Commercially Available Off-the-shelf Research Articles

Development of Visual System for Flight Simulation Training Device

The complexity of avionics systems and aircraft equipment is increasing day by day. To operate the avionics equipment, rigorous training is required. The training of pilots to handle these advanced equipment is quite costly. To address this issue a novel flight simulation training device is proposed in this paper. The proposed flight simulator can train the pilot on the ground. The development of visual system for Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) is discussed in detail in this paper. The visual system for FSTD is designed using DAQ cards, multifunctional displays, serial communication interface, pilot controls and commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) controller. This proposed system displays various flight parameters. OpenGL is used to create graphics pages to display flight parameters. DAQ cards were utilizedto connect the analog and digital signals of cockpit to the FSTD’s visual system. A visual system was used in development of actual FSTD by assimilating symbols developed in OpenGL and creating typical pages for simultaneous display on four display surfaces.

Semi-Implantable Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) System Integrated With On-Chip Power Management Unit (PMU) for Neuromodulation Application

Miniaturization of the neuromodulation system is important for non-invasive or sub-invasive optogenetic application. This work presents an optimized wireless power transfer (WPT) system integrated with an on-chip rectification circuitry and an off-chip stimulation circuitry for optogenetic stimulation of freely moving rodents. The proposed WPT system is built using parallel transmitter (TX) coils on printed circuit board (PCB) and wire-wound based receiver (RX) coil followed by a seven-stage voltage doubler and a low dropout regulator (LDO) circuit designed in 180 nm standard Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) process. A pulse stimulation is used to stimulate the neurons which is generated using a commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) components based oscillator circuit. The intensity of the stimulation is controlled by using a COTS based LED driver circuit which controls the current through the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula> LED. The total dimension of the RX coil is 8 mm × 3.4 mm. The maximum power transfer efficiency (PTE) of the proposed WPT system is <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sim$</tex-math></inline-formula> 35% and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the rectifier is 52%. The proposed system with reconfigurable stimulation frequency is suitable for exciting different brain areas for long-term health monitoring.

A Wearable Multisensor Patch for Breathing Pattern Recognition

In this paper, a multisensor patch is presented for the purpose of detecting and recognising the signals produced by human breathing in response to a variety of different body movements. We show that a multisensor patch consisting of an accelerometer and a pressure sensor can simultaneously measure breathing-related inertial motion and muscle stretch with a high degree of accuracy when it is attached close to the diaphragm. To construct the multisensor patch, we relied on commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic components that were relatively inexpensive. Different breathing motions were analyzed based on the accelerometer and the pressure sensor, including inhale, exhale, normal breathing, and breath hold conditions. The breathing frequency from the accelerometer and the flexible capacitive pressure sensors was found to be 0.2 Hz, and the normal breathing rate from the accelerometer and the pressure sensor was 11 breaths/min. We demonstrate that this new functional device and related approaches allow the identification of breathing patterns that are less cumbersome and tenably more reliable than conventional measures. The proposed multisensor patch holds great potential as a sensing technology in medical applications for the early detection of respiratory changes, one of the most predictive and earliest vital signs for worsening health. The presented methodology can be adapted for mass production of reasonably priced non-invasive breathing pattern detection and off-line analysis.

Low-cost camera-based continuous-wave laser detection

A low-cost camera-based method of detecting continuous-wave (cw) lasers has been developed at Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The detector uses a simple optical modification to a standard color camera combined with image processing techniques to distinguish lasers from other illumination sources and measure the wavelength, direction, and irradiance of the laser light. Such a detector has applications in collecting information on aircraft laser dazzle incidents, providing the evidence required to inform on aircrew laser exposure events and to assess if engagements are eye safe. A prototype has been developed using entirely commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) components, costing ≈£600, and assessed in laboratory conditions with the capability of measuring laser wavelengths to ±5 nm and irradiances to ±10 % . A realistic handheld laser engagement scenario, using a range of relevant wavelengths and irradiances, was simulated during the Moonraker trial where the prototype was capable of measuring laser wavelengths to an accuracy of ±10 nm and peak irradiances to ±25 % . All laser engagements were detected over a total data collection period of 9 h with zero false alarms. Comparisons were made with a COTS laser detector, which showed an equivalent performance. This technology offers a low-cost approach to cw laser detection, which is capable of extracting a range of parameters while maintaining a relatively wide field of view and angular resolution.

Magnetic gradiometry with a low-cost magneto-inductive sensor: A case study on Baba-Ali iron ore deposit (Western Iran)

Recently, the magneto-inductive (MI) magnetometers are commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS). Thanks to their low price, size, weight, power consumption, and fairly good resolution, these low-cost magnetometers are of interest to scientists in various fields of study. Inspired by a magnetic gradiometry magnetometer, we set up two MI sensors with a spacing of around 70 cm and performed a magnetic survey along 8 profiles on Baba-Ali iron ore deposit in western Iran with a proton magnetometer as a standard magnetometry survey instrument. These measurements are performed simultaneously with the set-up magnetometer. The comparison of proton magnetometer and MI sensors measurements shows that even the slight changes in the Earth’s magnetic field appeared on the proton magnetometer measurements also are displayed in the set-up MI magnetometer. Also, we showed that in high gradients which the proton magnetometer has a problem to measure a magnetic field the MI sensors can measure the Earth’s magnetic field.

Consumer drone evolutions: trends, spaces, temporalities, threats

ABSTRACTWhile the drone has become synonymous with the War on Terror, the asymmetric iconography of the battlefield is shifting. Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) drones are increasingly prevalent features of global battlefields, employed by non-state actors in both visualising such spaces, and the directing and inflicting of harm. As such usage increases, so too do concerns around their evolving adoption, adaptation, and potential portability into homeland spheres. While cognizant of the range of positive drone applications, it is asserted that drones nonetheless remain simultaneously bound to an inverse potential for exploitation. In examining drone risk, this article approaches the consumer drone through a series of sites and spaces through which it is technically and socially constructed. Reflecting upon industry innovation, community-driven experimentation, and evolving airspace – it calls for greater attention to the drone’s malleability, arguing that understandings of COTS drones must remain attentive to both drone potential and potential drone threat.

The Bionode

Implantable closed-loop neuromodulation devices for use in long-term chronic studies in a lab or clinical trial are expensive to acquire and difficult to modify for specific use cases. This article documents the design and fabrication of a wireless implantable device using only commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) components. This device, called the Bionode, can record and transmit up to four channels of biopotential data while simultaneously providing biphasic constant-current stimulation. The Bionode is a viable, low-cost, reusable, and easily modifiable research tool with clinical implications that has gained widespread use in various research projects at Purdue University.

Effectiveness of commercially available gaming devices in upper limb stroke rehabilitation

Background: Hemiparesis of the upper extremity is estimated to affect 50–75% of individuals who experience a stroke. Recently the use of commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) gaming technology has shown promise for providing interactive rehabilitation. The existing evidence however, has not yet been reviewed systematically to determine the effectiveness of such gaming devices in upper limb (UL) rehabilitation post-stroke.Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of COTS gaming technology for UL rehabilitation in post-stroke patients and to assess the feasibility, and effect on quality of life (QoL).Methods: A systematic search of the databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Pubmed, SPORTDiscus, and SCOPUS was conducted. Quality scoring of the included articles was based on the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool for quantitative studies.Results: In total, eight studies were included for review. The commercial gaming devices were found to be feasible for use among post-stroke individuals. The devices were found to be effective as an adjunct to conventional stroke rehabilitation, and were feasible in relation to time taken, cost-effectiveness, safety, and the positive effect on the QoL of the stroke population.Conclusions: As the findings of the current review are primarily based on lower levels of research, it is not possible to make recommendations regarding the use of these devices in clinical practice. However, findings of the included studies did indicate that rehabilitation including gaming technology had a positive effect on the UL rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Optimal Mapping of DSP Algorithms on Commercially Available Off-The-Shelf (COTS) VLIW DSPs

This paper presents an optimal methodology of scheduling/mapping of fully deterministic digital signal processing algorithms onto any generic very long instruction word (VLIW) digital signal processor (DSP). The VLIW DSPs can be broadly classified as heterogeneous and homogenous depending upon their architecture. The methodology is equally efficient on heterogeneous as well as on homogeneous VLIW DSPs. An equivalent model of the algorithm and the DSP is generated using mixed integer programming (MIP). A framework is developed to generate the MIP models. The framework also incorporates a MIP solver to solve the generated MIP model. The framework also helps in defining the architecture of the VLIW and then generating an exact model of the processor. After solving the MIP it gives an optimal schedule/mapping of the algorithm onto the DSP. The framework also encompasses a code generator that takes the mapping information in generating an assembly code of the VLIW processor.

Use of COTS microelectronics in radiation environments

This paper addresses key issues for the cost-effective use of COTS (Commercially available Off The Shelf) microelectronics in radiation environments that enable circuit or system designers to manage risks and ensure mission success. We review several factors and tradeoffs affecting the successful application of COTS parts including (1) hardness assurance and qualification issues; (2) system hardening techniques, and (3) life-cycle costs. The paper also describes several experimental studies that address trends in total-dose, transient, and single-event radiation hardness as COTS technology scales to smaller feature sizes. As an example, the level at which dose-rate upset occurs in Samsung SRAMs increases from 1.4/spl times/10/sup 8/ rad(Si)/s for a 256 K SRAM to 7.7/spl times/10/sup 9/ rad(Si)/s for a 4 M SRAM, indicating unintentional hardening improvements in the design or process of a commercial technology. Additional experiments were performed to quantify variations in radiation hardness for COTS parts. In one study, only small (10-15%) variations were found in the dose-rate upset and latchup thresholds for Samsung 4 M SRAMs from three different date codes. In another study, irradiations of 4 M SRAMs from Samsung, Hitachi, and Toshiba indicate large differences in total-dose radiation hardness. The paper attempts to carefully define terms and clear up misunderstandings about the definitions of "COTS" and "radiation-hardened (RH)" technology.