u-blox introduces new LTE-M modules with integrated GNSS to boost industrial connectivity  

u-blox has announced two new LTE-M cellular module series, the SARA-R52 and LEXI-R52. These modules, designed for industrial applications, are based on the u-blox UBX-R52 cellular chip and are tailored for integrated and concurrent positioning and wireless communication needs. Typical IoT use cases include fixed and mobile applications such as metering and utility, asset tracking and monitoring, as well as healthcare.

A set of new features embedded within the u-blox UBX-R52 chip will allow users to dispense with additional components to design their products. SpotNow is a new positioning feature unique to u-blox, which provides position data with a 10 m accuracy within a couple of seconds. It is meant for occasional tracking applications such as recycling waste dumpsters, elderly trackers, or cleaning machines. The uCPU feature allows users to run their own software within the chip without using an external MCU. The uSCM (Smart Connection Manager), on the other hand, is designed for automatic connectivity management to achieve either best performance or lowest power consumption, for example when a connection is lost and needs to be re-established.

The new u-blox R52 series also introduces a new combo module designed to offer simultaneous GNSS and cellular connectivity – an important attribute for applications requiring continuous or cyclic tracking. The u-blox SARA-R520M10 combo module comes equipped with an integrated u-blox M10 GNSS receiver and ensures concurrent tracking with low-power consumption, better TTFF, and improved RF sensitivity. It is tailored for users who seek the simplicity of a pre-integrated cellular and GNSS solution.

Many LTE-M modules only offer an RF output power of 20-21 dBm, whereas the new R52 series offers 23 dBm, ensuring stable connectivity in challenging coverage conditions. The LEXI-R52 provides the same features as the SARA-R52, but in a smaller form factor (16 x 16 x 2 mm), ideal for ultra-small applications like wearables.

Samples are available now, with volume production scheduled for Q3 2024.

https://www.u-blox.com

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ZF launches a battery-free energy harvesting switch module.

ZF has announced a battery-free and wireless switch module which is based on ZF’s patented energy harvesting technology and the EnOcean protocol.

As a member of the EnOcean Alliance, ZF succeeded in fully certifying the switch module in accordance with the EnOcean RF standard which is especially designed for energy harvesting solutions.

The ZF switch module uses the RF frequency 868 MHz and operates energy self-sufficient i.e. batteries and wires are completely redundant. The energy for sending a RF protocol is generated by the actuation of a very compact inductive generator (20.1 x 7.3 x 14.3 mm).

The maintenance-free modules are compatible with various switch designs available on the market. As a wireless solution, these radio modules offer flexibility and design freedom in order to realise individual requirements.

Besides the switch module with EnOcean protocol, a module for KNX-RF is available in series production. Also customer-specific protocols are possible.

At Light+Building in Frankfurt from 3rd to 8th March 2024, ZF shows in hall 9.0, stand no. E21 various energy harvesting applications in the area of Smart Home & Smart Building.

For further information on the energy harvesting product range from ZF, please click here: https://switches-sensors.zf.com/energy-harvesting/

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New inertial GNSS smart antenna from Septentrio

Septentrio has announced AntaRx-Si3. This is the first GNSS/INS (Inertial Navigation System) Smart Antenna on the market in an ultra-rugged enclosure, designed for easy installation on machines such as agriculture robots. AntaRx-Si3 is the new member of the family of receivers leveraging FUSE+, which is designed to answer the need for position availability in tough industrial environments where GNSS signal reception may be temporarily compromised, such as under foliage. The IMU sensor in FUSE+ also improves positioning integrity and reliability, which is critical for autonomous systems.

“With AntaRx-Si3 you get a receiver delivering positioning information with a high level of availability and integrity, that you can install with minimal effort. This is especially beneficial for after-market upgrades. It also allows removal of this component at the end of the day to protect against theft or vandalism,” commented Danilo Sabbatini, Product Manager of GNSS/INS at Septentrio.

It is designed to be mounted outside on a machine for operation in harsh environments out in the field. Enclosed in an impact resistant polycarbonate IP69K housing it can handle high levels of shocks and vibrations. This multi-frequency receiver delivers Septentrio’s field proven RTK positioning down to the centimetre level. AntaRx-Si3 has a built-in 4G cell modem, so there is no need for additional modem integration to acquire high-accuracy corrections.

AntaRx-Si3 leverages Septentrio’s GNSS+ algorithms with advanced multipath mitigation, which allows uninterrupted operation in environments where satellite signals could be reflected off nearby machinery or high structures such as silos. It delivers positioning at a high update rate and low latency, which are critical for control loops in autonomous movement or rotation.

https://www.septentrio.com/

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Cadence unveils Millennium Platform the industry’s first accelerated digital twin  

Cadence has announced the Cadence Millennium Enterprise Multi-physics Platform, the industry’s first hardware/software (HW/SW) accelerated digital twin solution for multiphysics system design and analysis. Targeted at one of the biggest opportunities for greater performance and efficiency, the first-generation Cadence Millennium M1 accelerates high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Available in the cloud or on premises, this turnkey solution includes graphics processing units (GPUs) from leading providers, extremely fast interconnections and an enhanced Cadence high-fidelity CFD software stack optimised for GPU acceleration and generative AI. Millennium M1 instances can be fused into a unified cluster, enabling customers to achieve an unprecedented same-day turnaround time and near-linear scalability when simulating complex mechanical systems.

Designing mechanical systems for new levels of performance and efficiency has become a key priority in the automotive, aerospace and defence (A&D), energy and turbo-machinery industries. To optimise performance and reduce greenhouse gases, automotive designers are focused on improving fuel efficiency, reducing drag and noise, and extending electric vehicle range. Increasing efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and reducing maintenance frequency are top of mind for A&D and turbo-machinery design engineers. Advances in multi-physics simulation technology are critical to achieving these goals. Performance, accuracy, capacity and accelerated computing are all essential to enabling digital twin simulations that explore more design innovations, providing confidence that they will function as intended before undertaking prototype development and testing.

The Millennium Platform addresses these needs. Highlights and benefits include:
* Performance: Combines best-in-class GPU-resident CFD solvers with dedicated GPU hardware to provide supercomputer-equivalent throughput per GPU of up to 1000 CPU cores
* Efficiency: Reduces turnaround time from weeks to hours with 20X better energy efficiency compared to its CPU equivalent
* Accuracy: Leverages Cadence Fidelity CFD solvers to provide unmatched accuracy to address complex simulation challenges
* High-Performance Computing: Built with an extensible architecture and massively scalable Fidelity solvers to provide near-linear scalability on multiple GPU nodes
* AI Digital Twin: Rapid generation of high-quality multi-physics data enables generative AI to create fast and reliable digital twin visualisations of the optimal system design solution
* Turnkey Solution: The industry’s first solution that couples GPU compute with modern and scalable CFD solvers, providing an optimised environment for accelerated CFD and multidisciplinary design and optimisation
* Flexibility: Available with GPUs from leading vendors, in the cloud with minimum 8 GPU configurations, or on premises with a minimum 32 GPU configuration—providing a flexible and scalable solution to fit each customer’s deployment needs

“Throughout our 35-year history, Cadence has been focused on increasing performance with no loss of accuracy for the most challenging computational applications. Algorithmic throughput remains a key priority, and we’re now leveraging generative AI to harvest knowledge gained from massive quantities of design and simulation data,” said Ben Gu, corporate vice president of R&D for multi-physics systems analysis at Cadence. “Our revolutionary Millennium platform is a giant leap forward, delivering unprecedented acceleration and scalability of digital twin and AI applications. CFD is poised to benefit greatly from performance and efficiency gains, and the tremendous power of the Millennium M1 is disrupting industries that must explore more design innovations and bring them to market faster.”

https://www.cadence.com

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