Smart Cities

Extending the AIW-300 series, the AIW-355 is a 5G module for Advantech Industrial Wireless (AIW) designed for artificial intelligence on the net (AIoT) which requires ubiquitous connectivity, dynamic mobility and security. The AIW-355 is intended for use in edge computing devices, mobile gateways and mobile devices around the world, said Advantech.

AIW-355 uses 5G which delivers a ten-fold increase in speed compared to 4G and supports the connection of up to one million devices per square km. 5G also enables a 100-fold increase in capacity, a 10-fold decrease in latency, compared to 4G. It also reduces lag times to 1ms compared to 10 to 20ms for 4G.

The AIW-355 features the Snapdragon X55 5G modem and supports 5G NR SUB6 frequencies in both 5G standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) operations. It is compatible with LTE and WCDMA standards and is backwards compatible with LTE-A and 3G networks.

The wireless module also features a M.2 3052 form-factor M.2 Key B USB interface to accommodate most mainstream carriers and to also ease 5G integration. There are also a multi-constellation GNSS receiver and USB 3.1 high-speed interfaces integrated into the module.

In addition to high speed capabilities for industrial monitoring, remote medical treatment, transportation and surveillance systems, the AIW-355 provides the 5G capabilities needed to support city-based video surveillance systems which rely on high speed transmission and low latency.

There are three versions of AIW-355 available for applications in North America, Europe and China. Every version supports both 5G SA and NSA network architectures and delivers faster transmission speeds, better carrying capacities, and lower network latency. Each model can operate in temperature ranges of -30 to +75 degrees C and is compatible with Windows and Linux.

Founded in 1983, Advantech provides system integration, hardware, software, customer-centric design services, embedded systems, automation products, and global logistics support. It co-operates closely with partners for a wide range of applications in diverse industries. The company’s mission is to enable an intelligent planet by developing automated and embedded computing products and solutions that facilitate smarter working and living.

http://www.advantech.eu 

Based on Microchip’s integrated, low power ATWINC3400-MR210CA Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0-certified module, WiFi 8 Click is the latest compact add-on peripheral board from MikroElektronika (Mikroe).

The Microchip module is optimised for low power and high-performance mobile applications and this Click board can add wireless connectivity to designs in development. While wireless communication is widely used, different environments and applications require different Wi-Fi chips and modules, explained Nebojsa Matic, CEO at Mikroe. “If you have a Wi-Fi router connected to a fixed broadband line, Liechtenstein has the fastest Wi-Fi speeds in the world at 229.98Mbits per second . . . Even on Everest there is Wi-Fi, at least at base camp. Whatever the need, bringing mobility and internet to your design is just a Click away,” he said.

The Wi-Fi 8 Click board, is priced at $34.00, making it suitable for use in highly integrated and cost-effective applications, industrial wireless control, Bluetooth gateway, smart home applications and other cost-sensitive projects. The module comes with integrated power and low noise amplifiers, transmit/receive switch (for WiFi and Bluetooth), a power management unit, an integrated 2.4GHz chip antenna, and an additional 32.768 kHz clock for sleep operation.

It uses optimised IEEE 802.11 Bluetooth co-existence protocols and provides a serial peripheral interface (SPI) to interface with the host controller.

WiFi 8 Click joins 15 other Wi-Fi Clicks available from Mikroe. The total number of Click peripheral development boards offered by the company is now over 1,000.

Mikroe’s Click boards are supported by a mikroSDK compliant library, which includes functions that simplify software development. Click boards feature the company’s standard 16-pin mikroBUS socket. This standardised approach enables design engineers to change peripherals easily, cutting months off development time, said Mikroe.

MikroElektronika invented the mikroBUS development socket standard which is included on the development boards of leading microcontroller companies such as Microchip, Renesas and Toshiba.

SiBRAIN is Mikroe’s latest standard for MCU development add-on boards and sockets. MikroElektronika claims to also make the world’s widest range of compilers and additionally provides development environments, development boards, smart displays and program debuggers.

https://www.mikroe.com

Swedish company, Epishine, which manufactures printed organic solar cells and development kits, has signed a franchise agreement with Farnell, an Avnet company. Farnell says it is the first high service distributor to stock products from the company.

The printed organic solar cells are optimised for harvesting energy from indoor, low energy lighting enabling organic solar power to be used everywhere. Design engineers can use this technology with Epishine’s light energy harvesting evaluation kit.

Epishine’s organic solar cells are small, thin, flexible, and printed on recyclable plastic. The cells can be integrated into any low power electronic equipment where they convert ambient indoor light into electricity. The organic solar cells can replace batteries in new-build wireless sensors and similar devices, reducing the environmental impact of battery waste and saving battery replacement costs, said Farnell.

The EK01LEH3_6 light energy harvesting evaluation kit demonstrates how Epishine’s light energy harvesting (LEH) modules can power indoor wireless low-power devices that are usually powered by batteries. It combines a six-cell 50 x 50mm LEH module with a supercapacitor which acts as an energy buffer and intelligent charging management system to support various output voltages and energy storage solutions. An external primary battery can be used as a back up. The evaluation kit can deliver sufficient output current to power most low-power wireless devices such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee and LoRa. The programmable evaluation kit are optimised for indoor use (-20 to +40 degrees C / 0 to  85 per cent RH) with illumination intensities of 20 to 1,000 lux

It also includes a supercapacitor for energy storage which can be reconfigured to charge rechargeable battery.

Epishine’s organic solar cells will be added to Farnell’s line card later this year.

Founded in 2016, Epishine is a Swedish technology company which manufactures flexible organic light modules and a development kit to help engineers design new products that are normally powered by batteries. The light modules can be used to partly or completely power wireless sensors and similar devices required in our increasingly connected world.

Epishine’s manufacturing process is claimed to provide industry-leading efficiency in low light conditions. The company was founded in 2016 and has 25 employees with its headquarters, lab and manufacturing located in Linköping, Sweden.

Farnell offers a range of products in its comprehensive semiconductor portfolio to support design engineers. Customers also have free access to online resources, datasheets, application notes, videos, webinars and 24/5 technical support.

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