Feed aggregator

AEK-MOT: 2 new challenges facing motor control applications in cars and what we are doing to address them

ELE Times - 1 hour 13 min ago

By: STMicroelectronics

Over the years, ST has multiplied the AutoDevKit development boards for motor control applications in cars, which all have a name that starts with “AEK-MOT”. There are general systems like the AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1 for driving three DC motors, the AEK-MOT-3P99081 for brushless motors, and the AEK-MOT-SM81M1 for stepper motors. There are also more targeted approaches like the AEK-MOT-TK200G1 for powered liftgates or the AEK-MOT-WINH92 for powered windows. The reason behind this broad range of solutions is that engineering needs in cars are changing, and as applications become varied, so must the solutions that address them. Let’s explore how those who make cars are looking at them differently.

How the car has changed Challenge 1: Application diversification The AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1The AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1

While many talk about the electrification of cars or the advent of AI in vehicles, there’s one trend that many overlook. In a span of a couple of decades, vehicles went from having about ten or so motor control applications to close to 50, and we are going to reach a hundred in a few years. The reason is simple: as cars become more digital, replacing a basic mechanical system with a motor control application means greater safety and the ability to add smart features. There are popular examples, such as powered windows, doors, or trunks. There are also systems that many drivers are oblivious to, like active suspensions, electric braking and power steering, EV drivetrains, new actuators, and more.

Challenge 2: Architectural transformation

Moreover, the underlying foundation of the car itself is going through a major shift as many adopt a zonal architecture. In essence, it means that engineers organize electric control units based on their zone or physical location instead of just grouping similar features together. It has the advantage of simplifying designs. In some cases, moving to a zonal architecture helped reduce the overall harness weight by 20%. It also means that engineers can use much more powerful computing systems, leading engineers to use an even more diverse range of motor control applications as they infuse artificial intelligence in more parts of the car.

The need for new motor control applications The AEK-MOT-3P99081The AEK-MOT-3P99081

This trend comes with two significant challenges. The first one is that as more diverse applications use motor control systems, OEMs need different motor drivers and motor types. Some also wonder whether they need an integrated or non-integrated solution. Simply put, as the kinds of applications become more varied, teams struggle to find new solutions to meet their needs. The second challenge is that designers are looking at cars differently. The move to zonal architectures means that more diverse systems must easily interact with one another. Put simply, teams are increasingly looking at the vehicle as a whole rather than the sum of its parts, and they need solutions that can meet this new global vision.

AEK-MOT or how to keep up with the changes A comprehensive ecosystem

Another challenge is that each automated component must talk to the central unit, which means dealing with numerous interfaces. Currently, some systems prioritize SPI, while others use LIN, CAN, 100BASE-TX, 10BASE-T1S, or something else entirely. As engineers look at the car more globally, they are demanding motor control systems that can work with both new and existing interfaces. How a motor control application implements these systems also matters. Are they integrated or not? Does the SDK make one more accessible than the others, and can abstraction layers help solve these issues? This is why our AutoDevKit ecosystem includes varied development boards and a software library to take advantage of them more easily.

Furthermore, to enhance the transition towards software-defined vehicles (SDV), ST has developed an additional AutoDevKit functional block, AEK-COM-10BASET, that acts as a gateway between the legacy protocols found in most motor driver ICs and the new trendy 10BASE-T1S. The latter is a key building block for the new Remote Control Protocol (RCP) specification currently in progress (Open Alliance – TC18 Remote Control Protocol), which uses native Ethernet frames on 10BASES-T1S for deterministic performance. In essence, RCP is an intermediary between the Ethernet physical interface and SPI or I2C to access registers or talk to the microcontroller.

Non-integrated The AEK-MOT-SM81M1The AEK-MOT-SM81M1

The AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1 can drive up to three DC motors, two bi-directional in parallel or three with proper sequencing. It features VN7 high-side switches and the VNH704AY integrated H-bridge motor driver. The documentation shows how to set up the motors and the configurations available. Additionally, developers can use the graphical user interface in AutoDevKit to manage rotation direction, start them, increase or decrease their speed, and more. The AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1 connects to an SPC5 MCU board, meaning integrators can rapidly design a proof-of-concept. Similarly, the AEK-MOT-SM81M1 also connects to an SPC5 board but features the L99SM81V stepper motor driver, while the AEK-MOT-WINH92 for window lifts uses the L99H92.

Integrated

The AEK-MOT-3P99081 focuses on CAN-controlled brushless motors. It is an integrated solution with an SPC560P microcontroller and the L9908 gate driver. The MCU talks with the driver through an SPI interface for easy access to configuration options, protection features, and diagnostic messages. Similarly, the AEK-MOT-TK200G1 for powered liftgate runs on the SPC582B60E1 microcontroller and the L99DZ200G drivers, which supports LIN and HS-CAN interfaces for MCU programming during production. Developers talk to the board using a CAN bus to make it easier to access the motor remotely, meaning from another domain controller. Avid readers will remember it was at the center of our AEKD-TRUNKL1 demo.

The AEK-MOT-WINH92The AEK-MOT-WINH92

All in all, the comprehensive aspect of the AutoDevKit ecosystem means that the learning curve gets easier as teams use different AEK-MOT development boards. They get a range of integrated and non-integrated solutions that all work together under one ecosystem. As a result, everyone, from the decision-makers to the engineers building the platform, can more easily look at the car as a whole and see how all its components can come together under one overarching system. This means that ST is uniquely positioned to become a one-stop shop as more and more motor control applications transform vehicles.

The post AEK-MOT: 2 new challenges facing motor control applications in cars and what we are doing to address them appeared first on ELE Times.

STMicroelectronics and Metalenz Sign a New License Agreement to Accelerate Metasurface Optics Adoption

ELE Times - 1 hour 37 min ago
  • New license agreement enabling the proliferation of metasurface optics across high-volume consumer, automotive and industrial markets: from smartphone applications like biometrics, LIDAR and camera assist, to robotics, gesture recognition, or object detection.
  • The agreement broadens ST’s capability to use Metalenz IP to produce advanced metasurface optics while leveraging ST’s unique technology and manufacturing platform combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production, test and qualification.

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and Metalenz, the pioneer of metasurface optics, announced a new license agreement. The agreement broadens ST’s capability to use Metalenz IP to produce advanced metasurface optics while leveraging ST’s unique technology and manufacturing platform combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production, test and qualification.

“STMicroelectronics is the unique supplier on the market offering a groundbreaking combination of optics and semiconductor technology. Since 2022, we have shipped well over 140 million metasurface optics and FlightSense™ modules using Metalenz IP. The new license agreement with Metalenz bolsters our technology leadership in consumer, industrial and automotive segments, and will enable new opportunities from smartphone applications like biometrics, LIDAR and camera assist, to robotics, gesture recognition, or object detection,” underlined Alexandre Balmefrezol, Executive Vice President and General Manager of STMicroelectronics’s Imaging Sub-Group. “Our unique model, processing optical technology in our 300mm semiconductor fab, ensures high precision, cost-effectiveness, and scalability to meet the requests of our customers for high-volume, complex applications.”

“Our agreement with STMicroelectronics has the potential to further fast-track the adoption of metasurfaces from their origins at Harvard to adoption by market leading consumer electronics companies,” said Rob Devlin, co-founder and CEO of Metalenz“By enabling the shift of optics production into semiconductor manufacturing, this agreement has the possibility to further redefine the sensing ecosystem. As use cases for 3D sensing continue to expand, ST’s technology leadership in the market together with our IP leadership solidifies ST and Metalenz as the dominant forces in the emergent metasurface market we created.”

The new license agreement aims to address the growing market opportunity for metasurface optics projected to experience significant growth to reach $2B by 2029*; largely driven by the industry’s role in emerging display and imaging applications. (*Yole Group, Optical Metasurfaces, 2024 report)

The post STMicroelectronics and Metalenz Sign a New License Agreement to Accelerate Metasurface Optics Adoption appeared first on ELE Times.

Altum RF announces sales representative agreement with RF Alliance

Semiconductor today - 3 hours 6 min ago
Altum RF of Eindhoven, The Netherlands (which designs RF, microwave and millimeter-wave semiconductors) has announced a sales representative agreement with RF Alliance, covering customers in New Jersey, New York and east Pennsylvania. Founded in 2005 with headquarters in West Milford, NJ, RF Alliance specializes in technical knowledge and support of RF, microwave, mmWave, frequency-control and analog components. As an international company, with strategic partnerships and office locations worldwide to support its growing product portfolio, Altum RF has expertise and relationships across various RF markets and applications including telecoms, satellite, test & measurement, defense and aerospace markets...

BLACKBOX AI: Dissecting the AI Network Traffic

ELE Times - 6 hours 20 min ago

Courtesy: Keysight Technologies

Blackbox AI is an AI-powered coding assistant designed to enhance developer productivity by offering features such as code generation, code search, and code completion across multiple programming languages. It integrates seamlessly with popular development environments like Visual Studio Code and provides tools for tasks including autocompletion, natural language to code conversion, and code extraction from various sources.
The platform employs a multi-model architecture, integrating several advanced large language models (LLMs) to deliver comprehensive coding assistance. These include GPT-4oClaude 3.5 SonnetGemini ProLLaMA 3.1DeepSeek R1 and more .

Network Traffic Analysis

The ATI team in Keysight has analyzed the network traffic of Blackbox AI and found some interesting insights, which can be helpful for other researchers, optimize performance and ensure secure usage. This was done utilzing a HAR captures of a web session. Blackbox AI operates with standard web protocols, relying on secure TLS encryption for communication.

Overall Analysis

We have performed extensive user interactions with the Blackbox AI web application. The captured traffic was completely TLS encrypted. We have further analyzed the traffic based on host names.

Figure 1: Request-Response count per host

 

In the figure above we can observe the maximum number of request-response was seen by www.blackbox.ai followed by www.useblackbox.io. The first host has been observed as the main host responsible for handling core dynamic functionalities such as user authentication and session management. While the latter is for telemetry and analytics, logging events, and user interactions.

Figure 2: Cumulative payload per host

The diagram above shows that the host www.blackbox.ai has the maximum cumulative payload followed by api-iam.intercom.io. The rest of the hosts are creating smaller network footprints.

Analyzing Endpoints

By examining the HAR file, we gain a detailed view of the HTTP requests and responses between the client and Blackbox AI’s servers. This analysis focuses on critical endpoints and their roles in the platform’s functionality.

Session Authentication

Endpoint: /api/auth/session

  • Method: GET
  • Purpose: Checks or retrieves the current user session and related authentication status.
  • Request Headers:
  • Accept: application/json
  • Content-Type: application/json
  • Origin: https://www.blackbox.ai (Ensures requests originate from BlackBox AI’s platform)
  • Response Status: 200 OK (active session or session data returned)
  • Response Body: JSON object containing user session status, expiry, and authentication details

This endpoint is essential for maintaining secure access to Blackbox AI, allowing the platform to verify and manage user sessions and authentication status.

Query Execution

Endpoint: /api/chat

  • Method: POST
  • Purpose: Processes user queries and returns AI-generated responses.
  • Request Headers:
  • Content-Type: application/json
  • Accept: application/json
  • Origin: https://www.blackbox.ai (Ensures requests originate from BlackBox AI’s platform)
  • Request Payload: JSON object with the user’s query and session details.
  • Response Status: 200 OK (successful query processing)

This endpoint is central to Blackbox AI’s functionality, enabling dynamic interactions between users and the AI model.

Source Verification

Endpoint: /api/check-sources

  • Method: POST
  • Purpose: Validates the origin of the provided input or context for generating responses or citations.
    Request Headers:
  • Content-Type: application/json
  • Accept: application/json
  • Origin: https://www.blackbox.ai (Ensures requests originate from BlackBox AI’s platform)
  • Request Payload: Contains the query type and the user’s input
  • Response Status: 200 OK (source check completed)
  • Response Body: JSON object with source metadata or validation results

This endpoint ensures the integrity of AI responses by validating the origin and credibility of the user’s input, reinforcing trust in generated outputs.

Telemetry Logging

Endpoint: /tlm

  • Method: POST
  • Purpose: Logs user behavior or system diagnostics to help improve product performance and stability.
    Request Headers:
  • Content-Type: application/json
  • Accept: */*
  • Origin: https://www.blackbox.ai (Ensures requests originate from BlackBox AI’s platform)
  • Request Payload: The request payload contains a JSON object logging a user event with its type, timestamp, and specific details like the action performed and its duration.
  • Response Status: 200 OK (telemetry event accepted)
  • Response Body: Confirmation message or status log

This endpoint supports platform reliability and user experience optimization by capturing detailed telemetry data on user behavior and system performance.

NOTE: While BLACKBOX AI can be useful, it is a prohibited tool by many companies and government entities. Policy and technical systems must be in place to prevent usage, and it is vital to confirm this via test using BreakingPoint. These tests help validate the security measures and help organizations prevent accidental or malicious use of the platform.

Blackbox AI Traffic Simulation in Keysight ATI

At Keysight Technologies Application and Threat Intelligence (ATI), since we always try to deliver the hot trending application, we have published the network traffic related to Blackbox AI in ATI-2025-07 StrikePack which simulates the HAR collected from the Blackbox AI web application as of April 2025 including different user actions like performing text-based queries, uploading multimedia files, refining search results, managing saved searches. Here all the HTTP transactions are replayed in HTTP/2 over TLS1.3.

Figure 3: Blackbox AI Apr25 HAR Replay HTTP/2 over TLS1.3 Superflow in BPS

 

The Blackbox AI application and its 4 new Superflows as shown below:

Figure 4: Blackbox AI App and its Superflows in BPS
Leverage Subscription Service to Stay Ahead of Attacks

Keysight’s Application and Threat Intelligence subscription provides daily malware and bi-weekly updates of the latest application protocols and vulnerabilities for use with Keysight test platforms. The ATI Research Centre continuously monitors threats as they appear in the wild. Customers of BreakingPoint now have access to attack campaigns for different advanced persistent threats, allowing BreakingPoint Customers to test their currently deployed security control’s ability to detect or block such attacks.

Sulagna Adhikary (R&D at Keysight ATI)

The post BLACKBOX AI: Dissecting the AI Network Traffic appeared first on ELE Times.

HENXV Announces Latest Range of Innovative Power and Communication Products

ELE Times - 6 hours 40 min ago

HENXV announced its latest range of innovative products designed to elevate system performance and reliability: AC/DC Converters, DC/DC Converters, and Bus Transceiver Modules.

New Products:

1. AC/DC Converters: It delivers stable power conversion with high efficiency, compact designs, and robust safety features, ideal for Industrial Automation, Medical, IoT, Electric Vehicles, and many more.

2. DC/DC Converters: Offering precise voltage regulation and high power density, these converters are built to support demanding applications, ensuring reliable performance in telecommunications, automotive, renewable energy, and many more.

3. Bus Transceiver Modules: Designed for seamless data communication, these transceiver modules provide high-speed, low-latency performance with compatibility across industry-standard protocols, perfect for IoT devices, industrial networks, etc.

Why Choose HENXV?

Reliability and Quality: Rigorously tested to ensure durability and consistent performance.
Customizable Solutions: Tailored options to meet specific project requirements.
Dedicated Support: A team to provide technical assistance and ensure smooth integration.
Warranty: 3 years of warranty on all products.
Certifications: All products certified with CE, ROHS, and REACH.

The post HENXV Announces Latest Range of Innovative Power and Communication Products appeared first on ELE Times.

Rohde & Schwarz verifies Next Generation eCall for EN 17240:2024 Standard

ELE Times - 7 hours 4 min ago

Introduced in 2015, eCall, an automated vehicle emergency call system, has been a mandatory requirement for all new cars sold within the European Union since 2018. However, as 2G/3G circuit-switched cellular networks become obsolete, emergency call systems will need to be adapted to 4G/5G packet-switched cellular networks. The European Commission has defined in its most recent regulation that NG eCall will be obligatory starting January 1, 2026. This standard establishes guidelines for testing eCall systems over IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks, including advanced 4G LTE and 5G NR technologies. Consequently, to incorporate the new NG eCall features in eCall modules, the automotive industry will require NG eCall testing solutions.

The Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF is a 5G automotive-grade platform that has paved the way for next-generation connected vehicles, delivering high-speed connectivity, advanced positioning, and support for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology. Designed to meet the demands of modern telematics, it supports reliable connectivity, precise multi-band GNSS navigation, and enhanced safety.

Through this joint effort, Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies have successfully verified the compliance of the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF’s NG eCall functionality with the most recent eCall standards. The verification process employed the Rohde & Schwarz CMX500 mobile radio tester, a comprehensive testing solution for NG eCall including voice and data transmission. This rigorous test, which was simulating a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), validated the compliance of the implementation at both ends with the EN 17240:2024 standard. Moreover, the CMX500 supports both 4G and 5G technologies, aiming to provide that the solutions are future-proof.

“We are pleased to have joined forces with Qualcomm Technologies on the verification of their chipsets’ NG eCall implementation,” said Juergen Meyer, Vice President Market Segment Automotive at Rohde & Schwarz. “This collaboration sets a new benchmark for the future of emergency call services, providing the automotive industry a robust and dependable solution to meet the latest eCall standards.”

As a highly versatile tool, the CMX500 with the CMX-KA098 software option can be effectively used for NG eCall testing under realistic network conditions.

The post Rohde & Schwarz verifies Next Generation eCall for EN 17240:2024 Standard appeared first on ELE Times.

Fixing bent pins

Reddit:Electronics - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 20:46
Fixing bent pins

I know it won't reflect the light like a brand new one does, but getting all the pins lined up is awesome

submitted by /u/Ed01916
[link] [comments]

Firmware-upgrade functional defection and resurrection

EDN Network - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 17:37

My first job out of college was with Intel, in the company’s nonvolatile memory division. After an initial couple of years dabbling with specialty EPROMs, I was the first member from that group to move over to the then-embryonic flash memory team to launch the company’s first BootBlock storage device, the 28F001BX. Your part number decode is correct: it was a whopping 1 Mbit (not Gbit!) in capacity 😂. Its then-uniqueness derived from two primary factors:

  • Two separately erasable blocks, asymmetrical in size
  • One of which (the smaller block) was hardware-lockable to prevent unintentional alteration of its contents, perhaps obviously to allow for graceful recovery in case the main (larger) block’s contents, the bulk of system firmware, somehow got corrupted.

The 28F001BX single-handedly (in admitted coordination with Intel’s motherboard group, the first to adopt it) kickstarted the concept of upgradable BIOS for computers already in the field. Its larger-capacity successors did the same thing for digital cellular phones, although by then I was off working on even larger capacity devices with even more (symmetrical, this time) erase blocks for solid-state storage subsystems…which we now refer to as SSDs, USB flash sticks, and the like. This all may explain why in-system firmware updates (which involve much larger code payloads nowadays, of course)—both capabilities and pitfalls—have long been of interest to me.

The concept got personal not too long ago. Hopefully, at least some of you have by now read the previous post in my ongoing EcoFlow portable power station (and peripheral) series, which covered the supplemental Smart Extra Battery I’d gotten for my DELTA 2 main unit:

Here’s what they look like stacked, with the smart extra battery on top and the XT150 cable interconnecting them, admittedly unkempt:

The timeline

Although that earlier writeup was published on April 23, I’d actually submitted it on March 11. A bit more than a week post-submission, the DELTA 2 locked up. A week (and a day) after the earlier writeup appeared at EDN.com, I succeeded in bringing it back to life (also the day before my birthday, ironically). And in between those two points in time, a surrogate system also entered my life. The paragraphs that follow will delve into more detail on all these topics, including the role that firmware updates played at both the tale’s beginning and end points.

A locked-up DELTA 2

To start, let’s rewind to mid-March. For about a week, every time I went into the furnace room where the gear was stored, I’d hear the fan running on the DELTA 2. This wasn’t necessarily atypical; every time the device fired up its recharge circuits to top off the battery, the fan would briefly go on. And everything looked normal remotely, through the app:

But eventually, the fan-running repetition, seemingly more than mere coincidence, captured my attention, and I punched the DELTA 2’s front panel power button to see what was going on. What I found was deeply disturbing. For one thing, the smart extra battery was no longer showing as recognized by the main unit, even though it was still connected. And more troubling, in contrast to what the app was telling me, the display indicated the battery pack was drained. Not to mention the bright red indicator, suggestive that the battery pack was actually dead:

So, I tried turning the DELTA 2 off, which led to my next bout of woe. It wouldn’t shut down, no matter how long I held the power button. I tried unplugging it, no luck. It kept going. And going. I realized that I was going to need to leave it unplugged with the fan whining away, while in parallel I reached out to customer support, until the battery drained (the zeroed-out integrated display info was obviously incorrect, but I had no idea whether the “full” report from the app was right, either). Three days later, it was still going. I eventually plugged an illuminated workbench light to one of its AC outlets, whose incremental current draw finally did the trick.

I tried plugging the DELTA 2 back in. It turned on but wouldn’t recharge. It also still ignored subsequent manual power-down attempts, requiring that I again drain the battery to force a shutoff. And although it now correctly reported a zeroed battery charge status, the dead-battery icon was now joined by another error message, this indicating overload of device output(s) (?):

At this point, I paused and pondered what might have gone wrong. I’d owned the DELTA 2 for about six months at that point, and I’d periodically installed firmware updates to it via the app running on my phone (and in response to new-firmware-available notices displayed in that app) with no issues. But I’d only recently added the Smart Extra Battery to the mix. Something amiss about the most recent firmware rev apparently didn’t like the peripheral’s presence, I guessed:

So, while I was waiting for customer service to respond, I hit up Reddit. And lo and behold, I found that others had experienced the exact same issue:

Resuscitation

It turns out that V1.0.1.182 wasn’t the most recent firmware rev available, but for reasons that to this day escape me (but seem to be longstanding company practice), EcoFlow didn’t make the V1.0.1.183 successor generally available. Instead, I needed to file a ticket with technical support, providing my EcoFlow account info and my unit’s serial number, along with a description of the issue I was having, and requesting that they “push” the new version to me through the app. I did so, and with less than 24 hours of turnaround, they did so as well:

Fingers crossed, I initiated the update to the main unit:

Which succeeded:

Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the subsequent firmware update attempt on the smart extra battery failed, rendering it inaccessible (only temporarily, thankfully, it turned out):

And even on the base unit, I still wasn’t done. Although it was now once again responding normally to front-panel power-off requests, its display was still wonky:

However, a subsequent reset and recalibration of the battery management system (BMS), which EcoFlow technical support hadn’t clued me in on but Reddit research had suggested might also be necessary, kicked off (and eventually completed) the necessary recharge cycle successfully:

(Longstanding readers may remember my earlier DJI drone-themed tutorial on what the BMS is and why periodic battery cycling to recalibrate it is necessary for lithium-based batteries):

And re-attempt of the smart extra battery firmware update later that day was successful as well:

Voila: everything was now back to normal. Hallelujah:

That said, I think I’ll wait for a critical mass of other brave souls to tackle the V1.0.1.200 firmware update more recently made publicly available, before following their footsteps:

The surrogate

And what of that “surrogate system” that “also entered my life”, which I mentioned earlier in this piece? This writeup’s already running long, so I won’t delve into too much detail on this part of the story here, saving it for a separate planned post to come. But the “customer service” folks I mentioned I’d initially reached out to, prior to my subsequent direct connection to technical support, were specific to EcoFlow’s eBay storefront, where I’d originally bought the DELTA 2.

They ended up sending me a DELTA 3 Plus and DELTA 3 Series Smart Extra Battery (both of which I’ve already introduced in prior coverage) as replacements, presumably operating under the assumption that my existing units were dead parrots, not just resting. They even indicated that I didn’t need to bother sending the DELTA 2-generation devices back to them; I should just responsibly dispose of them myself. “Teardown” immediately popped into my head; here’s an EcoFlow-published video I’d already found as prep prior to their subsequent happy restoration:

And here are the DELTA 3 successors, both standalone:

and alongside their predecessors. The much shorter height (and consequent overall decreased volume) of the DELTA 3 Series Smart Extra Battery versus its precursor is particularly striking:

As previously mentioned, I’ll have more on the DELTA 3 products in dedicated coverage to come shortly. Until then, I welcome your thoughts in the comments on what I’ve covered here, whether in general or related to firmware-update snafus you’ve personally experienced!

Brian Dipert is the Editor-in-Chief of the Edge AI and Vision Alliance, and a Senior Analyst at BDTI and Editor-in-Chief of InsideDSP, the company’s online newsletter.

Related Content

The post Firmware-upgrade functional defection and resurrection appeared first on EDN.

Two new runtime tools to accelerate edge AI deployment

EDN Network - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 16:03

While traditional artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks often struggle in ultra-low-power scenarios, two new edge AI runtime solutions aim to accelerate the deployment of sophisticated AI models in battery-powered devices like wearables, hearables, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and industrial monitors.

Ambiq Micro, the company that develops low-power microcontrollers using sub-threshold transistors, has unveiled two new edge AI runtime solutions optimized for its Apollo system-on-chips (SoCs). These developer-centric tools—HeliosRT (runtime) and HeliosAOT (ahead-of-time)—offer deployment options for edge AI across a wide range of applications, spanning from digital health and smart homes to industrial automation.

Figure 1 The new runtime tools allow developers to deploy sophisticated AI models in battery-powered devices. Source: Ambiq

The industry has seen numerous failures in the edge AI space because users dislike it when the battery runs out in an hour. It’s imperative that devices running AI can operate for days, even weeks or months, on battery power.

But what’s edge AI, and what’s causing failures in the edge AI space? Edge AI is anything that’s not running on a server or in the cloud; for instance, AI running on a smartwatch or home monitor. The problem is that AI is power-intensive, and sending data to the cloud over a wireless link is also power-intensive. Moreover, the cloud computing is expensive.

“What we aim is to take the low-power compute and turn it into sophisticated AI,” said Carlos Morales, VP of AI at Ambiq. “Every model that we create must go through runtime, which is firmware that runs on a device to take the model and execute it.”

LiteRT and HeliosAOT tools

LiteRT, formerly known as TensorFlow Lite for microcontrollers, is a firmware version for TensorFlow platform. HeliosRT, a performance-enhanced implementation of LiteRT, is tailored for energy-constrained environments and is compatible with existing TensorFlow workflows.

HeliosRT optimizes custom AI kernels for the Apollo510 chip’s vector acceleration hardware. It also improves numeric support for audio and speech processing models. Finally, it delivers up to 3x gains in inference speed and power efficiency over standard LiteRT implementations.

Next, HeliosAOT introduces a ground-up, ahead-of-time compiler that transforms TensorFlow Lite models directly into embedded C code for edge AI deployment. “AOT interpretation, which developers can perform on their PC or laptop, produces C code, and developers can take that code and link it to the rest of the firmware,” Morales said. “So, developers can save a lot of memory on the code size.”

HeliosAOT provides a 15–50% reduction in memory footprint compared to traditional runtime-based deployments. Furthermore, with granular memory control, it enables per-layer weight distribution across the Apollo chip’s memory hierarchy. It also streamlines deployment with direct integration of generated C code into embedded applications.

Figure 2 HeliosRT and HeliosAOT tools are optimized for Apollo SoCs. Ambiq

“HeliosRT and HeliosAOT are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing AI development pipelines while delivering the performance and efficiency gains that edge applications demand,” said Morales. He added that both solutions are built on Ambiq’s sub-threshold power optimized technology (SPOT).

HeliosRT is now available in beta via the neuralSPOT SDK, while a general release is expected in the third quarter of 2025. On the other hand, HeliosAOT is currently available as a technical preview for select partners, and general release is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Related Content

The post Two new runtime tools to accelerate edge AI deployment appeared first on EDN.

This glue will be the death of me

Reddit:Electronics - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 13:03
This glue will be the death of me

I work in electronics repair and this glue is used in an extremely large amount of units. Unfortunately there are certain types of this glue that go conductive after a while (3-10 years) and it creates an absolute nightmare.

submitted by /u/samul_da_camel
[link] [comments]

India’s Global Rise in Electronics Backed by $40B Exports, Says Vaishnaw

ELE Times - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 12:01

Addressing the 14th convocation of IIT Hyderabad, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared a landmark achievement. India’s electronics exports have surpassed USD 40 billion an incredible eight-fold increase in just 11 years. The production of electronics within India grew six-fold during the same timeframe, a factor that lends credence to the manufacturing capability of the nation.

Important Highlights from Vaishnaw’s Address:

Exports & Production Growth: Electronics production has grown 6× and the exports 8× during the last 11 years, sustaining double-digit CAGR.

Semiconductor Ambitions: The commercial production of the first Made-in-India semiconductor chip is expected to be seeded by the end of this year. India aspires to become one of the top five semiconductor countries in the near future.

Telecom Stack Success: A fully indigenous 4G telecom stack was created in just 3½ years and is now powering ~90,000 towers, more than the networks in many countries.

5G Labs & Talent Building: The government has rolled out 100 5G labs, having distributed EDA tools from Cadence, Synopsys & Siemens to over 270 colleges and institutions (including startups, the number increases to 340) for the fostering of semiconductor design talent.

Infrastructure Boost: Vaishnaw also discussed the quick development of Mumbai-Ahmedabad, India’s first bullet train, which is expected to start operations in August or September 2027.

These achievements highlight the Modi government’s efforts to create a self-sufficient electronics ecosystem that includes chip design, telecommunications, and semiconductor manufacturing under the Make-in-India project.

The electronics export stood at an estimated USD 12.41 billion in Q1 FY26 (April-June), with year-to-year growth clocking an impressive 47%. The chief markets for Indian electronics export were the United States (60.2%), the UAE (8.1%), and China (3.9%), marking India’s ascension on the global map of electronics manufacturing.

The growth in Q1 confirms India’s status as a developing center for electronics production and makes a significant contribution to the USD 40 billion annual export milestone.

The Significance of This Leap:

  1. Global Market Integration: Dominance of markets like US, UAE, and China signals deeper integration of India into global supply chains.
  2. Security and Self-Reliance: Indigenous telecom stack and semiconductor push furthers the national security and reduces import dependency.
  3. Job Creation and Skill Building: Economic boom arising from semiconductors, EDA labs, and 5G infrastructure projects is creating demand for skilled professionals.
  4. Strategic Infrastructure Synergy: By collaborating with major projects like telecom, railroads, and bullet trains, the growth of electronics supports national modernization

Conclusion:

Rising electronics exports in India with the scaling-up of manufacturing processes crystals the evolution of a manufacturing ecosystem aligned with the Make-in-India initiative. The assurance of indigenous semiconductors, solid telecom backdrop, and a talent pipeline pave India’s way as an electronics and technological hub across the world.

The post India’s Global Rise in Electronics Backed by $40B Exports, Says Vaishnaw appeared first on ELE Times.

Nexperia and TU Hamburg launch endowed chair in power electronics

Semiconductor today - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 11:55
Discrete device designer and manufacturer Nexperia of Nijmegen, the Netherlands (which operates wafer fabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Hazel Grove Manchester, UK) and the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg) have launched an endowed professorship in power electronic devices. The position, held by professor Holger Kapels, will drive research on next-generation semiconductor components and train highly skilled engineers at TU Hamburg’s School of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics. As part of this initiative, Kapels will also lead the newly founded Institute for Power Electronic Devices...

Renesas adds 650V GaN FETs for high-density power conversion

Semiconductor today - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 11:53
Renesas Electronics Corp of Tokyo, Japan has introduced three new high-voltage 650V gallium nitride (GaN) FETs for AI data centers and server power supply systems including the new 800V HVDC architecture, E-mobility charging, UPS battery backup devices, battery energy storage and solar inverters...

КПІ ім. Ігоря Сікорського співпрацюватиме з АТ «Укртелеком»

Новини - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 10:00
КПІ ім. Ігоря Сікорського співпрацюватиме з АТ «Укртелеком»
Image
kpi пн, 07/21/2025 - 10:00
Текст

У КПІ ім. Ігоря Сікорського — новий стратегічний партнер: університет співпрацюватиме з АТ «Укртелеком» задля розвитку сфери інформаційно-телекомунікаційних технологій та створення для студентів, викладачів та науковців ще більше освітніх, наукових і карʼєрних можливостей.

Tata Electronics and Bosch Sign Pact to Advance India’s Chip and Auto-Tech Ecosystem

ELE Times - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 09:28

The signing of the MoU by Tata Electronics and Robert Bosch GmbH stands as a landmark in the electronics and semiconductor manufacturing industries, significantly marking a major achievement in India’s journey toward attaining self-reliance.

A Strategic Duo:

Under this MoU, the parties will cooperate on semiconductor chip packaging and manufacturing, which concern the latter part of the semiconductor supply chain after wafer fabrication. The projects shall be undertaken at Tata Electronics’ assembly-and-test plant in Assam near completion and at its semiconductor foundry in Gujarat.

Assam: Tata Electronics is setting up the ₹27,000 crore, 600-acre semiconductor assembly and test facility in Jagiroad. Commercial operation of the plant will commence in mid-2025 and will entail advanced packaging technologies with a production capacity of 41 million chips per day.

Gujarat: Tata is executing the construction of its first fab in the Dholera Special Investment Region worth ₹91,000 crore, with support from Taiwan’s Powerchip, which will be used for large-scale production of 50,000 wafers per month starting around 2026.

This initiative jointly puts the strengths of each partner category to use: aggressive investments made by Tata across design, assembly, and test, fabrication, and packaging,” and Bosch’s deep expertise in packaging technologies and its position as a long‑time global supplier of automotive electronics.

Strengthening India’s Auto & Electronics Ecosystem

Beyond chip processing, the collaboration is intended to be widened into EMS space for the automotive industry, an area rapidly soaring as vehicles themselves become electrified and digitized.

For Tata, this alliance clearly steps into its layered approach: prior MoUs with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on chip design, with Powerchip Semiconductor and with Himax Technologies on display-chip manufacture signaling an ambition to head in fab-to-front-end packaging.

India Semiconductor Leap: What This Alliance Brings

  1. An integrated chip supply chain: The MoU is a signal for moving towards a vertically integrated semiconductor network-from chip fab to packaging and system implementation-anchored within India.
  2. Job creation & Regional growth: Thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities will be created, more so for the backward regions like Assam where indu will be fast.
  3. Global cooperation: The agreement reflects global confidence in India’s manufacturing potential—joining forces with an engineering giant like Bosch intensifies that signal.
  4. Auto‑tech transformation: As vehicle electronics grow more sophisticated—covering sensors, advanced driver assistance, power management, and connectivity—this alliance prepares India to be a hub for innovation in mobility.

Path Ahead & Prospects:

Looking ahead, Tata Electronics plans to ramp up its Gujarat line for large‑scale wafer production by 2026 and expand its packaging & test unit in Assam. Bosch may also deploy its global packaging tech like 3D packaging helping India cross into advanced nodes and complex system‑in‑package offerings.

This collaboration stands as a cornerstone for India’s semiconductor journey where strategic investments, policy support, and global partnerships could coalesce into a self‑sustaining, world‑class semiconductor economy.

The post Tata Electronics and Bosch Sign Pact to Advance India’s Chip and Auto-Tech Ecosystem appeared first on ELE Times.

Fixed an LCD with a torn flat flex

Reddit:Electronics - Mon, 07/21/2025 - 04:51
Fixed an LCD with a torn flat flex

The flex ribbon that was bonded to this LCD ripped. Good thing there's test points on the board

submitted by /u/aspie_electrician
[link] [comments]

One channel strip of a Harrison series ten B mixer

Reddit:Electronics - Sun, 07/20/2025 - 21:19
One channel strip of a Harrison series ten B mixer

Fully analog sound signal path, but digital control that allows automation. Only about 20 were ever made and the full device weighs 1400 pounds xD

submitted by /u/XDFreakLP
[link] [comments]

Look what i found while buying bms boards for lion batteries

Reddit:Electronics - Sun, 07/20/2025 - 15:19
Look what i found while buying bms boards for lion batteries

Lol there is an extra resistor which is out of place. bad soldering lol

submitted by /u/scattercat_123
[link] [comments]

Pages

Subscribe to Кафедра Електронної Інженерії aggregator