Archive : 28 August 2015 год

With some 2000 nano and micro satellites expected to be launched during the next five years, investor interest in space applications and technology is growing rapidly, according to researcher CB Insights. 

A new report from the company – The Future of Frontier Tech – says more than $2billion was invested in space, drones and augmented/virtual reality in the first half of 2015.

Space startups raised $1.76bn in the first half of 2015, dominated by a $1bn investment in SpaceX and $500million in OneWeb. According to CB Insights, Google has been a strategic investor and acquirer within the frontier tech space over the years, with Google Ventures tied for the most active VC since 2012.

While SpaceX has attracted much of the funding, the research says that multiple companies focused on either the deployment or use of nanosatellites have received funding since 2012.

Drone investment activity has now increased for four quarters in a row, with $109m raised across 16 deals in Q2 of 2015. Investments since 2012, the report notes, have largely been focused on hardware, software and services, with only 18% of companies looking to address infrastructure.

Meanwhile, augmented and virtual reality investments have reached double digits in six of the last seven quarters. Companies focusing on commercial applications represented 40% of funded start ups in this segment, with 34% of funded companies focusing on hardware platforms.

Author
Graham Pitcher

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk

Toshiba Corporation has announced the launch of the TB9081FG, a brushless motor pre-driver IC enhanced to achieve functional safety, for use in electric power steering systems (EPS).

More and more safety-critical automotive systems, such as EPS, are required to meet the requirements of ASIL-D, the highest automotive safety integrity level prescribed in ISO 26262, 'Road Vehicles – Functional Safety'.

The TB9081FG integrates key functions, including 3-phase pre-driver circuits, fail-safe relay pre-driver circuits and motor current detection circuits, plus various failure detection circuits. An initial diagnosis circuit to detect latent faults in the failure detection circuits is also incorporated to secure higher functional safety.

The unit is available in a 12 x 12 x 1.6mm package and operates over a voltage range of 4.5 to 18V and a temperature range of between -40 and 125°C.

Toshiba has also carried out a range of functional safety analyses to simulate various system failures and will provide customers with documentation, such as FMEDA, to support safety analysis and design.

Author
Tom Austin-Morgan

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk

An engineering professor from Florida State University has claimed to have developed a highly efficient and low cost LED that could be the catalyst for more widespread adoption of the technology.

The research is crucial to the development of LED technology, which is fast becoming an avenue to reduce electric consumption. LED lighting is already sold in stores, but widespread adoption has been slow because of the costs associated with the material and the quality.

According to the US Department of Energy, residential LED lighting uses at least 75% less energy than regular incandescent lighting.

"It can potentially revolutionise lighting technology," said Assistant Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Zhibin Yu. "In general, the cost of LED lighting has been a big concern thus far. Energy savings have not balanced out high costs. This could change that."

Yu developed his LED technology using a combination of organic and inorganic materials. The material, which dissolves and can be applied like paint, shines a blue, green or red light and can be used to make a light bulb.

Most LED materials require engineers to put four or five layers of material on top of each other to create the desired product or effect. Yu says his material only requires one layer.

His research has resulted in an award by the US National Science Foundation to further investigate the essential materials and establish the processing platform for the development of intrinsically stretchable, active-matrix organic LED displays.

Author
Tom Austin-Morgan

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk

Government departments and the Crown Commercial Service will have to lay out how they plan to increase the level of procurement business they place with UK based small and medium sized enterprises.

While figures show that 26% of procurement in 2013/14 went to SMEs, Matt Hancock, pictured, Minister for the Cabinet Office has announced that, by 2020, the Government wants to increase this to a third.

Hancock said: "This is such an amazing opportunity for the country's diverse and innovative small businesses and I urge them to get stuck in. From computers to uniforms – there are so many opportunities for small businesses to work with us and I want to see more of them providing value for money for the taxpayer and benefiting from our spending."

John Allan, National chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The Government has much to gain from opening up public procurement to smaller businesses and we welcome its commitment to achieve this ambitious target."

gov.uk/contracts-finder

Author
Graham Pitcher

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk