TechBuzz - College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering

TECH BUZZ
QUARTERLY TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER FROM COLLEGE OF E&ME
EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMBAT
PREDICTIVE DIAGNOSTIC
MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
DISC VERSUS DRUM
BRAKES
REMOTELY OPERATED
WEAPON STATION
EAR WALL PROBE
16
13
Patron:
Maj Gen Muhammad Shahid, HI(M)
Commandant College of E&ME
Editor:
Lt Col Naveed Aslam
Sub Editors:
Maj Farrukh Hayder Zaidi
Capt Irum Gull Bashir
Design & Printed:
Printing Press College of E&ME
Pages:20
Issue July 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
MEMS: MICRO SYSTEMS FOR
ASSET VISIBILITY AND
MONITORING
WIRELESS
TECHNOLOGY
10
A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . c e m e . n u s t . e d u . p k
7
4
1

MEMS: MICRO SYSTEMS FOR
ASSET VISIBILITY AND
MONITORING
Latest Trends
Introduction
Pilot Test
Goals
RFID
In-Transit
Visibility
Source: MilTech/2010
Introduction
Micro-electro-mechanical systems may be a key technology to achieving
anticipatory logistics support.
The Army must explore and leverage technological innovations to maximize
warfighting effectiveness as it transforms from the Current Force to the Future
Force and achieves joint and expeditionary capabilities. New technology
solutions, integrated systems, and support processes will be needed if
logisticians are to effectively transform material management, distribution,
transportation, and warehousing operations to meet future demands.
One promising new technology, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS),
has the potential to allow logisticians to begin proactively planning and
providing focused logistics support to Soldiers today. Through MEMS, it is
possible to envision a day in the not-so-distant future when assets can
talk—sensing problems and automatically providing alerts in advance of
impending failure, or providing status information on demand on the situation
and condition (or “health”) of assets. MEMS-based sensors, coupled with
automatic tracking devices, can help logisticians in “getting smart with
logistics.”
What are MEMS?
MEMS technology is a way of combining computer smarts with sensors to
analyze and react to changing situations. From monitoring the health of assets
on and off transportation platforms to improving life-cycle management,
securing cargo, or displaying recent enemy movements on a vehicle mapping
system, MEMS technology promises to be pervasive in Army Transformation.
MEMS Pilot Test
The Army Logistics Transformation Agency (LTA) is conducting proof-ofconcept
testing to validate the application of MEMS near-real-time sensor data
and controls to logistics business processes. Before initiating proof-of-concept
testing, LTA conducted an analysis to identify and test MEMS product
capabilities, analyze applicable business processes and document potential
design concepts.
1
Quote
You are educated when you have the
ability to listen to almost anything
without losing your temper or self
confidence.
(Robert Frost)
Did You Know?
MINIATURIZED POWER MODULES
FOR
AIRCRAFT BODIES
Aircraft maintenance can be
t i m e c o n s u m i n g a n d
expensive. It is much simpler
if the airplane itself reports,
w h e r e m a i n t e n a n c e i s
required. The best solution is
an approach for the sensor
network, which even provides
its own power supply and is
therefore independent of
electrical wiring – and this is
what has now been developed
by EADS. EADS Deutschland
G m b H ( G e r m a n y ) , i n
cooperation with the Institute
of Sensor and Actuator
Systems at Vienna University
of Technology (TU Vienna).
For each individual sensor,
electricity is produced by a
thermoelectric generator with
a small water tank, storing
thermal energy. The electricity
is simply generated from the
t e m p e r a t u r e d i ff e r e n c e
between the icy cold air in
high altitudes and the water
–based heat storing unit (and
vice versa). This novel
approach for providing locally
the energy for the operation of
the sensor network could not
only facilitate aircraft
maintenance, but also increase
comfort for travelers.

Goals
The overall goals of MEMS technology exploration include:n
Capitalizing on advances in MEMS technology to achieve proactive logistics
support, improve decision making, and support Army Transformation.
n Providing timely and accurate information to Soldiers and logisticians on the viability of
assets by using MEMS integrated sensor data collection, reporting, and asset health
monitoring.
n Developing an integrated framework and standard approach for collecting, reporting,
controlling, and monitoring asset health within the framework of a common logistics
operating environment.
n Improving life-cycle management and asset visibility by combining “sense” capabilities
with radio frequency identification (RFID) and other communication technologies.
Individual protective equipment (IPE) was selected as the first pilot test application. The IPE
includes Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) suits, gloves, boots,
and other gear designed to protect against chemical and biological hazards. Applying MEMS
technology to IPE will help quantify the benefits of using integrated MEMS-based sensors
within a representative Army logistics management situation. IPE was chosen as the initial
pilot test in order to build on previous work completed by LTA to standardize asset marking
and improve asset visibility and control of this critical commodity.
Using Radio Frequency Identification
Management of IPE to support rapid deployment of forces presents many challenges.
Individual sizes of chemical gear must be stored, inventoried, sorted, tracked, and issued
against established shelf-life criteria and relevant messages that affect the serviceability of
a given manufacturing lot. For early-deploying units, two sets of serviceable, basic-load
IPE ensembles are stored and managed at the installation level. For later deployers, IPE is
managed at the depot level through the Army Chemical Defense Equipment Go-to-War
Program. Gaining necessary visibility of IPE assets across the board and synchronizing
current and future requirements against the quantity of stock on hand and relevant
serviceability data are continuing readiness challenges.
To meet this challenge, MEMS technology has been combined with active RFID
devices. Use of MEMS with RFID can help track IPE assets and monitor the shelf-life
and environmental factors that affect the execution of surveillance, receipt, recovery,
inspection, and life-cycle management processes. MEMS with RFID provide standoff
asset visibility, self-reporting communications, and data storage functions capable of
measuring, recording, alerting, and providing immediate feedback to Soldiers and
logisticians on the viability of assets. While other communication methods or
platforms could be used, RFID has the advantage of a sizeable, existing Department
of Defense (DOD) infrastructure that allows for the rapid injection of MEMS sensor
capabilities with minimal cost.
MEMS and In-Transit Visibility
The MEMS IPE proof-of-concept evaluation includes an in-transit visibility (ITV)
alert feature to assist logisticians in anticipating failures and initiating resupply or
replacement activities before failures occur. Specifically, if a temperature
parameter or shelf-life date is exceeded when the MEMS device is read
using a handheld reader, an alert will be provided automatically
through the DOD ITV server to the Soldier on the ground.
The built-in alert feature will allow logisticians to
manage assets more proactively by
anticipating any support actions
when and where they
are needed.
2
Quote
Natural abilities are like natural
plants; they need pruning by study.
(Francis Bacon)
Did You Know?
FIRST SELF-POWERED DEVICE
WITH WIRELESS DATA
TRANSMISSION
Scientists are reporting
development of the first selfpowered
nano-device that can
transmit data wirelessly over
long distances. In a study in
ACS's journal Nano Letters,
they say it proves the
feasibility of a futuristic genre
of tiny implantable medical
s e n s o r s , a i r b o r n e a n d
s t a t i o n a r y s u r v e i l l a n c e
cameras and sensors, wearable
personal electronics, and other
d e v i c e s t h a t o p e r a t e
i n d e p e n d e n t l y w i t h o u t
batteries on energy collected
from the environment. The
d e v i c e c o n s i s t s o f a
nanogenerator that produces
electricity from mechanical
v i b r a t i o n / t r i g g e r i n g , a
capacitor to store the energy,
and electronics that include a
sensor and a radio transmitter
similar to those in Bluetooth
mobile phone headsets. These
devices transmit wireless
signals that could be detected
by an ordinary commercial
radio at distances of more
t h a n 3 0 f e e t .

In addition, MEMS will enable Soldiers to more effectively
determine asset viability and suitability for onward shipment and use. An
interface to the Mobility Inventory Control Accountability System (MICAS),
currently in development, will improve end-to-end life-cycle management and monitoring
of IPE. MICAS is an automatic identification technology-enabled tool used by the Army and
Air Force to provide improved IPE asset visibility and inventory control and to automate
business processes associated with issue, receipt, storage, inventory, tracking, and shelf-life
management. By integrating MEMS with the Army's MICAS IPE shelf-life management tool,
the location, quantities, status, and environmental history of IPE can be tracked to improve
asset visibility, surveillance, receipt, recovery, inspection, and selection of valid cross
samples for shelf-life testing. The MICAS MEMS integration is scheduled for completion in
late 2005.
By applying MEMS technology to IPE, managers and Soldiers on the ground can
see the location and condition of assets on hand, the length of time those assets have
been at a particular location, and the corresponding environmental data
(temperature and humidity) for that location over time. The preliminary results
from the MEMS IPE pilot test have been positive. Once MEMS RFID technology
is fully validated, it can be expanded to other assets and integrated with future
sense-and-respond logistics capabilities. Other logistics application areas include
perishable subsistence, maintenance diagnostics and prognostics, ammunition,
hazardous materials, containerized engine tracking, and component and sub
component environment “health monitoring”. Moving forward with exploration
and experimentation with MEMS technology will provide logisticians a unique
opportunity to transform logistics to achieve more timely and proactive Soldier
support. As the technology becomes more widespread and is integrated
with command and control applications, it will help combatant
commanders in gaining near-real-time situational
a w a r e n e s s a n d i m p r o v i n g s t r a t e g i c
responsiveness with more timely,
condition-based information.
3
Quote
Big jobs usually go to the men who
prove their ability to outgrow small
ones.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Did You Know?
PRODUCING ELECTRICITY FROM
THE EXHAUST HEAT
The R & D department of
General Motors received a
r e w a r d o f 2 . 7 m i l l i o n
dollars to build a prototype
device that uses an alloy with
shape memory, or SMA
(Shape Memory Alloy), in
o r d e r t o p r o d u c e t h e
Electricity from the exhaust
heat. The power output would
be sufficient to fuel such as
h e a t e d s e a t s a n d a i r
conditioning. " A strained
SMA wire contracts when
heated and becomes less steep
and returns to original shape
when it cools "Said Jan Aase,
d i r e c t o r o f v e h i c l e
development at GM Research
Laboratory. " This wire loop
placed could be used in an
electric generator to recharge
a battery . The prototype is
composed of winding SMA
son in a generator, the passage
of exhaust gas by reacting the
alloy with shape memory to
create a mechanical rotation
of the camera. It is of course
too early to identify a real
application of this technology,
but hybrid vehicles or
conventional propulsion are
possible ways.

Sparked from a Simple Idea
A trio of electrical engineering graduate students, Jung Il Choi, Mayank Jain
and Kannan Srinivasan, began working on a new approach when they came up with
a seemingly simple idea. What if radios could do the same thing our brains do when we
listen and talk simultaneously: screen out the sound of our own voice?
In most wireless networks, each device has to take turns speaking or listening. It's like two
people shouting messages to each other at the same time.
If both people are shouting at the same time, neither of them will hear the other. Their main
roadblock to two-way simultaneous conversation was this. Incoming signals are
overwhelmed by the radio's own transmissions, making it impossible to talk and listen at the
same time.
When a radio is transmitting, its own transmission is millions, billions of times stronger than
anything else it might hear from another radio. It is trying to hear a whisper while you
yourself are shouting. But, the researchers realized, if a radio receiver could filter out the
signal from its own transmitter, weak incoming signals could be heard. Their setup takes
advantage of the fact that each radio knows exactly what it's transmitting, and hence what
its receiver should filter out. The process is analogous to noise-cancelling headphones.
When the researchers demonstrated their device last fall at MobiCom 2010, an
international gathering of more than 500 of the world's top experts in mobile networking,
they won the prize for best demonstration. Until then, people didn't believe sending and
receiving signals simultaneously could be done. A researcher even told the students their
idea was "so simple and effective, it won't work," because something that obvious must
have already been tried unsuccessfully.
Breakthrough for Communications Technology
The most obvious effect of sending and receiving signals simultaneously
is that it instantly doubles the amount of information you can
send. That means much-improved home and office
networks that are faster and less congested.
5
Quote
To accomplish great things, we must
not only act, but also dream; not
only plan, but also believe.
(Anatole France)
Did You Know?
MIT INVENTS THE HYBRID BIKE
WHEEL
At the Copenhagen Summit,
the researchers SENSEable
C i t y L a b o r a t o r y a t
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology have developed a
bicycle wheel that can recover
energy, used to support the
push, to record your journey.
Good Thing: It can be installed
on our good old bicycle. The
researchers Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT)
Of laboratory SENSEable
City have designed a new type
of bicycle wheel based hybrid
systems of automobiles. It is
not an electric bike but a system
of energy recovery. "When you
brake, your kinetic energy is
recovered by an electric motor
and then stored in batteries in
the wheel, so you can use it
again when you need it" says
Carlo Ratti director of this
project. The wheel does
contain all the necessary
equipment and requires no
a d d i t i o n a l e l e c t r o n i c
equipment to be functional. It
can therefore be established on
all the old bikes in circulation.

But the students also see the technology having larger impacts, such
as overcoming a major problem with air traffic control communications.
With current systems, if two aircraft try to call the control tower at the same time on
the same frequency, neither will get through. Levis says these blocked transmissions have
caused aircraft collisions, which the new system would help prevent.
The group has a provisional patent on the technology and is working to commercialize it. They
are currently trying to increase both the strength of the transmissions and the distances over
which they work. These improvements are necessary before the technology is practical for use
in Wi-Fi networks. But even more promising are the system's implications for future
networks.
Once hardware and software are built to take advantage of simultaneous two-way
transmission, there's no predicting the scope of the results.
Design Aspects
The challenge is cancelling the node's own transmitted signal (shout) from what it
receives (whisper). The node relies on three antennas rather than the two found in
conventional transmitters to create a process similar to noise-cancelling
headphones. The device exploits the fact that each radio knows what it is
transmitting and therefore knows what its receiver should filter out. The design
uses two transmit antennas and one receive antenna per node. The transmit
antennas send the same data and the receive antenna is placed such that there is
destructive interference from the two transmit antennas, thus reducing selfinterference.
Offsetting the two transmit signals by half of the wavelength causes
them to cancel each other, creating a null position where the transmitted signal is
much, much weaker. The researchers noted that some obstacles still exist,
including a "fundamental limit on bandwidth" and power constraints caused by
the cancellation technique. The use of narrowband, low-power, active noise
cancellation devices further exacerbates these restrictions. They are
working to improve the design of full-duplex radios to remove
these limitations. Their research could help build faster,
more efficient communication networks, at least
doubling the speed of existing networks.
6
Quote
Forgiveness does not change the
past, but it does enlarge the future.
(Paul Boese)
Did You Know?
NEW AUDI A8 AND ITS ADVANCED
GPS SYSTEM
The Audi A8 Series connects
the GPS navigation system
w i t h t h e A d v a n c e d
M a n a g e m e n t o f x e n o n
headlights to anticipate their
direction and intensity. On
freeways, for example, xenon
headlight range is well adapted
to the new environment of the
vehicle upon entry into the fast
l a n e . S i m i l a r l y, b e f o r e a n
i n t e r s e c t i o n , t h e s y s t e m
activates the fire circle, which
widens the field of light and
i n c r e a s e s s e c u r i t y . T h e
Advanced GPS also comes on
t h e p r o g r a m o f g e a r s h i f t
dynamics digital signal processing
( D S P ) o n t h e c r u i s e
control and adaptive cruise control
(ACC) of the gearbox. The DSP can
thus take into account the arrival of
turns in its strategy of shifting
gears. On a narrow road, for
example, it does not change
speed unnecessarily. The ACC
can now determine the exact
path of a highway, even when
cornering. It avoids most of the
small errors as unintentional
acceleration before a highway
exit that the driver would take.
As for the gearbox tiptronic, it
does not unnecessarily gear up
on a winding road or short
journeys.

However, maintainers will probably never learn each system well
enough to become proficient in troubleshooting them all.
Evidence-Based Diagnostics
In healthcare, Internet-based systems are available to help doctors identify possible causes
for patient symptoms. One such statistical diagnostic assistant, called “Isabel,” was developed
by a father who sought to change the diagnostic system that affected the way his daughter
(Isabel) was treated. This system is basically an intuitive system that takes advantage of all
previous diagnoses and provides the statistically most likely disease (fault) and treatment
(repair).The medical profession has done well to embrace evidence-based medicine; the
Army maintenance community also might do well to embrace evidence-based maintenance.
Not only would such a system speed troubleshooting and proper fault diagnosis, it would
also perform the same function as prognostics by supporting the building of better
authorized stockage lists. It would also provide a better grasp of whole-life and life-cycle
costs. A system like this for Army maintenance could limit misdiagnosis of vehicle faults.
An evidence-based maintenance system would reduce the multicapable maintainer's
reliance on his intuition to make sound repair decisions and allow him to diagnose
problems and correct them. His data then could be included in later regressions to ensure
that faults were categorized correctly.
The program should be able to determine the result statistically. For instance, if the
maintainers normally say that a certain fault is found during testing, we could probably
determine what the true fault usually is (and more importantly, what the fix is) or if the
“how found” data mean nothing to the outcome. I would say, at this point, that we do not
really know if these data mean anything, because we have “intuitively” said they mean
nothing.
The most intriguing benefit of intelligent fault diagnosis is that it eliminates the need
for the intuition of the maintainer. A maintainer's intuition results from his general
maintenance experience, training, and experience with the given piece of equipment.
We need to find a way to capture the shop data and fault data from the Standard Army
Maintenance System Enhanced or from a Department of the Army Form 2407,
Maintenance Request, database that captures the “how found” data and ties them
directly to the “how repaired” data.
Collecting Data
With the advances in controller area network bus technology over the past 10 years,
several large commercial truckers have developed evidence-based service
regimens based on what they have learned from their electronic monitoring
systems. The Army needs similar systems that will support “fight with what you
brought” because new prognostic-laden equipment and smart vehicle systems
will not be widely used for years to come, but evidence-based maintenance is
available today. It also would be free because the data are already there—just not
being used. Worse yet, we are losing the information by not properly archiving it.
We have all the tools needed to use evidence-based maintenance without adding
anything to the vehicle systems in current inventory. The type of bus used on
virtually all heavy vehicle systems has the data we need and stores them quite
accurately, but we rarely interrogate it.
8
Quote
To begin to think with purpose, is to
enter the ranks of those strong ones
who only recognize failure as one of
the pathways to attainment.
(James Allen)
Did You Know?
BEE-BASED SECURITY
DEVICE
Trained sniffer bees are the
key components of new
technology that could stop
t e r r o r i s t s i n t h e i r
tracks.During operation, a
fan draws in air from
whatever is being examined
and passes it over the bees. If
the sample contains the
substance the bees are
trained to detect, it elicits a
proboscis extension reflex
response (PER) and the bee
sticks out its tongue in
expectation of food. When
detected, an integrated
d i s p l a y p r o v i d e s a n
immediate read-out of the
bee's reaction. If enough
bees respond, an alarm is
t r i g g e r e d t o w a r n o f
dangerous substances in the
a i r. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e
researchers, honeybees are
ideal detectors because they
are inexpensive, widely
available and can be trained
within minutes. They also
have extremely low limits of
detection, with trace vapours
being picked up in parts per
trillion levels, comparable to
the accuracy of a sniffer dog.

Onboard Sensors
One might do well to study exactly what commercial, even consumer,
products provide. My truck lets me know, based on my driving habits over the past
few months, that it will need an oil change soon. The onboard computer sends a message
that generates an email telling me I am down to a percentage of oil life remaining. A few days
later my service engine light illuminates. Granted, all of this is done with the assistance of a few
sensors, but I think more weight is given to the “profile” of miles driven (such as revolutions
per minute duration) than to the oil condition itself.
Time and time again, I read on LOGNet about the need for simpler vehicles that align with the
workload and skill set of the Army maintainer. Perhaps the greatest single issue that comes up
is the complexity of maintaining a central tire inflation system (CTIS). Soldiers in the field
seem to be content with vehicles that do not have CTIS or that have disabled CTIS systems.
CTIS is a complex system, and many fleets still do not have it. I am not privy to the results of
the surveys that take place, but I think units in the field have overwhelmingly said they do
not want CTIS systems since any prognostics undoubtedly will increase the cost of the
vehicles and make them inherently more difficult to maintain. Maintainers do not want to
have more complicated vehicles unless they have the proper tools and adequate
knowledge and understanding of the vehicle system. A proper tool, in this case, would be a
diagnostic system that has the information needed to diagnose a fault properly with a high
degree of accuracy.
Anything less than having a high degree of accuracy in troubleshooting diagnoses
equates to simply changing parts. If we know more about the predicted actual fault, we
can eliminate some of the practice of “changing parts until the fault goes away.” More
importantly, we might be able to use the data to redesign our resupply operations. To
shrink the logistics footprint, we need to do several things. If we are not going to make
vehicles simple, we need to make diagnosis simpler. We can do it without adding
anything to the ground fleet.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has established a goal to reduce the highway
fatality rate to no more than 1.0 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled by the
end of 2008. It is understood that commercial vehicle braking system design and
operation are directly linked to stopping distance, handling and, therefore, overall
safety. Properly maintaining and performing brakes are clearly the driver's best ally
in preventing and mitigating crash situations. Although vehicle defects on large
trucks can rarely be pinpointed as the causative factor(s) in crashes, when defects
do occur, faulty brakes tend to be at fault. Optimally adjusted braking systems
could help prevent or mitigate crashes even when the braking system itself was not
the initial cause of the crash. Eliminating or mitigating key mechanical problems,
including brake-related issues, would likely yield a significant reduction in the
number and seriousness of injuries sustained in commercial vehicle-related
crashes. The various sensor systems were installed on a conventional tractortrailer
combination vehicle and tested under controlled braking maneuvers on a
test track. (All work was conducted at the Transportation Research Center
(TRC) in Columbus, OH by Radlinski and Associates, Inc.) The output of the
various brake sensor systems could then be compared on the same vehicle
under identical testing conditions. This approach facilitated
objective, accurate comparison of the sensors, and
eliminated problems associated with test
p r o c e d u r e r e p e a t a b i l i t y w h e n
comparing different systems.
9
Quote
Work joyfully and peacefully,
knowing that right thoughts and
right efforts inevitably bring about
right results.
(James Allen )
Did You Know?
SOLAR POWER
MIT researchers and their
collaborators have come up
w i t h a n u n u s u a l , h i g h
performance and possibly less
expensive way of turning the
sun’s heat into electricity. Their
system produces power with an
efficiency roughly eight times
higher than ever previously
r e p o r t e d f o r a s o l a r
thermoelectric device — one
that produces electricity from
solar heat. It does so by
generating and harnessing a
t e m p e r a t u r e d i f f e r e n c e o f
about 200 degrees Celsius
between the interior of the
device and the ambient air. Like the
silicon photovoltaic cells that
produce electricity when struck
by sunlight, Chen’s system is a
solid-state device with no
moving parts. A thermoelectric
generator, placed inside a
v a c u u m c h a m b e r m a d e o f
glass, is covered with a black
plate of copper that absorbs
sunlight but does not re-radiate
it as heat. The other side of the
generator is in contact with
ambient temperatures. Placed
in the sun, the entire unit heats
up quickly, even without facing
the sun directly.

Introduction
Use
DISC VERSUS DRUM
BRAKES
Drum
Brakes
Disk
Brakes
Conclusion
Source: www.ehow.com
Maint Practices
Introduction
Most Army wheeled vehicles are adapted from commercial models. However, the
Army is not keeping up with the best commercial automotive technology in one
important area: the brakes. The Army has a fleet of vehicles that numbers
approximately 500,000. Combat vehicles operate on both unpaved roads and
paved highways. Normally, light trucks, heavy-haul trucks, and high-mobility,
multipurpose wheeled vehicles use paved concrete or asphalt roads for everyday
duties. Nearly all of the engines, transmissions, differentials, and brake systems
used in Army vehicles are commercially produced. Why are so many commercial
systems integrated into Army vehicles? The reason is that Army vehicles are
adaptations of commercially marketed vehicles. Army light trucks are modified
civilian vehicles, heavy-haul dump trucks are modified commercial dump trucks,
and semi-tractors and -trailers are modified over-the-road rigs—the same type we
see moving freight down our Nation's highways. They have the same frame
designs, the same driveline designs, and the same brake systems. In fact, the
number of vehicle manufacturers is limited, and many use all of the same
components. It would be neither efficient nor effective for the Army to design,
create, and test new engines or transmissions from scratch, and the costs would be
prohibitive. Minimizing risks to personnel is a priority, and tests on vehicle
equipment previously conducted by industry provide data and engineering
information that can be used to reduce the danger of injuries or death. System
upgrades contribute to risk reduction, but occasionally state-of-the-art advances in
the private sector are overlooked.
European and Domestic Use
Most European heavy over-the-road trucks use disc brakes on all axles, with over
1.5 million disc brakes produced in Europe. U.S. commercial truck manufacturers
entered the disc brake market with front-axle discs, but they were not promoted in
the industry. Currently, the Army uses disc brakes only on M998-series highmobility,
multipurpose wheeled vehicles, with four-wheel hydraulic discs, and a
limited number of commercial light trucks adapted for military use, with front disc
brakes.
10
Quote
Gratitude helps you to grow and
expands; gratitude brings laughter
into your life and into the lives of
all those around you.
(Eileen Caddy)
Did You Know?
HAPTIC SOLDIERS GUIDED
BY BUZZING BELT
THE US army is testing a
navigation device that allows
soldiers to feel their way,
literally, through the fog of war.
The device, a haptic belt, feeds
information to the wearer
through coded vibrations and
can also relay orders given as
hand signals via a glove that
r e c o g n i s e s g e s t u r e s . G P S
devices are not ideal as they
require soldiers to take their
eyes off their surroundings and
their hand off their weapon. So
Army Research Group has now
developed a range of vibrating
mini electric motors known as
tactile actuators, or "tactors",
and tested them in various
configurations. The tactors
vibrate at 250 hertz, which is
just enough to give a gentle but
noticeable buzz around the torso
at regular intervals indicating
the direction in which the
soldier needs to travel to reach
the next waypoint.The belts are
hooked up to a regular GPS
device to access directional
information, as well as an
accelerometer and digital
compass. These mean the device
knows which way the soldier is
facing, even if they are lying
down.

Drum Brakes
Drum brakes operate using two steel shoes with a friction material bonded
or riveted onto the faces of the shoes. The two shoes are mounted at the outer end of
an axle on a backing plate. When hydraulic or air pressure is applied to the shoes, they
expand inside the brake drum, which is attached to the wheel and tire. The force of the shoes
against the inside of the drum produces friction and stops the rotation of the drum-wheel-tire
unit, thus stopping the vehicle.
This is a satisfactory system for some applications, such as light-duty vehicles. However, the
larger and heavier the vehicle, the larger and heavier the drum brake unit must be to dissipate
the enormous heat generated in stopping a large vehicle. This means a large vehicle needs
large shoes, a massive (150 pounds or more) cast-iron drum, heavier gauge steel backing
plates, and large supporting operation activators. The shoes also must be enclosed in a drum,
which greatly reduces or eliminates the air circulation needed to remove heat buildup. The
drum sheds heat only from the surface area on its outer circumference. When the shoes get
wet, their ability to brake weakens (a phenomenon known as “brake fade”) because the
drum cannot sling water out of the unit; the water is trapped and held inside the drum by
centrifugal force as the drum rotates until it is evaporated by heat. Air drum brakes have
approximately 20 internal moveable parts and another 20 external parts for operation. To
maintain air drum brakes on a heavy rig, time must be allotted to inspect material wear of
the shoes caused by friction. The maintainer must crawl under the vehicle to see the wear.
If all 40 parts are mechanically acceptable, the brake is adjusted using one wrench while
the wheel is raised off the ground. If the problem diagnosed requires that the brake be
torn down, the wheel must be raised; if it is a dual wheel, a wheel jack must be used to
remove the duals and drum—a 600-pound package—before the tear-down can be
started.
Disc Brakes
Disc brakes were developed in England in the 1890s and patented in 1902. They
were extensively used on fighter planes during World War II and were adapted to
automobiles in the 1940s and 1950s. By 1970, front disc brakes were installed on
most American cars. In the late 1970s, light American trucks and a limited number
of heavy trucks used front axle discs. Today, use of disc brakes has become
common in the U.S. automotive industry. Heavy truck air disc brakes have many
advantages over drum brakes. Disc brakes operate with a large cast-iron rotor
attached to the vehicle spindle or axle that rotates. A steel wheel and tire are
bolted to the rotor. A stationary caliper is mounted to the axle housing, with two
steel pads made of friction material bonded or riveted to one side of the
pads. The pads, operated by an internal cylinder, float outward
when air or hydraulic pressure is applied. This forces the
pads against the rotor, stopping the vehicle. Disc
rotors are not enclosed, so they sling
water when wet and thus dry
quickly with minimum
brake fade.
11
Quote
Striving for excellence motivates
you; striving for perfection is
demoralizing.
(Harriet Braiker)
Did You Know?
CYBER - ATTACK TESTBED
The U.S. is creating a virtual
version of the Internet--this
one designed as a testbed to
help the nation hone its
d e f e n s e s a g a i n s t
cyber-attacks.Known as the
National Cyber Range, the
virtual testbed would be set
up by the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency
(DARPA), the same agency
that kicked off the Internet
itself more than 40 years ago.
The new simulated mini-
I n t e r n e t w o u l d g i v e
Washington the opportunity
t o c a r r y o u t v i r t u a l
cyber-warfare games as a way
of testing different scenarios
and technologies in response
to cyber-attacks.To work on
the initial development phase
of the new system, defense
contractor Lockheed Martin
was awarded a $5.4 million
contract by DARPA in early
2009. The company has
provided its own team of
cyber-technology experts to
w o r k w i t h D A R PA o n
building the test range.

They do not pull the vehicle to one side, as drums can do; all stopping is in a
straight line.Disc brakes dissipate heat quickly because the rotors and pads are open
and the rotors have large internal ventilation air passages. Because discs run cooler than
drums, less heat is transferred to tires, which increases tire longevity. Disc brakes are 30 to 40
percent lighter in weight than drum brakes, which also reduces tire wear and, with less rebound
over potholes and rough roads, keeps tires in contact with the road more effectively. Consistent
tire-to-road contact produces consistent steering efficiency.
Disc brakes have approximately one-fourth the number of parts of drum brakes. They require
inspection, but not adjusting, and that inspection can be performed without lifting the axle.
Discs last four times longer than drums, making them the more cost-effective alternative.
The most important vehicle functions are braking and steering. All-wheel disc brakes
immediately improve both. They decrease stopping distances by up to 50 percent and, with
less brake weight, reduce the unsprung weight of axles and wheel bounce, thereby
maximizing tire-to-road contact and increasing steering control. [“Unsprung weight” is the
weight of all components of a vehicle that are not supported by the vehicle's springs. These
components include wheels and tires. The lower the weight of these components, the
better they can handle bumps and potholes in the road.]
Conclusion
I believe that future tactical military vehicles should be ordered with all-axle disc
brakes. Whether current brake systems are hydraulic or air-operated, a retrofit
developmental program could be initiated to fit tactical vehicles and trailers with allaxle
disc brakes.
Several major brake manufacturing corporations are able to provide the
necessary expertise and components to reach this objective. Requiring disc
brakes on Army vehicles would reduce the long-term logistics footprint by
helping the Army to reduce brake maintenance time, extend brake
replacement intervals, increase tire life, and consume fewer brake
replacement parts. If a single vehicle component can
provide all these benefits, I believe that serious
consideration must be given to including
that system on all Army
vehicles.
12
Quote
The more difficulties one has to
encounter, within and without, the
more significant and the higher in
inspiration his life will be.
(Horace Bushnell)
Did You Know?
SURVEILLANCE ROBOTS
The spy approaches the target
building under cover of
darkness, taking a zigzag path to
avoid well-lit areas and sentries.
He selects a handy vantage point
next to a dumpster, taking cover
behind it when he hears the
footsteps of an unseen guard.
Once the coast is clear, he is on
the move again - trundling along
on four small wheels. This is no
human spy but a machine, a
prototype in the emerging field
of covert robotics. It was being
put through its paces at a
demonstration late last year by
Lockheed Martin's Advanced
Technology Laboratories at
Cherry Hill, New Jersey. With
an aerial drone to their credit
(see "Unseen watcher in the
sky"), the company now wants
to design autonomous robots
that can operate around humans
without being detected. What
makes the robot special is its
ability to build a computer
model of its surroundings,
incorporating information on
lines of sight. The robot is fitted
with a laser scanner to allow it to
covertly map its environment in
3D. It also has a set of acoustic
sensors which it uses to
distinguish nearby footsteps and
their direction.

REMOTELY OPERATED
WEAPON STATION
Projects
Introduction
Mechanical
Design
Electronic
Control
On-board
Surveillance
Applications
Source: 44 EME Bn
A remote weapon station, also known as a remote weapon system, (RWS) is a
weaponized system for light and medium caliber weapons which can be installed
on any type of vehicle or other platforms (land and sea-based). Such equipment is
used on modern military vehicles, as it allows a gunner to remain in the relative
protection of the vehicle. It may also be retrofitted onto existing vehicles that are
available with the military.
In LIC environment use of autonomous weapon system is indeed an added
advantage because it provides the troops and fighting units cushion to engage
targets freely without having direct contact with enemy. Inclusion of autonomous
and remotely operated weapon systems like Wireless Machine Gun and
Unmanned Ground Vehicle based Firing Units will increase the sustenance and
will of our forces in fighting effectively with its adversaries in an LIC
environment.
Introduction
44 EME Bn as part of 11 Corps is actively engaged in numerous operations along
the western border. Keeping in view the environment, need of the hour was to
design an unmanned weapon station that will eventually be installed in Posts and
Bunkers at operational area. With the unmanned machine gun station installed,
enemy can be engaged without having direct contact with enemy. 44 EME Bn
endeavored to take this task of designing and fabricating remotely operated
weapon station that is compatible with both, LMGs and G-3 being used by
Pakistan Army. The mechanical and electronic control aspects of the project are as
follows:-
Mechanical Design of Remotely Operated Machine Gun Mount
The LMG mount is designed to give the gun two axes movement, i.e. traversing
and elevation motion. The assembly is designed that it imparts 120 degrees
elevation and 180 degrees traversing from a fixed point of reference.
13
Quote
One who understands much
displays a greater simplicity
of character than one who
understands little.
(Alexander Chase)
Did You Know?
TINY RING LASER
A tiny doughnut-shaped laser is
the latest marvel of silicon
microminiaturization, but
instead of manipulating bits it
detects very small particles.
Small particles play a big -- and
largely unnoticed -- role in our
everyday lives. Virus particles
make us sick, salt particles
trigger cloud formation, and
soot particles sift deep into our
lungs and make it harder to
breathe.The sensor belongs to a
category called whispering
gallery resonators, which work
like the famous whispering
gallery in St. Paul's Cathedral in
London, where someone on the
one side of the dome can hear a
message spoken to the wall by
someone on the other side.
Unlike the dome, which has
resonances or sweet spots in the
audible range, the sensor
resonates at light frequencies.
Light traveling round the microlaser
is disturbed by a particle
that lands on the ring, changing
the light's frequency. The ring
can count the touch-down of as
many as 800 nano particles
before the signals begin to be
lost in the noise. By exciting
more than one mode in the ring,
scientists can double-check the
accuracy of the count. And by
changing the "gain medium,"
they can adapt the sensor for
water rather than air.

The main components used in mechanical design are as follows:n
Traversing Motor.
n Elevation Motor.
n Bearing mounted shaft to give entire assembly rotation along the fixed axis.
n Recoil absorption lever and spring.
n Power windows motor to control the trigger and firing mechanism.
Similarly, for elevating the gun platform within 120 degrees cycle a separate actuator is used.
Two legged stand with square base is designed to cancel the recoil and thrust produced by the
firing weapon. Two separate brackets are fabricated for installing and mounting the camera
being used for surveillance.
Electronic Control of Remote Weapon Station
Three double pole double through (DPDT) switches are used for designing the handheld
controller of remote weapon station. Every movement is controlled via a switch that
acts as an axis controller. The firing assembly switch is a single pole single through
(SPST) switch that provides Pulse and Continuous firing modes. The control box is
designed to control the motors and actuators. Solid-state relays alongwith bridge
rectifiers are used to give an optimum level of current and voltage. The Remote
Weapon Station control box is designed to be powered up by both AC and DC power
keeping in view the availability of resources. An AC transformer alongwith N-
Channel MOSFET is used to give the polarity controlling relays the requisite
voltage.
14
On-Board Surveillance
Two CCTV cameras are used as the surveillance means for the
weapon station platform. Both the cameras are installed
on-board, Ist camera is providing direct in-line
view for the gun firing direction whereas
the 2nd on-board camera
provides a general area
view.
Quote
The man of wisdom is never of two
minds; the man of benevolence
never worries; the man of courage
is never afraid.
(Confucius)
Did You Know?
GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM
H u m a n f a c t o r s
psychologists have teamed
up with computer scientists
to develop technology that
can do the job of a seeingeye
dog -- help the blind
walk around safely and
without getting lost. The
wearable system tracks the
person's position using
GPS, and emits sounds to
alert them of obstacles such
a s f i r e h y d r a n t s o r
parkbenches."SWAN, or
the System for Wearable
Audio Navigation, is a
system that we have
developed here at Georgia
Tech to help people -- often
blind people, but any
person who can't see -- get
from point A to point B and
know what's around them
as they go," says Bruce
Walker, an Assistant
Professor at Georgia Tech's
School of Psychology and
College of Computing, in
Atlanta. A series of beeps
leads them on the path to
their destination. A beep
points out a park bench, a
different beep combined
with a ring might signal an
information booth. Fast
beeps warn of a fire hydrant
in the path.

15
Applications - Pictorial view for various applications/employments
of Remote Weapon Station
Bunkers in Operational
Areas
Pill Boxes and Fortifications
in Operational Area
On Helicopters as a Primary
Engaging Weapon
On Weapon Posts around Sensitive
and Static Installations
like Corps HQ
Mounted on Vehicles in LIC
Environment
Quote
Time, which changes people, does
not alter the image we have of them.
(Marcel Proust)
Did You Know?
CARDIO-PULMONARY
RESUSCITATION (CPR) DEVICE GUIDES
BYSTANDERS
Human factors engineers have
developed a CPR machine that
allows people without CPR
training to save the lives of
those who are suffering from
cardiac arrest. It monitors, and
gives feedback about, actions
such as the depth of chest
compressions. The device
consists of a pressure-sensing
headrest, an anesthesia mask,
defibrillator pads, a monitor,
and speakers that talk the user
through the procedure step by
step."Unfortunately, it can take
awhile for professionals to
arrive on the scene, and that
down time is critical," Paul
Picciano, a human systems
e x p e r t a t A p t i m a , I n c .
Picciano helped develop a
medical device that guides
untrained bystanders step-bystep
through the CPR process.
The Just-in-Time Support
device, or JITS for short,
consists of a pressure-sensing
headrest, an anesthesia mask,
defibrillator pads, and a video
screen and speakers that
transmit audio and visual cues
to tell the user what to do. It also
gives feedback about any
actions taken.

EAR WALL PROBE
Projects
Background
Introduction
Principle
Features
Applications
Source:EME College
Background
In the wake of current low intensity conflict environment ,Pakistan Army needs to
be technologically sound and her intelligence must be in possession of the latest
spying gadgets and equipments .The Listening through walls device is developed
in response to the varied needs of law enforcement / intelligence personnel for
audio monitoring. It is a high gain stereo amplifier with lower noise and distortion.
Recorder outputs may be adjusted manually or by automatic level control (ALC).
Introduction
This entry level listen through wall device is made of a heavy duty metal encased in
a thick plastic box for toughness and equipped with a sensitive contact wall
microphone that will pick up audio sounds and conversations through solid walls
up to twelve inches thick. This device also supports a recording socket enabling to
plug in a standard voice recorder to capture and record what you listen. It is an
invaluable piece of equipment for gathering information and evidence in situation
where you may encounter noise coming your way and thick walls between you and
target. The mic will listen through walls and virtually any surface with the built-in
contact element. Simply place the contact against the surface to be tested (metal,
air ducts, plumbing, conduit, windows, concrete etc.). The internal automatic gain
control will deliver clear, undistorted sound. Also known as a surface microphone
or concrete mic, the device can be connected to any standard tape recorder. The
recorder output can also be used with audio spectrum analyzers and other
measurement equipment for detailed analysis and voice recognition.
Principle
The principle behind this unique device is based on the sound wave theory proving
that all sounds emit vibrations that travel in both short and long distances. The
listening through walls device essentially amplifies the vibrations of a
conversation through a multistage amplifier and provides users with audible and
intelligible audio. Operating this audio device is extremely simple, all the user has
to do is to put the mic against a wall or a door and plug in the earphones to hear the
audio.
16
Quote
To do great things is difficult; but to
command great things is more
difficult.
(Friedrich Nietzsche)
Did You Know?
BRAIN-LIKE COMPUTING
The development of 'brain-like'
computers has taken a major
s t e p f o r w a r d w i t h t h e
publication of research led by
the University of Exeter.
Computers currently deal with
p r o c e s s i n g a n d m e m o r y
separately, resulting in a speed
and power 'bottleneck' caused
by the need to continually move
data around. This is totally
unlike anything in biology, for
example in human brains, where
no real distinction is made
b e t w e e n m e m o r y a n d
computation. To perform these
two functions simultaneously
the University of Exeter
research team used phasechange
materials, a kind of
semi-conductor that exhibits
remarkable properties. Their
s t u d y d e m o n s t r a t e s
conclusively that phase-change
materials can store and process
information simultaneously. It
also shows experimentally for
the first time that they can
perform general-purpose
computing operations, such as
a d d i t i o n , s u b t r a c t i o n ,
multiplication and division.This
s t u d y f o c u s e d o n t h e
performance of a single phasechange
cell.

Ceramic Tip Based Sound Sensor
This is a circuit for a Sound Sensor. A ceramic tip interfaced with crystal
microphone provides the sound input to an amplifier, peak detector, and buffer.
Features
n Compact size - rugged construction
n Advanced circuit design
n High efficiency for long battery life.
n Low noise - low distortion.
n Bandwidth automatically adjusted to gain.
n Dual gain cell ALC for highest audio quality
n Listen through solid and cavity barriers up to 300mm (12 inches thick)
n Bass and Treble controls for audio adjustment
n Supplied with stereo headphones
n Powered by 9V (PP3) Battery - giving up to 24 hours of use
n Audio output socket for connection of suitable voice recorder
Applications
n Listening through walls.
n Structure-borne sound sensing.
n Life saving, search and rescue operations.
n Industrial and noisy environments.
n Standard outdoor surveillance operations.
n Homeland Security.
n Suited for use in LEAs & tactical task forces.
n Hear people trapped in basements, elevators, under rubble etc.
n Listen through packages for timers.
n Find problems in engines, transmissions and other mechanical
apparatus.
n Find location of insects or rodent infestations, active
termite colonies in walls, ceilings and floors.
n Find location of leaking pipes in
concrete or walls.
17
Quote
Take time to deliberate, but when
the time for action has arrived, stop
thinking and go in.
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
Did You Know?
INKJET PRINTING
AND SOLAR ENERGY
INDUSTRY
Inkjet printers, a low-cost
technology that in recent
decades has revolutionized
h o m e a n d s m a l l o ff i c e
printing, may soon offer
similar benefits for the future
of solar energy. Engineers at
Oregon State University have
discovered a way for the first
time to create successful
Copper, Indium Gallium And
S e l e n i u m ( C I G S ) s o l a r
devices with inkjet printing,
in work that reduces raw
material waste by 90 percent
a n d w i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y
lower the cost of producing
solar energy cells with some
very promising compounds.
High performing, rapidly
produced, ultra-low cost, thin
film solar electronics should
be possible, scientists said.
Part of the advantage of this
approach, Chang said, is a
dramatic reduction in wasted
m a t e r i a l . I n s t e a d o f
d e p o s i t i n g c h e m i c a l
compounds on a substrate
with a more expensive vapor
phase deposition -- wasting
most of the material in the
process inkjet technology
could be used to create precise
patterning with very low waste.

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