A low power consumption multi-contact micro electro-mechanical strain/displacement sensor and miniature autonomous self-contained systems for recording of stress and usage history with direct output suitable for fatigue and load spectrum analysis are provided. In aerospace applications the system can assist in prediction of fatigue of a component subject to mechanical stresses as well as in harmonizing maintenance and overhauls intervals. In alternative applications, i.e. civil structures, general machinery, marine and submarine vessels, etc., the system can autonomously record strain history, strain spectrum or maximum values of the strain over a prolonged period of time using an internal power supply or a power supply combined with an energy harvesting device. The sensor is based on MEMS technology and incorporates a micro array of flexible micro or nano-size cantilevers. The system can have extremely low power consumption while maintaining precision and temperature/humidify independence.

A method for reacting to changes of items hanging on peg-hooks connected to pegboards may include: determining a location of a store shelf within a retail store; obtaining a first coverage parameter corresponding to a first product type and a second coverage parameter corresponding to a second product type; accessing a database to determine a first height of products of the first product type and a second height of products of the second product type; determining a position for placing a camera configured to capture images of at least a portion of the store shelf by analyzing the location of the store shelf, the first coverage parameter, the second coverage parameter, the first height, and the second height; and providing, to a user interface of a user device, information relating to the determined position of the camera.

A combination mirror and media display device assembly includes a mirror platform. The mirror platform has a media display device viewing area and a reflective area. A reflectivity of the media display device viewing area is less than a reflectivity of the reflective area. The assembly includes a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is coupled to the mirror platform. The mounting bracket is open on one side and the opening in the mounting bracket is configured to accept a media display device. A method to place a media display device within a mirror platform assembly includes inserting a media display device through an opening in a mounting bracket, wherein a mirror platform is attached to the mounting bracket and the mirror platform has a media display device viewing area. The method includes aligning the media display device with the media display device viewing area during the inserting and coupling the media display device to the mounting bracket, wherein the media display device is removably coupled to the mounting bracket.

A magnetic load sensor unit (1) is provided which can detect the magnitude of an axial load applied by a linear motion actuator (14) to a friction pad (22). The magnetic load sensor unit (1) includes a magnetic target (4) which generates a magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor (5) designed to move relative to the magnetic target (4) corresponding to the axial load.

A method for determining the aerodynamic moment of resistance M.sub.aero-EM of a wheel arranged on an axis, by measuring the value of the mechanical power P.sub.m to be applied to the wheel in order to maintain it in rotation at a constant speed ω, the said wheel being equipped with a rotational-drive means and with a device for picking off and/or recording the numerical values of the said mechanical power and those of the rotational speed. The wheel is protected by a removable cap and is subjected to a flow of air.

The invention refers to measuring equipment and is a mechanical stress sensor. The sensor has a rectangular plate of a polymer material the top surface of said rectangular plate having a cavity where a detector is located. Inside the rectangular plate there is a preliminary tensile amorphous ferromagnetic microwire located inside a measuring coil. The microwire is connected to a first pair of contact pads, while the differential measuring coil is connected to a second pair of contact pads. Both pairs of contact pads are connected to the detector. The detector has an output which is connected to an analog to digital converter coupled with a personal computer.

A method of processing a liquid material. The method includes mixing a liquid material with a solvent, wherein the solvent has a constituent capable of coating the particles of the material. The liquid material mixed with the solvent is then particlized, deposited on a substrate and activated to form a pre-defined electrically conductive pattern. Particlization methods include sonication and the deposition methods include ink-jet printing. Activation methods include applying mechanical pressure. The method can be used to produce electronic devices. The electronic devices made by the method include strain gauges. The substrates utilized for making the electronic devices utilizing the method can be wearable or stretchable or both.

A system and method for detecting a failure of a fluid film bearing is disclosed. The system and method use one or more non-laser based strain transducers to detect changes in the frequency spectrum of the pressure of the fluid film at one or more locations in the bearing to identify failure or the risk of failure of the bearing. The system and can use metallic film, piezoelectric, and piezoresistive strain sensors to generate alarms when particular frequency bands become present in the strain frequency spectrum. The system and method can also generate strain orbit plots and perform waveform analysis of the time varying strains in the bearing housing caused by time-varying changes in the pressure of the fluid film.

The invention relates to an automatic system for monitoring the mixing of conglomerates. The inventive system can be used to monitor and measure the volume of a conglomerate, i.e. a concrete, mortar or other similar product, and the conditions in which the conglomerate is being mixed inside a mixer. The invention is characterized in that the system is provided with a sensor which rotates integrally with the mixer and which is fitted with a blade that is sensitive to the stresses exerted by the conglomerate thereon. The invention is also characterized in that the aforementioned information is transmitted to one or more terminals, by means of radio communication or other similar wireless communication means, for use in industrial processes.

Methods of characterizing ion-exchanged chemically strengthened Li-containing glasses include: a) measuring a mode spectrum of the glass sample; b) using the mode spectrum, estimating a first contribution to the center tension associated with a spike region and estimating a second contribution to the center tension due to a deep region only, wherein the deep region is assumed to follow a power-law stress profile; and c) determining a total center tension by adding of the first and second contributions to the center tension. The methods can be used for quality control during manufacturing of glass samples by comparing the total center tension to a center tension specification that provides optimum strength and durability.