Tool suite upgrade increases LoRa network capacity and robustness

A software upgrade for LoRa ICs and gateways significantly increases network capacity, robustness to interference and enables a low power and reliable direct data links from sensors to satellites, says Semtech. The software enhancement can be leveraged by second generation LoRa ICs to enable the LoRaWAN standard new data rate, long range frequency hopping spread spectrum (LR-FHSS), which has been recently ratified by the LoRa Alliance.  

The suite of tools will be specifically enabled on Semtech’s LoRa transceivers: SX1261, SX1262, LoRa Edge platform and the V2.1 gateway reference design. For LoRaWAN networks where V2.1 gateways are deployed, operators can enable the new capability with a simple gateway firmware upgrade, advises Semtech. In addition to expanded capacity, LoRaWAN networks will be more robust in harsh radio conditions (deep indoor) and in some regions will offer the possibility to increase terrestrial coverage.

“As the smart cities trend continues to proliferate globally, the new capability is a step for Semtech’s LoRa platform toward massive IoT deployments in densely populated areas,” said Marc Pégulu, vice president of IoT product marketing for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “In addition, the enablement of direct IoT to satellite services revolutionises the industry with affordable ubiquitous connectivity for remote areas, ultimately creating a smarter and more secure planet,” he adds.

Semtech’s LoRa device-to-,cloud platform is a long range, low power solution for IoT applications, that has been adopted around the globe, explains the company. It enables the rapid development and deployment of low power, cost efficient and long range IoT networks, gateways, sensors, module products and IoT services worldwide. 

Semtech’s LoRa technology provides the communication layer for the LoRaWAN standard, which is maintained by the LoRa Alliance. The open IoT alliance for low power wide area network (LPWAN) applications has been used to deploy IoT networks in over 100 countries. Semtech is a founding member of the LoRa Alliance. 

Semtech supplies analogue and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for infrastructure, high-end consumer and industrial equipment. 

http://www.semtech.com

> Read More

Cloud-enabled robot is powered by Nvidia Jetson AI

Software development teams and hardware teams can work in parallel to develop robotic systems, cutting development time by up to 80 per cent, using the Nimbus software, says Cogniteam. The company has announced that the cloud-based robotics development and deployment platform now supports Nvidia Jetson edge AI technology.  The Nimbus’s packaging of field-tested software, such as sensors and AI capabilities, accelerates development time, with rapid up-time for cameras, spatial awareness sensors, and other advanced technologies, which can now be instantly uploaded to assets via the cloud.

The latest Nvidia Isacc release includes support for the Robot Operating System (ROS) developer community, where Nvidia has released new Isaac GEMs, hardware-accelerated software packages to build AI-enabled robots on the Jetson platform. Software developers can install advanced AI algorithms from Nvidia Isaac ROS GEMs and standard ROS packages in just a few clicks, says the company. 

“Pulling from open source to commercial libraries, developers can work harmoniously to test AI algorithms without the worries of compatibility hassles,” said Cogniteam’s co-founder and CEO, Dr. Yehuda Elmaliah.

Nimbus is easy to use, meaning that basic programming can be achieved with minimal experience, according to the company. “This allowed us to begin addressing complex development challenges nearly immediately, without reinventing the wheel,” said Gal Frenkel, co-founder and CEO of RoboDeck. “We worked with Cogniteam to implement their industry-tested sensor technologies with Nvidia’s advanced algorithms and ROS capabilities. Nimbus gave us a powerful investor-ready prototype way ahead of schedule, getting us better prepared for production.”

Customers can use Nimbus to take advantage of their Nvidia integrations and simulate tests for the robots in various environments. Once deployed, teams can remotely update drivers and firmware. In other words, a single platform can be used to deploy a scalable fleet of robots, says Cogniteam. 

http://www.cogniteam.com

> Read More

Quartet board streams four USB3 cameras simultaneously

Capable of streaming four high performance USB3 board level cameras, the Quartet TX2 Embedded is the latest carrier board from Teledyne Flir.

The cameras can stream simultaneously and at full bandwidth. By eliminating peripheral hardware and host systems, it is suitable for space constrained applications. It is pre-integrated with the company’s Spinnaker software development kit (SDK) and offers scalable performance options.

The Quartet TX2 carrier board combines power and data transmission over a single cable per camera in a compact footprint of 138 x 92 x 18.2mm. It enables developers to create compact vision systems using Nvidia’s established TX2 computing module, integrating a powerful single board computer (SBC) into vision systems with limited space.

The Quartet TX2 carrier board can be used with up to four Blackfly S USB3 board level cameras. The Nvidia Jetson deep learning hardware accelerator also allows for decision-making system on a single, compact board. 

Teledyne Flir is a Teledyne Technologies company, specialising in in intelligent sensing solutions for defence and industrial applications. The company was founded in 1978.  

Teledyne Technologies provides sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defence electronics and engineered systems. Teledyne’s operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. 

http://www.teledyne.com

> Read More

Software engine makes lidar data hardware-agnostic

3D spatial intelligence specialist, Outsight, offers the Augmented Lidar Box (ALB), believed to be the first real-time lidar (light detection and ranging) software engine that allows developers to seamlessly use lidar data from any hardware supplier. 

The software within a small computing device works with sensors from different manufacturers (including Velodyne, Ouster, Hesai, Robosense and Innoviz) and  instantly converts raw 3D data input to accessible, actionable data. 

Lidar technology is increasingly used across a range of industries outside of the automotive sector, such as energy, intelligent transportation systems, logistics, manufacturing, smart infrastructure, defence, space and agriculture.

3D lidar was introduced in 2005 to give autonomous vehicles real time, 360 degree perception. It allows cars to determine the situation on the road, but also to cope with other, more complex tasks, for example, analysing people’s interactions in a certain space, calculating the exact volume and quantity of objects in a truck, or enabling many robotics applications. It is estimated there will be 16 million lidar sensors in smart cities, security and industry verticals by 2030, and 13 million installed in vehicles. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) such as smart intersections and smart infrastructure applications are expected to be the main drivers of market growth, with software for lidar in smart infrastructure and ITS applications expected to account for at least 40 per cent of the value.

Lidar sensor prices are dropping as more companies operate in the market but there are problems of data interpretation and ease of use of available devices, reports Outsight. Selecting the right lidar sensor from dozens of hardware suppliers and more than 100 available products, without any standard, is a time-consuming and inefficient use of engineering resources, argues the company.

It says its ALB real time software allows any engineer from any market segment to use lidar data without needing to become a 3D expert because it includes the fundamental insight commonly required by users (e.g., localisation and mapping, object identification and tracking, segmentation and classification).

The ALB is believed to be the first lidar pre-processor. It is a real time software engine that turns any lidar into a spatial intelligence device. It overcomes the complexity of using raw 3D data, so any application developer or integrator can efficiently use lidar without needing to become a 3D lidar expert, says Outsight.   

http://www.outsight.tech 

> Read More

About Smart Cities

This news story is brought to you by smartcitieselectronics.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the Smart City Electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news. To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep yourself informed on the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: Smart Cities Registration