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Sensor fusion creates software alternative for autonomous indoor bots

Mon, Mar 29, 2021

Precise dead reckoning software can save indoor robots the cost of expensive camera or lidar-based systems, says Ceva, as it introduces MotionEngine Scout.

MotionEngine Scout can also be used for indoor robots and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in industrial or commercial settings.

The sensor and processor-agnostic embedded software fuses measurements taken from the robot’s optical flow sensor, wheel encoders and inertial measurement unit (IMU) to deliver dead reckoning accuracy above individual sensor errors. According to Ceva, it reduces the trajectory error by a factor of five on vinyl, tile, and various styles of carpet flooring.

Chad Lucien, vice president and general manager of the sensor fusion business unit at Ceva believes: “MotionEngine Scout paves the way for a new class of indoor robots that can intelligently navigate their environment while enabling OEMs to achieve the challenging price points necessary to meet end user demand.”

MotionEngine Scout simplifies and accelerates an OEM integration timeline by providing a single software package that interfaces with the IMU, optical flow sensor and wheel encoders. It also provides an integrated sensor output with the unified robot pose (includes location and orientation in 3D space). It supports a broad range of commercial IMU sensors from market leaders, including STMicroelectronics, Bosch-Sensortec, and TDK InvenSense for supply chain flexibility, reducing the risk of supply shortages and providing options for cost and performance trade-offs.

Ceva has partnered with PixArt to incorporate its PAA5101 dual light optical tracking sensor.

PixArt’s director of strategic marketing, Charles Chong, adds: “Our PAA5101 sensor and the MotionEngine Scout software combines to deliver a robust, high-performance solution, without the need for customised sensors or lenses, lowering the overall [bill of materials] BoM and simplifying the design effort.”

MotionEngine Scout joins Ceva’s portfolio for autonomous indoor robots which includes MotionEngine Robotics software, the FSP200 sensor hub, the BNO086 system-in-package, and the FSM300 module.

Ceva also offers complementary intellectual property (IP) products required for autonomous robots, including its RivieraWaves Bluetooth and Wi-Fi platforms for connectivity and its SensPro2 sensor hub digital signal processor (DSP) which is capable of handling multiple sensor processing workloads from sensors such as cameras, lidar and IMUs.

MotionEngine Scout is available for evaluation now.

http://www.ceva-dsp.com

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Bluetooth 5.0 for RE microcontroller uses SOTB for energy harvesting

Fri, Mar 26, 2021

The latest member of Renesas Electronics’ RE family of microcontroller is the RE01B, which has Bluetooth 5.0 support. The 32-bit low power microcontroller was developed using Renesas’ SOTB (Silicon on Thin Buried Oxide) process technology.

The Bluetooth-capable RE01B is suitable for energy harvesting systems and intelligent IoT devices that operate constantly at extremely low power levels without having to replace or recharge batteries. The RE01B microcontroller makes it easier to implement regular data management and firmware updates over Bluetooth while maintaining low power consumption, which extends the battery life.

The on-chip energy harvesting control circuit (rapid start up capacitor charging and secondary battery charge protection functionality) allows users to achieve battery-less Bluetooth communication. Energy harvesting and power storage can be directly connected to the RE01B.

The microcontroller is suitable for compact healthcare devices such as pulse oximeters and biomedical sensor patches, remote controls with voice recognition capabilities and smart meter modules. RE01B can also be used for IoT devices that require constant operation, period data collection and updates, such as devices for monitoring the elderly, children or assets in transit.

The RE01B is built around the Arm Cortex-M0+ core and Renesas’ proprietary SOTB process technology. It operates at a maximum operating frequency of 64MHz and achieves current consumption as low as 35 microA/MHz during operation and 600nA during standby; this is among the lowest in the industry for a Bluetooth-capable microcontroller, says Renesas. It can also be combined with Renesas’ ISL9123 ultra-low Iq DC/DC converter, configured as an external step-down regulator, to reduce current consumption during operation down to 15 microA/MHz to improve power efficiency.

It has 1.5Mbyte flash memory and 256Kbyte SRAM with Bluetooth functionality, suitable for over the air (OTA) firmware updating.

The RE01B is in a 64-pin QFN package measuring 8.0 x 8.0mm.

Security function include Trusted Secure IP and Renesas offers application programming interfaces (APIs) conforming to standard protocols, such as heart rate profile (HRP), environment sensing profile (ESP), and automation I/O profile (AIOP), in addition to Bluetooth 5.0 protocol stack.

Development tools for the RE family, include a QE for Bluetooth Low Energy, which generates programs for custom Bluetooth profiles that can then be integrated into the user’s own application programs, and a Bluetooth test tool suite, which provides a graphical user interface that allows users to perform initial wireless characteristics evaluations and Bluetooth functionality verification.

The RE01B is available now. The EB-RE01B evaluation kit from Tessera Technology is also available now.

http://www.renesas.com

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u-blox increases accessibility with L1/L5 timing modules and antenna

Fri, Mar 26, 2021

Multi-band, timing modules which concurrently support the L1 and L5 GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signals have been released by u-blox. The ZED-F9T-10B and LEA-F9T-10B timing modules, and the RCB-F9T-1 timing card deliver the nanosecond-level timing accuracy required to synchronise cellular network base stations and smart power grids.

Furthermore, the ANN MB1 L1/L5 multi-band antenna can be used to evaluate the performance of the timing modules and develop high precision for heavy machinery, ground robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The timing modules’ multi-band capability allows them to compensate the ionosphere error from all GNSS satellite constellations and reduce the timing error under clear skies to less than five nanoseconds without the need for an external GNSS correction service. To achieve maximum performance, the modules track signals from as many satellites as possible.

The L1/L5 signal combination complements u-blox’s existing portfolio based on L1 and L2 signals, and are timely as satellite constellations transmitting signals on the L5 band near completion. Modernised L5 signals are expected to deliver improved performance, especially in difficult urban conditions. The L5 signals fall within the protected aeronautical radio navigation service (ARNS) frequency band and are also less subject to RF interference.

The LEA-F9T-10B module has an extended -40 to +105 degree C temperature range. U-blox says it will enable robust products that leverage these new signals in the L5 frequency band to be developed.

In addition to offering a differential timing mode for highly accurate local timing, the modules include improved anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technologies to detect and flag malicious RF interference. There is also a secure boot function and secure interfaces which prevent intruders from tampering with the messages between the receiver and the host system. There is also time-receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (T-RAIM) which provides highest-level timing integrity, says u-blox.

The u-blox ANN-MB1 L1/L5 multi-band antenna supports the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou GNSS constellations. It simplifies the testing and deployment of L1/L5 multi-band GNSS solutions, says u-blox. It is available in magnetic and fixed mounting options.

In addition to tracking GNSS signals in the L1 and L5 bands, ANN-MB1 targets developers in industrial navigation and robotics developing precision technology to locate UAVs, ground robots, and agricultural equipment accurately and in real time.

Engineering samples of the u-blox ZED-F9T-10B, RCB-F9T-1, and ANN-MB1 will be available in May 2021, followed by the LEA-F9T-10B.

http://www.u-blox.com

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NuCurrent cuts loose by extending HF wireless charging

Fri, Mar 26, 2021

For product categories that are using RF and inductive charging, NuCurrent has launched NuEva (high frequency) HF development platform based on inductive resonant power transfer.

“There are a great number of product categories that aren’t well-served by RF and inductive charging,” said NuCurrent’s CEO, Jacob Babcock. “NuEva HF delivers power levels about 1,000 times higher than RF and it provides positioning flexibility about 100 times that of Qi,” he said. It can also charge multiple devices simultaneously.

The NuEva HF platform operates at 6.78MHz, the same frequency as the standard developed by the AirFuel Alliance. In addition to multi-device charging from a single transmitter, greater spatial freedom and positioning flexibility, the HF method of power transfer delivers high system efficiencies and uniform charging zones and up to 300W power.

“NuEva HF represents a generational leap forward for inductive resonant power transfer,” said Babcock. It is intended for a range of applications, from gaming and robotics to personal transportation and medical devices, using wireless power.

NuEva HF offers several patented and proprietary technologies developed by NuCurrent. Among these innovations is face “repeater” technology which extends charging surface areas using inexpensive passive electronics driven from a single power source.

There is also multi-layer, multi-turn (MLMT) antennae that increase efficiencies and lower thermals and a variety of methods for cost-effective EMI mitigation, said NuCurrent.

The in-band communications reduce system cost, compared to Bluetooth, claims NuCurrent and there are is added flexibility for siting, with options for power transfer through a variety of materials (e.g. metal, tissue).

NuCurrent supplies developers with wireless power technologies and product integration expertise. Core technologies span magnetics, software and systems simulation. The company has generated over 150 patents granted and pending globally. It also offers internal tools to enhance speed to market, improve product performance and mitigate major development risks. The company says that its systems integration expertise supports manufacturers of appliances, smartphones, wearables, hearables, consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, IoT, sporting equipment and other emerging product categories.

NuCurrent solutions are based on inductive and inductive resonant wireless power transfer which offers convenience, safety, efficiency, and enhanced user experience.

http://www.nucurrent.com

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Sensor fusion creates software alternative for autonomous indoor bots

Bluetooth 5.0 for RE microcontroller uses SOTB for energy harvesting

u-blox increases accessibility with L1/L5 timing modules and antenna

NuCurrent cuts loose by extending HF wireless charging

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