Category: IDTechEx

Shockwave Motors Defiant Electric 3 seater Roadster

Posted by – November 29, 2016

Interview with Shockwave Motors. They are making electric cars ‘cool’ by providing a high performance, all-electric roadster that is pollution free, economical, and fun to drive. The roadster has up to a 100 mile range and can be recharged from a standard 120-volt outlet in about 8 hours; providing a daily range of up to 200 miles. The roadster recharges in less than 3 hours when plugged into a Level ll Charger. For more information see http://www.shockwavemotors.com and http://www.IDTechEx.com

Keynote: Opening Keynote Presentation – Raghu Das, IDTechEx | IDTechEx Show! USA 2016

Posted by – November 29, 2016

IDTechEx Raghu Das (CEO) discusses stretchable electronics, structural electronics, product flexibility, distribution, emerging materials and an overview of what is to come at the IDTechEx Show! Santa Clara 2016. IDTechEx offers independent market research, business intelligence and advice on emerging technologies to companies across the value chain, supporting them in making essential strategic business decisions. For more information visit http://www.IDTechEx.com

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Keynote: Intel presents RealSense at the IDTechEx Show!: From 3D Printing to Drones

Posted by – November 29, 2016

Dr. Achin Bhowmik is Vice President and General Manager of the Perceptual Computing Group at Intel Corporation. He leads the development and deployment of interactive technologies and products based on natural sensing, intuitive interfaces, immersive applications and user experiences, branded as Intel® RealSense™ Technology. His presentation at the IDTechEx Show! on Nov. 16 2016 covers the latest progress with the technology. For more information about the event see http://www.idtechex.com

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Keynote: Google: Using Wearables to go from Open Heart Surgery to Bike Racing

Posted by – November 29, 2016

Heidi Dohse (who I interviewed here), Senior Program Manager at Google, shares her insights on empowering patients at the IDTechEx Show! on Nov 16. 2016. As a lifelong heart patient, Heidi pursued her desire to become an athlete and competitive cyclist. After having open heart surgery in 2010, she used wearable devices and technologies to provide the data she needed to go from the hospital bed to back on the bike and across the finish line of her first bike race. Learn more at http://www.idtechex.com

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Keynote: A perspective from Unilever: Opportunities for Printed Electronics

Posted by – November 29, 2016

John Snow, Global Packaging Customer Manager, Unilever, presents at the IDTechEx Show! on opportunities for printed electronics in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. Learn more at http://www.idtechex.com

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Flexible Haptic feedback by Novasentis for AR/VR controllers, smartwatches, e-textiles and more

Posted by – November 24, 2016

Novasentis CEO introduces their flexible, thin, light, multi output haptic technology, here demonstrating how it may be used to enhanse sensing for AR/VR applications where you already have video and audio, and the haptic feedback that can be customized for each finger and programmed so that you can get a variety of “sensations”, smart variable haptic frequencies can emulate the feeling of touching different materials in the AR/VR world. Francois did not name his customers but they are working with companies that are making AR/VR devices, gaming controllers and wearable devices. I have previously video blogged about the flexible wearable devices and they are making further progress with that application also where the haptic actuators are embedded into the smart watch strap. I can think of many more applications for this technology including smart clothing. Watch my channel to hear latest updates about Novasentis that is the only company that has this type of technology.

Color Boogie Boards and Toys from Kent Displays

Posted by – November 24, 2016

Kent Display is a great display for hand writing, this is a technology that feels like paper. Dr Asad Khan the CTO for Kent Displays who is also the winner of the 2016 APS prize spoke to me about their newest products. They now have color Boogie Board, he also showed their transparent CH-LCD screen in a toy, called Play n Trace where children can learn to trace and draw in a fun way. Kent Displays has been supplying cholesteric LCD to the mobile phone and tablet accessories market, they are now shipping millions of devices and this business is growing. The display and the devices are rugged with sunlight readability outside. Also check out their new product sold thru TV, its called MagicSketch

Instrumental helps find and fix issues on manufacturing lines

Posted by – November 23, 2016

Instrumental is modernizing manufacturing, enabling customers to continuously improve their parts, processes, and products. Founded by two ex-Apple engineers, Anna Shedletsky and Samuel Weiss, Instrumental cuts inefficiencies in the hardware development and production process by capturing data that is normally lost and using computer vision and machine learning algorithms to extract useful information that can be used to improve parts, products, and processes. In this video, they demonstrate an Instrumental inspection system. It takes high resolution images at key states of product assembly, and enables engineers to inspect and take geometric measurements on those units minutes or weeks later. Instrumental customers have used the system to discover issues they didn’t know they had, and to quickly get to root cause, saving significant time and money during development and production. Customers have also tracked product quality, driven yield improvements, and set specifications remotely using Instrumental’s software. Their current customer base spans hardware, apparel, and top-tier manufacturers. Check out a customer case study to learn more about how Instrumental can support your development efforts, or visit them at http://www.instrumental.ai

This video was filmed at IDTechEx USA 2016

Movidius, computer vision for IoT, drones, smartphones, IP cameras and more to come

Posted by – November 23, 2016

Movidius provides machine vision technology, they released Myriad 2, they claim to be the industry’s first always-on vision processor. It delivers high-performance computational imaging and visual awareness in devices where every last drop of battery power counts, performing at under 1.2W of power means Myriad 2 can be deployed into tiny IoT devices such as smart cameras, drones and wearables, featuring a balance between programmable and hard wired elements, giving developers immediate access to its advanced vision processing core, while also allowing them to develop proprietary capabilities through the Myriad development platform. Movidius is being acquired by Intel, you can read more here. Movidius won the Best IoT Technology development award at IDTechEx USA 2016, you can read more here.

CDT printed flexible OLED (low-cost)

Posted by – November 22, 2016

Cambridge Display Technology Limited is developing printed low-cost flexible OLEDs that can offer low power, bespoke colours and long lifetime in everyday applications (read more: https://www.cdtltd.co.uk/technology-scope/flexoled/). The resulting OLEDs are thin and lightweight, with distributed icons over large areas achieving performances suitable for a wide range of consumer products, with demonstrated compatibility with touch sensor and NFC technologies. CDT is able to make RGBW OLEDs at less than 5V operating voltage. Low power requirements has enabled remote powering of OLEDs by NFC, and they are currently exploring ways to integrate into products with partner companies. The OLEDs are thin (less than0.3mm), lightweight and flexible, with long lifetimes. CDT is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical and our 100-strong interdisciplinary team has world-class expertise in physics, chemistry, engineering, microelectronics, materials and life sciences. CDT scientists work on a range of topics from fundamental understanding to optimising materials and devices for market applications. Current research themes include Organic Electronics, Energy Harvesting & Storage, Opto-Electronic Detection, Biosensors and OLED Displays and Lighting.

TwinTorq Electric-Hydraulic Engine extends range by 45% for EV Buses

Posted by – November 22, 2016

KersTech develops and manufactures their TwinTorq motor providing they claim a major leap in energy efficiency over conventional electric motors, significantly increasing driving range and runtime. The TwinTorq motor combines an electric motor with a hydraulic motor in a single compact unit, with the hydraulic motor providing high efficiency starting torque at slower speeds and the electric motor high efficiency running torque at higher speeds. Both the electric and hydraulic systems regenerate energy during deceleration to replenish the battery and hydraulic accumulator in their respective speed ranges. The hydraulic motor can be disengaged during electric mode. Controller software manages the electric and hydraulic systems to optimize energy usage. The net effect is that the hydraulic power at low speed/high torque reduces battery demand to preserve electric energy and increase battery range by up to 45%, or enables the use of smaller batteries. And because they use hydraulics for launch acceleration and energy regeneration, minimizing high battery charges and discharges, they are kinder to batteries so they last longer. The TwinTorq motor uses simple physics and proven, reliable technologies in a novel fashion. Because hydraulic motors are 3 times more efficient than electric motors for acceleration and brake energy regeneration at lower speeds, during deceleration they recover energy hydraulically, as pressure in an accumulator. Then they release the pressure to accelerate the vehicle without using the electric motor and battery. There’s the big energy saving, because high-torque acceleration chews up battery energy. By replacing low efficiency electric energy with high efficiency hydraulic energy during launch and low speed acceleration the TwinTorq motor preserves battery energy to increase driving range and runtime by up to 45%. TwinTorq’s unique design integrates shared electric and hydraulic components, reducing component and production costs. The motor’s coaxial and coplanar architecture in combination with their patented 90° gear drive enables axial compactness or “flatness”, allowing low-in- the-chassis mounting to improve space utilization and lower center of gravity. TwinTorq is an ideal solution for commercial electric vehicles with frequent-start- stop drive cycles where range and battery life directly impacts productivity and operating cost. Their first application is electric forklifts, because 65% of new forklifts are already electric, and then we’ll address city and shuttle buses; garbage, freight and parcel trucks; and other heavy electric vehicles. This video was filmed at the IDTechEx USA 2016 in Santa Clara, California.

Keynote: Nuon Solar Team Solar Car: Together We Power The Future

Posted by – November 21, 2016

The Nuon Solar Team has been building and racing solar cars since 2001. They have participated in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge eight times and placed first six times. The race is 3000+ kilometres through the desert of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide or in South Africa from Pretoria to Cape Town, were this team of students from the Technical University Delft have done their utmost best to win the race. The Keynote speaker here is Winnifred Noorlander, she has been studying Civil Engineering at the Technical University since 2013. Since the beginning of this year she has been responsible for the Public Relations of the Nuon Solar Team. She takes care of organizing events for the team and also helps with manufacturing the solar car whenever possible. With a passion for high-end technologies and sustainability she will do everything she can to keep the world title solar racing in Holland.

Nuon Solar Team at IDTechEx USA 2016

Posted by – November 21, 2016

The Nuon Solar Team has been world champion 8 times over the last 16 years of the world solar car championship, on October 1, 2016 they won the Solar Challenge in South Africa from Pretoria to Cape Town beating solar-powered vehicles designed by groups from all over the world. They drove 4,717 kilometres in the Nuna8, now holding the world record for the longest distance ever driven during a solar race.

Nuon Solar Team Interviewed by Dr Peter Harrop of IDTechEx

Posted by – November 20, 2016

Interview of Winnifred Noorlander from the Nuon Solar Team by Dr Peter Harrop of IDTechEx. Nuon Solar Team currently employs nine students from Delft University of Technology. Much of its innovation is constrained by the rules of the solar race such as being limited to 3sq. meters of GaAs or 6 sq. meters of single crystal silicon PV. Nonethelesss, innovative suspension has been developed of unusually small size to fit the aerodynamic shell. In past years they have tried concentrators and GaAs. Regenerative braking is the only viable regenerative harvesting within the rules. They have remarkably efficient traction motors at 96%. Power electronics is secret but they are aware of the potential of the new SiC and GaN power components not least in lightweighting and improving efficiency. They are interested in the Sabic lighter-weight polycarbonate cowl glazing. They do not yet have structural electronics beyond the PV forming the outer surface. The vehicles are entirely carbon fiber except the aluminium suspension. The racer is currently a mere 150 kg.

Intel RealSense 400 for self-driving cars, autonomous drones, Robots, for indoor and outdoor use

Posted by – November 17, 2016

Intel RealSense Camera 400 Series is their next-generation RealSense camera that offers improved accuracy with more than double the number of 3D points captured per second and more than double the operating range compared with Intel RealSense 300.

Botfactory Squink Desktop Electronic Circuit Factory

Posted by – November 16, 2016

Building electronic devices has always been a compromise between cost, flexibility and time. BotFactory is born with the idea of providing all three, anywhere and to everyone. By combining technologies like inkjet, extrusion and machine vision, BotFactory’s products democratize electronics design by providing the tools to easily print and assemble electronic circuits at the Lab, Office or Home. Read more at https://www.botfactory.co/page/product

TankTwo String Batteries

Posted by – November 16, 2016

Franco Gonzales of IDTechEx interviews Bert Holtappels of TankTwo about their battery packs for electric cars at the IDTechEx Show! In Berlin. TankTwo’s system is comprised of multiple individual intelligent cells made from same material as traditional batteries – in this case, lithium ion. Each cell contains a chip which allows the cells to be connected to another. Their elliptical shapes allows cells to touch multiple cells throughout the pack, providing multiple connections per cell. The routing algorithms update every 12 seconds, monitoring the output of cells, and providing the ability for weaker cells to be paired with stronger cells, giving a more efficient system.

TankTwo is a battery technology startup, founded in 2012. It has the specific mission to drastically improve EV battery performance by applying established principles from other industries. Most inspiration comes from 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks, internet routing protocols, and consumer electronics industries. We follow a strongly data-driven method for making batteries perform significantly more work.

For more information, see http://www.tanktwo.com and http://www.IDTechEx.com

Optomec printed techology

Posted by – November 16, 2016

Mike O’Reilly, Director of Aerosol Jet Product Management of Optomec shows their printed techology at the IDTechEx Show! In Berlin. Optomec shows printing on low temperature substrates and their LENS technology for prototyping parts using metals. LENS allows customers to create and repair metal parts easily and to create next generation alloys. Optomec allows for printing in both 3D and 2D across a variety of substrates, ranging in size from microcons to centimeters.

Optomec is a privately-held, rapidly growing supplier of Additive Manufacturing systems. Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet Systems for printed electronics and LENS 3D Printers for metal components are used by industry to reduce product cost and improve performance. Together, these unique printing solutions work with the broadest spectrum of functional materials, ranging from electronic inks to structural metals and even biological matter. Optomec has more than 200 marquee customers around the world, targeting production applications in the Electronics, Energy, Life Sciences and Aerospace industries.

For more information, see http://www.optomec.com and http://www.idtechex.com

Ceradrop equipment for printed electronics and 3D printing

Posted by – November 16, 2016

Nicolas Bernadrin, Deputy Managing Director of Ceradrop presents their equipment for printed electronics and 3D printing at the IDTechEx Show! In Berlin.

CERADROP designs and markets Materials Deposition Digital Printers exclusively for Printed Electronics Industry and Smart 3D Printing. Thanks to its modular-based scalable concept, CeraPrinter Series models present new opportunities for feasibility study and launch of new products into the Printed Electronics market. Combining several materials deposition technologies as well as the latest generation of curing modules, this equipment line permits to reach a wide range of application fields such as: membrane switch, antennas, sensors, passive components, interconnection, flexible solar cells (OPV), OLED Displays and others.

For more information, see http://www.ceradrop.com/en/ and http://www.idtechex.com

EMD IoT Node Technology

Posted by – November 16, 2016

EMD, shows their extremely small IoT node run from an energy harvesting solar cell, which won the CISCO Big Award. EMD works on vibrational and thermo electric as well as solar energy harvesting cells.

EMD is a privately owned Research and Engineering company founded in 2010. Their experienced staff and associates have a spectrum of skills and knowledge combined with that all-essential pioneering and innovative spirit.

For more information, see http://www.e-m-d.co.uk/home.html and http://www.idtechex.com