The aim of the paper is to present the possibilities and limitations of using the Digital Image Correlation systems. In order to assess the measurement inaccuracies the measuring volume 1250 × 1100 mm was analysed using two cameras with sensor resolution 6 megapixels. It was stated very good accuracy of the line segment length change. It causes that observation of crack widths can be considered as precisely. Some practical information concern how determine the compatibility between crack width measured traditionally and by using DIC are given. In the second part of the paper the results of the tests concerning capacity of interface between two concrete casting at the same time were presented. Use of the optical measurement system Aramis enables the analysis of the deformation, determination of failure mode of the tested specimens and limit displacement between edges of the interface.

The development of accurate computer control of a 3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator operation is described. The developed system comprises the accelerator turn-on and turn-off procedures during a normal run, which includes the setting of the terminal voltage, ion source light up, beam focusing and control of ion beam current and energy during operation. In addition, the computer monitors the vacuum and is able to make a detail register of the most important events during a normal run. The computer control system uses a LabVIEW application for interaction with the operator and an I/O board that interfaces the computer and the accelerator system. For everyday operating conditions the control implemented is able to turn-on and off the machine in about the same time as a specialized technician. In addition, today more users can make experiments in the accelerator without the help of a specialized operator, which in turns increases the number of hours during which the accelerator can be used.

A model-based approach, the Model-View-Interactor Paradigm, for automatic generation of user interfaces in software frameworks for measurement systems is proposed. The Model-View-Interactor Paradigm is focused on the "interaction" typical in a software framework for measurement applications: the final user interacts with the automatic measurement system executing a suitable high-level script previously written by a test engineer. According to the main design goal of frameworks, the proposed approach allows the user interfaces to be separated easily from the application logic for enhancing the flexibility and reusability of the software. As a practical case study, this approach has been applied to the flexible software framework for magnetic measurements at the European Organization for Nuclear research (CERN). In particular, experimental results about the scenario of permeability measurements are reported.

We present a prototype of a simple, low-cost setup for a fast scatterometric surface texture measurements. We used a total integrated scatter method (TIS) with a semiconductor laser (λ =  638 nm) and a Si photodiode. Using our setup, we estimated the roughness parameters Rq for two reference surfaces (Al mirrors with flatness λ/10) and seven equal steel plates to compare. The setup is easily adaptable for a fast, preliminary manufacturing quality control. We show is possible to construct a low-cost measurement system with nanometric precision.

Modern control and measurement systems are equipped with interfaces to operate in local area networks and are typically intended to perform complicated data processing and control algorithms. The authors propose a digital system for rapid prototyping of target application devices. The concept solution separates the processing and control section from the hardware interface and user interface section. Both sections constitute independent ARM-based controllers interconnected via a direct USB link. Popular libraries can be used and low-level procedures developed, which enhances the system’s economic viability. A test unit developed for the purpose of the study was built around a SoC ARM7 microsystem and an off-the-shelf palmtop device. It demonstrated a continuous data stream transfer capability up to 150 kB per second, which was sufficient to monitor the performance of an electricity line.

Digital photoelasticity is an important optical metrology follow-up for stress and strain analysis using full-field digital photographic images. Advances in digital image processing, data acquisition, procedures for pattern recognition and storage capacity enable the use of the computer-aided technique in automation and facilitate improvement of the digital photoelastic technique. The objective of this research is to find new equations for a novel phase-shifting method in digital photoelasticity. Some innovations are proposed. In terms of phaseshifting, only the analyzer is rotated, and the other equations are deduced by applying a new numerical technique instead of the usual algebraic techniques. This approach can be used to calculate a larger sequence of images. Each image represents a pattern and a measurement of the stresses present in the object. A decrease in the mean errors was obtained by increasing the number of observations. A reduction in the difference between the theoretical and experimental values of stresses was obtained by increasing the number of images in the equations for calculating phase. Every photographic image has errors and random noise, but the uncertainties due to these effects can be reduced with a larger number of observations. The proposed method with many images and high accuracy is a good alternative to the photoelastic techniques.

International standards from IEC and IEEE regulate power grid parameters such as theRMSvalue, frequency, harmonic and interharmonic distortion, unbalance or the presence of transients, that are important to assure the quality of distributed power. Standard IEC 61000-4-30 suggests the zero crossing algorithm for the measurement of the power grid frequency, but also states that different algorithms can be used. This paper proposes a new algorithm, the Fractional Interpolated Discrete Fourier Transform, FracIpDFT, to estimate the power grid frequency, suitable for implementation in resource limited embedded measurement systems. It is based on the non-integer Goertzel algorithm followed by interpolation at non-integer multiples of the DFT frequency resolution. The proposed algorithm is validated and its performance compared with other algorithms through numerical simulations. Implementation details of the FracIpDFT in an ARM Cortex M4 processor are presented along with frequency measurement results performed with the proposed algorithm in the developed system.

History has shown different approaches to improving productivity the way of companies do business. Since the early 1900s, the development of different production systems has played an increasingly remarkable role in global manufacturing countries. It seems, that the growth of understanding has widened the ideology of production systems used up to current ones. This article examines the development path of business development. It evaluates the suitability of the key tools used to support change in a modern business model in a customer-driven project business environment.

The following article collects and describes several practical problems that can be encountered when performing geophysical field measurements using the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method. The methodology of work carried out with the Terrameter LS apparatus of the Swedish company ABEM (currently the company has changed its name to GUIDELINE GEO) was presented and discussed. The attention was paid to interesting solutions that increase the efficiency of works, especially in works related to linear investments. Errors that may appear during the use of the roll-along method are indicated, in particular, those appearing in measurements where too long measurement sections are transferred, as well as problems resulting from high electrode earthing, nonlinear profile traces and variable morphology. It describes how the use of different measurement systems affects the depth of prospecting, and which systems cope well in the area with disturbances. The article also emphasizes that the work should be properly planned before starting field research.

This article presents a system of precise navigation for a visually impaired person which uses GPS navigation and an infrared sensor in the form of an infrared matrix. The presented system allows determining the orientation and distance of a blind person relative to a selected object, e.g. a wall or road edge. The application of the above solution facilitates a significant increase in the accuracy of determining the position of a blind person compared to the accuracy offered by commonly used ground satellite devices. The system uses thermal energy accumulated in the environment without the need to generate additional signals. The main parts of the system are a simple infrared matrix, data processing system and vibrating wristband. Messages and navigation warnings are sent to a blind person in the form of a vibration code. The article describes the method of determining the path of a specified width and distance from the wall of a building, curb, etc., along which a blind person should move. The article additionally describes the method of determining the orientation of a blind person depending on the selected object. Such a method facilitates verifying whether the visually impaired person is moving according to the indicated direction. The method can also be used to navigate mobile robots. Due to the use of natural energy for data registration and processing, the mobile navigation system can be operated for a long time without the need to recharge the battery.