The exploitation of renewable power sources is an essential response to the climate crisis. Solar and wind energy are the giants of the renewable world, but their output is unpredictable and intermittent. From one week to the next, it is difficult to forecast reliably how strongly the wind will blow or how brightly the sun will shine. This is a problem for national electricity grid operators, which are responsible for dynamically balancing the energy supply with the load.&nbsp;There is, though, a renewable energy source which is naturally very predictable: tidal power. The relative distances and positions of the sun, moon and Earth all affect the size and magnitude of the Earth’s two tidal bulges. At a local level, the magnitude of tides is influenced by the shape of the shoreline, as well as by weather conditions. Because the tides are driven by planetary movement, their timing can be precisely predicted, enabling power system operators to plan confidently for a tidal power generator’s contribution to the grid.&nbsp;This helps explain the growing interest in Orbital Marine Power, a UK-based innovator in tidal power generation. Succeeding where many tidal turbine manufacturers have failed, Orbital has developed a unique floating structure with turbines on each of two retractable legs. Its system off the coast of Orkney in Scotland generates a nominal 2MW output which helps the UK’s national grid to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel power sources.&nbsp;The north Atlantic is an unforgiving operating environment for electrical and electronics systems, however – and this is why Orbital relies on a robust <a href="https://www.movella.com/products/sensor-modules" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Xsens MTi </a>inertial motion sensor to keep the floating turbine structure stable. &nbsp;The <a href="https://www.movella.com/products/sensor-modules" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MTi motion sensor</a> is incorporated in the system as part of a Gable IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) from Gable Technologies, which created an EtherCAT interface to integrate Xsens sensors seamlessly into industrial applications such as Orbital’s tidal power generator. This combination takes advantage of the accuracy of Xsens sensors, ensuring reliable performance in even the harshest conditions.Free from the seabed: the key Orbital innovationThe breakthrough that the Orbital design team made came from its observation of previous attempts to fix tidal turbines to the seabed: many companies that adopted this approach ran out of money, strained by the massive cost of hiring construction vessels and building a fixed underwater structure.&nbsp;The floating structure of the Orbital O2 generator eliminates these construction costs, and uses a simpler mooring system to hold the hull in place. On each side of the hull is a retracting leg featuring a turbine: this part of the structure can be lowered to the depth at which the most energetic tidal flows are to be found, or raised to protect the structure when extreme weather is forecast. &nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1740729489392-Picture1.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">For the turbines to work effectively, the structure needs to be stable both in its geoposition, and in its attitude: excessive movement – roll or pitch – reduces the flow through the turbines, and thus affects total power output. It must maintain this stable position in extremely challenging conditions: floating in a narrow channel between islands, where the tidal flows are particularly strong, the Orbital hull is exposed to wind, saves, salt water ingress, and sunlight.&nbsp;Stable station keeping– maintaining a fixed position and attitude – in all conditions calls for an array of sensors, including a Doppler sensor to measure the speed of the tidal flow, load gauges on both legs, a GPS satellite sensor for geopositioning, and various weather sensors such as anemometers.&nbsp;Alongside these, the job of continuously measuring the hull’s pitch and roll, as well as low-frequency vibration, is performed by an Xsens MTi motion sensor. MTi sensors’ accuracy and performance are renowned – these devices are used in many applications which measure motion with millimetre precision, more than enough for the Orbital application.&nbsp;Angel Rua Santaclara, Orbital’s Powertrain Manager, was convinced that the performance of the MTi sensor would meet the tidal power generator’s needs, backed by the comprehensive magnetic calibration capability provided in the MT Software Suite from Movella. &nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1740729511338-Picture2.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">But he says that equally important was the sensor’s ability to operate reliably in the harsh marine environment. He says: ‘The interior of the hull is dry by design – this facilitates repair and maintenance. But inevitably a floating marine structure is always going to be exposed to salt water and a humid atmosphere, and so every electrical and electronic component we use has to be rigorously specified to withstand these harsh conditions.&nbsp;‘That’s why Orbital’s first instinct was to use the specialist motion sensors that are marketed to the oil and gas industry for use in rigs and drilling platforms. But we found that they are over-specified for our requirements – for instance, they can handle operation at great depths. That meant they were also hugely expensive. We were glad to discover the <a href="https://www.movella.com/products/sensor-modules" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MTi motion sensor</a> family, because it gives us the performance we need. The Gable IMU has an IP67-rated enclosure, which means that it can survive the damp atmosphere in the generator and repeated contact with salt water. The sensor has operated reliably ever since it was installed in our generator off the coast of Orkney.’Promising future for tidal power generationAngel Rua Santaclara says that having proved the feasibility of tidal power generation with the installation of the O2, the company is preparing to scale up its operation, building more generators for use in UK waters and elsewhere. He says, ‘Tidal power has its part to play in a carbon-free future for the electricity grid, and it can be deployed anywhere that has strong tidal flows. Our design, including the sensor systems for controlling the motion of the hull, is now proven, and we are looking forward to offering our design all around the world.’&nbsp;

Helping Maintain Stable Position in Fast-Moving Waters

Orbital's Breakthrough Design for Tidal Power Generator Using Xsens Technology

Scan cycles run continuously in your PLC: first, it reads every input’s status, then executes whatever program logic is contained, and then uses that information to update its outputs.&nbsp;The reason it’s so important is that this cycle governs the PLC’s rate of response to any changes in your system’s input signals. The faster it responds, the more efficiently it can control its output devices. The rapidity of response in high-speed automated systems is essential.<h2 dir="ltr">What’s The Best Way To Optimise Scan Time?</h2>You can make a start by refining your PLC program, simplifying logic operations and removing accumulated clutter like unnecessary instructions. For example, you can implement more efficient, straightforward logic in place of complex nested loops and redundant checks. You can organise the PLC program more effectively using techniques like function block diagrams or&nbsp;<a title="Ladder Logic" href="https://www.rowse-automation.co.uk/blog/post/what-is-ladder-logic-in-plc-programming" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ladder logic</a>.<h3 dir="ltr">Grouping, Subroutines And Functions</h3>You can also reduce scan time by grouping related tasks together, which leads to faster execution and a smoother flow of operations. It minimises the amount of time required for the PLC to switch between its program’s different parts, so it can handle, for example, all its input processes in one go before switching to the outputs.&nbsp;You can also optimise your PLC effectively by establishing&nbsp;<a title="Subroutines" href="https://startup-house.com/glossary/routine-and-subroutine" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">subroutines</a> and functions. These are repeatable blocks of code that you can use throughout your program to reduce duplication. You’ll organise your code more efficiently and simplify debugging. You first need to define these blocks in your program using the assigned input and output parameters. Once you’ve executed the initial blocks of code, you can then program them to repeat for various time-sensitive control events like process monitoring or motion control. Less critical functions and lower-priority tasks are generally programmed for continuous execution.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">Optimising Your Logic</h3>Logic optimisation can also help reduce your PLC scan time. This means that you employ only the most appropriate and efficient instructions, data types and logic operations for your application. For instance, you can replace complex loops with timers and counters and simplify your logic expressions with boolean algebra. Try replacing floating-point numbers with integers and substituting word-level operations for bit-level operations. If you use a bit to block a rung, it’s better to put it early in the rung. Streamlining your PLC logic in this way means that it needs to perform fewer instructions, calculations and operands, which should minimise the memory usage and scan time of its program.Another way to optimise your logic is to stagger the different parts into continuous and intermittent operations. You’ll usually only need to run a minimal amount of continuous logic on every single scan, whereas you’ll have other parts that you run at intervals. This means you can create a simple scheduler to separate the two different types of operation so they're not all running simultaneously. This will significantly reduce your scan times.<h3 dir="ltr">Using Arrays And Data Tables</h3>A third way you can optimise your PLC scan time is to use arrays and data tables. These help you manage large amounts of data, by storing in sequential order multiple values of each data type. These include data such as alarms, &nbsp;setpoints, sensor readings, HMI tags and historical data. Once you’ve accessed the array or data table the first time, you only need pointers or indexing to access the individual values.Arrays also make memory operations more efficient, as they allow you to manipulate sizeable blocks of contiguous memory using only one instruction. This means you can copy an array of nine items to another equally-sized array much faster than copying nine individual tags to nine other tags.<h3 dir="ltr">Comments And Documentation</h3>Comments and documentation have no direct effect on your PLC’s scan time and memory usage, but they are crucial for making your code readable and maintainable. They represent text annotations to your code that explain its logic, functionality and purpose. They’ll guide you and other programmers when you need to understand, &nbsp;troubleshoot or modify your code more quickly and simply. In this way, both yourself and the original programmer will be prompted to remember the steps taken previously instead of having to learn the logic all over again. When you employ comments and documentation, it’s necessary to use common conventions and standards, such as clear language, consistent formatting and descriptive names.<h3 dir="ltr">Code Testing And Debugging</h3>Testing and debugging your code is an additional technique for optimising your PLC scan time. These processes help you identify and fix bugs and errors in your code, ensuring that it works as it’s supposed to. That means it meets the requirements of the operation for which it’s programmed and performs optimally. You’ll need some testing tools and debugging methods, that may include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Simulation software</li><li dir="ltr">Error logs&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">Watch tables</li><li dir="ltr">Breakpoints</li><li dir="ltr">Online monitoring</li></ul>Testing and debugging your code will eliminate faulty or unnecessary code that can overload or slow down your PLC. It should also reduce its memory usage scan time.<h2 dir="ltr">Control, Efficiency And Quality</h2>You might have thought that scan time was a small detail, but in the field of industrial automation, it’s a big deal. By implementing these strategies to optimise your PLC scan time, you’ll speed up your PLC operations and make them more efficient. This is essential for maintaining the reliability and effective performance of automated systems. Reducing the scan time provides you with tighter control, helping to maintain efficiency and quality.Shorter scan times make your system more immediately responsive, but you should bear in mind that this can also put a burden on the PLC hardware. You may even need to <a title="Upgrade PLC" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/how-to-specify-a-plc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upgrade your PLC</a> to achieve the critical balance between load and speed, but when you get it right your system will run at its best. Once you’ve unlocked the secret to optimised scan times, your operations will run smoothly, efficiently, and at their most effective.

Understanding and improving scan time is vital for your PLC so that you can be sure it’s operating efficiently and effectively. Scan time in this context refers to the time it takes your PLC to assess and process all incoming and outgoing data.

How To Optimise PLC Scan Time

In this article, we explore how open source is not just for makers anymore, and actually makes great business sense. Business Benefits of Open Source: The Pragmatic Side of a PhilosophyChoosing open source is not just a philosophical stance; it is a strategic decision with tangible benefits for businesses across a variety of sectors: manufacturing, building automation, smart cities, e-mobility, logistics, safety – and any industry where technology is key.Here are 7 reasons to consider open-source solutions:<ol><li dir="ltr">License Included: Escape the burden of hefty license fees, with an open-source model that completely eliminates the need for these costs.</li><li dir="ltr">Limit NREs: Non-recurring engineering costs decrease when you use an open and accessible platform designed for seamless integration.</li><li dir="ltr">No Vendor Lock-in: The growing Arduino ecosystem is not a trap; it’s a versatile offering that allows exploration and evolution, without imposing switching costs.</li><li dir="ltr">Extensive Documentation: Over the years, Arduino has built a treasure trove of documentation, tutorials, and tech specs to support users at every stage of development.</li><li dir="ltr">Community-Sourced Resources: Our vibrant community of over 33 million users ensures a constant flow of libraries, examples, and shared experiences.</li><li dir="ltr">Effortless Integration: Arduino products seamlessly integrate with third-party solutions, enabling cost-effective retrofitting and interoperability.</li><li dir="ltr">Lower Labor Costs: Arduino’s accessibility and user-friendly design mean lower labor costs, with a large pool of engineers familiar with the platform.</li></ol> Shared Commitment, Shared AchievementsArduino was founded on principles of open source since its inception in 2005, and continues to be at the forefront of the movement. Our recently released <a href="https://blog.arduino.cc/2024/01/11/the-2023-arduino-open-source-report-is-out/" target="_blank">Open Source Report for 2023</a> unveils a range of achievements that exemplify in how many directions this core value translates into new projects, products, resources and more.Key highlights include joining the Zephyr® Project, releasing five new open-source hardware components (Arduino UNO R4 Minima and R4 WiFi, Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi and GIGA Display Shield, Arduino Nano ESP32), and a plethora of updates to the Arduino IDE and command line tools. The pivotal role of the vibrant Arduino community is highlighted in the report too, with over 1,000 new libraries and 205 open-source tutorials shared on Project Hub in 2023.&nbsp;Another initiative fueled by the community’s contributions is <a href="https://docs.arduino.cc/" target="_blank">Arduino Docs</a>, a collaborative repository launched in 2021 as a testament to the brand’s commitment to sharing knowledge. The archive has grown into a comprehensive resource hub, and the Arduino Team’s efforts to keep a sea of information updated, organized, and easy to navigate for all recently led to a complete overhaul of the platform’s design and architecture, unveiled in January 2024.&nbsp; Unlocking Innovation with the Open-Source ParadigmIn a world where innovation is the lifeblood of success, adopting open-source technology platforms like Arduino can be a savvy move for entrepreneurs and engineers worldwide. The tangible business benefits, coupled with an outstanding track record of community collaboration and continuous improvement, position open source as not just a philosophy but a pragmatic pathway to sustained success in the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, leading to cost-effectiveness, innovation, and a future-proof tech ecosystem.

Open source makes business sense. Photo: Alberto Morici for Arduino

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, businesses are constantly seeking ways to stay ahead of the curve, optimize processes, and drive innovation. One powerful approach gaining widespread recognition is the adoption of open-source technology platforms – and for good reason.

Unleashing Business Potential with the Advantages of an Open-Source Approach

Component obsolescence is a major challenge for industries relying on electronics. Electronic parts go out of date fast - two to five years on average - and 15 percent disappear from the market annually. Outdated components harm product quality, reliability, and profitability, forcing several times more expensive due to limited supply, demand, counterfeit risks, or redesign. Thus, proactive obsolescence management, starting with product design, is crucial.In this article, we will explore some of the reasons for component obsolescence, some of the best practices for managing it effectively, and some of the benefits of partnering with a supply chain expert who can help you mitigate obsolescence risks and maximize product value.<h2>Reasons for Component Obsolescence</h2>It is essential to understand the <a href="https://www.macrofab.com/blog/component-obsolescence/" target="_blank">factors contributing to component obsolescence</a>, which is a growing challenge for companies within the electronics industry.One significant reason for component obsolescence is the rapid pace of technological innovation and development in the industry. This trend is shortening the life cycles of integrated circuits (ICs) by an average of 30 percent. A study by S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence revealed that over 50 percent of ICs have a lifespan shorter than five years.Another contributing factor is the increasing consolidation and competition in the upstream supply chain through mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A). This trend has led to more end-of-life (EOL) notifications and faster product life cycle changes. In fact, M&amp;A activity is currently affecting over 200 billion components worldwide, according to IHS Markit.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1685020987492-1685020987492.png" alt="Consumer demand electronics" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Additionally, consumer demand for newer and smarter electronic products is driving more frequent upgrades and replacements of existing devices. For example, a recent survey by Accenture found that 47 percent of consumers plan to replace their smartphones every year or sooner.Changes in government regulations and environmental standards also have a significant impact on component availability and compatibility. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, for instance, prohibits the use of certain substances such as lead, mercury, or cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the European Union.These factors pose significant challenges for companies that must ensure product designs are functional, reliable, compatible, compliant, and profitable throughout their intended life span. As an industry professional, it is crucial to keep up with these trends and their implications to make informed decisions about product design and component selection.<h2>Best Practices for Managing Component Obsolescence</h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1685020987613-1685020987613.png" alt="Best practices managing component obsolescence" class="fr-fic fr-dii">To avoid or minimize the negative impact of component obsolescence on products and systems, it&rsquo;s essential to adopt an obsolescence management strategy during the product design phase. This involves incorporating best practices such as specifying components with long-term availability or multiple sources, leveraging production and order history to anticipate component turnover, communicating with end users to align design with customer expectations, maintaining regulatory compliance, and incorporating design-for-obsolescence strategies to ensure product longevity.To reduce the risk of sourcing difficulties and price fluctuations due to limited supply or high demand, specify components that have long-term availability or have multiple sources for all necessary parts. For instance, choose to use components that are commonly found in other industries like automotive or aerospace, to ensure a stable supply chain. While this creates competition for their purchase, it also ensures they remain readily available, typically from multiple sources, as long as they remain in high demand. When you can&rsquo;t use these strategies, use best practices to <a href="https://www.macrofab.com/blog/reducing-single-source-component-risk" target="_blank">reduce single-source component risks</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1685020987443-1685020987443.png" alt="Leverage order production history data" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Leverage production and order history data to gain visibility into component turnover rates and identify parts that are at risk of becoming obsolete or slow-moving. Plan accordingly for inventory management or replacement strategies. Additionally, use data analytics to monitor the usage and performance of components and forecast their life expectancy to stay ahead of potential obsolescence. MacroFab&rsquo;s technology platform is ideally suited to provide this sort of analytical data.Communicating with end-users to understand their needs and expectations regarding product longevity is crucial in ensuring that product design aligns with their requirements. By preventing premature obsolescence, unnecessary costs and dissatisfaction can be avoided.Maintaining regulatory compliance requirements and forecasting their impact on parts in stock and production is essential in ensuring regulatory adherence, avoiding penalties or fines, and anticipating potential component availability or compatibility changes.<h2>Options to Consider at the Design Stage</h2>Design-for-obsolescence strategies such as modularization, standardization, upgradability, and reusability can enhance product flexibility, adaptability, and maintainability, ultimately extending product life span. Below are explanations of each strategy and how to use it:Modularization: This strategy involves designing products as a series of independent modules that can be easily replaced or upgraded. By doing so, end users can replace only the faulty or outdated module instead of buying a completely new device. This results in cost savings for the end user and reduces electronic waste. To implement modularization, design teams should identify the components that are most likely to become obsolete and design them as interchangeable modules.Standardization: This strategy involves using standard components and interfaces that are compatible with other products. For example, using USB ports for charging and data transfer instead of proprietary connectors. Standardization allows for greater interoperability between products, making it easier for end-users to replace or upgrade components. This strategy also makes it easier for manufacturers to source components and will ultimately reduce costs.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1685020987557-1685020987557.png" alt="Upgrade ram" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Upgradability: This strategy involves designing products with the ability to upgrade specific components, such as RAM or storage. This extends the lifespan of the product and provides cost savings for the end user. Design teams should identify the components that are most likely to need upgrading and design the product with this in mind.Reusability: This strategy involves designing products with the ability to repurpose them after their initial use&ndash; for example, repurposing an old smartphone as a security camera. By designing products with reusability in mind, companies can reduce waste and possibly create new revenue streams by meeting two demands with one product. Design teams should identify potential secondary uses for the product and design it with these in mind.By implementing these design-for-obsolescence strategies, electronic industry professionals can create more sustainable products that offer cost savings for end-users and reduce environmental impact. These strategies also align with ESG initiatives, making them a worthwhile investment for companies looking to improve their sustainability performance.<h2>Benefits of Partnering with a Supply Chain Expert</h2>Effectively managing component obsolescence requires expertise, resources, and time that many businesses may not have internally. A supply chain expert offering obsolescence management services can be beneficial. These services include optimizing inventory levels, improving quality and customer satisfaction, and providing business intelligence and decision-making support.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1685020987654-1685020987654.png" alt="Supply chain infographic" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Optimizing inventory levels, reducing waste, and avoiding disruptions or delays in production or delivery can save costs and increase profits. For instance, companies can implement inventory optimization software that analyzes demand patterns and optimizes stock levels, reducing inventory carrying costs.Ensuring product performance, reliability, and safety is critical for improving quality and customer satisfaction. Businesses can achieve this by implementing a quality management system that monitors and controls processes and activities affecting quality throughout the supply chain.Providing business intelligence tools that track and record geographical and financial data about sales and help optimize supply chain strategy can enhance business intelligence and decision-making. The result can be an increase in sales and profitability for companies.Getting help with obsolescence management from a supply chain expert can allow companies to focus on their core competencies, reduce costs, improve quality, enhance customer satisfaction, and grow their business. Companies can achieve their business objectives and manage component obsolescence effectively by partnering with a supply chain partner.<h2>Conclusion</h2>Component obsolescence is inevitable in today&rsquo;s dynamic electronics industry. However, it does not have to threaten product success if companies adopt a proactive obsolescence management strategy that begins at the design stage. Your business can mitigate obsolescence risks and maximize product value throughout its life cycle by following some best practices and partnering with a supply chain expert offering comprehensive solutions. <section id="isPasted"><h4>Lifecycle Problems?</h4>Find Parts with MacroFab<a href="https://www.macrofab.com/blog/strategic-sourcing-production-planning" target="_blank">STRATEGIC SOURCING &amp; PRODUCTION PLANNING</a></section><section><h4> </h4><div data-aos="fade-up" data-aos-duration="750"> </div></section>

Fifteen percent of electronic parts disappear from the market annually.  Are you ready if one of them affects your design? 

Component Obsolescence Begins at Design

When entering the connected device market, businesses are looking for IoT solutions that can keep costs manageable, scale effectively with business demands, and keep data secure.In particular, scaling effectively requires proper consideration for provisioning, configuration, monitoring, and analysis of the connected devices because making the wrong decisions early on can get costly later. Getting scalability right is even more critical for sensors deployed in remote and inaccessible locations.One of our clients initially planned on building their own custom IoT solution for their remote monitored devices that are being deployed in 10 locations. While being a more affordable cost up-front, a custom, in-house solution would require our client to be responsible for all maintenance throughout a device&rsquo;s lifecycle. This ongoing maintenance would mean increased resources &ndash; and increased costs, <a href="https://www.outsystems.com/glossary/what-is-technical-debt/" target="_blank">known as &ldquo;tech debt&rdquo;</a>.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc5OTQ3OTgzMjY0LTE2Nzk5NDc5ODMyNjQucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-01.png 909w, https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-01-300x194.png 300w, https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-01-768x496.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 909px) 100vw, 909px" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Our client ultimately decided on using a standard IoT framework&ndash;<a href="https://www.mistywest.com/posts/azure-vs-aws-which-iot-framework-is-right-for-you/" target="_blank">such as Azure, AWS</a>, or Google Cloud Platform&ndash;where they&rsquo;d pay more for the development up front, but have lower operating costs in the long term. This solution also does not require specialized resources to know the technical systems.In this post, we look at the 5 major selling features of an IoT framework for a device deployment.&nbsp;<h2>1. Cradle to grave tracking of devices</h2>Our client selected Azure for their IoT framework, using it to provision devices on the assembly line and make a first-time connection. After this, the devices can arrive up-to-date and automatically update to the latest firmware, and any calibration, configuration, or firmware changes are tracked during manufacturing as well as out in the field in an automatic, consistent, cloud-hosted way.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc5OTQ3OTg0MTM3LTE2Nzk5NDc5ODQxMzcucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-02.png 906w, https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-02-300x158.png 300w, https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-02-768x405.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><h2>2. Ability to determine at-a-glance whether a device is problematic</h2>Devices dial out to the cloud to establish connectivity, and that connectivity is tracked by Azure&rsquo;s IoT system. Proactive alerts can be set if a device has not appeared online for a while or data has not been uploaded. All of this automation helps minimize downtime and data loss.&nbsp;<h2>3. Continuous uploading and organization of data</h2>The devices will upload data continuously, whenever there is a connection. The data goes into a standard cloud-hosted storage solution (blob storage) which keeps the data centralized and accessible to those who need it, while also being monitored to ensure the devices are functioning correctly. The data upload can trigger further data processing and automated pipelines that give real time insights into activity.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc5OTQ3OTgyNzk4LTE2Nzk5NDc5ODI3OTgucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-03.png 906w, https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-03-300x190.png 300w, https://www.mistywest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mistywest-benefits-standard-iot-framework-03-768x487.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><h2>4. Offline (queued) updates to parameters and firmware</h2>Devices on a standard framework don&rsquo;t have to be online to queue up changes to parameters and schedule new firmware updates &ndash; they can be in storage, in transit, or in use. Businesses can adopt a &ldquo;set it and forget it&rdquo; mindset knowing updates will be automatically applied. This reduces additional coordination work.&nbsp;<h2>5. Mass updates to the smart device&rsquo;s parameters</h2>Updates to parameters can be easily made fleet-wide, or to any subset of devices. As the product evolves, these changes can be made to optimize operation, and subsets of devices can be used as a test bed before rolling out changes to a larger number. The built-in optimization for updates helps decrease device management overhead.&nbsp;<h2>Conclusion</h2>When looking at scaling of deployments, the economics favor the standard IoT framework. By using a standard solution you&rsquo;re leveraging thousands of engineering hours, other companies&rsquo; testing, and have the benefit of continued development of new features useful to (and not driven by) your business.Think about what scale your business is going to be reaching when considering your own connectivity solution &ndash; if you plan on continuing to grow, adopting a standard solution will be the more affordable and manageable solution in the long run. This article was originally written by Kevin Baillie, Mechatronics Designer, <a href="https://www.mistywest.com/posts/5-reasons-to-use-an-iot-framework/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">for the MistyWest blog</a>.

Considering a quick IoT solution that will get your product deployed faster? Here’s why you should reconsider.

5 Reasons To Use An IoT Framework For Your Connected Devices

Via in pad is the design practice of placing a via in the copper landing pad of a component. Compared to standard PCB via routing, via in pad allows a design to use smaller component pitch sizes and further reduce the PCBs overall size. With component manufacturers pushing smaller parts every year and the demand from consumers for smaller devices, the usage of via in pad practices by hardware engineers has become more commonplace. In this article, we will discuss the differences between via in pad and traditional vias, when should you use via in pad, and how to design for it. <h3>Via in Pad? What makes them different from Traditional Vias</h3> <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTY1NDI0NDQxLVZpYSBpbiBwYWQuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 556px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> With traditional vias, the signal is routed away from the pad and then to the via. This allows the application of solder mask to prevent solder paste from wicking into the via during the reflow process. In doing so, this prevents a situation that can cause the pad and component connection to fail due to insufficient solder. With via in pad, the drill hole for the via is inside the pad. This means you can not tent the via with solder mask. Leaving the via open to allow the paste to wick into the barrel will cause reliability problems during manufacturing. <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTY1NDgyODQ5LVZpYSBpbiBwYWQgc29sZGVyIHBhc3RlIHdpY2suanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 540px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> To reduce manufacturing defects and increase yield, it is best to implement via in pad by having your PCB manufacturer cap the via. This is accomplished by first filling the via with a conductive epoxy and then plating over with copper. Most contract PCB assembly manufacturers will not allow via in pad without first filling and then plating over the via. <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTY1NTI5NDg3LUNhcHBlZCB2cyBUcmFkaXRpb25hbCBWaWEgLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 556px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> <h3>When should I use Via in Pad?</h3>Trying to route and escape component packages with sub 0.5mm pitch with traditional routing methods will cause Design Rule Check errors due to trace width, annular ring, and drill size limitations. Manufacturing limitations on trace size do not allow for smaller and more compact traces to be made with traditional PCB fabrication methods. For these small pitch components, the only effective way to route them is with capped via in pad as this allows the PCB routing to be as compact as possible. <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTY1NTkwMTE4LVRyYWRpdGlvbmFsIFZpYSBSb3V0aW5nIEZhaWxzIERSQy5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 571px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTY1NjQzMTkyLUZhaWxzIERSQy5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 565px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Capped via in pad can simplify routing for complex BGA and LGA packages as well. Instead of the traditional fan out, the signals can go straight into the PCB. Surface routing is minimized which can allow components like bypass capacitors to be placed as close as possible to other components, minimizing parasitic inductance. Also, this enables shorter paths to power and ground planes which will help minimize EMF emissions of high-frequency designs. <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTcyOTUwNTA0LWxhc3QgMy5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 434px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Vias in thermal pads can also help with heat management. High-power surface mount parts typically have a thermal pad that mounts to the PCB. To dissipate the heat more efficiently, it is wise to drop vias through the PCB to the other side of the PCB to increase the copper area for heat release.Why not use via in pad for every via then? The advantage gained in reducing component fan out and routing complexity is offset by increased manufacturing complexity and material costs of the PCB fabrication process. If the hardware design can be accomplished with traditional style via routing then it is best to avoid via in pad.<h3 id="isPasted">Designing for Via in Pad</h3>Implementing via in pad is very similar to traditional vias. What differs is how it affects the design rule checks for the PCB and how the manufacturing files are created. You will need to make sure your via in pad meets the manufacturer&rsquo;s minimal annular ring requirement. The pad size of the component&rsquo;s footprint must be equal to or larger than the minimal annular ring size. This is usually not an issue as most pad sizes are larger than vias but as BGA packages get smaller this will become a design problem to overcome. If the landing pad&rsquo;s diameter for the BGA is smaller than the combined via and annular ring diameter, then using Solder Mask Defined pads will be your best bet. Consult the part manufacture for more information. <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTcyODE1NDY5LWxhc3QgMi5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 514px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> To properly manufacture PCBs that have via in pads, an additional manufacturing file is necessary. Besides the standard excellon drill file that is required, a drill file that just contains the vias that are in component pads and need to be capped and filled is also needed. Using two separate files reduces confusion on which vias need to be capped and reduces manufacturing costs by making sure traditional vias do not get filled and capped. Consult your EDA tool to see if there is an option to do this. If not, modifying your drill file with a Gerber viewer might be needed to create this extra file.<h3>Exceptions to Always Capping Via in Pads</h3>With most design rules there are exceptions and the &ldquo;Always cap via in pads&rdquo; is no exception to that rule! Center pads on QFN packages and thermal center pads for surface mount power parts generally benefit from having open via in pads. Without vias in the center pad of a QFN you can sometimes get trapped gasses or a lifting motion during reflow. These can cause the component to tilt to one side and lose coplanarity to the PCB. The vias in the center pad allow gasses made from the flux in the solder paste to more easily escape and also allows any excess solder paste that is under the part to be drawn through. With thermal pads this extra solder paste that fills the vias has the benefit of improving the thermal conductivity of the via. <img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjc3MTcyNzAzMzAyLWxhc3QucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 589px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> <h3>Conclusion</h3>With electronic components ever shrinking smaller, hardware engineers will need to utilize and learn new tools and techniques to implement these components in a reliable and scalable way. Via in pad allows the smallest component fan out possible with current PCB construction techniques. When looking at using via in pad techniques, consider the extra manufacturing cost and time that places on your product&rsquo;s bill of materials. Make sure to work closely with your contract PCBA manufacturer as they will be able to give suggestions in regards to how via in pad can change the manufacturing process. Most manufacturers will agree that if your hardware design can be implemented without via in pad, then for cost and reliability reasons the design should avoid via in pad. Ready to get started? <a href="https://factory.macrofab.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ORDER ONLINE</a>

What makes via in pad different from traditional vias?  Find out in this short blog. 

Via in Pad PCB Design

PCBA designs evolve and become more complex, which is a persistent challenge for engineers and a major risk to the development process. Companies that neglect design complexity can end up slipping behind development schedules, incurring expenses, and missing market deadlines.&nbsp;Additionally, shortened design cycle times reduce available capacity to iterate from concept to first article prototypes, create customer samples, and ultimately build a production release amidst this increase in complexity. Engineers face pressure from both sides, having to do more with less time available.&nbsp;The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore common PCBA complexity factors, impacts, and possible mitigation techniques that can be undertaken before problems arise.<h3>Effects of a Shortened Design Cycle</h3>Many technical and business reasons contribute to the shrinking design cycle. Customer standards push technical boundaries to meet the changing specifications of demanding applications. As a result of persistent integration, design teams now compete to capture a more substantial share of fewer opportunities, accelerating their efforts to reach their goals.&nbsp;This sets up a mindset of doing things right the first time, which is not always possible. Although technical design tools have made the modern design process more comprehensive and efficient than a decade ago, electronic design is an iterative process regardless of how you try to approach it.&nbsp;If technological advances are not examined in depth before full production begins, issues and oversights may arise. Make certain technical manufacturing capabilities get planned, tested, and verified in accordance with a consistent validation process.&nbsp;Engineers validate prototypes during <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/evt-pcba-product-development/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Engineering Validation Testing (EVT)</a> to ensure the design architecture is functional. Design Validation Testing (DVT) measures performance against specifications and boundary conditions to prove that the design is ready for manufacturing. A <a href="https://macrofab.com/blog/pvt-pcba-product-development/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Production Validation Test (PVT)</a> is the first test to verify that a product can be manufactured in large quantities.&nbsp;With an intentional approach to validation, challenges can be solved earlier in the design flow, rather than becoming an unexpected late issue before the launch of the product. Your CM partner should have a design for manufacturing (DFM) plan template that helps your design team address manufacturing constraints early in the development process. An effective design plan identifies the challenges and how to overcome them.&nbsp;<h3>Bigger Challenges with Smaller Components</h3>SMT (surface mount technology) challenges increase as components get smaller. Component counts have quadrupled in the last few years, while board sizes have remained constant. Designs have become more complex and dense. Several issues are associated with this.&nbsp;Solder bridging shorts are more likely to occur as pin pitches decrease. Components with smaller pin footprints require more attention to the pad design and solder paste application. The pad size needs to be compact enough to allow proper spacing that avoids solder bridging. It should, however, be large enough to accommodate the required solder paste and solder coverage to prevent a cold solder joint.&nbsp;Similarly, handling components becomes more challenging as subtle differences in absolute dimensions are now large relative to each other.&nbsp;<h3>The Most Common Design Issues&nbsp;</h3>Tombstoning&nbsp;Small two-pin passive components such as chip resistors and capacitors should lay horizontally flat on the PCB after assembly. Due to reflow effects on the component, the applied solder paste may not properly keep the device flat. It is possible that the component may raise up and settle vertically without properly completing an electrical path to both sides of the passive. This issue is called &lsquo;Tombstoning&rsquo; since the vertical component visually resembles the look of a tombstone.&nbsp;Component placement depends on solder self-alignment after it is positioned by a pick-and-place machine. However, if the placement is initially skewed during mounting, then the component will not properly align to its pads.&nbsp;Furthermore, the application of solder paste on each pad works best when the solder melts evenly. A component may lift at one end if the whetting between the pads is uneven, causing an &ldquo;open&rdquo;. Preparing the SMT process for proper alignment and whetting will solve this tombstone issue during assembly.&nbsp;Copper Too Close to the PCB Edge&nbsp;When routing a trace, power, or ground plane near the side of a PCB, make sure to meet the design rules for the minimum copper distance to the PCB edge. Minimum spacing is required for a couple of reasons. If the design rules are not followed, the separation of the PCB array could result in metal fragments smearing at the edges. It could lead to unwanted shorts.&nbsp;Furthermore, impedance control can be more challenging near the edges of the PCB since the stack-up of materials can be at the limits of tolerance. Deficiencies in spacing could result in trace impedances outside specifications, leading to an unwanted transmission line effect.&nbsp;Inadequate Annular Ring&nbsp;A trace with a layer termination into a via uses an annular ring layout feature. This layout creates a via in the middle of a well-defined ring of trace signals. For this annular ring to be technically successful, it must allow complete electrical contact from the trace to the via. Several incorrect implementations have the potential to cause failure.&nbsp;Design the annular ring so that it provides an adequate ring area for drilling the via hole. The required dimensions are part of the layout rule for the PCB. Center the drill hole within the ring and don&rsquo;t let it wander outside of a limited area. Otherwise, the via may only have limited partial electrical contact. Additionally, the via-to-via spacing to other nearby rings is critical to prevent shorts from continuous high-current over longer time periods due to conductive anodic filament formation.&nbsp;Acid TrapsWhenever traces are laid out with turns at an acute angle of 90 degrees or less, the acid used in PCB etching may get trapped in a small, confined space and not disperse evenly. To achieve the necessary PCB electrical features, photoresist material must be etched evenly. In the past, legacy etching techniques had this problem. Using outdated equipment or manufacturing without proper mitigation techniques could still pose a potential problem.&nbsp;Slivers&nbsp;There are several tools that can perform PCB array separation, with varying degrees of accuracy and effectiveness. Using a saw tool saves money, but excessive vibrations can cause slivers of PCB material and burs to protrude from the unfinished edges. Separation with a router tool allows more forgiving treatment of PCB edges, but still makes physical contact with them. Laser cutting produces the cleanest approach without any possibility of PCB or copper splinters, but may be prohibitive for lower-cost projects. Your DFM plan can guide the best approach.&nbsp;Via Problems&nbsp;Vias on PCBAs take many forms. Blind vias connect an outer layer with a single inner layer but do not reach the opposite outside layer. Buried vias are connections on the inner PCBA layers that are hidden on the outer layers. Since there is not a single drill hole that aligns a via through the complete board stack-up, alignment between layers needs to be precise. The Via in Pad, however, refers to a via within a solder pad that can be more challenging since the design rules are more complicated.&nbsp;Not all via combinations can be implemented, and advanced vias can increase manufacturing costs. Only use them if you have no alternatives. Via size is also a limiting factor in the selection of PCB technology. Manufacturing technology and complexity will dictate design rules. It is common for limitations to exist, such as:&nbsp;<ul><li>Vias can only travel through an even number of layers&nbsp;</li><li>Vias cannot start or end at the top or bottom of a core&nbsp;</li><li>Vias may have minimum distance criteria from one another</li></ul>In the case when a blind or buried via is required, your CM partner should work with you to provide a digital design tool that outlines the manufacturing rules for these cases. This tool should help with their design, limitation, and cost drivers.&nbsp;EMI Interference&nbsp;It is possible for the spatial routing of signals and the potential for antenna loops to impact the circuit layout. EMI interference within the PCB and externally can have an impact on performance and prevent EMI compliance certification by the FCC. Changing the layout, moving key components, and modifying the enclosure design can have a significant effect on EMI performance. Your CM partner can assist you in the complex design aspects of EMI interference. Additionally, they can assist in getting the final solution certified for EMI emissions by the FCC.&nbsp;Faster design cycles can be a competitive edge for those that have the capacity to execute. But they also involve new challenges to prepare the release of the design for successful manufacturing. Knowing the challenges in advance and preparing for them with your CM manufacturing partner help mitigate issues for a seamless transition from prototypes to large-volume production.&nbsp;By executing the project along the proper validation steps of EVT, DVT, and PVT, hidden challenges can be exposed early and solved during development before they become a problem during manufacturing. Work with an expert CM manufacturing partner to help guide your team through the transition of your project to production.&nbsp;<a href="https://macrofab.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MacroFab&nbsp;</a>operates the world&rsquo;s first digital electronics manufacturing platform for both low-volume prototype creation and high-scale production. The MacroFab platform enables customers to produce electronics products faster, more cost-effectively, and closer to their end-users via a broad North American factory network, all while leveraging MacroFab&rsquo;s global supply chain and quality control capabilities. The company is headquartered in Houston, TX. Learn about the MacroFab Guarantee and securely upload your design to get a PCB assembly quote in minutes. &nbsp;

PCB designs are becoming more complex every day. 

Engineers face persistent challenges with PCBA designs as they become more complex, posing a risk to the development process as a whole. Those who neglect design complexity may fall behind development schedules, incur expenses, and miss market deadlines.

PCBA Cost and Complexity Design Factors You Should Know

Marketing engineering products and services requires a strategic distribution of content in various forms. Using a combination of tech articles, e-books, newsletters, social posts, events, podcasts, and other sponsored content can significantly boost brand awareness.

A Guide to Engineering Marketing: 8 Most Effective Strategies that Work

<html><head></head><body>Our very first customer at Mergeflow was very good at beating "not invented here" syndrome.He is a very successful innovator with a distinguished career. A physics PhD by training, he started his professional career doing semiconductor research in the R&amp;D department of a large, global technology corporation. He then moved on to running a new business unit (outside the R&amp;D department). After that, he led the spinoff unit of his company. There, he helped commercialize a whole range of technologies into successful spinoff companies.You get the idea. This is a true <a href="https://mergeflow.com/how-to/galilei-style-innovation" rel="noopener" target="_blank">science entrepreneur</a> who is at home in both R&amp;D and business. Also–and this is important–who said that you can’t be an entrepreneur in a large corporation?<h2 id="isPasted">"Not invented here" syndrome happens frequently, and understandably so</h2>At Mergeflow we often hear from innovators how they struggle with "not invented here" (NIH) syndrome in their organization. NIH syndrome refers to the tendency to avoid using products, knowledge, etc. that come from outside one’s own organization (cf. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_here" rel="noopener" target="_blank">this Wikipedia article</a>).<blockquote>Many people view other people’s ideas and solutions as a threat, not as an opportunity.</blockquote>It is understandable that many people show NIH syndrome. When you develop a new technology, product or solution, it’s easy to think that you look less brilliant if you incorporate other people’s ideas. And unfortunately most educational systems enforce this way of thinking, from a very early age onward. As a result, many people view other people’s ideas and solutions as a threat, not as an opportunity.<h2 id="isPasted">So…how did he beat "not invented here" syndrome?</h2>Let’s start by looking at what our customer didn’t do.<h2 id="isPasted">Don’t try to change people’s minds</h2>It’s very tempting to address NIH syndrome heads-on. To somehow try to change people’s minds. Very often, people and organizations try doing this by organizing some kind of event or campaign. For example, this could be an (off-site) event where people talk about culture change and whatnot, and listen to some keynote speaker ("I’ve been to the Valley. And I’ve seen the light…" Narrator’s voice: "He only went there for a week, on an organized tour.").Our customer never did that. No mindset change, culture change, or other <a href="https://mergeflow.com/how-to/5-ways-to-escape-innovation-theater" rel="noopener" target="_blank">innovation theater</a>.Here’s what he did instead when he wanted to bring outside ideas into his organization:<h2 id="isPasted">Find individual people who are open to new ideas</h2>If you want to beat NIH syndrome, it’s good to start with "low-hanging grapes".For example, when our customer wanted to introduce a new idea to a team in his organization, he first approached the most open-minded person from this team. Once he had this person as an "ally", he engaged with the other team members (together with his ally).This didn’t always work. Sometimes he couldn’t find anyone who was open-minded enough. And in situations like that, he wouldn’t try to force anything but moved on instead.<blockquote>Can’t find anyone who is open to new ideas? If this happens, don’t try to force anything. Instead, move on.</blockquote><h2 id="isPasted">Use concrete information, not abstract "trends"</h2>"[TOPIC XYZ] is really trending hot. We need to act now!"You often see this in the context of so-called technology radars, for example. They look like dartboards, where the arrows represent topics (usually described at a very high-level, such as "machine learning" or "blockchain"). And the arrows in the middle of the dartboard represent those topics that need to be acted upon.This can be an interesting exercise, but it is not enough. First, what exactly do you mean by "act"? Who exactly should do what exactly, for how long, etc.? And what exactly do you mean when you say "machine learning" or "blockchain" in the context of your organization?So instead of abstract trends, our customer always used concrete information. Details depend on context, of course. But good examples might be companies with a relevant product or solution; a paper that describes a potentially interesting new technology; or sometimes just a blog post with an interesting idea such as a <a href="https://mergeflow.com/how-to/good-innovation-analyst" rel="noopener" target="_blank">plausible future scenario</a>.But don’t overwhelm people. Nobody has the time to go through a list of 50 companies or 100 papers. Instead, use a handful of findings, or even just a single finding.Note that "single finding" doesn’t necessarily mean "single document". For example, if a finding is a specific company, then this finding might include the founder’s bios, their patents, scientific publications, and news about the company.<h2 id="isPasted">Don’t tell people what to do. Instead, ask them for feedback, or to explain something to you</h2>"Hey, I just found this great paper, and you should really read it."Not a great conversation starter. First, you don’t want to corner people and make them feel like they missed something. Second, you might be wrong. What if your great finding isn’t that great after all? Or what if for some reason the finding is interesting but not relevant, i.e. won’t work in the context of your company?So instead, our customer took his finding and either asked people for feedback, or to explain the finding. He would ask them, "I’m no expert on this, but I saw this…what do you think?". And these feedback conversations were not just high-level generalities, but very specific and detail-oriented. Also, the "recipient" did most of the talking, not our customer.<blockquote id="isPasted">When you share an idea with someone, the other person should do most of the talking, not you. Otherwise you won’t learn anything.</blockquote><h2 id="isPasted">Use information that’s targeted to your audience</h2>It’s no secret that when you share new information with people, you make it easier for them if you reach them where they are.For example, when our customer introduced an idea to a researcher, he would try to find a research paper or other technical contents. This allowed the researcher to evaluate an idea in depth. And this resulted in substantially more valuable feedback or explanations–which led to clearer decisions and faster progress.By contrast, when he talked with someone from finance or marketing, he tried to find information that emphasized the business aspect. For instance, this could be a company’s business model, competitive landscape, a good narrative, or market information.Related readings:<a href="https://mergeflow.com/how-to/how-to-talk-like-a-scientist" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> How to talk like a scientist -&gt;</a><a href="https://mergeflow.com/how-to/talk-like-a-business-person" rel="noopener" target="_blank">How to talk like a business person -&gt;</a></body></html>

Featured image by Huseyin Bostanci from Getty Images.

Our very first customer at Mergeflow was very good at beating "not invented here" syndrome.



How successful innovators beat "not invented here" syndrome: A real-life example

<h1>Executive Summary</h1><h2>Intro</h2>Wevolver is a platform &amp; community providing engineers informative content to help them innovate. Wevolver reaches millions of engineers every month in a very specific demographic: over 41% of them are between 25 and 34 years old, and less than 10% are older than 44.&nbsp;Geographically, European countries represent 28% percent of the audience, the USA 26%, and beyond India&#39;s 10%, the audience is spread widely across the globe.This provides a unique opportunity to learn about this engineering generation&#39;s interests, concerns, and points of view. Previously other interesting reports have been published by engineering organizations: For example, Hackster.io reported in 2016 on the maker community, Fictiv holds a yearly survey among mechanical engineers (primarily in the US), and IEEE conducts their &#39;Pulse of Engineering&#39; report. We think that Wevolver&#39;s &#39;Engineering State of Mind&#39; research complements those because of the specific demographics of its audience, as well as the report&#39;s specific focus on how this cohort views the world.(The report is also available as a download. Click <a href="http://bit.ly/33dSx64" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to access the PDF)<h2>About the People</h2><ul type="disc"><li>+200 people respondents who were notified through Wevolver&#39;s newsletter and social media posts and responded between July 15th and August 31st, 2019.</li><li>Represent a wide range of industries.</li><li>60% were professional engineers, working at a wide range of company sizes; from sole proprietors to +100.000 people.</li><li>82% of students are at undergraduate level or higher.</li></ul><h2>Main Outcomes</h2>1. Engineers are extremely worried about climate change. 2. Engineers think A.I. is strongly under-appreciated. 3. Engineers are strongly interested in the field of robotics.<hr><h1>All Results</h1><h2>Demographics</h2>Now let&#39;s dive deeper into the results of the survey. Starting with the demographics:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995166383-Slide4.JPG" style="width: 1114px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995206862-Slide5.JPG" style="width: 1097px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Only 1% of survey respondents label themselves as a Hobbyist Maker. At the same time, we know from conversations we&#39;ve had that many professionals do perform &#39;Maker&#39; activities in their spare time: Examples range from developing electric motorbikes to tinkering with 3D printing.Among the professionals the majority has a role in engineering; beyond the most represented roles such as Mechanical Engineer, Electrical engineer, and Software engineer, there is a whole range of disciplines; Chemical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, etc. There is also a significant amount with a pure leadership role, many of which who have been trained as an engineer, and 9.9% works as a researcher. Other roles that were expressed include education, analyst, and helicopter pilot. Among students disciplines include Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace, and Computer Science.These roles are applied in a wide range of industries, as we&#39;ll see next:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995345594-Slide6.JPG" style="width: 1102px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Sixteen percent of respondents are active in the Industrial Robotics &amp; Automation industry (interestingly, as you&rsquo;ll see later, a much larger group (over 66%) of all respondents actually lists robotics as the topic they are most interested in).&nbsp;Services, ranging from manufacturing to engineering and design services, are also strongly represented, and software is a third runner up. Beyond those, our respondents&rsquo; industries cover a wide range. Other industries mentioned include VR, Art &amp; Design, Chemical, Naval, and Aeronautics.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995265581-Slide7.JPG" style="width: 1114px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">It appears that engineers have a voice: The majority is involved in day to day engineering decisions, and many are involved in determining the direction of their company&#39;s R&amp;D. When we zoom in, we see that the percentage of engineers being involved in setting R&amp;D directions is significantly higher at small and medium size companies (64% versus 44% at companies over 500 employees).Engineers are involved in purchase decisions, especially when we zoom in on smaller companies. While the total percentage of being either involved in or making purchase decisions is roughly equal for all types of companies (around 47%), when looking at small companies the amount of people who actually make purchase decisions themselves (17%) is more than double that of large companies.<h2>Insights</h2>We could label this cohort as relatively young (with 91% being below 44), well educated, and representing quite a wide range of industries and company types. These people work in the most innovative companies in the world and are responsible for developing the products and technologies we&#39;ll use. Furthermore, the influence of this cohort is likely to increase as they progress in their careers and continue to grow their skills, experience, and knowledge.Therefore, we think the perspective of this community matters and that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;ll dive into now.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995456957-Slide8.JPG" style="width: 1114px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">We inquired which topics these engineers are most interested in to learn about. The results from the survey correlate with what we see are the most popular content topics on the Wevolver platform.Robotics &amp; Automation dwarf other topics of interest. This is interesting as only 16% of respondents are actually active in the industrial robotics and automation industry. Clean Energy is a good runner up which is not surprising given the concerns engineers have about climate change and environmental issues. In that light, Clean Energy could have scored even higher. One explanation might be that engineers think sustainability challenges need to be tackled on many facets, as we&#39;ll see later in the survey (for example, one respondent commented how advances in quantum computing could help solve complex environmental issues). The strong interest in A.I. and other computing advancements (including big data and quantum computing) is in line with the rapid developments in this field, as well as with the point of view from engineers that A.I. as a technology is strongly under-appreciated. Worth noting is that A.I. forms an essential component of the topic of robotics as well as of autonomous vehicles (autonomous vehicles sits among the top 3 topics for over 21% of the survey respondents as well). Respondents also mentioned their interest in the ethics involved in A.I. We consider the relatively low interest in AR/VR surprising compared to the size of the interest (or hype) in media and venture capital. &nbsp;Engineers have many interests, and other topics mentioned include medical technology, astrophysics, and; &quot;literally everything.&quot;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995505356-Slide10.JPG" style="width: 1114px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Given the sizable interest in Robotics we zoomed in on the people interested in this topic and explore which subdomain they are focused on. In this instance we enquired specifically which fields engineers wanted to grow expertise in. Our view is that this question reveals being active or an interest to become active in the chosen domain, beyond being purely interested an sich. This gives an indication of the importance engineers deem the domain to have in the future.Both Collaborative Robots (&#39;cobots&#39;) and Human-Robot Interaction are the big standouts here. These two topics also overlap and are related: Collaborate Robots are defined as &ldquo;robots intended to interact with humans in a shared space or to work safely in close proximity. Cobots stand in contrast to traditional industrial robots, which are designed to work autonomously with safety assured by isolation from human contact.Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) describes the studying or designing of robotic systems for use by or with humans. Developing collaborative robots requires designing how humans engage with these machines and through which interfaces. Apart from its application to collaborative robots, HRI applies to many (if not all) fields in robotics, especially with the growing cognitive capabilities of robots this field has seen significant growth.Cobots and HRI stand out, which can be expected given the growth and size of both fields. In our eyes, the most remarkable result is the significant interest in the domain of bio robotics. At the moment this field is tiny from a commercial perspective but apparently expected to grow in importance.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995563949-Slide12.JPG" style="width: 1114px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">This question reflects the impact engineers think a given technology will make in comparison to the attention the technology receives from society. Here engineers point to a clear conclusion: &quot;A.I. &nbsp;will be huge, and society doesn&#39;t see how big its impact will be.&quot; We found this result striking because, at first glance, there doesn&#39;t seem to be a lack of attention to A.I. in media and within companies. However, engineers think the impact of A.I. will be orders of magnitudes bigger than reflected by that amount of attention. Secondly, people we spoke with indicated that their perspective is most of us don&rsquo;t conceive how much of our lives and society will change because of implementations of Artificial Intelligent systems&nbsp;<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Engineers point out that the implications and impact of A.I. are significantly bigger than what people generally expect.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>Up to this point, the survey uncovered unexpecting insights. On top of that, the one that completely stopped us in our tracks was the absolutely unanimous answer to our question about challenges the world faces:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571995582131-Slide13.JPG" style="width: 1114px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Take note: The smartest minds on our planet are deeply worried about the health of our environment. This topic overshadows seemingly high impact challenges as poverty and healthcare, and even the potential negative aspects of A.I. are seen as a significantly impactful challenge. As one said, &quot;Without a healthy habitable planet, nothing else matters.&quot;Respondents had to answer this question in an open-ended way. After the survey, we classified all responses. Climate change, environment, and clean energy were so often mentioned in a single answer and used interchangeably that we decided to classify them under a single banner. Note that the survey was held over the summer, before the current global climate crisis strikes and relatively heightened attention to the topic.We had expected a wider distribution of challenges, and for example expected a higher attribution to robotization and employment. At the same time, high concerns about our environment correspond with the activity we see happening in Wevolver&#39;s community: discussion threads about the topic consistently generate a high level of engagement, and any knowledge share on the topic is likely to spark a high amount of interactions.<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>&quot;Without a healthy habitable planet, nothing else matters.&quot;</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> <h1>Conclusion</h1>We perceive this cohort of engineers being relatively strongly socially engaged. Socio-economic issues and the ability to contribute matter to them. This is reflected in the results of our inquiries into these engineers&#39; concerns, interests, and world view. You cloud also label them as relatively &#39;techno-optimistic:&#39; Many think technological advancements can solve current challenges, or at least need to play an essential role in solutions.Engineers ride an interesting balance. Generally optimistic about the role that technology plays, they also are more clearly aware of its current state and limitations. &nbsp;For us, the research&#39;s insight into engineers&#39; concern about our environment has been the most striking and we think it&rsquo;s a telltale sign. Based on this research, we have increased the informative content we share about this topic, as well have started more discussion threads and Q&amp;A sessions to grow the available knowledge and engagement.A.I. and robotics are the two big other topics that engineers pay attention to. According to engineers, our society underappreciates the impact of A.I. Besides this, we think that the research also points to a discrepancy between the interest of engineers in robotics, and the level of attention the subject gets from the general public, media, and politicians. We recommend leaders to take note of this, and increasingly opening up the conversation with the people who are developing today&#39;s and tomorrow&#39;s technologies. Ultimately, engineers are the ones who can most clearly see both capabilities and limitations of technology, as well as its future directions.&nbsp;We&#39;d like to thank all survey participants, as well as our community members who helped spread the survey.&nbsp; Please share your feedback and questions, we&#39;re looking forward to hearing from you. &nbsp;On behalf of team Wevolver; Bram Geenen,&nbsp; CEO Wevolver.(The report is also available as a download. Click <a href="http://bit.ly/33dSx64" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to access the PDF)<hr><h2>About Wevolver</h2>Wevolver is a platform &amp; community providing engineers informative content to help them innovate. Wevolver reaches millions of engineers with articles, project descriptions, videos, and engaging conversations about state of the art technology that enable to keep up to date and find knowledge when engineering. The information on Wevolver&#39;s platform is created by a community of engineers, Wevolver&#39;s network of academic researchers, and editorial staff. Companies can sponsor content on the platform. For this work Wevolver won the SXSW Innovation Award, the Accenture Innovation Award, and the Top Most Innovative Web Platforms by Fast Company. Wevolver is how today&#39;s engineers stay cutting edge.

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