Averna and Physik Instrumente (PI) have formed a new partnership to deliver advanced automation solutions that meet the growing need for flexible, scalable and high-throughput manufacturing and test equipment.
Physik Instrumente (PI) is an international group of companies focusing on high-precision motion and positioning solutions, and Averna is a global test and quality solutions provider.
With significant overlap in several markets — industrial automation, automotive, consumer electronics, communications and life sciences — PI and Averna each offer expertise in different areas. Their goal is to expand each offering to their clients by integrating PI’s unique precision positioning and micro-robotics systems into Averna’s customized quality and assembly turnkey solutions.
To date, the two companies have delivered numerous joint projects, improving results for a variety of applications including camera and projector assembly, laser alignment, fiber alignment and optical wafer scanning.
“We are very excited to begin this partnership,” said Niels Davidts, vice president of Europe at Averna. “Having worked with PI products in the past, we understand the power of what they offer. They are unique in what they do, and we know how to make them work best for our clients. A closer partnership will open a lot of opportunities for both parties.”
Scott Jordan, long-standing photonics expert and business developer at PI emphasizes, “Working with Averna has been very rewarding. We have always been impressed with the systems they design for test, quality, and precision assembly. Combining our knowledge with Averna’s skills, we can now approach customer challenges in ways that have never been done before.”
Featuring the full gamut of u-blox technologies and services, the XPLR-IOT-1 enables end-to-end proofs of concepts for IoT products and applications
The u-blox XPLR-IOT-1 IoT explorer kit. (Image: u-blox)
U-blox has announced the u-blox XPLR-IOT-1 IoT explorer kit, an all-in-one package to test, evaluate and validate applications for the internet of things (IoT).
The board hosts an ultra-low-power MAX-M10S positioning module capable of concurrently tracking four GNSS constellations, delivering highly reliable location data wherever GNSS coverage is available.
Integrating all relevant u-blox technologies and services into a capable prototyping platform with a vast selection of sensors and interfaces as well as cloud connectivity, XPLR-IOT-1 makes it easier to explore the potential of IoT applications.
The increasing complexity of IoT devices, which often require satellite-based positioning, Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity via, for example, LTE-M is raising the importance of prototyping and validating ideas before bringing them to production. This trend is driving demand for multifunctional application boards like the u-blox XPLR-IOT-1 over evaluation kits (EVKs), intended to comprehensively test a product’s entire feature set.
Prototyping platform
The XPLR-IOT-1 gives users everything they need to prototype low-power IoT use cases such as logistics container trackers, industrial automation, sensor-to-cloud applications, and fleet management solutions. Besides the MAX-M10S positioning module, the board has a u-blox NORA-B106 Bluetooth LE 5.2 radio module that doubles as its main MCU, hosting the application software and controlling the other modules.
Other modules include a u-blox SARA-R510S for LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular connectivity with built-in cloud security, as well as a u-blox NINA-W156 for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
The hardware is complemented by a broad selection of sensors commonly used in IoT applications, including accelerometers and gyroscopes, a magnetometer, and temperature, humidity, pressure and ambient light sensors. A power-on switch, LEDs and user buttons make it easy for users to interact with the device.
The NORA-B106’s powerful Arm Cortex M33 MCU is solely dedicated to running the application software. Clocked at 128 MHz, with 1 MB of embedded flash and 512 kB of RAM, and 8 MB of external flash memory, it offers a solid foundation for development of highly capable solutions.
Integrated antennas for featured technologies, a USB interface and USB charging, a Sparkfun Qwiic I2C connector, and a debug interface contribute to a smooth product development experience, u-blox said.
Native support for u-blox services
The XPLR-IOT-1 offers engineers an easy way to start working with u-blox’s services offering. Included with the kit is a trial of MQTT Anywhere, which delivers ultra-low power by communicating data between the device and the enterprise using the MQTT-SN (MQTT for sensor networks) protocol.
Tracking applications with the most stringent power requirements such as freight container trackers can realize four times longer battery life with u-blox’s positioning in cloud service, CloudLocate, while the CellLocate mobile-network-based location service extends tracking beyond the reach of GNSS signals.
A starting point for commercial end-products
Developers working with XPLR-IOT-1 can use code from u-blox’s ubxlib GitHub repository, a library of software examples for key use cases, to speed up the prototyping of solutions, which can range from wireless sensor networks to indoor and outdoor tracking solutions to industrial or smart building gateways.
Because all hardware design files, software, smartphone app, and online dashboard source code are shared, the XPLR-IOT-1 can also serve as a starting point for commercial end-product design.
“The XPLR-IOT-1 is fully geared towards rapid development, testing, and validation of IoT solutions,” said Pelle Svensson, senior principal, Product Strategy Short Range Radio, u-blox. “Offering a single platform to develop a variety of IoT use cases, the versatile explorer kit reduces the expertise required for hardware, software, and service integration and code development.”
Once launched in June 2022, the XPLR-IOT-1 will initially be sold via Digi-Key.
Dual-frequency timing module provides anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities
Photo: Trimble
Trimble has introduced its first dual-frequency embedded timing module that provides next-generation networks with 5-nanosecond accuracy.
Surface mountable, the Trimble RES 720 GNSS timing module can be integrated into network equipment. It uses L1 and L5 GNSS signals to provide superior protection to jamming and spoofing, mitigates multipath in harsh environments, and adds security features to make it suitable for resilient networks.
Precise timing and synchronization optimizes and improves wireless network performance. At 19 x 19 millimeters, the RES 720 module provides a low-cost, easy-to-use, highly accurate and reliable GPS timing source for critical infrastructure in a broad range of industries. The RES 720 is suitable for 5G Open RAN/XHaul, smart grids, data centers, industrial automation and satellite communication networks, as well as calibration services and perimeter monitoring applications.
The RES 720 meets the resilient timing requirement mandated by the U.S. 2020 Executive Order (EO13095) for timing services and critical infrastructure operators. Using dual-frequency (L1 and L5), RES 720 provides better multipath detection capabilities than single frequency, and provides protection against signal jamming and spoofing. Multi-band capability helps compensate for the ionospheric error from multi-GNSS satellite constellations, while reducing the timing error under clear skies to less than 5 nanoseconds. To further improve its accuracy locally, the RES 720 module features differential timing modes for highly accurate local timing.
Powered by Trimble’s Smart GNSS Assurance technology, the RES 720 offers protection against jamming and hacking of signals with automatic fallback to available GNSS signals. Infrastructure equipment suppliers, system integrators and network operators can benefit by integrating highly accurate synchronization capabilities into their network and synchro-phasor devices, while enabling resilient timing for critical infrastructure.
The RES 720 is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2021.
Designed for demanding positioning and heading applications
The P2 Elite GNSS sensor. (Photo: CHC Navigation)
CHC Navigation has released the P2 GNSS sensor series, which the company says provides high-accuracy positioning and heading in a compact, rugged enclosure.
The P2 GNSS sensor series is suitable for a wide variety of applications such as reference station, marine systems, unmanned navigation, industrial automation, robotics and machine control.
Integration. The P2 GNSS series is designed to significantly reduce system integration efforts by combining numerous connectivity interfaces including RS232, low-latency PPS output, Ethernet, CAN bus protocol and a comprehensive web interface for configuration set-up.
The series integrates the latest GNSS technology in an extremely rugged IP67 and lightweight enclosure. It delivers reliable, uninterrupted, high-accuracy, real-time positioning and heading measurements.
Scalable with 3 models. The P2 GNSS series is available in three different models to match various application requirements.
The P2 GNSS sensor offers cost-effective and powerful real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning.
The P2 Pro GNSS adds a dual-antenna input for precise heading data.
The P2 Elite integrates additional 4G and UHF modems to provide a powerful, all-in-one, GNSS sensor.
“The P2 GNSS sensor series is leveraging our expertise in providing high-performance and reliable GNSS solutions,” said George Zhao, CEO of CHC Navigation. “Back-up by CHCNAV’s professional integration support, the P2 GNSS sensor series offers exceptional feature set to system integrators and machine manufacturer partners.”
Averna and Physik Instrumente (PI) have formed a new partnership to deliver advanced automation solutions that meet the growing need for flexible, scalable and high-throughput manufacturing and test equipment.
