Industrial and Manufacturing

How to start setting up a voice controlled home

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Article written by Technology Innovations

The issue with the current crop of smart home products is that very few of them work together. Every manufacturer has a vision of the Internet of things that is usually incompatible with a competitor. What’s worse is when a company is acquired, and their product line is removed with little notice. This is why it’s a good idea to assemble home automation equipment that is as cheap as possible and has some connectivity to others. This way the investment is limited. Let’s look at how we can set up a voice controlled home satisfying that criteria:

The first step is to get a voice interface. There are only two real choices here: the Amazon Echo and Google Home. When looking at the Echo, choose either the Echo Dot or the main Echo device. Both of these will work with the majority of home automation gear.

The next step is to set up control of lighting, air conditioners, etc. There are two approaches here, control the bulbs or control the switches. In a home with more than one occupant, it is wiser to go the switch route to prevent confusion.  There are several affordable solutions by Asian tech companies to control switches and IR devices.

The third is to establish control from the voice interface. This is the tricky part. Most of the above devices required an Android device or third party software to act a bridge. Look for guides on support for these platforms before purchasing.

That is all you need to get started. From this point, all you need to do is find other elements of the home to control and see what hardware is required.

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Tesla Model S is now the third fastest car in the world with new 100 kwh battery

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Article written by Expert Fortran

Good news for new and existing owners of the Tesla Model S. As the company announced on Tuesday, there is a new 100 kwh battery pack upgrade that will make the Model S the third fastest car in the world.

The car can now accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds in its famous Ludicrous speed mode says the company, rather than 2.8 seconds thanks to a new, but long-rumored 100-kilowatt battery that will also let the car travel farther, up to 315 miles, on a single charge. The Model X will take 2.9 seconds to go from 0-60 with the new battery pack.

The range issue has been one of the biggest obstacles and this will solve one of the biggest problems for people considering the switch to a Tesla.

“Range anxiety has long been one of the biggest obstacles for the adoption of electric cars,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis at Edmunds.

Existing owners of the Model S and X will be able to pay an upgrade fee of $20,000 to get the  100 kwh battery upgrade. Owners awaiting delivery will have a smaller $10,000 fee have the upgrade before delivery.

The Model S P100D will start at $134,500, and the Model X 100D will start at $135,500.

Tesla said in its statement that upcoming Model 3 sedan vehicles, expected to sell for $35,000, will have the 100-kilowatt battery.

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2017: The best upcoming gadgets

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Every year we see an influx of new gadgets, but gadget geeks have an especially good year to look forward to in 2017.

iPhone 8

This year we will see the launch of the 10th anniversary iPhone. According to rumors and leaks, we know that Apple is overhauling the design of the phone. It also appears that the cutting edge phone will be a new third model. Observers expect the lineup to look like this: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the all new iPhone 8 Pro. The iPhone Pro will get a sticker price of about $1200 to match its premium feature-set, which includes an OLED screen.

Surface Phone

In a recent interview, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that Microsoft is working on the “ultimate mobile device.” Since the surface line already includes a laptop, desktop, and tablet form-factor devices, the logical conclusion is that Microsoft is working on a smartphone. Microsoft has hinted at a launch of a new product in 2017, and although there are no leaks or other rumors, it is possible that we might get a Surface phone with Windows 10 this year.

HTC Vive 2

When HTC launched the HTC Vive in 2016 and talked about a focus on VR products and services, a lot of journalists and fans were skeptical. However, the Vive VR system found a following and sales have been brisk. For its follow-up, HTC will go wireless, removing one of the biggest complaints of the original device.

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Differentiating Physical Vapor Deposition from Chemical Vapor Deposition

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Article written by The Digital Terror

PVD and CVD are both reliable techniques utilized in various industries today.

Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) are two types of deposition techniques that are used to create very thin film layers of a material of choice onto a substrate. Mainly used in the semiconductor production industry, where thin layers are prevalent, both techniques have been making their way into any other industries as well like optics, solar panels, and others. This article will showcase the main differences between the two are the processes that they employ.

As their names imply, PVD utilizes physical forces to deposit while CVD uses chemical reactions. Regardless of the process, both of these techniques produce a thin film in the end.

Physical Vapor Deposition

During the PVD coating process, a source material is gasified through the process of evaporation, the application of electric power, lasers, and other techniques. This evaporated material will then condense onto the substrate, therefore creating the thin film. No chemical reactions occur throughout the process.

Chemical Vapor Deposition

CVD on other hand, uses a source material that is not as pure due to it being mixed with a volatile precursor material. This mixture is then injected within a chamber containing the substrate, where the deposition process occurs, similar to PVD thermal evaporation. Once the mixture adheres to the substrate, the precursor will then decompose, leaving behind a layer of the source material in the substrate. After this, the product is then removed from the chamber through gas flow. This process can also accelerated through the use of plasma, heat, and other processes.

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How to Understand Aviation Starting Units’ Voltage Ranges

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Summary: Starting units are powerful aviation tools that can provide additional power when needed.

When it comes to selecting the right type of battery packs for your aircraft, aircraft start units are the ideal solution when it comes to the majority of models. With an enhanced design, it can immediately start an aircraft ranging from a small commercial plane to a major business airplane. These starting units are powerful, durable, and efficient for use. Here is a brief overview on what you need to know when it comes to choosing the right starting unit for your plane.

How to Find a Starting Unit

When finding a portable power supply for your aircraft, the first thing that you’ll need to know is that it comes in a range of voltages (12V, 24V, and 28V). It’s not only important that you choose the right one, but you need to consider what you are going to use the starting unit for. Do you need it solely for emergency purposes, or will you be using it multiple times throughout the day? By figuring this out, you’ll be able to narrow down which unit will work best with your lifestyle.

Discussing the Voltage of Starting Units

This is only the first step, you’ll also need to understand the various voltages. It’s highly recommended that you speak to a specialist in the department that you are purchasing from to ensure that it’ll function correctly with your aircraft. Although this piece of aircraft maintenance equipment is enough for an aircraft, there are certain cases where additional power is needed. Speak with a specialist in regards to this.

For small aircraft, the voltage requirement that you’ll need is 12V. There are various sizes and models, however the larger sizes are normally for larger aircrafts. Standard DC powered aircraft require 24V DC to start up. Most of the designs have a 24V battery within, therefore it requires a 24V unit to start. Now, when it comes to these units, you have choices. You can purchase a portable unit, or you can have one that is attached to a large trolley cart. 28V units are also available – although many of these are sole with the purpose of having peace of mind, as most aircraft will start up with a 24V current. However, there are a few aircraft models that are volt sensitive and will require a 28V unit to start. Discuss this with an expert beforehand so you won’t have any difficulties when using it.

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A Guide to How Diesel Locomotives Work

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Starting up a diesel locomotive is a lot different than starting up an ordinary car. In fact, it’s a lot more complicated. Here is a breakdown from beginning to end on how these industrial mammoths run.

The first step in the process is entering the cabin and powering up the locomotive. A knife switch is flipped which connects the battery source to the circuit breaker. Then, the switches on the circuit breaker panel are all turned on by the engineer. This powers the entire vehicle. Because of the immense amount of power that is needed to start up a locomotive, a portable power source is required in many cases to get the engine to even turn over.

The next step is for the engineer to prime the fuel system and engage the motors. Once the engine begins to crank over, the locomotive is ready to begin a forward motion.

The engineer then heads to the back of the train to release the hand brake once the brake system has been pressurized.

Upon approval by the conductor, the engineer then begins moving forward, ringing the bells and air horns to signal the motion.

Once the locomotive starts moving, the engineer has to work the throttle control.  The higher the position of the throttle – also called a notch – the more voltage is produced, therefore increasing the speed.

While the train is in constant motion, the computer inside the engine begins its magic by automatically adjusting the fuel injectors to match the engine power required.

If the engineer needs to slow the train down, he can utilize the brake control which work alongside the motors. The control creates air pressure within the cylinders of the brakes to apply the pressure to the brake pads.

For maintenance purposes the engineer has to continuously check the readouts that are displayed by sensors all around the train. This is a vital tool for the engineer as a problem can be scoped out and addressed before a major accident occurs. For instance, if there is an issue with the power, the engineer can utilize a railroad locomotive starter to help restore and somewhat jumpstart it back to life. An engineer that drives a train without the adequate diagnostic readings are putting other people’s lives in danger. Safety precautions are always taught to the engineers to ensure the least amount of risk.

Now that you have an understanding on how a diesel locomotive starts and runs, you now know the immense responsibility placed on the engineer. The fact that trains have continuously progressed and have kept up with technology shows that they continue to play a large role in society.

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