Archive for the 'Technology' Category
The present invention in the field of Inertial reference systems for use on moving vehicles and more specifically relates to a short-term strapdown inertial attitude and heading reference system which is assisted by updating inputs supplied by auxiliary instruments in the vehicle is an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS).
The AHRS calculates orientation from angular rate gyro data and augments these with accelerometers (inclinometer) data. Augmentation of the heading is normally done by fluxgate magnetometer or GPS. Because the orientation is augmented, this system has no restrictions on measuring time, but the operating system dynamic is an importing aspect. Before deciding on an acceptable solution, typical dynamics should be measured and depending on the results, the correct augmentation sensor chosen. Furthermore, typical sensor measurements are indispensable for choosing the correct control algorithm setup.
AHRS is not an inertial navigation system, although it resembles an inertial navigation system in some ways. The chief differences are that the device is intended to supply a short-term inertial reference rather than a long-term reference and that the present invention provides, in addition to the position of the vehicle relative to the earth, a number of other variables including the attitude of the vehicle and various other dynamic variables.
WiFi features are as standard on today’s portable computers as built-in modems used to be. Laptop users have become accustomed to the ability to connect to the Internet from practically anywhere to reach e-mail, Web sites and music download portals. Consumers even use wireless routers to connect to the Internet from anywhere in their homes. The problem, however, is that many portable computer users are completely clueless about the dangers of unprotected WiFi connections. They think that they can surf the Net with the same impunity as having a wired connection.
Despite how important memory cards have become to daily life a lot of computer still don’t have card readers, or at least a sufficiently robust one. If you are lucky your notebook will come with a 3-in-1 reader that will be able to handle a SD card, but that is about all we tend to see. For many people this is not that big of a deal, because SD has emerged as the most popular type of memory card, but many of use still use other types, like CF, and are picking up smaller cards to use on phones and portable devices, like microSD.
Running down the list, the Media Reader can handle CF (type I an II), MicroDrive, SD, SDHC, miniSD, miniSDHC, microSD, microSDHC, MMC, RS-MMC, MMCmobile, MMCmicro, and five flavors of MemoryStick. The main card style that people may find missing is xD. The Media Reader is an external device that uses USB to connect to any computer.
The design of the Media Reader is simple and effective. It is about 3.5″ x 2.5″ x 0.75″ and weighs very little (71g). It is sturdy enough to throw in a bag and move around with you and the USB cord tucks inside the body so it should not snag on anything. The reader itself slides within the body of the device so that the four card slots can be exposed or hidden away, protecting both the slots and, more importantly, cards you are holding. The USB connector is on a short cord, about an inch long but an extension is included in case you want to connect the reader to a somewhat inaccessible port.
From a speed standpoint the device is capped at 480Mbps due to it being a USB 2.0 device. During testing speeds were sufficient so that even extended transfers were not too painful. The Media Reader is more designed for versatility and travel than speed though.
Overall, Kingston’s Media Reader gets the job done. My only complaint would be that the sliding mechanism is a bit tough to move from time to time so you have to push the reader a harder than you would normally want to. Past that it works well, and since it costs under $20 there is not really much to complain about. The lack of xD support will be an issue with some people, but it has all the other major media cards covered.