Lab
UFS' Research Group on Electronics Instrumentation
About the lab
The Research Gate on Electronics Instrumentation was officially formed in 2016. Located mainly in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Federal University of Sergipe (DEL-UFS), the group has most of its research lines focused on sensing and controlling various systems and on analog to digital conversion. The group follows the principle of serving as support for scientific and technological work throughout the University, having important partnerships with the departments of Physical Therapy (DFT-UFS), Civil Engineering (DEC-UFS), Physical Education (DEF-UFS) and Physiology (DFS-UFS).
The group develops its work in 3 environments: the Research Group Room; the Instrumentation, Communications and Signal Processing Lab (LABCOM) and the Automation, Control and Simulation Lab (LACS).
The group develops its work in 3 environments: the Research Group Room; the Instrumentation, Communications and Signal Processing Lab (LABCOM) and the Automation, Control and Simulation Lab (LACS).
Featured research (9)
Metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors present great potential for early detection of dangerous substances or undesirable environmental conditions in various industries for their excellent cost-benefit. Even though some works show promising results regarding MOX sensors' sensitivity and suitability, this type of device is heavily influenced by environmental conditions, leading to low selectivity and preventing application on non-controlled atmospheres. In this paper, we aim to address that issue by analyzing how the uncertainties of a MOX gas sensor's parameters impact the model output. This study is done through uncertainty propagation analyses, using both the general uncertainty propagation equation and the Monte Carlo method, which we applied to an already validated MOX model. Thus, we make possible an analytical understanding of the sensor sensitivity to each one of the model parameters. Results show that sensor measurements are more sensitive to model parameters than to gases concentrations.
Bibliographic reviews can be limited when researchers face more specific and new challenges. One rising way to solve this is the systematic review. When performing one, there is a well-defined search, treatment, analysis, and display methodology, which follows the scientific method. In this paper, we propose a systematic review methodology for the electrical engineering field. This kind of methodology allows more objective, concrete, and useful results; bias reduction; and easy reproducibility. For clarification purposes, we provide a case study on sensors, transducers, and actuators for controlled environment agriculture, in which the methodology is applied.
Researchers studying the pain experience agree it is a complex phenomenon. In this field, it is necessary to describe, understand and measure the pain experience in order to advance in diagnosis and treatment of patients. Pain quantification can be performed through an instrument called algometer. One of the many parameters it measures is the Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT). This parameter is defined as the point at which a mechanical stimulus becomes painful. In this paper, we present a pressure algometer using calibrated forceps to animal models applications. It requires little training for handling and precise control of the force angle is not necessary. We employed a load cell as the system force transducer. Characterization experiments were performed. Results show us the algometer has satisfactory reproducibility, mensuration linearity, potential for temperature and noise insensitivity, and intraobserver repeatability.
Metal detection is present in more daily life applications than one can imagine. This is due to the fact metal detectors (MD) are simple and effective sensing instruments. These devices are mostly based on Ampere's and Faraday's induction laws and the majority only indicates the presence of a metal object or target, not differentiating its type. In this paper, we present a different approach to metal detection and classification. Our MD consists of a single copper coil and simple electronic components. The method is based on the fact that when a metal object approaches an air core coil, the surrounding magnetic permeability is affected. This changes the coil inductance and, consequently, its inductive reactance. Such a phenomenon can be used to detect and classify ferrous and non-ferrous metal objects based on the phase measurements. Preliminary results show that such an approach allows for a simple, cheap and accessible electronic design of a metal detector capable of detecting and classifying ferrous and non-ferrous materials.