Latest News

Aetina quadruples AI power efficiency

Mon, Nov 18, 2019

To support the demand for more smart applications for AI embedded system and application developers, Aetina offers a series of system on modules (SoMs) built with Nvidia Jetson modules. The company has compared its Nvidia Jetson AGX Xavier edge computing platform with the RTX 2080 graphics card. Using the Aetina Jetson AGX Xavier AI computing platform, which has 512 CUDA computing cores and 11 TFLOPS of AI computing inference, the company compared the Nvidia RTX 2080 high-performance graphics card which provides 20.14TFLOPS computing performance, but it needs 225W for operation. However, with the Xavier platform, it only cost 30W for operation, bringing 0.367 TFLOPS/W, for a four-fold improvement in AI performance effciency, reports Aetina, compared to RTX 2080’s 0.09 TFLOPS/W. The Xavier platform supports various I/O extension, external high-speed Net card, and flexible match with different camera modules. As an SoM platform, the Aetina Xavier platform is easy to deploy at any edge position in the embedded IoT environment, lower the AI latency, and bring a perfect AIoT (AI of things) chain at the edge.

Using the software, the Aetina R&D team optimised the Openpose algorithm, to detect human skeletons and capture several people in real-time. With the data from the skeleton, it can define the pose with action, execute a higher-level application.

With Aetina Jetson AGX Xavier edge AI computing platform, high-performance with low power consumption can realise an AI application of collapse detection in the intelligent medical sector and also conduct customer behaviour analysis in smart retail applications.

Aetina was founded in Taiwan in 2012, as a support provider of high-performance GPGPU and Jetson edge AI computing solutions for embedded applications. The company focuses on the industrial market, providing industrial components and longevity of service.

http://www.aetina.com

> Read More

Rohde & Schwarz and LG verify wireless emergency alerts

Mon, Nov 18, 2019

New FCC enhanced targeting rules, due to take effect this month, will mean that providing the ability to geo-target residents who receive wireless emergency alerts (WEA) will soon be a mandatory requirement.

Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with LG Electronics Mobile Comm USA have verified WEA 3.0 features related to geo-fencing using an LG G8 ThinQ mobile smartphone. The enhanced targeting rules imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), require wireless providers to reach 100 per cent of the targeted geographic area specified by government issuers, with no more than a 0.1-mile (160m) overshoot.

WEAs are a critical part of the nation’s emergency readiness system for warning the public about dangerous weather, missing children and other emergencies. Geographic targeting is a necessary mobile device feature as alerting citizens not affected by a specific emergency could cause unnecessary panic and safety risks.

The Rohde & Schwarz solution consists of the R&S CMW500 radio communication tester and the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. The solution verifies mobile device signalling according to WEA 3.0 geo-fencing specifications. It can also cover 3GPP conformance and network operator test plans for LTE, WLAN, WCDMA and GSM location-based services.

Bryan Helmick, product manager for mobile radio testers at Rohde & Schwarz USA, explained, “Test systems that can verify device compliance are critical to the successful roll-out of the FCC’s enhanced targeting requirements. This effort between Rohde & Schwarz and LG Electronics helps to further the commercial rollout of WEA 3.0 and geo-fencing.”

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com

> Read More

Multi-band wireless communication LSI suits smart meters around world

Mon, Nov 18, 2019

A multi-band (sub-1GHz/2.4GHz) wireless communication large scale integration LSI chip, the ML7421, is optimised for applications requiring low power consumption over relatively long distances. Lapis Semiconductor, part of the Rohm group, says typical end users are smart meters, gas/fire alarms, smart agriculture and home/building security systems.

The use of smart meters has increased dramatically in Japan since 2015 and the Wireless M-bus system was launched in Europe. At the same time, there is a trend to collect and manage sensor data using wireless networks not only to optimise energy consumption and lighting in buildings but also for crime surveillance and disaster prevention. These wireless sensor networks are also increasingly used to improve productivity in agriculture.

The ML7421 covers the sub-1GHz frequency band (400MHz to 960MHz) and the 2.4GHz frequency band, providing universal compatibility. Previously, it was necessary to select wireless LSIs for each country and develop devices for them. By supporting the 2.4GHz band available world-wide, a single device can be deployed globally. Additionally, in environments where communication at 2.4GHz is unstable, long-distance Sub-1GHz communication is available. For this reason, 2.4GHz and Sub-1GHz can be used as bridged communication depending on the application or the environment. The ML7421 can be used in radio stations compliant to ETSI EN 300 200, FCC PART15, and ARIB STD-T66, T67, T108 with several packet handling functions based on Wireless M-Bus and IEEE802.15.4g.

It has stable wireless characteristics even under changing environmental parameters such as voltage and temperature fluctuations, says the company. Fluctuations over temperature (-40 to +85 degrees C) are only 0.5dB in Tx output power and 1.0dB in Rx sensitivity. A DC/DC converter, high-efficiency class-E power amplifier and a high-speed radio wave check function allow the average current consumption to decrease by 15 per cent compared with conventional Lapis products, to lower system power consumption and prolong battery life.

Improving delta-sigma ADCs makes it possible to achieve flexible data rate demodulation up to 300kbits per second for global usage, while improving receiver sensitivity. As a result, the ML7421 is suitable for equipment used outdoors such as smart meters and various IoT sensors. These stable characteristics make it possible to extend long-range communication further with high power amplifier, adds the company.

https://www.lapis-semi.com

> Read More

Ultra-Wideband IC opens doors for hands-free car access

Thu, Nov 14, 2019

For hands-free smartphone car access, NXP, the BMW Group and Continental are working together to develop new automotive uses, based on NXP’s new automotive ultra wideband (UWB) IC.

The NXP NCJ29D5 is the first of a new generation of UWB ICs designed specifically for the demands of the global automotive industry. Together, with NXP connectivity and security solutions, such as Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC) and Secure Element (SE), it enables true secure hands-free smart access, says NXP, and supports standardisation in vehicle connectivity.

UWB provides precise, secure, real-time localisation capabilities, superior to other wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, explains NXP. The technology is designed to give spatial awareness to UWB-equipped cars, mobiles and other smart devices, to enable cars to know exactly where the users are, for smartphone-based car access with the same level of convenience as key fobs. Users can open and start cars, while leaving their phones in their pockets or bags, and enjoy secure remote parking via smartphone. The UWB IC maximises protection against car theft through relay attacks.

The three partners and others are jointly working on UWB implementations through the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and IEEE, and combining vehicle, mobile and consumer devices. Efforts for standardisation aim to enable a global standard for hands-free smart access and other automotive localisation, based on UWB.

Commenting on the ubiquity of smartphones, Dr Olaf Müller, head of development digital access functions, BMW Group, said: “We are convinced that the smartphone-based comfort access is just the beginning of a series of innovative vehicle-related UWB use cases.”

For Philippe Fournet-Fayat, director at Continental AG for car access systems: “To deliver new use cases, such as smartphone access and remote parking requires the ultra-precise real-time localisation capabilities of UWB.”

As well as smart access and remote parking, NXP’s automotive UWB targets short range radar, smartphone valet parking, electric vehicle charging, drive through payment and the car-as-a-key for seamlessly access garage door/parking.

http://www.nxp.com/UWB

> 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