Electronic Unit Research Articles

A Deep-Sea Environment Simulated Test System for Subsea Control Modules, Part A: Prototype and Test

This paper proposes a version of the deep-sea environment simulated test system for subsea control modules to solve the problem of incomplete testing systems for electro-hydraulic subsea control modules. Based on the subsea control module test requirements specified in APISTD17F, the test system in this paper is a highly integrated system, including a test hydraulic power unit, a control module test bench, a signal simulator, an electronic test unit, an umbilical simulator, a high-pressure chamber, and an incubator. Firstly, the design indicators of the test system were determined by analyzing the various functions of the subsea control module and its working environment. Secondly, the design scheme for the test system was proposed, and a detailed design was carried out. Finally, a hydro-electrical subsea control module for the Bohai Sea was fully tested with this system, with tests including the qualification test and the factory acceptance test. The test results show that all parts of the test system coordinated well and have achieved the design indicators, and the test system can simulate the working environment and complete a land test. The effectiveness and feasibility of the test system have been verified through the test. By adopting this system, the risk of subsea control module failure can be minimized, laying the foundations for future research and improvement of subsea control module testing equipment.

Speed, Power and Area Optimized Monotonic Asynchronous Array Multipliers

Multiplication is a fundamental arithmetic operation in electronic processing units such as microprocessors and digital signal processors as it plays an important role in various computational tasks and applications. There exist many designs of synchronous multipliers in the literature. However, in the domain of Input–Output Mode (IOM) asynchronous design, there is relatively less published research on multipliers. Some existing works have considered quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) asynchronous implementations of multipliers. However, the QDI asynchronous design paradigm, in general, is not area- and speed-efficient. This article presents an efficient alternative implementation of IOM asynchronous multipliers based on the concept of monotonic Boolean networks. The array multiplier architecture has been considered for demonstrating the usefulness of our proposition. The building blocks of the multiplier, such as the partial product generator, half adder, and full adder, were implemented monotonically. The popular dual-rail encoding scheme was considered for encoding the multiplier inputs and outputs, and four-phase return-to-zero handshaking (RZH) and return-to-one handshaking (ROH) were separately considered for communication. Compared to the best of the existing QDI asynchronous array multipliers, the proposed monotonic asynchronous array multiplier achieves the following reductions in design metrics: (i) a 40.1% (44.3%) reduction in cycle time (which is the asynchronous equivalent of synchronous clock timing), a 37.7% (37.7%) reduction in area, and a 4% (4.5%) reduction in power for 4 × 4 multiplication corresponding to RZH (ROH), and (ii) a 58.1% (60.2%) reduction in cycle time, a 45.2% (45.2%) reduction in area, and a 10.3% (11%) reduction in power for 8 × 8 multiplication corresponding to RZH (ROH). The multipliers were implemented using a 28 nm CMOS process technology.

Liquid Metal Memory.

Storage systems are vital components of electronic devices, while significant challenges persist in achieving flexible memory due to the limitations of existing storage methodologies. Inspired by the polarization and depolarization mechanisms in the human brain, here a novel class of storage principles is proposed and achieve a fully flexible memory through introducing the oxidation and deoxidation behaviors of liquid metals. Specifically, reversible electrochemical oxidation is utilized to modulate the overall conductivity of the target liquid metals, creating a substantial 11-order resistance difference for binary data storage. To obtain the best storage performance, systematic optimizations of multiple parameters are conducted. Conceptual experiments demonstrate the memory's stability under extreme deformations (100% stretching, 180° bending, 360° twisting). Further tests reveal that the memory performs better when its unit size gets smaller, warranting superior integrability. Finally, a complete storage system achieves remarkable performance metrics, including rapid storage speed (>33Hz), long data retention capacity (>43200s), and stable repeatable operation (>3500 cycles). This groundbreaking method not only overcomes the inherent rigidity limitations of existing electronic storage units but also opens new possibilities for innovating neuromorphic devices, offering fundamental and practical avenues for future applications in soft robotics, wearable electronics, and bio-inspired artificial intelligence systems.

Роль масмедійних «вкидів» російських пропагандистів в умовах 3-го періоду російсько-української війни 2022–2023 років

The purposeof the study is to find out the role of mass media «throw-ins»of Russian propagandists during the 3rd period of the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2022–2023.Research methods.In the research, we used such theoretical methods as a comparative analysis of research related to the analyzed topic and hypothetical-deductive. They allowed us to understand the current situation more deeply. Among the practical methods, we chose surveys and quantitative and qualitative analysis of the obtained data.Research technique. 50 respondents aged 18 to 22 were surveyed using the Google Form electronic unit. There they answered 6 questions related to the mass media «throw-ins»of Russian propagandists, their role, and their influence on Ukrainians. After that, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted based on theoretical knowledge and the obtained data.According to the results of the study, mass media «throw-ins»have little or no influence on young people aged 18–20. According to the observations of the interviewees, the concentration of «throw-ins»increased significantly with the beginning of a full-scale invasion. We also proved the hypothesis and can state that the spread of disinformation affects those who live in Ukraine more than those who live abroad. According to the respondents, their dissemination can pursue different goals, but they are all united by a common desire to harm Ukrainian society.Conclusions.Disappointment of Ukrainians in victory, intimidation of the population, provocation of a sensual reaction, imposition of a certain position, change of views, and substitution of information–the aggressor country is counting on all this, spreading its disinformation. So, mass media «throw-ins»perform a propaganda role in its negative aspect. Keywords:mass-media «throw-ins», Russian propaganda, disinformation.

Portable Fourier Spectrometer and Features of Its Electronics

The electronics features of a portable infrared Fourier transform spectrometer are considered. A description of its most important components and justification for the use of the corresponding element base are given; structural diagrams are outlined, an analysis of the most significant electronic units of the device and their functioning is carried out. The results of experimental studies are presented.

Fault Detection in a Single-Bus DC Microgrid Connected to EV/PV Systems and Hybrid Energy Storage Using the DMD-IF Method

Variations in fault currents, short times to clear the fault, and a lack of a natural current zero-crossing point are the most important challenges that DC microgrid protection faces. This challenge becomes more complicated with the presence of electric vehicles and energy storage systems due to their uncertainties. For this reason, in this paper, a new method for fault detection in DC microgrids with the presence of electric vehicles and energy storage systems is proposed. The new proposed method uses the combination of dynamic mode decomposition and instantaneous frequency for fault detection. In this method, first, a reference signal is made using the voltage and current signal sampled from the DC microgrid using the dynamic mode decomposition method. Next, in order to detect the fault, the instantaneous frequency value of the reference signal is calculated by the Hilbert transform. The simultaneous use of voltage and current signals reduces the transient effects of the control system on the proposed protection method. In order to measure voltage and current signals, only one intelligent electronic device unit is used in this paper. The proposed new method has been tested on a single-bus DC microgrid with the presence of electric vehicles and energy storage systems in MATLAB 2019b software. The results show that this method can detect all types of faults in DC microgrids, electric vehicles, and photovoltaics. Also, this method is immune to the uncertainties of the generation of distributed generation resources and the existence of noise distortions in the measured signals.

Design and development of a low-cost non-intrusive passive acoustic sensor

In this paper, we report on the development and performance study of a low-cost non-intrusive passive acoustic sensor (NIPAS), suitable for gas flow rate measurement and monitoring in pipelines and other similar applications. Detailed information on the design considerations, development, construction, and assembly of the sensor and its unit are also provided in this paper. The complete NIPAS unit is made up of two sensor heads fixed at the test section of a designed flow loop to receive the acoustic emission signals generated from the varying gas flow rate and processed by a control unit for data collection and analysis. The electronic unit was enclosed in a Perspex casing for easy interfacing and protection. Observations on the performance of the developed NIPAS are presented as a voltage-time signal and analyzed in both time and frequency domains. Calibration of the NIPAS was done using suitable statistical features, which are the mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation of the signals. Results obtained indicate that the developed NIPAS unit shows proof of concept and it is suitable for measuring and monitoring gas flow rates in pipes.

The Efficiency of the Application of Electronic Techniques in the Control of Dynamic Balance in the Process of Inclusive Physical Education

The purpose of the study was to determine the authenticity of the dynamic balance control device developed on the basis of modern trends in the field of electronic equipment for students with disabilities. Materials and methods. 32 students with disabilities, aged 18–24 years, I–III years of study, who received a doctor’s permission to participate in testing and had vestibular disorders, were selected for the studied sample, in accordance with the provisions of voluntariness and anonymity. General scientific methods of gathering theoretical information, the method of technical modeling, pedagogical testing and methods of mathematical statistics were used. Results. A dynamic balance control device was developed on the basis of the most up-to-date electronic equipment and programming. The device consists of an integrated electronic unit, a programmable microcontroller system unit, and a PC. The information received by the capacitive sensors placed in the unit of the integrated electronic unit during the student’s performance of the test task is processed in the unit of the programmable microcontroller system and transmitted via non-contact infrared communication lines to the PC where it is graphically presented. To establish the authenticity of testing using the developed device, reliability and validity coefficients were determined, which in numerical values reached a “high” level, in contrast to the test the results of which were recorded directly by the teacher and numerically corresponded to the limits of “low” and “medium”. Conclusions. The dynamic balance control device presented in the work is designed using the most up-to-date electronic equipment and programming. Considering the importance of eliminating vestibular disorders and related dynamic balance disorders in students with disabilities, the use of the presented development of the control device in the practice of inclusive PE is aimed at ensuring the effectiveness of this process. The integration of a control device developed based on current trends in the field of electronic equipment into the inclusive physical education of students with disabilities is the basis for the development of new approaches in the process of dynamic balance testing based on objective assessment.

Development of a system for testing electronic control units of agricultural machinery

Modern agricultural vehicles contain a large number of components, which include microcontrollers that implement various algorithms, so deviations and inaccuracies in their work naturally lead to failures and errors in the system as a whole. At the moment, manufacturers of agricultural machinery have in their arsenal relatively simple systems and testing methods that do not allow for a deep check of algorithms and their electronic components, so the development of a comprehensive system for testing electronic components is an urgent task. The article describes the development and operation of a testing system for setting up, testing and debugging the logic of the operation of existing and future (under development) electronic units, including control units from the on-board control system of agricultural machinery. In the process of work, methods of computer modeling, programming and software packages FreeCAD, CAD KOMPAS-3D v21 and SW4STM32 were used. The programming languages Python 3 and C/C++ were used to write the code. The result of the study is the development of a methodology and the manufacture of a prototype testing system (software and hardware complex), the practical use of which has shown its versatility and versatility. The developed system makes it possible to implement an analysis of the response of the control system to pre-designed test effects, to diagnose defects, breakdowns and malfunctions of the device, both in normal and emergency operating conditions. The system also allows you to simulate the emergency conditions of agricultural machinery and check the stability of the control device in limiting and emergency modes.

Disaggregating Asian Identities through Case Studies of High School Students in Electronic Textiles Classrooms

While most of the identity-related work within STEAM education has examined learners from different marginalized groups, Asians and Asian Americans are some of the least studied identities despite the underrepresentation of several Asian sub-groups within STEAM fields. Educational research has embraced the “model minority” myth, adopted a White-colonial gaze, aggregated Asians into a single “racial group”, and treated it as a dominant group within STEM fields. By resisting the White-centered, colonial simplifications and also conducting ways of engaging with learners that identify with Asian communities, we present four case studies of “Asian” high school students in two STEAM classrooms (which were both implementing an electronic textiles unit) in an attempt to disaggregate and to highlight the diversity and complications in the the otherwise simplified “Asian” identity. We answer the question of how electronic textiles projects support students’ “Asian” identity expression, negotiation, and development. We share how our cases accentuated the role of materiality and pedagogical context in opening possibilities for students to narrate stories of historical, cultural, and familial significance while navigating their complicated “Asian” (or not) identities. We discuss the implications of our findings for the research, design, and practice within STEAM activities to better support the highly diverse and invisibly marginalized Asian-origin students.

Experimental and numerical investigation on GFRP- aramid honeycomb sandwich panel under bird impact: Estimation of penetration velocity

In order to effectively mitigate the risk of bird strikes, it is imperative that radomes situated in areas prone to such incidents possess the capability to endure the impact loads caused by bird collisions. Additionally, these radomes must maintain their electromagnetic transparency. Therefore, glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) with Nomex honeycomb sandwich material is used for radome structural design. The current research is intended to examine the dynamic behavior of sandwich composite panels in order to determine the penetration velocity by testing them at three distinct bird impact velocities, such as 88 m/s, 135 m/s, and 153 m/s. It is necessary to find the velocity at which the bird will penetrate / rupture the radome for the safety of Antenna / Electronic units mounted behind the radome. Finite element explicit code LS-DYNA simulates all three impacts. Extension of the simulation estimated the threshold bird impact velocity to be 146 m/s at which it penetrates the sandwich panel under fixture-controlled boundary condition.

RESAC: A redundancy strategy involving approximate computing for error-tolerant applications

Given the continuing miniaturization of underlying transistors, electronic functional units (circuits/systems) become increasingly susceptible to high-energy radiation, encountered in applications like space. Hence, redundancy is employed as a radiation hardening by design strategy to cope with faults of functional units used in such applications and to maintain their correct operation. Triple modular redundancy (TMR), which is a subset of N-modular redundancy (NMR), that can mask any single fault or a faulty functional unit has been widely used. However, compared to a simplex implementation a TMR implementation requires two additional functional units and a majority voting logic therefore a TMR implementation's area and power overheads are greater by over 200 %. This is burdensome for resource-constrained applications like space where low power and energy efficiency are important considerations. This paper presents a new redundancy strategy involving approximate computing called RESAC for error-tolerant applications such as digital image/video/audio processing, which is used in space systems. We evaluated the feasibility of RESAC for an image processing case study and the results confirm the usefulness. For implementation using a 28-nm CMOS technology, RESAC achieves reductions in area, delay, and power by 22.3 %, 15.3 %, and 24.9 % compared to TMR. Nonetheless, RESAC can address any NMR.

ChatGPT: Revolutionizing student achievement in the electronic magnetism unit for eleventh-grade students in Emirates schools

The study aimed to examine the influence of ChatGPT on the academic performance and learning perception of eleventh-grade students in a United Arab Emirates school in the field of electronic magnetism. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group granted access to ChatGPT and a control group without access to ChatGPT. The research spanned four weeks, during which the experimental group was instructed to utilize ChatGPT whenever they required assistance with the course content. The study employed a mixed-methods design, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to assess the impact of ChatGPT on student learning and perception. Quantitative data was gathered through pre-/post-test surveys, measuring participants’ course achievement and perception of learning with ChatGPT. Qualitative data was collected via open-ended survey questions, allowing participants to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. The study revealed that ChatGPT had a positive influence on student achievement and perception of learning in the field of electronic magnetism. The experimental group displayed significant enhancements in their scores on the post-test measuring the impact of ChatGPT on student achievement, exhibiting higher mean scores across all subscales compared to the control group. Furthermore, both male and female participants acknowledged ChatGPT as a valuable learning tool, offering suggestions for enhancing its functionality. The study suggests that ChatGPT is an effective tool for enhancing student learning and achievement in specific academic domains. However, further research is needed to explore its generalizability to other contexts and disciplines, as well as to address potential challenges and limitations of ChatGPT use in education.

The effect of applying change management strategies on job performance and empowering employees of the administrative department of Islamic Azad University

As businesses evolve to outpace their competitors, so do their expectations of their employees' performance. An employee is a critical element of an organization, and their overall performance can determine its achievements or failures. Because of the constantly changing business environment, every business has its way of doing things. Therefore, these changes require the manager to adopt internal changes that affect employee performance, thus increasing organizational growth, etc. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of change management strategies on job performance and empower employees of electronics administrative department in the Islamic Azad University (IAU). The statistical population of the research included 200 administrative employees of electronics department of IAU (60 female and 140 male). Data analysis was done using SPSS software and regression coefficients. The results showed that the use of change management strategies has a positive and significant effect on the job performance and empowerment of the of the IAU administrative department’s employees from Electronics Unit. For future studies, we suggest to increase the statistical population and perform the study on more diverse organizations.

Unlocking ultimate precision of intensity and area ratio measurements in Raman spectroscopy: Insights from simulation, experimentation, and theory and implications for isotope ratio analysis

AbstractThe intensity ratio (αI) and area ratio (αA) obtained using Raman spectroscopy are used widely to characterize the physical properties of gases, fluids, and solids, but the underlying parameters which affect their precision ( and ) have not been elucidated. We use simulations, experiments, and theoretical analyses to investigate the effects of instrumental performance, analytical conditions, and sample size on and . We identified the parameters which strongly influence : (1) the weaker peak intensity Iw; (2) the ratio of the bandwidth to pixel resolution of the weaker peak Γw/Δxw; (3) the degree of detector saturation; (4) with readout noise σR, dark noise σD, and shot noise σS; (5) drift; and (6) sample size. Theoretical and simulation results show that, when Γw/Δxw ≪ (Γs/Δxs)/αI, increasing Iw or Γw/Δxw by n times can improve by a factor of . Results showed that is a measure of how much the achievable in the experiment differs from that under ideal analytical conditions (i.e., ). When is not the case (i.e., when Iw is low), reducing σD or σR by decreasing the readout speed, setting a lower charge coupled device (CCD) sensitivity, reducing number of readouts, or narrowing vertical binning width can improve . We demonstrated that evaluations of or based on small sample sizes can engender physically unattainable precision. When the sample size is n = 5, 10, or 20, the average uncertainties of and correspond, respectively, to approximately 30%, 20%, and 15%. Giving an accurate and comparable assessment for and necessitates the reporting of intensity (in units of electrons), bandwidth, Δx, and the sample size.

Reliability of Microinverters for Photovoltaic Systems: High-Temperature Accelerated Testing with Fixed and Cyclic Power Stresses

This paper presents an extended, accelerated reliability evaluation of forty microinverters, module-level power electronic (MLPE) units for photovoltaic (PV) modules. The forty microinverters were stressed at two static temperatures (65 °C and 75 °C) with two input power profiles (fixed and cyclic power). These power profiles were employed to replicate field-use conditions closely. The accelerated testing was performed for an extended duration (over a period of 15,000 h) to determine the acceleration factor and estimate the service life of microinverters in field-use conditions. Electrical performance and thermal data were continuously monitored during the experiment for all the microinverters. The accelerated stress testing had no failures even after 15,000 h of operation. Using the Arrhenius life-stress model along with average field-measured temperature and military handbook-based analysis, it was estimated that the microinverters should be able to survive for 24–48 years during their service life in field conditions, with a reliability of 74%, having a lower one-sided confidence bound of 95%, obtained using the classical success run approach. Moreover, the lifetime of microinverters was statistically analyzed using a Weibull distribution model. Weibull slope factors were used to estimate a range of characteristic lifetime periods and the reliability of the microinverters with a 95% lower one-sided confidence limit, demonstrating a similar or even exceeding the lifetime of the associated PV modules of 25 years.

Association between serum phosphate and in-hospital mortality of patients with AECOPD: A retrospective analysis on eICU database

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is an important adverse event in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hyperphosphatemia is associated with higher mortality in patients with multiple diseases. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between serum phosphate and the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with AECOPD. Methods: In the present study, patients with AECOPD were enrolled in the electronic Intensive Care Unit Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD), and divided into three groups according to the tertiles of serum phosphate level. The primary outcome measure was all-cause in-hospital mortality. The association between serum phosphate level and in-hospital mortality was investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed to explore whether the relationship was consistent among different subgroups. Results: A total of 1199 AECOPD patients were included in this study. Non-survivors had higher serum phosphate levels than survivors. All patients were classified into lowest tertile, median tertile, and highest tertile, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that serum phosphate was positively associated with in-hospital mortality after adjusting for confounders. Moreover, there was a significant trend across tertiles when serum phosphate level was diverted as a categorical variable. In addition, subgroup analysis demonstrated that serum phosphate was consistently associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality in different subgroups. Conclusion: Higher serum phosphate was positively associated with the increased in-hospital mortality in patients with AECOPD. Hyperphosphatemia may be an underlying high-risk factor for in-hospital mortality owing to AECOPD.

The Problem of Optimal Discharge Energy in an Ablative Pulsed Plasma Thruster

One promising trend in small-spacecraft development is the development of small electric propulsion systems (EPSs) based on ablative pulsed plasma thrusters (APPTs). The problem of optimal discharge energy in APPT that provides a minimal total mass of the EPSs has been considered. It has been shown that, at a given total impulse, discharge energy of an APPT has an optimal value that depends on the specific energy intensity of power capacitors, the specific thrust impulse of the engine, mass of electronic units, and other elements of the propulsion system circuit. It has been concluded that the calculation of the optimal discharge energy allows reducing the total mass of the propulsion system during the design of an APPT-based EPSs.

Aircraft Fuel Mass Estimation Using Global Nonlinear Parametric Modeling

The accuracy of fuel measurement in aircraft tanks is directly related to flight safety and maneuverability. Capacitance gauging is widely used and is the industry accepted method for accurate measurement of the fuel quantity. In this paper, a global nonlinear parametric modeling technique is applied to estimate the fuel content using the capacitance probe data generated from 3-dimentional models of the aircraft fuel tanks. Automatic Net generation Tool for Structural Analysis (ANSA) software is used to create the fuel tank solid models. Using truth tables generated from ANSA software, several 3 rd order polynomial models are developed. The fuel estimation algorithm is implemented in real time using Microcontroller based electronic unit.

Liquid‐Metal/Nd2Fe14B/Ecoflex Composite Soft Robots and Their Electric Signal Transmission using Non‐Contact Tentacles

AbstractSignal transmission between rigid robots is usually realized through rigid electronic components like coil or circuit board. However, these rigid electronic units are difficult to be used in fully flexible soft robots because of the mismatch of Young's modulus. Liquid metal (LM), as a flexible fluid with superior electric conductivity, can be served as the alternative material for rigid electronic units to realize signal transmission in fully flexible soft robots. Herein, a fully flexible soft robot is fabricated, which is mainly consists of two functional units: the soft tentacle integrated with liquid metal spiral wire and the body prepared by Nd2Fe14B magnetic powders/Ecoflex composites. The fully flexible soft robot can not only transmit electric signals based on electromagnetic induction but also be actuated by an external magnetic field to form diverse signal transmission pathways. Related mechanisms of transmitting electric signal and driving are studied by Maxwell numerical simulation. Driven by an external magnetic field, three soft robots are capable to constitute two different pathways to transmit electric signals to the oscilloscope. It is believed that the integration of LM into the magnetic composites provides an open perspective to realize the signal transmission in fully flexible soft robot and favors the development of multifunctional soft robot.