IoT

Mini-ITX form factor board has four video outputs

Tue, May 14, 2019

Scalable processing power for industrial automation, medical equipment and IoT applications is provided with the WADE-8211-Q370, a Mini-ITX form factor embedded system board based on the 8th Generation Intel Core processor (formerly Coffee Lake) and Intel Q370 Express chipset.

The board from Portwell has four independent video outputs. The 8th Generation Intel Core processor is built on 14nm process technology using 3D Tri-gate transistor technology for improved energy efficiency and an increase in performance, according to Portwell. The Mini-ITX Board includes Intel Turbo Boost Technology for faster processing, Intel vPro Technology for superior remote configuration capabilities and Intel Hyperthreading for multi-threaded processing. These features combine to reduce manageability cost and improve security, says Portwell, making the WADE-8211suitable for industrial automation, medical equipment, transportation and retail systems.

Based on Mini-ITX form factor, the WADE-8211 is a suitable size for applications with small footprint computer and supports the powerful Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 and the Intel Pentium / Intel Celeron processor series. There board guarantees highest functionality on a small-sized surface with Intel AMT 12.0 and vPro support, two Intel GbE LAN and BIOS configurable PCI Express lane, says Portwell. It is designed and tested for enhanced operating temperature range up to 60 degrees C and 24/7 continuous operation.

The WADE-8211-Q370 supports up to 32Gbyte non-error correcting code (ECC) DDR4 memory up to 2133MHz on two 260-pin SO-DIMM sockets making it faster than its predecessor. Its expansion interface supports one PCI Express x16 Gen3 (8.0GT per second) for enhanced video performance and supports one Mini-PCIe and two M.2 slots (one M.2 Type E socket (2230) for wireless, one M.2 Type M socket (2242/2260/2280) for SSD).

The board supports four type independent displays, dual DisplayPort, VGA and 24bit LVDS with greater 3D performance compared to its previous generation, reports Portwell. The board operates with a low TDP CPU (35W) and the enhancement in flash playback, rich 2D/3D graphics quality, security and power efficiency makes it suitable for industrial automation, medical imaging, retail automation, transportation and digital signage markets.

https://www.portwell.eu

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GNSS module boasts decimetre level accuracy

Fri, May 03, 2019

Continuous lane accurate positioning is afforded by the ZED-F9K global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and dead-reckoning module for urban environments. According to u-blox, it improves positioning performance x10 over standard precision technology.   

The multi-band GNSS module has built-in inertial sensors. The module combines GNSS receiver technology, signal processing algorithms, and correction services to deliver down to decimeter-level accuracy within seconds, says u-blox. This addresses the evolving needs of advanced driver assisted systems (ADAS) and automated driving markets.

The ZED-F9K high precision dead reckoning module builds on the u‑blox F9 technology. Compatibility with modern GNSS correction services improves positioning accuracy by compensating ionospheric and other errors. The multi-band, multi-constellation real time kinematics (RTK) receiver module receives GNSS signals from all orbiting GNSS constellations. A greater number of visible satellites improves positioning in partially obstructed conditions, while increased satellite signal diversity delivers faster convergence times when signals are interrupted to improve navigation.

Inertial sensors integrated into the module constantly monitor changes in the moving vehicle’s trajectory and deliver lane accurate positioning when satellite signals are partially or completely obstructed, for example when the vehicle is in covered parking areas, tunnels, urban canyons, or wooded areas. When satellite signals become available again, the module combines inertial sensor data with GNSS signals to deliver fast convergence times and high availability of the decimeter-level solution.

The ZED‑F9K’s accuracy and low latency means it also applies to automotive OEMs and Tier 1s developing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems.

Samples will be available upon request by July 2019.

http://www.u-blox.com

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Keysight and Calterah collaborate for connected-car supply chain

Fri, May 03, 2019

Keysight Technologies has announced a collaboration with China’s automotive millimeter wave radar chipset design house, Calterah, to support the design, verification, test and launch of an automotive millimeter wave radar chipset that will drive development of the connected car supply chain.

Calterah released the ALPS family of chips which integrates high-speed ADCs, complete radar signal processing baseband and high-performance CPU core. During design and verification of this chip, Keysight supported Calterah with the company’s E8740A automotive radar signal analysis and generation instrument (pictured) solution for77GHz radar signal receiving and transmission characterisation, radar target simulation, and testing the basic radio frequency parameters of the chip.

Qitao Pan, general manager of the Automotive and Energy Solutions Group at Keysight Technologies China, said: “Keysight has delivered mature and complete testing solutions for key technologies such as millimeter wave radar, automotive Ethernet, automotive wireless interconnect and [vehicle to everything] V2X”

“ALPS is an SoC and its chip architecture and performance parameters are far superior to previous generations, ” said Dr. Wang Dian, chief mmW scientist at Calterah. “Keysight’s measurement solution covers the entire range from digital to analog to RF, ensuring the functionality and performance of each sub-module of ALPS,” he added.

Calterah Semiconductor provides 77GHz CMOS mmWave radar sensor ICs for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), security screening and imaging and the smart home. In 2017, the company mass-produced the first generation of 77GHz and 79GHzCMOS mmWave radar transceiver IC.

Keysight Technologies is focused on optimising networks and bringing electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost with offerings from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimisation in networks and cloud environments. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, aerospace and defence, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics end markets.

http://www.keysight.com

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Arrow and IBM aim to reinvent Airport operations with new IoT solution

Mon, Apr 29, 2019

The Smart Airport Asset Management Solution, co-created with IBM, enables airport operators to improve the performance of escalators, moving walkways, baggage handling systems and potable water cabinets

Arrow Electronics has announced that it has launched the Smart Airport Asset Management Solution, an innovative IoT solution co-created with IBM.

Based on an Arrow-designed and sourced set of IoT sensors and gateways, the IBM Watson® IoT Platform, and IBM Maximo® Enterprise Asset Management software, the solution will provide airport operators with improved operational insights that optimise equipment maintenance to avoid downtime and improve the traveller experience.

“Over seven billion passengers fly every year, so creating smart airports is smart business,” said Aiden Mitchell, vice president of IoT for Arrow. “This solution we have developed with our suppliers will help improve the customer experience and demonstrates the model that IBM and Arrow are implementing across the relationships at the heart of IoT.”

The Smart Airport Asset Management Solution collects data such as temperature, vibration and motor fluid levels from sensors on motors and other moving parts in escalators, moving walkways and baggage handling systems. Additionally, sensors on potable water cabinets measure temperature, open/closed door, water flow and leakage to determine if the cabinet is functional. The solution resolves frequent operational challenges that most negatively impact travellers according to an Airport Service Quality report from the Airport Council International.

Data is collected from the sensors connected to wireless gateways, and then consolidated and analysed on the IBM Watson IoT Platform. The industry-leading IBM Maximo® portfolio creates a more efficient asset management process using the collected data to drive workflows, resource allocation, and provides analytics to assess the health of assets to guide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.

“Harnessing data and analytics, this end-to-end IoT solution enables airports to improve the performance of key assets that directly impact customer experience,” said Adriana Robinson, vice president, IBM Watson IoT. “This will allow maintenance teams to predict airport facility equipment failure and create proactive maintenance workflows.”

The solution is available through Arrow, its business partners, and IBM.

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