Week In Review: Auto, Security, Pervasive Computing

Pervasive computing — IoT, edge, cloud, data center, and back
Combining AI with IoT not only gives another acronym AIoT, or Artificial Intelligence of Things, but it puts AI systems on the edge. Infineon Technologies has released its ModusToolbox Machine Learning to make it possible to run deep learning-based workloads on Infineon’s PSoC microcontrollers. The toolbox has middleware, software libraries, and special tools for designers to deploy machine learning models efficiently. Developers can use the deep learning framework they prefer, and a feature helps designers fit or optimize the machine learning in a resource-constrained embedded system.

Subject to regulatory approval, STMicroelectronics is acquiring Cartesiam, an edge AI software firm based in Toulon, France, founded in 2016. Cartesiam, the maker of NanoEdge AI Studio, develops tools for Arm-based microcontrollers that embedded systems designers can use without prior AI experience. Cartesiam’s IP and tools will complement STMicroelectronics’ toolset, the STM32Cube.AI.

Custom SoC design company SEMIFIVE will start offering application-optimized custom SoC designs built on Arm technology. SEMIFIVE, founded in 2019, uses an SoC platform as a base that can be customized to produce domain-specific application chips to be manufactured Samsung Foundry’s leading edge processes. SEMIFIVE is based in South Korea and is now an ARM Ecosystem partner.

Cadence introduced its Spectre FX Simulator for FastSPICE for verification of memory and large-scale system-on-chip (SoC) designs. Cadence reports the simulator is hitting 3X better performance compared with the latest FastSPICE simulators. The simulator is part of the Spectre simulation platform.

Qualcomm introduced the 315 5G IoT Modem-RF System, an Internet of Things (IoT) modem equipped with 5G connectivity and optimized for Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications. The system supports both LTE and 5G connectivity.

Medical
The health diagnostic startups raised $4.8 billion in 2020, according to Crunchbase Data. The pandemic also accelerated the home screening test, where a medical test in box can be completed at home and sent in for processing.

Automotive & transportation
Ford Motor Co. unveiled its electric truck, the F-150 Lightning, for 2022, with a little hands-free driving thrown in, which can be used in selected geofenced areas.

Your sense of hearing is important when you drive. Often you can hear an emergency vehicle coming long before you see it, but how can that be translated to an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System), which has no sense of hearing? Infineon and Reality AI are working on a way for ADAS to sense emergency vehicles in advance by adding XENSIV MEMS microphones to existing sensor systems. The system also uses AURIX microcontrollers  and Reality AI’s Automotive See-With-Sound (SWS) system, which employs machine learning algorithms to detect emergency vehicles and other road vehicles before the ADAS can see them. Another use case for the system is road condition monitoring, damage detection, or even predictive maintenance.

Security
Synopsys’ quarterly report shows that its Software Integrity segment, which works on security software, made $93.9 million in Q2 of 2021. Synopsys is also now expanding its Technology Alliance Partners (TAP) program to include Intelligent Orchestration with source code management and with continuous integration and delivery. Both will be part of Synopsys’ Global Partner Program at the RSA Conference.

People, companies
Siemens has agreed to acquire Supplyframe, which informs and connects designers with electronics supply chain sources through an AI-based SaaS tools, for $700 million USD. Supplyframe, which started in 2003, will continue its identity under Siemens. Steve Flagg will remain CEO of Supplyframe and will join the Siemens Digital Industries Software senior leadership team, according to a press release.

Brewer Science is now a Certified B Corporation, or B Corp, which is a rigorous certification process that confirms the company follows environment practices. According to a press release, Brewer Science is one of seven B Corps in Missouri, although 4,000 exist worldwide.

Arm partners shipped more than 900 Arm-based chips per second, says Arm in a press release.

VLSIresearch’s customer satisfaction survey recognized the semiconductor test and measurement supplier FormFactor as a 10 BEST Focused Supplier of Semiconductor Equipment. FormFactor was also recognized as The BEST in the categories of suppliers of test equipment and test subsystems. VLSIresearch awarded Advantest THE BEST supplier of test equipment in 2021 and put them on top of the 10 BEST list of large suppliers of chip making equipment.

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