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High CMRR Instrumentation Amplifier (Schematic and Layout) design for biomedical applications

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Instrumentation amplifiers are intended to be used whenever acquisition of a useful signal is difficult. IA’s must have extremely high input impedances because source impedances may be high and/or unbalanced. bias and offset currents are low and relatively stable so that the source impedance need not be constant. Balanced differential inputs are provided so that the signal source may be referenced to any reasonable level independent of the IA output load reference. Common mode rejection, a measure of input balance, is very high so that noise pickup and ground drops, characteristic of remote sensor applications, are minimized.Care is taken to provide high, well characterized stability of critical parameters under varying conditions, such as changing temperatures and supply voltages. Finally, all components that are critical to the performance of the IA are internal to the device. The precision of an IA is provided at the expense of flexibility. By committing to the one specific task of
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Robot Arm Inspired by Armor Plates on a Seahorse's Flexible Tail

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Seahorses and robots have something in common--at least where engineers at the University of California are concerned. They're hoping that the sea creature's long, flexible tail will allow them to design a similar robotic arm equipped with muscles made out of polymer.

A seahorse's tail is composed of a series of bony, armored plates which slide past each other. In fact, it can actually be compressed to about half of its size before permanent damage occurs. Because of this, researchers thought the structure would be perfect to use in a robotic arm that could be used in underwater exploration and unmanned bomb detection and detonation.
"The study of natural materials can lead to the creation of new and unique materials and structures inspired by nature that are stronger, tougher, lighter and more flexible," said Joanna McKittrick, one of the researchers working on the project
This isn't the only animal that the researchers looked at when designing their robotic arm, though. The engineers also examined the armor found in armadillos, alligators and the scales of various fish. While these animals all had "armor," though, they didn't have the flexibility that the arm needed. That's when they turned to the seahorse.