Explore the distinct functionalities, advantages, and industries driving the innovations of AC and DC motors. Delve into the technologies that shape our modern world, focusing on recent advancements and real-world applications. Understand their role in future engineering challenges and opportunities.

AC vs DC Motor: Unpacking Their Engineering Applications and Innovations

At RPWORLD, advancing product innovation for young professionals is deeply rooted in our tradition. We're delighted to support the innovative product designers and engineers as they are on their creative journeys.Recently, we sponsored the αCentauri Solar Racing team with customized components needed to the mechanical braking system of their solar car. The αCentauri team, running out of ETH Zurich, is dedicated to cultivating technical talents who are passionate about addressing environmental challenges. This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission to promote innovation and sustainability.<h2 dir="ltr">Project Background</h2>The initiation of solar car development by αCentauri team was driven by a noble cause&nbsp;—addressing the threat to the nation's lost glaciers due to climate change. The project aimed to use solar energy to redefine sustainable transportation, and to inspire the world towards a more sustainable future. This led them to target the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. It is a 3,000km race through the Australian outback. In this challenge, 42 teams from 21 countries will race solar cars across Australia, testing both technology and human endurance.<h2 dir="ltr">Project Challenges</h2>When faced with the challenging task of creating customized parts for the solar racing car, αCentauri team turned to RPWORLD. The team manager expressed his concerns:<ul><li dir="ltr">How to choose processes &amp; materials for different mechanical parts: We urgently needed various metal parts for the steering wheel transmission shaft and brackets, but we're not sure about the best manufacturing processes and materials, especially when low quantities are required.</li><li dir="ltr">The project is on a tight deadline: While most components of the solar car were ready, we hope the car could be finalized as soon as possible to complete the test and have the best performance in the challenge. &nbsp;</li></ul><h2 dir="ltr">RPWORLD Solutions</h2><h3 dir="ltr">The Comprehensive DFM Analysis &nbsp;</h3>Our dedicated team of engineering professionals love to provide suggestions on manufacturing selection, design optimization, material selection, and post-processing methods for the project. When considering the bracket, the αCentauri team initially intended to use CNC machining. However, with comprehensive analysis, our engineer suggested sheet metal fabrication from Aluminum 5052, with the parts manufactured from a standard sheet metal of 3mm thickness.<h3 dir="ltr">Material Selection</h3>The steering wheel transmission shaft components demanded aluminum material with exceptional characteristics. Different grades of aluminum materials present distinct characteristics. Here’s the comparison of several commonly used aluminum materials. &nbsp;<div dir="ltr" align="left"><table><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;Aluminum5083</td><td>&nbsp;Aluminum6061-T651/T6</td><td>&nbsp;Aluminum6063</td><td>&nbsp;Aluminum 7075-T651/T6</td><td>Aluminum&nbsp;6082-T6</td></tr><tr><td>Strength</td><td>Good</td><td>Good</td><td>Good</td><td>Excellent</td><td>Excellent</td></tr><tr><td>Anodizing Effect</td><td>Good</td><td>Excellent</td><td>Excellent</td><td>Good</td><td>Excellent</td></tr></tbody></table></div>We selected aluminum 6082-T6 and aluminum 7075-T651 for the solar racing car project due to their superior strength and good anodizing properties, which are crucial for the high-performance demands of the vehicle.<h3 dir="ltr">Manufacturing Solution</h3>After a thorough analysis, RPWORLD's engineering experts chose CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication to produce precision components for mechanical braking system. These processes offer precision and customization advantages, ensuring precision and efficiency for these parts.To ensure both functionality and visual aesthetics, certain finished parts have also been anodized, not only enhancing their appearance but improving resistance to corrosion. Our comprehensive manufacturing solution enables customer to get components faster, accelerating the solar car development.<h2 dir="ltr">Customer Benefits</h2><ul><li dir="ltr">With CNC Machining and other manufacturing solutions, lead time was reduced by 50%.</li><li dir="ltr">Management risks reduced by customized and one-stop solution with multiple processes.</li><li dir="ltr">Production cost was reduced by 40% via changing to more appropriate manufacturing solution.&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">High quality parts were assembled seamlessly on mechanical breaking system. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><blockquote>The great part of RPWORLD, was the fast delivery time they gave us, while not compromising on the quality of the product. So, I want to take this moment and thank RPWORLD for the part they delivered, which will enable us to complete at very high level at the Bridgestone World Challenge.— &nbsp;Manager of αCentauri Team</blockquote>

At RPWORLD, advancing product innovation for young professionals is deeply rooted in our tradition. We're delighted to support the innovative product designers and engineers as they are on their creative journeys.

CNC Machining Accelerates Solar Racing Car Crossing 3,000 Kilometers

Diagram of an open circuit with circuit components

This guide offers an in-depth overview of different types of electric circuits, exploring their foundational concepts, common circuit layouts, specialized circuits, the latest technological advances, and their applications in real-life scenarios.

Types of Circuits: A Comprehensive Guide for Engineering Professionals

<section id="isPasted">In order to deploy mobile robots, self-driving cars, or drones into the real world, they need to be able to observe and understand the world around them, just like humans do. PhD candidate at TU/e Daan de Geus developed algorithms for automatic image recognition that are faster and more accurate than existing models. Last Wednesday, he obtained his PhD (with honors) at the Department of Electrical Engineering.</section><section tabindex="-1">De Geus thumbs through his dissertation and shows us a photo of a street, featuring different objects such as people, vehicles, traffic posts, and traffic lights (see image below). “Mobile robots and self-driving cars need to know what’s happening around them,” he says.Among other things, they need to be able to recognize and localize objects, so they can take these into account. “This allows them to move around or toward a certain object, and maybe pick it up to carry out a task.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1714637661762-csm_frankfurt_000001_030669_images_0a92c1e725.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Traffic in Frankfurt. Image: Daan de GeusTo make robots aware of their environment, different computer vision techniques are used. It concerns an area of research that revolves around automatic extraction of relevant information from camera footage. “Simply put, we try to make models that can distill as much information from a photo as possible,” the PhD candidate explains.“The goal of computer vision is to make a system that mimics our own visual system, allowing computers to see in the same way humans do and, as a result, interact properly with the world around them.”His research focuses on improving image recognition techniques in the area of scene understanding. This is a small, but crucial part of computer vision. “Its goal is to recognize different objects and regions in an image and to give them a semantic label, such as ‘streetlight’, ‘road’, ‘car’, or ‘person’,” he explains.In other words, the objects are given a significance that is clear to humans.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1714637694452-csm_scene_understanding_example_189e7cc585.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">An example of scene understanding. Objects (person, traffic light, car) and image regions (the road) are automatically identified, color-coded, and semantically labeled. Image: Daan de Geus<h2 id="isPasted">Accuracy and efficiency</h2>For automatic image analyses, neural networks are used – systems that learn to carry out a certain task by receiving training involving a large amount of data. By training these neural networks in a focused manner, you end up with different models that specialize in specific tasks, such as identifying all cars in an image.In the first part of his dissertation, De Geus looked at how you can improve the accuracy and efficiency of those models. “Improving one aspect is often at the expense of another. To get more accurate results, existing methods tend to lose some of their efficiency, and vice versa,” he explains.“Which makes sense, because greater accuracy often demands more computing power, which directly impacts efficiency.” The big question, therefore, is: how can you improve these aspects without having to compromise?He came up with several solutions to this conundrum. “Efficiency is important for two reasons. You want the algorithm to use as little energy as possible and to make a prediction as quickly as possible,” he says. Speed is of the essence in self-driving vehicles, as cars must be able to respond to situations that arise in a timely manner.“If the calculation takes a second, it may already be too late to take action.”Using a process known as model unification, he combined two models to create a more efficient one. “Some tasks focus on the objects in the foreground, such as cars and people; others on ‘background regions’ such as vegetation and the sky. These tasks are performed by two different neural network modules, as each module specializes in a different task,” he explains.“Using two network modules isn’t very efficient, because you have to run them parallel to each other.” He found out that you can supply extra information to the network module processing the background information, allowing it to also identify foreground objects.“As a result, the module for foreground objects is no longer necessary, which greatly enhances efficiency. This makes this model twice as fast as its precursors, while its accuracy is comparable.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1714637727049-csm_image_with_patches_0ce2b38ff7.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Image with image regions. Image: Daan de GeusAnother way of improving efficiency is based on the observation that many regions in an image are very similar. For instance, the sky generally takes up a large part of any picture you take outside. “In spite of the fact that a lot of information is similar, neural networks process each image region separately, which is very inefficient,” says De Geus.The entire image is divided up into patches consisting of pixels (see image below). Normally, these would be labeled and assessed individually, but the PhD candidate developed a method for clustering patches with comparable information, reducing the total number of patches and, by extension, requiring less computing power.“This allows us to improve speed by as much as 110%, without taking away from the accuracy.”Incidentally, this method for grouping similar image regions is widely applicable to many different models and a great many applications other than self-driving cars and mobile robots. For example, you could use these algorithms to segment medical images. “Pretty much in any situation where you need to automatically analyze images.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1714637752641-csm_token_sharing_diagram_c977af3012.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">To improve efficiency, semantically comparable patches can be clustered. Image: Daan de Geus<h3 id="isPasted">Multiple abstraction levels</h3>In the second part of his dissertation, he focused on what he calls multiple abstraction levels. “Existing algorithms either focus on entire objects, such as cars, or on their components, such as car tires or the license plate,” he explains.His goals was to develop an algorithm that can simultaneously understand an image at multiple abstraction levels. “This will allow a mobile robot to observe both the car and its components, as well as other objects and the background, all at the same time, which gives it a comprehensive picture of the surroundings,” says De Geus.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1714637778377-csm_frankfurt_000001_030669_panoptic_5abb4ba438.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Automatic recognition of objects and image regions. Image: Daan de GeusYou can have both algorithms carry out their work separately and merge the results afterwards, but this is cumbersome. And it can also lead to conflicts between the two calculations. Instead, he developed a new algorithm that can identify objects and components all at once.“That’s not only more accurate, but also more efficient.” What’s more, this improved model is widely applicable and has many advantages. “It means, for instance, that a robot isn’t just able to recognize a door, but also the door handle, and to understand that the latter is part of the door. Which, in turn, allows it to open the door,” he says to illustrate.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1714637801563-csm_frankfurt_000001_030669_pps_3b32a5d47d.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A more detailed segmentation, where components of objects are also identified. Image: Daan de GeusTo be able to use self-driving cares or mobile robots in practice, there’s a lot left to do still. “Image recognition is just a tiny part of the puzzle,” he admits.&nbsp;And there are plenty of remaining challenges in the area. For one thing, models could be developed that can recognize more objects at once and that operate even faster and more accurately.The generalization of the model could also be improved, so it also produces good results when the data are different from the data sets with which the network was trained, allowing it to perform better in real-world scenarios.But at least his dissertation constitutes a step forward in making the system more capable, accurate, and efficient.<hr>Source: <a href="https://www.cursor.tue.nl/en/news/2024/april/week-3/home-stretch-teaching-robots-to-see-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Cursor/Martina Silbrníková</a>Daan de Geusdefended his thesis“<a href="https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/characterization-of-abdominal-aortic-aneurysms-using-time-resolve" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Advances in Scene Understanding - Towards Efficient Image Segmentation at Multiple Abstraction Levels</a>” at the Department of Electrical Engineering on April 17th, 2024.Supervisors: Gijs Dubbelman en Peter de With</section>

In his doctoral research, Daan de Geus worked on advanced image processing methods that allow robots and cars to better recognize what they see around them.

Teaching robots to see better

Choosing the optimal battery technology is pivotal to avoid future consequences. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricacies that distinguish NiMH and Lithium Ion batteries – their fundamental properties, performance across applications, etc. and equips readers for informed decision-making.

NiMH vs Lithium Ion Batteries: A Comprehensive Comparison for Engineers

Sustainable Mobility can be defined in many ways. Is it a concept for transforming how we transport from an ecological standpoint? Is it taking into account the accessibility of travel with a particular focus on more vulnerable people within society? All are correct, and whilst some may debate the definition of the umbrella term, its growing influence is undeniable.The <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/the-future-of-mobility-mobility-evolves" target="_blank">McKinsey Center for Future Mobility</a> reports that almost one-third of people surveyed plan to increase their use of micromobility (e-bikes,e-scooters, etc) over the next decade and that nearly half of respondents are open to replacing their private vehicles with other modes of transport in the same period. In 2019, consumers generated <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/shared-mobility-sustainable-cities-shared-destinies" target="_blank">$130 billion in shared-mobility trips</a>, with predictions estimating that total revenues in this altruistic form of transportation could reach between $350 and $860 by 2030. Add in that EVs (electric vehicles) are expected to continue their emergence in 2024, with Global sales expected to <a href="https://www.canalys.com/newsroom/global-ev-market-2024" target="_blank">grow by 27%</a>, and you begin to see how much momentum is in sustainable mobility. &nbsp;With potential comes excitement, and with that comes pressure to deliver. In suitably utopian fashion, success will likely depend on multiple factors that combine to shape the infrastructure needed for sustainable mobility to flourish. Let's consider three key areas that are likely to play a crucial role. Electric and ConnectedFor several years, sustainable mobility was typecast as Electric Vehicles. More recently, that burden has been shared across multiple areas, and rightly so. But there’s no doubt that EVs are still the dominant force. Electric vehicle use is expected to continue growing. Advances in battery technology, longer vehicle range, and more places to charge will make electric cars more available and attractive to more people – Check out how Mahle is adapting components to <a href="https://www.protolabs.com/en-gb/resources/case-studies/mahle/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-sustainable-mobility-0324&utm_content=wevolver-critical-factors-sustainable-mobility-blog-0424" target="_blank" title="Mahle" rel="noopener noreferrer">facilitate fast-charging EVs</a>. While there may be challenges, electric vehicles will continue to progress and become more connected and autonomous as part of their progression.Newly-made vehicles are becoming increasingly connected, creating opportunities to collect data. Whilst this primarily presents an opportunity for companies that can process data and gain insights from it, such as integrated insurance technology and in-car payments, vehicle connectivity is also essential for developing self-driving cars. Autonomous Vehicles need to be connected to share information with other sources both inside and outside of the vehicle to be aware of surrounding traffic, to understand and improve traffic flow and to optimise the driving experience for the passenger. <img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713277390171-1713277390171.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 342px;">Vacuum Casting component for an electric vehicle by MahleFuelling investment in infrastructureWhilst EVs will play a pivotal role, battery technology can not be the only fuel source for transportation if sustainable mobility is to succeed. According to <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Renewable_energy_statistics" target="_blank">Eurostat</a>, the EU’s share of energy from renewable sources used in transport reached 9.6 % in 2022, up from 9.1% in 2021. Whilst this improvement is positive, there is still work to be done to diversify the fuel sources, such as hydrogen or biofuels, to make renewable energy suitable for consumer requirements.According to BloombergNEF's report on <a href="https://about.bnef.com/blog/europes-path-to-clean-energy-a-5-3-trillion-investment-opportunity/" target="_blank">Europe’s Path to Clean Energy</a>, 85% of Europe's total power capacity is projected to be from renewable sources by 2050. New technologies like batteries and hydrogen will be important for increasing electrification and transitioning to cleaner transportation. However, the main challenge for the energy transition is building new infrastructure. In Europe alone, over $5 trillion will be needed for new infrastructure projects by 2050. These projects will include renewable power plants, smart grids, and battery storage power stations. <img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713277419416-1713277419416.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 495px;">Transport for London currently has 20 hydrogen fuel cell Double-decker buses to help reduce TfL's carbon footprintKeeping Pace with UrbanisationFor sustainable mobility methods to become the norm, the cultural and environmental landscape must be primed to accommodate the methods on mass. A report by <a href="https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2024/feb/9-trends-shaping-future-sustainable-mobility.html#:~:text=Manyinvolverisingtechnologiesthat,sustainableandequitablemobilityaccess" target="_blank">Oliver Wyman</a> focuses on how cities will need to innovate to meet the growing demand for sustainable urban mobility, which will be 2.3 times greater in 2030 than today.Cities will need to emphasise sustainable urban planning to meet this demand. Cities are getting more crowded, and this is causing more competition for space. To solve this, new ideas to make transportation better and reduce traffic are needed. According to the report, by 2030, 60% of the world population will live in cities, and half of the transportation systems produced will be made to fit the increasingly sustainable cities. This means there will be more focus on creating new transportation centres that use space better and meet people's changing needs for health, the environment, and personalised services.&nbsp;Digital Manufacturing TechnologyFor product designers and engineers to create and implement the infrastructure required to achieve widespread sustainable mobility, manufacturing methods must continue to develop. Today, digital manufacturing is critical in advancing sustainable mobility by addressing pivotal aspects such as waste reduction, <a href="https://www.protolabs.com/en-gb/resources/guides-and-trend-reports/reducing-component-weight-for-automotive-applications/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-sustainable-mobility-0324&utm_content=wevolver-critical-factors-sustainable-mobility-blog-0424" target="_blank" title="Reducing Component Weight for Automotive Applications" rel="noopener noreferrer">lightweighting</a>, and comprehensive life cycle analysis of parts.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713277452514-1713277452514.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 517px;">A clear automotive lens built by stereolithographyThrough the precise application of digital design and simulation tools, manufacturers can optimise component shapes and structures, thus minimising material usage without compromising strength or safety. This lightweighting strategy significantly diminishes the environmental footprint by reducing energy consumption during production and enhancing fuel efficiency during vehicle operation. Furthermore,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.protolabs.com/en-gb/resources/?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=uk-sustainable-mobility-0324&utm_content=wevolver-critical-factors-sustainable-mobility-blog-0424" target="_blank" title="Resources" rel="noopener noreferrer">digital manufacturing</a> enables a comprehensive life cycle analysis of parts, allowing manufacturers to assess environmental impacts throughout a product's entire lifespan methodically.By identifying opportunities for recycling, reusing, or remanufacturing components, digital technologies facilitate the development of more sustainable transportation solutions, aligning with global endeavours to mitigate environmental degradation and combat climate change.

Sustainable Mobility can be defined in many ways. Is it a concept for transforming how we transport from an ecological standpoint? Or is it taking into account the accessibility of travel? In this blog, we explore key areas playing a crucial role in defining Sustainable Mobility.

The Route to Success: Critical Factors for Achieving Sustainable Mobility

<blockquote>“For a new product to be successful, it is not enough for it to work—almost everything around us works quite well. The design matters.”</blockquote>This is what Iván Arakistain, a technologist and researcher at Tecnalia said. After winning the Connect for Good challenge, we interviewed Arakistain to discuss his award-winning project on sustainable logistics infrastructure and his insights into the logistics industry, particularly that of perishable goods.Logistics is a dynamic field fraught with challenges, and sustainability is a growing concern, particularly in transporting perishable goods. Iván Arakistain, representing Tecnalia, won first place in the Connect for Good challenge with an innovative concept that leverages a low-power IoT solution to monitor and enable eco-friendly transport of perishable goods.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connect-for-good-low-power-wireless-sustainability-challenge" target="_blank">Connect for Good Challenge</a> is a joint initiative by Nordic Semiconductor, Mouser Electronics, Soracom, and Crowd Supply aimed at fostering innovation for social and environmental good. It brought together a worldwide network of engineers, entrepreneurs, and developers around one mission: “to devise low-power wireless solutions that contribute towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”&nbsp;Arakistain's winning project is a game-changer in sustainable logistics. Through advanced monitoring and anomaly detection, this innovative solution optimizes the transport of perishable goods while eliminating the need for energy-intensive refrigerated cargo trailers. Thus, it significantly reduces carbon emissions and operational costs while ensuring the integrity of the cold chain. Through the integration of IoT technology, including low-energy sensors and GPS and coupled with mini solar panels for autonomy, the project sets a new standard for eco-friendly transport in the logistics industry, with broad implications for global sustainability efforts. The key component of this project is the integration of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/specs/nrf9160-development-kit" target="_blank">nRF9160 Development Kit</a>, chosen specifically for its low energy consumption and reliable cellular connectivity.In this exclusive interview, Arakistain sheds light on his journey, the inspiration behind his project, and the impact he envisions on the logistics industry's future.<h2 dir="ltr">Interview with Iván Arakistain of Tecnalia</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Can you briefly describe your winning project and the main problem it addresses in the logistics industry?</h3>One of the main challenges of the logistics industry is the sustainable transport transition. This focuses on decarbonizing the transport industry, especially because today, at least in Spain, it’s heavily based on trucks; most of the logistics happen on the road, and trucks consume a lot of fuel. So, we have to shift from that to a cleaner way of transport.Some years ago, we had a customer who sold precooked food.&nbsp;They mentioned something to us that sparked this idea process: If they could deliver the food in one day from their factory to the end customer, they would be able to avoid refrigerated transportation, especially since it’s relatively expensive, requires a lot of fuel, and is very complex.So, we started exploring that. At that time, the technology was not quite ready for the application, mainly for areas like the south of Spain, where it's very hot in the summer. The logistics were not as fast as today, but as things have evolved, we are now able to transport food—or perishable goods—in proper condition to the end customer in a short a time as needed so it arrives safely.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713160590293-0_Ivan+Arakistain.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 dir="ltr">What inspired you to focus on developing a more sustainable method for transporting perishable goods?</h3>Well, the main goal is to deliver goods fast and with as low carbon emissions as possible. For that, we must change from only using transport by trucks to combining truck and train, which is obviously much cleaner environmentally. By doing so we can ensure more availability, lower cost per kilometer, and a smaller cargo footprint.&nbsp;Let’s look at how your project aligns with the Sustainability Development Goals. Could you tell us how your solution targets these goals?Our solution’s practical implications impact goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action). We are very focused on energy efficiency and sustainability goals for cities and districts. Our application can help reduce the cargo footprint and accelerate the transition from the current fuel-based transport to a more electrified way of transport.&nbsp;Of course, we cannot transition directly from 0 to 100%, so we must ensure the transition is smooth. In our area of focus, the technology background is in artificial intelligence for microcontrollers and small devices. We embed this intelligence into the embedded device so that we can know via our electronic sensors if the transported food is in good condition. We can also sense whether any volatile compounds can impact the condition of the food.By making those changes, we estimate that up to 10% of carbon reduction is possible. And that also applies to energy consumption, even though I’m not sure if it’s a linear relationship. However, the estimation stands.<h3 dir="ltr">Let's move onto the technical side. How does your solution work? Is embedded AI the differentiator from traditional energy-intensive refrigeration?</h3>As I said, we are focused on AI for microcontrollers. So, first, we develop the AI models in servers and powerful computers. Then, we reduce those models so that they can run in a small controller with a few kilobytes or a small RAM. For this application, we are focused on two types of inference.The first type of inference is air quality to determine the state of the product. The second inference type is AI for vibration analysis, which is something we have implemented here and in other projects. In this case, we can analyze if the vibration of products in the truck matches the orientation to make sure everything is good. In other cases, we also do this AI analysis of vibration for structural health and many other applications.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713160621737-1_Manufactured+PCB+Top.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 dir="ltr">How accurate and precise are the AI model results in a real-world application?&nbsp;</h3>There are two processes that we do. First, we collect all the data, and then we perform model training and model testing on our computers. We split the data set into two parts: about 80% of the data is used for training the model, and the remaining 20% or so is used for testing the model.In our computer simulation, the results were very good; you can get up to 96% accuracy. But we both know that’s not the reality. Getting a very high score virtually means the model is quite good. However, when you go into the real world and flash the firmware into the microcontroller you’re using in the actual sensor, the accuracy decreases a bit. Still, we can get good enough accuracy with this model.Were there any particular challenges you faced in the development process, and how did you overcome them?As I said earlier, the original idea came some years ago with this customer we were working with. They produced precooked food, and we did some real testing with them. We sent the food with a trucker and other things to actual customers. At that moment, we realized that the technology was not quite ready, not because of the electronics but because of the isolation and insulation challenges. For that, you’d need excellent isolating materials so that temperatures are kept in the correct range.&nbsp;This was about eight to nine years ago. At that point, we did develop a complete solution, and we knew the idea was good, but it was not quite ready because of the isolation challenge. Since then, we have kept thinking and working on it, and now we know that it is a feasible application, especially since there are much more efficient containers for food transport than years ago. There are better isolation materials, which helped this improve.<h3 dir="ltr">Looking into the next decade, what are the biggest hurdles in scaling and implementing your solution across different regions and logistics networks?</h3>The main difficulty is the limited time for delivery: It has to be done within the first 24 to 48 hours and the products need a low temperature range.Of course, I think it's scalable. Still, one of the biggest challenges is the container. We need to use special containers with good insulation for this. Basically, once we are able to prove to customers that they are going to save so much on each transportation, then it makes sense.So far, we have tested with first-class precooked food, which is already prepared and ready for eating upon reheating in a restaurant or somewhere else. We are not so focused on uncooked food.<h3 dir="ltr">Let’s dive a bit into the economic side of things. What are the economic benefits of your solution for logistics companies and end users?</h3>The economic benefits mainly rely on the use of nonrefrigerated transportation. As a result, you can save about 10% of the transportation cost. It consumes less fuel and energy. It's simply more efficient. We are also very interested in combining ways of transportation: using not only trucks but also trains. Here in Spain, we have quite a robust train infrastructure, but nowadays, it is more focused on passengers than goods. So, I think we must leverage the train infrastructure and combine it with trucks in the future.Also, for international shipments, combining the truck with the train is important so that the driver does not need to drive so far. The truck driver would simply mount the truck with the goods from a train carriage, move onto another carriage to collect goods from there, and then deliver them locally.This is a standard logistics process. We are simply using the existing infrastructure. The only additional requirement would be the special containers for the food that I mentioned earlier.<h3 dir="ltr">You mentioned one customer already.&nbsp;Have you discussed this with other members of your target market? How have your target customers responded to your solution so far?</h3>Yes. 15 days ago, I was at a logistics and transportation fair in Bilbao. I gave a speech there and talked to potential customers. Clearly, there is some potential, but of course, we need to keep the focus on the end customer.<h3 dir="ltr">By focusing on the end customer, what strategies are you employing to encourage the adoption of your technology within the market?&nbsp;</h3>In Tecnalia, we work with different approaches to ensure the technology adoption. We identify and manage deep-tech business opportunities, through a venture building process to accelerate their industrial commercialization. We create new startups or commercialize licenses, accelerating the incubation of technological assets until they are turned into investment opportunities capable of generating economic and social value.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">How do you see your solution evolving in the next five years?</h3>I think that it has quite a lot of potential. We are still in a transition stage, where not everything is well-defined. The path is clear: we have to shift to the electrification of transport. But the speed at which this is going to happen is yet to be clear. Yet, I think that it has significant potential for the future because logistics is a fast-growing sector.<h3 dir="ltr">Is there close competition to your technology from bigger companies already established in the logistics market?</h3>Yes, there is. For example, some years ago, big companies like Amazon tried to sell perishable food to end customers in a very short time. However, they were not very successful because it’s not easy to deliver that fast in a cost-efficient way.Our case is a little different. It focuses on precooked food for industrial partners. The customer I mentioned earlier is not selling to end customers but rather to restaurants and other businesses. So yes, there are big players, but they are not entirely in the same market niche as ours.<h3 dir="ltr">Are there other applications or industries where your technology could be applied beyond the niche cold chain logistics?</h3>Yes, we use embedded AI for structural health monitoring in various cases. Here, you would need to know the condition of a structure. In Tecnalia, for example, we have some dedicated lab equipment, such as sensitive accelerometers. But the cost of such devices is typically quite high. They are not devices you can leave on a structure but rather devices you use within a specific timeframe.So, we are developing small, affordable devices that can use MEMS accelerometers, inexpensive microcontrollers, and embedded AI to provide early warnings if there is an anomaly, failure, or any other event on which the model is trained.The new devices we are developing would cost as much as an order of magnitude less than the typical measuring and monitoring equipment. They would only provide an early warning, after which the experts could go and perform more extensive measurement and testing.Another example of our embedded AI would be audio detection. Consider a large dataset of street sounds that can take over six gigabytes – that is a lot of information. For this, it's possible to train an AI model that takes no more than kilobytes – which is significantly less – and embed it into a microcontroller to classify the sounds. We tested this, and the model was able to accurately identify and classify the sounds of a car horn, for example, a dog barking or children playing. This is a solution to tackle problems with lots of data using a compressed model that can accurately classify the data without requiring so much power.<h3 dir="ltr">Going back to the project experience, what have you learned from working on this project that you think is crucial for innovation in sustainable technologies?</h3>At Tecnalia, we are experts in many different fields. The most interesting thing about working in an applied research and technological development centre like Tecnalia is that I can collaborate with experts in multiple fields, such as electronics, logistics, structures, and energy efficiency. For such projects to work, I have to work with lots of people to solve the problem.&nbsp;Also, experts in AI are not all the same. Some of them are more focused on big processors like NVidia devices, and we need to collaborate with them to understand the models and be able to quantize and reduce the models down to the microcontroller level.What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs or innovators looking to make a difference in the green technology space?&nbsp;My advice would be to prototype as much as they can. In electronics, we are quite used to prototyping fast. That's a good thing for our sector. But in other areas, it might be more difficult to prototype. I would also encourage people to collaborate with other experts and learn from them.<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>Iván Arakistain's winning project exemplifies the potential for low-power IoT solutions to revolutionize the transportation of perishable goods. By leveraging advanced monitoring and anomaly detection, Arakistain's project offers a promising avenue for reducing carbon emissions and operational costs while maintaining the integrity of the cold chain.&nbsp;As we look to the future, the scalability and adoption of such solutions present ongoing challenges. Yet the momentum generated by initiatives like the Connect for Good Challenge signals a promising trajectory towards more innovation and sustainable solutions and systems. For more information about the challenge and its winners, check out our dedicated article:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connect-for-good-challenge-winners-logistics-infrastructure-monitoring-smart-bees-and-bioreactors" target="_blank">Connect for Good Challenge Winners: Logistics Infrastructure Monitoring, Smart Bees and Bioreactors</a>.

Introducing the Winner of the Connect for Good Challenge 2023


Towards Sustainable Logistics Infrastructure: An Interview with Tecnalia

As electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing expands, so too does the demand for the materials that are essential to their production. Today’s EVs employ several battery technologies with different combinations of materials. Around the world, governments are developing policies to ensure that these materials are readily available and to mitigate supply chain disruption risks.In a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46418-1.epdf?sharing_token=4_W4TX-XN5hf4pPgys28ENRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PnOf5EcsU7quxpqwJX9Xvx1Kknep4kdCq_oWx29xEFTtXCjwgDK1nPtYAm1mMCWM14HjSs6N-aU6tNprpaHHnVJjkVY3-GfWzbWhoDa3vv-COI28ukJIlSa6QTFEIpTSQ%3D" rel="noopener" target="_blank">recent publication in Nature Communications</a>, a team of researchers from the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University provides analysis of the relationship between electric vehicle battery chemistry and supply chain vulnerability for four critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese—across particular countries that are key contributors to production. The primary lithium ion battery chemistries used in EVs today are lithium iron phosphate (LFP), nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), and nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA), which each depend on varying amounts of these minerals. The authors, Anthony Cheng, <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/directory/bios/fuchs-erica.html" target="_blank">Erica Fuchs</a>, <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/directory/bios/karplus-valerie.html" target="_blank">Valerie Karplus</a>, and <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/directory/bios/michalek-jeremy.html" target="_blank">Jeremy Michalek</a>, find that effectively reducing vulnerabilities to disruption related to any particular country may require addressing multiple layers of upstream supply relationships.<blockquote>We need to anticipate new potential supply chain vulnerabilities so that we can act strategically to mitigate risk.<cite>Jeremy Michalek, Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy</cite></blockquote>“In the 1970s, several global oil supply disruptions sent shock waves through the economy, with motorists waiting in long lines to fill up,” says Michalek, a professor of engineering and public policy and mechanical engineering and who also serves as director of <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/cit/veg/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Carnegie Mellon’s Vehicle Electrification Group</a>. “As we shift away from gasoline toward electric vehicles, we need to anticipate new potential supply chain vulnerabilities so that we can act strategically to mitigate risk.”By mapping the supply chains of the four critical materials, calculating a vulnerability index, and using a network flow optimization to bound uncertainties, the study finds that production at multiple supply chain steps is highly concentrated in single countries. In particular, production at multiple stages of the supply chain across battery technologies occurs in China, primarily due to its role in materials refining and cathode production.“Our approach provides a new measure of energy security as we move beyond fossil fuels,” says Karplus, a professor of engineering and public policy and associate director of the <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/energy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1712184833930-0319-em-ev-supply-chain.png" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A Sankey diagram for global flows of lithium that available data suggest are involved in battery material supply chains.&nbsp;Source:&nbsp;Nature CommunicationsA supply chain disruption centered in one country could occur for any number of reasons, ranging from geopolitical strategy to political or economic instability, a natural disaster, or another pandemic. Last year, China restricted exports of graphite, another key material used in batteries. Countries that make EVs, like the U.S., have an interest in diversifying supply chains to reduce disruption risks such as this.Additionally, the research finds that the levels of vulnerability vary based on the lithium-ion battery chemistry. For example, the LFP chemistry may currently be more vulnerable to supply disruptions in China, but NMC chemistries depend on more critical materials, resulting in more pathways for disruptions from other countries to affect the supply chain, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo or South Africa.As efforts are made to diversify the supply chain and incentivize domestic production, the authors note that a comprehensive approach must be considered beyond battery cell and pack production, including minerals extraction, processing, and component production.“The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act provides major incentives to diversify the supply chain and build more batteries in the U.S.,” says Michalek. “We’re actively working to analyze how this policy may incentivize changes in different parts of the supply chain and in battery technology.”The findings in this research can be useful to policymakers as they seek to identify specific bottlenecks, key relationships, and potential levers for reduction of supply chain vulnerabilities.

A recent study analyzes the relationship between electric vehicle battery chemistry and supply chain vulnerability for four critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese—across particular countries that are key contributors to production.

Anticipating and reducing EV battery supply disruptions

What’s the extent of impact of electric vehicle on drivetrain system? Electric Vehicle is driving significant change in drivetrain design for electric vehicles, with the use of different kinds of automatic transmissions and integrated units to optimize efficiency. Despite differences in operating principles, there are similarities. Explore the impact and challenges of drivetrain design and find how RPWORLD comes in to accelerate the design iteration.<h2 dir="ltr">What’s the Impact of EV on Drivetrain Design</h2>Electric Vehicle is driving significant change in the way manufacturers approach drivetrain design, as compared to the development process for traditional combustion engine vehicles. This change is reflected in the use of different kinds of automatic transmissions, such as 2-stage spur gear drives, integrated stepped planetary gear drives, or continuously variable transmissions (CVT), to optimize efficiency in state-of-the-art electric vehicles, whereas previously 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmissions were standard in the automotive world.One notable difference is that electric motors, power electronics, and drivetrains can share a single housing, which reduces the overall number of components in the powertrain and lowers the system's weight. In battery electric vehicles (BEVs), this integrated unit may directly power a combined electric axle drive, while various transmission configurations are possible in hybrid vehicles, depending on how the manufacturer intends the electric motor and combustion engine to interact with each other.<h2 dir="ltr">Challenges in Component Design for Electric Vehicle Drivetrains</h2>Despite the differences in operating principles between electric vehicle drivetrains and their combustion engine counterparts, there are many similarities in the design and manufacturing processes required at the component level. Key components such as straight gears, helical gears, and housings are common to both types of drivetrains. However, specializing such components for electric vehicle drivetrains presents challenges in dealing with the higher torque and speed of rotations that can be achieved with electric motors.<ul><li><h3 dir="ltr">Special considerations for precision manufacturing</h3></li></ul>The precision manufacturing of transmission components like straight and helical gears or planetary gear drive systems requires tighter tolerances for electric vehicle components. The surface finish of gears also gains new importance as the noise emission of the drivetrain is critical in electric vehicles due to the silent electric motor.<ul><li dir="ltr"><h3>Shift in drivetrain design</h3></li></ul>Electric Vehicle is driving a significant shift in drivetrain design for state-of-the-art electric vehicles, leading to the use of different kinds of automatic transmissions and integrated units that reduce the overall number of components and weight of the system. Despite differences in operating principles, there are many similarities in the design and manufacturing processes required at the component level. Specializing components for electric vehicle drivetrains requires dealing with higher torque and speed of rotations and tighter tolerances, as well as placing greater importance on surface finish to reduce noise emission from the silent electric motor.<h2 dir="ltr">Customized Drivetrain Components to Meet Your Specific Needs</h2>At RPWORLD, we understand that every vehicle's drivetrain requirement is different, and that's why we offer customized drivetrain components with tight tolerance and high efficiency to meet your specific needs. Our 20-years’ experience in manufacturing allows you to turn your design into reality fast and accelerate your iteration and prototyping verification.RPWORLD is a customized manufacturing supplier, offering CNC Machining, Injection Molding, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Surface Treatment and more.

Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

Explore the impact and challenges of drivetrain design and find how RPWORLD comes in to accelerate the design iteration.

Customized Drivetrain Components: Meeting the Challenges of EV Design

The automotive industry is undergoing a huge transformation. As the world moves towards more sustainable energy sources, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a driving force to transition from gas-powered cars. Just recently, <a href="https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/g34452328/future-electric-cars/" target="_blank">Gear Patrol</a> and <a href="https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g29994375/future-electric-cars-trucks/" target="_blank">Car and Driver</a> have showcased future EVs from a wide range of automotive manufacturers, including Acura, Audi, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Ford, BMW, Polestar, Kia and Hyundai, just to name a few. Even luxury car brands, like Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Bentley, are jumping on the EV bandwagon.What’s more, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/16/converting-gas-powered-cars-to-evs-is-a-booming-business.html" target="_blank">shops and the aftermarket sector are noticing a substantial increase in demand for converting combustion vehicles to electric</a>, propelled by demand from DIYers and classic car collectors.But developing EVs or converting traditional cars to electric is not a mere battery-swapping game. It’s a complex process involving precision, detail, and innovative engineering. At the heart of this new approach to vehicle design is 3D scanning technology.We sat down with one of Creaform’s clients, <a href="https://www.phiaro.jp/en/" target="_blank">Phiaro</a>, to learn more about how the company is utilizing 3D scanners to convert conventional vehicles into EVs for its clients.Based in Japan and with <a href="https://phiaroinc.com/" target="_blank">offices in Irvine, California</a>, Phiaro is an industrial engineering company that offers research, design, and product development services to the automotive sector. In the business for over 80 years, the company has carved an enviable niche in the market for constantly pushing the technology envelope further.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1711016488267-photo_01-1536x864.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Phiaro’s engineering managers see a promising future for Creaform’s 3D scanners in their EV design and inspection workflows<h2 id="isPasted">3D scanning: A pivotal technology for designing brand-new EVs</h2>When manufacturers embark on a new project to create an innovative EV model, metrology-grade 3D scanners allow engineers and industrial designers to accurately acquire 3D measurements of existing combustion-engine vehicles, which can then be used as the springboard for designing its EV counterpart.Traditional vehicle design methods, involving multiple physical prototypes and iterations, are both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Using 3D scanners can substantially reduce the costs associated with these EV development processes, making them more efficient and accelerating an automotive manufacturer’s time to market.The design teams at Phiaro use Creaform’s Go!SCAN SPARK to replace their conventional methods of taking photographs with a digital camera or using legacy equipment fixed to a jig to conduct tests on the vehicles they are designing. Both of these methods were cumbersome as not all the information was readily available to Phiaro’s development teams or did not offer the level of accuracy required for engineering and performance assessments. The Go!SCAN SPARK generates measurements without the use of positioning targets which saves a lot of time, and it captures precise texture info together with color.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/56-pzC8vm_I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><h3 id="isPasted">Combining the power of 3D scanning and mixed reality technologies</h3>Always ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting new technologies, Phiaro is also using the Go!SCAN SPARK, along with mixed reality (MR) technologies, to recreate accurate virtual models of vehicles. These models, when integrated with mixed reality tools, provide a virtual playground for engineers. They can “explore” the car, “see” the components in 3D space, and virtually confirm the design of EV engines, for example, when they are installed in the actual vehicle space.This virtual validation process drastically cuts down design and testing time. It also provides a tangible way for engineers across the globe to collaborate in real time. Imagine an engineer in Saitama working on a design and a colleague examining the outcomes in Tochigi, Japan, virtually walking around the same car model, providing instant feedback, and confirming changes.Phiaro’s engineering managers see a promising future for Creaform’s 3D scanners in their EV design workflows. As many in the automotive industry know, the sector is just getting started when it comes to innovations in EV design and performance.

Phiaro’s engineering managers see a promising future for Creaform’s 3D scanners in their EV design and inspection workflows

The automotive industry is undergoing a huge transformation. As the world moves towards more sustainable energy sources, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a driving force to transition from gas-powered cars.

3D scanning for gas-powered cars conversions of electrical vehicle design

<h3 id="isPasted">Who are we?&nbsp;</h3>Team Polar is an Eindhoven-based student team filled with students from different disciplines. Our mission is to facilitate and improve the research going on in Antarctica. We aim to achieve this by building an autonomous, affordable, and electric rover. The reason we go with Antarctica is that the current research going on is led by human-driven vehicles using fossil fuels. Building an autonomous vehicle means it is safer and less expensive since there is no&nbsp;driver to pay.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>The Ice Cube&nbsp;</h3>After working for more than a year, Team Polar came up with the&nbsp;Ice Cube. Ice Cube was just the first step towards our vision of building a sustainable and affordable research environment in Antarctica. Ice Cube has 2 square meters of&nbsp;solar panels&nbsp;which helps Ice Cube to go up to 65 kilometers (about half the distance from Washington, D.C. to New York City) per day. With its 28' wheels, the Ice Cube weighs around 350 kilograms (about 771.62 lb).&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Progress on Ice Cube&nbsp;</h3>Team Polar is&nbsp;in&nbsp;the second prototype's design process, and the Ice Cube is only used for testing.&nbsp;Since the Ice Cube was built in&nbsp;a short time, some features were missing, such as autonomy.&nbsp;Our software team is using&nbsp;the Ice Cube&nbsp;to test their software and the new sensors&nbsp;that&nbsp;we are aiming to implement on our second prototype.&nbsp;While these tests are&nbsp;being made, new structural components are also being tested. Such as gas springs, hinges, handles, etc.&nbsp;Meanwhile, we are developing a force balance that helps&nbsp;determine&nbsp;possible ranges&nbsp;of mass of the next vehicle. We&nbsp;are also looking into the location of research, which will help&nbsp;determine&nbsp;the&nbsp;driving range and strategy for the energy balance (which will&nbsp;probably be&nbsp;made next year).&nbsp;<h3>Processing REMA Image&nbsp;</h3>Under the “Autonomous Department”, our engineers successfully developed and implemented code to process &nbsp; Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) images.&nbsp;REMA provides the first, high-resolution (2-meter) terrain map of&nbsp;nearly the&nbsp;entire continent. Since each REMA grid point has a timestamp, any past or future point observation of elevation provides a measurement of elevation change.&nbsp;REMA may provide corrections for a wide range of remote sensing processing activities, such as image orthorectification, and interferometry, and provide constraints for geodynamic and ice flow modeling, mapping of grounding lines, and surface processes. REMA also provides a powerful new resource for field logistics planning.&nbsp;This is an important step for the autonomy of the Ice Cube. The goal is to calculate the altitudes in Antarctica to find out the clearest and most optimized path for the rover.&nbsp;&nbsp;The next step for these images is to transform the processed REMA images into a format that is compatible with our A* algorithm.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>A* Algorithm&nbsp;</h3>The A* search algorithm is one of the best techniques used in path-finding and graph traversals. The path we derived will be the shortest of all the other options or the most efficient by all parameters considered. &nbsp;A* works by making a lowest-cost path&nbsp;<a href="https://brilliant.org/wiki/trees-basic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree</a>&nbsp;from the start node to the target node. What makes A* different and better for many searches is that for each node, A* uses a function f(n) that gives an estimate of the total cost of a path using that node.The environment of Antarctica and the conditions are the hardest part of our project. We need to come up with innovative and technical solutions. Understanding the altitudes and general geography of Antarctica is crucial.&nbsp;&nbsp;Furthermore, the design of the rover plays a huge role in our path to success. Our Dynamics Sub team is trying to come up with new ideas for the newest version of the Ice Cube.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Suspension&nbsp;</h3>Unlike the Ice Cube, the new vehicle will use a suspension system. The test in Norway in 2022 showed that; the main purpose of having a suspension is important for keeping all wheels on the ground, for improved traction. Also, it will dampen vibrations to keep the vehicles' most important components as stable as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;The suspension system the new vehicle will be using is a so-called double wishbone suspension. For this suspension, every wheel is connected to two-wishbone-shaped arms. Every wheel is independently controlled.&nbsp;&nbsp;The main advantage of the double-wishbone configuration is its good ratio of kinematic versatility vs. complexity, it being slightly more complex than other systems like the McPherson strut and slightly simpler than others like multi-link suspensions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Ground pressure&nbsp;</h3>Getting the right ground pressure is extremely crucial for the environment the vehicle will operate. A ground pressure that is too high will cause the vehicle to get stuck in the snow or even fall into crevasses. To prevent this, the ground pressure that will be aimed for in the new vehicle is 0.1 bar. This value is also used by Artic Trucks or other snow vehicles such as the tracked vehicles made by Mattracks. In comparison, the average human exerts a pressure of 0.17 bar on the ground.&nbsp;The low ground pressure is achieved by maximizing the contact area using large and not fully inflated&nbsp;tires.&nbsp;Next Steps?&nbsp;

Facilitating the human-led and autonomous research in the Antarctic continent.

Pioneering Autonomous Antarctic Research

The global transition to&nbsp;electrified personal transport is gaining momentum, with consumer electric vehicles (EVs) leading the way. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), EV sales exceeded 10 million units in 2022.That total made up 14 percent of all new cars sold - up from less than 5 percent in 2020[1]. This shift is being driven by a combination of financial incentives and regulations, as governments across the globe commit to an EV future as part of a drive toward “net zero” carbon emissions.&nbsp;But there’s a danger that growth could be stifled by a significant issue: across the globe, EV charging stations lag vehicle sales.&nbsp;<h2>The need for accessible EV charging</h2>In countries where EVs are already popular, there tends to be well developed infrastructure; for example, Norway (where 86 percent of new cars are EVs) and Iceland (72 percent) have widespread charging networks. In contrast, the U.S. is falling behind in EV adoption—with the cars making up only five percent of new sales—removing the commercial incentive for companies to build charging infrastructure.&nbsp;Currently, the number of U.S. EV charging stations falls well below the availability of traditional gas stations, even when considering the size EV fleets compared to gas-powered vehicles. According to&nbsp;Motor.com, the U.S. averages about 104 gas pumps per 1,600 road kilometers, compared to just 22 EV charging ports[2]. The problem is made worse because it takes just minutes to fill a car from a gas pump—making it quickly accessible to the next vehicle in the line—while EV charging is much slower even with the latest generation of fast chargers. &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Avoiding flat batteries</h2>The limited availability of charging stations means that the last thing any EV driver needs is poor equipment reliability. Because EV drivers tend to plan road trips around the relatively few available charging stations when the roll up at one, they need it to work. And it’s not just consumers, governments too expect well maintained networks. For example, a new UK law, the&nbsp;Public Charge Point Regulation 2023, requires each charging point to be 99 percent reliable.&nbsp;&nbsp;To keep public charging points functioning that dependably, they need to be continuously monitored so that any problems can be quickly identified and fixed. Better yet, the monitoring could be used to address problems well before they result in equipment failure.&nbsp;&nbsp;Such monitoring requires robust, country-wide, and long-range wireless connectivity to collect data on the availability and condition of charging stations. And the only standards-based technology that can do this is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT" target="_blank">Cellular IoT</a>. The technology enables companies to send EV charger data to a Cloud platform for remote analysis and to determine if the charger needs a visit for a service.&nbsp;<h2>Wireless connectivity for home charging</h2>The year-on-year increase in range of EVs promises to make home charging just as significant as public charging because it means that for all but the longest journeys, consumers can top up batteries in their own garage. This private market is made up of a range of individual suppliers, with two main types of home chargers. One type is low-cost and without Internet connectivity; despite the price advantage, this type may become less popular in the future due to inconveniences such as not being able to take advantage of flexible tariffs.&nbsp;The other popular type of home EV charger can access the Internet. The charger can be directly connected using Cellular IoT; alternatively, the charger can access the Internet via home Wi-Fi. With the introduction of the latest version of the wireless tech, Wi-Fi 6, the chargers can be easily integrated into the smart home ecosystem. This is because Wi-Fi is a key constituent of Matter, a smart home standard backed by companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung, and Nordic Semiconductor.&nbsp;&nbsp;As an integral part of the smart home, the domestic EV charger can, for example, ask the owner if a full charge is necessary for tomorrow because on that day of the week the car is usually only driven on short journeys. If a full top-up is asked for, connectivity allows the charger to determine precisely when to switch on charging to take advantage of the cheapest tariff. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>EV charging is set to become big business</h2>While public charging infrastructure remains relatively scarce, as EV ownership grows, so will the supporting network. And that will mean hundreds of thousands of chargers spread across entire countries. Cellular IoT is the only LPWAN capable of the coverage and reliability demanded by such huge charging networks. But more than that, cellular IoT brings other benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to report published by telecoms services and equipment provider, Ericsson, connectivity brings significant business opportunities for EV charging companies and the related ecosystem. By connecting charging stations with cellular IoT, EV charging companies are better positioned to effectively manage their orchestration, administration, and maintenance. That in turn keeps the complex ecosystem of stakeholders—including drivers, hardware and connectivity providers, utility companies, automotive OEMs, and asset owners like parking operators, city authorities, and homeowners—satisfied.&nbsp;&nbsp;EV’s promise a greener future. But each driver wants reassurance that when they need to recharge their vehicle’s batteries, a fully functioning charger will only be a short hop away. Wireless technologies like cellular IoT and Wi-Fi will not only make it simple for service providers to keep their chargers in good order but will also help them efficiently and remotely manage huge charger networks. &nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><h3>References</h3>1. Global EV Outlook 2023;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2023/executive-summary" target="_blank">www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2023/executive-summary#</a>&nbsp;2. Study explores EV charging vs gas station density in the U.S.;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motor.com/2023/08/study-explores-ev-charging-station-vs-gas-station-density-in-the-u-s" target="_blank">www.motor.com/2023/08/study-explores-ev-charging-station-vs-gas-station-density-in-the-u-s</a>&nbsp;

The global transition to electrified personal transport is gaining momentum, with consumer electric vehicles (EVs) leading the way. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), EV sales exceeded 10 million units in 2022.

Improving EV charging networks with cellular IoT

With the U.S. government’s goal to reduce emissions from transportation as part of a net-zero climate goal by 2050, efficient and reliable batteries are a necessity. A collaborative team of researchers led by the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis is working toward that goal by developing an energy storage system that would have a much higher energy density than existing systems.With $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), Xianglin Li, associate professor of mechanical engineering &amp; materials science, will lead a multi-institutional team to develop a lithium-air (Li-air) battery with ionic liquids to deliver efficient, reliable and durable performance for high-energy and high-power applications. The Phase I, 18-month funding is part of $15 million ARPA-E awarded to 12 projects across 11 states to advance next-generation, high-energy storage solutions to speed electrifying the aviation, railroad and maritime transportation sectors.Funded through the Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic and Plane ELectrification with 1K energy storage systems (<a href="https://arpa-e.energy.gov/technologies/programs/propel-1k" target="_blank">PROPEL-1K</a>) program, projects aim to develop emission-free energy storage systems with “1K” technologies capable of achieving or exceeding 1,000-Watt-hour per kilogram (Wh/kg) and 1,000 Watt-hour per liter (Wh/L).“The current commercially available lithium-ion batteries have the specific energy of around 200 watt-hour per kilogram, and those would not work because 1,000 watt-hour per kilogram is beyond their thermodynamic limit,” Li said. “We need to increase that specific energy density by four to five times, so this is a very aggressive goal.”If successful, PROPEL-1K technologies would electrify regional flights traveling as far as 1,000 miles with up to 100 people, all North American railroads, and all vessels operating exclusively in U.S. territorial waters, the agency said.&nbsp;Li’s team’s concept would use pure lithium in the anode because it has the highest energy density. They will use a very thin separator with unique properties to transfer the lithium ion back and forth. The cathode must contain catalysts that make the electrochemical reaction of oxygen reduction and evolution reactions happen quickly and efficiently.“All of these components must be put together almost perfectly, because that 1,000 watt-hour per kilogram is near the limit of any energy storage technology,” Li said. “That's why we have a large team with complementary experts on different parts of this whole system. My team will lead the overall design of the system and focus on the cathode where the oxygen reaction would occur.”For the proposed Li-air flow battery, the team will use a unique electrolyte: ionic liquids with high oxygen solubility, low viscosity, ultra-low volatility and high ionic conductivity. The team will also customize catalysts and lithium metal protection membranes to enhance battery performance while reducing power consumption during electrolyte circulation. Preliminary experimental results have shown a tenfold increase in capacity by using a circulating electrolyte.“Commercial batteries use organic electrolytes, but because our Li-air cell is an open system, that electrolyte would evaporate over time,” Li said. “Ionic liquid is a salt that acts like a liquid but does not evaporate and can flow at room temperature.”Co-principal investigators on the project include Peng Bai, associate professor, and Vijay Ramani, the Roma B. &amp; Raymond H. Wittcoff Distinguished University Professor, both in the Department of Energy, Environmental &amp; Chemical Engineering in McKelvey Engineering; Mark Shiflett, Foundation Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas; Ivan Vlassiouk, senior research staff at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; James Saraidaridis, principal research engineer at Raytheon Technologies Research Center; and Sherry Quinn, electrochemist at Powerit. Together, they will work to develop a prototype that may be further developed and taken to market.The team also will conduct an economic analysis of its Li-air flow battery systems to the aviation, railroad and maritime transportation sectors to highlight the importance of advancing energy storage technologies beyond the current Li-ion battery technology.

With $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), Xianglin Li, associate professor of mechanical engineering & materials science, will lead a multi-institutional team to develop a lithium-air (Li-Air) battery with ionic liquids to deliver efficient, reliable and durable performance for high-energy and high-power applications. (Credit: iStock photo)

With the U.S. government’s goal to reduce emissions from transportation as part of a net-zero climate goal by 2050, efficient and reliable batteries are a necessity.

Efficient lithium-air battery under development to speed electrification of vehicles

According to the Global EV Outlook from IEA, the EV stock reaches 145 million in 2030, accounting for 7% of the road vehicle fleet. However, one of the main challenges facing EVs is the battery, which determines the performance, range, safety, and cost of the vehicle. The battery enclosure is the protective structure that houses the battery cells and modules. The article explores different materials and design considerations for enclosures to optimize and supercharge EV performance. &nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Steel vs. Aluminium vs. Carbon Fiber</h2>Steel is a traditional material that offers high strength and durability. However, steel is heavy and prone to corrosion, which can reduce the energy efficiency and lifespan of the battery. In addition, steel has high thermal conductivity, which affects the battery performance and safety. Aluminum, in contrast, is preferred due to its lightweight and high strength-to-weight ratio. It is also more resistant to corrosion than steel.Sounds like aluminum wins in every way, no material is without its challenges, however. There is also the poor impact performance of metal materials. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), a newer and more innovative composite material, offers lightweight, anti-impact, durable and flexible performance. However, it is also more expansive. Moreover,<a href="https://www.sae.org/news/2021/01/novel-materials-approach-to-ev-battery-box-design" target="_blank">&nbsp;its thermal expansion mismatch with the battery cells</a>, which makes it still a cautious choice.<h2 dir="ltr">Design to Improve Cooling Efficiency</h2>Other than material selection, the factors such as structure optimization, thermal management system, etc., are also crucial. The modular design with multiple cooling channels and the use of cooling fins and heat sinks can enhance the cooling efficiency of the battery pack. Therefore, the surface area for heat transfer increased, allowing air or liquid to flow through the channels. If the heat, generated by battery cells during operation, is not dissipated properly, can reduce the lifespan of the battery, and even cause safety hazards.<h2 dir="ltr">Multi-layered Housing Structure</h2>Another important aspect of the battery pack housing design is the protection against mechanical and thermal shocks. A multi-layered housing structure consisting of an outer layer of aluminum or steel, a middle layer of insulation material, and an inner layer of polymer film can balance the pros and cons of different materials.This structure protects against physical damage to the battery cells from external impacts or vibrations, and protects against thermal runaway, which can occur when the battery overheats and triggers a chain reaction leading to a fire or explosion. The insulation layer prevents heat from spreading to adjacent cells and absorbs impact energy, while the polymer film acts as a barrier to prevent oxygen from entering the battery and fueling the combustion.<h2 dir="ltr">On-demand Manufacturing Accelerates Your Enclosure Development</h2>Before launching battery packs to the market, you need to conduct many prototyping verifications. RPWORLD is happy to support alongside your auto part development with 20-years’ experience and expertise. Choose RPWORLD, you will get:<ul><li dir="ltr">Fast delivery in as little as 7 days to help you ahead of competitions.</li><li dir="ltr">One-stop manufacturing including CNC machining, injection molding and more to bring your design to life under one roof.</li><li dir="ltr">Design optimization and manufacturability advice to mitigate production risks.</li><li>00+ high-performance engineering materials to suite your different needs.</li></ul>

According to the Global EV Outlook from IEA, the EV stock reaches 145 million in 2030, accounting for 7% of the road vehicle fleet. However, one of the main challenges facing EVs is the battery, which determines the performance, range, safety, and cost of the vehicle.

Supercharge EV's Performance with Optimized Battery Enclosures

Q: What is driving market growth for Wide Bandgap (WBG) devices?&nbsp;With gallium nitride (GaN), efficiency is the key driver which impacts everything else, resulting in less heat, smaller size and lower cost. The fundamental market drivers within the power field are efficiency and cost. Efficiency has been driven by regulatory requirements, but also by market requirements for power supplies to be smaller and lighter. Looking at cost, Power Integrations is finding is that for higher-end power supplies with a higher spec, GaN is the lowest cost approach because it saves heat sinking and the extra switches necessary for complex topologies.&nbsp;But optimizing the potential of GaN requires new system-level thinking. The old topologies that were invented to compensate for the challenges of using silicon are not required, because GaN is much closer to being an ideal switch. By that I mean that GaN devices switches very, very fast, they have a very low gate capacitance, and very low output capacitance COSS. But that brings with it a different set of design challenges. Power Integrations has found that the best way to work with GaN is to build a system around it. So we create sub-systems in GaN, such as our InnoSwitch™ flyback power supply ICs, our power factor correction HiperPFS-5™ parts and our LytSwitch-6™ LED drivers. We have brought to market GaN devices that benefit notebook adapters, cell phone adapters, small power supplies, LED lighting, etc, and there is much more to come.Power Integrations is following the same system-level strategy for silicon carbide, and we're seeing the same system-level benefits. When it comes to picking which WBG technology to use, the differentiation in our minds is voltage level: we're using silicon carbide in 1700 volt products which are targeting 800 volt automotive applications, but for 400 volt automotive applications, we think GaN is the ideal solution.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1708323818106-ezgif-2-d7c996fa21.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Q: What are the trade-offs between using a wide bandgap semiconductor device and a traditional silicon-based device?It's a complicated answer, but I think that the enclosure size target is the determining factor. From the enclosure, the available heat budget - in order to fit a suitable power system into that enclosure - can be calculated. From this, designers can evaluate whether they are able to use silicon with a simple topology, &nbsp;or whether they need to use silicon with a complex topology &nbsp;or GaN with a simple topology. The benefit of GaN lies in its low cost of switching which means that it can be switched without having to use a resonant topology…which is how you achieve similar results with silicon. The moment you go with resonant (LLC), you have to add more switches – hence more cost. And you lose a dynamic range of operation so you've triggered problems with constraints on your input or output voltage.So the trade-off is whether the constraints of complex silicon outweigh any perceived risks associated with using the new technology. Power Integrations believes that that new technology is proven, reliable and rugged…and also that it delivers the lowest system cost. So we would suggest the GaN solution rather than an LLC, even though we have LLC ICs in our toolbox too. We recommend a simple GaN flyback over a more complex resonant supply simply because of the flexibility that the flyback provides.Q: What are the key packaging considerations wide bandgap semiconductors, and how can they be addressed?Power Integrations is a sub-systems company, not a GaN transistor company: we integrate the switch, GaN, SiC or silicon, into a package along with other functions to deliver an integrated power solution. We're not trying to make the best package to address the needs of a power FET, we're creating the best package for a multi chip sub-system for a small flyback power supply, a PFC device or an LED driver. As such, our packaging challenge is unique. But a founding principle of Power Integrations was to minimize the number of pins and the size of the package, bearing in mind constraints about creepage, so WBG has not changed our approach in this respect.With this in mind, Power Integrations produces custom packages that are most suitable for power at an electrical and thermal and mechanical level. When we design a package, we consider:&nbsp;“Is it going to be isolated?”“Will it conduct the heat away properly?”&nbsp;“Is it strong enough to resist moisture?”&nbsp;“Will it pass the usual basket of JEDEC and automotive tests?”Power Integrations is continually innovating in packaging. As an example, a few years ago, we introduced Fluxlink™, a communication technology that enables feedback to be delivered across an isolation barrier without the use of any magnetic materials or an optocoupler. FluxLink delivers a very high communication bandwidth which enables a much faster load-transient response. But because FluxLink is a leadframe-based approach, we use standard stamping tools and standard transfer-molding technology. Therefore, we don't we don't incur any cost penalty, despite using a multichip module approach.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1708323841620-ezgif-2-7cf67576ee.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Q: How can thermal management be optimized in a high-power wide bandgap semiconductor device to ensure reliable operation?A general comment concerning thermal management is that Power Integrations has found that more GaN is cheaper than more aluminum. In other words, it's better to increase the size of the GaN transistor and generate less heat in the first place than to attempt a mechanical thermal heatsink-plus-fan solution afterwards. Milligrams of GaN is cheaper than kilograms of aluminum.&nbsp;Specifically, one of the most important design considerations is to ensure that the heat sink is at source - i.e. it's grounded. So Power Integrations makes sure that its devices have a large amount of metal from the lead frame of the package exposed and available to be soldered down. Sometimes we have a pad on the back of the part, sometimes we have a tab on one side. Our devices feature a grounded tab, so there is no hot, high voltage heat sink that is switching up and down at high frequency, radiating on a broad spectrum of frequencies causing EMI problems. &nbsp;Q: How will the use of wide bandgap semiconductor devices develop in the power electronics industry?Because GaN approaches the ideal switch, my view is that when GaN can, GaN should. I see GaN basically taking over at the lower voltages - mains through to 1200 volts; essentially GaN will become ubiquitous up to a certain power level, especially for applications that need to be efficient across the load range. It's dependent on the technical development of GaN: as the voltage of GaN increases it will replace silicon carbide, and as its current carrying capacity increases, GaN will replace IGBTs.

In the in-depth interview, PI Vice President of Marketing Doug Bailey explains GaN technology and the new possibilities it brings to the power conversion industry.

GaN set to become ubiquitous in power electronics

Airspeeder-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Airspeeder-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Airspeeder-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Airspeeder-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Airspeeder-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nexperia-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Nexperia-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nexperia-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Nexperia-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nexperia-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Nexperia-Fri Oct 06 2023 08:49:31 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

Nexperia-Tue Oct 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Nexperia-Mon Oct 30 2023 08:42:36 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Nexperia-Mon Oct 30 2023 08:43:01 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Nexperia-Mon Oct 30 2023 08:43:41 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Lightyear-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Lightyear-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Lightyear-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Lightyear-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Lightyear-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Keysight-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Keysight-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Keysight-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Keysight-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Keysight-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Lightyear

Synopsys Inc

Introduction

Sensing Technologies

Thinking and Learning

EDGE and RTOS

Communication and Connectivity

Security

Tech Stack

Examining the latest developments in self-driving vehicles.

Autonomous Vehicle Technology Report

Automotive

Enhancing Efficiency with AGVs and AMR

AGV vs AMR: A Comprehensive Comparison in the World of Automation

Chinese food delivery commercial Meituan testing an autonomous vehicle

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are poised to revolutionize human transportation by making it more safe, comfortable, and reliable. From passenger travel to cargo transportation, AVs equipped with AI and sensors offer tremendous potential. 

What is an Autonomous Vehicle: A Comprehensive Guide to its Engineering Principles and Applications

Deep dive into understanding the fundamentals of flow cell 

Flow Cell Technology: A Comprehensive Guide

Automotive

Autonomous Vehicle Technology Report

Introduction

1. Sensing Technologies

2. Thinking and Learning

3. EDGE and RTOS

4. Communication and Connectivity

5. Security

6. Tech Stack

Profiles