Viewpoints

What role could emerging cooling technologies play in making li-ion batteries more efficient? ask two specialists at Withers & Rogers. As lithium-ion batteries become smaller and therefore more power-dense, to fit inside compact domestic products, manufacturers are using cooling technology to ensure battery safety. However, this adds to the overall cost of manufacture. And this, ultimately, must be met by ...

Batman? And James Bond? I was flummoxed when Andy Sellars told me he was indirectly involved in both, writes Ash Madni, who shares a personal interview with the well-known industry figure… It’s not what you’d expect if you mention Dr Andy Sellars’ name to anyone, but there you go. The old adage “Never judge a book by its cover” comes ...

Modern technology has been revolutionised by the use of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, but they still have some significant drawbacks that, as yet, are unresolved, write two specialists at Withers & Rogers. From electric vehicles to mobile phones, Li-ion batteries are used across many industry sectors. However, as they near the end of their life, the battery cells can rapidly degrade ...

As a curious veteran, writes Ash Madni, I like to keep my eye on which UK companies’ startup then make it successfully to an exit. UltraSoc was one such company but what was particularly interesting about it was their CEO, Rupert Baines. So I reached out to him and to my surprise, he responded. I was instantly impressed when I ...

Felix Tsui, of Vicon, considers the vital role that motion capture  – or mocap – can play for the future of space exploration and its role in robotics. From maintaining spacecraft to exploring distant planets, robots play a pivotal role in overcoming the challenges of space environments. But how do we ensure these systems are as precise and adaptable as possible? ...

Dr. Ali Sadri considers how some of the limitations for 5G performance can be overcome, for example via RIS and in-building wireless coverage. With the rollout of 5G continuing to cause issues around the globe, some people would argue that it’s not yet living up to the hype. So what’s needed to unlock its potential? Dr. Ali Sadri, CTO of ...

Ash Madni shares his thoughts on industry figure Jack Pekarik, a Master Inventor at GlobalFoundries, who he describes as “a true scholar, a gentleman and a SiGe genius”. As designers, our interface to a foundry occurs via a third party, so many of us don’t get to meet the brains behind silicon processing. Most of us have to settle with ...

Is there still a dividing line between consumer and business when it comes to technology, questions Matthew Swinney, Head of Image Sensing Solutions at Sony Europe? With the coming of age of AI and IoT, the origins of the Internet seem to belong to another era. They can be traced back to the 1970s with ARPANET, a project designed by ...

Colin Tucker, chairman of Novocomms, thinks a rise in global political uncertainty and a new administration in Downing Street, could provide opportunities for the UK electronics industry. Back in the days when I was a young engineer, the UK boasted names such as Plessy, AEI, English Electric and of course GEC, all of whom were globally respected names, employing hundreds ...

Today, microelectronics is moving at an incredible rate,  particularly in the fields of EDA and design methodology, writes Ash Madni. It’s a wonderful time to invest energy in both if we are lucky enough to participate. However, we are human beings not automatons and consequently don’t instantly move in the direction of change when required. It takes us time to ...