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2544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Fiber Epoxy Composites for Both Strengthening and Health Monitoring of Structures

by Rita Salvado, Catarina Lopes, Leszek Szojda, Pedro Araújo, Marcin Gorski, Fernando José Velez, João Castro-Gomes and Rafal Krzywon

Sensors 2015, 15(5), 10753-10770; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150510753 - 06 May 2015

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 6900

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the electrical and mechanical behavior of several continuous carbon fibers epoxy composites for both strengthening and monitoring of structures. In these composites, the arrangement of fibers was deliberately diversified to test and understand the ability of the [...] Read more.

This paper presents a study of the electrical and mechanical behavior of several continuous carbon fibers epoxy composites for both strengthening and monitoring of structures. In these composites, the arrangement of fibers was deliberately diversified to test and understand the ability of the composites for self-sensing low strains. Composites with different arrangements of fibers and textile weaves, mainly unidirectional continuous carbon reinforced composites, were tested at the dynamometer. A two-probe method was considered to measure the relative electrical resistance of these composites during loading. The measured relative electrical resistance includes volume and contact electrical resistances. For all tested specimens, it increases with an increase in tensile strain, at low strain values. This is explained by the improved alignment of fibers and resulting reduction of the number of possible contacts between fibers during loading, increasing as a consequence the contact electrical resistance of the composite. Laboratory tests on strengthening of structural elements were also performed, making hand-made composites by the “wet process”, which is commonly used in civil engineering for the strengthening of all types of structures in-situ. Results show that the woven epoxy composite, used for strengthening of concrete elements is also able to sense low deformations, below 1%. Moreover, results clearly show that this textile sensor also improves the mechanical work of the strengthened structural elements, increasing their bearing capacity. Finally, the set of obtained results supports the concept of a textile fabric capable of both structural upgrade and self-monitoring of structures, especially large structures of difficult access and needing constant, sometimes very expensive, health monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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1056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Application of a Piezo-Resistive Cardiorespiratory Sensor System in an Automobile Safety Belt

by Syed Talha Ali Hamdani and Anura Fernando

Sensors 2015, 15(4), 7742-7753; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150407742 - 30 Mar 2015

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 11008

Abstract

Respiratory and heart failure are conditions that can occur with little warning and may also be difficult to predict. Therefore continuous monitoring of these bio-signals is advantageous for ensuring human health. The car safety belt is mainly designed to secure the occupants of [...] Read more.

Respiratory and heart failure are conditions that can occur with little warning and may also be difficult to predict. Therefore continuous monitoring of these bio-signals is advantageous for ensuring human health. The car safety belt is mainly designed to secure the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident. In the current research a prototype safety belt is developed, which is used to acquire respiratory and heart signals, under laboratory conditions. The current safety belt is constructed using a copper ink based nonwoven material, which works based on the piezo-resistive effect due to the pressure exerted on the sensor as a result of expansion of the thorax/abdomen area of the body for respiration and due to the principle of ballistocardiography (BCG) in heart signal sensing. In this research, the development of a theoretical model to qualitatively describe the piezo-resistive material is also presented in order to predict the relative change in the resistance of the piezo-resistive material due to the pressure applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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1978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Simulation of Material-Integrated Distributed Sensor Processing with a Code-Based Agent Platform and Mobile Multi-Agent Systems

by Stefan Bosse

Sensors 2015, 15(2), 4513-4549; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150204513 - 16 Feb 2015

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7946

Abstract

Multi-agent systems (MAS) can be used for decentralized and self-organizing data processing in a distributed system, like a resource-constrained sensor network, enabling distributed information extraction, for example, based on pattern recognition and self-organization, by decomposing complex tasks in simpler cooperative agents. Reliable MAS-based [...] Read more.

Multi-agent systems (MAS) can be used for decentralized and self-organizing data processing in a distributed system, like a resource-constrained sensor network, enabling distributed information extraction, for example, based on pattern recognition and self-organization, by decomposing complex tasks in simpler cooperative agents. Reliable MAS-based data processing approaches can aid the material-integration of structural-monitoring applications, with agent processing platforms scaled to the microchip level. The agent behavior, based on a dynamic activity-transition graph (ATG) model, is implemented with program code storing the control and the data state of an agent, which is novel. The program code can be modified by the agent itself using code morphing techniques and is capable of migrating in the network between nodes. The program code is a self-contained unit (a container) and embeds the agent data, the initialization instructions and the ATG behavior implementation. The microchip agent processing platform used for the execution of the agent code is a standalone multi-core stack machine with a zero-operand instruction format, leading to a small-sized agent program code, low system complexity and high system performance. The agent processing is token-queue-based, similar to Petri-nets. The agent platform can be implemented in software, too, offering compatibility at the operational and code level, supporting agent processing in strong heterogeneous networks. In this work, the agent platform embedded in a large-scale distributed sensor network is simulated at the architectural level by using agent-based simulation techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strengthening of Back Muscles Using a Module of Flexible Strain Sensors

by Wan-Chun Chuang, Hwai-Ting Lin and Wei-Long Chen

Sensors 2015, 15(2), 3975-3987; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150203975 - 09 Feb 2015

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5788

Abstract

This research aims at developing a flexible strain module applied to the strengthening of back muscles. Silver films were sputtered onto flexible substrates to produce a flexible sensor. Assuming that back muscle elongation is positively correlated with the variations in skin surface length, [...] Read more.

This research aims at developing a flexible strain module applied to the strengthening of back muscles. Silver films were sputtered onto flexible substrates to produce a flexible sensor. Assuming that back muscle elongation is positively correlated with the variations in skin surface length, real-time resistance changes exhibited by the sensor during simulated training sessions were measured. The results were used to identify the relationship between resistance change of sensors and skin surface stretch. In addition, muscle length changes from ultrasound images were used to determine the feasibility of a proof of concept sensor. Furthermore, this module is capable of detecting large muscle contractions, some of which may be undesirable for the prescribed training strategy. Therefore, the developed module can facilitate real-time assessments of the movement accuracy of users during training, and the results are instantly displayed on a screen. People using the developed training system can immediately adjust their posture to the appropriate position. Thus, the training mechanism can be constructed to help user improve the efficiency of back muscle strengthening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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3952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Wireless Sensor Network Topology and Estimation of Optimal Network Deployment by Deterministic Radio Channel Characterization

by Erik Aguirre, Peio Lopez-Iturri, Leire Azpilicueta, José Javier Astrain, Jesús Villadangos and Francisco Falcone

Sensors 2015, 15(2), 3766-3788; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150203766 - 05 Feb 2015

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6124

Abstract

One of the main challenges in the implementation and design of context-aware scenarios is the adequate deployment strategy for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), mainly due to the strong dependence of the radiofrequency physical layer with the surrounding media, which can lead to non-optimal [...] Read more.

One of the main challenges in the implementation and design of context-aware scenarios is the adequate deployment strategy for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), mainly due to the strong dependence of the radiofrequency physical layer with the surrounding media, which can lead to non-optimal network designs. In this work, radioplanning analysis for WSN deployment is proposed by employing a deterministic 3D ray launching technique in order to provide insight into complex wireless channel behavior in context-aware indoor scenarios. The proposed radioplanning procedure is validated with a testbed implemented with a Mobile Ad Hoc Network WSN following a chain configuration, enabling the analysis and assessment of a rich variety of parameters, such as received signal level, signal quality and estimation of power consumption. The adoption of deterministic radio channel techniques allows the design and further deployment of WSNs in heterogeneous wireless scenarios with optimized behavior in terms of coverage, capacity, quality of service and energy consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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1774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PET and PVC Separation with Hyperspectral Imagery

by Monica Moroni, Alessandro Mei, Alessandra Leonardi, Emanuela Lupo and Floriana La Marca

Sensors 2015, 15(1), 2205-2227; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150102205 - 20 Jan 2015

Cited by 90 | Viewed by 12542

Abstract

Traditional plants for plastic separation in homogeneous products employ material physical properties (for instance density). Due to the small intervals of variability of different polymer properties, the output quality may not be adequate. Sensing technologies based on hyperspectral imaging have been introduced in [...] Read more.

Traditional plants for plastic separation in homogeneous products employ material physical properties (for instance density). Due to the small intervals of variability of different polymer properties, the output quality may not be adequate. Sensing technologies based on hyperspectral imaging have been introduced in order to classify materials and to increase the quality of recycled products, which have to comply with specific standards determined by industrial applications. This paper presents the results of the characterization of two different plastic polymers—polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)—in different phases of their life cycle (primary raw materials, urban and urban-assimilated waste and secondary raw materials) to show the contribution of hyperspectral sensors in the field of material recycling. This is accomplished via near-infrared (900–1700 nm) reflectance spectra extracted from hyperspectral images acquired with a two-linear-spectrometer apparatus. Results have shown that a rapid and reliable identification of PET and PVC can be achieved by using a simple two near-infrared wavelength operator coupled to an analysis of reflectance spectra. This resulted in 100% classification accuracy. A sensor based on this identification method appears suitable and inexpensive to build and provides the necessary speed and performance required by the recycling industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Improving the Performance of an Electronic Nose by Wine Aroma Training to Distinguish between Drip Coffee and Canned Coffee

by Kouki Fujioka, Yasuko Tomizawa, Nobuo Shimizu, Keiichi Ikeda and Yoshinobu Manome

Sensors 2015, 15(1), 1354-1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150101354 - 12 Jan 2015

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 10020

Abstract

Coffee aroma, with more than 600 components, is considered as one of the most complex food aromas. Although electronic noses have been successfully used for objective analysis and differentiation of total coffee aromas, it is difficult to use them to describe the specific [...] Read more.

Coffee aroma, with more than 600 components, is considered as one of the most complex food aromas. Although electronic noses have been successfully used for objective analysis and differentiation of total coffee aromas, it is difficult to use them to describe the specific features of coffee aroma (i.e., the type of smell). This is because data obtained by electronic noses are generally based on electrical resistance/current and samples are distinguished by principal component analysis. In this paper, we present an electronic nose that is capable of learning the wine related aromas using the aroma kit “Le Nez du Vin,” and the potential to describe coffee aroma in a similar manner comparable to how wine experts describe wine aroma. The results of our investigation showed that the aromas of three drip coffees were more similar to those of pine and honey in the aroma kit than to the aromas of three canned coffees. Conversely, the aromas of canned coffees were more similar to the kit coffee aroma. In addition, the aromatic patterns of coffees were different from those of green tea and red wine. Although further study is required to fit the data to human olfaction, the presented method and the use of vocabularies in aroma kits promise to enhance objective discrimination and description of aromas by electronic noses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New System for Measuring Impact Vibration on Floor Decking Sheets

by Carlos Moron, Alfonso Garcia and Daniel Ferrandez

Sensors 2015, 15(1), 635-641; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150100635 - 30 Dec 2014

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5260

Abstract

Currently, there is a narrow range of materials that are used as attenuators of impact noise and building vibrations. Materials used in construction, such as elastic materials, must meet the requirement of having very low elastic modulus values. For the determination of the [...] Read more.

Currently, there is a narrow range of materials that are used as attenuators of impact noise and building vibrations. Materials used in construction, such as elastic materials, must meet the requirement of having very low elastic modulus values. For the determination of the material’s elastic modulus and the acoustic insulation of the same, costly and difficult to execute testing is required. The present paper exposes an alternative system that is simpler and more economic, consisting of a predefined striking device and a sensor able to determine, once the strike is produced, the energy absorbed by the plate. After the impact is produced, the plate undergoes a deformation, which absorbs part of the energy, the remaining part being transmitted to the slab and, at the same time, causing induced airborne noise in the adjoining room. The plate absorbs the power through its own deformation, which is measured with the help of a capacitive sensor. This way, it would be possible to properly define the geometry of the plates, after the execution of the test, and we will try to establish a relationship between the values proposed in this research and the acoustic behavior demanded by the Spanish standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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1655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Deployment of Low-Cost Plastic Optical Fiber Sensors for Gas Monitoring

by Sabrina Grassini, Maen Ishtaiwi, Marco Parvis and Alberto Vallan

Sensors 2015, 15(1), 485-498; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150100485 - 30 Dec 2014

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6690

Abstract

This paper describes an approach to develop and deploy low-cost plastic optical fiber sensors suitable for measuring low concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere. The sensors are designed by depositing onto the exposed core of a plastic fiber thin films of sensitive compounds [...] Read more.

This paper describes an approach to develop and deploy low-cost plastic optical fiber sensors suitable for measuring low concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere. The sensors are designed by depositing onto the exposed core of a plastic fiber thin films of sensitive compounds via either plasma sputtering or via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The interaction between the deposited layer and the gas alters the fiber’s capability to transmit the light, so that the sensor can simply be realized with a few centimeters of fiber, an LED and a photodiode. Sensors arranged in this way exhibit several advantages in comparison to electrochemical and optical conventional sensors; in particular, they have an extremely low cost and can be easily designed to have an integral, i.e., cumulative, response. The paper describes the sensor design, the preparation procedure and two examples of sensor prototypes that exploit a cumulative response. One sensor is designed for monitoring indoor atmospheres for cultural heritage applications and the other for detecting the presence of particular gas species inside the RPC (resistive plate chamber) muon detector of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN in Geneva. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Cooperative Target Recognition by Means of Singular Value Decomposition Applied to Radar High Resolution Range Profiles

by Patricia López-Rodríguez, David Escot-Bocanegra, Raúl Fernández-Recio and Ignacio Bravo

Sensors 2015, 15(1), 422-439; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150100422 - 29 Dec 2014

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 8057

Abstract

Radar high resolution range profiles are widely used among the target recognition community for the detection and identification of flying targets. In this paper, singular value decomposition is applied to extract the relevant information and to model each aircraft as a subspace. The [...] Read more.

Radar high resolution range profiles are widely used among the target recognition community for the detection and identification of flying targets. In this paper, singular value decomposition is applied to extract the relevant information and to model each aircraft as a subspace. The identification algorithm is based on angle between subspaces and takes place in a transformed domain. In order to have a wide database of radar signatures and evaluate the performance, simulated range profiles are used as the recognition database while the test samples comprise data of actual range profiles collected in a measurement campaign. Thanks to the modeling of aircraft as subspaces only the valuable information of each target is used in the recognition process. Thus, one of the main advantages of using singular value decomposition, is that it helps to overcome the notable dissimilarities found in the shape and signal-to-noise ratio between actual and simulated profiles due to their difference in nature. Despite these differences, the recognition rates obtained with the algorithm are quite promising. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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3277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Radio Characterization for ISM 2.4 GHz Wireless Sensor Networks for Judo Monitoring Applications

by Peio Lopez-Iturri, Erik Aguirre, Leire Azpilicueta, José J. Astrain, Jesús Villadangos and Francisco Falcone

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 24004-24028; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141224004 - 12 Dec 2014

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6380

Abstract

In this work, the characterization of the radio channel for ISM 2.4GHz Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) for judo applications is presented. The environments where judo activity is held are usually complex indoor scenarios in terms of radiopropagation due to their morphology, the presence [...] Read more.

In this work, the characterization of the radio channel for ISM 2.4GHz Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) for judo applications is presented. The environments where judo activity is held are usually complex indoor scenarios in terms of radiopropagation due to their morphology, the presence of humans and the electromagnetic interference generated by personal portable devices, wireless microphones and other wireless systems used by the media. For the assessment of the impact that the topology and the morphology of these environments have on electromagnetic propagation, an in-house developed 3D ray-launching software has been used in this study. Time domain results as well as estimations of received power level have been obtained for the complete volume of a training venue of a local judo club’s facilities with a contest area with the dimensions specified by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for international competitions. The obtained simulation results have been compared with measurements, which have been carried out deploying ZigBee-compliant XBee Pro modules at presented scenario, using approved Judogis (jacket, trousers and belt). The analysis is completed with the inclusion of an in-house human body computational model. Such analysis has allowed the design and development of an in house application devoted to monitor the practice of judo, in order to aid referee activities, training routines and to enhance spectator experience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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2510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soft, Comfortable Polymer Dry Electrodes for High Quality ECG and EEG Recording

by Yun-Hsuan Chen, Maaike Op De Beeck, Luc Vanderheyden, Evelien Carrette, Vojkan Mihajlović, Kris Vanstreels, Bernard Grundlehner, Stefanie Gadeyne, Paul Boon and Chris Van Hoof

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 23758-23780; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223758 - 10 Dec 2014

Cited by 168 | Viewed by 24285

Abstract

Conventional gel electrodes are widely used for biopotential measurements, despite important drawbacks such as skin irritation, long set-up time and uncomfortable removal. Recently introduced dry electrodes with rigid metal pins overcome most of these problems; however, their rigidity causes discomfort and pain. This [...] Read more.

Conventional gel electrodes are widely used for biopotential measurements, despite important drawbacks such as skin irritation, long set-up time and uncomfortable removal. Recently introduced dry electrodes with rigid metal pins overcome most of these problems; however, their rigidity causes discomfort and pain. This paper presents dry electrodes offering high user comfort, since they are fabricated from EPDM rubber containing various additives for optimum conductivity, flexibility and ease of fabrication. The electrode impedance is measured on phantoms and human skin. After optimization of the polymer composition, the skin-electrode impedance is only ~10 times larger than that of gel electrodes. Therefore, these electrodes are directly capable of recording strong biopotential signals such as ECG while for low-amplitude signals such as EEG, the electrodes need to be coupled with an active circuit. EEG recordings using active polymer electrodes connected to a clinical EEG system show very promising results: alpha waves can be clearly observed when subjects close their eyes, and correlation and coherence analyses reveal high similarity between dry and gel electrode signals. Moreover, all subjects reported that our polymer electrodes did not cause discomfort. Hence, the polymer-based dry electrodes are promising alternatives to either rigid dry electrodes or conventional gel electrodes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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8313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Radio Wave Propagation for ISM 2.4 GHz Wireless Sensor Networks in Inhomogeneous Vegetation Environments

by Leire Azpilicueta, Peio López-Iturri, Erik Aguirre, Ignacio Mateo, José Javier Astrain, Jesús Villadangos and Francisco Falcone

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 23650-23672; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223650 - 10 Dec 2014

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 8435

Abstract

The use of wireless networks has experienced exponential growth due to the improvements in terms of battery life and low consumption of the devices. However, it is compulsory to conduct previous radio propagation analysis when deploying a wireless sensor network. These studies are [...] Read more.

The use of wireless networks has experienced exponential growth due to the improvements in terms of battery life and low consumption of the devices. However, it is compulsory to conduct previous radio propagation analysis when deploying a wireless sensor network. These studies are necessary to perform an estimation of the range coverage, in order to optimize the distance between devices in an actual network deployment. In this work, the radio channel characterization for ISM 2.4 GHz Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in an inhomogeneous vegetation environment has been analyzed. This analysis allows designing environment monitoring tools based on ZigBee and WiFi where WSN and smartphones cooperate, providing rich and customized monitoring information to users in a friendly manner. The impact of topology as well as morphology of the environment is assessed by means of an in-house developed 3D Ray Launching code, to emulate the realistic operation in the framework of the scenario. Experimental results gathered from a measurement campaign conducted by deploying a ZigBee Wireless Sensor Network, are analyzed and compared with simulations in this paper. The scenario where this network is intended to operate is a combination of buildings and diverse vegetation species. To gain insight in the effects of radio propagation, a simplified vegetation model has been developed, considering the material parameters and simplified geometry embedded in the simulation scenario. An initial location-based application has been implemented in a real scenario, to test the functionality within a context aware scenario. The use of deterministic tools can aid to know the impact of the topological influence in the deployment of the optimal Wireless Sensor Network in terms of capacity, coverage and energy consumption, making the use of these systems attractive for multiple applications in inhomogeneous vegetation environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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3160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Open-Source and Low-Cost Monitoring System for Precision Enology

by Salvatore Filippo Di Gennaro, Alessandro Matese, Mirko Mancin, Jacopo Primicerio and Alberto Palliotti

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 23388-23397; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223388 - 05 Dec 2014

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7473

Abstract

Winemaking is a dynamic process, where microbiological and chemical effects may strongly differentiate products from the same vineyard and even between wine vats. This high variability means an increase in work in terms of control and process management. The winemaking process therefore requires [...] Read more.

Winemaking is a dynamic process, where microbiological and chemical effects may strongly differentiate products from the same vineyard and even between wine vats. This high variability means an increase in work in terms of control and process management. The winemaking process therefore requires a site-specific approach in order to optimize cellar practices and quality management, suggesting a new concept of winemaking, identified as Precision Enology. The Institute of Biometeorology of the Italian National Research Council has developed a wireless monitoring system, consisting of a series of nodes integrated in barrel bungs with sensors for the measurement of wine physical and chemical parameters in the barrel. This paper describes an open-source evolution of the preliminary prototype, using Arduino-based technology. Results have shown good performance in terms of data transmission and accuracy, minimal size and power consumption. The system has been designed to create a low-cost product, which allows a remote and real-time control of wine evolution in each barrel, minimizing costs and time for sampling and laboratory analysis. The possibility of integrating any kind of sensors makes the system a flexible tool that can satisfy various monitoring needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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1692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GaAs Coupled Micro Resonators with Enhanced Sensitive Mass Detection

by Tony Chopard, Vivien Lacour and Therese Leblois

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 22785-22797; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141222785 - 02 Dec 2014

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5010

Abstract

This work demonstrates the improvement of mass detection sensitivity and time response using a simple sensor structure. Indeed, complicated technological processes leading to very brittle sensing structures are often required to reach high sensitivity when we want to detect specific molecules in biological [...] Read more.

This work demonstrates the improvement of mass detection sensitivity and time response using a simple sensor structure. Indeed, complicated technological processes leading to very brittle sensing structures are often required to reach high sensitivity when we want to detect specific molecules in biological fields. These developments constitute an obstacle to the early diagnosis of diseases. An alternative is the design of coupled structures. In this study, the device is based on the piezoelectric excitation and detection of two GaAs microstructures vibrating in antisymmetric modes. GaAs is a crystal which has the advantage to be micromachined easily using typical clean room processes. Moreover, we showed its high potential in direct biofunctionalisation for use in the biological field. A specific design of the device was performed to improve the detection at low mass and an original detection method has been developed. The principle is to exploit the variation in amplitude at the initial resonance frequency which has in the vicinity of weak added mass the greatest slope. Therefore, we get a very good resolution for an infinitely weak mass: relative voltage variation of 8%/1 fg. The analysis is based on results obtained by finite element simulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Virtualization of Event Sources in Wireless Sensor Networks for the Internet of Things

by Néstor Lucas Martínez, José-Fernán Martínez and Vicente Hernández Díaz

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 22737-22753; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141222737 - 01 Dec 2014

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6226

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are generally used to collect information from the environment. The gathered data are delivered mainly to sinks or gateways that become the endpoints where applications can retrieve and process such data. However, applications would also expect from a WSN [...] Read more.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are generally used to collect information from the environment. The gathered data are delivered mainly to sinks or gateways that become the endpoints where applications can retrieve and process such data. However, applications would also expect from a WSN an event-driven operational model, so that they can be notified whenever occur some specific environmental changes instead of continuously analyzing the data provided periodically. In either operational model, WSNs represent a collection of interconnected objects, as outlined by the Internet of Things. Additionally, in order to fulfill the Internet of Things principles, Wireless Sensor Networks must have a virtual representation that allows indirect access to their resources, a model that should also include the virtualization of event sources in a WSN. Thus, in this paper a model for a virtual representation of event sources in a WSN is proposed. They are modeled as internet resources that are accessible by any internet application, following an Internet of Things approach. The model has been tested in a real implementation where a WSN has been deployed in an open neighborhood environment. Different event sources have been identified in the proposed scenario, and they have been represented following the proposed model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Micro-Raman Spectroscopy for Monitoring Changes in Periodontal Ligaments and Gingival Crevicular Fluid

by Carlo Camerlingo, Fabrizia D'Apuzzo, Vincenzo Grassia, Letizia Perillo and Maria Lepore

Sensors 2014, 14(12), 22552-22563; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141222552 - 27 Nov 2014

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 7125

Abstract

Micro-Raman Spectroscopy is an efficient method for analyzing biological specimens due to its sensitivity to subtle chemical and structural changes. The aim of this study was to use micro-Raman spectroscopy to analyze chemical and structural changes in periodontal ligament after orthodontic force application [...] Read more.

Micro-Raman Spectroscopy is an efficient method for analyzing biological specimens due to its sensitivity to subtle chemical and structural changes. The aim of this study was to use micro-Raman spectroscopy to analyze chemical and structural changes in periodontal ligament after orthodontic force application and in gingival crevicular fluid in presence of periodontal disease. The biopsy of periodontal ligament samples of premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons and the gingival crevicular fluid samples collected by using absorbent paper cones; were analyzed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Changes of the secondary protein structure related to different times of orthodontic force application were reported; whereas an increase of carotene was revealed in patients affected by periodontal inflammation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Ambient Intelligence Context-Based Cross-Layer Design in Wireless Sensor Networks

by Yang Liu, Boon-Chong Seet and Adnan Al-Anbuky

Sensors 2014, 14(10), 19057-19085; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141019057 - 14 Oct 2014

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5992

Abstract

By exchanging information directly between non-adjacent protocol layers, cross-layer (CL) interaction can significantly improve and optimize network performances such as energy efficiency and delay. This is particularly important for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) where sensor devices are energy-constrained and deployed for real-time monitoring [...] Read more.

By exchanging information directly between non-adjacent protocol layers, cross-layer (CL) interaction can significantly improve and optimize network performances such as energy efficiency and delay. This is particularly important for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) where sensor devices are energy-constrained and deployed for real-time monitoring applications. Existing CL schemes mainly exploit information exchange between physical, medium access control (MAC), and routing layers, with only a handful involving application layer. For the first time, we proposed a framework for CL optimization based on user context of ambient intelligence (AmI) application and an ontology-based context modeling and reasoning mechanism. We applied the proposed framework to jointly optimize MAC and network (NET) layer protocols for WSNs. Extensive evaluations show that the resulting optimization through context awareness and CL interaction for both MAC and NET layer protocols can yield substantial improvements in terms of throughput, packet delivery, delay, and energy performances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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Review

Jump to: Research

4220 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Cup Anemometer, a Fundamental Meteorological Instrument for the Wind Energy Industry. Research at the IDR/UPM Institute

by Santiago Pindado, Javier Cubas and Félix Sorribes-Palmer

Sensors 2014, 14(11), 21418-21452; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141121418 - 12 Nov 2014

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 11690

Abstract

The results of several research campaigns investigating cup anemometer performance carried out since 2008 at the IDR/UPM Institute are included in the present paper. Several analysis of large series of calibrations were done by studying the effect of the rotor’s geometry, climatic conditions [...] Read more.

The results of several research campaigns investigating cup anemometer performance carried out since 2008 at the IDR/UPM Institute are included in the present paper. Several analysis of large series of calibrations were done by studying the effect of the rotor’s geometry, climatic conditions during calibration, and anemometers’ ageing. More specific testing campaigns were done regarding the cup anemometer rotor aerodynamics, and the anemometer signals. The effect of the rotor’s geometry on the cup anemometer transfer function has been investigated experimentally and analytically. The analysis of the anemometer’s output signal as a way of monitoring the anemometer status is revealed as a promising procedure for detecting anomalies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications)

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