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Edge sensors in AMD’s Artix UltraScale+ family are ADAS-optimised

Fri, May 26, 2023

Addressing market needs for faster signal processing and smaller form factors in systems using edge sensors, such as lidar, radar and 3D surround-view camera systems, AMD has added two edge sensors to its Automotive XA Artix UltraScale+ family.

The XA AU10P and XA AU15P processors are cost-optimised processors, which is a requirement in the consumer driven automotive market. They are automotive-qualified and optimised for use in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) sensor applications. The Artix UltraScale+ devices join the automotive-grade Spartan 7, Zynq 7000 and Zynq UltraScale+ product families.

The XA Artix FPGAs are shipping now. They offer high serial bandwidth and signal compute density in an compact form factor. The Artix UltraScale+ devices maximise system performance via DSP bandwidth for cost-sensitive and low-power ADAS edge applications including networking, vision and video processing and secure connectivity.

XA Artix UltraScale+ processors are certified for functional safety up to ASIL-B, which is critical for automotive ADAS sensors from cameras to lidar systems, said AMD, for use in vehicles and robotaxis, for example.

“As automotive systems have grown in complexity, safety is more critical than ever before with automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers requiring ASIL-B certification for LiDAR, radar and smart edge sensor applications,” said Ian Riches, vice president, global automotive practice, TechInsights.

Automotive designers can use XA Artix UltraScale+ devices for sensor fusion, bringing in data from multiple edge sensors and performing image and video processing before porting it to an external SoC. The new XA Artix UltraScale+ devices can also be connected to multiple displays in the vehicle to enhance infotainment features, advised AMD.

http://www.xilinx.com

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Keysight places network analyser for 5G transmitters as mid-range

Fri, May 26, 2023

Claimed to be the first mid-range vector network analyser (VNA) that produces fast, accurate error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements and accelerates the characterisation of 5G component designs by up to 50 per cent, the ENA-X has been released by Keysight Technologies.

It addresses the need for increasing data speeds with low latency in the next generation of wireless communications systems to operate at higher radio frequencies (RF). To ensure 5G New Radio (NR) transmitters meet these operational demands, RF engineers must fully test the design and performance of components such as power amplifiers. Obtaining measurements for power amplifiers under realistic conditions can be time consuming, requiring multiple instruments and test set ups, explained Keysight.

Typically an expensive VNA is required but Keysight said the ENA-X is a mid-range network analyse with integrated modulation distortion analysis offering full vector correction at the device under test (DUT) plane in a single test set up. Its architecture enables the ENA-X to perform multiple measurements with a single connection, which simplifies test set up, drives repeatability and speeds testing, said Keysight.

ENA-X provides an integrated upconverter, direct receiver access, and modulated distortion analysis software enabling characterisation of RF amplifier performance under complex modulation schemes in high-power systems operating at up to 44GHz.

Its single test set up runs with one connection and requires only a single calibration to accelerate the characterisation of power amplifiers for 5G transmitters in the 5G NR FR1 and FR2 frequency bands by up to 50 per cent.

It also employs Keysight’s metrology expertise with patented, custom monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) to provide high measurement accuracy, easily repeatable results, and the lowest residual EVM on the market, claimed the company.

Joe Rickert, vice president and general manager, Keysight High Frequency Measurements Center of Excellence, said: “Combined with the powerful modulation distortion analysis software that was previously only available on our highest-performing PNA series network analysers, the new mid-range E5081A ENA-X VNA is ideal for power amplifier characterisation for 5G transmitters. Thanks to its custom-built MMICs, the ENA-X provides the highest output power, dynamic range, and system stability needed by RF engineers without masking the performance of the power amplifier under test,” he continued.

Keysight will demonstrate its comprehensive portfolio of wireless design, emulation, and test solutions, including the ENA-X, at IMS 2023 (11 to 16 June) in San Diego, California, USA. Keysight booth 835.

http://www.keysight.com

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Six-axis force-torque sensors has haptic feedback for micro robotics

Thu, May 25, 2023

A miniature, six-axis force-torque sensor unveiled by Bota Systems is the company’s smallest yet. The MiniONE is designed to enhance micro-robotic systems with haptic feedback. It is simple to install between a robot arm and almost any end of arm tooling (EOAT), said the company.

It weighs just 30g and has some dimensions of 30mm and a depth of 22.2mm, making it suitable for medical applications, product testing, as well as precision tasks like micro-assembly and micro-polishing. It is also suitable for use as a fingertip sensor in hands and grippers and in humanoid robots.

The MiniONE sensor provides a low noise signal with high sensitivity, said Bota Systems, together with drift performance and a design that includes temperature sensors and built-in filters, making it easy to program and set up.

Unlike competing products which need adapters or interface boxes, the MiniONE requires no external hardware, making it simpler to use, pointed out Bota Systems. By fully integrating the MiniONE’s electronics in its shielded housing, wiring, weight, complexity and measurement uncertainty are all reduced.

The MiniONE is dust- and water-resistant to IP67 and includes a USB communications interface. To save development time, it is available with Bota Systems’ software packages for ROS (Robot operating system), Matlab, Labview, TwinCAT and Python.

Klajd Lika, CEO and co- founder at Bota Systems, commented: “By giving robots the sense of touch, our sensors enable them to move as naturally and freely as people.”

A robotic force torque sensor measures force and torque when they are applied on its surface. By using the measured signals in real-time feedback control, robots can perform challenging interaction tasks. A six-axis sensor measures forces and torques on three axes each.

Robots are increasingly being used in more unstructured environments and are required to perform more demanding tasks and to collaborate with people, necessitating sensors to make them aware of their surroundings, explained Bota Systems. Force torque sensors enable them to perform previously impossible tasks, such as polishing on complex surfaces, robotic surgery, assembling delicate parts with tight tolerance, or carrying out interactive tasks in open environments.

The MiniONE six-axis force-torque sensor is compatible with a wide range of robot brands, such as Mecademic Robotics, Nachi Robotic Systems, Rokae and Yaskawa, as well as and gripper and hands from Robotiq, Shadow Robot and Schunk.

Bota Systems will be showing the MiniONE at ICRA, the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, from 29 May – 2 June 2023, in London, UK (booth I19).

http://www.botasys.com

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Battery-operated video camera systems add AI for cloud IoT devices

Thu, May 25, 2023

InnoPhase IoT adds AI and solar panel augmentation to battery-operated video camera system via the Talaria TWO ULP (ultra low power) Wi-fi-optimised reference kit for cloud-connected IP video IoT devices.

In addition to applications such as battery-operated video cameras, smart video doorbells, wearables, smart appliances, home security cameras and in-vehicle dashboard monitoring devices, OEMs and ODMs are introducing new categories of video devices with designs that use solar technology and AI, said InnoPhase IoT.

Based on the Talaria TWO ULP Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) platform, the reference kit consists of dual stack, power optimised software combined with an advanced digital polar radio design to address the challenges involved with yesterday’s power-hungry processing of video IoT designs with a multi-protocol, cloud connected camera system, said the company.

The InnoPhase IoT Talaria TWO wireless platform for video supports up to 2K camera resolution and has an integrated microcontroller which enables off-loading of TCP-IP networking and cloud connectivity stack when ISP (image signal processing) is powered down. An always on, always connected enables low latency and mitigates image loss issues and the low power Wi-Fi at BLE power levels enables a two to four times improvement in battery life.

Until now, untethered wireless cloud connectivity and a long battery life were major design barriers for video IoT. Approximately 10 per cent of video cameras are currently battery-operated primarily because of battery life limitations, reported InnoPhase IoT. Moving to a wireless format wasn’t possible since ubiquitous Wi-Fi is inherently power hungry, rapidly draining video camera’s batteries. The possibility of adding even more features such as AI would mean an even shorter battery life.

The new InnoPhase IoT video reference kit address all of these challenges and provides 40 per cent lower power consumption and a battery life in excess of one year. The company also said it offers device developers a variety of market ready solutions from OEMs and ODMs.

“Using InnoPhase IoT Talaria TWO and an Ingenic T31 integrated reference design, we have been able to build an AI-enabled smart video camera with battery life two to three times longer than today’s solutions. We’re also achieving multi-year battery life when augmented with a solar panel”, said Larry Yang, product manager of smart product line at CE-Link, a wireless video camera OEM. The reference design can be customised, enabling customers to quickly bring branded wireless camera systems to market, he added.

According to Jason Lim, CEO at Kenxen, Taiwan, a smart video camera ODM, the Talaria TWO Wi-Fi / BLE module enables low power, direct-to-cloud connectivity for battery operated cameras. “This allows us to offer quick time to market video products for our end customers,” he added.

InnoPhase IoT president and COO, Wiren Perera, said: “InnoPhase IoT’s Talaria TWO untethers cameras from all wired power and network connections, resulting in more accurate data for cloud processing. It supports the addition of enhanced features such as artificial intelligence and unleashes design creativity only possible with the low-power, long battery-life model.”

The reference kits are currently available for evaluation. Each includes hardware and software integration with an image signal processor, cloud connectivity software and access to ODMs.

http://www.innophaseiot.com

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Edge sensors in AMD’s Artix UltraScale+ family are ADAS-optimised

Keysight places network analyser for 5G transmitters as mid-range

Six-axis force-torque sensors has haptic feedback for micro robotics

Battery-operated video camera systems add AI for cloud IoT devices

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