News

Mixed signal ASICs at the heart of intelligent sensing

Swindon Silicon Systems, a mixed signal ASIC design and supply specialist and a Sensata Technologies company, will exhibit its capabilities in custom integrated circuit (IC) solutions at electronica 2022. A world-leading trade fair for all areas of the electronics industry, the show will be held at the Trade Fair Center Messe München in Munich, Germany, from November 15 to 18, 2022.

Welcoming more than 3,000 exhibitors from over 50 countries, as well as over 80,000 visitors, electronica is one of the largest global gatherings of professionals in the electronics industry. Showcasing an array of electronic technologies, including semiconductors, embedded systems, electronic design, test and measurement and sensor technology, electronica acts as a meeting point for those wanting to explore the componentry that’s driving a sensor-driven, more intelligent industry.

At the show, Swindon will demonstrate its expertise in the design, production test and supply of mixed signal Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), integrated Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors, System on Chip (SoC) and System in Package (SiP) technology.

ASICs are key to delivering smarter sensor-based capabilities. Where sensors were once simple analogue components that delivered a basic output, solutions that now feature a mixed signal ASIC are capable of delivering a new level of sophistication.

Offering capabilities such as bespoke analogue front ends and signal processing, calibration for varying environmental conditions and robust bidirectional communication interfaces that embody intelligence in the sensor head itself, an ASIC can deliver more complexity in a single package, which brings many commercial benefits. In addition to the unique functionality of a custom solution, an ASIC will reduce a user’s bill of materials (BoM) while protecting the originator’s intellectual property (IP).

For customers wanting to guarantee component supply for the lifetime for their product, the ASIC route is far more capable of this rather than using standard components. Furthermore, working with an ASIC expert with the right know-how can accelerate time-to-market through use of IP libraries and production proven circuits.

This year’s electronica will follow a theme of driving sustainable progress, focusing on the role electronics play in paving the way for sustainable technologies. “A smarter, more sustainable planet will be a sensor-driven one,” explained Richard Mount, Director of Sales at Swindon. “All areas of industry can benefit from ASIC-driven smart sensors, whether that’s optimised sensors implemented to monitor energy use in a smart factory, or the sensors driving the smart city movement.

“Of course, supporting with sustainability credentials is not the only application where smart sensors come to the fore,” continued Mount. “Any application that demands a feature-rich, single-chip device that can interface with real-world sensing can benefit from an ASIC. We’re exhibiting at electronica this year to demonstrate how ASIC technology can be beneficial and accessible to many applications, delivering a competitive advantage to help manufacturers compete in the Industry 4.0 era.”

Swindon Silicon Systems’ experts will be at stand C3.439 from November 15 to 18, 2022. If you’re attending the show and would like to learn more about how mixed signal ASICs can revolutionise your application, please visit the stand or get in touch via the website.

Instrumentation Excellence Awards: Book your tickets to the event of the year

The nominations are in and the venue is confirmed, so now is the time to book your tickets to make sure you reserve your place at the instrumentation event of the year. The Instrumentation Excellence Awards (IEAs) celebrate the very best professionals, products and companies from the test, measurement, sensing and control sectors. Taking place on the 27 October 2022 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, the IEAs are a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an evening of great food and live entertainment with a celebrity host. Taking place in conjunction with the Electronics Industry Awards, the IEAs also present the networking event of the year.

Whether you want to book a table or just a few seats for you, your team and partners, the IEAs has a ticket option for you. Tickets include an invitation to an exclusive champagne reception and a three-course meal with wine. 

To book your tickets to the event of the year, please visit: https://instrumentationawards.co.uk/book-tickets/  

Awards Categories 

Product Categories: 

  • IIoT product of the year 
  • Test and Measurement Product of the Year (sponsored by IndySoft) 
  • Sensor Product of the Year (sponsored by Watlow)
  • Gas Detection Product of the Year
  • Calibration Product of the Year 
  • Thermal Imaging and Vision Systems Product of the Year 
  • Flow, Level and Control Product of the Year 
  • Cables and Connectors Product of the Year 
  • Monitoring and Metering Product of the Year 
  • Cases and Enclosures Product of the Year 
  • DAQ Product of the Year (sponsored by Powelectrics)
  • Signal Conditioning Product of the Year 

Business Categories: 

  • Distributor of the Year (sponsored by Analog Devices)
  • Manufacturer of the Year 
  • Digital Transformation Award (sponsored by ifm electronic) 
  • PR Agency of the Year Award
  • Sustainability Award (sponsored by VEGA Controls)  
  • Excellence in Innovation
  • Best Marketing Campaign (sponsored by Display Technology)

 Individual: 

  • Industry Personality 

Find out more about the 2022 Instrumentation Excellence Awards: https://instrumentationawards.co.uk/ 

Allegro MicroSystems to showcase latest advancements at electronica 2022

Allegro MicroSystems will be attending electronica 2022 in Munich, Germany, from 15 November to 18 November. The company will showcase their market leading technologies for ADAS, Industry 4.0, and Clean Energy.

“electronica is the leading international industry fair and conference for electronics. We are thrilled to return in person in to connect with our customers and partners,” said Max Glover, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales. “We will showcase how our expanding portfolio of sensing and power solutions can contribute to a safer, sustainable, and more autonomous future.”

Booth visitors will get the chance to talk with Allegro’s technical and sales team on a variety of their technological advancements, including the company’s newly announced, revolutionary, Isolated Gate Drivers featuring Power-Thru technology. These gate drive solutions offer features that make it possible for designers to take advantage of the full efficiency benefits that WBG switches provide.

Additionally, Allegro will demonstrate the benefits that their coreless and 1MHz Current Sensors, Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) Technology, and 3DMAG position sensors offer to customers through exciting demonstrations on the show floor.

You can visit Allegro in Hall C2, Booth 102, to learn more.

Emerson technologies help SoCalGas deliver clean energy

Emerson announces the availability of a White Paper describing how they assisted Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) with a hydrogen microgrid project.

Hydrogen use is growing rapidly worldwide to provide a clean source of energy in a variety of industrial applications, but until now the residential market has had limited use. This situation is changing as utility companies worldwide are exploring delivery solutions to enable their customers to use hydrogen for emission reduction.

SoCalGas, a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy, is working with Emerson to deploy digital technologies, software, and services to demonstrate the resiliency and reliability of a hydrogen microgrid for southern California utility consumers.

The [H2] Innovation Experience is one of the first projects of its kind in the U.S., and it shows how this carbon-free gas made using renewable electricity can be consumed in pure form, or blended with natural gas to fuel clean energy systems of the future. Now operating, this demonstration project provides a path to reducing emissions from home energy use—another critical contribution to a cleaner energy future.

To learn more about Emerson’s sustainability and hydrogen initiatives, please visit https://www.emerson.com/en-us/esg/sustainability/automation/hydrogen-value-chain/blending

To download the White Paper, please visit https://www.emerson.com/documents/automation/socalgas-delivers-clean-energy-for-%5Bh2%5D-innovation-experience-en-8618038.pdf

Instrumentation Excellence Awards 2022: Meet the Finalists

The finalists for the 2022 Instrumentation Excellence Awards have been announced. Taking place on the 27 October 2022 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, the awards celebrate the very best professionals, products and companies from the test, measurement, sensing and control sectors.

The Finalists

Cables and Connectors Product of the Year 

  • binder, M8 series 818  
  • Fischer Connectors, MiniMax Series  
  • HARTING, Han-Modular Domino modules  
  • Molex, Brad Micro-Change M12 Cat6a connector  

Calibration Product of the Year 

  • Beamex, MC6-Ex  
  • Fluke Calibration 8588A  
  • IndySoft, Calibration Management Software
  • Keysight Technologies, U9361 RCal  
  • Rohde & Schwarz, R&S FSMR3000  
  • TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory, NEL-SURE  

Cases and Enclosures Product of the Year 

  • Hylec-APL, DEDSS Stainless Steel Series  
  • Protechnic, EXOcase  
  • Rittal, VX SE  
  • ROLEC, profiPANEL  
  • Spelsberg els UK, GEOS  

DAQ Product of the Year 

  • ADLINK Technology Inc., MCM-216/218 ultra-compact edge DAQ solution  
  • Analog Devices, AD7768-1  
  • Chell Instruments, nanoDAQ-LTR-32  
  • Dewesoft, SIRIUS XHS  
  • Kistler, KiDAQ Data Acquisition System  
  • Yokogawa, DL950 ScopeCorder  

Flow, Level and Control Product of the Year 

  • Bronkhorst, FLEXI-FLOW  
  • Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, FLOWave  
  • Endress + Hauser, Proline Promag W 800 electromagnetic flowmeter  
  • ifm electronic, LW2720 radar level sensor  
  • Magnetrol-AMETEK, Genesis – Multiphase Detector  
  • Swagelok Gas Distribution Program  
  • Titan Enterprises, Process Atrato  
  • VEGA Controls, VEGAPULS 10 20 30 Low-Cost Compact 80 GHz Radar Level sensors  

Gas Detection Product of the Year 

  • ABB Measurement & Analytics, Hoverguard ABB Ability UAV-based gas leak detection  
  • Edinburgh Sensors, Guardian NG Gas Monitor  
  • Emerson, Rosemount 936 Open Path Toxic Gas Detector  
  • ION Science, ARA H2S single gas detector  
  • Teledyne Oldham Simtronics, MX 256  
  • Vaisala, CARBOCAP MGP261 Multigas Probe  

IIoT product of the year 

  • ABB, SRV500 ABB Ability Verification for measurement devices  
  • ifm electronic, edgeGateway  
  • JR Dynamics Limited, Trains with Brains(R)  
  • Metasphere Ltd, ART Sewer- IoT Wastewater Level Monitoring solution  
  • Powelectrics, Metron4  
  • VEGA Controls Ltd, VEGAPULS AIR IIOT Stand alone radar level sensors  

Monitoring and Metering Product of the Year 

  • Casella, dBadge2  
  • Dewesoft, IOLITEdi 3xMEMS-ACC  
  • Fluke 1770 series three-Phase Power Quality Analyzer  
  • Metasphere Ltd, ART Sewer- IoT Wastewater Level Monitoring solution  
  • Proteus Instruments Limited, The Proteus  

Sensor Product of the Year 

  • ABB Measurement & Analytics, ADS420 dissolved oxygen sensor  
  • Baumer, PFMH hygienic pressure transmitters  
  • ESI Technology Limited, The GD4200-USB Digital Pressure Transducer  
  • ifm electronic, LDL101 conductivity sensor  
  • Kistler, 9132CD piezoelectric force transducer  
  • Rolls-Royce.com, Novel Nuclear Reactor Rod Position Sensor  
  • VEGA Controls, VEGAPOINT  

Signal Conditioning Product of the Year 

  • Dewesoft, SIRIUS UNI 
  • HBM ClipX
  • Kemo DR PRT
  • NewTek Sensor Solutions, NTC-6000 Qwik-Cal LVDT Signal Conditioner  
  • Precision Filters, SCB-32CC-100μA  
  • Turck Banner, SNAP SIGNAL  

Test and Measurement Product of the Year 

  • ABB Measurement & Analytics, AquaMaster4 Mobile Comms  
  • Fluke ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager  
  • Keysight Technologies M9484C VXG Signal Generator
  • Sensory Analytix SpecMetrix
  • Tektronix, 2 Series Mixed Signal Oscilloscope  
  • Yokogawa, WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer – Transformer Version  

Thermal Imaging and Vision Systems Product of the Year 

  • AMETEK Land, NIR-B-2K-Glass imaging camera  
  • Analog Devices Inc., ADTF3175  
  • INSPEKTO, S70 Gen.2  
  • Scorpion 3D Neural Camera  
  • Teledyne FLIR, E52 Handheld Thermal Imaging Camera  

Digital Transformation Award 

  • ABB  
  • Analog Devices  
  • AVEVA  
  • COPA-DATA  
  • Metasphere Ltd  

Distributor of the Year 

  • Arrow Electronics  
  • Digi-Key  
  • Farnell  
  • Mouser Electronics  
  • RS Components  
  • TTI, Inc.

Excellence in Innovation 

  • 5GoreConn Pvt Ltd & Excel3D Healthcare 
  • Display Technology 
  • Magnetrol-AMETEK  
  • Metasphere Ltd  
  • Reotech Process Equipment Pvt. Ltd.  
  • VEGA Controls  

Manufacturer of the Year 

  • Bronkhorst High-Tech  
  • Kistler Group  
  • Renishaw  
  • Sensor Technology  
  • VEGA  
  • Vision Engineering  

Best Marketing Campaign 

  • Analog Devices 
  • Anglia Components 
  • Bronkhorst UK  
  • ifm electronic  
  • Tektronix  
  • VEGA Controls  

PR Agency of the Year Award 

  • 514 Media  
  • Fresh B2B  
  • MEPAX  
  • Napier   
  • Neesham
  • Publitek  

Sustainability Award 

  • Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company  
  • Metasphere Ltd  
  • ABB Measurement & Analytics  
  • Vaisala  
  • ION Science  
  • TE Connectivity  

Industry Personality 

  • Emma Claridge, Display Technology 
  • Jon Morris, ifm electronic 
  • Chris Fox, Rotronic 
  • Tony Ingham, Sensor Technology 

Book your tickets to the event of the year 

Whether you want to book a table or just a few seats for you, your team and partners, the IEAs has a ticket option for you. Tickets include an invitation to an exclusive champagne reception and a three-course meal with wine.  

To book your tickets to the event of the year, please visit: https://instrumentationawards.co.uk/book-tickets/    

Analog Devices engineers a sustainable future at electronica 2022

Analog Devices, Inc. will showcase its innovative technology and solutions for industrial automation and instrumentation, automotive, healthcare, consumer and communications applications at electronica 2022 from November 15-18 (Munich, Germany in hall C4, booth 125.)

With over 30 demos, keynote speeches, and technical presentations from ADI experts, visitors will discover how ADI is working to engineer a sustainable future through areas such as intelligent factory and building automation, smart robotics and autonomous machines, automotive electrification, immersive in-cabin experiences, sustainable energy and grid stabilisation, 5G and next-generation connectivity, intelligent and safe consumer devices, and preventive digital healthcare.

Demo Highlights:

Industrial Automation and Instrumentation

Industrial and building automation systems are rapidly digitising, combining sensing, connectivity, and analytics to enable a new level of energy efficiency to unlock key insights and deliver personalised outcomes. Demonstrations featuring advanced intelligent motion control, asset health monitoring, seamlessly connected intelligent edge devices, and efficient power management showcase just some of the ways ADI’s technologies are building a more sustainable industrial future. Examples include communications technology to unlock the intelligent edge in the digital factory, advanced optical sensing for controlling robots with pinpoint accuracy, and integrated systems for intelligent building automation.

Automotive

ADI’s technologies are helping automotive manufacturers transform the in-cabin environment with audio, voice, Ethernet, and display solutions, as well as advanced battery solutions for electric vehicles. Through ADI’s technology, the automotive industry can offer more immersive, personalised in-cabin experiences. Demonstrations include a complete battery management system for lithium-ion energy storage, the ADI LISTN™ platform allowing the concurrent operation of two independent voice assistants inside the cabin, and Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link™ (GMSL)-based SerDes solutions enabling automotive OEMs to deploy high resolution sensors in tomorrow´s software-defined vehicles.

Healthcare

ADI is working with customers to shape the future of digitised and decentralised healthcare, helping to make care more accessible and affordable for all. Smart sensors, precision analogue, high-performance signal processing, and advanced algorithms are at the heart of ADI’s healthcare solutions. Featured demos include a non-contact health monitoring system, an industry-first vital signs monitoring module placed on or inside a patient’s mattress or pillow, and an exercise bike with a low-cost power meter which also supports an ADI biometric sensor platform for activity tracker wristbands. ADI’s Health Sensor Platform 4.0, an open-source reference design for a chest patch providing 24/7 vital signs monitoring, will also be featured.

Consumer and Communications

A display wall will highlight innovative consumer devices developed by customers and supported by ADI’s digital signal processing, audio, video, power, and software solutions. Products will include low power wireless headphones and best-in-class soundbars as well as next-generation consumer devices creating highly immersive interactions between people and technology. Communications solutions on display will include a high-speed wireless data interconnect system and optimised power designs for 5G RF signal chains.

 

Heavy-Duty Anti-Static Floor Mat from First Mats

When working with sensitive electrical equipment, it’s essential to reduce the chances of it being critically damaged by a sudden electrostatic discharge (ESD). A great way to do this is with an Anti-Static Floor Mat, and a new model is now available from Birmingham-based matting specialists First Mats.

The primary job of an Anti-Static Mat is to protect workers and equipment by safely dissipating static electricity, preventing it from building up and discharging, which can damage circuit boards and other sensitive equipment. However, the new ESD Deck-Mat from First Mats also makes for a great Anti-Fatigue Mat. Workers who spend most of their working day on their feet will be all too familiar with the aches and pains caused by long periods of being stationary on their feet, but Anti-Fatigue Mats can make their work significantly more comfortable, leading to better well-being and productivity. The new Deck-Mat features a soft, foam-based centre that helps relieve discomfort from standing, whilst a conductive vinyl top surface provides durability and protection for operatives and components from static discharges. It’s also resilient against many industrial chemicals and has a diamond pattern on the surface to boost grip underfoot.

The ESD Deck-Mat is available in full 18.3m long rolls in widths of 90cm or 120cm or in custom lengths, which are cut from the roll and professionally finished with ramped edges and a 10mm male stud for earth wire connection.

“The Deck-Mat provides the best combination of durability, comfort and static dissipation,” states First Mats Director Richard O’Connor, “making it a fantastic addition to our existing range of high-quality Anti-Fatigue and ESD floor matting.”

Visit the First Mats website to learn more about the Deck-Mat or the other Anti-Static Mats in the range.

 

https://www.firstmats.co.uk/collections/industrial-mats-anti-static-esd

 

Tektronix announces breakthrough Margin Test Solution

Tektronix, Inc. today announced a new product category that revolutionises PCI Express testing, transforming time to market, cost, and accessibility. The new TMT4 Margin Tester breaks conventions of PCIe testing, delivering fast test times. Plug-and-play set up and easy-to-use interface combine to deliver in minutes results that, up until now, required hours or even days of set up and testing, often stretching costs to seven figures.

“TMT4 Margin Tester is the latest example of how Tektronix continues to develop innovative test equipment, advancing technology solutions that accelerate progress and uniquely solve real-world problems” said Chris Witt, Vice President and General Manager of Portfolio Solutions at Tektronix. “The TMT4 Margin Tester empowers engineers to realise technological advances with ever greater ease and speed.”

A Completely New Approach to PCIe Validation Testing                                                                            

TMT4 Margin Tester breaks new ground as a specialised testing tool for design and validation of PCIe Gen 3 and Gen 4 motherboards, add-in cards, and system designs. While PCIe testing normally requires complex test systems and engineers with deep expertise and knowledge, the TMT4 Margin Tester enables engineers at all levels of experience to evaluate the health of transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) links faster than ever, greatly reducing time to market and cost of ownership. The platform supports the majority of common PCIe form factors, including CEM, M.2, U.2, and U.3, with testing capabilities of up to 16 lanes across PCIe presets 0-9, using a single standard connector.

Enhancing the PCIe Workflow to Uncover Issues Earlier

The Tektronix TMT4 Margin Tester is unrivalled in its speed and versatility for PCIe testing, making it a great option to conduct earlier and more frequent evaluation of board- or system-level link health during design and validation. The TMT4 tester is intended to complement full validation and compliance testing systems consisting of oscilloscopes and BERTs, by making it possible to uncover issues earlier in the design process prior to an in-depth examination using traditional equipment.

Game Changing Speed and Simplicity

New technologies are more complex than ever, requiring significant time and expertise to validate them. The new TMT4 Margin Tester enables engineers at all levels of expertise to test PCIe devices across up to 160 combinations of lanes and presets in as little as 20 minutes at Gen 4 speeds. Multi-lane testing capabilities enable users to significantly improve overall testing times by reducing the number of connection changes needed to perform testing.

Helping to Deliver Ease and Speed of Test at Intel 

Rina Raman, Vice President and General Manager, DCAI, Embedded Acceleration Division (EAD) at Intel, says: “Our team supported Tektronix to develop this new product category, knowing the importance of getting earlier insights and faster, more reliable results. The Tektronix TMT4 Margin Tester solution, built on the Intel Stratix 10 FPGA with PCIe, is easy for our engineers to use and the results are available substantially faster, in most cases, in minutes rather than hours. We have seen the benefits of this product to identify design issues much earlier in the design process.”

Category-Defining Features

  • Quick Scan mode enables evaluation of link health for Gen 3 or Gen 4 devices, up to 16 lanes, in minutes, not hours or days.
  • Custom Scan mode provides deeper insights by enabling users to scan Gen 3 or 4 devices, up to 16 lanes, across PCIe presets 0-9 (up to 160 combinations) in as little as 20 minutes.
  • Simple setup and configuration minimise the need for senior-level engineers to perform link health evaluations of their designs.
  • Full Tx/Rx protocol capability that enables link health evaluation of PCIe Gen 3 and Gen 4 communication technologies on both sides of the link in a single box.
  • Multi-lane testing capabilities enable users to significantly improve overall testing times by reducing the number of connection changes needed to perform testing.
  • Visibility of link training parameters provides additional insights into which equalisation was used to form the link.
  • Variety of adapters supporting the most common PCIe form factors for easy connection to motherboard and add-in card DUTs including CEM, M.2, U.2 and U.3.

Tektronix Gold Care Service Plan 

The Tektronix TMT4 Margin Tester is designed for easy set up and immediate use. To extend and enhance the level of support, Tektronix includes options to extend the warranty from one to three or five years. To provide Tektronix Margin Tester owners complete protection and significantly reduce downtime in the event of a repair, Tektronix is offering introductory pricing on a Gold Care service plan–which includes a loaner unit shipped within 48 hours. Purchase the new TMT4 Margin Tester and know that both the instrument and your uptime are protected.

Availability
The Tektronix TMT4 Margin Tester is now available. Contact a Tektronix representative for pricing and additional details, or visit http://www.tek.com/en/products/pciemargintester.

Increasing bioreactor repeatability and yield through mass flow control

Rotameters are widely used across laboratory and pilot scale bioreactors for volumetric gas flow measurement because they are low cost and relatively simple to use. Replacing a rotameter with a mass flow controller (MFC) however, improves the accuracy and reliability of gas flow measurement and control, ultimately increasing cell culture yield. By reducing dependency on manual processes, greater automation provides a cost-effective approach in the long-term.

Tony Brennan, Industry Account Manager – Industrial Devices, Bürkert, explains how an MFC can increase bioreactor efficacy.

To maintain optimum conditions inside the bioreactor for the growing cells, the concentration of Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and air needs to be carefully controlled. Rotameters are widely used to monitor the flow of these gases because their simple design enables relatively straightforward measurement in a low-cost package.

Manual measurement is a drawback of the rotameter. The float within the device’s gauge is read by the human eye, and in the absence of round-the-clock monitoring, reacting to the reading introduces a lag. As gas levels fluctuate from their optimal points, the efficacy of the bioreactor process begins to decline. A rotameter is typically used alongside manual control over gas flow, so this puts reliance on a human hand to achieve the exacting control required to re-establish the optimum gas levels. Human intervention also requires additional time, a resource which is typically valuable in lab and pilot settings.

The importance of accuracy

The most significant constraint of a rotameter however, is measurement accuracy. A rotameter is calibrated under prevailing pressure and temperature conditions. If these conditions change outside of the calibrated conditions inaccuracies are introduced into the reading. The reading may be more or less accurate, but rotameter measurement typically delivers less than ideal conditions for optimised yield and rate of growth. Reduced measurement reliability also impacts repeatability, which is crucial for upscaling production. This means it’s important that flow meters are unaffected by changes in pressure or temperature in order to maximise the cell culture yield.

As the process is scaled-up from a laboratory or pilot bioreactor to pharmaceutical plant development, discrepancies in accuracy and repeatability are magnified, ultimately impacting the efficacy of growth and total cell yield. As a result, it’s critical for smaller-scale research, from 100 ml to 50 L laboratory projects, up to pilot scale, ranging from 50 L to 10 m3, to be able to confirm accuracy at the outset.

Automation increases repeatability

The key benefit of replacing a rotameter with a mass flow controller is that accuracy and repeatability of measurement is constant, irrespective of conditions. This is because an MFC measures mass rather than volumetric flow, which is impacted by changing temperature and back pressure. Crucially, an MFC also provides continuous, automated control. This means that as soon as any conditional changes occur within the bioreactor, mass flow of the gases is adjusted to ensure the optimum levels are maintained for the most effective culture growth. By automating the process and removing human intervention, production consistency can be improved while digitally capturing all of the relevant process information which can be used to improve the quality.

Communicating with the bioreactor’s controller via a communications gateway, a constant data stream from the MFC can be recorded. This enables detailed analysis of the process, supporting repeatability as it’s scaled up. Repeatability is important as this saves time, and as a result, the cost of production, and this assurance means that production can be scaled-up more quickly.

The advantage of Bürkert’s 874X series MFCs is the connection of multiple control loops to a pre-configured gateway module available in a variety of industrial ethernet protocols, including Profinet, Ethernet IP, EtherCAT and Modbus TCP. While this approach optimises the performance-price ratio, it also simplifies system integration and enables MFC users to standardise on a single platform that can be used across the board with their customers.

Simple integration and compliance

To meet footprint and performance requirements, Bürkert can also provide customised solutions. This ranges from customised sub-assemblies through to bespoke manifolds, designed to meet space envelope requirements and provide specific functionality. This includes the integration of additional components, such as check valves, pressure transmitters and shut-off valves, as well as performance customisation, such as increasing the turndown ratio to values such as 1:100 or more. Increasing the span of the measuring range can reduce the number of MFCs required, minimising the space envelope and cost.

As a result of the flexibility of Bürkert’s EDIP internal bus system, combined with a gateway module that converts the signal into the user’s choice of industrial Ethernet protocol, this enables easy integration for the customer’s selection of components and functionality. Bürkert’s internal engineering expertise also manages customisation projects completely in-house, in addition to manufacturing valves and flow control components. This approach reduces development time for proof of concept and testing compared to the coordination of multiple third-parties to create a bespoke solution. Ultimately, the Bürkert solution ensures fast development and enables plug-and-play use, straight out of the box.

Bürkert’s MFCs achieve full pharmaceutical conformance, including FDA approval plus USP Class VI that confirms bio-compatibility. Bürkert devices also achieve the 3.1 materials certificate. 

While integrating an MFC requires initial capital investment, the improvement in accuracy and repeatability can increase cell culture growth rate, as well as total yield, long-term. For the pharmaceutical manufacturer, this means increased productivity, and for the bioreactor OEM, this provides a more compelling proposition for potential customers.

NI announces revolutionary replay and HIL ADAS/AD system

NI today announced its latest advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) offering: a unified test system architecture to move iteratively between data replay and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.

Validating the perception, planning and control algorithms running on ADAS electronic control units (ECUs) is key to ensuring that safe and reliable vehicles reach the market. The NI Replay and HIL AD system can aggregate and inject real-world road test data or simulation scenarios to test ADAS ECUs. By providing a unified toolchain, common hardware configurations and test automation infrastructure across the ADAS workflow, NI enables companies to reduce capital equipment costs, improve test coverage and efficiency and shorten the time to market. NI’s unique approach ensures full validation test coverage for ADAS/AD functions, making existing data more usable throughout the entire product lifecycle, maximising performance to ultimately save lives.

“NI is working with leaders in autonomous vehicle (AV) testing technology to provide the system-level capabilities our customers need to quickly and efficiently test the complex algorithms and AI-based software embedded within today’s AVs,” said Drita Roggenbuck, senior vice president of NI’s Transportation Business Unit. “Our customers, such as ZF Mobility Solutions, rely on our efficient connected workflow and expertise to help them achieve their goals at their pace.”

ZF Mobility Solutions, a subsidiary of ZF Group, one of the world’s biggest automotive Tier 1 suppliers, aims to provide clean, efficient, comfortable, and affordable mobility by implementation of autonomous transport systems.

At ZMS’ Test System Development Department innovative, high quality and cost-efficient test systems are developed, tailored to the specific demands of verification and validation of complex autonomous transport systems and ADAS functions.

“AD and ADAS require the combination of different test methodologies which is challenging but essential to provide driver and passenger safety and ultimately for AVs to become a reality. With NI solutions, we can build up systems and move one step closer to a comprehensive test strategy consisting of both real-world and virtual test efforts,” said Dr. Thomas Herpel, senior manager at ZF Mobility Solutions.

AVs are among the most complex systems being tested today, and in order to bring them to market, manufacturers need to expand test coverage to a nearly infinite number of real-world scenarios, given known limitations on both time and budget. NI’s software-connected workflow leverages best-in-class solutions from its strategic partner ecosystem to enable customers to do just that.

Included among this vast ecosystem is Konrad Technologies (KT), a leader in ADAS and AV test solutions. Combining NI’s ADAS software-connected test solutions with KT’s expertise in system integration and solution delivery provides customers with an open turnkey system. This is achieved by delivering a fast, ready-to-use solution while maintaining the flexibility, test reuse and customisability of the test system that is needed to accelerate the shift to self-driving cars.

“NI’s open and extensible platform gives us the opportunity to solve our customers’ challenges by offering customised and standardised solutions based on the NI toolchain,” said Michael Konrad, President & CEO from Konrad Technologies.

To learn more about NI’s ADAS Replay HIL Offering, please visit https://www.ni.com/en-us/solutions/transportation/adas-and-autonomous-driving-validation/replay-and-hil-system-ad.html