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Low power multi-GNSS module has built-in antenna

Fri, Jul 08, 2022

Low power global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology can be integrated into end devices using the SAM-M10Q antenna module, said u-blox.

The antenna module is claimed to have best-in-class low-power positioning. It features an integrated antenna and is intended to integrate u-blox M10 GNSS technology into devices used for industrial tracking and telematics, automation and monitoring or small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for example.

The low power u-blox M10 GNSS positioning engine in the module offers maximum position availability with concurrent reception of all four GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou), said u-blox, for higher positioning accuracy and a faster position fix, even in weak signal environments such as urban canyons.

The module’s integrated wide-band antenna, SAW filter and low noise amplifier (LNA) architecture deliver out-of-band jamming immunity. This is particularly helpful for asset tracking and telematic devices located near a cellular modem, advised u-box.

No external components or radio frequency (RF) expertise are required for use with the SAM-M10Q, claimed u-blox. It is pin-to-pin compatible with the company’s previous antenna module (the SAM-M8Q).

The SAM-M10Q is a surface mount device, suitable for automated manufacturing processes. It measures 15.5 x 15.5 x 6.3mm.

Engineering samples of the SAM-M10Q antenna module will be available in August 2022.

u‑blox specialises in positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Its services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. The company offers chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity used by customers to develop innovative and reliable solutions for the IoT.

The company’s headquarters are in Thalwil, Switzerland and u-blox has offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

http://www.u-blox.com

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Multi-zone ToF sensor detects gesture recognition and human presence detection

Thu, Jul 07, 2022

User presence and gesture recognition enhance security for PC users. The VL53L5CP FlightSense time of flight (ToF) multi-zone sensor by STMicroelectronics is being embedded in select Lenovo PCs.

The FlightSense ToF multi-zone sensor is delivered with a suite of software algorithms to provide a turnkey solution for user detection, gesture recognition, and intruder alert, specially designed for the PC market, said ST.

The FlightSense multi-zone sensors continuously scan their field of view to map the scene and gather intelligence without using a camera or recording images. By using ToF technology, the sensors can detect and track multiple targets, calculating at high speed their X/Y/Z co-ordinates and motion.

The VL53L5CP FlightSense multi-zone sensor can detect multiple targets in 64 (8×8) zones within a wide 61 degree field of view. The sensor comes with Presence Premium Plus, ST’s proprietary third generation of algorithms dedicated to PC applications. Interacting with native aspects of the PC hardware and OS, the FlightSense and algorithms are certified at the highest level by Intel, confirmed ST.

The VL53L5CP and Presence Premium Plus software are optimised for PC applications and supported in Windows 11. PC designers can implement innovative features including smart power management, enhanced security, and touchless user interaction. ST said it has pioneered ‘wake on approach’ and ‘walk away lock’ presence technology which enables a seamless always-on user experience while maximising battery-energy savings. Automatic and immediate walk-away lock also prevents unauthorised access and data protection while the user is away.

In addition, multi-human detection (MHD) senses other people in the field of view and analyses their position and movements to assess security risks such as ‘shoulder surfing’. In relevant situations, the system alerts the user.

Another breakthrough innovation in the VL53L5CP, said ST, is robust touchless gesture sensing, which allows the user to control PC applications without touching the screen, keyboard, or mouse. The sensor can detect directional swipes and taps, as well as level adjustments. With access to such information, developers can easily implement instructions such as next or previous slide/song/video, play/pause, and volume control.

ST’s Presence Premium Plus software also enables PC designers to develop custom AI applications in Windows, leveraging the VL53L5CP sensor’s 8×8 multi-zone data to sense user intent, with continuous presence detection. In addition, dynamic programming of the VL53L5CP’s key parameters from Windows allows the end user to personalise parameters such as timing and lock/wake distances.

By enabling these features using non-vision-based ToF technology rather than the PC’s webcam, the VL53L5CP enables superior differentiation in several respects. With no image, it eliminates any privacy concerns. The sensor is always on, hidden behind the bezel, thereby removing dependence on the webcam shutter position. In addition, the sensor integrates a 940nm VCSEL infrared light emitter, invisible to human eyes, which ensures full performance in the dark or low-light conditions. In contrast, cameras need a dedicated power-hungry LED to illuminate the scene.

ST said its FlightSense technology outperforms several other techniques for human detection. Traditional infrared sensors do not measure distance and are affected by the colour and reflectance of detected objects, for example. Ultrasound is sensitive to noisy environments and may affect pets’ hearing, while radar requires very complex software development on top of power-hungry signal processing, said the company.

The VL53L5CP FlightSense multi-zone ToF sensor is in volume production and available now with the Presence Premium Plus algorithms.

http://www.st.com

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AIG-300 IIoT gateways integrate Azure IoT Edge for remote management

Wed, Jul 06, 2022

Addressing the challenge of a secure and reliable industrial IoT (IIoT) gateway which offers regular security patches to remedy system vulnerabilities, Moxa offers the AIG-300 series. The IIoT gateways come with Azure IoT Edge for quick and reliable connectivity to the cloud.

IIoT gateways need to be highly secure and reliable to facilitate seamless edge-to-cloud data acquisition and device management, explained Moxa. The AIG-300 IIoT gateway seamlessly integrates Azure IoT Edge and is powered by ThingsPro, for data acquisition and device management. Data collected from devices can be transferred to Azure IoT Edge and then on to the Azure IoT Hub with a few simple configuration steps, said Moxa. Devices can also be effectively managed via the Azure IoT Hub to the Azure IoT Edge on the IIoT gateways.

Most IIoT applications are deployed in remote, unmanned, and harsh environments such as a smart grid, energy storage systems, solar fields, oil and gas refineries, and rail-side railway applications. All of these need to maintain normal operations and monitor the device status. The AIG series gateways have a wide operating temperature range and low power consumption, making them suitable for these environments.

The AIG series gateways has resume file transmission, support over the air (OTA) upgrades and secure boot. They can be located in remote sites and upgraded, and maintained to ensure their continuous availability as well as protected against cyberattacks, added Moxa. To avoid disconnections during device crashes and sudden shutdowns, the AIG series comes with built-in recovery functions to enable rollback to the previous stable version of the firmware for uninterrupted network connectivity at remote sites. When a software upgrade fails, the gateways will automatically revert to the software version in the backup, ensuring system stability. A ThingsPro tool simplifies the provisioning process by enabling bulk provisioning of IIoT gateways and performing remote software upgrades.
The AIG-300 series of IIoT gateways feature an Arm Cortex-A7 dual core 1GHz processor, one CAN port, four direct inputs, four direct outputs and an operating temperature range of -40 to +70 degrees C.
Moxa provides edge connectivity, industrial computing and network infrastructure for the industrial IoT. It has over 30 years of industry experience and a distribution and service network that reaches customers in more than 80 countries.

http://www.moxa.com

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Sensor algorithm detects parking spaces and automatically parks vehicle

Wed, Jul 06, 2022

BaseLabs may have the answer to every motorist’s prayer when driving around a busy town centre. The sensor fusion specialist has added dedicated functionality for automated parking to its algorithm for processing high resolution sensor data in its Dynamic Grid software.

As a result, Dynamic Grid detects parking spaces from semantically processed camera data. Combined with what is described as a reliable estimation of free space available, it enables the vehicle to automatically approach parking spaces and park independently. This functionality matches with the integrated detection of dynamic and static objects in the Dynamic Grid, said BaseLabs. The algorithm runs on automotive CPUs in real time and is implemented according to ISO 26262.

Using automated parking functions in the public domain imposes strict environmental perception requirements, explained BaseLabs. Static objects like kerbs and parked vehicles need to be detected of course but detecting dynamic objects like pedestrians, bicycles, and other vehicles is even more critical. In addition to these pre-known objects, the systems must also be able to reliably detect pre-unknown moving objects in order to avoid accidents. The Dynamic Grid detects and tracks objects of arbitrary shapes without requiring extensive training, said the company and determines the direction of movement and the velocity of dynamic objects. The sensor data from radars, lidars, or cameras with semantic segmentation is processed in a single integrated step in real time. In this way, it avoids inconsistencies in the environmental model that typically occur when two methods are combined.

“The Dynamic Grid has three key advantages that apply to automated parking: a high detection rate, a low false alarm rate, and it runs on production CPUs”, says Norman Mattern, head of product development at BaseLabs.

“With the Dynamic Grid as a software library, our customers gain very fast and cost-effective access to a sensor fusion technology that is suitable for series production for tomorrow’s driving and parking functions,” added managing director, Robin Schubert.

https://www.baselabs.de

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Low power multi-GNSS module has built-in antenna

Multi-zone ToF sensor detects gesture recognition and human presence detection

AIG-300 IIoT gateways integrate Azure IoT Edge for remote management

Sensor algorithm detects parking spaces and automatically parks vehicle

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