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 The adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial sectors is on the rise, with many organizations now having some experience of the benefits it can bring. However, digital transformation is an ongoing process, with new technologies emerging all the time that fit into the IoT ecosystem. These technologies can make IoT easier to adopt and help deliver greater benefits, and it is these trends that drive and influence the direction of advancement. Fueled by the larger topics of AI and IoT, manufacturers in the industrial verticals can expect increased adoption in three key areas: micromanufacturing, additive manufacturing, and digital twins. Micromanufacturing, which involves scaling down production volume, is becoming mainstream as consumer demand shifts away from mass production and towards customized experiences. This requires lower investment, less real estate, and fewer resources, making it popular with new businesses and established brands alike. It is dependent on tec...

 The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) relies heavily on data transfer, and as the volume of data being moved around increases, so do the demands on the limited resources available in endpoint devices such as sensors and actuators. One way to minimize the software burden is through the use of hardware accelerators. Embedded systems often use some form of the operating system , particularly if they are based on modern 32-bit cores like the Arm Cortex-M family. Real-time operating systems (RTOS) are widely used due to the benefits they offer, but what can engineers do if they need to maintain hard real-time execution? One approach is to make full use of the hardware features offered by the processing platform. An operating system is typically software that interacts with hardware at a low level. RTOS extends this by providing ways to guarantee that things happen just when you want them to. However, this can create conditions where the software and hardware compete for control. T...

No-code and low-code tools are the latest development in automatic code generation that has the potential to accelerate the development of Industrial IoT (IIoT) systems. These tools raise the abstraction layer and hide the complexity using a graphical interface, making it faster and simpler to create software. The advantage of automatic code generation became apparent after the first program was hand-written, as it makes a lot of sense to automate anything that follows well-defined rules. The syntax and semantics of a programming language are good examples of rules. Follow the rules and you end up with executable code. No-code and low-code platforms are already used for developing simple desktop or mobile applications. In the enterprise domain, the use of low-code or even no-code platforms is gaining popularity as it allows anyone with a need and an idea to create an application that runs either in the cloud or on a desktop computer. This makes it much easier for non-software engineer...

Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a new technology that allows for the use of a single pair of twisted conductors for Ethernet connections, as opposed to the multiple pairs traditionally used. This is significant for the industrial sector as it allows for simpler installation and maintenance, as well as the ability to run anything designed for Ethernet over a single pair, potentially removing the need for industrial gateways. One of the main drivers for the adoption of SPE in the industrial sector is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which requires fast, flexible, and secure connections. SPE also plays a role in time-sensitive networking (TSN), which is important for controlling latency in servo motor control in industrial applications. The use of SPE in the automotive sector was originally intended to reduce the weight of cables in vehicles, but in the industrial sector, the focus is on simplifying connections and increasing performance. With SPE, OEMs can standardize on a technol...

 The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in various sectors such as industrial, medical and aerospace, is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, the question of how to get started with AI is not as important as determining what kind of AI is best suited for a specific application. Avnet, a leading technology solutions provider, understands that their customers are primarily concerned with results and by understanding the use case, the best solution for AI often presents itself. One area where Avnet can offer significant value is in helping software companies with computer vision experience move into new use cases. According to Michaël Uyttersprot, Manager of System Solutions, AI/ML & Vision, EMEA with Avnet Silica, “Part of my role is to ensure we have the expertise and partners needed to help companies with computer vision experience move into these new use cases.” When it comes to developing a machine vision system , selecting the right image sensor is crucial, es...

Patient monitoring is a crucial aspect of healthcare, but as public concerns about privacy increase, the use of video for this purpose is being questioned. Time-of-flight (ToF) cameras offer a promising alternative to traditional video monitoring. These sensors, such as Omron’s B5L 3D ToF sensor module, gather raw distance data rather than image data. This ensures patient anonymity and increases security as no compromising information can be collected. One of the major concerns with traditional video monitoring is that recordings can be stolen and personal information compromised. In the United States, laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act limit how personal data must be treated. Video monitoring, storage, and retrieval may not meet these requirements for most healthcare facilities. Additionally, effective video monitoring requires someone to constantly monitor multiple patient rooms on screen, adding...

 The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is transforming the way industrial processes are controlled and managed. However, as the trend towards connected devices and cloud processing resources grows, there is a need for a more flexible and responsive control system that can handle the increased data flow and real-time processing needs of the IIoT. Edge controllers are emerging as a solution to this problem, by bringing balance to the IT and OT domains and providing a platform for real-time control and data analysis at the network's edge. Edge controllers are designed to bridge the gap between traditional programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and industrial PCs, which are more focused on the IT side of the equation. They provide a balance between IT and OT capabilities, allowing for real-time control and data analysis at the edge of the network. This is important because it reduces the amount of data that needs to be sent to the cloud, which can be costly and slow. One way to impl...

 Product design success is crucial for high-tech companies, but it is not the only factor that determines the success of a product. A well-designed and executed supply chain strategy can make all the difference in achieving performance goals, delivering a compelling user experience, and reaching market penetration and revenue generation. However, many companies that excel in product development and technology innovation often lack proficiency in the process and operational side of the product journey. The complexity of modern, multi-tier , multi-region supply chains can be overwhelming, and supply chains can be disrupted by anything from human error and economic volatility to natural disasters and shifting industry demand. To better manage these risks, many organizations are turning to external partners to help navigate the diverse network of product and service providers. Third-party companies offer an array of technologies, platforms, consulting services, and more to address vari...

 The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry, with companies that adopt these technologies set to see significant gains in efficiency and productivity. According to a report by Accenture, the adoption of IIoT could increase the Gross Domestic Product of the U.S. alone by more than $7 trillion by 2030. But what exactly is the IIoT and how is it driving this economic growth? The IIoT is a flexible concept that encompasses technologies such as sensing, networking, and communications, and combines them with computing and analytics. This enables solid connections between a factory's operational technology (OT) systems and the enterprise information technology (IT) domain. It is the critical enabler for companies to achieve digital transformation and is the essence of the fourth industrial revolution. One of the key elements of the IIoT is the use of smart, digital sensors that can be deployed in large numbers to monitor almost any parameter in...

 EVAA prevents plane crashes with its moral compass: NASA’s Resilient Autonomy team and the Federal Aviation Administration have developed the Expandable Variable Autonomy Architecture (EVAA) to avoid aviation accidents by giving aircraft autonomous capabilities. It can assist human pilots or act on its own and has already saved 11 lives according to Mark Skoog, principal investigator for autonomy research at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. Autonomous tractors increase farm productivity: Autonomous farming can increase the efficiency of large industrial farms, by using self-operating tractors and other machinery, such as John Deere's Autonomous Tractor Concept, which uses GPS and sensor technology to navigate and perform tasks on the farm. Self-driving tractor-trailers fight driver fatigue: Self-driving tractor-trailers can help reduce the risk of accidents caused by driver fatigue, by using sensors and cameras to navigate the roads, and advanced algorithms to make dec...

The field of electronic sensors has come a long way in recent years. From the early days of simple magnetic reed switches and electromechanical microswitches to the sophisticated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) of today, sensors have become more capable, smaller, and more affordable. One of the most interesting aspects of electronic sensors is how they mirror nature. Humans have at least nine senses, and other non-human organisms have even more, such as mantis shrimp with the most complex eyes known in the animal kingdom, or bats and dolphins using echolocation for navigation. Electronic sensors have also evolved to mimic many of these natural senses, such as optical sensors for vision, audio sensors for hearing, olfactory sensors for smelling, gustatory sensors for tasting, and tactile sensors for touch. The Internet of Things (IoT) has played a major role in the development of these advanced sensors. The demand for connected devices has led to the creation of a wide variety of ...

 The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding to outer space, with a growing industry of providers such as Viasat-Inmarsat, HughesNet, Starlink, and others offering connectivity between devices on Earth and satellites. This new frontier for IoT presents a unique capability, as it can potentially serve any location on Earth, including oceans and seas that make up over 70% of the Earth’s surface. In the past, the high cost of building, launching, and operating satellites has made them unattainable for all but large enterprises and government agencies. However, advances in technology have made it possible to build smaller, cheaper satellites, known as CubeSats, which have made it more accessible for businesses and organizations of all sizes. The shipping industry was one of the first to take advantage of satellite-based IoT, as it allows for the tracking of ships across the globe. Other target markets include government and civilian agencies that monitor illegal fishing, wildlife poachin...

 Autonomous systems rely on sensors to gather information about their environment and make decisions. Sensors can be divided into two main categories: passive and active. Passive sensors, such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) and image sensors, detect incident light or changes in parameters without emitting a source signal. Active sensors, such as radar and lidar, emit their own source signal and measure how it changes by detecting reflections. The three main sensor modalities used in autonomous systems today are radar, lidar, and image sensors. These technologies are all used for object detection and collision avoidance, as opposed to location or navigation. They provide visibility of objects that are relevant to the autonomous system, and anything that is not relevant can be safely disregarded. When comparing these technologies , one way to differentiate them is by their use of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Radar systems operate from around 5 MHz to 300 GHz, with higher...

Computer vision technology enables computers to derive actionable results from digital images and video. By allowing computers to "see" and understand images, computer vision is being used in a wide range of applications, from the visual inspection of peanuts on a conveyor belt to the camera systems in autonomous vehicles. Traditionally, image processing has been done in the camera itself or a nearby embedded computer, but the emergence of cloud computing has made it possible to perform image processing on a much larger scale. However, for real-time applications, the latency of sending data to the cloud and back can be too long, making it difficult to use cloud-based solutions. Additionally, there are security concerns with transmitting data over a public network . To solve these problems, some companies have begun processing images and video at the edge, where the data is generated. This reduces latency to near zero, maintains critical data at its source, and eliminates the...

 Autonomous technologies are becoming increasingly advanced thanks to the convergence of high-performance computing, vision systems, sensors, memory, networking technologies , and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Devices such as drones, robots, and driverless vehicles are all examples of autonomous applications that gather information about their surroundings, process the data, interpret it, and then act on it. The key difference between a simple remote-controlled or programmable device and an autonomous machine is its ability to make decisions on its own through the use of AI. The push towards industrial digital transformation and automation is driving the demand for greater autonomy in robotics throughout the industrial sector. The level of autonomy in a robot or drone varies depending on the application. Some machines will have an element of operator intervention or remote control, while others will be fully autonomous thanks to the use of AI for machine learning. This process, kno...

The integration of autonomous technology in vehicles has brought about a new set of concerns, particularly when it comes to safety and security. As the industry moves towards higher levels of automation, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that cybersecurity measures are in place to protect both the vehicles and their passengers. One key standard that is being used in the automotive industry is ISO/SAE 21434, which provides a structured process for incorporating cybersecurity considerations into automotive products. This standard requires manufacturers and suppliers to demonstrate due diligence in implementing cybersecurity engineering and ensures that cybersecurity management is applied throughout the supply chain. The development of automated driving features also brings new challenges to safety. Historically, automotive electrical and electronic systems have been regulated according to the functional safety standard ISO 26262, which assures a high level of resilience in th...

Over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV has long been considered a thing of the past, with many households opting for streaming services instead. However, the introduction of NextGen TV has changed the game, offering a combination of benefits that no other content delivery option can match. The story of NextGen TV began four decades ago, when the federal government, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), and the private industry decided to transition OTA TV transmission from analog to digital. This was a massive undertaking that involved spectrum auctions, channel reallocations, the development of new transmission blueprints, aspect ratio conversion, and expensive equipment changes. As of 2009, legacy tuners could no longer receive OTA broadcasts in the US, and millions of televisions had to be modified to accept digital OTA signals. The government provided up to two $40 coupons for digital-to-analog converters for each household, but demand exceeded expectations, and allocations fell...

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the most ambitious space telescope mission to date, and its launch on Christmas Day 2021 was a milestone in the history of space exploration. NASA, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), launched the telescope from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. The $10 billion telescope's launch was captured in high-definition and streamed live to the control center as it happened, thanks to a vision system developed by Réaltra. Réaltra is a division of Realtime Technologies based in Dublin, Ireland. The company has manufactured, integrated, and tested the electronic boards for the data acquisition systems for a wide range of past and future space missions since 2006. Its mission log includes SpaceX Falcon 9, Vega-C, and Ariane 5. It is also contracted to provide a vision system for Ariane 6. The system used to capture the deployment of the JWST, called the RLT-VIKI-x or VIKI, was initially intended f...

 The current chip shortage is causing major headaches for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across all industries. The shortage of components is causing delays in production and shipping, and ultimately impacting the bottom line for businesses. In order to mitigate the effects of the shortage, OEMs have several options available to them. One possible solution is to redesign the product and remove the missing component . According to a survey by Avnet, this is a direction that many OEMs are now considering. However, this approach can be time-consuming and costly, as the entire system must be exhaustively tested and verified. Additionally, if the product is subject to certification, the certification process may need to be repeated. Another option is to bring the next release of the product forward, turning the problem of a missing component into an opportunity to move to the next version of the product early. However, this strategy may not be practical as product lifecycles a...

 When it comes to engineering, shortcuts are often tempting but can come with severe consequences. This was something that I learned the hard way early in my career. I was working in the telecommunications industry, designing equipment for last-mile applications. My company manufactured customer premise and pole mount equipment and I was responsible for performing pre-qualification testing on one of our line card systems that acted as a digital multiplexer. At the time, telecommunication companies had a performance specification for digital subscriber line (DSL) systems. The standard specified that for a certain distance, the data rate had to be maintained at a certain level on the cable which carried both power and data. The issue is that along the length of the cable, different impedances and parasitics like capacitance and inductance can introduce errors into the communication line, degrading the signal. The test procedure called for verifying link speed and signal strength at...

Embedded World 2022, held in Nuremberg, Germany, marked the return of the live event after going digital in 2021. The exhibition and conference offered a platform for companies in the embedded electronics sector to showcase their latest developments and meet with customers and engineers looking to accelerate product development. Four Avnet companies were among the exhibitors, including Avnet Embedded, Avnet Silica, and EBV, which hosted Avnet Abacus. Visitors expressed excitement and enthusiasm to learn about the latest trends and developments in the industry, which had seen a slowdown due to the pandemic. A significant number of exhibitors were suppliers of embedded system building blocks, such as connectors, displays, and antennas, which are available on Avnet's line card. Additionally, more embedded software companies were present, indicating that software reliability is becoming more important for OEMs outside of the usual sectors of automotive and military & aerospace. E...

Wearable technology is quickly becoming a popular trend in the world of technology. From fitness trackers to smartwatches, the market is constantly evolving to offer new and innovative devices that can improve our daily lives. However, one major challenge that engineers face when designing wearable devices is power consumption. With the need for small and lightweight devices, powering them can be a difficult task. In this article, we will discuss seven strategies for designing wearable devices on an ultra-low power budget. Use energy-efficient integrated devices: As semiconductor processes evolve, they deliver smaller integrated devices with lower power dissipation. These devices allow for greater design freedom and can help reduce power consumption in wearable devices. Optimize sensor usage: Transducers, such as electronic and mechanical sensors, are crucial for wearable devices as they provide the interface between the physical and digital domains. However, they can also be major po...

The internet of things (IoT) has the potential to revolutionize the way clinical trials are conducted, making the process faster, more cost-effective, and more accessible to patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more flexible and remote ways of conducting clinical trials, and the IoT is well-suited to this task. One of the main challenges of clinical trials is the cost and time it takes to conduct them. The process typically takes years and can cost billions of dollars. However, with the IoT, data can be collected remotely and in real time, reducing the need for in-person visits and the associated costs. The IoT can also improve the accuracy and quality of data collected during a clinical trial. Wearable sensors and other connected devices can provide continuous monitoring and instant access to data, reducing the need for manual data entry and increasing the reliability of the results. Another advantage of using the IoT for clinical trials is that patients can u...

Prototyping is a crucial step in the product development process , but with the advent of modern technology, the question of whether or not it is still necessary has been raised. The ability to make changes to products through over-the-air updates and constant upgrades has led many to wonder if prototyping is still necessary. From a hardware perspective, prototyping is still an important step in the development process. It allows for the uncovering of unforeseen issues with both design and manufacturing and can be the only way to realize a vision. Physical prototypes can be simpler to manipulate and refine, and additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing make it faster and easier to create physical prototypes. On the other hand, the software perspective argues that with modern computing , physical prototyping may be becoming redundant. Virtual and augmented reality, along with computer modeling, can create highly detailed and realistic models that can be used to "see...

The current chip shortage is causing engineers to think creatively about how to overcome component supply issues. One solution is device emulation, which involves replacing multiple discrete integrated circuits using a single programmable device such as a microcontroller, CPLD, or FPGA. The choice of which part to use for emulation depends on the cost and performance requirements of the application. According to Shakeel Peera, associate vice president of Microchip’s FPGA business unit, if the application requires low-level sequential processing with tolerance for a certain amount of latency or has many state-machine-based control structures and needs to consume very low power, then an MCU might be the best choice. For more intensive applications, an FPGA may be the better option as they offer a high level of integration with power-efficient parallel processing and complex I/O. Using a programmable device can also improve time-to-market and lower non-recurring engineering costs. Micro...

The emergence of smart building automation is revolutionizing the way buildings are managed and operated. With the availability of internet of things (IoT) devices, wireless networking, and new sensing technologies, building management systems are now able to provide safer, more comfortable, and more efficient environments. The traditional building management systems may have limited capacity to manage a whole building, lack the ability to handle additional sensor inputs, and may be unable to provide comprehensive data feeds that act as the basis for sophisticated current and predictive usage analyses. However, the use of enabling technologies such as open networking strategies, wireless IoT sensors, and battery-powered IoT sensors is addressing many of these issues. Open networking strategies allow greater integration and information exchange between smart building automation and legacy management systems. Smart buildings are also gaining more comprehensive networking facilities using...

Image sensors are an essential part of vision systems , and their integration into hardware and software can be a complex process. The key to successful integration is a robust and flexible interface between the hardware and software, which is typically achieved through the use of a driver. A driver is a software component that acts as the counterpart to the hardware element, providing the system's software with access to the features of the image sensor. Drivers are often specific to a particular component and can be developed and provided by the hardware component manufacturer. They can also be specific to the operating system being used, with Linux being a popular choice due to its wide range of available drivers. When selecting an image sensor for an embedded vision application, it's important for engineers to consider the available driver options for the sensor. Generic drivers can provide a good starting point, but they may not have all the features or functionality neede...

 Lighting plays a crucial role in ensuring that our homes, offices, and factories keep us healthy, comfortable, and productive. However, when it comes to lighting , we often treat all indoor spaces as if they are the same. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the importance of light in our lives by designating May 16 as the annual International Day of Light. The Good Light Group, a non-profit alliance, argues that humans need plenty of daylight to synchronize their body clocks. If people are spending almost all their time indoors, indoor lighting should mimic the positive effects of natural daylight. The group defines good light as lighting that is attractive, of high quality, comfortable for the eyes, and dynamic. It also states that good light has spectral characteristics that vary according to the time of day or specific tasks and adapts to users’ needs. One way to achieve this is by implementing a smart lighting strategy, whic...

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has been around for decades, but the introduction of micro LEDs has changed the way we think about it. As the name suggests, micro LEDs are tiny versions of the regular LEDs engineers use in embedded systems. The main application areas for micro LEDs are displays of various shapes and sizes, from very small to very big. MicroLEDs are defined as LEDs smaller than 100 micrometers (um) in size. This site is significantly smaller than traditional LEDs, and it opens up new possibilities for applications. The main advantage of micro LEDs is their increased brightness and higher power efficiency compared to OLED or LCD-based displays. This makes them ideal for microdisplays, which are defined as very small displays used for near-eye applications (i.e. not direct view). These displays are usually under 1-inch in size, with high performance (in terms of resolution, brightness, and refresh rates). The manufacturing process of micro LEDs is challenging due to...

As the cost of radar and lidar technologies continues to decrease, new opportunities are emerging in various industries. One of the most significant growth areas for radar technology is in the automotive sector, as advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) and semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles drive demand. Automotive radar applications include adaptive cruise control, assisted braking, and blind-spot detection. However, as the technology of autonomous vehicles develops, there will be a need for an all-around view of other vehicles and a way of determining how they are moving. Radar systems operate over a vast range of frequency bands, from about 5 MHz to 300 GHz. The IEEE has classified these frequency bands into several designations, including HF, VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka, V, W, and mm. Microwave radar, classified as between 300 MHz to 30 GHz, can be used for imaging, non-contact measurement of chest motion to monitor breathing, detecting a person's movement in bed for ...