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High-Performance computing for industrial IoT

By Remco Tolsma, Central Europe Regional Manager, RS Components The opportunities are many in the paradigm of the Internet of Things (IoT) and especially so in industrial IoT applications. Naturally all the major semiconductor vendors are making strategic forays into this arena, and among them is perhaps the best known of them all. Intel has made no secret that it is looking to expand its horizons and empower innovators, developers, makers and entrepreneurs in new and fast emerging applications that are being enabled by the IoT and industrial IoT. To this end, RS Components has been chosen by Intel to be an important instrument in its strategy to address these markets. This has culminated in the recent signing of an agreement enabling RS to supply a wide range of Intel products that target computing and embedded development across numerous applications and IoT-based projects. Thanks to this agreement, there are now a range of Intel-branded and Intel processor-based products shipping at RS. These include two Intel NUC single-board computers, based respectively on the Intel Atom E3815 processor and the high-performance Intel Core™ i5 processor based 5300U , in addition to the complete Intel Edison development platform, the Intel Compute Stick, and the Arduino Genuino 101. Single Board Computers The Intel NUC Core i5 5300U is a highly compact single-board computer that integrates a 2.9GHz dual-core i5 5300U processor with 3MB cache memory, along with integrated graphics, Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and four high-throughput USB 3.0 ports. The processor is excellent for demanding (Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications and engineers are currently using this powerful resource today to develop IoT applications. Intel Edison The Intel Edison platform is a very significant suite of tools for open-source development that targets IoT and wearable computing products. The platform is based around the ultra-small Intel Edison compute module, which works with the Intel Edison breakout […]

FARO introduces next generation FaroArm

The QuantumS is certified to ISO 10360 -12:2016, the most rigorous international measurement quality standard in existence. This global standard, unlike the various regional standards such as VDI/VDE 2617, establishes the consistent, critical testing procedures that enable objective performance comparisons across any and all Articulated Arm Coordinate Measuring devices. Also, the QuantumS sets a new standard for ruggedness as it tests to the International Electrical Commission (IEC 60068 -2) standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief. With the addition of the FAROBluT Laser Line Probe HD, the QuantumS continues the FARO tradition of delivering maximum measurement consistency for both direct-to-parts contact and non-contact requirements in every working environment. It enables users to capture more, richer detail faster than any other comparable product on the market. Usability The advanced man-machine interface and enhanced ergonomics make the FARO QuantumS a virtual extension of the human arm and enables up to 15% less effort and fatigue for the operator with direct, contact only units. This dramatic increase in both comfort and portability increases operator productivity by facilitating continuous use over extended periods during the workday. Portability QuantumS advances the concept of true portability and ensures additional floor reach by up to 40%. Advanced wireless capability ensures that the reliability of cable-free scanning and probing is comparable to scanning and probing with a cable attachment. Furthermore, the availability of dual, hot swappable batteries supports continuous operation anywhere on the factory floor without the need for external power.

Creaform expands its 3D expertise to the aerospace industry

Creaform, a worldwide leader in portable and highly accurate 3D measurement solutions and engineering services, will extend its expertise in non-destructive testing (NDT) to the aerospace industry. By expanding access to its inspection solutions, the company aims to better enable airlines, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service companies, to more efficiently perform the evaluations of in-service aircraft safety, while cutting costs and saving downtime. As predictive maintenance becomes more prominent, aviation maintenance professionals and aircraft MRO providers are increasingly on the lookout for innovative methods that enable quicker and safer decisions to be made on the outcome of part defects. The mapping of external surface defects on aircraft parts, which can prove difficult to obtain using traditional methods—namely hail damage, bird impacts and lightning strikes on the fuselage and wings—can be assessed with 3D scanning. When paired with advanced inspection tools, such solution cuts down on the operator’s impact on measurements, shortens time to get the final report, and reinforces decision-making.” To ensure that the solution matches aviation maintenance industry requirements and properly reflects the market needs, Creaform is partnering with major aircraft manufacturers for beta testing. The surface inspection solution dedicated to aerospace applications is set for release in October 2017. Earlier this year, Creaform announced that the HandySCAN 3D metrology-grade laser scanner had made its first major step into the aerospace industry. It was added to the Airbus Technical Equipment Manual (TEM) which is referenced in the Airbus Structure Repair Manual (SRM). Well-known for its NDT solutions for the oil and gas industry, Creaform’s NDT product solution is comprised of its flagship HandySCAN 3D portable metrology-grade 3D scanner and its Pipecheck NDT software, both of which allow automatic on-site inspection, detection, and characterisation of pipeline defects. With traceable and repeatable inspection data and results, operators […]

America’s Cup success for small NZ company

A small New Zealand firm made a giant contribution to the America’s Cup. ‘YachtBot’ – GPS tracking systems invented by Dunedin firm Igtimi – was on nearly 40 boats operated by America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) including official, photo, television, mark-setting and VIP boats. YachtBot lets the race organisers build a “virtual stadium” on the water, and establishes a “seating plan” for nearly 1,000 Superyachts, VIPs, and the public. As weather conditions change, ACEA dynamically adjusts the race course and spectator areas to ensure that everyone is as close to the racing action as possible. Igtimi Co-director, Brent Russell, says “The America’s Cup has never been able to do this before, YachtBot is a critical part of on-water operations”. Using iPads, YachtBot also helps the organisers place the buoys on the course, and displays the AC45 race boats and helicopters to provide “full view” management. It allows skippers and passengers a first-hand account of where they are relative to the imaginary race boundaries. Mr Russell says YachtBot’s goal was to provide cutting-edge training and tracking tools at all levels of sailing from the Olympics to clubs. They customised that technology for the America’s Cup. “Our first tracking devices were on the 33rd America’s Cup boats in Valencia in 2010. Since then, we’ve made them accessible for club yachting. It’s great that America’s Cup picked up on our hardware again at the elite level. The bonus is, we’ll bring this upgraded technology back to club yachting, so it’s a win for everyone,” he says. Co-director, Kylie Robinson, says the YachtBot technology proved to be very popular during the America’s Cup World Series in Japan. “They were impressed to find that the volunteers using our technology to place the race markers did so faster and more accurately than those who were fully […]

Is Asia the new engine room for globalisation?

Countries like Singapore, along with its developing neighbours in ASEAN, are driving greater connectivity between Asia and the rest of the world. The world’s economies remain highly connected despite rumours of globalisation’s demise. That’s one of the main findings of DHL’s latest Global Connectedness Index (GCI), which charts the progress and current state of globalization using hard data about trade, capital, information, and people movements worldwide. The latest GCI discovered that despite growing protectionist sentiment in some parts of the world, globalisation has continued to advance.“Asia Pacific economies have grown increasingly connected to the rest of the world as their industries and talent bases mature,” says globalisation expert Professor Pankaj Ghemawat, who led the research on the GCI. “Given the rhetoric that we’re seeing in Europe and America, businesses should expect an even greater role for Asia in globalisation moving forward, creating significant opportunities for sales and supply chain networks based in the region.” The region’s geography and cultural commonalities have lent themselves well to greater interconnectedness. Of the five countries that outperformed expectations most on the depth dimension of global connectedness, four of them hailed from South East Asia: Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Countries in East Asia and the Pacific also have, on average, the second-highest intra-regional share of international flows in trade, capital, information, and people. And Singapore turned out to have both the deepest and largest international flows of any city surveyed, with Hong Kong close behind. “Hotspots” exhibit both great depth and volume in their connections with other cities. “Initiatives like the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and Belt and Road foreshadow greater cross-border economic ties between East Asian countries, supported by increasing integration across supply chains and migration policies,” says Ghemawat. “At the same time, Singapore and Hong Kong have engineered a renaissance in digital […]

Book Review -The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future

– Kevin Kelly,Viking. A guide through the twelve technological imperatives that will shape the next thirty years and transform our lives. Much of what will happen in the next thirty years is inevitable, driven by technological trends that are already in motion. In this fascinating, provocative new book, Kevin Kelly provides an optimistic road map for the future, showing how the coming changes in our lives—from virtual reality in the home to an on-demand economy to artificial intelligence embedded in everything we manufacture—can be understood as the result of a few long-term, accelerating forces. Kelly both describes these deep trends—flowing, screening, accessing, sharing, filtering, remixing, tracking, and questioning—and demonstrates how they overlap and are codependent on one another. These larger forces will completely revolutionize the way we buy, work, learn, and communicate with each other. By understanding and embracing them, says Kelly, it will be easier for us to remain on top of the coming wave of changes and to arrange our day-to-day relationships with technology in ways that bring forth maximum benefits. Kelly’s bright, hopeful book will be indispensable to anyone who seeks guidance on where their business, industry, or life is heading—what to invent, where to work, in what to invest, how to better reach customers, and what to begin to put into place—as this new world emerges.

India will sell only electric cars in the near future

Every car sold in India from 2030 will be electric, under new government plans that have delighted environmentalists and dismayed the oil industry. It’s hoped that by ridding India’s roads of petrol and diesel cars in the years ahead, the country will be able to reduce the harmful levels of air pollution that contribute to a staggering 1.2 million deaths per year. India’s booming economy has seen it become the world’s third-largest oil importer, shelling out $150 billion annually for the resource – so a switch to electric-powered vehicles would put a sizable dent in demand for oil. It’s been calculated that the revolutionary move would save the country $60 billion in energy costs by 2030, while also reducing running costs for millions of Indian car owners. India’s Energy Minister Piyush Goyal says the government will financially support the initiative for the first two or three years, but the production of electric vehicles will be “driven by demand and not subsidy” after that. Air pollution a big problem in India More than a million people die in India every year as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, with an investigation by Greenpeace finding that the number of deaths caused by air pollution is only a fraction less than the number of smoking-related deaths. The investigation also found that 3% of the country’s gross domestic product was lost due to the levels of toxic smog. In 2014, the World Health Organization determined that out of the 20 global cities with the most air pollution, 13 are in India. Efforts have been made by the country’s leaders to to improve air quality, with one example coming in January 2016 when New Delhi’s government mandatedthat men could only drive their cars on alternate days depending on whether their registration plate ended with an odd or even number (single women were permitted to drive […]

Vitafoods Asia 2017: Spotlight on finished products

At the upcoming edition of Vitafoods Asia in Singapore, Asia Pacific’s nutraceutical industry will gather at the annual event to do business, uncover the latest product innovations, and to learn more about the market and its best practices. Amongst the 200 exhibiting companies, a wide-range of businesses will be presenting their high-quality, innovative finished products comprising dietary supplements, vitamins and functional food and beverages to the industry. According to Zion Market Research, the global dietary supplements market is valued at USD 132.8 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach USD 220.3 billion in 2022, with a CAGR of 8.8% between 2017 and 2022[1]. In the same report, Asia Pacific was found to be the largest market for dietary supplements in 2016, accounting for more than 31% share of the total volume of dietary supplements market, and researchers expect this trend to continue in coming years. Vitafoods Asia provides the industry with the perfect platform for generating new business and building profitable relationships, by focusing on four key areas that range from ingredient to shelf: Ingredients & Raw Materials, Contract Manufacturing & Private Label, Services & Equipment, and Branded Finished Products. With each edition, the event has witnessed a growth in the Finished Products sector, and this reflects the bullish market sentiments observed in research. This year, a total of 34 brands will showcase a variety of retail-ready functional foods and beverages and dietary supplements from around the world. Buyers, distributors, retailers, and suppliers can look forward to uncovering the latest product innovations from companies such as Daiwa Pharmaceutical (Japan), Fortex Nutraceuticals (Bulgaria), LGC (United Kingdom), and Newtree Co Ltd (Korea). For many of the participating companies, the Asia market is the place to be with its immense growth potential. As with past editions, attendees can explore the Inspiration Showcase and Tasting Bar for the latest […]

Road Traffic Solutions for Phnom Penh, Cambodia Smart City Plan

TOKYO– Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Minebea Co., Ltd. (Minebea) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in the development of road traffic solutions based on information and communication technology (ICT) as part of a Smart City Plan for Phnom Penh which Minebea is now promoting, in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Minebea is currently undertaking the installation of approximately 9,000 high-efficiency smart LED street lights in five areas around Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat. The company plans to control the lights via a wireless network that will dim lighting automatically to enable significant reductions in energy consumption. The installation project is slated to be carried out within the framework of a Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) established by the Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan. Minebea intends to promote the Smart City concept in Phnom Penh by enabling the street lights to also function as communication bases. Toward realisation of the Smart City concept, MHI will provide various technologies related to traffic control, and will jointly develop additional requisite technologies through close collaboration with Minebea. Minebea is the precision components manufacturer engaged in the machinery components business such as ball bearings and electronic devices and components business including LED backlights used for smartphones, small-sized motors, etc. Minebea manufactures the miniature-sized ball bearings having the outer diameter of up to 22 mm in which the company has the largest global market share. On top of that, Minebea has kept trying to take new challenges and initiatives such as entering into the wireless communications business as well as the markets for lighting and censors, and the like. MHI is one of the world’s leading heavy machinery manufacturers and operates more than 300 group companies in Japan and other countries. MHI’s diverse lineup of products and services encompasses various power generation […]

Asia’s coasts to experience most extreme weather

Over the next 50 years, people living at low altitudes in developing countries, particularly those in coastal Asia, will suffer the most from extreme weather patterns, according to researchers. Unbearable heat waves, typhoons of unprecedented speeds and flash floods have been an increasing occurrence globally. It’s not just a coincidence that these extreme weather events have been happening more frequently, said researchers and scientists at the Common Future under Climate Change conference held in Paris in July. Hundreds of millions of people will be affected by coastal flooding and land loss as global temperatures rise, icecaps melt and sea levels rise. Cities will also suffer from heat stress, extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, as well as drought and water scarcity, according to the report “Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”. Historical climate projections for the Indian subcontinent suggest an overall increase in temperature by two degrees, which has resulted in a noticeable rise in heat waves and hot days. Sumetee Pahwa Gajjar, who leads climate change research at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, has conducted a regional diagnostic study for the critical risks and impacts of climate change in the semi-arid regions of Maharashtra, Karnatak and Tamil Nadu states in south-western and peninsular India. She found that rising occurrences of heat waves and hot days affected the health sector, mainly due to an increased outbreak of diseases and increased risk of heat stress. They also placed a big strain on the agricultural sector as well as on livestock and fisheries. Francis Zwiers, director of the Pacific Climate Consortium, says human actions, such as the burning of fossil fuels, have increased the odds of extreme weather occurrences. Events that used to happen every 25 years now happen every 15, he explains.One example is the European heat wave of […]

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