Abstracts:The IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS) has recently completed the selection process for the first edition of the IEEE IMS Undergraduate Student Scholarship, marking an important milestone in our commitment to supporting young talent in instrumentation and measurement. We are particularly proud of this initiative, which reflects our Society's mission to inspire and support the next generation of engineers and scientists in the field of instrumentation and measurement.

Abstracts:This paper proposes a coarse alignment method using manifold optimization to solve the initial alignment problem of the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) on a rocking base. In this method, the initial coarse alignment of SINS is transformed from the constrained optimization problem in Euclidean space to an unconstrained optimization problem in Manifold space. There are two innovations in this method: the first is the optimization method of gradient descent in Euclidean space, which is reviewed and extended to manifold space. By combining the trust region method with the Barzilai-Borwein method, the optimal selection of the iterative update step on the tangent space of the manifold is realized, which ensures the efficient and stable convergence of the algorithm. Secondly, the Cayley transform is used to construct the retraction mapping, and its closed form analytic solution and structure preservation characteristics are used to effectively suppress the error accumulation caused by numerical approximation, to ensure that the iterative points on the tangent space of the manifold are mapped to the manifold space. The experiment results indicate that the proposed coarse alignment method performs better than the existing methods.

Abstracts:This paper presents a baseband data compensation method that utilizes a 3-port balun de-embedding technique to accurately measure the RF parameters of transceiver chips, including noise figure and nonlinear characteristics. This study explores the theoretical derivation of the 3-port balun de-embedding algorithm, the design of calibration components, and the baseband data compensation algorithm. The S-parameters of the balun are derived using an optimized TRL de-embedding algorithm, and then the baseband data compensation algorithm is applied to correct the amplitude. Experimental results conducted on a PCB demonstrate that this method significantly improves the accuracy of RF parameter measurements, providing technical support for enhancing the performance of programmable RF transceivers. The proposed method not only enhances the accuracy of RF chip testing but also provides new insights and technical approaches for future research in related fields.

Abstracts:Modern electrical networks are becoming more complicated, and power system dynamics are being greatly impacted by incorporating renewable energy sources widely. This change emphasizes the necessity for creating new monitoring systems to guarantee the electricity network's continued operation and effectiveness. The measurement infrastructure is vital in this situation. To address diverse applications for monitoring and controlling, such as load shedding and fault detection, it becomes imperative to strike an optimal balance between precision in measurements and minimal reporting latency [1]. Power network detection is accomplished by the use of monitoring systems, which include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and contemporary metering devices with Phasor measuring units (PMUs). SCADA is essential to electrical networks because of its dependability and ease of use. Nevertheless, problems with the SCADA system have surfaced, such as slow error detection, low sample rate, and inability to produce time synchronization signals. As a result, switching to new operating systems is required to enhance the SCADA system's acquisition efficiency. Emerging communication technologies, the necessity for quick data processing in power systems, and the more complex difficulties deriving from data transport make this modification important [2]. A synchronized monitoring system, like PMUs, can be a useful tool in difficult circumstances and offers a strong foundation for the complex power system [3]. Synchrophasor measurement, which facilitates the characterization of distribution grids (DGs), served as the main driving force behind the invention of PMUs. When DGs are in operation, the system experiences a reverse power flow, which impairs the distribution power supply's efficiency, reduces the equipment's ability to work, and results in voltage instability [4].

Abstracts:Cybersecurity is a crucial topic in modern and future applications ranging from Internet of Things (IoT) to healthcare and biomedical devices, from Industrial to transportation, from manufacturing to critical infrastructures, such as power plants and smart grids. CISCO Systems gives a possible definition of cybersecurity: the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users through ransomware; or interrupting normal business processes [1].

Abstracts:Nowadays, technology advancements in high-quality laptops and smartphones and the evolution of artificial intelligence have contributed for face recognition to be widely utilized in several emerging applications, such as security, law-enforcement, access control, attendance control, forensic recognition, fraud prevention, and commerce. The main benefit of face recognition over other authentication modalities like passwords and keycards relies on the unique aspect of the human face, which allows precise measurements of the individual biometric features.

Abstracts:Anyone who performs a delicate measurement struggles with noise. It can come from the system itself, or be caused by the environment, for example due to electromagnetic interference. There are situations in which noise is the signal of interest and deserves to be quantified. For example, a sensitive amplifier can be characterized by its noise figure, and a device by its electromagnetic compatibility properties.

Abstracts:The IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society is a small but very successful part of the world's largest professional organization. We operate through the efforts of volunteers, and because we are small, we get to know each other. So, when the annual society awards are presented, it's good to learn a bit more about them than the photo of the handshake and plaque presentation can convey. Again, this year, I have endeavored to write a series of articles for the IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine to highlight the five individuals who were selected to receive an award in 2024 (presented at the 2025 I2MTC in Chemnitz).

Abstracts:Dear members, colleagues, and friends of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS), Welcome to another year with IMS and all its exciting activities! This is my second year as the IMS President. You may recall that exactly one year ago in this column I set out some objectives for my term as the President to accelerate IMS's growth and improve its quality even further. I am pleased to report that much has been achieved since, which I will summarize here.