Smart Cities

Software uses AR to automate manual operations into 4.0 environment

Tue, Oct 01, 2019

FactoryOptix from Aegis Software is a technology that integrates human assembly operations directly into the automated Industry 4.0 environment, using augmented reality (AR) as an additional method to deliver FactoryLogix paperless work instructions.

Aegis FactoryLogix, IIoT-driven MES, brings two digital worlds together in a single solution, for automation featuring the IPC connected factory exchange (CFX), and for human assembly, test and inspection operations featuring AR.

FactoryOptix uses the same internal digital product model to provide all the data and documentation needed for AR to work. The company says this means that cost of ownership and configuration is unchanged from the existing best-in-class FactoryLogix paperless work instruction solution.

This technology can double the productivity of human operators by enabling the use of both hands at all times, not having to pick up barcode readers, use keyboards or a mouse, nor having to look away to read work-instructions from a screen.

This latest AR hardware is claimed to have good battery life and is light enough to allow long-term usage throughout the day without fatigue, in the same way as a heads-up display that features in many cars.

The view through the AR glasses provides critical step-by-step instructions, with confirmation from the operator that each operation is done. Feedback from the operator is captured using voice recognition for commands and actions, with barcodes read by the glasses automatically when instructed to do so.

The automated environment for the operator equates to less dependency on narrowly focused specific skills, meaning that operators are more flexible to work on different tasks, products and variants, without risk of “memory-driven defects”, says Aegis.

Human operators become more broadly skilled, providing flexibility in the factory to adapt to changing manufacturing demands as is to be expected in the high-mix Industry 4.0 environment.

Founded in 1997, Aegis Software is headquartered in Philadelphia PA, with international sales and support offices in Germany, the UK and China.

https://www.aiscorp.com

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Microchip simplifies hardware-based IoT security

Mon, Sep 30, 2019

A pre-provisioned solution that provides secure key storage for low-, mid- and high-volume device deployments using the ATECC608A secure element is now available from Microchip Technology. According to the company, the Trust Platform for its CryptoAuthentication family enables companies of all sizes to implement secure authentication.

The platform consists of a three-tier offering, providing out-of-the-box pre-provisioned, pre-configured or fully customisable secure elements, allowing developers to choose the platform best suited for their individual design. As the first solution to provide ready-to-go secure authentication for the mass market, the first tier – Trust&GO – provides zero-touch pre-provisioned secure elements with a minimum orderable quantity (MOQ) as low as 10 units.

Device credentials are pre-programmed, shipped and locked inside the ATECC608A for automated cloud or LoRaWAN authentication onboarding. In parallel, corresponding certificates and public keys are delivered in a “manifest” file, which is downloadable via Microchip’s purchasing e-commerce store and select distribution partners.

With the ability to authenticate to any public or private cloud infrastructure, Microchip’s Trust Platform is also flexible and customisable. For customers who want more customisation, the program includes the TrustFlex and TrustCustom platforms.

The solution helps simplify provisioning logistics, says the company, making it easy for mass market customers to secure and manage edge devices without the overhead cost of third-party provisioning services or certificate authorities.

The second tier in the program, TrustFlex, offers the flexibility to use the customer’s certificate authority of choice while still benefiting from pre-configured use cases.

These use cases include baseline security measures such as transport layer security (TLS) hardened authentication for connecting to any IP-based network using any certificate chain, LoRaWAN authentication, secure boot, Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, IP protection, user data protection and key rotation. This can reduce the time and complexity involved in customising the device without requiring customised part numbers.

For customers who would like to customise their designs entirely, the third tier in the program – TrustCustom – provides customer-specific configuration capabilities and custom credential provisioning.

https://www.microchip.com

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Rugged 12V LDMOS power amplifiers join land mobile radio line-up

Mon, Sep 30, 2019

A new line of 12V laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors bolsters Ampleon’s land mobile radio portfolio.

This 12V LDMOS platform is based on the 9th generation of Ampleon’s LDMOS technology and will target commercial, public safety and defence mobile radio applications, and the portfolio covers ceramic and plastic packages.

The first two products to be released are the BLP9LA25S and the BLP5LA55S. These devices are designed for 12V nominal mobile operation over the entire VHF and UHF frequency bands from 2 to 941 MHz and deliver 25 W and 55 W respectively.

They combine ease-of-use with ruggedness, enabling greater than18 dB gain and more than 65 per cent efficiency over the full operating frequency range. This results in fewer stages, improved stability, simplified cooling and thus smaller systems, says the company.

Their linearity suits them to tetra applications and their capability to handle extreme mismatch levels over 65:1 voltage standing wave ratio equated to handheld radios that can withstand harsh environments .

These broadband 12V devices are housed in compact over-molded plastic (TO270 packages for a small footprint.

Qualification samples of both the BLP5LA55S and the BLP9LA25S are available via Ampleon’s local sales channels with reference circuits available at different frequency bands.

Production for both variants is expected in the last quarter of the year.

Ampleon has more than 1,650 employees worldwide. Its portfolio offers products and solutions for a range of applications, such as mobile broadband infrastructure, radio and TV broadcasting, carbon dioxide lasers and plasma, MRI, particle accelerators, radar and air-traffic control, non-cellular communications, RF cooking and defrosting and RF heating and plasma lighting.

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http://www.ampleon.com

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Automotive smart cameras use deep learning

Fri, Sep 27, 2019

Following a collaboration with, StradVision, Renesas Electronics announces the joint development of a deep learning-based object recognition solution for smart cameras. StradVision’s software has been optimised to run on Renesas Electronics’ R-Car SoCs.

The deep learning-based object recognition system is for smart cameras used in next-generation advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications and cameras for ADAS Level 2 and above.

Next-generation ADAS implementations require high-precision object recognition capable of detecting vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and cyclists. These systems must also consumer very low power for mass-market mid-tier to entry-level vehicles.

According to Naoki Yoshida, vice president of Automotive Technical Customer Engagement, at Renesas, StradVision is a leader in vision processing technology, with “abundant experience developing ADAS implementations using Renesas’ R-Car SoCs”. The collaboration has produced production-ready solutions “that enable safe and accurate mobility in the future,” said Yoshida. The deep learning based camera system is expected to contribute to the widespread adoption of next-generation ADAS implementations and support the escalating vision sensor requirements expected to arrive in the next few years.

StradVision’s deep learning–based object recognition software delivers high performance in recognising vehicles, pedestrians and lane marking. The high-precision recognition software has been optimised for Renesas R-Car automotive SoCs R-Car V3H and R-Car V3M. These R-Car devices incorporate a dedicated engine for deep learning processing called CNN-IP (Convolution Neural Network Intellectual Property), enabling them to run StradVision’s SVNet automotive deep learning network at high speed with minimal power consumption. The object recognition characteristic realises deep learning–based object recognition while maintaining low power consumption, suitable in mass-produced vehicles, encouraging ADAS adoption.

StradVision’s SVNet deep learning software is an AI perception solution for the mass production of ADAS systems. It is characterised by recognition precision in low-light environments and its ability to deal with occlusion when objects are partially hidden by other objects. The basic software package for the R-Car V3H performs simultaneous vehicles, person and lane recognition, processing the image data at a rate of 25 frames per second. Developers can customise the software, adding signs, markings and other objects as recognition targets. StradVision provides support for deep learning-based object recognition covering all the steps from training through the embedding of software for mass-produced vehicles.

In addition to the CNN-IP dedicated deep learning module, the Renesas R-Car V3H and R-Car V3M feature the IMP-X5 image recognition engine. The on-chip image signal processor (ISP) is designed to convert sensor signals for image rendering and recognition processing. This makes it possible to configure a system using inexpensive cameras without built-in ISPs, reducing the overall bill-of-materials (BoM) cost, says Renesas.

The R-Car SoCs featuring the new joint deep learning solution, including software and development support from StradVision, are scheduled to be available to developers by early 2020.

http://www.renesas.com

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