CloudACM – Page 89 – Autonomous Computational Machines

Cloud Based Components

February 13, 2014 Patrick Gilfeather

Seems like an odd title since components are those discrete gizmos on a circuit board. Truth be told, the aggregate processing power of the cloud is not fully realized. This cloud of potential is increasing with each passing moment. Everyday, some individual, group, team, research facility, corporate entity, or government agency adds another bit to it. It’s more than the data stored on it. It’s more than the hardware it runs on. It’s more than the software that supports it. …

Smart Helmets and Dumb Drivers

February 12, 2014 Patrick Gilfeather

The concept of using a sensor laden helmet is nothing new. My first thoughts of this type of bike helmet were brought about by the QuickFire sensor lab last quarter. The smart helmet term is something coined to describe a helmet that has sensors on it. Truth be told, wearing a helmet is fundamentally the smart thing to do. I can attest since bomping my noggin at the skate park with my son. Actually, I’ve known that fact for much…

3D Components – Using SketchUp

February 11, 2014 Patrick Gilfeather

The process of creating scaled 3D models in SketchUp is time consuming. It took me an hour to create one component, the lowly 2×16 parallel LCD. I had to finally give up trying to draw one of the pinouts, the software rendered it incorrectly each time I went to edit it. This took most of my time, correcting mistakes the software was creating. I felt like it was in a wrestling match and the rules of the game where in…