The need to chill vaccines reliably during their trip cross country has highlighted the value of LoRaWAN-enabled sensors and networking. Chris Boorman, Laird Connectivity Ordinarily, cold supply chain wouldn’t be a dinner table conversation. COVID-19 vaccines, of course, have changed the situation. Specialized refrigerated containers, refrigerated vehicles, and ultra-cold storage warehouses are the foundation for […]
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Gallery: Sights from 2021 Automotive Tech Week, Novi, Mich.
The Automotive Tech Week event running Nov. 15-19 covered automotive interiors, ADAS and autonomous vehicle technology, advanced propulsion, and automotive user experience topics. The exposition associated with the event featured examples of technical advances now making their way into the designs of automotive OEMs. Here are a few of the more notable developments we saw […]
Book review: Practical Linux Forensics by Bruce Nikkel
Practical Linux Forensics by Bruce Nikkel, a professor of applied sciences at Bern University in Switzerland, (No Starch Press) covers how to search a Linux-based system for digital evidence that will allow you to draw conclusions and create forensic reports about a particular case or incident. The book is thorough, spanning 398 pages. It covers […]
MCUs for ADAS – what’s the difference?
The emergence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is changing how designers use and specify microcontrollers (MCUs), but it’s only one dimension of the changes occurring in the design of automotive systems (Figure 1). This FAQ will begin with the basics of AEC-Q100 requirements for automotive integrated circuits – those requirements are not going away […]
MCU specification considerations for robotics
Robotics platforms have unique needs where microcontroller (MCU) performance is concerned. MCUs that have been optimized for use in robots often incorporate multiple functions, including built-in internet protocol (IP) connectivity, safety and security functions, and advanced control algorithms. Integrating an MCU core with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is another approach to achieving optimized […]
Nuances of low power MCUs for wireless sensors and wearables
The optimization of microcontrollers (MCUs) in power-sensitive applications such as wireless sensor nodes and wearables is all about maximizing power management effectiveness. To minimize power consumption, low-power MCUs typically operate at frequencies below 50 MHz, compared with hundreds of MHz or even 1+ GHz for conventional MCUs. These power-optimized MCUs also use low-power peripherals; they […]
8-, 16- and 32-bit MCUs…are more bits better?
Are more bits better in an MCU? That’s similar to asking: are more cylinders better in an internal combustion engine (ICE)? Peripherals and other features matter, not just bits (or cylinders). For example, in the 1980s, Volvo offered a station wagon with a turbo-V4 engine that was faster off the line than Chevrolet Corvette with […]
Infineon garners 2021 LEAP Award in Embedded Computing
The first memory solution to combine security and functional safety in a single NOR Flash device has earned Infineon Infineon’s Semper Secure NOR Flash an Embedded Computing LEAP Award. LEAP Awards honor innovative products across 12 categories. More than 100 entrants were received for the annual competition which celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products […]
STMicroelectronics wins coveted Leap Award for innovation
The ST60A2G0, a contactless, RF millimeter-wave transceiver that operates in the (unlicensed) 60 GHz V-Band, just won its creator STMicroelectronics a 2021 Leap Award. Covering innovative products across 12 categories, the 2021 Leap Award competition received more than 100 entries. The annual competition celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products serving the design engineering space. […]
Sequans honored with LEAP Award in Embedded Computing
Sequans’ Monarch 2 GM02S, the only cellular IoT module supporting a certifiable EAL5+ secure enclave for integrated SIM9 (ieUICC) capability that is compliant with GSMA standards, is the recipient of a coveted LEAP Award in Embedded Computing. LEAP Awards honor innovative products across 12 categories. More than 100 entrants were received for the annual competition […]