Robots: Why AI alone will not deliver the next leap in automation

The current robotics narrative is heavily weighted toward artificial intelligence (AI). The prevailing assumption is that more parameters, larger models, and better reinforcement learning pipelines will eventually grant machines human like dexterity.…

The guardians inside: How radar is redefining in-cabin sensing

The evolution of automotive safety is moving from the exterior to the interior, opening a new frontier: in-cabin sensing. Its emergence marks a shift from passive vehicle shells to active systems capable of detecting and safeguarding occupants.…

TCXOs improve GPU synchronization in AI clusters

SiTime’s Elite 2 Super-TCXO family of oscillators delivers sub-nanosecond synchronization, increasing GPU utilization in AI clusters. By minimizing timing errors between GPUs, the devices boost throughput and performance per watt. “Industry…

TVS diodes clamp high-voltage automotive rails

TVS diodes in the TPSMC, TPSMD, and TP5.0SMDJ series from Littelfuse provide standoff voltage ratings of up to 400 V in a single device. Compared to low- and mid-voltage TVS diodes that require multiple devices in series for adequate protection,…

RF amplifiers expand high-power range

R&S has extended its BBA300 family of broadband amplifiers with single-band models delivering 500 W and 1000 W P1dB RF output power. The BBA300-DE500 and BBA300-DE1000 cover 1 GHz to 6 GHz without band switching, improving efficiency in…

Controllers bring PQC to boot and root of trust

The TS1800 platform root of trust controller and TS50x secure boot controller expand Microchip’s TrustShield portfolio of post-quantum cryptography (PQC)-ready devices. These ICs address emerging cybersecurity mandates, including the European…

Protected DrMOS ICs enable fast AI current limiting

SmartClamp DrMOS power devices from AOS are designed for the demanding power requirements of AI servers and high-end GPUs. Each device is a synchronous buck power stage with two asymmetrically optimized high-side and low-side MOSFETs and an…

Cardiac flutter(ing): Long-term monitoring

This engineer no longer has a bulbous monitoring device attached to his chest. He’s transitioned to a svelte successor, in the same location but this time placed subcutaneously. Thanks to all of you who wrote in expressing concern and well…

UWB: Why angle-of-arrival positioning hinges on antenna isolation

Ultra-wideband (UWB) has moved well beyond research labs. Driven by IEEE 802.15.4z standardization and integration into smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, UWB now underpins industrial real-time locating systems (RTLS), consumer keyless…

ΔVbe thermometer outputs 1mV/°C without calibration or op amps

Op amps tend to make analog design easy. Maybe sometimes too easy? Don’t get me wrong.  I like operational amplifiers.  Some of my best friends are op amps.  They embrace such a wide range of varied capabilities, including low noise, high…

The curious case of the dancing antennae

Misbehaving buffer pointers, whose effects threatened to create a fatal project setback, were identified via a clever software subdivision technique. In the 1990s, I was working as a motion control engineer for the Giant Meter Wave Radio Telescope…

From edge AI to physical AI in smart factories: A shift in how machines perceive and act

The concept of the “smart factory” has evolved significantly over the past decade. Early industrial AI deployments, often categorized as Industry 4.0, focused on centralized analytics. This typically involved collecting data from machines,…