The Best of Gadget Freak Volume 4

Turnabout: Auto Industry Heads Toward Electrification
It’s a difficult process, but the auto industry is making a wide, slow turn toward electrification over the next decade.

The Landscape of Industrial Manufacturing and Warehouse Robots
In this Design News e-book we're going to clear up the differences between traditional manufacturing robots and cobots working with humans on the factory floor and in warehouses, including industrial mobile robots. We look at differences in the robots themselves, as well as the different jobs for which they're used, as well as the real impact cobots are having. 

China's Battery Business
Design News has watched China’s push into electric vehicles and battery technology. Is it the key to an electrified future?

MegaDot: When Your Amazon Echo Just Doesn't Have Enough Bass
The Amazon Echo Dot is handy for a lot of things...but not playing bass-heavy music. Joe Peck shows you how to build a “MegaDot” and add a lot more bass thump to your Echo Dot.

Bake Mate - A Smart (experimental) Baking Assistant
Need a little bit of help in the kitchen? Here's how to build a Bake Mate -- a baking assistant that weighs your ingredients, tells you how much of each you will need, and performs several other handy functions. 

3D Printing with Metals for Design Engineers, Explained
Using metals in 3D printing for industrial series production is getting real, and not only for aerospace, biomedical, and automotive uses. Those are still the leading industrial application sectors, but they're not alone anymore in this alternative to traditional metal fabrication for end-use parts. Additive manufacturing for end-production is complex. Using metals AM for end-production is even more complex, and can be confusing to anyone that's new to the topic. In this special report, we've gathered some guidelines for engineers on designing for 3D metals printing, and how it differs both from traditional metals techniques like casting, as well as 3D printing with polymers. We've also included some advice on integrating this non-traditional manufacturing method into a company's culture.

Basic Lithium Battery Tech
Understanding the basic technology and the limits of the materials that make up lithium ion batteries makes it easier to assess their strengths and weaknesses. This e-book will explain some of the basics of lithium and lithium ion battery technology and help you understand how these engineering and materials innovations are enabling an exciting future with electrification.

Technology Roundup: Optimization Tools Streamline Design and Development
Speed up your development time with latest design tools. Old prototyping and testing techniques are dying. Find out about new simulation, testing, and design optimization tools. Plus, explore the role of 3D printing in rapid prototyping. Sponsored by Altair.

Technology Roundup: Plastic Can Do the Job
Think you know what plastics can do? Be surprised. Materials have evolved. Discover new applications for resins and polymers and when you could choose a lightweight option in place of more traditional and expensive standards. Sponsored by igus.

Technology Roundup: A 360° Look at PCB Design
As board complexity grows, the design and layout of that PCB grows as well. Speed increases, component count increases, and board area often shrinks. With all these factors in mind, we’ve assembled this Technology Roundup that covers a host of complex issues, including materials; how to handle overstress; embedding components; and thankfully, a guide to avoiding common PCB design mistakes. Sponsored by Isola.

Technology Roundup: The Latest Developments in AC Servo Technology
Whether you’re new to servo technology or it’s been your bailiwick for eons, there’s always something to learn as technologies continue to evolve, just as the applications they’re deemed for evolve. This Technology Roundup serves both of those purposes. It looks at the latest servo technologies so you can stay ahead of the curve, while zeroing in on a few specific applications. Sponsored by Yaskawa.

Technology Roundup: The Modern Automobile
Many different aspects go into creating today’s modern automobile, things that we really didn’t have to consider previously. Such features run the gamut from the latest displays to connectivity to collision detection. This Technology Roundup details some of the (not-so) futuristic features we can expect to see, and the components and development tools that are required for implementation. Sponsored by TE Connectivity. Click here to view Technology Roundup: The Modern Automobile

The Best of Gadget Freak - Volume 2
For ten years running, Gadget Freak has recognized members of the Design News community for maximizing its cool and imaginative design techniques. What you’ll find in this Technology Roundup is the best of the best of Gadget Freak, voted on by our loyal readers. We think you’ll be dazzled by what your peers have been up to. Sponsored by Allied Electronics.

Technology Roundup: Robot Revolution
No, it's not a robot uprising. See how current day robotics have turned into human helpers, incorporating smooth actuation and well-designed motors, sometimes created to save human lives.

Technology Roundup: Plastic Bearings Have Staying Power
Plastic sometimes gets a bad reputation as a weakling. In reality, plastic has become a versatile and strong material in additive manufacturing, bearings, and general components that are put to use in medical, aerospace, automotive and other designs requiring long-term reliability. The truth is that plastic in some ways and applications can outperform metals. In this Tech Round-Up e-book, Design News looks at the power of modern day plastics for design and engineering.

Technology Roundup: Broadening the Bond
Some tapes, adhesives, and other materials are becoming more durable, resistant, and flexible. In this Tech Round-up, we take a look at how the likes of tapes and more are building bonds better than ever before and allowing for material use in new ways.

Technology Roundup eBook: Modern Fluid Design
Strong performance in hydraulics and fluid power bring better engineering. Don’t ignore these in your design, product development, and manufacturing! Check out this e-book on modern fluid design. Content Includes: Fluid Power Helps Simulation Table Push Performance Boundaries Graphical Programming Allows Small Staff to Design Big Machine Don't Overlook the Hydraulics in Motion Control Applications 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Product Development More...

The Best of Gadget Freak Volume 4
For twelve years now, reader-created inventions from makers, inventors, and DIY enthusiasts all over the world have been recognized for their inventions by Gadget Freak. What you’ll find in this ebook is the best of Gadget Freak, voted on by our loyal readers. We think you’ll be amazed by what your peers have been up to. Sponsored by Allied Electronics.

Technology Roundup eBook: Cutting-Edge Consumer Electronics Design and Development
Consumers expect their devices to do a lot more than simply work. They must be sleek, smart, react to touch, and communicate with each other and, in some cases, the user’s body. In this Design News Tech Roundup, we’ve gathered 8 articles and teardowns to help you get your product from prototype to cutting edge consumer design. Articles include: Four Tips for Designing the Most Effective Touchscreen Interface, Consumer Wearables are Running into a Wall, Prototyping Processes: Choosing the Best Process for your Project, and It's Time to Get Enchanted with Smart Product Design. Sponsored by Proto Labs.

Technology Roundup eBook: The Lowdown on High Security in the IoT
In the age of the Internet of Things, cyber security is a huge area of concern for all businesses, across all industries. The facts are in, security has to go all the way down to the device level in order to prevent and be ready when attacks happen. We hand-selected articles from Design News that highlight these areas of security and innovation to help assist you with common problems many are facing and what you can do to help, including: Design engineers: are your devices vulnerable?; Cyber attacks that have fueled security innovation; 3 challenges for embedded technology designers; How an industrial plant undergoes a cyber security assessment.

Technology Roundup eBook: Energy Efficiency and Energy Harvesting
Taking energy from renewable sources, recycling existing energy, and using components that don’t need much energy at all are becoming valued industrial and consumer design criteria. Our latest Technology Roundup e-book, sponsored by Newark element 14, gives you the latest insights into the cutting-edge work and hardware and components that are making energy-efficient and energy-harvesting design happen. eBook articles include: Using Energy Harvesting to Power MCUs and FPGAs; picoPower — Enabling Next Generation Embedded Devices; Processing Power, Programming Ease Keep DSPs Rolling Along; MCUs Embrace New Demand for Ultra-Low Power Innovation.

Technology Roundup eBook: Essentials in the loT Age: Microcontrollers, Sensors & Analog Electronics
Ushering in the era of data, every “thing” is getting “sensorized” in the IoT, from personal devices to industrial machinery. As a designer, this presents new challenges, including hardware, software, and system integration that enables wireless connectivity. Fortunately, this Technology Roundup will bring you the lowdown on what’s happening in all application types, notably wearables and industrial remote monitoring and process control. Empowered by facts over hype, you will design effectively and efficiently. eBook articles include: - 6 Considerations for Designing a Wearable Device - Wireless Gaining Momentum in Remote Monitoring - lloT Spurs Growth of Wireless Devices in Process Manufacturing - Does the Internet of Things Mean That Analog Electronics Are on the Way Out?

Design News Exclusive Automation Market User Study
Are you a crucial decision-maker in your organization’s automation system design specifying and sourcing? Here’s your chance to benchmark yourself against other engineers. Design News teamed up with two independent marketing and research firms to ask members of the DN audience community what their most important criteria were for selecting components/systems and brands/suppliers and how they work with vendors. They also told us what they’re buying most and what they think will be the most impactful trends in the next 12 months. Download our Automation Market User Study today and discover what we found out!

Technology Roundup: Essential Highlights of Low-Power Design
This Technology Roundup is a comprehensive series that informs you of effective design tactics such as reducing component count in addition to different types of efficient energy storage available now. eBook articles include: Eliminating DRAM from Embedded HMI Designs; How Advances in Motor Control are Lowering Power Consumption; Life on the Edge of loT; Minimizing Power Draw in Small, Portable Devices.

A 360 Degree Look at Pneumatics
Pneumatic technology is usually associated with machine control, but pneumatic applications can be found everywhere. This Technology Roundup covers developments in advanced controls, energy-efficient actuation, and electropneumatics. The breadth of applications spans from the motion control of bionics, to precision hospital equipment, to miniature medical instruments. Pneumatics also exist to entertain us, and go as far as where engineers can take it – including the dream of a citywide pneumatic-based trash removal system!

Technology Roundup: High-efficiency Power Conversion
Whether you’re a battery designer or designing the power supply for an appliance or a consumer electronic device, today’s imperative goal is maximum efficiency of power transfer while also reducing physical size and cost and conserving energy. Consumers, and governments, demand it. This Technology Roundup will show you how, including discussions of chipset selection, topography and architecture, and component trends. You will also stay abreast of global standards, even those for wireless power.

Technology Roundup: Circuit Protection
Circuit protection sounds like a mundane part of the design. However, it you don’t execute this stage properly, you could be looking at serious repercussions, from simple system shutdown, to something far more serious, including human injury. This Technology Roundup will show you what you need to know to build a safe and reliable system. Sponsored by Littelfuse.

Special Digital Edition: Identification Technology Roundup
Security and identification are clearly in the spotlight these days. There are ways to combat the evils of identity theft, and the technology continues to improve. In this Technology Roundup, you’ll get a clear understanding of what new products and techniques are being developed, which are best for your specific application, and how you go about implementing them. Sponsored by NXP.

Special Digital Edition: Logic Devices for Automotive
Logic for automotive applications is similar in lots of ways to logic designed for other applications. However, it’s just as dissimilar, and for a host of reasons. In this Technology Roundup, you’ll find a multitude of resources to help you better understand these issues, including what types of devices are available, where specifically they should and shouldn’t be deployed, and how automotive technology differs from other applications.

Special Digital Edition: 3D Printing Comes of Age
From spacecrafts to robots to a wide array of medical applications and high fashion, 3-D printing is fast becoming a staple tool for companies across multiple industry sectors to more cost effectively and efficiently produce highly complex and custom products. Prices for 3-D printers are rapidly coming down and the breadth of materials choices is continuously expanding. The editors of Design News have put together a round up of articles covering the latest advancements in the area of 3-D printing not to mention a look at the broader trends.

Technology Roundup: The Latest Trends in 3D Printing
3D printing is not some futuristic technology. And it’s not something that's just for the upper echelon. It’s here and now, and it’s technology that’s readily available. Not only that, it’s nearing a price point that puts it into the category of something you can’t afford not to have. This Technology Roundup will explain what options are available to you, how you can implement this technology, and how you should properly set your expectations with respect to 3D printing. Sponsored by Stratasys.

Design News 2013 Salary & Opinion Survey
The results are in from the Design News 2013 Annual Salary Survey! Salaries are up and most engineers feel appreciated and respected. How do you compare and do you agree? More than 2,100 engineers and engineering managers told us about their benefits package, job satisfaction (good & bad), professional backgrounds, engineering disciplines, daily challenges in the workplace, experience with hiring trends in today’s economy and which industries pay the most. Download the details today! Sponsored by Aerotek.