Features

Orbbec, an industry leader dedicated to 3D vision systems, today announced a suite of products developed in collaboration with Microsoft based on its indirect time-of-flight (iToF) depth sensing technology that was brought to market with HoloLens 2. This suite of cameras combine Microsoft’s iToF technology with Orbbec’s high-precision depth camera design and in-house manufacturing capabilities and will broaden the application and accessibility of high-performance 3D vision in logistics, robotics, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and fitness industries.

“Orbbec devices built with Microsoft’s iToF technology use the same depth camera module as Azure Kinect Developer Kit and offer identical operating modes and performance,” said Amit Banerjee, Head of Platform and Partnerships at Orbbec. “Developers can effortlessly migrate their existing applications to Orbbec’s cameras by using the API bridge provided as part of their SDK.” 

Developers building enterprise solutions can now develop their applications with any of the devices but use the best matched device for the deployment scenarios, e.g. applications developed and qualified using the Femto Mega can be deployed in harsh industrial applications using the Femto Mega I. Similarly, applications requiring an attached external computer can use the Femto Bolt. All cameras support a sophisticated precise trigger sync system for integration into a multi-sensor, multi-camera network.

The devices have 1 mega-pixel depth cameras with a wide 120° field of view (FOV) and a broad range from 0.25m to 5.5m. It’s combined with a high performance 4K resolution RGB camera with 90° FOV. A 6DOF IMU module provides orientation.

• Femto Bolt: Customers interested in a solution like Azure Kinect Developer Kit will find Orbbec’s Femto Bolt an ideal match for their commercial deployments. Beyond depth camera and architectural compatibility, it also has a more compact form factor ideal for commercial installations. The RGB camera has been enhanced with HDR capability. This is currently sampling and will be available for volume orders in October.
• Femto Mega: Announced in January 2023 and currently in production, Femto Mega is still the industry’s highest resolution smart camera. This device uses a built-in NVIDIA® Jetson™ Nano to run the advanced depth vision algorithms to convert raw data to precise depth images and thus, eliminates the need for an external PC or compute device. It also adds Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection for both data and power that is ideally suited for deployment where the camera must be placed away from the compute units or in multi-camera solutions. The developer mode SDK allows execution of AI models on the device.
• Femto Mega I: Currently shipping, Femto Mega I is the industry’s highest performance ruggedized intelligent camera with an IP65 rating for warehouses, manufacturing and other harsh environments.

The universal trigger control hub enables easy connection using standard ethernet cables for multi-camera and multi-sensor networks. The SDK enables easy setup and registration, and a rich set of APIs allows integration with various applications.

“Since 2021, we’ve collaborated with Orbbec to bring more camera options using Microsoft’s iToF depth technology into the market to cater to a broad range of usage scenarios,” said Swati Mehta, Senior Director, Engineering, Microsoft. “The availability of Orbbec’s products provide customers with a broad set of choices that make 3D sensing technology accessible globally for a wider range of applications.”

“Orbbec’s mission is to provide superior, accessible, and easy-to-integrate RGB-D technology”, said David Chen, Co-Founder and Head of Products at Orbbec 3D. “Beyond our standard products, we can help customers with custom design and ODM services backed by our specialized design skills and manufacturing experience in high-performance cameras.”

The two companies MVTec Software and DataVision will work together more closely in the future. The goal of the cooperation is to offer users of the machine vision software MVTec HALCON additional possibilities to further collect, organise, analyse, and process their image data in the context of Industry 4.0. To this end, an interface between MVTec HALCON and DataVision’s BeeYard data management platform has been developed as part of the partnership.

“The value of well-organised and managed datasets is playing an increasingly important role in the machine vision industry. Therefore, we extend the ecosystem of our machine vision software HALCON by the component of data management. Together with DataVision, we can offer our customers further added value,” explains Christian Eckstein, Product Manager & Business Developer at MVTec.

 “Generating as much information as possible from image data, processing it further, and then deriving conclusions for production processes is a significant building block of Industry 4.0. The interaction of BeeYard and HALCON enables users to achieve efficiency gains based on data,” says Martina Chmelíčková, Business Development Manager at DataVision.

Especially deep learning applications benefit from data management systems

Powerful platforms for data management offer advantages for almost every machine vision method. These are particularly significant for deep learning applications. Here, BeeYard supports users in two ways:

On the one hand, the data management platform facilitates the handling of very large data volumes, which are generated during deep learning. This data is collected from various sources, can be associated with user access rights, and organised with tags and labels.

On the other hand, improvements can be made both for the machine vision application and for the production process. By analysing and labeling additional images, conclusions can be drawn as to whether and at what point re-training of the deep learning network is necessary. Training or re-training can be done in the platform using HALCON. Additionally, if the defects are always the same, conclusions can be drawn for the production process.

“The possibilities offered by the combination of HALCON and BeeYard strengthen the strategic, competitive capabilities of companies. We were able to verify its effectiveness with tests in several pilot projects” explains Christian Eckstein.

 Combination of MVTec HALCON and BeeYard as a complete solution

As part of the partnership, the library of the machine vision software HALCON has been expanded to include data management functions. With the extension package for HALCON it is possible to build up an image database and to enrich the images with additional information such as time stamp, lot number, product number, temperature, or vibration data. The BeeYard data management platform from DataVision is then used to evaluate and analyse the image data. The cloud- or server-based platform enables customisation to meet storage requirements, location-independent accessibility, cost efficiency – especially for large data volumes –, integration of a variety of other cloud-based tools and services, and high processing speed.

Commenting on the benefits of BeeYard, DataVision’s Martina Chmelíčková adds, “BeeYard’s architecture is highly flexible and can be customised to meet the specific needs of individual customers. The platform is designed to support multiple deployment options, including edge computing, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud-based systems.”

Global pharmaceutical manufacturer, Indivior has extended its partnership with Siemens with a new agreement to help create an automated Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing facility at its UK base in Hull.

FTSE 250 and NASDAQ-listed Indivior, is a world-leading manufacturer of pioneering, life-transforming treatment for substance use disorders and other serious mental illnesses. The new, 1,731 sq ft facility will house three new reactors, filter driers and a powder transfer system to enable Indivior to optimise production of its API Buprenorphine Hydrochloride.

The work is part of a long-standing partnership between the businesses that has helped Indivior transform processes while also supporting its ongoing efforts to enhance team health and safety.

The project will see Siemens implement its most advanced process control system, SIMATIC PCS neo – the first web-based process control system that allows engineers and operators to work on a secure and highly intuitive user interface.

Security measures will also be preconfigured by Siemens at the point of construction to ensure plant and network security as well as system integrity. The system will also support enhanced safety controls using the latest technology.

The Hull project builds on the existing relationship between the two businesses, which began in 2021 when Indivior selected Siemens to help increase automation and process safety at its existing UK manufacturing facility, which is now home to 10 reactors. The project followed a study to identify potential safety improvements across the site and led to the installation of Siemens’ SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system to improve safety controls for site operatives.

Alex Caldas, Account Development Manager, at Siemens UK and Ireland said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Indivior, supporting the business with the latest technology to help it transform. Crucially, this has meant helping Indivior maintain a safe environment across its facilities, while also enhancing its production to meet ongoing growth ambitions. The SIMATIC PCS 7 and PSC neo technology helps the team make processes even more efficient, safe, and resilient.”

Tom Greatorex, electrical, control and instrumentation (EC&I) engineer at Indivior, who led the project, said: “Siemens’ process control platforms, both PCS7 and PCS neo, have allowed us to modernise our facilities through digitalisation and automation, giving us greater insight and control.

“Creating the new facility allows us to improve our manufacturing process and reduce bottlenecking. The implementation of technology helps us to do this in a future-proofed and optimal way.”

Now in stock at Powell Electronics, the supplier of connectors and more for high-rel applications including defence, aerospace and industrial, are 2^nd generation one-piece GDBC direct board contacts from Gigalane. The simple one-piece design of the components enables a high integration and miniaturization of board-to-board and board-to-module RF interconnections. GDBC series contacts are very easy to use in the assembly as they require no SMT. They offer the lowest total-cost-of-ownership on the market and are an ideal solution for multiple connections and complex stack ups in 5G systems.

Technical details of 2nd generation GDBC contacts include a frequency from DC up to 8.5 GHz, impedance of 50 Ω, insulation resistance of 5000 MΩ and a dielectric withstand voltage of 750 Vrms. VSWR is 1.12:1 at 3.0 GHz, 1.22:1 at 6.0 GHz and 1.35:1 at 8.5 GHz.

For further information please visit: https://www.powell.com/e2wItemAdvanceSearch.aspx?ManufacturerName=GigaLane

ABB has signed a framework agreement with Samsung Engineering in Saudi Arabia to collaborate in engineering and procurement activities in the Kingdom. With this agreement, ABB becomes a single-source vendor for gas analyzer system integration for Samsung in Saudi Arabia.

Together, the two companies plan to explore business opportunities and provide complete analytical solutions to the Saudi oil & gas market. Effective measurement of gas quality is key to safety and reliability, decreasing the environmental footprint and increasing profitability of the production process. ABB’s solutions support the most demanding applications.

“ABB is committed to helping customers in the energy transition. Between ABB and Samsung Engineering, we have an impressive portfolio that demonstrates technology expertise and technical capability. With this agreement, we are capable and ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia,” said Javier Suárez Díez, Global System Integration Manager at ABB.

ABB’s analytical systems portfolio includes direct-read continuous gas analyzers, online gas analyzers using laser analytical techniques, rapid response process gas chromatographs and more. In addition to analytical systems, ABB provides gas analyzer system integration with fully customized analytical systems and solutions – from initial engineering through fabrication, testing, field start-up, and support.

ABB’s 10,000 square meter world-class integration facility for analytical systems, which the company is building in Dammam, will support the collaboration. The factory is expected to become a leader in the production of analytical systems in the region.

ABB and Samsung Engineering have worked together on several occasions, including on the Aramco Jafurah phase 1 project. With this agreement, they are ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia.

element14, an Avnet Community, along with NI recently launched an educational program, “A Beginner’s Course in LabVIEW and Test Automation.” This comprehensive course aims to equip element14 Community members with valuable skills in LabVIEW programming and automated testing, enabling them to build cutting-edge projects and compete for exciting prizes.

As a leading electronics community, element14 is dedicated to empowering its members with the latest knowledge and tools. The journey of an engineer extends beyond the realm of innovation and design, with the process of validating, verifying, debugging, and testing new products equally crucial. Therefore, this program seeks to introduce community members to the world of automated testing, an essential skill for engineers involved in new product development.

LabVIEW is a widely used graphical programming environment that facilitates the development of automated research, validation, and production test systems. By enrolling in the program participants will gain a deep understanding of LabVIEW and have the opportunity to create their own LabVIEW automated test projects.

“We are thrilled to team up with NI and introduce this valuable educational initiative to our community members,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for element14. “LabVIEW and test automation are indispensable skills for modern engineers, and we believe this course will significantly benefit our members in their professional pursuits.”

Open to all element14 Community members, the program provides a user-friendly learning experience. To qualify for the prizes, participants need to engage in the course material, which includes reading lessons, completing quizzes, and successfully executing the final test automation project using the LabVIEW Community Edition.

Applications for the program are now open and will be accepted until September 8. On September 15, the chosen participants will be announced, marking the commencement of the challenge. Quizzes must be completed by October 5, and project blogs are due by October 21. Winners of the program will be unveiled in November 2023.

The grand prize winner will receive the LabVIEW Base Edition Software and the Multicomp Pro MP720011 US Digital Oscilloscope. Additionally, the runner-up will be awarded the LabVIEW Base Edition Software and the Multicomp Pro MP730424 EU-UK Digital Multimeter Bench. All challengers will receive a finisher prize, the Multicomp Pro’s MP700393 4PCE ESD Electronics Cutter Kit.

To learn more about the program, A Beginner’s Course in LabVIEW and Test Automation, and sign up before September 8, please visit the element14 Community.

Pickering Interfaces, the leading provider of modular signal switching & simulation products for electronic test & verification, will showcase its new 40/42-890 family of modular, flexible microwave switches, bringing highly configurable switching solutions up to 110GHz to the PXI platform, on booth #204 at IEEE AUTOTESTCON 2023, at The Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, USA from August 28-31, 2023.

AUTOTESTCON is the world’s premier meeting place for government & defense procurers and users and the military & aerospace automated test sector to come together to share new technologies and discuss innovative applications in conference sessions, as well as exhibit products and services. Sponsored annually by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers), AUTOTESTCON is dedicated to increasing system availability through advanced test technology.

Ideal for test environments requiring high frequency microwave switching, from radar and communications to consumer electronics and 5G infrastructure, the new 40/42-890 microwave switch family provides highly configurable switching solutions up to 110GHz via the PXI platform, delivering flexibility, versatility, and test system optimization. “This new family available in both PXI & PXIe allows RF test engineers to select from and combine a wide range of high performance microwave relay types to suit their exact application requirements while minimizing chassis slot usage by combining multiple relay and connector types on a single module,” said Steve Edwards, Switching Product Manager at Pickering.

In addition to the new PXI flexible microwave switching family, Pickering will also highlight the following signal switching and sensor simulation technologies for electronic test & verification on booth #204 at AUTOTESTCON 2023, in Maryland, USA, from August 28-31:

• The first modules in a new MEMS-based RF PXI & PXIe multiplexer family
• Flexible LXI microwave switch platform and turnkey services for signal routing subsystems – including a custom 12×12 LXI microwave switching matrix demo
• New Microwave Switch Design Tool – a free online tool for configuring flexible PXI or LXI microwave switch products
• Also on show will be a selection from Pickering’s broad portfolio of signal switching and simulation, including thermocouple, LVDT/RVDT/resolver and analog output simulators. along with their PXI, PXIe & LXI/USB modular chassis, and cables & connectors

Pickering Interfaces stands behind its manufactured products with a standard three-year warranty* and guaranteed long-term product support. Pricing and availability information is supplied on its website at: www.pickeringtest.com

At the end of May 2023, the students of the ThaiGerRacing team drove away from all the others: During the ShellEco-marathon in Nogaro/France, they won the European champion title in the hydrogen racing league – for the fifth time in a row.

A success the team can be particularly proud of, as Andreas Sklarow, the team’s scientific supervisor, points out: “After we invested many hours in improving the car once again, this title is a special reward for the students. After the summer break, we will be motivated again for the next season.”

The Shell Eco-marathon is an engineering competition for students focusing on energy optimisation. Since the first edition, launched 35 years ago, teams of students worldwide have been competing with self-developed in various disciplines such as hydrogen or electric cars.

Panasonic Industry is pleased to support the racing team with, among other things, a pressure sensor for the hydrogen pressure reducer. The DP100 sensor ensures that the hydrogen is always available at the right pressure in this important component.

In addition to success on the racetrack, the ThaiGer team is also concerned with making hydrogen technology suitable for everyday use. To this end, the students also presented a prototype for a hydrogen city car in France, which was rated very positively by the jury present.

“We are thrilled to be able to support such an innovative team in an important mobility topic,” comments Christian Oblinger, Sales Manager Automation Products Germany, on the European Championship title. “Hopefully next year we can celebrate the 6th title to which one of our sensors has contributed.”

Benefiting from a uniquely stable production environment – Optical Surfaces Ltd is recognised as one of the world’s finest manufacturers of solid and air spaced etalons.

Etalons are widely used in telecommunications, lasers, and spectroscopy to control and measure the wavelengths of light. Recent advances in fabrication techniques, developed by Optical Surfaces Ltd, has enabled the creation of a new generation of very precise tuneable Fabry–Pérot interferometers.

Dr Aris Kouris, sales director said “Working deep inside a chalk cliff, where temperature variation is negligible all year around, our skilled optical craftsmen can routinely create etalon pairs with ultra-low microroughness and surface accuracies that are better than lambda/300 peak to valley. As a result, we are the preferred supplier of matched etalon pairs to a growing group of discerning customers including a leading manufacturer of ultra-high resolution tuneable Fabry Perot interferometers”.

He added “Available in a range of shapes our etalons are designed for use at customer-defined wavelengths within the range 190 nanometres to about 2 microns. They are supplied with wedge angles of 5 minutes of arc for smaller diameters, rising in steps to a wedge angle of 40 minutes of arc for diameters from 70 – 170mm. Optical Surfaces etalons are available as standard in materials including UV grade Silica, Silicon and Germanium.For further information on ultra-high precision etalons for use in applications in interferometry, lasers and high-resolution spectroscopy please visit www.optisurf.com/index.php/products/etalons/ or contact Optical Surfaces Ltd. on +44-208-668-6126 / sales@optisurf.com.

Wireless remote monitoring technology provides the most convenient and cost-effective method for plant and asset managers to monitor and manage all important system data across their sites, particularly over large areas. However, wireless system performance is often limited by the power availability and many site managers are unsure how to select a system that runs efficiently with limited power supply and still transmits all key data. Here Ian Loudon, international sales manager at wireless telemetry specialist Omniflex, explores the key power supply considerations for wireless systems and how to select the right system for the job.

Wireless telemetry systems are essential for monitoring and control applications in various key industrial sectors, including mining, utilities, petrochemical, nuclear and oil and gas. In many of these applications, laying cables for a traditional wired network is not feasible because of strict regulations and planning permissions required. Furthermore, the cost of cabling can often be prohibitive.

Therefore, in many cases, wireless telemetry systems represent the only way to retrieve and manage critical data from the field safely and efficiently.

Power considerations

Generally, the further you want to send your data, the more power you need to do it. For license-free radio, which operates at 868 MHz in the UK and South Africa and 900 MHz in Australia, installations generally need to be under 500 mW. However, license band radio systems, which are more expensive to operate due to ongoing licensing costs, operate effectively at up to 25 W. Therefore, high power installations are better suited to using license band radio.

Power can impact system availability and, therefore, is normally a high priority in terms of systems specification. Often, wireless systems are deployed in remote areas without access to mains power, so alternative supplies must be explored. This adds another layer of complexity for site managers unsure of what they need to get systems up and running.

In the age of Industry 4.0 and the widespread deployment of remote installations, it is often assumed that battery-powered systems will more than suffice as many modern battery systems can stay up and running for five years or more. However, this can get costly in terms of battery replacements if implemented on a site with 100 units or more. In fact, many applications often use in excess of 1,000 wireless units across a large area.

Replacing 1,000 industrial batteries in one go would represent a significant outlay, so it is important that site managers relying on battery-powered systems plan ahead and devise a maintenance plan to replace them on time, before the system degrades.

Using solar-powered units generally allows site managers to side step the issue of costly battery replacements, improving cost efficiency and lessening maintenance requirements. However, these units are only effective in areas with sufficient sunlight to keep the unit powered up and operational.

This is why it is important to engage a reliable wireless partner who can assess the system requirements and operational restrictions, recommending the most suitable and cost-effective system for the job.

A knowledgeable wireless partner

Omniflex’s wireless telemetry modules allow users to configure inputs as either  analogue or digital inputs and outputs depending on the application requirements. Engineers can integrate them with SCADA systems to achieve secure wireless links on different license-free bands. The modules also offer various power options, such as mains or DC powered, with battery backup or solar powered, so no matter where in the plant needs monitoring wirelessly, the modules can be deployed to perform the job.

Omniflex’s Teleterm M3 module is a mains-powered RTU, featuring an on-board 100Mb Ethernet and RS232/485 ports, enabling communications with a variety of devices using most network options, including GSM, radio, ethernet, Modbus, 3G, satellite and Conet. Furthermore, it comes equipped with twelve digital or analogue configurable I/O, which enables full environmental monitoring covering parameters like temperature, pressure, humidity and water levels etc. It is also fitted with an onboard SD card for data logging, which is ideal for data auditing purposes, especially for post-event analysis.

The Teleterm D3 comes with built-in lithium batteries, so provides battery back-up in the event of mains power failure. It has eight digital or analogue configurable I/O and can communicate using Ethernet, Modbus, radio, satellite and 3G options. It also has a built-in LCD display, allowing you to view data locally.

The Teleterm S3 is solar powered, making it well-suited for remote area applications where power is an issue and you want to collect data and send it back to a central control station. The S3 comes equipped with five digital or analogue configurable I/O and can communicate using Modbus RS232/485, radio, satellite and 3G options. While it has less available I/O than the M3 or D3, this is normally more than enough as these units will often be connected to a single sensor, meaning only one I/O is actually required. Having less I/O available makes the unit more power efficient, which is important for a solar-powered installation.

All three of the Teleterm units feature full IEC61131 programming as an option allowing local control functions or remote control via any of the communications ports.

To find out more about Omniflex’s wireless telemetry offering, visit the company’s website and download its wireless industry overview for free.