Embedded Insiders

Send us a textThe Embedded Insiders attended a couple of respective sensors conferences, one in the U.S. and one in Europe. Tune in to find out what they saw, how the tchotchkie index of both shows compared and the announcement of our Best in Show winners. For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThe RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) has garnered a lot of attention amongst academia and startups. But, being so new, there has been a limited amount of RISC-V IP that one would classify as "production-ready", and, of course, even less silicon.However, a new industry organization, the OpenHW Group, is looking to take open-source hardware technologies like RISC-V from prototypes to products. This week, Rick O'Connor, President of OpenHW Group and former Executive Director of the RISC-V Foundation, joins the Embedded Insiders to explain the relationship between the new consortium and other open-source initiatives. He also discusses how he believes that production-ready IP like CORE-V RISC-V cores will help accelerate the open-source hardware movement.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textIn this episode, the Embedded Insiders talk to Chris Jacobs, VP of Autonomous Transportation and Automotive Safety at Analog Devices as he divulges where the automotive industry is headed in terms of autonomy, safety and sensor technology. We also cover some news that came out of TU-Automotive Detroit. Tune in for more.  For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textIn this episode, we discuss the Bleeding Edge. What is it? What does it mean for the future of semiconductors? Is it actually conceivable or can we put it in the category of science fiction? Tune in to find out. For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textIn this episode of Embedded Insiders, we delve into the difference between smart and intelligent devices. What makes a device smart? Furthermore, what makes a device intelligent? Is it indeed possible to distinguish the two? Will the technological advancements in intelligent devices put humans out of commission? Tune in as we discuss.    For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textEmbedded Insiders’ Rich Nass interviews industry consultant and analyst Vin D’Agostino of D’Agostino Industries to get his take on what’s been happening in the IoT world as far as RTOS acquisitions go. Alix Paultre offers his experience at PCIM and reviews the show’s edible tchotchkie index.We also highlight the Best in Show winners from IoT World. Tune in to hear about all the brilliant products that were showcased this year. For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textWith the recent news of Microsoft acquiring Express Logic, the Embedded Insiders parse whether large tech conglomerates buying software companies is good for anyone involved. Special guest Rob Oshana, VP of Software Engineering R&D at NXP joins to give his thoughts on what the FreeRTOS and Express Logic acquisitions will mean for developers. Tune in for more!For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThere seems to be a foundation/association for just about everything in our space these days. Are such institutions necessary? Do they wear out their usefulness? I asked that question of Mike Milinkovich, the Executive Director of the Eclipse Foundation. Of course, he defended his group, but his reasoning was quite interesting. Check out this week’s Five Minutes With…discussion.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThe Embedded Insiders briefly review the results of an IoT developer survey from the Eclipse Foundation, which found that two-thirds of engineers are currently or plan to launch an IoT project in the next 18 months (https://iot.eclipse.org/iot-developer-surveys/). Given the pervasiveness of IoT, does that even mean anything anymore?Afterward, the Insiders slide into a discussion of wide-area networks prompted by Alix Paultre's recent engagements with The Things Network. Do recent announcements in 5G have any impact on the advancement of LoRa-based technologies such as those developed by The Things Network, or is there still ample market opportunity? Will Semtech's LoRa monopoly stifle the industry, or help it grow sustainably? Tune in to find out more.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textWhen it comes to things like embedded computing systems and advanced solutions and circuits, people tend to overlook basics in the system, even though some of those basics can actually be force multipliers for their logic systems. One important factor in high-performance computing is how you actually manage the power to it, and whether you're optimizing the performance of the device or the different types of processors.That's where Aceinna's current sensors comes into play, to measure and protect, and also for optimization of system performance. In this episode we talk to Aceinna's Khagendra Thapa about how to optimize processor efficiency by looking at the current consumed by the system.  The company’s AMR technology is a single chip solution with a lower offset, lower noise, better accuracy and overall bandwidth, and a lower phase shift.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThe IoT is just starting to embrace AI and neural nets. While previously a Cloud-based application, such algorithms are migrating to the Edge, thanks to the latest and greatest microprocessors. One of those processor vendors who continue to exhibit expertise in the IoT ecosystem is Intel, and as such, became the subject of this week’s Five Minutes With…discussion. Specifically, I spoke to Steen Graham, the General Manager of Intel’s IoT Ecosystem.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThe Embedded community is closely tied to Linux (yes, that’s an understatement). I thought it would be a good idea to interview someone from the Linux Foundation to get a handle on where the organization stands and what projects are coming down the pike. So, without any further ado, here’s Michael Dolan, Vice President of Strategic Programs for the Linux Foundation in week’s Five Minutes With…discussion.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThis week the Embedded Insiders are joined by Steven Crouch, CTO of Blackmore Lidar, who discusses FM lidar and its impact on the automotive market. We also recap what went on at the GPU Technology Conference this year. Tune in for more.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textBoards and systems designed around an Nvidia processor are becoming more commonplace. But where they haven’t made much of a mark—until now—is in the mil/aero industries. The architecture seems like a natural fit due to its ability to do video processing capabilities, but is just starting to make a (very small) dent. In this week’s Five Minutes With…podcast, I spoke to Doug Patterson, a vice present with Aitech, a company that is at the forefront of mil-aero designs, and now at the forefront of Nvidia-based designs.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textJoin Rich Nass, Brandon Lewis, Alix Paultre and Laura Dolan as they deliberate what’s been happening with Boeing’s 737 Max planes that have been recently grounded due to two tragic crashes. They beg the question, is this a software issue? Tune in for a more in depth discussion.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThis is the Embedded Insiders’ first video broadcast. Join Rich Nass, Brandon Lewis, Alix Paultre and Laura Dolan as they discuss Alix’s latest adventures at APEC and what the future holds for power electronics. Not to mention Alix’s Tchotchke Index. What is it? And what can show-goers glean from what you pass out at trade shows? Tune in to learn more!For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textPower is key in any embedded system—literally. You will not find an embedded system that does not contain some sort of power subsystem. However, people tend not to put much emphasis on that portion of the embedded design. Why is that? Beats me, so I asked Chris Jones, a Director at Artesyn Embedded Technologies in this week’s Five Minutes With…discussion. And did he ever come up with a zinger of a story!For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textEnergy harvesting is not a new concept – solar panels have been around for a long time, and even mechanical watches have had motion-capture systems to wind the mainspring since Rolex invented “Perpetual” movement. However, recent advances in circuit efficiency have made other forms of low-power energy harvesting viable, as they can use the microamps of current provided. Today one can obtain devices that harvest electrical energy using sources ranging from stray RF to beamed laser energy via fiber. One of the more interesting and novel means of energy harvesting is the quantum-tunneling-based Evercell thermal energy technology from Face. Evercell is a passive-structure, semiconductor-based system that exploits principles of quantum physics to produce a small, continuous flow of electric power in virtually any setting. We talked to Stefan Popov, the Managing Partner of QuantumDrive, the exclusive licensee for the use of Face's Evercell power cells in self-powered watches quartz watches. Everc

Send us a textThere are holes in IoT security. I don’t think anyone disputes that. Is it a big problem or a small problem? Unfortunately, the answer depends. Knowing where to start and what path to take is a tricky one, in part because different people will point you in different directions. To (hopefully) steer you straight, I discussed the topic with a recognized security expert, Brent Wilson, a staff security applications engineer for IoT products at Silicon Labs, in this week’s Five Minutes With…discussion.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com

Send us a textThe space where the electronics meets the mechanics ends up being a place of disconnect. Who owns that domain, the mechanical engineer or the electrical engineer? Good question, and that’s where I started the discussion with Michael Randt, Founder and CEO of Trinamic in this week’s Five Minutes With…discussion. As the IoT proliferates, particularly in the industrial, automation, and manufacturing industries, the world of “mechatronics” is key to the success of a design. And the problem likely will get worse before it gets better.For more information, visit embeddedcomputing.com