We have measured the thermal conductance of a mechanical heat switch actuated by a piezoelectric positioner, the PZHS (PieZo electric Heat Switch), at cryogenic temperatures. The thermal conductance of the PZHS was measured between 4 K and 10 K, and on/off conductance ratios of about 100-200 at lowest and highest measures temperature were achieved when the positioner applied its maximum force o...

Wireless autonomous sensor systems become steadily standard components in our environment and they become smaller, cheaper and more sophisticated. Energy harvesters fabricated by micro-system technology can realize the autonomy of those systems. An overview of latest results and remaining challenges will be given with the focus on vibration energy harvesters. These harvesters are of specific in...

This paper introduces a new surface measurement method for potential online surface measurement application. It features high stability due to using near common-path configuration combined with active stabilisation. The active stabilisation is supplied by the use of a multiplexed reference interferometer and piezo-electric translator mounted mirror. The active compensation makes the system resi...

One of the more difficult problems facing developers of bipedal walking robots is the selection of appropriate sensors for maintaining balance. In this experiment, the Ballybot robot is used to evaluate proposed robotic tilt sensors and sensor data processing algorithms. Two inexpensive sensors in particular are examined: a piezo-electric gyroscope designed for remote control helicopters, and a...

Piezoelements used in robotics require large elasticity and extensibility to be installed in an artificial robot skin. However, the piezoelements used until recently are vulnerable to large forces because of the thin solid materials employed. To resolve this issue, we utilized a natural rubber and applied our proposed new method of aiding with magnetic and electric fields as well as filling wit...

We present a novel scanning proximal probe microscope design utilizing a piezo-electric driven coarse positioning mechanism in x, y, and z, while maintaining relatively small lateral dimensions. The instrument is suitable for insertion into a dewar. The primary purpose of this work is to develop a stable yet versatile instrument in order to meet the signal averaging limitations imposed by low s...

We present a combined scanning force and tunneling microscope working in a dilution refrigerator that is optimized for the study of individual electronic nano-devices. This apparatus is equipped with commercial piezo-electric positioners enabling the displacement of a sample below the probe over several hundred microns at very low temperature, without excessive heating. Atomic force microscopy ...

In the present study, turbulent flow visualization is carried out to understand the vortex formation mechanism behind a trapezoidal bluff body, for vortex flowmeter application. The dye used for flow v isualization is shearthickening and h igh extension viscosity fluid, which can sustain turbulent separated flows. W ith the quantitative assessment of the images, the vortex frequency is computed...

A new form of ultrasound diagnostic possibility is presented (the electroscan). The basic principles of this two dimensional method are described. Special attention is given to the probe consisting of an array of 21 elements of piezo-electric material. The results of this method in four patients are discussed (meningioma, arteriovenous aneurysm, subdural haematoma, and a baby with hydrocephalus...

In the present paper, we propose a new pulse measurement methodology based on thermal imaging (contact-free). The method capitalizes both on the thermal undulation produced by the traveling pulse as well as the periodic expansion of the compliant vessel wall. The paper reports experiments on 34 subjects, where it compares the performance of the new pulse measurement method to the one we reporte...