Emil Vremera, Luciano Brunetti, Luca Oberto, Marco Sellone
MEASUREMENT ALGORITHMS IN MICROCALORIMETER TECHNIQUES AT MICROWAVE FREQUENCIES

In the paper there are described different algorithms that are possible to be used in the microcalorimeter-based measurements for realizing the broadband high frequency power standards. Besides the equal time-intervals alternating algorithms, able to achieve the effective efficiency of the transfer power standards, it is presented a novel algorithm, based on keeping constant the limits of the microcalorimeter output quantity. The new method should be used for measuring the high frequency losses in magnetic amorphous wires.

Giuseppe La Paglia, Gian Carlo Bosco, Marco Lanzillotti,  Luca Callegaro
THE EFFECT OF ADJUSTMENT ON MULTIFUNCTION INSTRUMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL METROLOGY: CASE EXAMPLES

Top-class multifunction instruments (multimeters and calibrators) implement in their firmware adjustment procedures requiring a minimal set of adjustment standards. The small set of standards' values provided have effects on the (usually very broad) ranges of values and frequencies which the instrument can measure. How errors and uncertainties in the adjustment of specific points affect measurements in such broad ranges has been experimentally investigated in top-class multimeters and calibrators; most interesting results have been observed in the ‘ac voltage’ function; a number of examples are reported.

Koichi Funada, Mituo Nagao, Susumu Sakano
GRASP OF HARD AND SOFT OBJECTS BY DETECTIING FINGERTIP SLIP USING MULTI FINGERS HAND

The paper presents hardware and software architecture of the developed multi-finger hand robot using tactile sensors. The hand has three identical fingers. The fingers can detect hard and soft physical information by the tactile sensors using phase shift method. The soft and hard objects can be grasped and held easily by detecting slipping properties between the fingers and object. The development of dexterous robot hand is a very challenging endeavor. Many robot researchers has pursued the dexterous robot hands. Many robot hands have been developed over the past. These robot hands make it possible for the robot to grasp and manipulate objects. The tactile sensors are used for the detection of contact pressure to hold object. It is not possible to control soft object easily because of the very small contact pressure. In this study, the new tactile sensor of piezoelectric device is developed and the detection of the small contact pressure can be achieved by the phase shift method. The soft object is grasped and held easily by the detection of the slipping property between the tactile sensors and the object.

Luciano Bruno Faruolo, M.T., Marina Rodrigues Brochado, D.Sc, Adriana da Cunha Rocha, D.Sc
ANALYSIS OF RELIABILITY FOR THE WEIGH-IN-MOTION VEHICLES WITH MONTE CARLO SIMULATION MODELLING

The load transported by road vehicles is subject of concern for the traffic authorities worldwide. The weight excess in vehicles has a direct impact on society, because of the detrimental effect on roads life time. The damaged roads lead to a higher number of accidents and deaths, damage vehicles and cause delays on trips. The technology for the identification of the force exerted by a vehicle on the road is the main factor for controlling the road usage. Measuring instruments have been installed along the roads to monitor the vehicles load and to check the associated parameters established in the national specific legislation. The analysis of reliability of the measuring instruments is very important as the accuracy is relatively different among the instruments used. This work evaluates the reliability of road vehicles weight measuring procedures for the weigh-in-motion system, by a developed model applied to an exploratory research in two weighing stations, using statistical tools, reliability analysis and making use of Monte Carlo method for the uncertainties evaluation. This model is capable of improving the process accuracy contributing for the reduction of damages caused by the weight excess of road vehicles.

A.Fort, C. Lotti, M. Mugnaini, R.Palombari, S. Rocchi, V.Vignoli
AMPEROMETRIC SENSORS BASED ON NAFION PROTON CONDUCTOR: A COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT STRUCTURES

In this work the authors propose the development and the characterization of two NO₂ amperometric detection systems, based on two different solid state electrochemical sensors. Both sensors have a Nickel Oxide counter electrode, a Graphite working electrode, and Nafion as protonic conductor. The first detection system exploits a two-electrode sensor that presents satisfactory sensitivity to NO₂, a very low cross-response to interfering gases (CO, O₂), a short response time, and that requires a simple front-end electronics. Nevertheless, the usage of this sensor is limited to the detection of low NO₂ concentrations (below 10 ppm). A similar performance can be obtained by a system based on a three-electrode version of the sensor which can be used in a wider NO₂ concentration range, but requires a more complicated front end electronics.