certifications, multiple lens options, and 20-million-cycle rating.

By Control Engineering Staff October 1, 2008

4 advances in sensors from Keyence, Pepperl + Fuchs (P+F), Sick, and Turck include Turck’s economical magnetic-inductive sensors, washdown sensor lines from Sick and P+F, plus a new no-error digital contact sensor series from Keyence. Key attributes include easy integration, certifications, multiple lens options, and 20-million-cycle rating. Control Engineering , 9/23/08 www.controleng.com

2,000 power assets use predictive software to foresee failures, and return on investment is 6-9 months, says SmartSignal. DTE Energy is among companies that see failures before they happen. Control Engineering , 9/19/08 www.controleng.com , www.smartsignal.com

25 IPSO Alliance charter members include Cisco, SAP, and Sun. IPSO offers education and Interoperability tests for embedded Internet protocol (IP) applications. Control Engineering, 9/22/08. www.controleng.com , www.ipso-alliance.org

1,200 kg payload is what the world’s largest, strongest six-axis robot can handle, says Fanuc Robotics. M-2000iA does so with a 1.25 m faceplate offset and articulated wrist motion. Control Engineering 9/23/08 www.controleng.com . www.fanucrobotics.com

3 -chip or 1-chip line-scan cameras? Sensors bridge the gap. More automated systems rely on color. 9/25/08 Control Engineering , www.controleng.com , www.ev2.com

1000 °C is the high temperature that a new fiber-optic sensor can measure in applications such as weld monitoring and control and turbine engine service and design. 9/25/08 Control Engineering , www.controleng.com , www.chiralphotonics.com

6 time exhibit links are provided by U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. www.time.gov/exhibits.html

85,966 people (as of Sept. 4, 2008) viewed the Particle Physics Rap video on YouTube ( www.youtube.com ) created by CERN employees. CERN Uses NI LabView and PXI to control the world’s largest particle accelerator; find a video of that application at www.controleng.com/CEtv .

$2,000 to $5,000 is the cost for the ultra low cost car (ULCC). China and India will drive demand for the ULCC to almost 7 million vehicles by 2015, feeding a new market of buyers consisting of the expanding middle class and current cyclists. Frost & Sullivan estimates that “small cars” represent about 75% of the total number of cars in these growing countries. Strategy Analytics speak on related opportunities and challenges at electronica 2008, Munich, Germany, Nov. 11-14, 2008. www.electronica.de

198 megawatts is the required capacity of 3 substations powering Microsoft’s $500 million server facility near Chicago, says a May 24 article (“Down on the Server Farm”) in The Economist. Availability of cheap power guides location choice for server farm builders. www.economist.com/business/displaystory. cfm?story_id=11413148