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EngineerIT e-News
 
Electronics, automation, computer, information and communications technology in engineering
 
Issue number 55
May 2012  

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In this issue...
- Combating theft of non-ferrous metal shifts into top gear
- In conversation with Mike le Plastrier, Invensys
- Robotics in industry - an explosion
- Intelligent automation drives business processes
- South Africa is not ready for changes to the Companies Act
- Active antennas improve mobile network performance
- Software security is an end-to-end process
- How will the SKA impact on residents of the astronomy advantage area?
- Satellite myths debunked
- TV white spaces
- Graphical system design
- Ensuring a quality VoIP service
- Space mining application for South African mining robotics
- Types of data acquisition architectures
- Miniaturisation in pressure measurement technology
-Laser out-performs chemically manufactured RF circuit boards
- The growing importance of power supply efficiencies
- Radio amateurs get a new band
- Telecoms Developments in Africa
- Space Technology
- Views and Opinions
- Industry news
- Gadgets 4 Geeks
- Product and company news
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Rens BindemanCombating theft of non-ferrous metal shifts into top gear  
by Rens Bindeman, SA Revenue Protection Association

It is now time for everyone in South Africa to take cognisance of the fact that we should all play a role in the combating of non-ferrous thefts...
(more)
Mike Le Plastrier
In conversation with Mike le Plastrier, Invensys  
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT     

When I recently did research on ruggedised and embedded computing systems for the industrial environment I spoke with Mike Le Plastrier, divisional director of Invensys Operations Management, an EOH company... (more)
Robotics in industry - an exploration  
Compiled by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
 
In this virtual panel discussion on robotics, we take the lid off some of the mysteries that many believe surround these useful combinations of electronics, metal and software...
(more)
Intelligent automation drives business processes 
by Garth Hayward, Kaseya Africa

Businesses constantly look to IT and technology to drive down costs and improve productivity through greater efficiencies. By hosting software and services in the cloud, businesses are also able to benefit from intelligent automation...
(more)
Cinterion mid banner
South Africa is not ready for changes to the Companies Act 
by Tim Marshall, Trifecta Capital Services

New legislation which comes into force next year relating to amendments to the Articles of Association for companies has far-reaching implications for the conduct of business in the boardroom...
(more)
Active antennas improve mobile network performance 
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
 
Conventionally, expanding the capacity of mobile networks has been achieved mainly by adding more base stations to the existing infrastructure. However, this has impeded the expansion of mobile broad band... (more)
Software security is an end-to-end process 
by Leon Watkins, Altech ISIS

The security of software is threatened at various points in its life cycle, both by intentional choices and actions taken by "insiders" who are producing, deploying, operating, or maintaining the software, and by "outsiders" who have no affiliation with the organisation... (more)
How will the SKA impact on residents of the astronomy advantage area?                             by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT

South Africa's new Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act protects 12,5-million hectares in the Northern Cape as a radio astronomy reserve to ensure the future of radio astronomy in the region. The question is - how will it affect people living in the area? Will they still have acces to TV, radio, cellphones and to the internet?... (more)
Satellite myths debunked 

by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT 

 

I agree that submarine and terrestrial fibre has brought broadband to the masses in the metropolitan areas but those on the "platteland" are sadly passed by. For them there must be other solutions - satellites being one... (more)

TV white spaces for inexpensive broadband?  by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT 

 

Due to potential interference, the TV band usually has unused spectrum in between any two stations which seems a waste of valuable spectrum that could be utilised to provide broadband connectivity, particularly in rural areas... (more)

Graphical system design accelerates system development 

by Norma Dorst, National Instruments, Australia

  

In the global arena, companies are encountering nimble competitors able to compete on multiple fronts simultaneously. To get ahead of these disruptive forces, engineers must shed ideological thinking and focus on pragmatic outcomes... (more
energize_win-a-prize_mb_feb2012
Ensuring a quality VoIP service
by Rob Lith and David Meintjes, Connection Telecom

 
Quality is a fundamental preoccupation of VoIP architects. The primary challenge is ensuring voice traffic is not delayed or otherwise compromised due to interference from non-voice traffic on the network... (more)

Space mining application for South African mining robotics  

by Michael Neale, Hatch Africa 

   

Many authors agree that mining space resources and the settlement of space would require extensive use of robotics. This paper explores the notion that future South African mining robotics could make the country a key player in the space mining industry... (more)

Types of data acquisition architectures
Information from Agilent Technologies, USA
 
There are a number of test equipment choices in the data acquisition market, ranging from PC plug-in cards to standalone data acquisition units. To select the optimal equipment for your application, it is important for you to... (more)
Miniaturisation in pressure measurement technology 
by Daniel Hofer and Bernhard Vetterli, Keller, Germany  

OEM transmitters are "embedded": the sensor and the downstream electronics are embedded in the same housing, and the transmitter capsules themselves are ideally suited for embedding in application-specific systems... (more)

Laser out-performs chemically manufactured RF circuit boards
by David Power, Cadshop  
 
Microwave printed-circuit board (PCB) prototypes can be quickly and cost-effectively produced in-house by means of any number of commercial mechanical milling machines or chemical etching. A faster and more accurate approach, however, is to perform the etching and machining by laser... (more)
The growing importance of power supply efficiencies 
by David Norton, Vepac Electronics

Many factors are driving designers to improve power supply efficiency - from going green to simple rand and cent. Simply put, power supply efficiency is measured by comparing the AC power going into the power supply to the DC power coming out of the supply... (more)

Amateur Radio: Radio amateurs get a new band 

by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT

In February 2012, at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) a new world-wide frequency band for amateur radio was born: 472 - 479 kHz, destined to be known as the 630 kHz band... (more)

Telecoms Developments in Africa     

Compiled by Matthew White, Iona Press Services  

  • Lack of infrastructure, skills causes Africa to lag in ICT 
  • Angola's Movicel launches fourth-generation network
  • UBA grants Benin US$50-million for telecoms, power projects
  • Kenya Telkom's LION2 submarine cable goes live
  • Liberia prepares for faster, more affordable internet
  • Government cronies lobby for NITEL assets
  • Local government in Rwanda set to step up ICT use
  • Huawei seeking to build landline system in South Sudan
  • Tanzania signs US$6,7-million internet deal with Rwanda
  • Uganda's "not closing down" UTL... (more)
Aerospace Technology

Views and Opinions  

 

Industry news 

 

Gadgets 4 Geeks
  • Not a phone, not a tablet but a hybrid of both
  • A complete system dedicated to in-car calls and music
  • You can be hands-free in the office too
  • Ergosensor monitors posture... (more)
Product and company news

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