Sensors Expo (www.sensorsexpo.com) is the show I build my annual schedule around; nowhere else can you find so many sensing and support products in action. But these days, ISA Expo (October 17–19, www.isa.org/expo) is in the #2 position on my calendar.
Although it is the trade show for automation professionals in the process industries (i.e., nondiscrete manufacturing such as food, pharmaceuticals, and raw materials processing), its content applies broadly, as do many of the articles in Sensors. To support ISA Expo this month, we've worked up a few articles that will capture the interest of process engineers, and others:
Our cover story an investigation of wireless coexistence (which happens to be a report on wireless signal traffic in the exhibit hall at last year's ISA Expo), applies to almost any indoor setting. And our survey of flow-sensing technologies and a demonstrated solution to a difficult level-sensing problem will interest engineers beyond the process industries.
So does much of the content on Sensors' Process Industries Web site (process.sensorsmag.com). But the site is designed specifically to serve the process professionals—with daily news, bi-weekly new product nnouncements, and in-depth articles that uncover what's new and important about sensing technologies applied to process monitoring and control.
A key feature of the site is the monthly newsletter hosted by Ray Peacock (process.sensorsmag.com/Industrial+Automation~), who writes an essay (This Month in Industrial Automation) describing industrial sensing developments. Recently (www.sensorsmag.com/1006/GS1~), Ray revealed the impact of new optical frequency control and tuning devices on cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS), which prompted one industry observer to compare the effect to how the telephone revolutionized communications. In another essay, Ray looked at how vision sensor development is affecting industrial automation (www.sensorsmag.com/1006/GS2~). Yet another looked at RFID applied to industrial applications (www.sensorsmag.com/1006/GS3~).
You're Not in the Process Industries?
No problem. Sensors' other special-interest sites, available from the homepage (www.sensorsmag.com), are organized mainly by industry: Electronics & Computers (electronics.sensorsmag.com, for people who design and create electronics and computer equipment), Machine Manufacturing (machine.sensorsmag.com, for people who produce machines), Automotive (auto.sensorsmag.com, for those who design and manufacture vehicles, as well as parts for them), Aerospace/Military/Homeland Security (mil.sensorsmag.com, for engineers and managers involved in the creation of airplanes and airplane parts, ordnance, and all types of products and systems for safety and security). Our Specialty Markets site (specialty.sensorsmag.com~) houses content specified for medical and health care; architectural, civil, and structural engineering and construction; environmental; research and development; wholesale and retail sales; and utilities. Another site is dedicated to the most dynamic technology area in sensing—wireless communications (wireless.sensorsmag.com). Here you will find news and ideas on how to implement and benefit from wireless sensor networking.
From all these, you can access the general content found on our main site, including past articles. Whether your interests are specific or broad, we've got you covered.