Magnetic Sensors Based on Amorphous Ferromagnetic Materials: A Review <s> Introduction <s> Introduction to Magnetic Materials, 2nd Edition covers the basics of magnetic quantities, magnetic devices, and materials used in practice. While retaining much of the original, this revision now covers SQUID and alternating gradient magnetometers, magnetic force microscope, Kerr effect, amorphous alloys, rare-earth magnets, SI Units alongside cgs units, and other up-to-date topics. In addition, the authors have added an entirely new chapter on information materials. The text presents materials at the practical rather than theoretical level, allowing for a physical, quantitative, measurement-based understanding of magnetism among readers, be they professional engineers or graduate-level students. <s> BIB001 </s> Magnetic Sensors Based on Amorphous Ferromagnetic Materials: A Review <s> Introduction <s> Abstract Broadly magnetic sensors and actuators rely on only a few basic principles. These include the law of induction, for magneto-inductive devices; the Ampere force law, for magnetomechanical sensors; and changes in materials properties under the action of a magnetic field, such as magnetoresistance, magneto-optics or magnetoelasticity for sensors based on magnetoelectronics (Proceedings of the 5th Conference on Magnetic Materials, Measurements and Modeling: symposium on magnetic sensors materials and devices, Ames, Iowa, USA, May 16–17, 2002). The identification and characterization of new materials with enhanced magnetic properties is important for the development of improved sensors and actuators. In some cases the identification of new materials can open up new applications for magnetic sensors and actuators which were previously not possible. <s> BIB002 </s> Magnetic Sensors Based on Amorphous Ferromagnetic Materials: A Review <s> Introduction <s> Today, many construction operations have incorporated automated equipment, means, and methods into their regular practises. Although adaption of automation in the building construction sector has been slow, principles of industrial automation are applicable to this domain, both to building construction, civil engineering, and to prefabrication of construction components. Improved sensor technologies and the widening use of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) will offer new possibilities to cover various needs and operations taking place throughout the building life cycle. These can play a key role in future construction automation. This paper provides a survey for potential sensor technologies for building construction automation, highlighting their potential also with contributions from robotics. The paper carries out the survey from the viewpoints of building construction phases. <s> BIB003 </s> Magnetic Sensors Based on Amorphous Ferromagnetic Materials: A Review <s> Introduction <s> Abstract In this paper, the authors look at the domain of tactile sensing in the context of Robotics. After a short introduction to support the interest of providing robots with touch, the basic aspects related with tactile sensors, including transduction techniques are revisited. The brief analysis of the state-of-the-art of tactile sensing techniques that follows provides indicators to conclude on the future of tactile sensing in the context of robotic applications. <s> BIB004
For a robot to perform tasks such as location and dimensioning of objects in a work place, the action of a sensor is needed. The data collected by the sensor also feed back to the environment, enabling the robot to examine them and take decisions. The use of external sensor mechanisms allows a robot to interact with its environment in a flexible way, in contrast to preprogrammed actions in which a robot is taught to carry out repetitive tasks out of a set of scheduled functions. Although current industrial robots operate most frequently according to the latter mechanism, the use of sensor technologies to equip machines with a higher intelligence level when dealing with their environment is actually a topic of active research and development in the field of robotics  BIB003 BIB004 . Among the current sensors that can be handled, magnetic sensors are a good alternative for the detection and measurement of various phenomena because of their "simple" technology and because they can be easily acquired. A wide range of magnetic materials is available to build these types of devices, among which amorphous ferromagnetic materials should be highlighted BIB001  BIB002 . Since these materials are available on the market, the production of different kinds of sensors can be realized without the expensive investments needed for the manufacture of their magnetic cores. These sensors are not fragile and do not require special care, which enables the construction of very solid and reliable devices. Another important feature in their behalf is that these sensors can be developed without electric contact between the measuring device and the sensor, making them especially fit for use in harsh environments. Magnetic sensors work basically by detecting [7,  : (a) Variations of magnetic core permeability produced by the parameter to be measured. (b) Changes in some physical parameters produced by changes of the magnetization direction. (c) Mutual induction changes between two circuits produced by geometric modifications of the magnetic core positioning. The permeability of magnetic materials depends greatly on their magnetic anisotropy, on the difference between the direction of the applied field and the anisotropy direction of the material, as well as on their homogeneity, magnetization state, frequency of the applied field, surface roughness and form. In the development of a sensor for measuring a physical parameter, it is necessary that changes of magnetic permeability or of the magnetization direction caused by a change in the parameter to be measured are as large as possible. Amorphous and nanocrystalline materials meet these requirements particularly well.