In today&rsquo;s evolving technology landscape, AI is not merely &ldquo;artificial&rdquo;; it is artfully intelligent. But unlike art, AI&rsquo;s practical applicability requires high levels of efficiency, a challenge the industry still grapples with.Particularly with deep neural networks, we seem to encounter a challenge. While these networks dazzle us with their ability to recognize faces, translate languages, and make complex decisions, they also come with a voracious appetite for resources. High memory, compute power, and energy consumption have become almost defining characteristics of contemporary AI models, holding AI back from true ubiquity and rendering the need for operational efficiency ever more pressing.In this article, we take a deeper look into Qualcomm AI Research&rsquo;s model efficiency research aimed at enhancing power efficiency and boosting AI performance. From the intricacies of Neural Architecture Search (NAS) to the groundbreaking quantization methods, we will discover how Qualcomm AI Research is leading the charge to unlock the full potential of AI.<h2 dir="ltr">Qualcomm AI Research&#39;s Focus on Model Efficiency</h2><a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/research/artificial-intelligence/ai-research" target="_blank">Qualcomm AI Research</a> is at the cutting edge of AI, committed to tackling the intricate challenge of AI model efficiency through practical strategies that aim to enhance both power efficiency and performance. With its aim to make AI&rsquo;s core capabilities ubiquitous across devices, Qualcomm AI Research has adopted a holistic approach to AI model efficiency, delving into the practical aspects of full-stack AI optimization.&nbsp;Addressing AI&#39;s resource-intensive nature requires an approach that encompasses machine learning hardware, software, and algorithms. As a result, their research efforts aim to ensure that AI systems operate efficiently without compromising functionality, making AI more adaptable and efficient across a diverse range of devices, particularly mobile devices. As Jilei Hou, VP Engineering at Qualcomm AI Research, states, &ldquo;Our holistic systems-approach to full-stack AI is accelerating the pipeline from research to commercialization.&rdquo;But what exactly is this holistic approach to AI model efficiency? How is it implemented, and what angles does Qualcomm AI Research tackle the model efficiency challenge from?<h2 dir="ltr">A Holistic Approach to AI Model Efficiency</h2>Qualcomm AI Research&#39;s mission to unlock the full potential of AI centers around a comprehensive strategy that attacks the model efficiency challenge from multiple angles. This multifaceted approach is driven by the recognition that optimizing AI models requires a combination of techniques.Basically, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to AI model efficiency. &nbsp;Just like art, shrinking AI models down and running them efficiently on hardware can and should be approached in multiple ways, including quantization, compression, Neural Architecture Search (NAS), and compilation.Qualcomm AI Research is a strong believer in <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2019/03/heres-why-quantization-matters-ai" target="_blank">quantization</a> as evidenced by their leading research and products in the market. Quantization enables the AI model to run efficiently on dedicated hardware, thus enhancing its performance while minimizing its consumption of power and memory bandwidth. With focus on quantization-aware training and post-training quantization, Qualcomm AI Research&rsquo;s results demonstrate how effective integer inference is in improving the tradeoff between accuracy and on-device latency.With compression, Qualcomm AI Research aims at reducing the size of AI models without compromising their functionality by removing parameters. In other words, with no sacrifice to model accuracy, Qualcomm AI Research&rsquo;s compression technique systematically removes activation nodes and connections between nodes, rendering the AI model smaller and more efficient. Quantization and compression of neural networks are supported by Qualcomm Innovation Center&rsquo;s <a href="https://github.com/quic/aimet" target="_blank">AI Model Efficiency Toolkit (AIMET)</a> library.Another approach is Neural Architecture Search (NAS). Their research in NAS focuses on automating the design of efficient neural networks that are much smaller than a large state-of-the-art model. Qualcomm AI Research seeks to develop search algorithms and methodologies that automatically create optimal network architectures tailored to specific tasks. This streamlines the process of designing AI models, enhancing their efficiency and performance.Furthermore, advanced compilation techniques optimize the execution of AI models on various hardware platforms. By tailoring AI models to the underlying hardware architecture, they ensure that the models run efficiently, achieving the desired performance while conserving resources.In the following subsections, we look deeper into quantization and NAS, highlighting how Qualcomm AI Research is enabling these approaches to unlock AI&rsquo;s potential even further.<h3 dir="ltr">A Closer Look at Quantization</h3>Quantization reduces the number of bits necessary for representing information in the weights and activations of AI models, boosting power efficiency and performance while reducing memory bandwidth and storage. It also helps enable simultaneous use of multiple AI models, a use case found in demanding application areas like mobile, automotive, and XR.Qualcomm AI Research has been at the forefront of research in quantization techniques that are revolutionizing power-efficient AI. Their research covers both quantization-aware training and post-training quantization for efficient integer AI inference. Their products support quantization down to 4-bit integers, showcasing their commitment to making AI more power-efficient.&nbsp;In fact, some of their recent<a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.11086" target="_blank">&nbsp;findings</a> revealed issues that affect model accuracy, one of which is oscillating weights during model training. With state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods called oscillation dampening and iterative freezing, accuracy is improved even for under 4-bit quantization. Qualcomm AI Research has also explored the role of <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2023/04/floating-point-arithmetic-for-ai-inference-hit-or-miss" target="_blank">floating-point arithmetic</a> in AI inference, shedding light on the balance between precision and efficiency. This research considers the trade-offs involved in using floating-point or integer representations in AI models, concluding that integer inference is the best approach. Another recent study on post-training quantization (PTQ) and its impact on softmax activation highlights a technique proposed by Qualcomm AI Research, called <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.01729" target="_blank">offline bias correction</a>. With this method, one can enhance the quantizability of softmax with no additional compute during deployment, thus significantly improving the accuracy for 8-bit quantized softmax.Quantization is a highly-effective approach to AI model efficiency. Qualcomm AI Research&#39;s leading quantization research combined with Qualcomm&rsquo;s leading processor solutions with AI acceleration supporting 8-bit or 4-bit integers has resulted in industry leading performance per watt, showing the importance of tailoring AI models to the specific constraints of edge devices.<h3 dir="ltr">Neural Architecture Search (NAS)</h3>With Neural Architecture Search (NAS), Qualcomm AI Research focuses on automating the design and training of efficient neural networks, aligning them more closely with dedicated tasks and optimizing their overall performance. NAS consists of four components:<ul><li dir="ltr">A search space (what types of networks can be searched over)</li><li dir="ltr">An accuracy predictor (how accurate a network should be)</li><li dir="ltr">A latency predictor (how fast a network will run)</li><li dir="ltr">A search algorithm (what the best architecture is for a particular task)</li></ul>However, NAS still presents some intricate challenges, particularly in defining an expansive search space, where countless network architectures can be explored. This space represents the potential configurations that an AI model could take. The challenge lies in navigating this vast terrain to discover the most efficient and effective neural network for a given task, as well as addressing the high compute cost, unreliable estimates for hardware performances, and inefficient scaling of existing methods.That&rsquo;s why Qualcomm AI Research has addressed these challenges with their NAS research called <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2012.08859.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">DONNA (short for Distilling Optimal Neural Network Architectures)</a>.<h4 dir="ltr">DONNA: Distilling Optimal Neural Network Architectures</h4>An efficient NAS with hardware-in-the-loop optimization, DONNA is a scalable method capable of finding optimal network architectures with high accuracy and minimal latency for virtually any hardware platform at low cost. This revolutionary method tackles the model deployment challenges in real scenarios effectively thanks to its:<ul><li dir="ltr">Diverse search space</li><li dir="ltr">Low compute cost</li><li dir="ltr">Scalability</li><li dir="ltr">Reliable direct hardware measurement</li></ul>Its diverse search space includes the usual variable kernel-size, expansion-rate, depth, channel number, and cell-type, but can also search over activations and attention, a vital parameter to finding optimal architectures. Its hardware predictor is hardware agnostic with a low startup cost, enabling NAS to scale to multiple hardware devices at low costs. Furthermore, DONNA is able to capture the run-time version and hardware architecture, enabling users to find real and accurate latency values rather than simulated ones.DONNA also has pre-trained blocks that enable fast fine-tuning of neural networks to fast track reaching full accuracy and is a single scalable solution, applying, for instance, directly to downstream tasks and non-CNN neural architectures with no need for conceptual code changes.<h2 dir="ltr">Open-Source AI Model Efficiency Projects</h2>Qualcomm AI Research believes that open-source projects are a great way to share knowledge for scaling model-efficient AI to the masses. That&rsquo;s why Qualcomm Innovation Center has provided two open-source GitHub projects based on Qualcomm AI Research&rsquo;s advanced research:<ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2020/05/open-sourcing-ai-model-efficiency-toolkit" target="_blank">AI Model Efficiency Toolkit (AIMET)</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2021/01/aimet-model-zoo-highly-accurate-quantized-ai-models-are-now-available" target="_blank">AIMET Model Zoo</a></li></ul>AIMET is a toolkit that offers advanced quantization and compression techniques, while AIMET Model Zoo offers pre-trained 8-bit quantized models with high accuracy. With these open-source projects, Qualcomm aims to boost the transition to fixed-point quantized models, which would radically enhance AI applications, particularly those requiring high performance, low latency, and low power consumption, such as mobile platforms.<h2 dir="ltr">Advancing the AI Frontier</h2>As Qualcomm&rsquo;s OnQ blog series states, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/Whitepaper-The-future-of-AI-is-hybrid-Part-1-Unlocking-the-generative-AI-future-with-on-device-and-hybrid-AI.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">The future of AI is hybrid</a>&rdquo;, AI is evolving in that direction, with AI processing being distributed between edge devices and the cloud. On-device AI provides benefits in cost, power consumption, performance, personalization, privacy, and security. But for all this to happen, model efficiency is key, and that&rsquo;s where Qualcomm is leading the pack as the on-device AI leader.Qualcomm AI Research envisions a future where AI processing is highly efficient for all devices across all applications all over the world. With generative AI pushing the computing requirements even higher, Qualcomm&rsquo;s focus on efficiency and performance alongside their open ecosystem is enabling generative AI and other upcoming revolutionary technologies.Whether it&#39;s the quantization approach, NAS (and DONNA), compression, or compilation, Qualcomm AI Research will continue to find and develop ways of making AI processing ever more efficient so you and I can enjoy the perks of amazing AI technologies on almost every device you could think of.Join Qualcomm&rsquo;s open-source projects (<a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2020/05/open-sourcing-ai-model-efficiency-toolkit" target="_blank">AIMET</a> and <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2021/01/aimet-model-zoo-highly-accurate-quantized-ai-models-are-now-available" target="_blank">AIMET Model Zoo</a>) and be part of the transformation towards efficient AI processing. Interested in learning more about Qualcomm AI Research&rsquo;s work, check out the following links:<ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://assets.qualcomm.com/MCC-ALL-Q322-0915-WB-ThefutureofmodelefficiencyforedgeAI_01RegistrationPage.html" target="_blank">The Future of Model Efficiency for Edge AI (on-demand webinar)</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/Whitepaper-The-future-of-AI-is-hybrid-Part-1-Unlocking-the-generative-AI-future-with-on-device-and-hybrid-AI.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">The future of edge AI is hybrid (whitepaper)</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2023/08/5-benefits-of-on-device-generative-ai" target="_blank">5 benefits of on-device generative AI</a></li></ul><a href="https://assets.qualcomm.com/mobile-computing-newsletter-sign-up.html" target="_blank">Sign up for our What&#39;s Next in AI and Computing newsletter</a>&nbsp;

Live translation devices will benefit from advances in model efficiency. Image credit: TimeKettle

Model efficiency research is enhancing power efficiency and boosting AI performance.

Unlocking the Full Potential of AI: A Deep Dive into Qualcomm's Model Efficiency Research

Part 2 of our dexterous robotic hand series. 

Dexterous Robotic Hands Part 2: How the Shadow Dexterous Hand is Revolutionizing Robotics

<h2>Why You&#39;ll Love This Article</h2>Urban planning, the art of designing and shaping the cities we live in, is undergoing a quiet revolution. Researchers have harnessed the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize community layouts, making cities more efficient, accessible, and sustainable. In this article, we&#39;ll delve into the world of AI-driven urban planning, exploring the challenges it addresses, the ingenious solution it offers, and the tangible impact it promises.&nbsp;This research was conducted by researchers at Tsinghua University, Beijing and the full article can be found on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43588-023-00503-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nature</a>.<h2>The Woes of Urban Development</h2>Cities are intricate puzzles with myriad pieces: roads, buildings, parks, and services. Urban planners face the daunting task of piecing together these elements to create functional and harmonious communities. Traditionally, this process relied on manual labor and heuristics, often resulting in suboptimal designs and lengthy planning cycles.One of the fundamental challenges in urban planning is optimizing the spatial layout. How can we ensure that essential services like schools and hospitals are easily accessible to residents? How do we strike the right balance between green spaces and built-up areas? And how can we design road networks that are efficient and free from congestion?<h2>What&#39;s The Solution?</h2>The researchers behind this groundbreaking approach have devised a solution that takes urban planning to new heights. At its core is an AI agent trained to make informed decisions about community layouts. But training an AI to plan cities is no small feat. It involves running millions of simulations, a process akin to trial and error, where the AI learns from its mistakes and successes.Central to this solution is a tool called a Graph Neural Network (GNN). Think of it as a virtual brain capable of comprehending and processing geographical data. It constructs a graph to represent the urban environment, where nodes symbolize various urban elements, and edges capture their relationships and contiguity.Why opt for a GNN, you may wonder? Urban planning is complex, with countless interconnections between different elements. Traditional methods often struggle to consider these intricate relationships. Enter the GNN, with its ability to analyze these connections, making it a crucial asset. It examines city layouts, understands the interactions between different components, and uses this knowledge to make informed decisions.<h2>But Does It Actually Work?</h2>Now, let&#39;s talk about the real-world impact. This AI-powered approach isn&#39;t just theoretical; it&#39;s a game-changer for urban planning.<h3>Efficiency Boost</h3>The AI agent can generate spatial plans in milliseconds, a stark contrast to the hours or days traditional methods require. This significant time saving can expedite the planning process.<h3>Service Accessibility</h3>The AI excels at optimizing community services. It ensures that essential services like schools and hospitals are within a short walking or cycling distance for residents. The accessibility metric indicates a remarkable improvement compared to conventional planning methods.<h3>Ecological Enhancements</h3>The AI knows how to make communities greener. It excels at covering residential areas with greenery, improving the quality of life and environmental sustainability.<h3>Traffic Efficiency</h3>The AI is a traffic virtuoso too. It ensures roads are dense, well-connected, and appropriately spaced, leading to smoother traffic flow and reduced congestion.By combining these quantitative results, the impact becomes clear. AI-driven urban planning promises substantial time savings, enhanced accessibility to services, greener environments, and efficient traffic networks. It&#39;s a recipe for creating smarter and more livable cities.<h2>What Are The Limitations?</h2>It&#39;s vital to recognize that the success of this AI system hinges on the quality of input data. Inaccurate or incomplete geographical information can hamper its performance and while AI is a potent tool, it&#39;s not a replacement for human planners; In fact, it should work alongside human experts, balancing technological prowess with human creativity and judgment.<h2>TL;DR (Too Lazy; Didn&#39;t Read)&nbsp;</h2>AI-driven urban planning marks a significant leap forward in the quest to create better cities. It harnesses the power of AI and GNNs to optimize spatial layouts, making cities more efficient, accessible, and sustainable. While challenges and limitations remain, the potential for smarter, more livable cities is within reach, thanks to the fusion of artificial and human intelligence.

The framework which consists of two separate policy networks (b and d) that take actions for the land use planning task (e) and road planning task (f) respectively, and share a GNN state encoder (a) with a value network (c) that estimates the effect of the current planning result.

Researchers have harnessed the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize community layouts, making cities more efficient, accessible, and sustainable

From Pixels to Pavements: AI's Impact on Urban Design

An investigation into innovative applications of SBCs


SBCs for Modern Engineering

InDro Robotics is excited to introduce <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/indroforge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">InDro Forge</a>, a cutting-edge prototyping and custom fabrication facility, situated in Ottawa. Formerly operated by <a href="https://www.investottawa.ca" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Invest Ottawa</a> as the Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab, InDro Forge is now under the operation of InDro Robotics. &nbsp;The facility is a &lsquo;one stop shop&rsquo; for entrepreneurs and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking the custom design and fabrication of prototypes.What sets InDro Forge apart is its impressive array of state-of-the-art tools and machinery, all conveniently housed under one roof. From metal 3D printing to CNC machining, silicone and urethane casting, and more, InDro Forge offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities. &nbsp;The facility features a variety of tools for additive and subtractive manufacturing along with a team with the requisite expertise.Several of the machines that distinguish InDro Forge are:<a href="https://markforged.com/3d-printers/metal-x?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_campaign=11016475879&utm_content=116935563540&utm_term=metal%20x&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9rSoBhCiARIsAFOiplnGIpNm-uY8cQzD7jQMwh4onClUfu-M0rMr4biuUoWAiuiJretqerAaAmMpEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Markforged Metal X 3D Printer</a>Maximum Part Size: 235 mm x 68 mm x 66 mmMaterials: Stainless Steel, Copper, Inconel, Tool SteelsUnique Advantages:<ul type="disc"><li>When part geometries require large of amounts of waste in removing material through traditional processes, or are not possible through common subtractive machining, the Metal X shines. &nbsp;By 3D printing only the material needed and some support, the amount of material waste is limited and impossible geometries become available.</li><li>Sometimes parts need to be metal due to their environments instead of the metals mechanical properties. &nbsp;When this is the case, the Metal X allows for low density parts similar to common FDM printing.</li><li>To generate high quality finished parts there are a number of post or in-process finishing opportunities, these might include engraving part information prior to sintering or using traditional machine tools to improve the geometric accuracy of critical features after printing.</li></ul>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omax.com/sites/default/files/2021-08/omax-a-jet-600050b_0.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">Omax Tilt-Head Waterjet</a>Maximum Material Size: &nbsp;120&rdquo; &nbsp;x 60&rdquo; x 4&rdquo;Materials: Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals, Ceramics, Woods, PlasticsUnique Advantages:<ul type="disc"><li>Because of its rapid and accurate cutting capabilities, it allows for low-cost 2D blanks of more complex parts to be made and then moved to other machinery such as the CNC Mill, Hydraulic Break for CNC Laser for finishing.</li><li>The A-jet tilt-head function allows the head to maintain square edges regardless of material thickness or adding simple or continuously changing bevels to the edges of parts. &nbsp;A common example of this is adding hole chamfers directly into the part while cutting to reduce post-processing.</li><li>Capable of working with materials anywhere from 1/8&rdquo; Glass or Alumina Ceramic all the way up to 4&rdquo; Steel, there are few materials which this machine can&rsquo;t cut reliably and precisely.</li></ul>&nbsp;<a href="https://bigrep.com/lp/professional-3d-printer/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NA-Products&utm_content=ONE&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9rSoBhCiARIsAFOipllG_EQoskl10Uxup1idiHJUkdDxKnmH06XC2DJOGBvMSjXPeaWcyKEaArBDEALw_wcB" target="_blank">BigRep One Large Format 3D Printer</a>Maximum Print Size: 105 cm^3Materials: PLA, PETG, Hi-Temp, TPU<ul type="disc"><li>When the part you need is bigger than your average 3D printer is capable of, but it doesn&rsquo;t make sense to deal with the high start-up cost of injection moulding, vacuum forming or casting, the BigRep One is ready to deliver.</li><li>It&rsquo;s large format allows for the printing of large enclosure or similar complex structural components which are needed to validate fit, form or function of a design.</li></ul><hr>While the lab has traditionally excelled in the realm of rapid prototyping, it now extends its expertise to a broader scope. Inventors, startups and SMEs, can walk through the door with an idea, be it for proof of concept, Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), or functional models to showcase to potential investors.Working with InDro Forge&#39;s skilled staff, clients receive a full-fledged industrial design that is then fabricated in any one (or combination) of a number of materials. &nbsp;The 3D printer alone can work with some 25 substances, including ABS and metal.Check out 3D printers <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3D-Printers-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">HERE</a><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjY3NDgxNzU1LTUxYTdiZGZhLWNiOWYtNGFlMS1hY2IyLTFjNGUzYTQzNzU5MS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 302px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2>Rapid Prototyping and More</h2>InDro Forge is an all-in-one- solution for companies that don&rsquo;t have the equipment, time or expertise to carry out this highly specialised work.With InDro Robotics at the helm, the synergy between InDro Forge and the <a href="https://areaxo.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Area X.O</a> engineering team promises significant advances. InDro Forge will be able to draw on the expertise in aerial and ground robotics from our core R&amp;D engineering hub, while InDro Robotics adds the design and fabrication capabilities of Forge to its portfolio of services. What&rsquo;s more, InDro envisions expanding its offerings to include limited production runs and custom fabrication services.&ldquo;We see the value when people come to us with a napkin sketch and leave with a physical prototype they can show investors,&rdquo; says InDro Forge&rsquo;s Pablo Arzate, an industrial designer with special expertise in additive manufacturing.Below: Advanced capabilities include a water jet machine, capable of slicing through several inches of steel.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjY3NTgyNTcyLUpvZWwgVG9tIFdhdGVyamV0IENCWTA1MTE2LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2>The InDro Forge Advantage</h2>InDro Forge is equipped with a&nbsp;wide array of additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities, including:<ul><li>CNC machining</li><li>Silicone and urethane casting</li><li>Multi-element 3D printing (including metal)</li><li>Electronics and Printed Circuit Board fabrication and analysis&nbsp;</li></ul>View the full equipment list <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Full-Equipment-List.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">HERE</a>.The facility&#39;s machinery and capabilities are complemented by a team of highly skilled experts in industrial design and engineering, many of whom have years of experience in various fabrication processes.&nbsp;For those seeking custom and complex fabrication, the InDro Forge advantage is clear. The facility caters to diverse needs, from one-off prototypes to comprehensive product development. It transforms rough ideas into refined, functional prototypes, bridging the gap between concept and product. InDro Forge&#39;s expertise is invaluable for those seeking to realize their innovative visions.&ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t have these machines at your disposal, it&rsquo;s definitely great to find a place with the expertise to help you out,&rdquo; says O&rsquo;Leary. &nbsp;&ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t have these capabilities, then we are here to help create the thing that you&rsquo;re looking to create. &nbsp;We&rsquo;re set up to help anybody who comes in with anything from an engineering project to a napkin drawing.&rdquo;InDro Forge offers services ranging from one-off prototypes to full product development.&ldquo;Some of our other clients come to us where they have an early prototype that they&rsquo;ve cobbled together. It tells them that their idea is possible but it&rsquo;s not a product yet,&rdquo; says Joel Koscielski. &ldquo;So we&rsquo;ll help them turn that into a more refined version of itself. We might do one of those, we might do five &ndash; even 25.&rdquo;Projects can be big &ndash; or small.&ldquo;Sometimes it&rsquo;s just that extra bit of capacity &ndash; they themselves have never had to make a sheet metal box that looks good,&rdquo; adds Koscielski.<hr><h3>When asked about their favorite machines, team members at InDro Forge had compelling insights:</h3>Pablo Arzate highlighted the Markforged II, praising its precision and versatility in 3D printing, especially its ability to fabricate parts with carbon fiber and nylon, opening up a world of possibilities for product development and rapid prototyping. The Markforged II&nbsp;specs:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjY5NDg2NTczLU1hcmtmb3JnZWQgMi5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Tom O&rsquo;Leary&#39;s favorite machine is the water jet, capable of cutting through various materials with precision, akin to a &quot;calligraphy pen with immense pressure,&quot; making it a versatile tool for shaping materials. &nbsp;The water jet specs:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjY5OTY5MTAxLVdhdGVyamV0IFNwZWNzLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Joel Koscielski also lauded the Markforged Mark II 3D Printer for its use of carbon fiber-reinforced nylon composite material, a true workhorse of innovation that produces high-quality, functional parts suitable for sales and demonstration purposes.<hr>InDro Robotics considers the operation of InDro Forge a significant milestone. With a strong vision for the future, the company aims to serve a broad spectrum of clients, both large and small. In the words of CEO Philip Reece, &quot;This is really just such a logical fit for InDro Robotics. Whether it&#39;s working with new clients or assisting our own, InDro Forge has all the right stuff &ndash; including the right people.&quot;For more information on InDro Forge and its comprehensive capabilities, please visit <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/indroforge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.indrorobotics.com/indroforge/</a>.

InDro Robotics expands with InDro Forge

Prototyping, Custom Fabrication and Production

While the focus is often on engine power and exterior design when talking about cars, there is another automotive feature ripe for innovation. The car seat, which functions as the interface between driver and vehicle, is one of the most important elements of a car, and must offer ergonomic support, safety features, and comfort.&nbsp;In recent years, there has been a growing focus on how to reinvent and improve automotive seating using new design concepts and advanced manufacturing, such as 3D printing. One such project, entitled &ldquo;Concept Breathe&rdquo;, was the result of a collaboration between students at the Braunschweig University of Art, German automotive manufacturer Audi, and large-format 3D printing specialist BigRep.<h2 dir="ltr">A multi-partner effort</h2>Concept Breathe, which culminated in the creation of a full-sized &ldquo;breathable&rdquo; car seat, was born out of an exploration into the car of the future. The Braunschweig design students, under the supervision of Dr. Manual Kretzer, a professor of Material and Technology, and AUDI&rsquo;s development/innovation unit led by Mike Herbig, were inspired by the idea that the car of the future could have a greater connection to the driver. As <a href="https://www.core77.com/projects/67557/Design-Students-Join-Forces-with-Audi-to-Design-a-Car-Seat-that-Breathes" target="_blank">they say</a>: &ldquo;What if it were to become a partner that reacts and responds to our actions, an organism, a friend, that lives and breathes?&rdquo;Interestingly, AUDI had already started pursuing this idea with the development of <a href="https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/audi-ai-9099/empathetic-technology-and-gamification-9103" target="_blank">Klara</a>, a &ldquo;sensitive Audi A1&rdquo; in 2017. This concept study aimed to foster greater empathy between automobile and driver by creating a sensitive car that appears to breathe. The breathing effect was the result of 39 electric motors installed under the car&rsquo;s metalwork and several sensors that would enable Klara to take breaths and react to its surroundings.&nbsp;The Concept Breathe car seat project, undertaken in spring 2017, was an extension of the experimental Klara initiative that sought to combine different technologies and design principles to create a more human car seat that could dynamically move along with the driver.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695037166300-breathing+car+1.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Conceiving of &lsquo;Concept Breathe&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>The seating project was spearheaded by a group of 10 bachelor students at the Braunschweig University of Art as part of their Digital Crafting module. The courses in this module are specifically aimed at developing &ldquo;an experimental understanding of emerging design opportunities&rdquo; by leveraging innovative algorithmic and parametric design principles, as well as digital manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, which bring design concepts to life.Ultimately, the car seat&rsquo;s design was inspired by organic shapes and systems and consisted of several active components integrated into a lightweight frame. Due to the final design&rsquo;s complex geometry&mdash;which was the result of several parametrically designed iterations&mdash;the student team and their partners decided to 3D print the 1:1 seat prototype. BigRep, known for its large-scale 3D printers, was more than up to the task.The seat structure was 3D printed using the <a href="https://bigrep.com/bigrep-one/" target="_blank">BigRep ONE</a> machine, which has a large build volume of up to one cubic meter, and BigRep&rsquo;s <a href="https://bigrep.com/filaments/pro-ht/" target="_blank">Pro-HT plastic</a>, an easy-to-print biopolymer with enhanced temperature resistance compared to traditional PLA. The printing process took nearly 10 days to complete, which at the time marked BigRep&rsquo;s longest print.Onto the 3D printed frame were attached 38 customized active components, which created a haptic and visual breathing effect, along with a range of specially designed cushions made from a high-performance textile for optimized comfort and support. As the design team put it: the active components (seen in red) &ldquo;are designed to increase the seat&#39;s ability to respond to changing driving conditions but especially to enhance the user&#39;s identification with the animate object through motions of breathing.&rdquo;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695037181378-breath+2.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Paving the way for innovation</h2>BigRep&rsquo;s 3D printing technology was vital to the realization of the project. Not only was the company&rsquo;s large-format 3D printer equipped to handle the scale of the full-sized car seat structure (reducing the need for post-printing assembly), it was also able to reproduce the product&rsquo;s complex organic shape. Moreover, 3D printing offered the project partners a cost-accessible way to directly create a large prototype without having to invest in tooling or turn to complex supply chains.&nbsp;In the same way that large-format 3D printing was critical to bringing this concept design to life, the technology is today being used across the automotive industry to explore new design ideas and bring new innovative solutions to market, from rapid prototypes to end-use parts. In automotive seating applications in particular, there have been a number of projects that leverage the technology&rsquo;s ability to create complex designs optimized for performance and comfort, as well as customized products at scale.&nbsp;For example, German automaker Porsche recently launched a <a href="https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2021/products/porsche-innovative-3d-print-bodyform-full-bucket-seat-sales-launch-26060.html" target="_blank">3D printed bodyform full-bucket seat</a> that integrates customizable 3D printed lattices for superior support and breathability. Similar to Concept Breathe, the 3D printed seat emphasizes the human and technology connection to generate an enhanced driving experience, particularly for high-performance vehicles.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">3D printing is the future of automotive</h2>Ultimately, the Concept Breathe project would not have been possible without additive manufacturing, particularly BigRep&rsquo;s large-format 3D printing. The technology proved to be essential for rapidly and cost-effectively bringing an innovative idea to life.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1MDM2ODM4NjU4LXByaW50ZWQgY2FyLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">For the broader automotive industry, the ability to 3D print large structures and products in a single piece has huge benefits. For one, it allows for design consolidation, allowing for large structures to be printed in one go, minimizing assembly and post-processing times. This has significant time and cost impacts whether users are printing a design concept, a functional prototype, or an end-use part.&nbsp;The technology also enables product designers to create previously impossible designs, opening up limitless opportunities for innovation. With it, forward-thinking individuals and teams (such as the Braunschweig design students and their partners at Audi and BigRep) can really dive into new ideas and transform them into something real, something that can shape the future.To learn more about how 3D printing helped bring the Concept Breathe article to life, check out the <a href="https://vimeo.com/224303143" target="_blank">following video</a> and the <a href="https://www.core77.com/projects/67557/Design-Students-Join-Forces-with-Audi-to-Design-a-Car-Seat-that-Breathes" target="_blank">original coverage of the project</a>.

Responsive car seat enabled by large-format 3D printing showcases innovation potential for additive manufacturing in automotive space.


Students Bring ''Breathing'' Car Seat to Life with 3D Printing

The internet of things (IoT) is quickly becoming a reality for businesses around the world. As the need for more and more device integration arises, companies are facing many connectivity and security issues. Where traditional approaches are stagnating, <a href="https://monogoto.io/" data-wpel-link="internal" target="_blank">connectivity management platforms</a> are a promising new approach for providing businesses with the IoT connectivity they need.<h2>Traditional MNO Solutions</h2>Traditional mobile network operators (MNO) have been a source of many early IoT connectivity solutions. They are well established and have an extensive infrastructure. During the earliest phase of IoT development and progress, incumbent mobile network operators like AT&amp;T and Verizon were essentially the only option for connectivity. As such, many IoT implementations successfully made use of MNOs for their connectivity.Despite some success, traditional MNO infrastructure was not designed with the IoT in mind. They&rsquo;re moving forward with more LTE and 5G features, but these do not address some of the key areas that distinguish MNO from other IoT connectivity options.&nbsp;<h2>Global SIM Card MVNO IoT Connectivity</h2>A more versatile solution for the diverse needs of IoT connectivity is mobile virtual network operators (MVNO). MVNO IoT connectivity can allow for a more integrated IoT approach, delivering more security, connectivity, and versatility organizations need. While these solutions are a significant improvement, there is still a key component that is missing.There is a wealth of features organizations can find in an&nbsp;<a href="https://monogoto.io/iot-connectivity/" data-wpel-link="internal" target="_blank">IoT connectivity</a> management platform that they cannot achieve with MVNO alone. AVSystem has laid out some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.avsystem.com/blog/iot-connectivity/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">key requirements for IoT connectivity</a>, and it&rsquo;s clear that to transform an organization&rsquo;s hardware, software, and tech into a truly integrated IoT, a more thorough approach will be necessary.<h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2><img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-scaled.jpeg" alt="Connectivity Management Platform" width="749" height="514" srcset="https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-300x206.jpeg 300w, https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-1024x702.jpeg 1024w, https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-768x526.jpeg 768w, https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-1536x1053.jpeg 1536w, https://monogoto.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/campaign-creators-K1Sq9qG-c70-unsplash-2048x1404.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></h2><h2>API-Based MVNO Connectivity Management Platforms</h2>API-based MVNO solutions deliver something that traditional MNOs and even global sim card MVNO solutions can&rsquo;t provide. These types of solutions focus on giving businesses the necessary tools to adapt IoT connectivity to their unique needs.&nbsp;API-based connectivity management platforms increased security and versatility. With them, an organization can configure alerts for any events on the network, send custom commands, and maintain complete control over their security profile. This is the kind of versatility that&rsquo;s needed for an effective IoT connectivity solution.The issue of proper IoT integration cannot simply be ignored, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101442/iot-number-of-connected-devices-worldwide/" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Statista projecting</a> the number of IoT device connections to nearly triple by 2025. Organizations need reach, security, and efficiency for their IoT integration. A connectivity management platform will deliver results in all of those areas.A connectivity management platform optimizes IoT connectivity, enabling businesses to deploy services faster and reach further. The entire development process is accelerated, with less debug time and many functions offloaded onto the platform.Connectivity management platforms include automation tools that work off of information within the network and automatic commands. Combined with cloud integration with consumption-based pricing, organizations can make more effective use of their resources and their budgets.<h2>Getting Started With Monogoto</h2>Connectivity management platforms represent a new way of looking at IoT connectivity, and Monogoto is at the head of the pack when it comes to this new technology. Our connectivity management platform integrates all elements of your IoT connectivity, meaning there is no need for additional security measures. We know that there is no one-size-fits-all solution here, and we&rsquo;ve built our entire organization around that principle.

IoT Connectivity: How to Choose the Right Connectivity Management Platform for My Organization?

How to Choose The Right IoT Connectivity Platform? Monogoto

This is the second article in a short series. Read the<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/balancing-the-cloud-and-the-edge-a-close-look-at-enabling-hybrid-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> first piec</a>e here.<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Introduction</h2>Generative AI is a rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI) focused on creating novel data assets like images, text, or music. Such AI models are trained using extensive datasets, enabling them to create new data resembling what they were trained on. The growth in generative AI&#39;s development owes itself to several key factors: availability of large datasets, improved computing hardware capabilities, and the evolution of novel machine learning (ML) algorithms and architectures.Large language models&ndash;based chatbots like ChatGPT, which can generate coherent and contextually relevant text and even images, have gained the interest and creativity of researchers, businesses, and the public. Generative models have demonstrated remarkable capabilities across a range of applications, from natural language understanding and text generation to creative content creation and even virtual assistants. However, as these models grow in complexity and sophistication, they bring to the forefront an increasingly pressing issue in the form of scalability challenges that apply to both training and inference.&nbsp;These challenges encompass the need for significant computational resources, the growing size of models, and increasing costs. Latency and real-time responses primarily relate to the inference phase, while ethical considerations, interoperability, privacy, energy consumption, and cost management are critical factors throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems, including training and inference.&nbsp;One promising solution arises in response to these challenges - on-device AI. Deploying AI models directly on user devices (like smartphones and tablets) offers multiple advantages. It reduces reliance on cloud resources, cutting computational and energy costs. It improves privacy by processing data locally, reducing the need to send sensitive information to the cloud. It also lowers latency, supports offline functionality, and aligns with sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption.<h2 dir="ltr">What is Hybrid AI?</h2>To properly define Hybrid AI, we need to introduce the terms on-device AI and hybrid AI. On-Device AI, also known as edge AI or local AI, refers to the deployment of AI algorithms and models directly on user devices (smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, autonomous vehicles, etc.), without heavy reliance on cloud-based infrastructure. It enables real-time processing and decision-making on the device itself, reducing the need for constant data transmission to remote servers. Hybrid AI represents a synergy between local devices and cloud infrastructure, strategically dividing AI computations to optimize both user experiences and resource efficiency.In certain situations, AI processing predominantly occurs on the device, with the option to delegate tasks to the cloud as needed. In cloud-centric setups, devices will opportunistically offload AI workloads from the cloud, where possible and subject to their capabilities. Employing a hybrid AI architecture, or relying solely on on-device AI, yields numerous advantages including cost savings, improved energy efficiency, enhanced performance, heightened privacy and security, and personalized experiences on a global scale.Within a hybrid AI framework, on-device AI processing delivers consistent performance that can rival or surpass cloud-based alternatives, particularly in scenarios characterized by congested cloud servers and network connectivity issues. Instances of high demand for generative AI queries in the cloud can result in lengthy queues and elevated latency, and in extreme cases, lead to service disruptions. These challenges can be mitigated by redistributing computational workloads to edge devices.Furthermore, the presence of on-device processing capabilities in a hybrid AI architecture enables generative AI applications to function seamlessly in locations with limited or no connectivity. In a device-centric hybrid AI setup, the device serves as the central point of operation, with cloud resources primarily utilized for tasks that exceed the device&#39;s processing capacity. Given that many generative AI models can efficiently run on the device, edge devices can handle the bulk of the processing load. As the development of on-device AI continues, it holds significant potential to revolutionize AI service deployment and user experiences while maintaining a balance between performance and ethical considerations.<h2 dir="ltr">Unique Benefits of On-Device AI</h2><a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2023/08/5-benefits-of-on-device-generative-ai" target="_blank">On-device AI offers several unique benefits</a>, including:<h3>Cost-efficiency&nbsp;</h3>By processing data locally, it reduces the need for extensive cloud infrastructure, which can be expensive to maintain and scale. On-device processing eliminates the necessity of sending data to the cloud, a process that can be both expensive and time-consuming. &nbsp;For instance, on-device AI for image generation, can be employed to generate high-quality images in real-time without relying on cloud-based servers. A mobile photography application equipped with generative AI can apply artistic filters, improve image quality, or create artistic effects directly on the user&#39;s device.&nbsp;This ensures that users can quickly and seamlessly edit and generate images without uploading them to a remote server, preserving both privacy and reducing latency. Additionally, it allows for offline image generation, enabling users to create and edit images even when they&#39;re in locations with poor or no internet connectivity. This level of on-device image generation can significantly improve the user experience and provide powerful tools for content creation without compromising data privacy or speed.&nbsp;<h3>Energy Savings&nbsp;</h3>On-device AI mitigates the issue of energy consumption by performing computations locally. This is particularly crucial for devices with constrained battery life, like smartphones and wearables. Comparing the power efficiency of running generative AI models on edge devices versus to the cloud, edge devices offer superior performance per watt and reduced energy consumption, potentially resulting in environmental and cost benefits.&nbsp;<h3>Performance and Low Latency</h3>By processing tasks locally, it minimizes communication and computing delays associated with cloud-based AI. This is particularly important in real-time applications such as autonomous vehicles, medical devices, and interactive content, where even milliseconds of delay can have a significant impact on functionality and user experience.<h3>Enhanced Privacy and Security</h3>This approach reduces the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access during data transfer and cloud storage. Users can have greater confidence that their personal information remains on their devices, reinforcing privacy and security standards, especially for applications handling sensitive data, like financial transactions and medical information.<h3>Personalization and User Experience</h3>These models can adapt to the user&#39;s context and needs, improving user experiences by recommending relevant products or services based on their preferences and current circumstances. For example, a shopping application could use on-device AI to recommend products similar to past purchases or consider the user&#39;s location and weather conditions. Real-time personalization boosts relevance, engagement, and customer satisfaction.<h2 dir="ltr">Case Studies: On-Device AI in Action</h2>The following case studies illustrate the transformative potential of on-device AI across various domains, showcasing its benefits.<h3 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Automotive</h3>In the automotive industry, AI-driven cockpits are revolutionizing the driving experience. These systems, like those in smartphones and PCs, are starting to employ in-vehicle digital assistants powered by generative AI to create highly personalized and hands-free interactions for drivers and passengers.&nbsp;These digital assistants leverage personal and vehicle sensor data, including cameras and microphones, to improve the driving journey. Third-party services can also integrate seamlessly, improving navigation, offering proactive assistance, and enabling in-car commerce, such as ordering food. Furthermore, the cockpit experience is improved through individual recognition, customization of media content, and the rise of in-vehicle augmented reality. Vehicle maintenance becomes proactive as AI digital assistants analyze data to predict maintenance needs, to seamlessly communicate with users using natural language, and to provide precise repair guidance. This proactive approach not only enhances reliability but also effectively reduces costs.&nbsp;Qualcomm, which leads the field in cockpit and in-vehicle infotainment solutions with numerous global automakers choosing Snapdragon&reg; Cockpit Platforms. These platforms power digital cockpits, with many already in production or design stages. Partners include Honda, Mercedes, Renault, Volvo, and others. The Snapdragon Cockpit Platform&#39;s latest iteration focuses on superior in-vehicle user experiences, safety, comfort, and reliability, setting new standards for connected car digital cockpit solutions. Qualcomm&#39;s Snapdragon Ride&trade; Platform complements this, offering scalable automated driving SoC platforms for ADAS, featuring vision perception, parking, and path planning.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjUyNzU0OTg0LXF1YWxjb21tIGNhYmluLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&nbsp;Cockpit platforms are designed to transform in-vehicle experiences, supporting higher levels of compute and computing intelligence needed for advanced capabilities featured in next generation vehicles. Image credit: Qualcomm.<h3 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Extended Reality</h3>For Extended Reality (XR), generative AI has the potential to democratize 3D content creation. In the near future, AI rendering tools will enable content creators to generate 3D objects and entire virtual worlds using various inputs like text, speech, images, or video. Furthermore, text-to-text models will facilitate lifelike conversations for avatars, transforming the way we interact with XR content. Despite the exciting possibilities, widespread adoption timelines remain uncertain, though significant progress is expected soon. Immersive XR experiences will benefit from text-to-image models for realistic textures, likely available on smartphones and XR devices within a year.&nbsp;These capabilities will involve distributed processing, with headsets handling perception and rendering, while generative AI models run on paired smartphones or in the cloud. In a few years, text-to-3D and image-to-3D models will likely produce high-quality 3D objects, evolving to generate entire scenes and rooms. Eventually, XR may enable users to immerse themselves in virtual worlds constructed from their imagination. Virtual avatars will undergo a similar evolution, utilizing text-to-text models for natural conversations and text-to-image models for outfits. Over time, avatars may become increasingly photorealistic, fully animated, and mass-producible, driven by image-to-3D and encoder/decoder models. This progression promises to revolutionize how we create and experience immersive XR content, with continual advancements anticipated in the years ahead.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjUzMTYyMjIyLUNhbm5lcy1YUi1WaXJ0dWFsLUJyaW5ncy1JbW1lcnNpdmUtQXJ0LXRvLUxpZmUtV2l0aC1WaXJ0dWFsLVJlYWxpdHkucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Image credit: Cannes<h2 dir="ltr">Challenges and Solutions</h2>The technical challenges specific to hybrid AI are being actively addressed through ongoing research and innovation:<h3 dir="ltr">Model size</h3>Model size is a notable challenge, particularly on resource-constrained devices. As large models are challenging to store and run efficiently, a potential solution involves employing compression and quantization techniques to reduce model size while maintaining accuracy. <a href="https://stackoverflow.blog/2023/08/23/fitting-ai-models-in-your-pocket-with-quantization/" target="_blank">Qualcomm</a> is actively researching ways to enhance <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2019/03/heres-why-quantization-matters-ai" target="_blank">quantization</a> techniques, specifically aiming to quantize 32-bit floating point parameters to 8-bit or 4-bit integers in neural networks while maintaining accuracy. The research encompasses various model quantization methods, such as Bayesian learning, adaptive rounding, and transformer quantization, as part of <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/research/artificial-intelligence/ai-research" target="_blank">Qualcomm AI Research</a>&#39;s ongoing efforts.&nbsp;For instance, the Qualcomm AI Research team employed the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davealtavilla/2023/05/15/powering-ai-on-mobile-devices-requires-new-math-and-qualcomm-is-pioneering-it/?sh=54cb40c91a16" target="_blank">AIMET</a> tool (AI Model Efficiency Toolkit) to quantize the 32-bit floating point Stable Diffusion AI model into an 8-bit integer format while preserving almost the same accuracy level. By optimizing and scaling the model for INT8 precision operations instead of FP32, Qualcomm successfully enabled Stable Diffusion to run efficiently on handheld devices without internet connectivity, significantly reducing the model&#39;s size while maintaining accuracy and enhancing performance on low-power Snapdragon AI accelerators.<h3>Computational power</h3>Large AI models may place heavy computational demands, particularly on devices with restricted processing capabilities. A potential solution involves leveraging specialized hardware like AI accelerators to enhance AI model performance on such devices. In 2022, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provided groundbreaking AI, integrated across the entire system, powered by their fastest, most advanced Qualcomm AI Engine to date. Users can experience faster natural language processing with multi-language translation or have fun with AI cinematic video capture.&nbsp;The latest Hexagon Processor introduced a dedicated power delivery system, which adapts power according to the workload. Special hardware improves group convolution, activation function acceleration, and the performance of the Hexagon Tensor Accelerator. Support for micro-tile inferencing and INT4 hardware acceleration provide even higher performance while reducing power and memory traffic. The transformer acceleration dramatically speeds up inference for multi-head attention that is used throughout generative AI, resulting in AI performance up to 4.35X on certain use cases with MobileBERT.&nbsp;These ongoing research efforts are addressing the technical challenges of hybrid AI, with expectations to overcome them successfully as the technology advances and becomes more widely adopted and utilized.<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>On-device AI plays a critical role in addressing the future scalability challenges of generative AI models. It has the potential to revolutionize numerous industries and significantly enhance user experiences. By enabling local processing and real-time personalization, on-device AI reduces the dependence on cloud resources, improves privacy and security as well as the efficiency of AI applications. This approach not only supports the responsible development of AI technologies but also opens new possibilities for scalable and personalized AI solutions across diverse sectors, from healthcare to entertainment, promising a brighter future for both businesses and users alike.To stay up to date on the latest from Qualcomm, <a href="https://assets.qualcomm.com/mobile-computing-newsletter-sign-up.html" target="_blank">join the &ldquo;What&rsquo;s Next in AI and Computing&rdquo; newsletter</a> and read their hybrid AI whitepapers (<a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/Whitepaper-The-future-of-AI-is-hybrid-Part-1-Unlocking-the-generative-AI-future-with-on-device-and-hybrid-AI.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">part 1</a>, <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/Whitepaper-The-future-of-AI-is-hybrid-Part-2-Qualcomm-is-uniquely-positioned-to-scale-hybrid-AI.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">part 2</a>)

How on-device and cloud AI will foster the advancement and scalability of next-generation generative AI experiences

The Scalability Challenge: Focusing on Hybrid AI in the Future of Generative AI Models

Many companies in the manufacturing industry around the world are striving to improve business value and raise operational efficiency through digital transformation (DX). On the other hand, there is now a strong demand for decarbonization efforts, which curb greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted in production activities to achieve carbon neutrality. The response to these two megatrends of DX and decarbonization has become an important issue in encouraging each company in the manufacturing industry sustainable.The purpose of decarbonization for the manufacturing industry since 2021 onward has changed from social contribution to achieving profits by observing conditions in transactions with customers and enhancing cost competitiveness. Some leading electronic equipment manufacturers have already stated that they will not procure parts or materials from suppliers that are not striving to reduce GHG emissions. An increasing number of investors are also making proactive decarbonization efforts a condition for investment. Moreover, at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) held in November 2021, the so-called 1.5&deg;C target*1 was raised to a stricter mandatory target. It is increasingly likely that policies with strong binding force will be implemented in the future. Those policies include strengthening environment-related regulations and introducing carbon pricing*2 such as carbon taxes. As a result, decarbonization efforts have become directly linked to companies&rsquo; earnings in the manufacturing industry. That means they are starting to have the same meaning as productivity improvements.*1: This is the target to keep the rise in the global average temperature within 1.5&deg;C compared to before the Industrial Revolution.&nbsp;*2: This is the general term for the mechanism to pass on a company&#39;s CO2 emissions to costs. It includes a tax called a carbon tax imposed on the use of fossil fuels and emissions trading to buy and sell CO2 emission allowances to clear environmental regulations. According to the World Bank, carbon pricing has already been introduced in 46 countries and 35 regions as of April 10, 2021.The two megatrends surrounding the manufacturing industry of DX and decarbonization appear to be separate trends at first glance. However, in reality, DX leads to more efficient production activities, energy saving, and decarbonization. Therefore, they have an inseparable relationship. We introduce here how to use DX initiatives as a means to promote decarbonization. In particular, we look at the latest trends in the utilization of information processing technologies such as IoT, AI, and digital twins. We then explain decarbonization in smart factories.<h2>Two Approaches to Promoting Decarbonization in Factories</h2>Many machine tools, industrial robots, motor-driven devices and equipment like compressors, electric heaters, control devices, and other devices and equipment operated by electric power are used in factories. The decarbonization of these devices and equipment operated by electric power has become a major issue in the manufacturing industry.The approaches to decarbonization of devices and equipment that use electric power are broadly divided into two (Fig. 1). One is a method of switching to using sources of energy that do not emit greenhouse gases. Specifically, this includes the utilization of solar power, wind power, and other forms of renewable energy. The other is a method to completely cut out unnecessary power consumption. This is so-called power-saving. Promoting DX is an important condition for pushing ahead with these two approaches.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjUwNzA5Mzg4LXNtYXJ0ZmFjdG9yeV8wOS0xZW4ucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Fig. 1: Two approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions / Source: Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and IndustryIn general, the amount of electric power obtained from renewable energy is unstable. It depends on the sun and the wind, for example. However, electric power systems must satisfy the principle of electric power supply called the &quot;same amount at the same time&quot; in which the amount of electric power supplied and consumed is constantly kept the same. The reason for this is that if there is&nbsp;a significant difference in the amount of electric power consumed and supplied, an abnormal load may be applied to power generators, power distribution equipment, electrical equipment, and other devices, causing them to fail, or the electric power quality may become unstable. That may cause malfunctions or power outages. In other words, it is necessary to cover only the electric power that corresponds to the amount consumed in the factory with electric power generated at that time, electric power stored in storage batteries, or other sources of electric power.<h2>Aiming for Compliance with RE100 by Utilizing IoT</h2>In recent years, there has been an increasing number of companies in the manufacturing industry joining the RE100 international environmental initiative. This is an initiative aiming to cover the electric power used in business activities with 100% renewable energy. It is important to introduce an electric power system capable of appropriately managing and controlling the electric power supply and demand balance without lowering productivity or quality and a mechanism to cover the shortfall from countermeasures to realize the ideals of RE100 in factories (Fig. 2).<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk1NjUwNzI1NTQ1LXNtYXJ0ZmFjdG9yeV8wOS0yZW4ucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Fig. 2: Electric power system and mechanism for the realization of RE100-compliant factoriesTo ensure a factory is compliant with RE100, it is first necessary to build a&nbsp;renewable energy utilization infrastructure by introducing power generation and storage equipment for solar power and other forms of renewable energy. It is also important to have a mechanism to store surplus electric power in storage batteries and to cover the shortfall in electric power by visualizing the amount of electric power generated, which changes moment by moment due to changes in the weather, and the amount of electric power consumed in the factory, which increases or decreases depending on the production activity situation.There are more and more examples of companies introducing an electric power management system called the Factory Energy Management System (FEMS) in advanced factories. This is a system that utilizes IoT to monitor the amount of electric power consumed. It then adjusts peak electric power, controls the operation of air conditioners, lighting equipment, and production lines according to the situation, and performs other similar operations. The system visualizes the electric power consumption situation across the entire factory. It then curbs the nonessential and nonurgent operation of equipment and minimizes unnecessary electric power consumption without a drop in productivity. The range of equipment managed by the FEMS has now expanded to include power generation and storage equipment. It has evolved to being capable of maintaining the supply and demand balance in RE100-compliant factories.<h2>Highly Accurate Prediction and Management of the Electric Power Supply and Demand Balance with AI and Digital Twins</h2>Attempts are also underway to further raise the accuracy of management and control with the FEMS by utilizing the latest information processing technologies such as AI and digital twins*3.*3: A digital twin is a digital model that reproduces the same conditions and properties as in the real world by inputting data that reflects the current situation collected by IoT in the design data of real things.For example, technologies are being developed that estimate the amount of electric power obtained from solar power generation. To achieve this, those technologies analyze weather forecast and past track record data using AI to accurately predict the amount of power generated, which can be obtained from the equipment owned by a company. If it is possible to accurately predict the amount of power generated, it becomes possible to more effectively utilize the electric power generated in a company by shifting the peak of electric power consumption through the adjustment of production plans.Moreover, digital twins, which reproduce the conditions and movements over an entire factory using a computer, are being built, and technologies that increase the effect of power-saving measures are also being developed. It is becoming possible to take measures that allow the maximum effect to be obtained without risk by verifying on a digital twin the power-saving effect and the impact on productivity and product quality from&nbsp;the changes in the control and operation conditions of devices and equipment and alterations to production plans.Decarbonization efforts in the manufacturing industry are inseparably related to DX initiatives in factories. Regarding DX-related efforts, it seems important to keep in mind not only productivity and quality improvements, but also decarbonization.<hr id="isPasted"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695650770461-1695650770461.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii">If you have any questions based on this article that you would like to discuss with an expert at Murata, don&#39;t hesitate to reach out. There&#39;s an entire team ready to support you with your question.<a href="https://www.murata.com/en-eu/contactform?&Detail=Wevolver%20request" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="button-main-action">GET IN TOUCH</a>

Many companies in the manufacturing industry around the world are striving to improve business value and raise operational efficiency through digital transformation (DX). On the other hand, there is now a strong demand for decarbonization efforts, which curb greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted in production activities to achieve carbon neutrality.

The Inseparable Relationship Between Digital Transformation and Decarbonization and Technologies Essential for a Sustainable Manufacturing Industry

Veco, as the world&#39;s leading specialist in Electroforming, offers high-precision Electroforming with Nickel, in a variety of unique blends or alloys suitable for particular engineering demands, such as Veco84 Nickel, Sulfamate Nickel, Palladium-Nickel (alloy), HR-Nickel, and Meta-Nickel.&nbsp;Below, you&#39;ll find detailed information about these nickel variants. Each of these materials brings unique properties and advantages.Veco84 Nickel is a uniquely engineered material designed to exhibit superior hardness and strength. Its hardness typically falls within the 620 to 660 HV range, making it a mechanically robust material. With its smooth, glossy finish, it offers both functional strength and aesthetic appeal. In addition to hardness, Veco84 boasts superior tensile and yield strength relative to other Electroformed materials. Its tensile strength can extend up to 2200-2300 MPa, while its yield strength can vary from 1900 to 2100 MPa. However, for applications necessitating high-temperature resilience or superior corrosion resistance, other types of nickel might be more suitable.Sulfamate Nickel,&nbsp;while having a lower hardness of 185-200 HV compared to other nickel variants, presents a unique set of strengths. Its high ductility and low internal stresses grant it greater flexibility, enabling bending and shaping without resulting in cracks. This nickel variant also surpasses Veco&rsquo;s other nickel types in terms of chemical and corrosion resistance, making it an optimal choice for applications necessitating high-temperature resilience and industries such as aerospace, electrical, and general engineering that require ductile components. Furthermore, the ductility of Sulfamate Nickel can be increased through annealing, although this process does lead to a softer material with correspondingly reduced strength. In addition, Sulfamate Nickel is deposited with low stress and outstanding uniformity, resulting in high-quality, reliable, and durable parts.PdNi is a robust Electroformed Palladium-Nickel alloy with superior corrosion and chemical resistance. This allows it to better withstand acids, chloride environments, and other harsh media. Importantly, it also exhibits bio-compatibility, which is important for certain applications such as medical products in direct contact with the human body. In terms of mechanical properties, PdNi offers a high hardness of up to 530 HV, a tensile strength of 1750-1950, and a yield strength of 1700-1750. The carefully balanced composition of Palladium and Nickel yields an ideal amalgamation of corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and functional properties. Thanks to this unique combination of properties, PdNi finds utility in an array of applications, from chemical processing equipment to components in the telecommunications industry.HR-Nickel is a unique form of nickel developed by Veco that can withstand high temperatures without significant degradation or failure. During the plating process of HR-Nickel, proprietary additives are employed, bypassing the use of traditional organic hardeners which often undermine the thermal stability of nickel. In terms of mechanical properties, HR-Nickel has a hardness of approximately 470 HV. It exhibits a tensile strength of about 1680 MPa, while its yield strength lies in the range of 1100-1300 MPa. This combination of properties makes HR-Nickel a durable and reliable choice for applications exposed to high thermal conditions.Meta-Nickel is a nickel blend with a hardness of up to 340 HV. This material is particularly suitable for laser-cutting and laser-welding processes, making it an optimal choice for multi-technology solutions. In terms of mechanical properties, Meta-Nickel exhibits a tensile strength of approximately 1070 MPa and a yield strength of around 780 MPa. In addition, Meta-Nickel can withstand operating temperatures up to 200&deg;C without compromising its strength and ductility. This makes it a versatile material for various applications requiring both thermal resilience and mechanical robustness.For a comprehensive comparison of all nickel types with standard SS316L or SS304, learn more about our material introductions here, you can also find detailed information to help guide your material selection process.<a href="https://www.vecoprecision.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Interested in talking to an engineer instead?</a> We&#39;re more than happy to assist. Our team of experienced engineers is available to answer your questions, provide expert advice, and guide you through your design and engineering process.

Electroforming is an Additive Manufacturing process specialized for the production of high-precision metal parts. Nickel, due to its expansive range of mechanical properties, aesthetic appeal, and resistance to corrosion, has become the most widely used material for this process. It not only enables the reproduction of extremely fine details but also permits the deposition of materials with high hardness. Electroforming technology allows depositing metal alloys to tailor specific material properties like mechanical or thermal characteristics.

Electroforming for Engineers: tailoring materials and properties to meet engineering demands

Authors:Kai Keller &lt;kai.keller@notion-systems.com&gt; and Lina M&auml;rzThis article originally appeared<a href="https://www.techblick.com/post/inkjet-printing-of-solder-mask-notion-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> here. </a><h3>Introduction:</h3>There are three big topics that shape the production environment of today and tomorrow: digitalization, additive manufacturing, and preserving natural resources/zero waste.&nbsp;Very tightly timed supply chains and globally distributed and connected production processes are already real and only possible because of digitalization. Additive manufacturing knocks on the door of many industrial areas, such as automotive and aerospace. Preserving natural resources and zero waste will become standard in many areas and will be the financially most convenient opportunity.&nbsp;Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are manufactured mainly in Asia but distributed just-in-time all over the world. In our laptops, cars, trains, planes, TV&#39;s, audio systems, mobile phones, we all use dozens of them every day, without even realizing it. The recent stress that has been put on these supply chains also lead to investments into new facilities in North America, Europe, as well as South East Asia. So many decision makers in electronics manufacturing are currently concerned with the question which technologies they are going to use for the newly built facilities.Today, the production process for PCBs is mainly subtractive, indicating that lots of expensive resources are wasted, are not reused, and eventually increase the costs.&nbsp;This means PCB manufacturing is at home in a global, digital world but will eventually suffer from subtractive processing, waste of resources, and more complex applications and layouts.&nbsp;Inkjet printing by nature is a digital technology, from image processing to discrete droplet deposition.It is also an additive manufacturing technology. Expensive materials are only deposited where they are needed, and even the amount of material can be adjusted locally. Three dimensional structures are possible without any extra effort.&nbsp;This indicates that inkjet printing is preserving resources and minimizing waste.&nbsp;This article will describe the process of applying a solder mask layer by means of inkjet printing in the PCB production. It will briefly describe a PCB and outline the benefits that inkjet printing brings. This will be followed by a detailed description of the steps that were necessary to establish a stable industrial process.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzc3NjU3MDg1LU5vdGlvbiBTeXN0ZW1zIChCRVJMSU4tT2N0LTIwMjMpLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 644px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&nbsp;Join us at TechBlick&#39;s Future of Electroncis RESHAPED conference &amp; tradeshow in Berlin on 17-18 OCT 2023 - www.techblick.com/electronicsreshapedWhy Inkjet Printing for Deposition of Solder Mask on PCB&#39;s?Typically, a uniform solder mask layer is deposited by a coating technology such as curtain coating or screen printing. Also, dry films are available. All have in common that they cover the whole board. After a drying step, the design is transferred onto the board via a photo mask. For each design, an own photo mask needs to be created. Alternatively, direct imaging processes with a laser are used. After illumination, the dried film is developed, and the unwanted areas are stripped and washed away. A final curing step is performed in order to achieve the full functionality. Typically, this consists of a so-called UV bump and thermal curing in a belt oven.&nbsp;By summing up all the equipment needed, it&#39;s no wonder that a single production line can easily be dozens of meters long and requires a lot of staff with different skills.&nbsp;The inkjet technology in contrast locally deposits the UV-sensitive material and pins it in-situ with an LED lamp. The image is loaded digitally and can be changed after each board and even be adjusted to each board individually. It is saved digitally and does not use any footprint. After the same final cure from the conventional process, the board is finished. This indicates that PCB manufacturers can drastically reduce the amount of production steps that translates in less investment cost and space for machinery and less consumption of electricity and consumables and therefore a very fast return on investment. Figure 1 shows the process flows of the conventional and the inkjet process.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzc3NzA3ODI2LVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAwNzMxNTAucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 540px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Besides, these economic and environmental aspects inkjet exclusively opens the door to a unique combination of other features that gives the PCB production industry a new level of freedom. This allows the industry to be prepared for new applications such as high frequency and 5G. Figure 2 shows an inkjet printed solder mask on a PCB and gives an overview of some unique features.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzc3NzQ3NjA1LVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAwNzMyNDkucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 478px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">In contrast to the conventional deposition technologies, where the layer thickness is the same over the whole board, with inkjet printing, the thickness can be adjusted locally without any extra effort. There are a lot of reasons why this is beneficial for the PCB manufacturing process. Let us name three:- &nbsp; &nbsp;Thickness zero, i.e., no solder mask where it is not required, in order to safe material or increase process stability. - &nbsp; &nbsp;A locally adapted thickness to ease subsequent SMD assembly. - &nbsp; &nbsp;Higher thickness at conductor or pad edges to reach higher break-through voltages. In a summary, the main advantages are as follows: &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Digital production technology &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Additive manufacturing allows for locally adjustable thickness of layers &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;New features are possible &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Labeling functions come for free &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Up to 80% less ink, as it is only print where required &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Higher yield &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Reduced space &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Reduced energy consumption &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Very fast return on investment <h3>What Are the Requirements and What Makes Inkjet Printing of Solder Mask Tricky?</h3>The requirements of the solder mask are defined in several norms, mainly by the IPC &ndash; Association Connecting Electronics Industries. IPC originated from Institute for Printed Circuits.We will now describe some challenges that one faces when depositing a solder mask onto a PCB by means of inkjet printing.&nbsp;First of all, the solder mask ink itself is a sophisticated material. Actually, one has to develop two materials. As an ink, it needs to have a very low viscosity, must be a Newtonian fluid, and must allow for perfect jetting in the tiny nozzles. After curing, the material needs to be extremely stable to mechanical impact and withstand harsh temperature cycles (-30 &deg;C to +170 &deg;C) and strong chemicals, e.g., during Ni-Au plating.Another point is the surface. A board when it just arrives to the solder mask deposition consists of two different surfaces: the glass fiber compound (FR4) and the copper (Cu).&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzg3MDI3NTA5LU5vdGlvbiBTeXN0ZW1zLWJvb3RoLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 531px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Join us at TechBlick&#39;s Future of Electronics RESHAPED conference &amp; tradeshow in Berlin on 17-18 OCT 2023 - www.techblick.com/electronicsreshapedUnfortunately, the surface energy of these areas largely differ. While the ink stays quite well on FR4, it spreads tremendously on Cu.&nbsp;In addition, the height difference between FR4 and Cu can be more than 200 &mu;m. This can have a large impact on the deposition accuracy.&nbsp;Every PCB job is different. This indicates that PCBs can vary in size and thickness. Because of previous production processes, they can have bows and warpages and because of the still often manual handling even kinks. As if this was not enough, PCBs have many holes of different radii ranging from 0.1 mm up to 5 mm, of course randomly distributed over the whole area. Still, for a good performance, often absolute drop placement accuracies in the range of &plusmn; 20 &mu;m are required. This calls for highest demands in the substrate table design and the jetting performance.&nbsp;The requirements and properties of the solder resist and the printed solder resist layer are anchored in IPC-SM-840. Properties can be verified using selected test methods. The test procedure and instructions for carrying it out can be found in the test manual IPC-TM-650. Typically, the properties are divided there into visual, physical, electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties/requirements.<h2>How to Get to Inkjet Printed PCB&#39;s</h2>To realize the application of inkjet printing, the solder mask onto PCB&#39;s different aspects have to be taken into account, such as the choice of ink and printheads, the process development, and the machine design. Figure 3 gives an overview of typical factors that define the process and printing machine. Although the overview is generic, most of the items are relevant for the inkjet solder mask process.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzc3ODE2NTU4LVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAwNzMzMzUucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 656px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The process development of each application follows the following route:&nbsp;&bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Printhead selection &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ink selection &amp; material compatibility &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Waveform development &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Print process implementation &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;System development (optional) &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;On-site process supportIt is a common misconception, especially in time-critical projects, to take the second or third step before the first. Maybe it is possible to produce a nice appearing PCB for a proof of concept, but in production, stability and more importantly predictability are crucial.&nbsp;Solid results based on systematic and repeatable tests are helping to identify the process window, maximize customer satisfaction, and to reduce costly field operations.<h3>Data Handling</h3>In the PCB industry, gerber is the dominating file format. Like in any other area, the conversion from vector data to discrete/digital images comes at the expense of truth to detail. Photoplotters and lasers both have this loss, but as they are operating in the range of several 10 000 of dpis, the artifacts are small. For inkjet printing, with feature sizes in the range of 30 to 80 &mu;m and resolutions in a similar range, more care has to be taken for converting the print images.&nbsp;Figure 4 visualizes the challenge. The raster image processor has to make a discrete decision based on the vector layout and the printing resolution, whether it generates a printed dot or not. For low printing resolutions, this can lead to artifacts, such as visible steps and missing dots. A high resolution would increase the level of detail but would lead to an overflow of ink or increased thickness. We have developed a conversion algorithm that considers the vector file, the real drop diameter on the substrate, and the printing resolution and adjusts the droplets in such way that the maximal level of detail can be achieved without increasing the resolution and thus not compromising throughput.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzc3ODc2MTYxLVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAwNzM0MTYucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 571px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">As mentioned before, conventional solder mask processes are subtractive, indicating that the full board is covered with ink and then structured. This indicates that the appearance and the geometry of inkjet-printed structures are by nature different. If one would now just use the conventional processing recipes, the result would be far from optimal. This is why, for inkjet, new design rules needed to be developed in close cooperation between technology providers, like Notion Systems and technology users, our partners, and clients. This ensures that the printed result looks more alike their conventional counterparts.<h2>Machine Concept</h2>At Notion Systems, we have developed a machine concept, that is shown in Figure 5 that can be used either in manual mode or be upgraded to operate fully automated with load and unload. Our print unit covers the full substrate width with up to 20 000 nozzles, each firing more than 20 000 tiny droplets per second. The vacuum table is designed in a way that it can hold different sizes of PCBs without any mechanical clamps.&nbsp;An integrated and automated non-contact cleaning system ensures that the printheads are always in good condition. The machine is easy to operate and is designed so that all important parts can be reached easily.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzc3OTE5OTE0LVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAwNzM0NDcucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 667px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">Print Images</h2>Figures 6-10 show some examples of inkjet-printed solder masks structures. They highlight what is possible today.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzg3Mzg2NjI3LVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAxNDUwMTMuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 608px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzg3NDI5NzIxLVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAxNTAzMzgucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 256px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzg3NDQ3MTcxLVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAxNTAzNDcucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 256px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzg3NDY2OTAxLVNjcmVlbnNob3QgMjAyMy0wOS0xNSAxNTAzNTQucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 250px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Summary and Outlook The solder mask on a PCB is perfectly suited for inkjet printing. The reduction of production steps decreases the cost and space requirements. Inkjet printing produces results that meet all requirements specified in the relevant norm for solder mask IPC 840. In addition, inkjet printing enables the implementation of useful and in its combination unique features, such as no mask in holes, locally adjusted thickness, or smart labeling. Yet, soldermask is not the end of the story, there are many more subtractive processes in electronics manufacturing that need a closer look and possibly a replacement, if one considers what is possible with additive processes in general and inkjet technology in particular, today.<h3 id="isPasted"><a data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.techblick.com/electronicsreshaped" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Join us and the global community in Berlin on 17-18 OCT 2023</a> and let us together RESHAPE the Future of Electronics, making it Additive, Sustainable, Hybrid, Wearable, or 3D.&nbsp;</h3> <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk0Nzg3NTM0NjgzLTIuQWdlbmRhLUV4aGliaXRpb24tTE9HT1MtKEJFUkxJTi0yMDIzKS1zbWFsbC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 702px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

There are three big topics that shape the production environment of today and tomorrow: digitalization, additive manufacturing, and preserving natural resources/zero waste. Learn how inkjet printing achieves these in PCB manufacturing. 

Inkjet Printing of Solder Mask

This article originally appeared in <a href="https://news.mit.edu/2023/implantable-device-enable-injection-free-control-diabetes-0918" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MIT News</a> and has been republished with permission.<hr>One promising approach to treating Type 1 diabetes is implanting pancreatic islet cells that can produce insulin when needed, which can free patients from giving themselves frequent insulin injections. However, one major obstacle to this approach is that once the cells are implanted, they eventually run out of oxygen and stop producing insulin.To overcome that hurdle, MIT engineers have designed a new implantable device that not only carries hundreds of thousands of insulin-producing islet cells, but also has its own on-board oxygen factory, which generates oxygen by splitting water vapor found in the body.The researchers showed that when implanted into diabetic mice, this device could keep the mice&rsquo;s blood glucose levels stable for at least a month. The researchers now hope to create a larger version of the device, about the size of a stick of chewing gum, that could eventually be tested in people with Type 1 diabetes.&ldquo;You can think of this as a living medical device that is made from human cells that secrete insulin, along with an electronic life support-system. We&rsquo;re excited by the progress so far, and we really are optimistic that this technology could end up helping patients,&rdquo; says Daniel Anderson, a professor in MIT&rsquo;s Department of Chemical Engineering, a member of MIT&rsquo;s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), and the senior author of the study.While the researchers&rsquo; main focus is on diabetes treatment, they say that this kind of device could also be adapted to treat other diseases that require repeated delivery of therapeutic proteins.MIT Research Scientist Siddharth Krishnan is the lead author of the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2311707120" target="_blank">paper</a>, which appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research team also includes several other researchers from MIT, including Robert Langer, the David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT and a member of the Koch Institute, as well as researchers from Boston Children&rsquo;s Hospital.<h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695635125837-MIT-Islets-Oxygen-02-press.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Pictured is the device submerged in water, generating oxygen (bottom) and hydrogen (top) bubbles without the need for any batteries or wires. Image: Courtesy of Claudia Liu and Dr. Siddharth Krishnan, MIT/Boston Children&rsquo;s HospitalReplacing injections</h2>Most patients with Type 1 diabetes have to monitor their blood glucose levels carefully and inject themselves with insulin at least once a day. However, this process doesn&rsquo;t replicate the body&rsquo;s natural ability to control blood glucose levels.&ldquo;The vast majority of diabetics that are insulin-dependent are injecting themselves with insulin, and doing their very best, but they do not have healthy blood sugar levels,&rdquo; Anderson says. &ldquo;If you look at their blood sugar levels, even for people that are very dedicated to being careful, they just can&rsquo;t match what a living pancreas can do.&rdquo;A better alternative would be to transplant cells that produce insulin whenever they detect surges in the patient&rsquo;s blood glucose levels. Some diabetes patients have received transplanted islet cells from human cadavers, which can achieve long-term control of diabetes; however, these patients have to take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent their body from rejecting the implanted cells.More recently, researchers have shown similar success with islet cells derived from stem cells, but patients who receive those cells also need to take immunosuppressive drugs.Another possibility, which could prevent the need for immunosuppressive drugs, is to encapsulate the transplanted cells within a flexible device that protects the cells from the immune system. However, finding a reliable oxygen supply for these encapsulated cells has proven challenging.Some experimental devices, including one that has been tested in clinical trials, feature an oxygen chamber that can supply the cells, but this chamber needs to be reloaded periodically. Other researchers have developed implants that include chemical reagents that can generate oxygen, but these also run out eventually.The MIT team took a different approach that could potentially generate oxygen indefinitely, by splitting water. This is done using a proton-exchange membrane &mdash; a technology originally deployed to generate hydrogen in fuel cells &mdash; located within the device. This membrane can split water vapor (found abundantly in the body) into hydrogen, which diffuses harmlessly away, and oxygen, which goes into a storage chamber that feeds the islet cells through a thin, oxygen-permeable membrane.A significant advantage of this approach is that it does not require any wires or batteries. Splitting this water vapor requires a small voltage (about 2 volts), which is generated using a phenomenon known as resonant inductive coupling. A tuned magnetic coil located outside the body transmits power to a small, flexible antenna within the device, allowing for wireless power transfer. It does require an external coil, which the researchers anticipate could be worn as a patch on the patient&rsquo;s skin.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695635234674-MIT-Islets-Oxygen-03-press.jpg" style="width: 768px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">This photo shows the cathode side of fully assembled device, with a United States quarter-dollar coin for scale.&nbsp; Image: Courtesy of Claudia Liu and Dr. Siddharth Krishnan, MIT/Boston Children&rsquo;s Hospital<h2>Drugs on demand</h2>After building their device, which is about the size of a U.S. quarter, the researchers tested it in diabetic mice. One group of mice received the device with the oxygen-generating, water-splitting membrane, while the other received a device that contained islet cells without any supplemental oxygen. The devices were implanted just under the skin, in mice with fully functional immune systems.The researchers found that mice implanted with the oxygen-generating device were able to maintain normal blood glucose levels, comparable to healthy animals. However, mice that received the nonoxygenated device became hyperglycemic (with elevated blood sugar) within about two weeks.Typically when any kind of medical device is implanted in the body, attack by the immune system leads to a buildup of scar tissue called fibrosis, which can reduce the devices&rsquo; effectiveness. This kind of scar tissue did form around the implants used in this study, but the device&rsquo;s success in controlling blood glucose levels suggests that insulin was still able to diffuse out of the device, and glucose into it.This approach could also be used to deliver cells that produce other types of therapeutic proteins that need to be given over long periods of time. In this study, the researchers showed that the device could also keep alive cells that produce erythropoietin, a protein that stimulates red blood cell production.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re optimistic that it will be possible to make living medical devices that can reside in the body and produce drugs as needed,&rdquo; Anderson says. &ldquo;There are a variety of diseases where patients need to take proteins exogenously, sometimes very frequently. If we can replace the need for infusions every other week with a single implant that can act for a long time, I think that could really help a lot of patients.&rdquo;The researchers now plan to adapt the device for testing in larger animals and eventually humans. For human use, they hope to develop an implant that would be about the size of a stick of chewing gum. They also plan to test whether the device can remain in the body for longer periods of time.&ldquo;The materials we&rsquo;ve used are inherently stable and long-lived, so I think that kind of long-term operation is within the realm of possibility, and that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re working on,&rdquo; Krishnan says.&ldquo;We are very excited about these findings, which we believe could provide a whole new way of someday treating diabetes and possibly other diseases,&rdquo; Langer adds.<hr>&quot;Reprinted with permission of <a href="https://news.mit.edu/2023/implantable-device-enable-injection-free-control-diabetes-0918" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id="isPasted">MIT News</a>&quot; &nbsp;

MIT engineers designed an implantable device that carries hundreds of thousands of islet cells along with its own on-board oxygen factory to keep the cells healthy. Image: Felice Frankel

The device contains encapsulated cells that produce insulin, plus a tiny oxygen-producing factory that keeps the cells healthy.

An implantable device could enable injection-free control of diabetes

Bending is one of the most commonly used processes when forming sheet metal parts. Bending is done by holding the workpiece in position using clamps or dies and strategically applying force on an area of a workpiece. The force applied must exceed the yield strength of the material to cause the plastic deformation of the part.&nbsp;This process results in a v-shape, u-shape, or channel shape over an axis, creating a new part geometry. Bending changes the shape but the volume of the workpiece remains the same.The costs and quality depend on various factors including setup costs, material costs and design complexity.To ensure a trouble-free bend and to avoid deformation in sheet metal fabrication, we recommend following certain design tips for every type of sheet metal part feature.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nsuLlW-Aby8?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><h2 id="isPasted">Sheet metal design tips for bending</h2>To ensure a hitch-free bend and to avoid deformation, the following 10 tips are vital when designing.<h3>1. Walls: Uniform thickness</h3>Sheet metal parts are usually fabricated from a single sheet of metal, so they should have a uniform wall thickness.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695374915631-thickness.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">2. Bends: Radius &amp; orientation</h3>Keep a minimum bend radius to prevent parts from fracturing or distorting.&nbsp;We typically recommend that the smallest bend radius should at least be equal to the sheet thickness.&nbsp;However, there are also various reference tables that show <a href="https://xometry.eu/en/bend-radius-reference-table-sheet-metal/" target="_blank">minimum bend radii for different materials and part thicknesses</a>.Keeping the bend radius consistent makes the part cost effective as you can use the same tool to bend it.&nbsp;Keeping bends in the same plane in one direction also helps to save time and money by preventing part reorientation&mdash;especially for sheet metal parts with complex bending.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695374930280-radius.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The smallest bend radius should at least be equal to the sheet thickness<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695374944901-bend-orientation-1.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Keeping bends in the same plane in one direction also helps to save time and money by preventing part reorientation<h3 id="isPasted">3. Bends: Placing bends next to each other</h3>You should avoid successive bends except where absolutely necessary. A common problem for successive bends is the difficulty of fitting the bent parts on the die. However, when unavoidable, the intermediate part should be longer than the flanges.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695374969074-placing-bends-next-to-each-other.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">4. Bends: Cut reliefs</h3>When a bend is made close to an edge the material may tear unless bend relief is given. The width of the relief cuts should at least be equal to the material thickness and the length should be longer than the radius of the bend.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695374987571-relief-cuts.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">5. Holes &amp; slots: The correct clearance</h3>Holes and slots can deform if they are too close to a bend.We recommend placing holes at least 2.5 times the material&rsquo;s thickness from the bend edges.&nbsp;Slots require more clearance. Place them at least 4 times the material&rsquo;s thickness from the bend edges.&nbsp;In addition, extruding holes or slots is one of the most extreme pressure applications that creates a lot of friction and heat. To avoid deformation or tearing of the metal, place the extruded holes at least 3 times the thickness of the sheet from the edge.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695374996717-hole-to-bend.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375012966-hole-to-slot.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">6. Countersinks: Clearance &amp; size</h3>Countersinks are created with a drill press or punch press tooling.The basic rules for countersinks are as follows:&nbsp;<ul><li>Keep a minimum distance of 3 times the material thickness from a bend</li><li>4 times from an edge</li><li>8 times from each other</li><li>And they shouldn&rsquo;t be deeper than 0.6 times the material thickness.</li></ul><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375027879-countersinks.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">7. Curls: The right dimensions</h3>Curled edges are stronger and safer for handling. They are often used to remove a sharp untreated edge and make it safe.&nbsp;The outside radius of curls must be at least twice the size of the material thickness.If you add holes next to the curls, place them at least the size of the curl radius plus the material thickness from the curls.&nbsp;Other bends should be placed at least 6 times the material thickness plus the radius of the curl from the curls.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375046560-curl.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">8. Hems</h3>Sheet metal hems are often used to strengthen the edges and make sharp edges safer.&nbsp;Closed hems are not recommended if they are to be painted or the part is made of stainless steel or aluminium. Their flange length from outside the bend should be equal to or greater than four times the part thickness.&nbsp;The same flange length to sheet thickness ratio applies for open and teardrop hems.For open hems, the inside diameter should be at least the same size as the sheet thickness. It will lose its roundness when the inside diameter is greater than the thickness.&nbsp;For tear drop hems, the diameter should also be equal to the sheet thickness. The hem opening (spacing between the hem edge and the part) should be at least &frac14; of the sheet metal thickness.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375062721-hems.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">9. Flanges &amp; chamfers: The right dimensions</h3>Flanges are the edge of the part that is bent from the stationary base. It should be at least 4 times the sheet thickness. If you make a flange with chamfered ends, these chamfers have to leave enough room to achieve proper bends.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375078747-flanges-and-chamfers-1440x584.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">10. Tabs &amp; notches: Clearance</h3>Notching is a shearing process that removes a section from the outer edge of the part. Distortion may occur if the distance between the notches and the bend is too small. To avoid this, the notch-to-bend distance should be at least 3 times the sheet thickness plus the bend radius.&nbsp;Notches must be at least 3.175 mm away from each other. The minimum distance between tabs should be 1 mm or the sheet thickness whichever is greater.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375114015-tabs-and-notches-1440x584.png" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 id="isPasted">Calculating Required Bending Force</h2>Different factors are involved in creating the right bend in a sheet metal part. These include:<ul><li>Bending strength of the material</li><li>Degree of bending</li><li>Sheet metal thickness</li><li>Bend angle</li><li>Internal radius</li><li>Vee die opening</li><li>Minimum internal edge</li></ul>The chart below can be used to calculate the bending force required to V bend mild steel S235 of different thicknesses, in different shapes, at an angle of 90&deg;. Mild steel S235 has a bending strength of 42 kg/mm&sup2;. The variable parameters are as follows.<ul><li>S (mm) &ndash; Sheet metal thickness</li><li>V (mm) &ndash; Vee die opening</li><li>B (mm) &ndash; Minimum internal edge</li><li>Ri (mm) &ndash; Internal radius</li></ul><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1695375146069-bending-radius-table.png" style="width: 729px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2>Sheet metal fabrication services at Xometry</h2>At Xometry Europe, we offer high-precision, fast, and quality&nbsp;<a href="https://xometry.eu/en/sheet-metal/" target="_blank">sheet metal fabrication</a>, forming and bending, services for the creation of sheet metal parts made aluminium, stainless steel, steel, copper alloys, and many others.Using automated bending techniques, we guarantee high precision and quality of ready sheet metal parts.

This article will give you 10 essential tips to create a perfect design for a sheet metal part using bending technologies.

Sheet Metal Design Tips For Bending

In April 1981, The Washington Post&nbsp;reported that the U.S. supermarket chain, Giant Food Inc., was about to stop marking prices on individual items in its stores in a bid to reduce operating costs. If there was no consumer backlash, the report predicted, the rest of the industry would follow, as it did when the company was the first food retailer to introduce barcode scanners at its checkouts, spurring the spread of that technology across the country.Fast forward 40 years and individually priced items in supermarkets have long been consigned to history, with shelf pricing now the accepted norm. And it has, as Giant Food hoped, reduced operating costs for retailers that can stock as many as 50,000 different product lines. As recently as the 1990s, 7,000 product lines was considered average. Now technology is overhauling shelf labeling anew, and supermarkets will be the likely trailblazers once again.<h2>The beginning of the end for paper labels</h2>Electronic shelf labels (ESL) are connected, low-power &lsquo;e-paper&rsquo; display devices that can replace traditional paper labels and can display text, numbers, icons, lines, barcodes and pictures. They enable retailers to automatically update individual shelf price labels from a central point across multiple stores and branches&mdash;or in certain geographic locations&mdash;at the touch of a button. Comprised of a Cloud platform, access points or gateways, and wirelessly connected shelf labels, pricing commands can be sent from a web-based dashboard to store-located gateways, from which point commands are relayed to the smart labels.According to analyst ABI Research, by the end of last year, 788 million electronic shelf labels (ESL) had been installed globally. The number may seem significant, but with tens of billions of paper labels still on shelves, the technology has yet to make it mainstream, despite not really counting as a &lsquo;new&rsquo; technology. Primitive versions using liquid crystal displays that could display a price but nothing else have been around for some 30 years. There are a number of reasons the technology has yet to hit the big time, including market fragmentation, cost of deployment, concerns over interoperability, security, and a fear of obsolescence. Now this could be about to change.Earlier this year, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), announced the release of the <a href="https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/use-cases/electronic-shelf-labels/?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new wireless standard for the ESL market</a>, with the goal of making Bluetooth the standard protocol for ESL.&nbsp;The scalable, low-power, secure ESL standard (consisting of ESL Profile and Service specifications) has been developed by a working group comprised of a leading ESL vendor and enabling technology suppliers, and standardizes the process for message transmission between access points and ESLs. To do so it leverages feature enhancements introduced in the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 5.4, including Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) and Encrypted Advertising Data (EAD).In general, PAwR and EAD are intended for one-to-many applications that involve a large number of devices (tags) receiving and transmitting small amounts of data from and to an access point, that accept longer latencies (e.g. 2 seconds) in exchange for extended battery life. Together, they enable connectionless, bidirectional, secure communication with thousands of very low-power end nodes in a star topology, essential in a retail ESL application where many thousands of labels could be required to cover all of the items stocked. For a technical deep dive on ESL, PAwR and EAD see <a href="https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/whats-new-in-bluetooth-v5-4-an-overview?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What&#39;s new in Bluetooth v5.4: An overview</a>.<h2>Dynamic, efficient pricing operations</h2>If the introduction of the standard has the intended effect on the retail industry and ESL becomes widespread, retailers are set to benefit in several ways. Updating paper price labels requires staff to change thousands of tags every week. It&rsquo;s not only a lot of labor to do very little, it also takes time and is prone to error, and inaccurate pricing on shelves even for a short time can cost grocery retailers profit. ESL eliminates the manual process and at the same time enables dynamic pricing strategies allowing retailers to adjust pricing based on stock levels, demand, and market conditions.Standardization is key here to ensure interoperability, security and to allow retailers to have systems that can be installed and easily maintained over a long lifespan. At the same time, Bluetooth can also be leveraged to keep tags updated with the latest firmware, using Over-The-Air Device Firmware Updates from the gateway itself.Moreover, by using Bluetooth as the protocol, some ESL systems can mix and match with other Bluetooth technologies, such as Bluetooth Direction Finding for a quick positioning, enabling staff to quickly and easily identify the specific location of individual product lines across the store. This is particularly beneficial to staff responsible for picking and replenishing stock. Paired with Wi-Fi-connected shelf cameras and Cloud-based AI models, savvy retailers are also remotely monitoring stock to ensure shelves are well stocked and only replenished when necessary.The smart labels can also be used as beacons for marketing to consumers in close proximity via compatible smartphone apps, at the same time allowing retailers to gather insights into customer behavior to provide improved shopping experiences, personalized marketing, and to increase conversion rates in store.<h2>Widescale adoption looms</h2>Nordic Semiconductor, as the market leader in Bluetooth LE, has already introduced the PAwR and EAD features as standard in its qualified Bluetooth 5.4 SoftDevice Controller in the <a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-software/nRF-Connect-SDK?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nRF Connect SDK</a>, and companies developing ESLs can start working with this technology today thanks to the pre-release reference example (both gateway and tags) now available on request by opening a <a href="https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/support/add?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">private ticket on DevZone</a> or by <a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/About-us/Contact-Us?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contacting Nordic sales</a>.Nordic&rsquo;s SoCs meet the ultra low power requirements of ESLs where the number of tags involved prohibits even infrequent battery changes, while the Flash and RAM allocation ensures they can store the volume of information required to implement a fully-featured ESL system. Both the nRF53 Series and several of the nRF52 Series SoCs also support Direction Finding, enabling optimized order picking and replenishment functionality.The announcement of the standard has provided retailers with the impetus to commit to this technology. ABI Research claims 185 million ESL units were shipped last year, and that by 2028 annual shipments will reach 558 million, with a total installed base of some three billion ESLs. For example, Fortune 500 leading light and U.S. retail behemoth Walmart has entered an agreement to roll out 60 million digital shelf labels across 500 locations over the next 12 to 18 months. Others will follow.<hr>This article was first published on Nordic&#39;s <a href="https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" id="isPasted"></a><a href="https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected?utm_campaign=2021%20wevolver" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Get Connected Blog</a>. &nbsp;

Electronic shelf labels (ESL) are connected, low-power ‘e-paper’ display devices that can replace traditional paper labels and can display text, numbers, icons, lines, barcodes and pictures. They enable retailers to automatically update individual shelf price labels from a central point across multiple stores and branches—or in certain geographic locations—at the touch of a button.