The complexity of today's embedded systems designs is growing as engineers increase the use of advanced, high-speed micro-components in circuits to deliver smarter products to users in the computer, communications, defence and semiconductor industries

A British company, Cambridge Consultants, claims to have made a breakthrough in radar safety systems for vehicles, with the potential to make sophisticated reversing and anti-collision safety aids an affordable accessory for the mass market

In modern industrial plants, each part of the installation is subjected to a number of influences that may adversely affect the functioning and reliability of the entire facility

By chemically attaching a difficult-to-process solid-state fluorescent material to a universal polymer backbone, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have built what may be a foundation for a new generation of optoelectronic display devices

In this time of the chronic threat of terrorism and with an adversary who may be armed with biological weapons, high on the wish list of security agencies is a quick and easy way to detect the presence of dangerous biological agents

Concern is rising among governments worldwide about electronic wastes - discarded computers, televisions, mobile phones, audio equipment and batteries - leaching lead and other substances that may seep into groundwater supplies

Though many people have never heard of them, the emerging realm of micro-scale devices - called microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS - could change the medical, automotive and aerospace industries, except for one thing

Semiconductor device reliability can generally be broken into two parts: infant mortality failures and wearout mechanisms

Today's state-of-the-art chips have transistors roughly a micrometre in overall length. But this very success has brought the chipmakers to the brink of a steep, new obstacle to further gains in performance

Combining old-fashioned metal-working techniques with modern nanotechnology, engineers at The Johns Hopkins University in the US have produced a form of pure copper metal that is six times stronger than normal with no significant loss of ductility

Building a computer chip is a painstaking process. Once a chip is designed, a mask, or template, is created and used to transfer the fine circuit patterns to the surface of a silicon wafer

MIT researchers have combined organic materials with high-performing inorganic nanocrystals to create a hybrid optoelectronic structure

The battery has the inherent problem of not being able to communicate with the user. Neither weight, colour, nor size provides an indication of the battery's state-of-charge and state-of-health. The user is at the mercy of the battery

Accurate flow measurement impacts process safety, throughput, recipe, quality and cost, affecting bottom line profit or loss. Obtaining accurate flow measurement begins with selecting the best flowmeter technology for the specific application media

The trend to produce printed circuit boards (PCBs) using surface mounting technology (SMT) is becoming increasingly prevalent. One requirement for this technology is the provision of the majority of components built in a suitable way