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 RESEARCH
& INNOVATION UPDATES

Aluminium-based batteries surpass lithium-ion

Graduate student researcher Yuhgene Liu holds an aluminium material
for solid-state batteries (Credit: Georgia Institute of Technology)
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology
use aluminium foil, presenting a more affordable
and eco-friendlier substitute for lithium-ion bat-
teries. The research highlights their potential to
incorporate high-performance materials, particularly
aluminium, known for its energy efficiency, afford-
ability, and production advantages in the anode,
where lithium resides. To combat rapid degradation
in pure aluminium foils, researchers integrated trace
amounts of diverse materials, forming foils with
unique ‘microstructures.’ Testing over 100 materials
yielded improved efficiency and durability compared
to standard lithium-ion batteries. The aluminium
anode’s superior lithium storage capacity results in
high energy density, potentially surpassing lithium-
ion batteries, paving the way for energy-efficient and
cost-effective battery cells. Ongoing work explores
aluminium behaviour at larger scales and alternative
materials and microstructures for versatile battery
configurations, reinvigorating battery research with
solid-state technology’s promising outcomes.

Shaping the future of autonomous driving

In a stride forward in the realm of autonomous vehicle
technology, the NYU Tandon School of Engineering re-
cently revealed an algorithm named Neurosymbolic Meta-
Reinforcement Lookahead Learning (NUMERLA), crafted to
surmount the enduring issue of unpredictability and safety
in real-world scenarios. In the NUMERLA framework, a
self-driving car, when confronted with a dynamic envi-
ronment, refines its comprehension of the current condi-
tions based on gathered data. Consequently, it anticipates
its future performance within a predefined time frame,
establishing appropriate safety parameters and refreshing
its knowledge base. This approach relies on lookahead
optimisation combined with safety considerations, result-
ing in an empirically secure yet suboptimal online control
strategy. By employing this algorithm, the vehicle rapidly Autonomous driving (represental image)
adapts to new circumstances without compromising safety.
The algorithm’s effectiveness was demonstrated through performed existing algorithms in handling unpredictable
simulations in a digital urban environment, where it out- scenarios like jaywalkers.

10 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com

 RESEARCH & INNOVATION

Pixel-level analysis reveals roughly the size of a US quarter, proven effective in aiding
diabetic mice. When tested, the device with the oxygen-
lithium-ion battery insights generating membrane maintained regular glucose levels,
Researchers at MIT, Stanford University, SLAC National unlike its non-oxygenated counterpart. Despite fibrosis
Accelerator, and the Toyota Research Institute have made challenges around implants, this device effectively regu-
significant discover- lated blood glucose levels, suggesting efficient insulin and
ies about the reactiv- glucose exchange. The method also shows promise for
ity of lithium iron delivering cells to produce other therapeutic proteins, evi-
phosphate, a crucial denced by its preservation of cells creating erythropoietin,
material used in vital for red blood cell stimulation.
electric car batteries
and other recharge-
able energy storage Self-training neuromorphic
systems, by analys- biosensors
ing X-ray images. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and
By analysing X-ray images of lithium iron Leveraging 180,000 Northwestern University in the US have developed a new
phosphate particles as they charged and
discharged, researchers have shown that pixels as data points, neuromorphic biosensor with integrated learning capabili-
the movement of lithium ions within the the researchers ties, eliminating external training. The team used cystic
material was nearly identical to computer
simulations they had created earlier. In developed a com- fibrosis tests to assess their breakthrough chip. Employing
each pair, the actual particles are on the putational model to
left and the simulations are on the right
(Courtesy of the researchers) formulate precise
equations describ-
ing the battery material’s non-equilibrium thermodynam-
ics and reaction kinetics. Additionally, they observed that
the patterns of lithium-ion flow indicated potential spatial
variations in lithium-ion absorption rates on different parts
of the particle’s surface. The study’s implications suggest
that optimising the thickness of the carbon layer on the
electrode surface could lead to improved battery efficiency. The neuromorphic biosensing chip (Credit: Eveline van Doremaele)
Beyond its relevance to battery materials, the research team
anticipates applying their analysis to investigate pattern the standard sweat test method, where elevated chloride
formation in various chemical and biological systems. anion levels suggest the disorder, they utilised their on-chip
learning sensor. The chip’s neuromorphic biosensor, con-
sisting of a sensor unit, neural network hardware, and an
A device promises diabetes output classifier, identified ion concentrations via ion-specif-
management without needles ic electrodes. Results were displayed as green or red lights,
Engineers at MIT have developed a new implantable gadget denoting negative or positive outcomes. Importantly, before
that houses hundreds of thousands of islet cells capable its primary use, the neural network underwent supervised
of producing insulin, coupled with an inbuilt oxygen ‘data gym’ training, marking the innovation of the chip’s
generation system. self-training capability without external software. Addition-
The team has pio- ally, the chip’s design permits retraining for varied applica-
neered a method to tions, introducing the possibility of personal user-trained
indefinitely generate implantable neural networks using direct individual data.
oxygen via water
splitting, leveraging
a proton-exchange A scalable method for crafting
membrane origi- ultra-thin protonic ceramic cells
nally designed for Researchers from Kansas State University, Colorado
hydrogen generation School of Mines, Nissan Technical Center North America
MIT engineers designed an implantable device in fuel cells. Further (NTCNA), Nissan Motor Company, and the University of
that carries hundreds of thousands of islet cells
along with its own on-board oxygen factory to advancements Oklahoma have developed a composite positive electrode
keep the cells healthy (Credit: Felice Frankel) include a device, to significantly reduce various resistances in protonic

WWW.EFYMAG.COM ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023 11

 RESEARCH & INNOVATION
ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs), enhancing their
performance below 450°C when combined with optimal
electrolytes. In testing their new PCECs, they achieved high
power densities in fuel-cell mode and remarkable current
densities in steam electrolysis mode. These PCECs were
also effective using direct methane and ammonia for power
generation below 450°C and maintained stability at 400°C.
Initial results suggest these PCECs hold potential for ef-
ficient fuel cells and hydrogen generation at lower tempera-
tures, with the developed electrolyte offering resistances
on par with or better than previous PCECs crafted through
complex methods.

New OLED with ultra-low voltage

blue emission
In collaboration with the University of Toyama, Shi-
zuoka University, and the Institute for Molecular Science,
researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Graphical abstract (Credit: Matter, 2023)
Osaka University have showcased a unique OLED device.
This device boasts an chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) technique surmount-
impressively low turn- ed the challenges of achieving a balanced 50:50 chemical
on voltage of 1.47V for structure across a substantial area. This approach pivoted
blue emission, with on sequentially introducing indium and selenium, thereby
a peak wavelength preventing unwanted chemical structures, and ensuring a
at 462nm (2.68eV). uniform elemental ratio across the entire wafer. The team
It operates using an aligned the crystal directions within the material, fostering
upconversion mecha- a conducive environment for electron transport, further
nism where holes and augmenting the semiconductor’s quality. This achievement
electrons move into meets essential industry standards and is set to transform
the donor and accep- semiconductor manufacturing, heralding enhanced purity,
tor layers, merging scalability, and performance in advanced technology.
at their boundary to
Lighting up a blue organic LED with
a single AA battery (Credit: Associate form a charge transfer
Professor Izawa and the member and
authors of this research team)
state. The innovative Revolutionising lithium-ion battery
low-voltage blue-light- recycling
emitting OLED employs a fluorescent emitter typical in Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have
mainstream displays. This development marks significant unveiled a solution that leverages the electron transfer oc-
progress towards meeting commercial blue OLED stand- curring during liquid-solid contact electrification to gener-
ards, emphasising the importance of refining the D/A ate free radicals that initiate crucial chemical reactions. The
interface to control excitonic processes, potentially benefit- researchers have introduced a ‘mechano-catalytic’ method
ing OLEDs, organic photovoltaics, and various organic called contact-electro-catalysis that uses radicals from
electronic devices. contact electrification and recyclable SiO2 as a catalyst
to enhance metal leaching under ultrasonic waves. The
method proved efficient for recycling lithium and cobalt in
Advanced 2D semiconductor exhausted lithium-ion batteries, with a 100% lithium and
wafers for modern chip integration 92.19% cobalt leaching efficiency for lithium cobalt (III)
The University of Pennsylvania researchers have cultivated oxide batteries and over 94% efficiency for various metals
a 2D semiconductor that aligns with industrial-scale wafer in ternary lithium batteries, all achieved within six hours.
dimensions. Integrating a 2D semiconductor atop its silicon This method emerges as a pivotal solution for sustainable
counterpart could minimise chip surface area encapsulated electronics industry recycling, with future studies set to
within a delicate film. Leveraging the vertical metal-organic refine its application and assess its real-world viability.

12 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS WWW.EFYMAG.COM

 research & innovation
Breakthrough achieved in
submarine cable transmission
Using a new transponder, NEC Corporation has effectively
concluded a field test for an optical submarine cable system
over a long distance. Based on NEC’s research, this tran-
sponder achieves
a global-leading
transmission
performance of 800
gigabits per second
(Gbps). In a field
trial using the
Indonesia Global
Gateway (IGG)
optical submarine
cable owned by PT
Field trial route (Credit: www.nec.com) Telkom Indonesia,
the country’s pre-
mier telecommunications provider, NEC deployed its latest
XF3200 transponder. This test resulted in an unprecedented
optical transmission of 800Gbps signals over 2,100km. The
XF3200 outperformed, delivering a transmission capacity
about 30% higher than NEC’s current products, meeting
the rising demands of global communication. The tran-
sponder’s advanced design ensures space-efficiency, energy
conservation, high scalability, and adaptable maintenance,
collectively reducing total ownership costs.
Prototype chips deliver AI task
solutions with minimal power
consumption
IBM has introduced an advancement in artificial intelli-
gence (AI) with the creation of energy-efficient analogue AI
chips. Demonstrating an estimated 14 times higher energy
efficiency than traditional digital AI chips, this innovation
holds significant potential in reducing the carbon footprint
of AI operations. By leveraging the power efficiency of
analogue chips, IBM’s prototype is particularly tailored
for speech recognition and transcription tasks. In tests,
these analogue chips delivered comparable performance,
speed, and efficiency as digital alternatives. Unlike earlier
versions, IBM’s design can accommodate expansive AI
models, supporting up to 17 million parameters. These
chips streamline operations by executing multiply-accumu-
late (MAC) functions directly within memory, optimising
energy use. In evaluations, the chips excelled in keyword
detection and transcription tasks. Beyond language pro-
cessing, the chips also showcase capabilities in computer
vision and image recognition.
www.efymag.com
Robot wheelchair technology
assists people with lower-limb
disabilities
The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM)
has unveiled a robot wheelchair with innovative features to
assist people with lower-limb disabilities. The team has de-
veloped a stair-climbing module for wheelchairs, featuring
a concealed ‘ㄹ’-shaped crawler, akin to tank tracks, which
activates for stair
navigation, elimi-
nating the slipping
issue common in
conventional de-
signs. Additionally,
the standing mod-
ule incorporates
a unique paral-
lelogram structure
and self-weight
compensation
technology, reduc-
ing the required
motor power by
A robot wheelchair descending stairs 80%. This allows
(Credit: www.businesskorea.co.kr) users to adopt
distinct postures—
standing, lying back, leaning, and height adjustment—to
enhance comfort and circulation, potentially warding off
bedsores. These modules can operate independently or as
one unit, enabling stair-climbing, standing, and posture
adjustments, greatly improving mobility for those with
lower-limb disabilities.
Self-healing wearables powered by
liquid metal circuitry
National University of Singapore (NUS) scientists have
recently developed an ultra-flexible, self-healing, and
highly conductive substance ideal for stretchable electronic
circuits. Using the innovative Bilayer Liquid-Solid Conduc-
tor (BiLiSC) liquid metal circuitry, electronic devices can
withstand significant deformations, self-repair, and main-
tain consistent performance, making it an ideal material for
wearable technologies that conform to the body’s move-
ments. The team has developed a cost-effective, scalable
production method for BiLiSC and has demonstrated its
versatility in creating essential wearable electronic compo-
nents like pressure sensors, interconnects, and antennas.
In tests, a BiLiSC-integrated robotic arm detected subtle
pressure changes efficiently and maintained signal integrity
during complex movements.
electronics for you express | november 2023 13
 research & innovation
Structural supercapacitors that
double as protective shells
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have
designed a structural supercapacitor. Researchers devel-
oped a solar-powered boat using a structural supercapaci-
tor as its hull, with the motor powered by sunlight cap-
tured by a con-
nected solar cell.
This supercapacitor
combines standard
components but
stands out due
to its enhanced
materials, includ-
This miniature boat is built from a structural ing woven carbon
supercapacitor—a material providing structural
support and energy storage capabilities (Credit: fibre electrodes
UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering) coated with a
conductive polymer
and graphene oxide blend. A unique design feature is the
varied concentration of polyethylene oxide in the electro-
lyte, denser near electrodes, ensuring optimal ion flow and
maintaining structural integrity. This gradient design boosts
electrolyte performance, offering better electrical proper-
ties on the edges and mechanical robustness in the centre.
Supercapacitors provide rapid energy bursts but have less
energy density than batteries; the team aims to improve
this density and optimise both energy and power levels.
Efficient solar cell revolutionising
green hydrogen
Researchers at the University of Tübingen have developed a
highly efficient solar cell capable of producing hydrogen on
a decentralised scale, with potential for large-scale deploy-
ment. This solar cell directly integrates with catalysts for wa-
ter splitting in a photoelectrochemical setup, eliminating the
need for an external circuit and enhancing cost-effectiveness.
Despite potential efficiency and stability challenges due to
crystalline defects that may arise during layer formation,
this design achieved an 18% efficiency in direct solar water
splitting, closely following global records. This technology
enables solar hydrogen production with reduced reliance on
the grid, advocating for decentralised energy solutions.
AI enhances safety for autonomous
drone aircraft traffic
Researchers at the Institute for Assured Autonomy, led by
Lanier Watkins and Louis Whitcomb, have harnessed artificial
intelligence (AI) to develop a system for autonomously man-
aging drone traffic, reducing human intervention. To make the
14 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
simulation more realistic, the team introduced ‘noisy sensors’
to mimic real-world unpredictability and employed a ‘fuzzy
interference system’ to assess drone risk factors based on vari-
ous parameters, enabling the system to autonomously prevent
collisions. The research included various scenarios involving
‘rogue drones,’ and yielded promising results.
Revolutionising force detection
with electronic stickers
University of California San Diego engineers have crafted
electronic ‘stickers’ capable of gauging the force between
two objects. These stickers are wireless, battery-free, and
designed for confined spaces, making them adaptable for
various uses. The force
stickers, composed of a
small capacitor and an
RFID sticker, function
like wireless barcodes
using radio signals to
transmit force data to an
RFID reader. The stickers
This so-called “force sticker” is a thin, can detect compressive
flexible electronic device that measures forces by measuring
forces between objects in contact
(Credit: David Baillot/UC San Diego changes in their capaci-
Jacobs School of Engineering) tance, with the sticker’s
RFID component
reflecting the data. When applied to a variety of items,
these stickers enabled users to gauge pressure, including
squeezing, tapping, and pinching. Researchers envision
applications in packaging, quality control, and robotics,
where tight spaces or limited power sources restrict the use
of conventional sensors.
AI for business operations and
planning
Fujitsu has introduced a groundbreaking technology for
automated AI solution generation, offering users the ability
to customise AI innovation components. This technology is
delivered through the ‘Fujitsu Kozuchi—Fujitsu AI Plat-
form.’ The platform interprets programs and mathematical
expressions from large language models (LLMs), produc-
ing graphical solutions that facilitate the creation of expert
mathematical expressions. When AI models are trained
using this graph data, they can automatically generate vari-
ous AI models for tasks such as prediction, optimisation,
and anomaly detection. By incorporating prior learning
data into the graph, AI models can be efficiently adapted to
new conditions. When combined with an LLM, this tech-
nology empowers users to quickly prototype, modify, and
tailor AI solutions using natural language commands.
www.eFYmag.com
TRULY INNOVATIVE ELECTRONICS
Amongst numerous press releases of new products received by us, these are the ones
we found worthy of the title Truly Innovative Electronics
Electromagnetic
energy harvester
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corpo-
ration (SSS) has launched an energy
harvesting module that uses electro-
magnetic wave noise energy. Such
technology can tap into the consistent
electromagnetic disturbances produced
by factory robots, office equipment like
monitors and lights, and household
and commercial devices such as TVs
and monitors. This can ensure a reli-
able power source for low-energy IoT
devices and communication tools. The
innovative approach involves harness-
ing the electromagnetic wave noise
ubiquitously produced by electronic
equipment. Despite its compactness,
it can transform electromagnetic wave
disturbances ranging from several
Hz to 100MHz into electrical energy.
This can then power low-energy IoT
sensors and communication devices
or recharge batteries. This pioneering
approach marks the industry’s first
energy harvesting method, offering
high power generation efficiency.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
https://www.sony-semicon.com
Microcontroller with
advanced I3C features
and versatile design
The PIC18-Q20 microcontroller series
of Microchip is a feature-rich chip
available in 14- and 20-pin configura-
tions and comes with multi-voltage
I/O support. It represents the market’s
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
INNOVATION UPDATES
first low-pin-count microcontroller
equipped with an improved inter-
integrated circuit (I3C) target mode.
The microcontroller stands out as the
premier general-
purpose micro-
controller with
a low pin count
to integrate this
new interface.
The PIC18-Q20
has enhanced I3C
features, including in-band interrupts,
dynamic address provisioning, and
hot-join functionalities. The unique
features include its core logic’s ability
to function at a voltage lower than the
I3C interface.
Microchip
https://www.microchip.com
Compact proximity
sensor for diverse
applications
ROHM has introduced the RPR-0720, a
compact 2mm×1mm proximity sensor
designed for proximity detection and
attachment/detachment needs. The
RPR-0720 utilises
a vertical cavity
surface emitting
laser (VCSEL)
for its light
emission and
a dedicated IC
sensor for light reception. By using spe-
cialised chips, this module reduces its
size by approximately 78% compared
to conventional products. The applica-
tions include discerning the attachment
or detachment of devices like wire-
less earbuds, smartwatches, gaming
console controllers, and VR headsets.
Additionally, it can spot the presence of
paper in office equipment such as print-
ers, copiers, and shredders. The system
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023
is also efficient in identifying cartridge
or liquid presence in e-cigarettes and
monitoring various conditions in smart-
phones and laptops.
ROHM
https://www.rohm.com
Revolutionising AI with
first of its kind server
on a chip
NeuReality’s advanced 7nm NR1
AI-focused chip is the world’s first
AI-centric server on a chip (SoC). Its
applications include natural language
processing, computer vision, and
recommenda-
tion systems. In
evaluations with
AI-focused server
systems, the NR1
chip showcased
a tenfold perfor-
mance at equivalent costs to traditional
CPU-focused systems. NeuReality is
reshaping the industry by facilitating
a shift from a predominantly software-
driven method to a hardware-enhanced
approach. The consistent hardware
acceleration in the company’s auto-
mated SDK flow simplifies the process
for organisations of all sizes, ensuring
they benefit from top-tier performance,
minimised power usage, and cost-effec-
tive infrastructure. This also provides
user-friendly operations for AI inferenc-
ing services.
NeuReality
https://neureality.ai
A processor with record
core count for cloud
innovation
Ampere Computing has launched the
AmpereOne series of processors, featur-
15

ing 192 single-threaded Ampere cores,
setting an industry record for core
count. It offers enhanced performance,
scalability, and efficiency compared to
its predecessors in the series. The pro-
cessor ensures consistent performance,
enhanced manageability, and robust
security, especially in high-demand,
multi-user settings like the cloud.
AmpereOne caters to every Cloud
Native computational demand, from
the most energy-efficient constraints
to the grandest customer needs. The
enhanced core density and reduced
power consumption allow cloud pro-
viders to present Arm server instances
at competitive prices, potentially
attracting broader market interest.
Ampere Computing
https://amperecomputing.com
Chip transforming
efficient IoT design
Nordic Semiconductor has launched
the nRF54H20 multiprotocol system
on chip (SoC). The SoC empha-
sises its potential to lead the way for
advanced IoT
solutions once
considered out
of reach. While
most processors
prioritise one of
these features,
the nRF54H20
allows developers to benefit from both
by seamlessly switching between
configurations. The processor features
multiple Arm Cortex-M33 processors
and several RISC-V coprocessors. Each
is fine-tuned for specific workloads.
It is set to disrupt the market, lever-
aging a potent application processor
crafted for intensive processing while
optimising power usage. The chip
can do many things and uses less
energy. Instead of having a standalone
general-purpose MCU and a separate
wireless SoC, it can all be condensed
into one compact SoC. Such integra-
16 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS
TRULY INNOVATIVE: TECH
tion means future IoT devices will be
more energy-efficient, compact, and
simpler to develop.
Nordic Semiconductor
https://www.nordicsemi.com
Memory module
revolution for PCs and
data centres
Samsung Electronics has developed
the industry’s first low-power com-
pression attached memory module
(LPCAMM) form factor. This inno-
vation is expected to reshape the
DRAM1 market for PCs, laptops, and
possibly even data centres. 7.5 giga-
bits-per-second (Gbps) LPCAMM has
successfully undergone system verifi-
cation via Intel’s platform. LPCAMM
bridges the gaps between low-power
double data rate (LPDDR) and small-
outline dual-in-line memory modules
(So-DIMMs), catering to the rising
demand for efficient and compact
devices. As a detachable module, it
offers enhanced flexibility for manu-
facturers while producing PCs and
laptops. It occupies up to 60% less
space on the motherboard than So-
DIMM, optimising the internal layout
of devices while amplifying perfor-
mance by up to 50% and improving
power efficiency by as much as 70%.
Samsung Electronics
https://www.samsung.com/in
Precision sensor
transforms EVs and
energy storage
Melexis’s MLX91230 is the first product
of its third generation of current sen-
sors. The compact digital solution pro-
vides ±0.5% accuracy cost-effectively.
It incorporates integrated voltage and
temperature (IVT) measurement, has
an embedded microcontroller unit
(MCU) to lighten the load on the elec-
tronic control unit (ECU), and comes
with pre-set safety mechanisms. The
sensors suit electric vehicle (EV) bat-
tery management and power distribu-
tion systems. For original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1
suppliers aiming to cut costs by inter-
nalising DC current sensing design, the
sensor offers accurate, reliable moni-
toring that aligns with top functional
safety standards. Unlike other sensors,
MLX91230 delivers ±1% accuracy
considering thermal drift, lifetime drift,
and linearity errors, setting it apart
from existing solutions.
Melexis
https://www.melexis.com
Bluetooth module
enhances IoT design
and features
Murata has launched a Bluetooth Low
Energy (LE) module, the Type 2EG,
built upon the RSL15 secure Bluetooth
5.2 micro-
controller
from Onsemi.
This certified,
secured, and
ultra-compact
Bluetooth
LE module
also supports the latest Bluetooth
5.2 features, such as extended range,
proximity, high transmission rate, and
multi-connection capability, offering
the lowest power consumption in its
class. It’s suitable for IoT devices in
the industrial and medical sectors.
The Type 2EG stands out for its energy
efficiency, owing to its power-savvy
radio and built-in microprocessor. This
all-in-one, certified solution stream-
lines IoT device design, accelerating
the product launch process.
Murata
https://www.murata.com
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
 NEW PRODUCTS
COMPONENTS & CHIPS
A SiC rectifier module
Nexperia, in collaboration with
KYOCERA AVX, has launched a 650V,
20A silicon carbide (SiC) rectifier
module. The module is optimised
for high-frequency power operations
ranging between 3kW to 11kW power
stack designs.
Target applica-
tions encompass
industrial power
supplies, EV charg-
ing stations, and
on-board chargers. The module
also optimises thermal performance
through top-side cooling and incorpo-
rates an integrated negative tempera-
ture coefficient (NTC) sensor, provid-
ing continuous temperature monitor-
ing for real-time feedback crucial for
accurate prognosis and diagnosis at
both the device and system levels.
Additionally, its low inductance pack-
age enables high-frequency opera-
tions, and it holds certification for
operation with a junction temperature
as high as 175°C. The combination of
silicon carbide semiconductors with
advanced module packaging enhanc-
es the company’s ability to meet the
growing demand for power electronic
products with superior power density.
Nexperia
https://www.nexperia.com
8-megapixel CMOS image
sensor
OMNIVISION has launched its
OX08D10 8-megapixel (8MP) CMOS
image sensor featuring TheiaCel tech-
nology. The company introduces an
innovative solution aimed at enhanc-
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
MAKE IN INDIA
ing automotive safety by delivering
superior resolution and image quality
for exterior cameras used in advanced
driver assistance systems (ADAS) and
autonomous driving. The TheiaCel
technology empowers the sensor to
excel in high dynamic range (HDR)
image capture,
extending its effec-
tiveness up to 200
metres, a range
finely balancing
signal-to-noise ra-
tio (SNR) and dynamic range, making
it a top choice for automotive exterior
camera applications. Noteworthy
features include exceptional low-light
performance, low power consumption,
and a compact form factor that’s 50%
smaller than similar exterior cabin
sensors. It’s the first image sensor to
utilise next-generation lateral overflow
integration capacitors alongside HDR
technology, eliminating LED flicker
across varying lighting conditions
while maintaining robust light flicker
mitigation capabilities without com-
promising image quality.
OMNIVISION
https://www.ovt.com
Lowest power image sensors
Onsemi has introduced a 1.4µm pixel
image sensor family, Hyperlux LP.
This product family adopts a stacked
architecture design that minimises its
footprint, reaching a size similar to a
grain of rice in its smallest form. The
image sensors enhance camera perfor-
mance, providing clearer images and
more accurate object detection even
in challenging weather and lighting
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023
conditions. The sensors incorporate
a wake-on-motion feature, allowing
them to operate in a low-power mode
until movement is detected. At this
point, they transition to a higher-
performance state.
Smart region of
interest (RoI)
management also
enables multiple
RoIs to offer con-
text and detailed views while conserv-
ing bandwidth. The versatile image-
sensing family finds applications in
industrial and commercial cameras,
including smart doorbells, security
cameras, augmented reality/virtual
reality/extended reality (AR/VR/XR)
headsets, machine vision, and video
conferencing.
Onsemi
https://www.onsemi.com
Compact open-frame AC/DC
converters
The RECOM RACM30-K/277 series
of budget-friendly board-mount AC/
DC converters has been expanded
to offer an open-frame alternative,
reducing the weight by half compared
to the existing encapsulated variants.
Safety certifica-
tions cover a
wide range of
applications,
including audio/
video, informa-
tion and communication technology
(ICT), test equipment, household
appliances, industrial devices, and
medical equipment, with robust 4kV
AC/1-minute-rated isolation. These
converters also comply with eco-de-
sign requirements, exhibiting minimal
no-load/standby power dissipation
and maintaining nearly flat efficiency
17

curves even at light loads, all while
meeting ‘Class B’ electromagnetic
compatibility standards without the
need for external components. The
series finds typical applications across
various industries, including providing
housekeeping power in electric vehicle
chargers, supporting industrial auto-
mation, serving in medical equipment,
enabling IoT devices, contributing
to lighting solutions, and enhancing
smart energy systems.
RECOM
https://recom-power.com/en/index.html?0
Opto-emulator portfolio
Texas Instruments (TI) has launched
an opto-emulator portfolio. Engineered
to elevate signal integrity, minimise
power consumption, and extend the
lifespan of high-voltage industrial and
automotive applications, these opto-
emulators are set to revolutionise the
industry. They are designed to operate
across a wide temperature range from
-55°C to
125°C and
exhibit
exceptional
common-
mode transient immunity, surpassing
optocouplers by up to a factor of 10.
Unlike traditional optocouplers that
rely on LEDs for signal isolation and
require overdesign to compensate for
LED aging, these new opto-emulators
eliminate this need by utilising SiO2,
mitigating the effects of LED aging
and providing a stable, long-lasting
solution. With the push for electrifica-
tion and the complexities of designing
high-voltage systems, engineers are
increasingly seeking ways to improve
18 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS
NEW PRODUCTS
the performance and lifespan of their
products while ensuring the right level
of isolation.
Texas Instruments
https://www.ti.com
Safety solution for autonomous
driving
u-blox has launched the u-safe
functional safety solution specifi-
cally tailored for vehicle positioning
to move towards a more autonomous
future. Leveraging components with a
proven track record in driver naviga-
tion systems, this solution provides
Tier 1 suppliers and original equip-
ment manufacturers with a reliable
advanced driver assistance systems
(ADAS) positioning tool, catering to
ADAS Level 3 and beyond to ensure
both functionality and safety, while
enabling Level 2+ systems to prepare
for higher automation levels. When
integrated into ADAS and autonomous
systems, u-safe is an added safety net,
adhering to the ISO-26262 standard
and providing reliable positioning
solutions for the rapidly growing
autonomous driving sector. While it is
flexible enough to work with automo-
tive-grade components, it can also be
an independent solution for custom-
ers. It’s especially suitable for ADAS
L3 and higher autonomous driving
applications. Customers also benefit
from specialised integration support.
u-blox
https://www.u-blox.com/en
IR sensors with controlled
sensitivity
New Yorker Electronics has launched
two new fixed-gain infrared (IR)
sensor modules from Vishay In-
tertechnology. The surface-mount
TSSP93038DF1PZA and leaded
TSSP93038SS1ZA are expected to
provide robust operation in direct
sunlight while providing enough sen-
sitivity for light barrier applications.
Designed in compact minimold pack-
ages with an irradiance of 1.3mW/m²
and a rapid 260µs reaction time, they
are suitable for long-range proximity
sensing, with a range of 11m achiev-
able in light
curtain applica-
tions through
adjustments
such as using
a more focused
emitter or increasing the emitter for-
ward current. They find versatile ap-
plications in toys, drones, robots, vi-
cinity switches, traffic control lights,
parking lots, gateway access, water
level sensors, light barriers for sports
racing, lawn-mower robots, hand dry-
ers, towel or soap dispensers, water
faucets, toilets, vending machine fall
detection, security systems, pet gates,
and offer protection against electro-
magnetic interference (EMI) with an
IR filter to suppress visible light.
Vishay Intertechnology
https://www.vishay.com
TEST & MEASUREMENT
Vector signal generator
Keysight Technologies has launched
WWW.EFYMAG.COM

a compact vector signal generator
(VSG) N5186A MXG with four chan-
nels, enabling signal generation up
to 8.5GHz and providing 960MHz of
modulation bandwidth per channel.
It caters to the demanding require-
ments of dense wideband multichan-
nel applications by offering multiple,
individually intricate signals. The
signal generator simplifies complex
setups, reduces
external con-
nections, and
accommodates
up to four
channels within its compact 2U form
factor. It features an integrated reflec-
tometer to ensure the precise delivery
of signals to the device under test.
The vector signal generator delivers
dependable and reproducible results,
making it ideal for various commer-
cial and aerospace defense applica-
tions. It uses custom DAC applica-
tion-specific integrated circuits and
direct digital synthesis to produce
precise signals, minimising distortion
and aligning with evolving bench-
marks for component and module
design. The integrated reflectometer
streamlines setup procedures by opti-
mising the device under test’s match,
resulting in accelerated time-to-test.
Keysight Technologies
https://www.keysight.com/in/en/home.html
Radar testing systems
for autonomous vehicles
Rohde & Schwarz has launched the
R&S AREG800A automotive radar
echo generator and the R&S QAT100
antenna array. Elevating radar test-
ing innovation to new heights, this
system enables rigorous testing of
radar-based advanced driver as-
sistance systems (ADAS) and radar
sensors integral in automated driving
cars, entirely over the air, by simulat-
ing comprehensive driving scenarios.
The revamped radar test system
(RTS) serves as the tool for radar
object simulation, encompassing
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
NEW PRODUCTS
single sensor trials to immersive 360°
environments, tailored for the critical
76-81GHz bandwidth of automotive
radar sensors. The RTS promises scal-
ability and adaptability, facilitating a
wide range of electronically generated
ADAS traffic scenarios throughout
the testing lifecycle. The synergy
between the backend powerhouse of
these two devices, used in benchtop
development, hardware-in-the-loop,
and vehicle-in-the-loop applications,
is at the core of this revolution. The
company claims that this system
streamlines the transition from real-
world test drives to laboratory set-
tings, anticipating errors at an early
stage and resulting in significant cost
savings, advancing the industry with
foresight and expertise.
Rohde & Schwarz
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/in
3D automated X-ray inspection
Test Research, Inc. (TRI) has in-
troduced the TR7600 SV series, an
advancement in 3D automated X-ray
inspection (AXI) technology. Boast-
ing a 7µm resolution for precision
defect detection and
higher yield rates, this
series incorporates
advanced artificial
intelligence (AI)
algorithms that out-
perform conventional
grey-level-based methods, ensuring
accurate void defect identification.
Equipped with an EtherCAT motion
controller for real-time measurements
and simplified maintenance, this AI-
enhanced inspection system aligns
seamlessly with Industry 4.0 stand-
ards, facilitating integration with man-
ufacturing execution systems. Beyond
rapid image reconstruction and flaw
identification, these inspection tools
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023
stand out by safely securing samples
on the conveyor during examination,
thus preventing additional damage.
Test Research, Inc.
https://www.tri.com.tw/en/index.html
Advanced 4-channel oscilloscope
UNI-T has introduced the 4-chan-
nel digital storage oscilloscope series
UPO1000. The series of digital oscil-
loscopes utilises digital 3D technol-
ogy, fast acquire phosphor. Offered
in bandwidths of 50MHz, 100MHz,
and 200MHz, they boast a real-time
sampling rate
up to 2GSa/s.
Standard
across the
series are four
channels,
the inclusion of an independent DVM
module, and a plethora of trigger and
bus decoding features, including full-
memory hardware real-time decoding
capabilities. The versatile oscilloscope
series is beneficial across a wide array
of sectors such as communication,
computing, IC design, instrumenta-
tion, industrial electronics, consumer
electronics, automotive electronics,
field maintenance, and research &
development/education.
UNI-T
https://instruments.uni-trend.com
EMBEDDED
SoM and starter kit
AMD expands its footprint in the
industrial sector with the introduction
of the Kria K24 system on module
(SoM) and the KD240 drives starter
kit. The SoM encapsulates powerful
computing capabilities in a compact
format, specially designed for budget-
conscious industrial and commercial
edge applications. With its low latency
features, it plays a crucial role in pow-
ering electric drives and motor con-
trollers, particularly in digital signal
processing applications at the edge.
Its primary application areas include
19

electric motor systems, public trans-
portation infrastructure, healthcare
equipment, and
electric vehicle
charging setups.
In collabora-
tion with the
KD240 drives
starter kit, a ready-to-go motor control
development platform, it simplifies
the transition from development to
production, reducing time to market.
AMD
https://www.amd.com/en.html
32-bit MCU with built-in
security module
Microchip Technology has launched a
series of PIC32CZ CA 32-bit micro-
controllers. Powered by a 300MHz
Arm Cortex-M7 processor, these mi-
crocontrollers are equipped with an
embedded hardware security module
(HSM) and offer a range of Flash
memory and connectivity options
for enhanced
flexibility. The
HSM serves
as a com-
prehensive
security solu-
tion, functioning as a secure enclave.
Additionally, the microcontrollers
support factory provisioning for
devices requiring advanced security
measures, ensuring customers receive
pre-configured, secure devices ready
for deployment. These MCUs offer
versatile connectivity options, includ-
ing USART/UART, I2C, SPI, CAN
FD, USB, and Gigabit Ethernet, with
support for audio video bridging and
Precision Time Protocol for Gigabit
Ethernet, adhering to IEEE 1588
standards.
Microchip Technology
https://www.microchip.com
Embedded systems
debugging tool
Percepio has introduced the
Tracealyzer SDK that delivers exten-
20 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS
NEW PRODUCTS
sive observability tools, comprising
RTOS awareness and API tracing,
enabling processor vendors and soft-
ware professionals to offer advanced
observability. Essential for debugging
and profiling embedded, edge, and
IoT systems, the tool’s enhanced fea-
tures facilitate rapid development and
debugging, guaranteeing software
dependability and peak performance.
While supporting well-known RTOS
like FreeRTOS, Zephyr, and Azure
RTOS ThreadX, and adaptable to any
C/C++ software, Percepio oversees
its integration. The SDK’s advantages
extend to silicon vendors, RTOS,
and middleware sectors, enhancing
design success with superior tooling.
It offers in-depth insights into RTOS,
applications, and various layers,
expediting customer development
and production orders. Furnished
with comprehensive documentation
and code samples, the Tracealyzer
SDK ensures easy integration with
Percepio’s open source TraceRecorder,
which aids users in profiling CPU
tasks, software timing, and memory
leak detection.
Percepio
https://percepio.com
Raspberry Pi 5 with enhanced
features
Raspberry Pi has introduced a new
version of its board, Raspberry Pi 5.
The Raspberry Pi 5 will be available
in 4GB and 8GB models, boasting a
performance over twice as fast as its
predecessor. While retaining the iconic
credit-card-sized form, the design has
been tweaked to cater to its enhanced
chipset. Where the display connector
once was, a compact flexible printed
circuit connector now facilitates a
single lane of PCI Express 2.0 for high-
speed peripherals. Powering the Rasp-
berry Pi 5 are three integral chips. The
BCM2712, a 16-nanometre application
processor by
Broadcom
housing a
quad-core
64-bit ARM
Cortex-A76
processor
running at 2.4GHz, accompanied
by 512kB per-core L2 caches and a
shared 2MB L3 cache. The RP1 chip,
fabricated via TSMC’s 40-nanometre
40LP process, manages the Raspberry
Pi RP2040 microcontroller, delivering
functionalities like USB interfaces, an
Ethernet controller, and more. Lastly,
the Renesas DA9091 “Gilmour” PMIC
efficiently supports the operations of
the BCM2712 and RP1.
Raspberry Pi
https://www.raspberrypi.com
MISCELLANEOUS
PLC mini control units making
control effortlessly visible
Display Visions has launched a pro-
grammable logic controller (PLC) mini
control unit family, a leap forward
in the PLC systems world. The Core
central control unit prioritises not just
control but clear communication. It
boasts a vibrant 7.1cm (2.8-inch) IPS
touchscreen
display for
immediate,
intuitive data
visualisation.
It can connect
with up to 50
satellite displays, turning each into a
monitoring setup and personal view-
ing hub. The Core features built-in
Ethernet, RS-485 interface, and Wi-Fi
for streamlined communication. Data
parameters on the Core and satellites
update in real time. The company pro-
vides PLC Designer, a free Windows
tool with a graphical WYSIWYG edi-
WWW.EFYMAG.COM

tor, loaded with pre-designed elements
for easy customisation. This tool also
facilitates brightness adjustment for
connected satellites. This new PLC
mini control unit family revolutionises
the PLC domain, making previously
hidden processes visible, interactive,
and highly efficient.
Display Visions
https://www.displayvisions.us
LED bulb with dual lighting
modes
Halonix Technologies has launched
the ‘UP-DOWN GLOW’ LED bulb that
features dual lighting—both the dome
and the stem glow, but in distinct
colours. The 10W LED bulb provides
two distinct variants, with one featur-
ing white, warm,
and mixed lighting
effects, and the
other offering white,
blue, and mixed
illuminations. Users
can easily switch be-
tween a bright 10W
light at the dome, a
soothing blue/warm white hue from
the stem, and a composite mode that
combines both, enhancing the room’s
ambiance uniquely. A standout feature
of the bulb is its 360-degree illumina-
tion capability, ensuring consistent
and even lighting that transforms
room aesthetics. Its design allows for
effortless installation in standard bulb
holders, addressing recent market
preferences for versatile lighting,
including bright illumination for daily
tasks, gentle light for entertainment,
and ambiance-enhancing lighting for
social gatherings, all within a single
unit.
Halonix Technologies
https://www.halonix.co.in
Interface between Reality AI
and e² Studio
Renesas Electronics Corporation has
launched interfaces between its Real-
ity artificial intelligence (AI) tools
22 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
neW ProDUCts
and the e² Studio integrated develop-
ment environment. This empowers
designers to exchange data, projects,
and AI code modules between these
essential programs. Users can easily
download and incorporate AI/ML
classifiers generated within Reality
AI tools directly from the e2 Studio
environment. These modules are
purpose-built to streamline data col-
lection from devices utilising MCUs,
whether they are part of the compa-
ny’s kits or customer hardware. This
integration significantly expedites
the design process for AI and tiny
machine learning (ML) applications,
particularly at the edge and end-
point of IoT networks. The AI tools
constitute a comprehensive software
ecosystem for AI application devel-
opment, allowing users to automati-
cally explore sensor data and gener-
ate highly optimised models.
Renesas Electronics Corporation
https://www.renesas.com/us/en
Smart access to replace
physical keys
Southco has launched a wireless ac-
cess system featuring a smart access
application, the Keypanion app, that
lets users
wirelessly
actuate
latches from
their smart-
phones. The
applica-
tion’s aim is to reduce dependency
on physical keys that are difficult to
keep track of and can be lost, sto-
len, or damaged. The app provides
a history of the device’s activity for
up to fourteen days, enabling users
to review access details and share or
revoke access instantly. Additionally,
users can monitor the latch’s status
(open or closed) using a nearby device
with the Keypanion app, and the
status includes a timestamp indicating
the last update. This combination of
the Keypanion app, Southco Bluetooth
controller, and compatible latch sim-
plifies setup, requiring no dedicated
IT team, and can be accessed easily
through a smartphone, even without
extensive technical knowledge.
Southco
https://southco.com/en_in_int
A software for secure IoT
connection to Azure IoT Hub
STMicroelectronics has launched soft-
ware that streamlines the integration
of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, de-
veloped with the advanced STM32H5
microcontrollers (MCUs), to the Micro-
soft Azure IoT Hub. With TLS encryp-
tion and securely stored Wi-Fi and
Azure connection credentials, prebuilt
binaries ensure swift deployment and
a secure connection. The demonstra-
tion application showcases secure con-
nectivity from the device to Azure IoT
Hub, handling network setup and data
transmission, as well as managing
Azure messages, methods, and twin
update commands. Additionally, it of-
fers robust processor architecture and
heightened security, enabling develop-
ers to leverage Azure IoT Hub features
through this new cube for converting
device data into actionable insights,
facilitating informed decisions, stream-
lined operations, and enhanced offer-
ings. The Secure Manager safeguards
IP on shared platforms, especially for
AI inference, ensuring asset confiden-
tiality and integrity in design, produc-
tion, and deployment.
STMicroelectronics
https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en.html
www.eFYmag.com
 Tech: Trends

Trends And Test Challenges In

RADAR AND LIDAR
SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES
And How To Solve Them
In a journey towards an electrified, self-directed, and safer driving world, radar and lidar tech drive progress.
Gain insights into their foundational mechanics and nuances, shaping the future of transportation

The author, AdriAn

GAudencio AbAbA, is
Business Development
Manager - Automotive
and Energy Solutions,
Keysight Singapore

G
overnments around the globe are
actively channelling investments into
autonomous driving and electrifica-
tion, aiming for a more sustainable future.
They strive to curb carbon emissions for
our generation and those who follow. The
rising interest in electrification and au-
tonomous tech shows this dedication to a
cleaner future. In pursuing a sustainable
future, there’s a dual objective: curbing
carbon emissions and paving the way for
safer roadways for upcoming generations.
The realm of autonomous driving epitomises
this ambition, aiming for the zenith of safety
with a vision of roads devoid of fatalities.
However, this aspiration is met via a more
complex route; it demands the intricate
melding of state-of-the-art technologies. Cen-
tral to this endeavour is the myriad sensors
employed by autonomous vehicles—cameras
documenting the immediate surroundings
in real time, radars assessing object proximi-
ties, and lidars meticulously plotting detailed
environmental contours.

24 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


Why are sensors crucial
for autonomous driving?
Exploring the world of autonomous
driving, the aim is to ensure no lives
are lost on the road. Making autono-
mous driving successful is complex;
it hinges on many intertwined tech-
nologies. The seamless integration
of cameras, radars, and lidars is para-
mount for the optimal functioning of
autonomous vehicles. Beyond these,
the vehicles lean on advanced wire-
less communication systems, from
5G and C2x to Bluetooth and global
navigation satellite systems. The
magic lies in the intricate software
that skilfully merges data from all
these sources, turning the dream of
autonomous driving into a tangible
reality. To break it down, the pivotal
sensor technologies we’re focusing
on for autonomous driving include:
Camera sensors. Cameras in
autonomous vehicles resemble the
human eye, working best in clear
conditions but struggling in poor
weather or low light. Despite their
affordability ($1-$2 per sensor) and
advanced capabilities, factors like
dirt can hamper their performance.
Radar sensors. Radar technology
accurately measures distance and
motion, which is essential for adap-
tive cruise control up to 150 metres.
While versatile in various conditions
with long detection ranges, radars of-
fer limited obstacle information and
have lower resolution.
Lidar sensors. Lidars provide
a 360-degree 3D view essential for
autonomous vehicles, ensuring preci-
sion in emergency functions and
mapping. Despite their high reso-
lution, they are costly, bulky, and
weather-sensitive.
The beauty of the sensor suite
in autonomous vehicles lies in its
redundancy. Each sensor brings its
distinct strengths to the table; in-
triguingly, their functionalities often
overlap. This ensures that others are
26 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
Tech: Trends
Deciphering the nuances of radar testing
There are several stages and tools involved, each with its specific purpose. The radar
target simulator and the radar scene emulators are mentioned below:
Radar target simulator
• Designed primarily focused on functional and parametric assessments.
• Examines the radar module’s performance across critical dimensions, including
distance, azimuth (horizontal), and elevation (vertical).
• It can simulate one to three objects at varying distances like 5 metres, 50 metres, and
150 metres.
Radar scene emulator
• Essential for sensor fusion testing.
• It simulates real-world driving situations, like a typical road scene in metropolitan cities
with different vehicles.
• Realistic representation can create up to 512 objects or ‘radar echoes’. This is vital for
developing algorithms that detect objects in genuine, real-world scenarios.
Simulators are primarily employed for functional and parametric assessments. They
rigorously evaluate the performance of radar modules, examining aspects such as distance,
azimuth (horizontal), elevation (vertical), object size, radar cross-section, and speed.
ready to compensate where one sen- gold standard resolution between 3
sor might falter. This multi-layered to 5cm. The significance of angular
approach gives confidence in the resolution becomes evident when
safety and reliability of autonomous considering its practical applica-
vehicles, making them prepared for tions. For example, a radar with a
the unpredictability of the open road. 5-degree resolution might cluster
three individuals as a single entity,
Crafting a safer future whereas radars with 1.5-degree or
in autonomous driving 3-degree resolutions can discern
with radar between them, underscoring the criti-
As we inch closer to the goal of zero cal role of precision. This versatility
road fatalities, the evolution of au- and adaptability of radar technology
tonomous vehicles heavily depends shine brightly across its myriad ap-
on a myriad of radar systems, each plications.
fine-tuned for specialised detec- Many integrated functionalities
tion functions. Take, for example, stand at the forefront of safety and
the short-range radar—its precision operational efficiency in the evolv-
engineering zeroes in on immedi- ing autonomous driving landscape.
ate surroundings, adding an es- Consider the adaptive cruise control,
sential safety layer against nearby an innovation precision-engineered
obstacles. The medium-range radar, to maintain a balanced distance from
meanwhile, strikes a perfect balance, preceding vehicles, guaranteeing
ensuring nothing in its intermediate fluid and controlled movement. The
range remains undetected. Not to be rise of the autonomous emergency
overshadowed, the long-range radar braking system is another remarkable
extends its gaze far into the distance, leap, offering a robust preventive
significantly broadening our vehicles’ measure against collisions, particu-
awareness spectrum. Together, these larly in high-traffic scenarios. A note-
radar technologies sketch the future worthy mention is the pedestrian and
of road safety, a testament to the cyclist detection system, tailored to
power of innovation. shield the most exposed road users,
The precision of contemporary ensuring their safety amidst dense
radars is impressive, targeting a traffic conditions. For drivers, lane
www.eFYmag.com
 Tech: Trends

Transformative role of target simulators ments, and confirming product

readiness.
Testing lidars in the manufacturing environment, or even in the design and verification Certification. Before market
environment is challenging. This is because testing at different distances is a difficult task. launch, products must meet global
To overcome this, a lidar target simulator plays an important role. This piece of technology
benchmarks, including electro-
presents a series of advantages:
magnetic interference (EMI) and
• Eliminating extensive distances. With the simulator, you can conduct comprehensive
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
tests on lidar modules within one to one-and-a-half metres.
• Simulating reflectivity. The simulator can emulate the reflectivity of target boxes, testing for electromagnetic com-
making it versatile in testing different scenarios. patibility and IEEE and regulatory
• Adaptability. Not only does the system support the prevalent 9.5-nanometre compliance to ensure conformity
wavelength, there are also plans to introduce support for the 1550 nanometres by with international standards.
year-end. Mass production and quality
• Fully automated and future ready. The system integrates smoothly with COBAL and control. Certified, the radar system
the latest data analytics software. Its adaptability means it can test a wide variety of lidar
progresses to mass production,
modules.
backed by evaluations for assembly
They essentially eliminate the need for individuals to set up the target bots at great
distances. Additionally, they can simulate the reflectivity of these bots.
defects and component failures to
ensure steady quality. Calibration
and verification enhance detection
change and lane departure warnings procedures stand as a testament to a precision, while final checks serve
are invaluable companions, enhanc- future of driving that promises to be as definitive go/no-go tests, the
ing lane adherence and circumvent- both intelligent and secure. Join us ultimate assurance before market
ing potential hazards. as we journey through the intricate launch.
Safety is further underscored, tapestry of radar system develop- ADA software development.
especially during challenging reverse ment. Radar often integrates with tech-
motions, with the integration of rear Conceptual design and simula- nologies like cameras or lidar, which
cross-traffic alerts and imminent tion. This phase prioritises three key are common among automakers and
collision warnings. These systems goals: validating radar viability via module manufacturers. This phase
are crucial in notifying drivers about proof of concept, executing system- includes scenario simulation for
potential hindrances. Moreover, the level simulation for virtual capa- real-world testing, refining object
blind spot detection mechanism bility assessment, and fine-tuning detection and classification algo-
emerges as a sentinel of vehicular through design and optimisation to rithms for better identification, and
awareness. Pinpointing vehicles in enhance overall radar performance. comprehensive scenario-based test-
typically obscured zones fortifies Chipset R&D. In this phase, at- ing under diverse driving conditions
driver assurance and creates a safer tention sharpens on radar hardware for a thorough evaluation.
driving environment. As Adrian intricacies. Hardware development Road tests. The ultimate and po-
aptly puts it, “With the continuous crafts components, software devel- tentially most pivotal phase involves
refinement of radar technologies opment, build algorithms, verifica- on-road testing. Often concealed
by experts and manufacturers, the tion, and validation to ensure seam- beneath protective coverings, new
vision of more secure and intelligent less interaction, and functional tests models are tested to ensure their
roadways edges closer to realisa- affirm functionality alignment. performance in authentic scenarios.
tion.” Development and validation. The radar collaborates with other
Precision refines the radar mod- sensors and software through track
From concept to road: ule for specific applications in this evaluations, striving for seamless
Radar system development stage. It involves antenna develop- functionality amidst real-world
Crafting a product, especially one as ment for better receptivity, random conditions.
nuanced as an automotive radar sys- testing for performance protection, Radar module testing involves
tem, is an expedition marked by pre- thorough assessments of housing, rigorous evaluations before deploy-
cision and diligence. Each phase is thermal, and interconnect for seam- ment. The journey from concept
important, from the drawing board less integration, iterative software to operational system uses tools
to real-world road evaluations. As and functional tests for efficiency like sensor calibration range and
we navigate the current technologi- reaffirmation, culminating in design anechoic chamber, among other
cal renaissance, these systematic verification via exhaustive assess- advanced testing methods.

28 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


Lidar: How laser pulses shape
the future of autonomous
vehicles and remote sensing
Lidar technology is a pivotal innova-
tion in autonomous vehicles and
remote sensing. By harnessing the
power of laser pulses, lidar meas-
ures distances and pinpoints objects
with impressive accuracy. Prioritis-
ing safety, the automotive industry
has eschewed traditional lasers that
could pose risks to the eyes, instead
opting for ‘visually safe lasers’ in
lidar configurations. Lidar technol-
ogy fundamentally relies on laser
pulses to detect surrounding objects.
The ‘time of flight’ measurement is
central to its operation, calculating
the time a laser pulse takes to strike
an object and reach back.
This mechanism facilitates an
accurate estimate of an object’s
distance. By gauging the reflectiv-
ity of the returned signal, one can
infer specific characteristics of the
detected object, like its colour or
whether it has a metallic composi-
tion. Advanced software algorithms
process and classify the data the
lidar collects, effectively distinguish-
ing between various entities—for
example, differentiating a tree from
a pedestrian or a car.
Elements of lidar testing
To ensure that a lidar system is up
to the mark, the device under test
(DUT) undergoes rigorous testing. It
includes:
Hardware testing. In every lidar
device’s heart lies a symphony of
finely tuned optical and mechanical
systems. Their precision is achieved
through rigorous calibration, ensur-
ing peak performance right out of
the box. But that is just the begin-
ning. Each device then undergoes
a rigorous performance sensitivity
analysis, a deep dive into how it
responds under various conditions,
assessing its reliability at each step.
30 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
Tech: Trends
The pièce de résistance? An exhaus-
tive accuracy assessment that zeroes
in on the lidar’s ability to measure
distance and reflectivity. This cap-
stone test is designed to guarantee
that the information lidar provides
is not only accurate but remains
steadfastly consistent, no matter the
environment.
Software testing. No stone is
left unturned regarding the intri-
cate world of lidar software testing.
The crucial evaluation of detection
algorithms is at the forefront of
this rigorous process. Expert eyes
meticulously gauge these algo-
rithms for their precision and flair in
identifying targets. The nuanced art
of object classification is put under
the microscope, ensuring an unerr-
ing ability to differentiate between
a pedestrian, a zooming vehicle,
or nature’s obstacles. But there’s
more. Central to the process is the
system’s talent for target reconstruc-
tion. It’s not just about pinpoint ac-
curacy; it’s about the lightning-quick
speed of this reconstruction.
Challenges of testing lidar
systems within manufacturing
Lidar testing is no small feat, and
central to this challenge is the im-
mense spatial demand. Imagine
this: target boards placed every-
where, from a mere 5 metres away
to distant spots almost touching the
300-metre mark. This expansive
setup consumes vast floor spaces,
especially when evaluations stretch
over extensive ranges. But it is not
just about space. The waters get
muddier with non-standard test-
ing procedures. The absence of a
uniform standard can inject un-
wanted variability, casting a shadow
over result reliability. And if you
think that’s all, consider the clock.
Testing is not just intricate, but it’s
time-consuming. The constant need
to gauge lidar efficiency at vary-
ing distances means frequent setup
reshuffles, extending the timeline
further.
In the dynamic landscape of
lidar technology, refining testing
methods to scale new heights of ef-
ficiency is a constant tug-of-war. Re-
member the days when testing lidar
meant sprawling setups across great
distances? Such traditional methods
have always been a logistical puz-
zle, demanding time and space in
spades. Yet, in this maze, there is a
glimmer of streamlined processes.
Adrian says, “With the prowess of
big data analytics, pufferfish manu-
facturing analytics emerges not just
as another software but as an in-
sightful tool.” It gives manufacturers
a microscopic view into component
quality, ensuring consistency across
parts from diverse suppliers. It’s an
era where big data isn’t just about
volume; it’s about refining quality
assurance with surgical precision.
In a world where sustainability
and safety converge, autonomous
driving emerges as a beacon of inno-
vation, fortified by relentless global
support. This transformative journey
is anchored by two technological
titans: radars and lidars. The indus-
try’s pulse is palpable in the meticu-
lous craft of radar systems and the
intricate applications of lidar. But, as
with all pioneering ventures, road-
blocks are inevitable. Lidar testing,
alongside the pursuit of universal
standards, poses significant chal-
lenges. Yet, in this intricate dance of
technology and data analytics, the in-
dustry is gearing up to convert these
challenges into monumental leaps
forward. It is a riveting era, steering
the automotive domain towards an
electrified, self-directed, and lumi-
nous horizon for humanity.
This article is from a tech talk session at EFY Expo
2023, Pune, by Adrian Gaudencio Ababa, Business
Development Manager - Automotive and Energy
Solutions, Keysight Singapore. Transcribed and
curated by Akanksha Sondhi Gaur, Research Ana-
lyst and Journalist at EFY.
www.eFYmag.com
 Quarterly Indian Smartphone Shipments Decline Festive Season To Drive Online Smartphone Sales
Reduces in 2Q23 With the festive season in full swing, 86% of Indian consumers planning
Smartphone shipments from India declined 3% YoY in Q2 2023, but to purchase a smartphone are inclined towards online purchases, and
the rate of decline was reduced compared to previous quarters. 31% of respondents want to upgrade to the latest smartphone technology.
5G smartphones accounted for 50% of the total smartphone shipments. The preferred smartphone brands are Samsung (33%), Apple (18%),
Samsung held 18% market share and led the Indian smartphone market Xiaomi (11%), and OnePlus (10%). 42% of respondents plan to purchase
for the third consecutive quarter, while Vivo maintained its premium smartphones priced at or above `30,000.
second position and experienced YoY growth.
Preferred Smartphone
Purchase Channel
Most Preferred Specifications
20% 18% 19% 20% 20% 18% 14%
Offline
46%
Open
15% 17% 14% 17% 17% to both
18%
online
40% and
21% 15% Online offline
23% 19% 18% 16%

9% 12%
16% 14% 8%
16% 12% 11% Most Preferred Smartphone Brands
11%
10% Samsung
11%
9%
22% 25% 26% 27% Apple
17% 19%

mi
Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Q2 2023
Samsung Vivo Xiaomi realme OPPO Others OnePlus

(Source: Counterpoint Research) (Source: Counterpoint Research)

Global Large-Area Display Shipments Forecast
Drops To 7.3%
Large-area displays are expected to decline unit shipments by 7.3%
YoY in 2023 due to weaker demand for mobile PCs and monitors.
Display area shipments are projected to increase by 0.5% YoY. LCD
TV display prices continue to rise in 2023, but losses persist
in the IT LCD business. Display makers are focused on display
price protection to minimise losses.
But India’s Smart TV Market Grew...
India’s smart television market experienced an 8% YoY growth in
the first half of 2023, with 4.5 million unit shipments. Online sales,
festivals, the popularity of larger screen sizes, and decreasing prices
have been driving this growth. Online channel sales increased
by 25% YoY, reaching 39% share in 1H23.
20%

Applications 2021 2022 2023 (F) 2022 2023 (F) 18%

YoY (%) YoY (%) 16%

14%
Unit Market Share

TV 268.6 270.3 253.8 0.7 -6.1

12%

10%
Monitor 172.4 159.3 154.5 -7.6 -3.0
8%

Notebook PC 291.9 217.0 188.5 -25.7 -13.1 6%

4%
Tablet PC 171.7 158.6 150.1 -7.6 -5.4 2%

0%
Others/PID 71.2 90.0 82.6 26.4 -8.2 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Q2 2023

Xiaomi Samsung LG TCL Oneplus

Total 975.8 895.3 829.6 -8.3 -7.3

(Source: Omdia) (Source: IDC 2023)

34 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS WWW.EFYMAG.COM

At-a-glance view of key industry trends that
can shape the future of your business…

Chinese Companies Secure 45.3% Market Share
In Automotive Displays
Chinese companies have emerged as dominant players in the automotive
display market, securing a substantial 45.3% share in the first half of
2023. Chinese suppliers have also secured a majority share of 55.5% in
the a-Si LCD (liquid crystal display) market and a 17.8% share in the
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) market.
EV Sales Rise By 36% YoY In September 2023
On a YoY basis, EV sales in September 2023 increased by 36% from
that of EV sales in September 2022. The overall EV sales in September
2023 rose by approximately 1% from last month, reaching 127,735 units,
driven by E-2Ws and passenger-type E-3Ws, which together
accounted for 90.85% of total registrations.

50%

45%
46.0% 45.3%
40%
41.7%
35%

30% 35.3%

25% 28.1%
20%
20.5%
15%
15.3%
10%
11.8% 12.9%
5%
7.1%
5.1%
0%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 1H23

(Source: Omdia) (Source: JMK Research)

Global Chip Sales Increase To $44 Billion
In August 2023
Global chip sales grew by 1.9% in August 2023 to $44 billion for the
sixth consecutive month. However, YoY sales fell by 6.8% compared
to August 2022. Month-to-month sales rose in the Americas (4.6%),
China (2.0%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (1.2%), but fell in Japan (-0.4%)
and Europe (-1.1%). YoY sales increased in Europe (3.5%) and the
Americas (0.3%) but declined in Japan (-2.9%), Asia Pacific/All Other
(-11.3%), and China (-12.6%).
TSMC Leads Global Foundry Market Revenue
Share With 57% in 2Q23
TSMC continued to lead the global semiconductor foundry market
revenue share with 57% in Q2 2023. Samsung Foundry’s revenue
share fluctuated but slightly increased to 14% in Q2 2023. UMC,
GlobalFoundries, and SMIC also showed variations in revenue share,
but GlobalFoundries and SMIC experienced growth in Q2 2023.
Other players collectively account for 9% of the revenue share.

53% 54% 56% 59% 59% 59% 57%

Revenue Share (in %)

16% 15% 13%

12% 13% 13% 14%
7% 7% 8% 7% 7%
7% 6%
6% 6% 6% 6% 7% 7%
6%
5% 6% 6% 6% 5% 5% 6%
Aug 2023 = -6.8% Y/Y 13% 12% 11% 10% 10% 10% 9%
Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
2021 2022 2022 2022 2022 2023 2023
Jan-96
Jan-97
Jan-98
Jan-99
Jan-00
Jan-01
Jan-02
Jan-03
Jan-04
Jan-05
Jan-06
Jan-07
Jan-08
Jan-09
Jan-10
Jan-11
Jan-12
Jan-13
Jan-14
Jan-15
Jan-16
Jan-17
Jan-18
Jan-19
Jan-20
Jan-21
Jan-22
Jan-23

TSMC Samsung Foundry* UMC Global Foundries SMIC Others

Revenue Y/Y % Change *Samsung includes foundry service for its internal logic IC business

(Source: www.semiconductors.org) (Source: Counterpoint Research)

WWW.EFYMAG.COM ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023 35


The First High Voltage Electric
1 2-Wheeler In India
THE FIRST HIGH VOLTAGE
1 ELECTRIC 2-WHEELER IN INDIA
Kaynes Technology, a major player in India’s electronics manufacturing services, is a strategic
investor in Raptee. They are also contracted to manufacture specific components for Raptee
U
nlike all the electric two-
wheelers being sold in India
currently, Raptee’s first
electric high-speed electric two-
wheeler (E2W) motorcycle will be a
high voltage one. Dinesh Arjun, Co-
founder & CEO of Raptee Energy, in
a conversation with Electronics For
You, said, “We will target the 250cc
category of motorcycles in India with
our first product. It will be priced
somewhere close to `250,000.”
36 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
startups& Innovators
Harnessing The Shakti
2 For Microcontroller Chips
Raptee Founding Team
The biggest USP of this mo-
torcycle, and most other Raptee
products, as Arjun explained, would
be their capability to get charged at
combined charging system (CCS)
standard electric vehicle chargers.
Currently, only electric cars avail-
able in India can do so. “This will
ensure that Raptee products can
leverage existing fast chargers in the
country. We will be the only ones
to do long highway travels on our
Most Energy-Dense
3 Electric Vehicle Batteries
motorcycles because of these charg-
ers,” he says.
Arjun adds, “Most of the E2Ws
available in India are based on
drivetrains that support 36 to 96V
DC, whereas our first motorcycle
is based on 246V DC. This simply
means that we will be able to charge
it at any fast charger deployed out
there.” Further, the startup says it
has designed and developed the ma-
jority of components in-house for its
two-wheelers. Barring cells, it has
‘control’ over everything else that
is going into motorcycles they are
building. Kaynes Technology, one
of India’s most prominent contract
electronics manufacturing services
providers, is a strategic investor in
Raptee and is also contract manu-
facturing certain components for the
same.
Raptee says it is also creating a
database of all the motorcycles it
plans to deploy on the road. This
data, powered by AI and ML, will
be used to ‘not repeat’ mistakes a
particular model is making in other
variants. Sensors fitted on the mo-
torcycles not only collect data at the
vehicle but also at the component
level. Arjun terms the practice as
creating “hives of Raptee motorcy-
cles.”
He adds, “We are testing dynam-
ic deployment of algorithms. This
www.eFYmag.com

simply means that we are trying to
update motorcycles according to
the temperature and other condi-
tions they are deployed in.” For the
record, Raptee was once a partner to
electric bus OEMs. However, it now
wants to concentrate on being an
OEM. Arjun highlighted that Raptee
will never supply to a direct com-
petitor!
The startup chose high volt-
age drivetrains because it feels the
same is necessary to help India and
Indians transition from ICE (internal
combustion engine) to EV (electric
vehicle). According to Arjun, a lot
of E2Ws available in India today
cannot do steep slopes without the
motor getting overheated. A high
voltage drivetrain, he highlights,
can do the same better than an ICE
vehicle without getting the motor
heated.
“You cannot request a Toyota
Innova owner to switch to a 1000cc
CNG (compressed natural gas)
HARNESSING THE SHAKTI
2 FOR MICROCONTROLLER CHIPS
“As an academic institution, we’ve done everything we can to develop the Shakti microprocessor,
and now I need you to make it accessible to the world” — Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan
I
t was a momentous occasion
when IIT Madras announced the
release of the Shakti micropro-
cessor in 2018. While the adoption
of this chip across strategic sectors,
such as defence, nuclear power
installations, government agencies
and departments, is yet to be seen
on a massive scale, startups such as
Mindgrove Technologies are working
towards making it accessible to the
world.
Founded and incubated under
IIT Madras in 2021 by co-founders
and former colleagues, Shashwath
TR (CEO) and Sharan Srinivas
38 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: Innovators
powered car by telling him that it
is good for his pocket as well as for
the environment. You will have to
give him something equivalent to
that Innova experience,” he says.
Cost is not a challenge for Rap-
tee because of the indigenisation
and vertical integration it has been
able to achieve so far. Arjun adds
that as most of the 250cc machines
in India are available in the price
range upwards of `200,000, Rap-
tee’s first electric motorcycle will be
positioned in the same category. The
startup will start retailing the same
next year in Bengaluru and Chennai.
It is targeting to open six experience
centres in six cities before the end of
the next year, each owned and oper-
ated by itself.
In 2025, the startup plans to
introduce its second offering, tar-
geted towards the 150cc motorcycle
market, and aims to open at least
50 centres via the dealership route.
Arjun says Raptee chose its first
J (CTO), fabless semiconductor
startup Mindgrove Technologies har-
nesses the potential of open source
technology and the RISC-V Instruc-
tion Set Architecture (ISA) to create
a high-performance microcontroller
chip operating on a 28-nanometre
technology node with a SHAKTI
core.
The Shakti processor’s open
source nature, released under a
permissive BSD three-clause license,
eliminates licensing fees and sales
royalties typically associated with
buying proprietary chips, reducing
costs. “The RISC-V ISA combines
product as an electric motorcycle
because motorcycles are the biggest
medium of transport and people
movement in India. According to
him, most of the players in the com-
petition will not transition to high
voltage powertrains because the
ecosystem of components is already
established for them, and doing the
same will require them to start from
scratch.
Raptee’s first product will fea-
ture a battery close to 6kW, which
will promise an IDC (Indian driv-
ing cycle) range of 220km and a
real-world range of close to 160km.
It has so far raised `370 million
from Director of Shankara Building
Products, Eugene Mayne, Founder
and CEO of Tristar Global (UAE),
Lakshmi Narayanan, Former CEO of
Cognizant, Ramesh Kannan, MD of
Kaynes Technology, Chandu Nair,
and other HNIs (high net worth in-
dividuals) from India and the UAE.
—Mukul Yudhveer Singh
lessons from legacy ISAs like x86,
ARM, MIPS, and more, resulting in
impressive performance efficiency
for resources invested. The chip’s
microarchitecture is designed to be
simple, minimising area and power
consumption, thus reducing produc-
tion costs linked to chip size. We
benefit from financial and infra-
structure support and mentorship
provided by IIT Madras, helping us
identify and address potential issues
early on,” says Shashwath.
The choice of a 28-nanometre
technology node, however uncon-
ventional, allows the company de-
www.eFYmag.com

Sharan (L) and Shashwath (R), Co-founders, Mindgrove Technologies
signing chips for machine learning
and characterisation-focused signal
processing and vision, to deliver
the required performance without
resorting to excessive complexity or
gate counts, resulting in power effi-
ciency. “Our primary emphasis is on
optimising performance, and then
we progressively eliminate compo-
nents and features until we achieve
the desired power consumption. We
aim to create a chip perfectly suited
for its intended purpose, effectively
a ‘right-sized’ chip for the task at
hand,” Sharan explains.
Operating at 700MHz, the SoC
has 128kB of on-chip SRAM, with
two quad SPI ports that can operate
at 200Mbps each. These ports can
be connected to various memory
types, including NOR flash, PS RAM
strategy: Innovators
(pseudo static RAM), and M RAM.
The chip can accommodate setups
like a 64MB NOR flash with one
PS RAM, two NOR flashes, or one
64MB NOR flash alongside a sec-
ondary NAND flash on a quad SPI
interface. Chief Technology Officer
(CTO) Sharan says that a versatile
memory configuration approach
allows the chip to cater to various
application needs, while optimising
performance and memory usage.
“Our quad SPI ports provide the
flexibility to connect various exter-
nal modules, such as Wi-Fi, Blue-
tooth, etc, as peripherals to cater
to specific customer needs instead
of incorporating all these features
within the SoC. By not embedding
a fixed amount of memory directly
into the package, we avoid the
scenario where customers pay for
more memory than their use case
requires, eliminating unnecessary
costs and allowing us to serve a
diverse and fragmented market,” he
elaborates.
The startup employs BlueSpec
SystemVerilog for RTL design and
uses a combination of tools for veri-
fication followed by a continuous
integration approach for testing. It
also develops firmware, drivers, and
software parallel to hardware devel-
opment to ensure smooth integra-
tion and functionality. “Ventilator is
the fastest and open source simula-
tor, making it cost-effective. We use
a Python-based ‘Cocotb’ frame-
work to control the data flow. The
BlueSpec code gets compiled, the
compiled code goes into Ventilator,
and Cocotb controls it. We write all
our test benches in Cocotb, which is
in Python,” explains Sharan.
Shashwath adds that around
85% of the chip was either devel-
oped in-house or at IIT Madras,
along with IP support from Synop-
sys. Currently, the startup expects
production to start in November
2023. “We anticipate the prototype
to be ready by February, after which
we will soon bring the product to
market. We’re already working on
our second project, focusing on im-
age processing and computer vision
for integration into cameras and
similar devices for on-edge applica-
tions,” Shashwath concluded.
—Yashasvini Razdan

MOST ENERGY-DENSE
3 ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES
“ O
Apart from cells and chips, the startup has absolute control over ur electric vehicle bat-
teries come packed with
the components and raw materials it sources for manufacturing
almost 170Wh per kg of
batteries and battery swap stations. Reddy says his startup is energy density,” Arun Sreyas Reddy,
focusing on the B2B space as most of the B2C electric vehicle Founder of RACEnergy, shared in
users commute for a limited number of kilometres every day an exclusive conversation with

40 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


RACEnergy Founders Arun and Gautham with their battery pack
Electronics For You. In absolute
numbers, four of these batteries al-
low an electric three-wheeler (E3W)
with a range of about 110km. Reddy
adds that it takes about 30 to 60
seconds to swap these batteries.
This results in E3Ws spending more
time on the road, a prerequisite for a
sustainable business for E3W own-
ers and fleet operators.
Weighing around 9.5kg each,
these batteries feature an IP68 rat-
ing. Reddy explains that the process
of developing these batteries was
the toughest part of the start-up’s
journey that started in 2019. Their
initial designs included a plastic
enclosure which was replaced with
aluminium because of the latter’s
heat dissipating properties. To
ensure the designed batteries work
with the software built in-house,
the startup also had to design its
own battery management system
(BMS).
Reddy highlights, “BMS sourced
42 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS
STRATEGY: INNOVATORS
from third parties was not an
ideal match for our batteries, so we
worked on the same ourselves. Even
the cells inside the battery feature
immersion technology which dis-
sipates the heat to aluminium. It has
been hard because the more density
you pack inside a battery, the more
sensitive it becomes.”
Apart from cells and chips, the
startup has absolute control over
the components and raw materi-
als it sources for manufacturing
batteries and battery swap stations.
Reddy says his startup is focusing
on the B2B space as most of the
B2C electric vehicle users commute
for a limited number of kilometres
every day, and it is the B2B space
that needs major support in finding
sustainable modes of transport.
“At present, we are conducting
about 650 battery swaps just out of
Hyderabad every day. I can’t put a
number on it, but before the end of
this fiscal year, this figure would be
in the thousands,” he says.
Having recently raised $3 million
in a pre-series A round, RACEnergy
has commissioned its second bat-
tery manufacturing facility with the
capability to manufacture close to
30,000 batteries per year. For the
record, the startup has so far raised
a total of $6 million from strategic
investors, including growx Ventures,
Micelio Mobility, Huddle, and other
angel investors.
Primarily focused on the E3W
vertical, RACEnergy has also forayed
into the electric two-wheeler space.
Currently, 80% of the battery swaps
happening on the RACEnergy plat-
form are for E3Ws. Reddy shares
that, apart from the fleet operators
the startup is working with, it is also
in the process of announcing col-
laborations with vehicle OEMs.
“We are in final discussions with
three major OEMs and are hopeful
of announcing these in the coming
months,” he shares. Additionally,
RACEnergy and Hala Mobility have
announced their collaboration to de-
ploy 2,000 electric vehicles in India.
Operating on different busi-
ness models that include setting
up swap stations on its own and
via the franchise route, RACEnergy
is now looking to expand beyond
Hyderabad. Reddy says that while it
will deploy battery swap solutions
before the end of this fiscal year,
it will also cover tier 3 and tier 4
geographies near Hyderabad. In
numbers, RACEnergy has a goal of
targeting 80,000 two- and three-
wheelers by 2025 through 250,000
swappable batteries in circulation
before the end of 2025.
Last-mile logistics and trans-
portation have become the biggest
enablers of EV adoption in India.
Battery swap, according to various
reports, is encouraging more and
more commercial drivers to put faith
in electric powertrains.
—Mukul Yudhveer Singh
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
 industry News industry updates

Micron, Tata Projects partner to build $2.75B

chip assembly, test plant
Micron Technology has partnered with
Tata Projects to build a $2.75 billion
advanced semiconductor assembly
and test plant in Gujarat’s Sanand.
Micron will contribute approximately
$825 million; the remaining funding
will come from subsidies. The plant

Representational image
is expected to be operational by late
2024. The project, a part of the Indian
Semiconductor Mission, will be located
in the Gujarat Industrial Development
Corporation area of Chaarodi, Sanand,
and will cover an area of 93 acres.

PEOPLE (on the move)

ELCINA appoints Atul Lall as President, new office bearers region, will become the new Secretary, replacing Anuraag
for executive committee Dhoot, the Managing Director of Epitome Components.
Atul B. Lall has been appointed as the President of ELCINA’s Paranth Thiruvengadam to lead Atlassian’s India
executive committee, with several other key office bearers being
appointed as well, signalling a significant change in leadership
ITSM operations
roles within the organisation. Richard Puthota, Senior Director Atlassian Corporation welcomes Paranth
of Business Development at MacDermid Alpha Electronics Thiruvengadam to lead their India-based
workforce and steer their ITSM (IT Service
Management) approach. This dual role
combines the responsibilities of India Site
Leader and Head of Engineering ITSM. With
an experience of over two decades, Paranth
was earlier working as the Chief Technology Officer at Clear
(formerly ClearTax) and MedLife, besides key roles at tech
Sasikumar Gendham Atul B Lall Richard Puthota
(Senior Vice President) (President) (Vice President) giants like Yahoo!, IBM Labs, and Walmart Labs. His expertise
MD, Salcomp Manufacturing Vice Chairman & MD, Sr Director - Business covers a broad spectrum, from developing SaaS platforms to
India Pvt Ltd, Dixon Technologies Development, MacDermid
Sriperumbudur (India) Pvt Ltd, Noida Alpha Assembly Solutions, web applications, infrastructure, and transaction platforms,
Chennai impacting sectors such as finance, supply chain, healthcare,
taxation, and regulatory compliance.

Intel appoints Sandra Rivera as CEO of Programmable

Solutions Group
Rajiv Venkatraman
Intel Corporation has announced its intention
Varun Manwani (Hony Treasurer)
Director Sahasra Group & CEO, (Hony Secretary) to operate its Programmable Solutions
Sahasra Semiconductors Pvt Ltd, MD, PEC Manufacturing Co Group (PSG) as a standalone business
Bhiwadi Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad
starting January 1, 2024, with Sandra Rivera
Solutions, will take over as the new Vice President, in place of as its CEO. This move is aimed at increasing
Atul B. Lall. Sasikumar Gendham, Managing Director of Salcomp PSG’s competitiveness in the FPGA market
Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd, has been appointed as the Senior and fostering strategic repositioning. Rivera,
Vice President. Varun Manwani, Director and CEO of Sahasra Executive Vice President at Intel, will lead PSG as its Chief
Group, will take over the role of Treasurer, in place of Richard Executive Officer (CEO). Shannon Poulin has been named Chief
Puthota. Rajiv Venkatraman, the former Chairman of the South Operating Officer (COO) of PSG.

44 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com

 industry news

INTERNATIONAL news
Intel begins advanced EUV manufacturing in Ireland plant
Intel is embarking on advanced manufacturing in Europe, us-
ing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines at its plant
in Leixlip, Ireland. The Leixlip-based plant will be responsible
for producing Intel’s upcoming ‘Meteor Lake’ chip, designed
world’s memory output, and this decision stabilises the global
semiconductor supply chain.
EU to attract $43.7 B in private investment with Chips Act
The European Union (EU) has enacted the Chips Act to bolster
its semiconductor market, aiming to double its global market
share to 20% by 2030. This act involves significant investments
and creating an alert system to address semiconductor supply
chain disruptions. The EU plans to attract $43.7 billion in private
investment, with $3.6 billion of its funds supporting the act. The
legislation came into effect five months after the agreement
between the European Council and the European Parliament on
the final draft of the act.

Amazon to invest $4B in AI startup Anthropic

for laptops and AI-powered personal computers. The Leixlip
plant has seven large EUV machines and a complex system of
overhead robots for silicon wafer handling. These EUV ma-
chines are manufactured by Advanced Semiconductor Materials
Lithography (ASML) and are integral to Intel’s manufacturing
processes. Intel is expanding its European footprint with plans
for a substantial chip complex in Germany and an assembly
and test facility in Poland, taking advantage of the EU’s funding
regulations and subsidies.
US grants Samsung, SK Hynix indefinite waiver to supply
chips using US tech to Chinese factories
The US government has granted Samsung Electronics and SK
Hynix an indefinite exemption to import advanced American
machinery, allowing them to supply chips with US technology to
Chinese factories without separate approval. This move resolves
a significant trade issue for Korean semiconductor companies.
The South Korean semiconductor companies are major suppli-
ers and consumers of equipment, accounting for 60.5% of the
Amazon plans to invest around $4 billion in the AI startup An-
thropic, securing a significant partnership to bolster its position
in generative artificial intelligence. As part of the agreement, An-
thropic will leverage Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres
and Amazon’s in-house chips for model training, particularly for
chatbots and other AI tools. Amazon will hold a minority stake in
Anthropic, following the investment. The collaboration between
Amazon and Anthropic is expected to benefit both companies,
with Amazon’s engineers gaining access to Anthropic’s models.
This partnership is also significant for Amazon’s internal chip
production, as Anthropic will use AWS chips for its foundational
AI models.
Infineon acquires UWB technology innovator 3db Access
Infineon Technologies AG has acquired 3db Access AG, a
Zurich-based UWB (ultra wide-band) technology innovator, to
strengthen its presence in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector.
This acquisition will enable Infineon to offer enhanced secure
smart access, precise localisation, and advanced sensing
capabilities. The integration of UWB technology will enable
secure access, indoor navigation, precise location tracking, and
presence detection using UWB radars. The CEO of 3db Access,
Boris Danev, emphasised the importance of UWB technology in
smartphones, cars, and IoT devices.
Algeria’s 2,000MW solar power project receives 73 bids
Algeria has attracted 73 bids for its ambitious solar power
project, aiming to generate 2,000MW renewable energy, with a

BII to invest $1B in Indian
renewable energy sector
British International Investment
(BII), a UK government develop-
ment finance institution, plans to
invest around $1 billion in Indian
climate-related projects by 2026,
primarily focusing on renewable
energy and other environmentally
sustainable sectors. BII’s CEO,
Nick O’Donohoe, mentioned that
they are exploring investments in
sectors such as biofuels and the
circular economy, aligning with the
2030 roadmap agreed upon by India
and the UK. BII’s current portfolio
in India is valued at $2.2 billion,
spanning over 290 businesses.
They had also committed to invest-
ing up to $250 million in Mahindra
and Mahindra Ltd’s electric vehicle
unit.
India explores potential
chip partnership with Israel-
based Tower Semiconductor
Minister of State Rajeev Chan-
drasekhar met with Israel-based
Tower Semiconductor CEO and
Israel’s Ambassador to India,
Naor Gilon, to discuss a potential
partnership in the semiconductor
industry. Tower Semiconductor was
part of the International Semicon-
ductor Consortium (ISMC), which
applied for India’s semiconductor
incentive scheme. Previously, the
acquisition of Tower Semiconduc-
tor by Intel had put the ISMC’s
application on hold, but with the
Intel deal off, the Ministry of Elec-
tronics and Information Technology
reengaged with Tower Semiconduc-
tor. The meeting with the Tower

46 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com

 industry news

significant focus on local participation. It has initiated a bidding
process for 15 solar power projects. Sonelgaz, the state-owned
electricity and gas distribution company, oversees the bid-
ding process. The solar project involves constructing 15 solar
power plants across 12 provinces, with capacities ranging from
80MW to 220MW each. Foreign winning bidders must have a
minimum of 35% national participation, potentially involving the
supply of solar panels, cables, generators, and other equip-
ment.
Samsung Foundry to manufacture Tenstorrent’s
AI chiplets
Tenstorrent has partnered with Samsung Foundry to manu-
facture its next-generation AI chiplets using Samsung’s
advanced 4nm manufacturing process. These chiplets will
utilize Samsung’s SF4X manufacturing process, known for its
4nm architecture. Keith Witek, Tenstorrent’s COO, is noted for
driving strategic partnerships, such as the one with Samsung.
Samsung Foundry is expanding in the US and aims to provide
cutting-edge semiconductor technology to its customers. This
collaboration will enable Tenstorrent to leverage Samsung
Foundry’s advanced facilities in the US with the latest manufac-
turing nodes, ensuring competitive offerings in the market.
Murata Electronics partners with Arvato for distribution
centre in Netherlands
Murata Electronics has partnered with Arvato to operate its
central distribution centre for the EMEA region at the Gennep
site, Netherlands. The Gennep site’s strategic location offers
easy access to major airports (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Liège,
Maastricht) and crucial ports (Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg,
Bremen), facilitating efficient transportation. Proximity to
primary parcel service hubs allows seamless integration of
incoming goods into the inventory, resulting in swift distribu-
tion and quicker deliveries to European customers. Arvato’s
highly automated shuttle system with 42,000 bins will provide
high-density storage, enhancing efficiency and speed in order
picking and packaging processes.
Avent partners with Kerlink for LoRaWAN technology
for its IoT platform
Avnet and Kerlink have entered into a partnership to accelerate
Avnet’s IoT strategy by seamlessly incorporating LoRaWAN
technology into their IoT solution accelerator platform, IoTCon-
nect. This partnership will facilitate the global deployment of
LoRaWAN technology and expand Kerlink’s market reach in
Asia. Avnet will gain access to LPWAN solutions for building and
managing LoRaWAN networks, saving time and costs.
Fabless startup Rebillions teams up with Samsung
Electronics to build AI chips
Rebillions, an AI fabless semiconductor startup, has partnered
with Samsung Electronics to collaborate on the development of
high-performance AI semiconductors. The partnership aims to
capture the AI semiconductor market by leveraging domestic
capabilities. Samsung will handle production and be involved in
logic and layout design and validation. The semiconductor will
use Samsung’s 4nm process and HBM3E memory technology.
The entire development process will rely on domestic compa-
nies’ capabilities, without involving overseas foundries or design
houses.
AMD to acquire open source AI software startup Nod.ai
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is set to acquire the open source
AI software startup Nod.ai as part of its AI growth strategy.
This acquisition aims to enhance AMD’s product offerings and
compete in the AI industry. Nod.ai’s technology will be integrated
into AMD’s products, including instinct data-centre accelerators,
Ryzen processors, and Radeon GPUs, offering developer tools,
libraries, and machine learning models to customers. AMD and
Nod.ai have collaborated on machine learning model optimisa-
tion projects in the past and are currently working together to
optimise large language models (LLMs) on AMD hardware. This
acquisition is seen as a move by AMD to compete with its rival
chipmaker Nvidia, which has a strong presence in AI due to its
early entry into the sector.
Denso to invest $500M in Coherent Corp’s SiC division
Denso Corporation has invested $500 million in Coherent Corp’s
Silicon Carbide (SiC) division, securing a 12.5% ownership stake
to ensure a long-term supply of SiC wafers, which are crucial for
electric vehicle (EV) parts and supporting the goal of achiev-
ing a carbon-neutral society through increased EV adoption.
Mitsubishi Electric also invested $500 million to acquire a 12.5%
non-controlling share in the SiC business. Coherent initiated its
SiC business in April 2023, focusing on producing SiC wafers.

Semiconductor CEO could lead to
positive developments, as India has
received two fabs and three ATMP
(assembly, testing, marking, and
packaging) proposals, which are
under evaluation.
CDIL becomes India’s
first SiC components
manufacturer for EVs
CDIL has become India’s first silicon
carbide (SiC) components manu-
facturer, scaled to make auto-grade
devices, including SiC MOSFETs, SiC
Schottky diodes, rectifiers, zeners,
and TVS diodes, among others for
the global as well as the domestic
market. An MoU has been signed
between CDIL and the Semi-Conduc-
tor Laboratory (SCL) to strengthen
indigenous chip manufacturing and
packaging in India. The company
inaugurated a new surface mount
semiconductor packaging line at its
Mohali plant, and the expansion of
assembly lines will increase CDIL’s
total capacity at the facility to 600
million units annually. CDIL has also
set up a testing and reliability labora-
tory at its Mohali plant.
Sterling and Wilson bags
NTPC RE project worth
`15.35 billion
Sterling and Wilson Renewable
Energy has secured a significant
engineering, procurement, and
construction (EPC) project worth
`15.35 billion from NTPC Renew-
able Energy, further strengthening
its partnership with NTPC. The
project marks Sterling’s third order
from NTPC and is for 300 MWac
at Khavda RE Power Park in the
Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The share

www.eFYmag.com electroNics For You express | November 2023 47

 industry news
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi
Calendar of Forthcoming Electronics Arabia’s Minister of Energy, and
Fairs/Exhibitions/Seminars/Events Raj Kumar Singh, India’s Minister
Event, Date and Venue Topics Contact for details of Power and New and Renew-
Productronica 2023 World’s leading trade fair for electronics development and Website: https:// able Energy, during the UN MENA
November 14-17, 2023 production. Companies from the fields of PCB & EMS, SMT, productronica.com
Munich, Germany semiconductors, inspection and quality, future production and Climate Week 2023 in Riyadh. Last
smart factory, and cables, coils and hybrids will present their
solutions and products.
month, the two countries signed
VLSI 2024 Theme: “VLSI meets AI and Quantum for Cyber-Physical Systems.” Website: https://vlsid.org over 50 agreements covering various
January 6-10, 2024 A platform for collaboration between multinational corporations, sectors, such as information and
ITC Royal Bengal, startups, industry organisations, and academics to synergise with
Kolkata what India’s East and Northeast regions have to offer. communication technology, entre-
NEPCON JAPAN Asia’s leading exhibition for electronics R&D, manufacturing, Website: https://www. preneurship, chemicals, energy, and
January 24-26, 2024 packaging, and more. Consists of six specialised shows in nepconjapan.jp/hub/en-gb. advanced manufacturing, further
Tokyo Big Sight, essential areas for electronics manufacturing and R&D, making it a html
Japan one-stop venue for all in the electronics industry. strengthening their economic ties.
India Electronics Week India’s No. 1 event for creators of smart electronics solutions to Website: www. The Ministry of Investment of Saudi
January 31 - discover latest techniques, best practices and technologies for indiaelectronicsweek.com Arabia is opening a country office in
February 2, 2024 developing electronics better, cheaper and faster, and meet service
KTPO, Whitefield providers, suppliers and partners who can enable growth of your India to facilitate Indian companies’
Bengaluru business.
investments in the kingdom.
IoTShow.in 2024 The conferences and hands-on workshops, cutting-edge talks and Website: https://www.
January 31 -
February 2, 2024
trainings by industry stalwarts and thought leaders will help build
the skills you need to get ahead in the field.
iotshow.in
Kaynes to build `28 billion
KTPO, Whitefield
Bengaluru
compound chip unit in
EFY Expo Pune Electronics expo with conferences on automotive electronics, EVs, Website: https://www.
Telangana
May 16-18, 2024
Auto Cluster Exhibition
and Industry 4.0 (IIoT). Covers a wide range of electronics-related
technologies, products and topics including Electric Drive, Battery
efyexpo.com/PUNE/? Kaynes Technology is investing `28
Centre, Pune Management Systems, and IIoT solutions. billion to establish an outsourced
Integrated Electronics Themes: Advanced semiconductor packaging and aerospace Website: https://www.ipc. semiconductor assembly and testing
Manufacturing And and defence electronics. A networking platform for procurement org/ipc-india/iemi-2024-
Interconnections 2024 and quality heads of OEMs, EMS, and semiconductor suppliers. bangalore
(OSAT) and compound semiconduc-
(IEMI) Features top officials from government-owned defence, aerospace, tor manufacturing facility in Tel-
July 29-30, 2024 and multinational corporations.
Bengaluru
angana, under its subsidiary Kaynes
EFY Expo Delhi & NCR Major tech conference focusing on electronics, IoT, and AI. Website: https://www. Semicon, signalling the state’s
August 2024 Simplifies new product development and manufacturing challenges efyexpo.com/delhi-ncr/? growth in electronics manufactur-
New Delhi in India. Offers assistance from leading suppliers, even for small
batch productions.
ing. This investment is expected
Open Source India 2024 Open Source For You magazine, in partnership with India’s Open Website: https://www. to generate employment for 2,000
October 23-24, 2024 Source community and industry, brings various stakeholders under opensourceindia.in people. The unit is expected to start
Bengaluru one roof to accelerate development and deployment of open
source in India, and beyond.
operations within 12 to 18 months
Since this information is subject to change, all those interested are advised to ascertain the details and will be located in Kongara Kalan,
from the organisers before making any commitment. near Foxconn’s upcoming electronics
manufacturing unit. Kaynes Semicon
price of Sterling and Wilson Renew- industry, which is critical for interna- will provide services for various sem-
able Energy has already risen by tional tech companies. This decision iconductor package types, including
about 5% after the news. The order marks a significant policy shift, as QFN, SOT, TO, BGA, and FC BGA,
contributes to Sterling and Wilson India had briefly considered imple- with a focus on power devices.
Renewable Energy’s year-to-date menting an import licensing system
order booking of approximately `31 for laptops and tablets earlier, which ELCINA seeks PLI scheme
billion and their confidence in sur- raised concerns among industry for non-semiconductor
passing the FY 2023 order booking. stakeholders and international enti- components
ties, especially Washington. ELCINA, an electronics industry
India revokes policy on body, has urged the government
restricting laptop and tablet India, Saudi Arabia team to implement a PLI scheme for the
imports up on electrical grid non-semiconductor sector due to
India has revoked previous regula- interconnection significant reliance on imports for
tions and introduced an “import Saudi Arabia and India have signed electronic components in India. It
management system” to allow unre- an initial agreement to cooperate highlighted that a substantial por-
stricted imports of laptops and tab- on electrical grid interconnection, tion of such electronic components,
lets, promoting transparency without green/clean hydrogen, and supply about 68%, was imported in 2021-
hindering the global tech market chains, aiming to enhance their 22, indicating a heavy dependence
supplies. The move is focused on economic ties through collaboration on imports in this sector. ELCINA
data collection to ensure a reliable in the energy and renewable sec- mentioned the success of govern-
digital ecosystem for the electronics tors. The agreement was signed by ment schemes for devices and the

48 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


semiconductor sector and pushed
for replicating this success for non-
semiconductor components.
Government sets royalty
rates for mining lithium,
niobium, rare earth elements
The Indian government has approved
changes to the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) Act,
1957, setting royalty rates for critical
minerals like lithium, niobium, and
rare earth elements. Effective from
August 17, 2023, the latest amend-
ment has removed minerals like
lithium and niobium from the atomic
minerals category, allowing the
private sector to obtain concessions
through auctions. The Central govern-
ment will oversee auctioning mining
leases and composite licenses for 24
pivotal and strategic minerals. The
royalty rates for these critical minerals
have been defined as follows: Lithium
at 3% of the London Metal Exchange
price, niobium at 3% of the average
sale price, and rare earth elements
(REE) at 1% of the average sale price
of rare earth oxide.
MoHI seeks additional
funding for FAME II
The Ministry of Heavy Industries
in India has been allocated `51.27
billion for the current fiscal year for
the FAME II scheme and is seeking
additional funding of `15-`17 billion
due to robust electric vehicle sales,
which may deplete the allocated
funds before March 2024. Earlier, the
ministry proposed a 165% increase
in allocation for electric 2-wheelers.
The registration of EVs has been
consistently rising, with sales of
high-speed e-scooters increasing by
20% year-on-year and 14% month-
on-month to 62,355 units. Electric
3-wheelers also showed significant
growth, increasing to 56,747 units in
August from 33,130 units in the same
period a year ago.
Sparsh CCTV to set up
manufacturing unit
in Saudi Arabia
Sparsh CCTV, an Indian surveillance
camera manufacturer, is partner-
www.eFYmag.com
industry news
SNIPPETS
• Micron Technology to invest $75M for semiconductor project in Idaho
• LG Energy signs deal with Toyota for 20GWh of EV batteries
• NIC, Cadence partner to bolster IC design innovation in Vietnam
• Reliance enters battery swap game, unveils swappable multipurpose batteries
• Pegatron India resumes iPhone production after fire incident in Chennai unit
• Tesla rival VinFast eyes billion dollar investment in Indian EV industry
• Ather Energy’s losses swell 2.5 times to reach 8.65 billion rupees in FY23
• Sun Mobility, Bluwheelz to deploy 16,000 EVs in 12 months
• Rajasthan’s new renewable energy policy targets 65GW solar capacity by FY30
ing with Saudi Arabia-based DAST Microsoft will integrate Microsoft
to establish a CCTV manufacturing Learn into AICTE’s curriculum,
plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant is providing practical exposure to
set to begin operations in the first Microsoft technologies. Students and
quarter of 2024, targeting the Middle educators will gain industry insights
East and North African market. The and mentorship through the Azure
manufacturing unit will be located developer community in India. Azure
in Sudair Industrial City, situated Handbooks will provide access for
25 kilometres away from Riyadh. students and educators to work on
The plant will focus on producing projects in various industries, includ-
cameras and recorders, emphasizing ing manufacturing, retail, healthcare,
products with resolutions of eight and education.
megapixels and above.
TATA Power Renewable
Indrajaal, Sigma Advanced Energy partners with
Systems partner to Nepal’s Dugar Power
manufacture drones Tata Power Renewable Energy
Counter-unmanned aircraft solu- (TPREL) has collaborated with
tions firm, Indrajaal, has partnered Dugar Power in Nepal to support the
with Sigma Advanced Systems to nation’s renewable energy projects,
strengthen the indigenous manufac- marking the former’s entry into
turing of anti-drone defence systems Nepal’s growing renewable energy
in India. Sigma will domestically pro- sector. The agreement caters to
duce essential hardware components Nepal’s diverse energy requirements,
for Indrajaal’s drone countermeasure offering scalable solutions from 1kW
systems. Kiran Raju, Co-Founder of to MW levels. TPREL aims to acceler-
Indrajaal, expressed his enthusiasm ate the country’s transition to sustain-
about the partnership, emphasiz- able energy. Dugar Power is a subsidi-
ing the alignment of Sigma’s SAS ary of the Dugar Group in Nepal.
manufacturing expertise with their
commitment to delivering quality, Beetel Teletech partners
indigenous counter-drone solutions. with Numeric UPS to
distribute UPS systems
Microsoft, AICTE partner Beetel Teletech Limited has part-
to equip students with nered with Numeric UPS to address
tech skills the critical need for uninterrupted
The Ministry of Education, All power supply in India and glob-
India Council for Technical Educa- ally, aiming to provide cutting-edge
tion (AICTE), and Microsoft have power solutions to businesses and
partnered to provide skilling and job consumers. Beetel will utilise its
readiness for students and educators. extensive distribution network and
The partnership offers many learn- market presence to bring Numeric
ing paths, technical certifications, UPS’s diverse product portfolio
and experiences in AI, cloud, data directly to corporate and government
science, data analytics, and security. entities.
electroNics For You express | November 2023 49
 strategy: interview
Policy

“HIGH-VALUE
ADDITION Can Be
ACHIEVED Only
If The Percentage
Of LOCAL VALUE
Addition Is
INCREASED”

JAIRAJ SRINIVAS
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CONFEDERATION
OF INDIAN MSMES IN ESDM AND IT (CIMEI)

In an exclusive and candid interview with EFY’s Yashasvini Razdan, Jairaj Srinivas, Director General
of the Confederation of Indian MSMEs in ESDM and IT (CIMEI), discusses the need for enhanced
collaboration, clear policies, effective initiative implementation, skill development, and improved
infrastructure to empower the MSME sector, promote local manufacturing, and drive
innovation and economic growth in the electronics industry

Could you elaborate on the
challenges for MSMEs in the ESDM
industry?
Policymakers are grappling with
challenges in effectively implement-
ing policies, notably in India’s ‘Make
in India’ initiative. While sectors
like defence and railways succeeded
in promoting local manufacturing,
electronics and power industries still
heavily rely on imports. Multination-
al corporations (MNCs) often fail to
recognise local manufacturers. For
instance, an iPhone charger costing
around `800-`2,000 is manufactured
locally for just `316.
However, these local manu-
facturers lack original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) status, causing
uncertainty. Unlike the electronics
industry, Maruti’s ‘MGP’ recognises
local manufacturers for locally made
products. Electronics, however,
lack this recognition. Local manu-
facturers supply chargers to MNCs,
which rebrand and resell them. The
absence of OEM status hampers
local manufacturers and fosters
uncertainty. This issue hampers
local manufacturing and cybersecu-

50 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


rity, as pirated products and software
become prevalent.
Further financial challenges impact
micro, small, and medium enterprises
(MSMEs), particularly post-Covid,
as delayed client payments strain
working capital. Urgent measures are
needed, such as reintroducing a func-
tional bill discounting system. The
current system is misimplemented,
limiting SMEs’ access to funds. Ad-
dressing these challenges is crucial to
supporting local manufacturing and
sustaining MSMEs’ growth.
Can you tell us how CiMEi helps ad-
dress these challenges?
We consistently and proactively
engage with the government and im-
plementing authorities to ensure they
promptly address such issues and
complaints that land on the CIMEI
portal. We communicate the concerns
to the relevant authorities, whether
from members or non-members. We
have been successful in resolving
many procurement-related grievances
in India. We handle the grievance
redressal for procurement procedures
in India through NCSI.
We are committed to resolving
these problems promptly. We have
even challenged MNCs on certain
issues, and our efforts have resulted
in serious discussions with them. The
MNCs have contacted us for further
discussions, realising the importance
of the matter. It shows that challeng-
ing MNCs is possible with strong
determination and backed by cred-
ible data. We are committed to doing
just that, as I will not disappoint my
members on any issues.
how can government incentive
schemes be made more MSME
inclusive?
It is evident that the government’s
focus on providing relief to the MSME
sector lacks clarity and action. In 2020,
the government’s decision to instruct
all factories to close down resulted in
www.eFYmag.com
strategy: interview
significant production losses, causing
a huge financial burden for business-
es. Based on turnover and growth, the
existing schemes do not seem to in-
centivise productivity effectively. The
productivity-linked incentives that
were supposed to be provided have
not materialised, and it appears that
the government is more concerned
with attracting foreign investment
than supporting the growth of domes-
tic MSMEs.
Regarding the production-linked
incentive (PLI) scheme, the gov-
ernment has disbursed a relatively
small amount of funds to a limited
number of companies, leaving many
businesses without assistance. The
conflicting statements from the gov-
ernment and the Reserve Bank of
India regarding NPAs and financial
support further add to the controver-
sy and uncertainty surrounding the
situation. These issues need to be
addressed and resolved for the bet-
terment of the MSME sector. Trans-
parency, clear policies, and effective
implementation of relief measures
are essential to support the growth
and recovery of small and medium-
sized businesses in the country.
how can supply chain integration
be improved to enhance value addi-
tion and reduce import dependency
in the indian electronics system?
Global electronic products rely
heavily on passive components, ac-
counting for about 48% of the com-
ponents, and active components,
which comprise the remaining 52%.
The global chip shortage raised
concerns, and many governments
started working to address this
issue. With regard to PCB manufac-
turing and passive component pro-
duction, areas like Okhla Industrial
Estate, Mayapuri Industrial Area,
and Lawrence Road (in New Delhi)
contribute significantly to the elec-
tronics sector. However, over time,
the focus shifted towards importing
electroNics For You express | November 2023
complete knockdown (CKDs) kits,
including PCBs, rather than manufac-
turing them locally.
This shift impacted the domestic
PCB manufacturing industry and led
to environmental concerns due to
improper disposal of chemicals used
in the manufacturing process. India
has the capability to manufacture
simple components like transform-
ers, capacitors, and transistors, which
do not require extensive expertise.
By encouraging and supporting local
production of these passive compo-
nents and other critical components
like lithium-ion batteries, India can
create a self-sustaining ecosystem
for the electronics industry, reducing
dependence on imports and fostering
domestic manufacturing.
The recent announcement by the
government to refund 10% of the
GST to the state governments for the
development of the industry demon-
strates the government’s commitment
to supporting the electronics sector
and encouraging investments. The
government and industry stakeholders
must collaborate and invest in creating
a complete ecosystem for component
manufacturing in India. The govern-
ment should implement proper regula-
tions and encourage the adoption of
environmentally friendly practices
in the electronics industry. By tak-
ing steps to mitigate environmental
hazards, the government can strike a
balance between industrial growth and
environmental sustainability. Lever-
aging the expertise of organisations
like the Federation of Indian Export
Organisation (FIEO) and electronic
promotion councils can further sup-
port and guide the industry.
Can you tell us the prerequisites
for creating a high-value addition
economy concerning the electronics
industry?
High-value addition can be
achieved only if the percentage of lo-
cal value addition is increased. While
51

some may claim to have higher per-
centages of local value addition, the
reality is that there is currently only a
6% local value addition. The govern-
ment needs to take proactive steps
to promote local manufacturing and
boost the contribution of the MSME
sector to the GDP.
In one of his budget speeches,
former finance minister, the Late Arun
Jaitley, mentioned providing additional
benefits for those procuring locally
manufactured products, especially
accessories like laptop chargers, adap-
tors, and batteries. The policy aimed to
exempt excise duty for big brands that
sourced these accessories from local
manufacturers. This policy still exists
in some form, but it requires better
implementation to effectively increase
local value addition and strengthen the
MSME sector’s economic position.
To achieve high-value addition and
drive economic growth, the govern-
ment should set ambitious targets for
genuine local value addition, ideally
around 30% over the next five years.
This value addition should not be
merely on paper but genuinely embed-
ded in the product’s manufacturing
process. By doing so, the financial
health of the MSMEs will improve, and
overall GDP growth will witness posi-
tive impacts beyond the current levels.
What stage are we at for skill devel-
opment and educational programs
for creating a high-value addition
ESDM industry? What more do we
need to do?
The Electronic Skill Sector Coun-
cil of India and the government of
India have identified around 14 areas
where skill training is needed. Despite
the curriculum being established,
the primary hurdle lies in motivating
trainees to participate. Inadequate
infrastructure and workshops pose a
challenge in establishing skill training
centres, particularly in universities.
High investment costs of around five
million rupees for even basic training,
52 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: interview
like PCB soldering, deter businesses
due to uncertain trainee inflow.
Corporate social responsibility
(CSR) funds are often not effectively
utilised, as many companies redirect
these funds towards brand-building
instead of using them for skill train-
ing. This diverts CSR funds from
their intended purpose of industry-
focused skill development, hinder-
ing effective training for those in
need. This situation leads to a gap
between the skills required by in-
dustries and the skills possessed by
potential candidates.
Many students lack practical
skills. The need for relevant skill
training is evident, but some signifi-
cant barriers and challenges hinder
the effective implementation of skill
development programs. It is essen-
tial to address these challenges and
find innovative solutions to bridge
the skill gap, ensuring that potential
trainees can access the necessary
training, and industries can benefit
from a skilled workforce.
What stage are we at with respect
to research and development for
creating a high-value addition
ESDM industry? What more do we
need to do?
Our current spending on R&D
in the MSME sector is only 2.5%,
which is very low. Small businesses
often struggle to allocate funds for
research and development due to
limited financial resources. Howev-
er, to foster innovation and growth
in the MSME sector, it is crucial
to enhance R&D spending. One
potential solution is encouraging
companies with substantial financial
resources, particularly those with
significant CSR funds, to invest in
R&D initiatives. These companies
can contribute to developing com-
mon facilities centres and establish
contract research organisations
catering to various sectors, including
the ESDM sector and beyond.
By creating such research oppor-
tunities, MSMEs can access research
facilities without incurring substantial
costs, thereby promoting R&D activities.
Ultimately, a high-value addition elec-
tronics industry can only be achieved
by empowering the MSME sector, as it
comprises a majority of the manufactur-
ing enterprises. By promoting collabora-
tive R&D efforts and providing easier
access to research facilities, the govern-
ment can play a crucial role in fostering
innovation and growth in the MSME
sector. This, in turn, will contribute
significantly to the overall development
of the country’s economy.
Where are we at, with respect to
manufacturing and infrastructure, for
a high-value addition economy?
We need better industrial infrastruc-
ture to support the growth of MSMEs
and the manufacturing sector in India
to attract investments. The govern-
ment’s role in providing and improv-
ing industrial infrastructure cannot be
understated. While some efforts have
been made, there is a need for more
significant investment and long-term
planning to ensure that industrial clus-
ters have access to essential amenities
like good roads, rail connectivity, water
supply, power, and ICT infrastructure.
Offering affordable land with longer
lease periods and feasible repayment
options can encourage more manu-
facturers to invest in industrial parks
and clusters. This will give businesses
a sense of stability and make it easier
for them to obtain loans and financial
support from banks and other financial
institutions.
Moreover, improving industrial in-
frastructure can also increase employ-
ment opportunities in the region and
contribute to economic development
on a larger scale. By prioritising and
investing in industrial infrastructure
development, the government can
create an environment conducive to
growth and innovation in the MSME
sector. It will attract more invest-
www.eFYmag.com

ments, stimulate production, and
ultimately contribute to the country’s
overall economic prosperity.
Overall, enhancing industrial
infrastructure is a crucial step towards
realising the potential of the MSME
sector and establishing India as a
strong global manufacturing hub. It
requires a collaborative effort between
the government and the industry to
address the existing challenges and
work towards a more sustainable and
competitive manufacturing ecosystem.
What role do startups and entrepre-
neurs play in creating a high-value
addition economy?
You have highlighted an essential
aspect of the startup ecosystem in In-
dia, particularly the need to promote
manufacturing startups and provide
them with adequate funding support.
The startup policy in India encour-
aged entrepreneurship and innovation
across various sectors. While there
have been significant developments
in the technology and app-based
startup space, there is a need to focus
on manufacturing startups. The Tata
Nano factory example is a significant
inspiration for the startup policy. It
demonstrated how a manufacturing
project can create an ecosystem of
suppliers and accessory manufactur-
ers, leading to the region’s job crea-
tion and economic growth.
Encouraging more manufacturing
startups can have similar positive ripple
effects on the economy. Manufacturing
startups face challenges due to their
capital-intensive requirements, supply
chain complexities, and longer gesta-
tion periods. To address these chal-
lenges, the government and investors
should look into providing targeted
support and funding to manufacturing
startups. One approach could be the
creation of specific funding schemes or
venture capital funds dedicated to sup-
porting manufacturing startups. This
would alleviate the financial burden on
startup founders and facilitate the scal-
www.eFYmag.com
strategy: interview
ing up of their ventures.
Fostering collaboration between
startups and established manufactur-
ing companies can enable startups to
access the expertise, resources, and
market reach of established play-
ers, while established companies
can benefit from the innovation and
agility that startups bring. Provid-
ing a conducive policy environment,
streamlining regulatory processes,
offering incentives, tax benefits, and
other supportive measures can also
play a crucial role in attracting more
entrepreneurs to venture into the
manufacturing domain.
By nurturing manufacturing and
design startups, the country can di-
versify its entrepreneurial landscape,
create more job opportunities, and
strengthen its position as a manu-
facturing powerhouse on the global
stage.
The government is aggressively
implementing startup initiatives to
promote entrepreneurship. Yet the
success rate isn’t a figure we can
boast about. Why is it so?
The failure rate of startups can be
attributed to various factors, includ-
ing market dynamics, competition,
funding constraints, and inexperi-
enced management. The success of
startup initiatives and government
schemes depends on their implemen-
tation and effectiveness. Ensuring
that such programs are well-designed
and transparent and provide adequate
support to budding entrepreneurs is
essential. One of the key factors for
the success of startup initiatives is the
availability of proper mentorship and
guidance for entrepreneurs. Many
startups lack marketing knowledge
and business acumen.
Providing them with mentor-
ship and training in these areas can
significantly improve their chances of
success. Startup funds and schemes
should target innovative and sustain-
able business ideas. Encouraging
electroNics For You express | November 2023
startups to address unique problems
or cater to specific niche markets can
lead to more meaningful and impactful
ventures. Government bodies and or-
ganisations promoting startups should
carefully evaluate each startup’s
feasibility and potential impact before
providing financial support. This can
help ensure funds are allocated to
startups with genuine growth potential
and a well-thought-out business plan.
Educating aspiring entrepreneurs
about opportunities and resources
offered by the government and how
to access them can encourage more
startups to come forward and take
advantage of the available support.
Angel investors can be a valuable
source of capital and expertise, but
startups have faced challenges with
their investment terms or pressure
to generate quick returns. This can
create additional stress on the en-
trepreneurs and affect the long-term
sustainability of the business.
Startups in the manufacturing
sector may require a longer gestation
period before achieving profitability,
especially if they involve significant
capital investment and research and
development. In such cases, entrepre-
neurs must clearly understand their
business model, target market, and
growth trajectory to attract the right
investors and manage their funding
effectively. The transformation of
startups into MSMEs can be a signifi-
cant milestone in their growth jour-
ney. However, startups must continue
innovating and adapting to market
demands even after becoming MSMEs
to ensure long-term success.
In conclusion, the startup ecosys-
tem in India, like in any other country,
faces several challenges, and requires
a multi-faceted approach involving
government support, investor diligence,
entrepreneurial acumen, and mar-
ket understanding to create a higher
chance of success for startups that can
contribute significantly to economic
growth and job creation.
53
 strategy: interview
Growth

“Leveraging
The Core
Technology
And Our
Manufacturing
Capability Could
Position India As A
Global Producer
Of Fans”
Until recently, India dominated its fan
market, producing approximately forty
million fans annually! Despite that, the
increase in imports of components due to
the spurt in demand for BLDC technology
may have stirred up a debate. In an
Dr Mayur
SunDararajan exclusive interview with EFY’s Yashasvini
BuSineSS HeaD, Superfan Razdan, Dr Mayur Sundararajan, Business
Head of the original BLDC innovator,
Superfan, provides insightful information
about one of the most common
household appliances...

54 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


What is the technology that makes
BLDC fans expensive?
When comparing a regular AC
induction motor to a brushless DC
motor, some notable distinctions
arise. The AC induction motor relies
on copper windings to generate
the necessary magnetic fields for
rotation. In contrast, a brushless DC
motor features copper windings,
magnets, and crucially, electronic
hardware equipped with a micro-
controller. It’s this additional elec-
tronic hardware and microcontroller
that represent the primary cost
differential. In terms of fundamental
components, apart from this added
hardware, the two motor types are
quite comparable.
Furthermore, the current market
demand continues to favour tradi-
tional fans over their more efficient
counterparts. Consequently, the pro-
duction volumes of energy-efficient
fans have remained relatively low.
Is India a net creator or a net
consumer for fans?
The shifting dynamics of the In-
dian fan market and the increase in
imports of BLDC fans have sparked
a debate. Until recently, India domi-
nated its fan market, accounting for
about 99% of fan production.
This shift raises questions and
concerns, which we are actively
working to address. India has a
wealth of experience in fan manu-
facturing, producing over forty
million fans annually, a significant
number even on a global scale. The
innovations brought about by Indian
companies, like our own, have the
potential to reshape the global fan
industry. This stands in contrast
to other industries, such as air-
conditioners, where foreign brands
have pushed for energy efficiency
standards in India to promote their
own products and technology.
In the case of fans, India has
both the core technology and
56 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: interview
manufacturing capabilities. While
some electronic components may
still be imported, the fundamental
technology and expertise reside in
India. Leveraging this capability
effectively could position India as
a global producer of fans, and our
company is uniquely positioned in
this regard. Unlike other brands that
rely on outsourcing components,
our company possesses the core
technology, handles manufacturing,
and owns the brand, allowing for
direct engagement with the market
to meet consumer needs.
The global demand for fans is
universal, making India’s potential
as a major fan producer an exciting
prospect. This aligns with our vision
of utilising India’s manufacturing
prowess and technological innova-
tion to make a significant impact on
the global fan market.
Can you point out and define the
key elements that need to be
worked upon for India to become a
net creator for fans?
Meeting the global demand for
fans through rapid manufactur-
ing scale-up is a critical require-
ment. Achieving this scale swiftly,
especially in a competitive market
alongside countries like China and
Southeast Asian nations, poses a
distinct challenge. While India pos-
sesses the core technology and fan
production knowledge, achieving
the necessary scale at an accelerated
pace is no straightforward feat.
Manufacturing systems that
can efficiently produce millions of
super energy efficient fans must
be established. Additionally, the
ability to adapt to changing con-
sumer preferences and aesthetics
is essential, particularly in Western
markets where fan usage is different
and aesthetics play a significant role
alongside functionality.
The challenge lies in bridging the
gap between having the technology
and knowledge and rapidly scal-
ing up production to meet global
demand. This involves not only
expanding manufacturing capac-
ity but also ensuring flexibility to
accommodate changing consumer
preferences and market trends.
Is there any difference between the
BLDC technology made in India and
the ones that are manufactured and
developed in other countries?
While there may be various
product-level differences, the core
technology behind BLDC fans
remains consistent, with variations
tailored to meet specific market
demands. The primary difference
between fan requirements in India
and Western countries lies in their
intended use. In India, most fans
are designed to operate at higher
speeds, typically around 350-400
RPM, to deliver optimal comfort for
the local demographic.
Regarding BLDC (brushless di-
rect current) fans, the fundamental
technology remains the same. These
fans consist of a magnet-based mo-
tor, coils, and electronics. However,
there can be variations in how this
technology is implemented, result-
ing in different product offerings.
The distinctions primarily manifest
at the product level, including fac-
tors such as blade shape and length,
rather than significant differences in
the internal technology.
What does the overall demand and
supply for BLDC fans in the past
two or three years look like, and
the key factors that have pushed it
forward?
One of the primary driving forces
for adopting more energy-efficient
fans in India has been government
mandates, particularly the intro-
duction of star labelling regula-
tions. This initiative, which came
into effect on January 1, 2023, is
a significant push towards energy
www.eFYmag.com

efficiency. Under these regulations,
the government mandates specific
energy consumption limits for fans,
effectively making older, less ef-
ficient fans obsolete. For instance, a
1.2-metre (48-inch) ceiling fan can
now consume a maximum of 57.5
watts while delivering the market
required 230CMM airflow, to meet
the new standards, significantly
lower than the 75-80 watts of older
models.
Manufacturers and well-known
brands proactively prepared for
these regulations even before their
enforcement, partly due to the
impact of Covid-19, which resulted
in a two-year delay in their imple-
mentation.
The key factors driving this
shift include a government push for
energy efficiency through labelling,
consumer demand for eco-friendly
appliances, and a desire to reduce
energy consumption, which can be
especially important for those consid-
ering solar panel installations. While
some older AC induction motor fans
have been able to meet the new
standards by reducing airflow and
thereby lowering power consump-
tion, BLDC fans offer a more consist-
ent and efficient solution, delivering
the desired airflow while maintaining
a five-star energy rating.
The shift to more efficient fans is
not without its questions, as some
wonder why older fans couldn’t
have been made more efficient ear-
lier. The answer lies in the trade-off
between power consumption and
airflow, a challenge that BLDC fans
effectively address by delivering
both efficiency and performance.
These factors collectively contribute
to the changing landscape of fan
technology and energy consumption
in India.
What is the difference between ac-
tive BLDC, BLDC, and inverter fans?
It’s important to recognise that
58 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: interview
the term “BLDC fan” has been
somewhat commodified and used
as a marketing gimmick in the
industry. Manufacturers often label
their fans with terms like “active
BLDC,” “inverter fans,” and so on to
differentiate their products. How-
ever, what truly sets our journey
apart is that since 2013, we have
worked closely with government
bodies such as the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency (BEE), BIS (Bureau of
Indian Standards), and ESL (Energy
Efficiency Services Limited) to dem-
onstrate that efficient fans like ours
are not just a concept but a viable
reality in the market. Through this
collaboration, the government recog-
nised the need for greater fan energy
efficiency and introduced stricter
efficiency ratings. They made it
mandatory for fans to have BEE star
labelling, similar to air-conditioners.
Starting from January 1, 2023, fans
are now categorised with star labels,
ranging from one star (least effi-
cient) to five stars (most efficient),
mirroring the system used for air-
conditioners.
As a result, all major players
in the fan industry had to adapt to
these new regulations and introduce
super-efficient fans in their product
portfolios. Many of them sourced
technology from various suppliers
and started manufacturing their
efficient fan models. Some adopted
terms like ‘inverter quality’ or ‘ac-
tive BLDC’ to differentiate them-
selves in marketing their products.
While the terminology may vary, the
goal remains the same: providing
energy-efficient fans to consumers.
What has prompted you to scale
now, after a decade?
Until 2017, we held a dominant
position in the market, essentially
serving as the major player. Others
existed, but their market presence
and volume were relatively limited
during that period. It’s important to
note that the market wasn’t pre-
pared for rapid expansion during
those years. Our company, with
a history spanning about 30 to 32
years, has always been rooted in
technology. We approached every
aspect of our business with a tech-
centric perspective.
However, there were specific
reasons for our cautious approach.
Firstly, the market readiness played
a significant role. We refrained from
aggressive expansion when the mar-
ket conditions weren’t conducive for
such growth. This strategy allowed
us to maintain stability.
During the intervening years,
notably the recent period marked
by semiconductor component
shortages, we deliberately scaled
back our expansion efforts. Our
other motor control products rely
heavily on semiconductor compo-
nents, and the challenges surround-
ing their availability prompted this
strategic decision. As a result, we
concentrated on serving a stable
customer base.
This strategy did come with
challenges, and there may have
been some errors along the way.
However, it was a conscious choice,
given the market conditions and our
resource allocation. Now, with a
more mature market and examples
of successful scaling combined with
our unique core technology, we are
poised to expand differently.
www.eFYmag.com
 STRATEGY: GROWTH

CONTENT Is NOT THE KING

Anymore
In a world awash with content, it is the authentic connections we forge that truly matter. Next
in his series on business asset management, the author takes on the shift from selling to
connecting; what makes our content resonate and truly count?

T
he 20th century was a time marked
by scarcity. People grappled with a
lack of resources, money, technol-
ogy, and much more. This century, on the
contrary, is more about too much of eve-
rything. We have transitioned from deal-
ing with scarcity to managing abundance.
We now have an abundance of con-
ANAND TAMBOLI
tent, data, information, knowledge, peo-
is a serial entrepreneur, ple, products, suppliers, platforms, and
speaker, award-winning almost anything you can think of.
author, and an
emerging-technology But abundance is not necessarily a
thought leader good thing. It is not bad either. It just
changes the equation differently. It has
consequences.
While the abundance of products
leads to commoditisation driving down
the prices, the abundance of information
leads to overload, misinformation, and
confusion. It also leads to an expectation
of ‘free’ stuff. That way, content is already
free everywhere. It makes me believe that
content isn’t the king anymore; it is now
available for free!
But every abundance also creates a
new kind of scarcity. Abundant content
creates noise and confusion. It lacks dif-
ferentiation. Therefore, mindful curation,
commentary, branding, packaging, and
filtering become important. The abun-

60 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS WWW.EFYMAG.COM

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dance of expertise results in a scarcity
of trust and heightened confusion,
underscoring the need for credibility.
The content is not about you
In one of my previous articles, I empha-
sised the importance of content in the
whole scheme of things. But doing it in
a normal way was not the idea. Essen-
tially, the content is not about you.
Content is not about ads. Many
businesses mistake content for
advertisements or marketing copies.
Sometimes they are plain and simple,
at other times, they are disguised as
opinion pieces or authored articles.
Eventually, these ads or ad-like
content become invisible and so does
the business. People keep posting on
social media about the greatness of
their products, but that is where it
stops. There is nothing more to it.
Content is not only about col-
lateral. Reports, brochures, podcasts,
blogs, videos, photos, designs, books,
or anything else essentially help peo-
ple to get to know your business. It I wish the answer was plain and
also clarifies your thinking. simple. So, when dealing with such
Content is not only about sales complex answers, we can go back to
pitch. Most businesses see con- the principles and see what needs to
tent as a means to focus on selling happen.
products or services. Sometimes Imagine that your customers are
that is blatant, at other times it is a in situation A and they want to be
softer sell. But regardless, the value in situation B. Essentially, there is
it offers or insights it provides are always a difference between current
miniscule. reality and future aspirations. What-
If a piece of content is easy to ever you do as an entrepreneur must
read, has the right amount of enter- help them bridge that gap. It is true
taining quality, and upon reading if it for your product, services, or even for
helps one solve a particular problem the content.
then it is useful. That makes it more
relevant. It may not and does not A scenario
have to necessarily sell something to Now, let me describe a typical cus-
someone. Being helpful without any tomer’s journey to highlight some
expectations may seem too much keywords that will serve as anchors
but that is the key point I am making for all the principles we will cover.
here. Your customers want to go from A
to B because they have some ‘desires.’
What is it about then? They are trying to attain a specific
If the content is not about ads, mar- ‘goal’ by achieving certain ‘out-
keting collateral, and sales pitches, comes.’ And they are trying to do that
then what is it about really? because once they achieve that out-

WWW.EFYMAG.COM ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023 61


come, there will be a ‘payoff.’ There
will be a ‘prize’ that your customer is
yearning for.
But something is ‘blocking’ them
from achieving their goal. There are
some ‘inhibitors’ or major roadblocks
your customers are facing or feel-
ing. And this is causing them ‘pain.’
When they try to solve their prob-
lems, they face ‘hassles.’
You may be able to identify some
of the ‘common experiences’ your
customers have when their problem
persists. Sometimes their problems
are not actual problems. Instead, they
are ‘symptoms’ of some real underly-
ing problems.
At other times, the customers may
not have an apparent problem. Instead,
they have ‘objections’ because they
don’t want to take a step further to
achieve their goal. Maybe they have a
‘fear’ that is stopping them from taking
a step. But you know the ‘upside,’ the
benefit your customer will get by shed-
ding that fear.
Now, you are an expert on that
‘topic,’ and you know a specific ‘tool’
to solve their problem. It is based on
some ‘principle’ that you know of
or your ‘new idea.’ Then, with those
principles, tools, and ideas, you can
help them get the ‘results’ they want.
And you can do that because you
have a track record, you have some
‘experience’ in that ‘industry’ or field.
With this scenario in mind, there
are seven principle pillars to con-
sider:
1. Provide key insights. These are
important insights and foundational
principles about your solution, prod-
uct, or service. It is an area of your ex-
pertise. So based on your experience,
you can write about key insights you
have gathered over several years.
When you know what your
customer is trying to achieve, giving
them a high-level direction is highly
useful. Unravel the topic a bit further,
much like peeling the onion.
Sometimes a comparison between
62 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
STRATEGY: GROWTH
two or more things can also help
provide a well-balanced perspective.
And by doing that, you will establish
your credibility and highlight the
gamut of experience you have.
2. Diagnose headaches and pain
points. It is about the combination of
problems and symptoms. You should
talk about the diagnosis of custom-
ers’ headaches or pain points.
Sometimes, simply uncovering
these issues and clarifying them or
articulating them well can be quite
helpful.
3. Address common objections.
Expose the resistance to change.
Sometimes simply vocalising or
exposing the resistance to change is
relieving. People often feel that their
objections are unique, and everyone
else has got their stuff together. But
when you vocalise them and expose
them, customers can feel relieved.
Now they know that they are not
the only ones with those objections.
That helps them open up further and
seek help, most likely from you.
4. Develop a useful resource
map. A classic one could be provid-
ing a ‘How to’ guide. This type of
content is abundant on the internet,
and it talks about useful resources to
do something.
Think about this for a second, if
two people have put out content on
‘how-to’ about something. Which
one are you likely to follow? I bet you
would prefer a more credible one,
won’t you? So, how do you know
who is more credible?
I think, if someone knows and
understands my problem well, their
advice is likely to be more helpful.
That’s where the previous two princi-
ples help to establish that credibility.
5. Showcase the whole and its
parts. Talk about your ‘Principal meth-
od.’ It is the method you use to solve
someone’s problems and provide solu-
tions. It is the principle on which your
product or service is based. It is the
science of why your solution works. It
is how your ideas are implemented or
can be implemented.
You don’t have to elaborate on
everything, but showing some bits
and pieces is quite helpful. Provide
enough high-level ideas to give your
customers confidence that you can
help them achieve their goals.
6. Talk about common blunders.
At times highlighting common blun-
ders and mistakes your customers
might be making can be a lighter ap-
proach. Explain mistakes and errors
that slow their progress.
When people see that you know
what does not work, they tend to
assume that you might know what
works too. And that thinking gives
your customers some more confi-
dence to approach you.
7. Highlight results and outcomes.
Highlighting the ‘desired payoff’ is
another way to provide insights about
future scenarios. Payoffs are essentially
attractive results and outcomes that
your customers are aspiring for.
When you highlight what people
can gain by working on something or
your ideas, it is more likely that they
will take action to engage with you.
Something like a cost-benefit analysis
type of information that highlights
the benefits of following your ideas.
The point is
Content is the window to your intellect.
In one way, it shows who you are as an
entrepreneur and why. In another way,
it helps you build trust and highlight
your uniqueness. Because eventually,
when expertise becomes abundant,
credibility becomes precious.
Content is not the king anymore.
It is already free. But if you were to
look beyond content, only as a means
to achieve something else, then you
can see it differently. It is the medium
through which you can reach your
target audience and build a reputation
that precedes you. The good news is
that there are many ways of doing it.
How are you doing it?
www.eFYmag.com

“India Has
Significant Demand,
So Why Not Produce
Indian Chips?”
From Tata to Tech Trailblazer: Raja Manickam’s blueprint
is for turning India into a global semiconductor leader
through local innovation and talent
R
aja Manickam, touted as one
of the brains behind Tata
Group’s semiconductor foray,
parted ways with the group early this
year. He is now busy setting up a fab-
less semiconductor company in India
and focusing on “creating demand in
the country.”
He says, “I am confident that in
five years, India will be a major play-
er in exporting electronics, including
inverters and EV chargers. The Indian
companies I am collaborating with
today will be the ones propelling me
onto the global stage in five years.”
Additionally, he believes that
Indian companies are always Tier III
for semiconductor “big boys.” At his
newly minted enterprise, IVP Semi-
conductor, Indian companies will
always maintain their place as Tier
I partners. Interesting excerpts from
the interaction with Raja Manickam:
Why did raja Manickam part ways
with tata Group?
Tata is an excellent company to
work with. They have grand plans,
and I accomplished what I set out to
achieve when I joined them. I was
among the first few individuals to con-
ceptualise Tata’s semiconductor plans.
There came a time when I wanted
64 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: interview
Semicorn
to contribute more to India’s semi-
conductor mission from an external
perspective. I have always been an
entrepreneur and have a penchant for
expeditious action. I firmly believe in
creating opportunities for others.
In that sense, I established op-
portunities and raised awareness
for the Tata Group, which is now
primarily focused on execution. I am
also actively involved in other semi-
conductor projects in India now.
apart from these projects, what
else are you doing now?
I am concentrating on stimulat-
ing demand for what we ‘Make
in India.’ The dialogue has largely
revolved around ‘Making Semi-
conductors in India,’ but someone
needs to address the demand side of
the equation. I have taken it upon
myself because once there’s suf-
ficient demand, manufacturing will
naturally follow. My current mission
is to generate that demand.
How will you approach this?
There are several facets to it. I
am establishing a new fabless chip
company that focuses on the power
market. These are fundamental
and essential analogue components
required for a broad range of applica-
tions, including solar, renewables,
EVs, consumer electronics, IoT, and
all things power-related.
To put it simply, I’m compiling a
catalogue of essential products and
solutions. These core offerings will
underpin India’s transition from fossil
fuels to clean energy.
isn’t the demand already there?
While there is indeed demand, it
currently represents only a fraction of
what it will be in the years to come.
Furthermore, this demand is cur-
rently being met by major interna-
tional players located outside India.
My standpoint is that I am an Indian
company, and India has significant
demand, so why not produce Indian
chips?
From a philosophical perspective,
we’ve seen that the Chinese prefer
Chinese products, Europeans opt for
European offerings, and so on, as
long as the capabilities are present. I
don’t see any reason India should be
different.
So, will your new company create
this demand?
Yes and no. We will officially un-
veil our new company in December
www.eFYmag.com
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this year. Named IVP Semiconduc-
tor, it has already initiated discus-
sions with several companies and
even sent out catalogues. IVP will
operate in a manner akin to TI, NXP,
STMicroelectronics, or OnSemi. My
company will propose the inclusion
of my chips in their overall product
designs. These chips will require
manufacturing, and I hope IVP can
partner with firms like Tata, CDIL,
and Kaynes for packaging.
Once we reach a certain thresh-
old, semiconductor fabs will follow.
Currently, I will need to procure
wafers from Taiwan and Japan. In
this way, I’ve stimulated demand
for chips made in India and for local
wafer fabrication.
Will white labelling be a part of
your plan?
If you take a product and
rebrand it as your own, there’s no
substantial value added. It essential-
ly becomes a trading business. Most
OSATs (outsourced semiconductor
assembly and test) will not entertain
this approach because customers
won’t allow you to apply their solu-
tions with your brand name.
Some entities that lack a pres-
ence in India might permit this with
the condition of receiving royalties. I
don’t perceive this as a viable long-
term business model.
Are Indian companies open to pur-
chasing chips from another Indian
company? Are there potential con-
cerns about ‘quality and price’?
My fundamental philosophy re-
volves around being a semiconduc-
tor specialist. I’ve been involved in
this domain multiple times, learning
not only what to do but also what
to avoid. We’ve established the
groundwork for how global giants
like Foxconn and Tata source com-
ponents.
The most effective way to guar-
antee quality is through rigorous
66 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: interview
testing, and I am first and foremost
a test engineer. When we deliver
components, they will be of the
highest quality. Our unique selling
point lies in our testing capabili-
ties. As for price, IVP won’t merely
supply components but will con-
sistently work on cost reduction. Ini-
tially, operating with slim margins
will be our primary strategy. As
our operations expand in India,
cost advantages will become more
pronounced.
Why should Indian companies
choose you over the big boys?
Our exclusive focus is on the
Indian market. While we won’t di-
rectly compete with Infineon, STMi-
croelectronics, or NXP, we acknowl-
edge that most Indian customers
currently occupy Tier III positions
with these giants.
To us, these Indian custom-
ers will be Tier I. We intend to
build strong partnerships with our
customers, providing better support
than what these large corporations
typically offer in terms of applica-
tion and system support. IVP will
contribute to the overall design of
the product/solution and reduce
development costs.
Will the industry giants allow you to
carve out your share in the market?
A valid question! Many of these
industry giants were my clients
during my tenure at Tessolve. I
understand their operations, and
many have begun recognising India
as a substantial market. We are fully
aware that we must create a compel-
ling value proposition to establish a
foothold in India.
Moreover, as we are exclusively
targeting the Indian market, there
will be a loss of cost advantages as-
sociated with our competitors. Our
cost-effectiveness will rise as semi-
conductor fabs begin to emerge in
India. We are also open to collabo-
rating with individuals and institu-
tions. I have a deep understanding
of how the industry giants function.
I’m not concerned about compe-
tition, which is why we’re venturing
into this sector in India. Our pri-
mary objective is to capture market
share initially. There’s no business
where you start turning a profit from
day one.
What if one of these big boys
proposes an acquisition of IVP??
My objective is to establish
a local company. If one of these
industry giants approaches us to
become their Indian arm, we would
entertain the discussion. I firmly
believe that in five years, India will
emerge as an export hub for various
electronic products such as inverters
and EV chargers.
The Indian companies I am col-
laborating with today are the ones
that will catapult me onto the global
stage five years from now. This is
when the industry giants intend to
set up manufacturing facilities in In-
dia, much like in China. Hence, it is
imperative to create demand in India.
What level of investment do you
anticipate for IVP Semiconductor?
Initially, we’re looking at an
investment ranging from $20 to $25
million. Some of my close associates
are part of the founding team. We’ve
collectively committed $5 million to
the company. The remainder will be
raised, and the advantage we have
is that due to my prior ventures, we
don’t need to actively seek potential
investors this time.
In fact, we have a surplus of
investors eager to participate in
IVP. We’ll make that decision
thoughtfully and progressively. The
potential for an Indian fabless chip
company is crystal clear in their
minds. This might also eventually
contribute to establishing a fabrica-
tion facility!
www.eFYmag.com
 strategy: product

PACKAGING: Last Mile

In Product Development
A game-changing perspective on product development, highlighting the often overlooked
significance of packaging as the key to customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility

I
n a recent product development work-
shop, a customer made a thought-
provoking statement that resonated
deeply with the essence of product crea-
tion: “What good is a product if people
can’t use it?” In the world of product
development, this remark holds immense
significance. We, the product developers,
frequently underestimate this facet.
Soumyanath
How you introduce your product to
Chatterjee is
former TVS Motors customers plays a pivotal role in determin-
Chair Professor
at Industrial and ing how it will be received in the market.
Systems Engineering It is akin to the culinary world, where the
Department, IIT
Kharagpur. His presentation of a dish distinguishes an ex-
expertise is in perienced chef from a novice. Similarly, in
Product Development
and Supply Chain product development, the way a product
Management is packaged and presented can signifi-
cantly influence the impression it leaves on
customers.
Consider this analogy to appreciate the im-
pact of presentation in product development—
just as a beautifully plated meal can enhance
the dining experience, the way a product is
presented can elevate its appeal and desirabil-
ity in the eyes of potential buyers.
Functions of packaging
Often, we tend to treat the packaging as an
extra item that gets discarded after the cus-
tomer buys the product. Such an attitude to
packaging is not correct. Let us examine the
functions that a well-designed product pack-
aging must perform to understand its needs.
Product protection. The main job of prod-

www.efymag.com electronics for you express | november 2023 67

 strategy: product

TABLE 1 products get to you. Each of

STANDARD SIZES OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS (ISO:668) these transportation methods
has its own rules, and your
ISO Common External Dimensions Minimum Internal Dimensions Maximum
Designation Name Gross Mass
product and its packaging
Length Height Width Length Height Width
have to follow them.
1F * 5 foot 1.460 m 2.438 m 2.438 m 1.270 m 2.197 m 2.330 m 5,080 kg In the last couple of
(4’ 9.5”) (8 ft) (8 ft) (4’ 2”) (7’ 2.5”) (7’ 7.73”)
decades, one of the biggest
1EEE 45 foot 13.716 m 2.896 m 2.438 m 13.542 m 2.655 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg
high cube (45 ft) (9’ 6”) (8 ft) (44’ 5.15”) (8’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”)
achievements in making
this journey smoother has
1EE 45 foot 13.716 m 2.591 m 2.438 m 13.542 m 2.350 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg
standard (45 ft) (8’ 6”) (8 ft) (44’ 5.15”) (7’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”) been the standardisation of
1E * 6½ foot 1.968 m 2.438 m 2.438 m 1.778 m 2.197 m 2.330 m 7,110 kg shipping containers. Think of
(6’ 5.5”) (8 ft) (8 ft) (5’ 10”) (7’ 2.5”) (7’ 7.73”) them as the building blocks
1D 10 foot 2.991 m 2.438 m 2.438 m 2.802 m 2.197 m 2.330 m 10,160 kg of transportation. These
(9’ 9.75”) (8 ft) (8 ft) (9’ 2.3”) (7’ 2.5”) (7’ 7.73”) containers come in stand-
1CCC 20 foot 6.058 m 2.896 m 2.438 m 5.867 m 2.655 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg ard sizes, as set by ISO:668.
high cube (19’ 10.5”) (9’ 6”) (8 ft) (19’ 3”) (8’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”) They make it easy to load
1CC 20 foot 6.058 m 2.591 m 2.438 m 5.867 m 2.350 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg and unload goods quickly
standard (19’ 10.5”) (8’ 6”) (8 ft) (19’ 3”) (7’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”) and smoothly, whether they
1C 20 foot 6.058 m 2.438 m 2.438 m 5.867 m 2.197 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg are on a ship, plane, truck,
(19’ 10.5”) (8 ft) (8 ft) (19’ 3”) (7’ 2.5”) (7’ 7.73”)
or train.
1BBB 30 foot 9.125 m 2.896 m 2.438 m 8.931 m 2.655 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg
So, when we design the
high cube (29’ 11.25”) (9’ 6”) (8 ft) (29’ 3.6”) (8’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”)
packaging for products, we
1BB 30 foot 9.125 m 2.591 m 2.438 m 8.931 m 2.350 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg
standard (29’ 11.25”) (8’ 6”) (8 ft) (29’ 3.6”) (7’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”) have to be mindful of these
1B 30 foot 9.125 m 2.438 m 2.438 m 8.931 m 2.197 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg
container sizes. We need to
(29’ 11.25”) (8 ft) (8 ft) (29’ 3.6”) (7’ 2.5”) (7’ 7.73”) create boxes that fit perfectly
1AAA 40 foot 12.192 m 2.896 m 2.438 m 11.998 m 2.655 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg in these containers. If our
high cube (40 ft) (9’ 6”) (8 ft) (39’ 4.375”) (8’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”) packages are too big or too
1AA 40 foot 12.192 m 2.591 m 2.438 m 11.998 m 2.350 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg small, it can cause problems.
standard (40 ft) (8’ 6”) (8 ft) (39’ 4.375”) (7’ 8.5”) (7’ 7.73”) We might end up paying
1A 40 foot 12.192 m 2.438 m 2.438 m 11.998 m 2.197 m 2.330 m 36,000 kg extra for shipping, or our
(40 ft) (8 ft) (8 ft) (39’ 4.375”) (7’ 2.5”) (7’ 7.73”) products might get delayed
Note: (*) 1F and 1E have been dropped from current version but continue to be made by many (Source: Wikipedia) at different points along the
way because of their odd siz-
uct packaging is to keep your stuff also has a secret mission: it guards es. So, packaging matters a lot when
safe and sound. Imagine your product your product against sneaky tricks. it comes to getting your favourite
going on a big adventure from the When you buy something, all you things to you efficiently!
factory to your doorstep. Along the can see is the package. If it’s not Handling. Designing product
way, it faces all sorts of challenges tamper-proof, some not-so-nice packaging requires careful consid-
like bumps, bad weather, and even folks could swap out the good stuff eration of how the product will be
shady characters who might want to with something fake and trick you. handled throughout its journey.
mess with it. That’s where packaging A tamper-proof package acts like a When packages are transported, they
comes to the rescue! security guard, making sure eve- are often stacked, so the packag-
Packaging is like a superhero rything inside is legit. So, you can ing needs to be sturdy enough to
shield. It soaks up any bumps and trust the company and have a happy withstand the weight. It is important
jolts during the ride, making sure shopping experience! to think about the direction in which
your product arrives in one piece, Transportation. On its journey the load will be placed and add the
free of any scratches. Plus, it keeps from the factory to your doorstep, right protection.
your precious stuff dry on rainy your favourite products travel in var- Some products have delicate
days. Sometimes, we even use mul- ious ways like trucks, trains, ships, parts that need special care. The
tiple layers of packaging, like a gift and planes. It’s important to note packaging should clearly show
within a gift, just to be extra sure. that most of the time, the manu- handling instructions that are visible
But that’s not all! Packaging facturer doesn’t control how these even when the boxes are stacked.

68 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


To prevent rust and moisture
damage, you can use absorbent gran-
ules. You can also apply a protective
plastic coating or grease to keep
shiny surfaces from getting scratched
during transportation.
Transport companies often have
rules against carrying liquids, explo-
sives, flammable materials, or pow-
ered items. If your product contains
any of these, it might need special
handling. These rules can change,
so it is a good idea to check with
the transportation authorities if your
product includes sensitive items.
Usually, products go through
multiple layers of packaging. The
main product goes into a retail pack-
age with a tamper-proof seal and
eye-catching designs. These retail
packages are then placed inside
larger shipping cartons for delivery
to retailers. Sometimes, these ship-
ping cartons are loaded into shipping
containers or dedicated vehicles for
long-distance trips.
In some cases, we opt for reusable
packaging. When this happens, it is
essential to plan how to efficiently
return the used packages. Collapsible
packaging is one option, but another
is to partner with other manufacturers
and share packaging resources. Ship-
ping containers are a great example of
this kind of collaboration.
Finally, we must consider how
easy it is to open the package. Un-
boxing should be a straightforward
and enjoyable experience. Providing
clear cues and easy-to-use features in
the packaging can make the opening
process smooth and hassle-free.
Environmental consideration.
Let us think about this for a moment:
the fancy packaging that wraps up
our favourite products may catch
our eye, but it is not the real deal.
Sadly, most of that packaging ends
up as trash once we are done with it.
According to a report from the World
Bank, about 29% of our garbage is
made up of stuff like paper, card-
www.eFYmag.com
strategy: product
Table 2 Instead of using things like Sty-
UniTS packed in a differenT rofoam or foam for packaging,
we can switch to corrugated
orienTaTion cardboard. Are those blister
carton orientation Units in direction Total
packs made of single-use
l W h length Width height
plastic? We can replace them
2,802 2,197 2,330 with plant-based bioplastics
Package l w h 9 11 24 2,376 or compostable materials like
l h w 9 22 12 2,376 Polylactic acid (PLA). And for
w l h 14 7 24 2,352 similar purposes, we can also
w h l 14 22 7 2,156 consider using cardboard or
h l w 29 7 12 2,436 paper mâché boards.
h w l 29 11 7 2,233 So, there you have it—lots
of exciting ways to make pack-
board, and plastic that used to be aging better for our planet and future
packaging. In 2015, that added up to generations. Be kinder to the Earth
a whopping 77.9 million tons! while still keeping our products safe
Now, if we look at plastic waste, and sound.
things get even more eye-opening. Look and feel. When you are
A report from the European Com- shopping, do you ever find yourself
mission tells us that each person checking out the fancy packaging of
generates quite a bit of plastic waste a product before you even get to see
every year. In the United States, it what’s inside? That first impression
is around 221 kilograms per person! is super important! That is why it is
In Europe, it is 114 kilograms on crucial to put as much thought into
average. Japan and Korea do better, designing the package as we do into
with an average of 69 kilograms per creating the product itself.
person. So, we can guess that India The package has a big job to do. It
falls somewhere in between. has to show off the cool stuff our prod-
Here’s the real kicker: Only 9% uct can do, catch your eye, and give
of all that plastic waste worldwide you the right idea about what to ex-
gets recycled. The rest either piles up pect. It should never make wild claims
in landfills, slowly breaking down that our product can’t live up to. Plus,
into tiny, harmful bits called micro- it is a fantastic place to let know about
plastics, or just sits there, causing any extra goodies we offer.
problems for future generations. That Remember our last article? We
is why we need to make a big effort mentioned that we are offering cloud-
to reduce the use of plastic in pack- based analysis and a weather station
aging, especially the kind that is used as optional add-ons to our main
once and then thrown away. product. Well, the product package is
To create a better world for our where we will tell you all about those
kids and grandkids, we should use exciting extras.
less material for packaging. Whenev- But wait, there is more! Depend-
er possible, we should go for packag- ing on where you are, there might
ing that is reusable. When that is not be some important stuff we have to
an option, we should explore alterna- put on the package by law. In India,
tives like biodegradable and eco- for instance, we have to show who
friendly materials. Think of materials made the product, where it is from,
like coir, jute, hay, and leaves—they when it was made, its batch number,
are all kind to our environment and and how much it costs. Most stores
have been used for packaging. will also want a bar code on there for
But there is more we can do! easy scanning.
electroNics For You express | November 2023 69

Hand robot manipulator for packaging products
Now, here’s the thing about the
package—it should be super secure
so no one can mess with it, but it
should also be easy for you to open.
Everything you need to use the
product should be right there in the
package.
Imagine buying an electronic
gadget and then realising you need
to rush back to the store for bat-
teries or some other random thing.
A well-designed package will have
everything you need, so you can
dive into using the product as soon
as you open it up.
Use instructions. When you
buy a product, especially one that
is a bit more complex, it is essential
to get familiar with how it works.
Even for everyday items, you might
not know all the cool stuff they can
do! That is where a well-made user
manual comes in handy.
A good user manual is like your
trusty guidebook. It not only helps
you use your product the right way
but also keeps it in tip-top shape.
Think about it—when you use a
product correctly, you are less likely
to run into problems.
70 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: product
But that is not all! Your user
manual is like a superhero for trou-
bleshooting common issues with
clear instructions. And if you ever
need some extra help, it shows you
how to get in touch with customer
support.
Now, here is a tip: User manu-
als should be super easy to under-
stand. They should avoid using
fancy technical words and be writ-
ten in a language you feel comfort-
able with. Some countries even
make it a rule to have user instruc-
tions in their language, which is
a smart move. But even if it is not
a rule where you live, it is still a
good idea. It helps prevent misun-
derstandings and makes customers
happy. So, next time you get a new
product, do not forget to check
out that user manual—it is your
ticket to hassle-free and enjoyable
product use!
Service manual. The user
manual tells the customer about
the regular use of the product. Most
products will require some regular
maintenance. At times, the product
may not perform properly. We need
to provide a manual for its mainte-
nance.
The maintenance manual
should give instructions for periodic
maintenance as well as provide
guidelines for fault detection. It is
normally a good idea to provide
a schematic diagram of the main
parts, their relationships, spare parts
numbers, and instructions on how
to replace the spare parts.
Such a manual should mention
what faults can be corrected by the
user. Normally, the maintenance
manual will draw a line on what the
customer can do with the product
and where product warranties will
become void.
Warranty. Quality is key when it
comes to products, and a warranty
is like a promise that the product is
good. A smart warranty can make
people trust the product even more.
But when we decide how long the
warranty should last, we need to
make sure customers will need it.
Fixing products that break under
warranty can be expensive and hurt
the company’s reputation.
Warranties are also a legal thing,
and they can affect a company’s fi-
nances. We want to make sure people
do not make fake warranty claims,
and we need to keep track of when
the warranty starts. One good way
to do this is by putting a warranty
card in the product’s package, or we
can ask customers to sign up in the
company’s computer system. Either
way, we need to give customers all
the information they need to register.
After-sales service. In the world
of successful businesses, selling a
product is not just a one-time deal—
it is the beginning of a beautiful
customer relationship. Surprisingly,
many companies make more money
from the services they provide after
the initial sale than from the actual
product itself.
Getting a customer to choose
your product can be tough and ex-
www.eFYmag.com

pensive. But here’s the secret sauce:
Offering fantastic after-sales service.
It guarantees they will keep coming
back for more of your awesome stuff
and related goodies.
Even though it might not come
inside the product package, if you
want your product to stand out from
the crowd, you have to make sure
top-notch after-sales service is part
of the whole deal.
Packaging consideration of
charge controller
Let us explore how we choose the
perfect packaging for our charge
controller, but let us keep it simple!
First, we need to consider the con-
troller’s size: It measures 270mm×
170mm×80mm and weighs about
750 grams. There is nothing fragile
inside, but we want to protect it
from bending when handled.
Our customers are environmen-
tally conscious, so we are com-
mitted to being eco-friendly. That
is why we won’t use any plastic
in our packaging. Instead, we will
use strong corrugated cardboard
boxes. To prevent bending, we will
use double-walled boxes and insert
crushable cardboard pieces to keep
the controller safely away from the
box walls.
We also know that our product
won’t fly off the shelves right away.
So, we need to think about shipping
efficiency. The smallest container
available is a 305cm (10-foot) con-
TCI Line
Conduction Cooled 130 to 500 Watt
att
Encased AC/DC Power Supplies
ƒ Conduction cooled design approach
ƒ Fanless operation with up to 100% output power
ƒ Operating temperature range –30°C to +80°C
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
STRATEGY: PRODUCT
tainer (ISO:668 D1) with dimensions
of 2,802mm×2,197mm×2,330mm.
With the padding and reinforce-
ments, the retail box will be 292mm
×192mm×96mm. We will pack
these smaller boxes into larger ship-
ping cartons and then into the ship-
ping container, limiting our stacking
options.
There are six ways we can ar-
range the small boxes in the big con-
tainer, and we have calculated how
many boxes fit in each configuration
(see Table 2). We will choose the
configuration that allows us to pack
the most efficiently and then design
the shipping carton accordingly. Keep
in mind that the final packed figure
might be slightly different.
Our retail packaging will feature
high-quality product images, specs,
and even connection diagrams and
installation instructions on the back.
The charge controller will be set up
with its HTML-based interface. We
have made it even more convenient
by including user registration, user
manuals, and service manuals right
on the web page.
For added assurance, all this
information is available on our com-
pany’s website. That way, customers
can access it if anything goes wrong
with the charge controller’s embed-
ded web server. Online manuals are
a smart choice. They are eco-friend-
ly, hard to lose, and easy to search.
In addition, they can include audio-
visual presentations when needed.
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023
Final review
We have now reached the end of
our series about systematic product
development. Our journey began by
exploring what makes a product truly
lovable. From there, we delved into
the QFD process, which helps gather
customer and stakeholder expectations
and turns them into specifications, de-
sign ideas, manufacturing plans, and
quality assurance strategies.
We also took a quick look at con-
current engineering, a method that
brings together team members from
different areas to improve our designs
efficiently. In one of the articles,
we discussed cost optimisation for
boosting profits, and in another, we
focused on design risk analysis.
Next, we explored ways to make
designs more manufacturing-friendly
and less complex. Our seventh
article delved into user interface
and product styling, emphasising
intuitive and user-friendly products
through axiomatic design princi-
ples. We wrapped up our journey by
discussing product strategy, including
designing for future expansion and
building a product family.
With this final article on product
packaging, we hope our series has
provided a glimpse into the various
aspects of systematic product devel-
opment. Hope these articles will offer
guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs
looking to create innovative products
and contribute to the Make in India
initiative.
www.tracopower.com
UL 62368-1
IEC 62368-1
71
 strategy: my story

“NEVER PUT A PERSON

Putting Faith In You DOWN”

Sanjay Gupta
preSident & CeO, Spark Minda,
Minda COrpOratiOn

“Sad, Mad, Glad!” Most of us probably know about these three words, or a phrase
if I may call it, as something teams use to identify opportunities to improve morale
and job satisfaction. However, this My Story is about a leader from India who
deployed the ‘Sad, Mad, Glad’ framework to establish one of the largest automotive
semiconductor design teams in India. Today, many individuals who were/are a part
of this team are not reporting to managers sitting outside India. Instead, engineers
working from countries like Germany and the United States on SoC and allied
domains are reporting to these individuals. Today, he is busy building an automotive
technology company in India, which he envisions to be the first global MNC
to represent India on the global automotive platform. This is
Sanjay Gupta’s My Story, as told to EFY’s Mukul Yudhveer Singh!

72 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com

 strategy: my story

B
orn into a middle-class family
in Delhi, Sanjay Gupta grew
up in a joint family setup. Be-
sides his three sisters, he had many
cousins to play with and a wealth
of elders to seek advice from. Gupta
remembers being the naughtiest
child in the family, always the last
to stop celebrating a festival. His
parents ‘literally’ had to scold him
to make sure he stopped bursting
crackers on Diwali or playing with
colours on Holi.
“I would be the first child in
the family to start bursting crack-
ers and the last one to stop. I don’t
know why, but I continue to love
Indian festivals and the unity they
bring out,” he says. Another vivid
memory from his school days is his
mother being called up by teach-
ers to inform her that her son was Sanjay Gupta with family
always featured in the list of the top
five naughtiest kids! when he mentioned the word IIT. I lenge for him as he had a limited
Simultaneously, Gupta was also asked my father and him, ‘IIT Kya command on English language. The
among the top five performing Hota Hai’ (What is IIT?). I had no majority of his peers at the centre
students in academics. He com- idea what IIT stood for,” he laughs. came from wealthy families, and
pleted his schooling in two different Within the next 15 minutes, this was also the first time he would
government schools in Delhi. “My Gupta, Gupta’s father, and that be coming out of his comfort zone.
grandfather passed away when my friend were sitting in the latter’s His peers would arrive at the centre
father was young. I have heard a lot newly bought Maruti 800, on their in swanky cars, indulging in burgers
of stories about how my father built way to one of the prominent IIT and all kinds of fast food for lunch,
everything from scratch for the fam- coaching and preparation centres in while Gupta would have to travel
ily. He’s my role model,” Gupta says Delhi. After ten minutes of discus- by bus and eat homemade food. Did
with eyes full of pride. sions at the centre, Gupta was asked this disturb him?
to take a mock entrance exam. The “Of course it did! What the
IIT kya hota hai? (What’s IIT?) results were out the same day, and world expects from you at that age
Education was always important, the centre was ready to coach him is not important, but what you
but Gupta’s focus on academics for IIT preparation. But there was expect from the world is! I couldn’t
increased significantly when he one catch! The monthly fee for make any friends there. Sometimes
entered the sixth grade. After that, the centre was `2,500, an amount the bus didn’t show up, and I
the kid who used to be in the top equivalent to what his father’s gov- faced a lot of other challenges,” he
five students list regularly topped ernment job was paying him every explains.
his classes. Even though he scored month! Back in school, Gupta was
above 90% in the tenth Boards “My Papa did not even think becoming a champion in yoga. His
exam, he had no idea what he about what would happen and said school sent him to inter-school yoga
wanted to do in life! yes, please admit him. That sacri- championships, and he was also
“One day, one of my father’s fice he made that day is something asked to conduct yoga classes in the
close friends visited us for breakfast. I always have in my mind before school. He believes that yoga helped
His son had just joined IIT Delhi. starting work every day,” his eyes him remain calm and seek solutions
Over tea, he was talking to me and fill up with tears. during his IIT preparation days.
inquiring about my future plans It was the start of a bigger chal- As luck would have it, he cleared

www.eFYmag.com electroNics For You express | November 2023 73


Sanjay Gupta’s Professional Innings
1996-1997: Design Engineer at Duet Technologies
June 2003-August 2005: Design Manager, India Design Centre, Freescale Semiconductor
August 2005 to April 2016: Senior Director of Engineering, Automotive & Industrial MCU,
India Design Centre, Freescale Semiconductor
April 2016 to November 2022: VP & India Country Manager, NXP Semiconductors
November 2022-Present: President & CEO, Spark Minda, Minda Corporation
the engineering entrance exam on
the first attempt, but the rank he
secured couldn’t get him a seat in
electronics engineering! His father
sensed Gupta was not happy and
gave him the courage to take a year
off and prepare better.
The following year, in the Delhi
Engineering Entrance Exams, he
secured a rank among the top 150
students, ensuring him entrance
to electronics and communica-
tions engineering at the prestigious
Delhi College Of Engineering. “That
wasn’t what I initially wanted, but
my father said it’s all for the better,
and I accepted it,” he explains. And
thus began his journey into the
world of semiconductors, a word
that most of India loves today!
`750 to $70,000
Suji Ka Halwa was what the Guptas
made to celebrate Sanjay’s first day
at DCE. The entire Gupta family was
fond of Indian sweets. Sanjay Gupta
remembers walking behind his
father on his journey from the bus
to the college’s auditorium on that
first day. Despite having visited the
college a week before the academic
session began, he confesses that he
still had butterflies in his stomach
on the first day.
“Me and one of my friends
decided to visit our college a week
prior to starting the academic ses-
sion. The moment we entered,
seniors living in the hostel caught
hold of us and took us to the hostel.
We were made to give introductions,
clean utensils, and rooms of seniors.
strategy: my story
We were probably the first ones to
undergo ragging even before joining
the college,” he shares one of the
many incidents from his college life.
By this time, Gupta was accus-
tomed to speaking good English,
making new friends irrespective of
their background, and had a lot of
self-confidence. He credits his days
of IIT preparation for these skills.
The friends he made at college
encouraged him to participate in a
singing competition. He still sings,
but he admits that his performance
during the competition at DCE was
a result of his friends praising him
to the skies.
“I do not think anyone was
impressed by my singing that day,”
he laughs, as if he is present in the
college auditorium, listening to the
famous speech by Chatur Ramal-
ingam from ‘3 Idiots.’ However, one
of these friends and seniors laid the
foundation for what he is today.
This senior recommended him a
book titled ‘Advanced Microelectron-
ics.’ To Gupta, this book remains
the Bible for learning anything and
everything about SoC design and
semiconductors.
At that time (1993-1994), this
book was not readily available in
India. Most of the students who had
it had it delivered from countries
like the United States. Its cost was
over `750, and to Gupta it seemed
like a luxury. He wasn’t sure if the
book would fit in the Gupta family’s
budget with their overall expenses.
“I went to my father and said I want
this book because I want to master
the field of semiconductors. My
father said nothing at that moment,”
he remembers.
When his father returned home
the next day, he placed the book in
Gupta’s hands and said, “Ja master
ban ja semiconductors ka” (Go and
become the master of semiconduc-
tors). He searched all over Delhi,
contacted everyone he knew to
make sure his son didn’t have to
wait for that book. He assured him
not to worry about the finances and
to concentrate on his studies.
And how critical was
that book for Gupta?
He answers, “The first interview I
cracked was because of that book.”
An Indian startup headed by Prabhu
Goyal was visiting the college during
the on-campus recruitment drive,
and Gupta was selected to work for
this startup’s office in the United
States. Named Duet Technologies,
this startup was later acquired by
Motorola.
“From that `750 that my father
went out of his way to spend, I
landed a job in the United States
that was paying me close to $60,000
then. On my first day at the office,
I was given a Honda Accord to
drive. Though I didn’t know how to
drive back then, I learned it from a
Chinese instructor in America,” he
adds. He took the written test for a
driver’s license in California after
just one day of preparation.
He laughs and says, “We Indians
probably have a knack for clearing
written entrance exams.”
Do not increase my salary
As Gupta was learning the ropes
of the semiconductor game in the
United States, his father suffered a
heart attack. “That night (daytime
in India), I woke up in the mid-
dle of the night. I don’t know why,
but something in me, or something
I didn’t know, kept telling me

74 November 2023 | electroNics For You express www.eFYmag.com


something was wrong back home. I
dialled the landline number, and my
sister picked up. Usually, she was
in college at that time every day. I
inquired about everyone in the fam-
ily, and she told me everything was
okay. My heart said she was lying,
and I insisted on speaking to our
mother and father,” Gupta recalls,
suggesting that this was probably
his first experience of telepathy,
something that yoga might have
helped him achieve.
As soon as his family informed
him about his father’s illness, he
made up his mind to fly back to
India, not just for a few days, but to
permanently return. He left behind
six months of working experience
with Fujitsu and six months with
AMD (both with Duet Technolo-
gies). Most significantly, he was
leaving behind a life that many
engineers in India still dream of!
“A lot of my friends are settled
in the US. I am happily settled in
India. What makes me happily set-
tled are both my parents still living
with us. My children know what the
love of grandparents means. I still
get to enjoy a lot of sweets sitting
at the same table as my father. I
think the day I left the US, my life
truly became blessed,” he says, his
eyes reflecting deep emotions. And
he goes on to explain what truly
blessed means!
His father started recovering,
and everyone in his family was
happy that their son was back
home. Pressure began to mount
from the family for Gupta to get
married. The parents of his wife-
to-be visited Gupta’s house and
immediately agreed to the match.
That’s when Gupta and his future
wife began dating on Saturdays.
Meanwhile, Duet Technologies
was acquired by Motorola, and a
big opportunity came knocking on
Gupta’s door.
Motorola, as big as Google back
www.eFYmag.com
strategy: my story
Sanjay Gupta doing Yoga
then, wanted to focus on automo-
tive semiconductors and was keen
on setting up a team in India. Gup-
ta, 31 at that time, learned about the
interviews that were being held for
the position to lead these operations
in the country. After waiting for two
weeks, he gathered the courage to
express his desire to lead the team
to his boss.
“I remember my boss telling me
that while I had the technological
know-how, I might have lacked the
business acumen required to run
and manage such a team. He turned
me down, and the interviews con-
tinued,” he shares.
Gupta was so confident about
this new venture that he went to
his boss asking to be interviewed
for the position three times. The
third time proved to be the charm,
or maybe what Gupta told his boss
charmed the latter.
“I wanted to do it; the third time
I told my boss, ‘Let me do it. Don’t
increase my salary until you are
satisfied with the achievements of
the vertical.’” He continues, “That’s
when I think my words probably
charmed my boss!”
electroNics For You express | November 2023
Then came the biggest
challenge(s)
The opportunity was substantial,
but opportunities do not come
without their fair share of chal-
lenges. Gupta’s interview for lead-
ing the new vertical was conducted
in the US. He secured the role,
and then began a saga of the most
significant challenges he had ever
faced in his life.
“A lot of my peers in the organi-
sation, who were also very senior to
me, did not like that a 31-year-old
was given such a prominent role.
From corporate politics to various
obstacles, I encountered everything
once my role was announced. The
most significant hurdle was building
a new team, a team upon which the
success of this new vertical would
depend,” he reflects.
As hiring for the vertical took
place on a group company basis,
Gupta could only get his hands on a
handful of resumes. Most of the tal-
ented candidates were either hired
by other verticals or declined to join
a new business unit. “It was like
starting a startup within a group. I
75

Some Facts About Sanjay Gupta
Favourite Food: Kadi chawal
Cars or Bikes: Cars
Favourite Car Brand: BMW
Favourite Actress: Madhuri Dixit
Favourite Actor: Akshay Kumar
Favourite Singer: Kishore Kumar, Arijit Singh
Favourite Holiday Destination: Switzerland
Best Friend: Every friend should be a best friend
Favourite Gadget: Smartphones
Favourite Drink: Shikanji, Masala Buttermilk
Favourite Sport: Cricket
Favourite Cricketer: Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid
Favourite Book: “Good to Great” by Jim Collins
knew I would have to wear different
hats,” he recalls.
Gupta approached this problem
with a creative mindset. He asked
the HR team of the group to share
resumes that had been rejected by
other verticals, and from those he
built a team of 14.
“These were the candidates that
no other leader in the group wanted. and Freescale signed an agreement
I said to myself that hiring them
should not be a problem for any-
one,” he shares. As the team began
making a significant impact, the
need for expansion arose. However,
Gupta did not want to see himself
or the team he had built land in
the same situation he faced while
initially building the team.
His found solution in off-campus
drives. Gupta says, he was able to
hire some of the best people he has
ever worked with in his professional
career. But how did the team create
such an impact that it was allowed
to expand? The answer—Sad, Mad,
Glad!
As a mandatory practice for all
his team members in the new verti-
cal, everyone had to write about
what they were sad about, mad
about, and glad about. These three
things were done every quarter.
The ‘sad about’ represented things
an individual was unhappy about
76 November 2023 | electroNics For You express
strategy: my story
and areas that needed im-
provement. The ‘mad about’
represented things that were
hindering individuals from per-
forming at their best. The ‘glad
about’ represented what they
loved about the project and the
aspects they enjoyed the most.
“Many might follow this ap-
proach across the globe, but our
approach was different because
we ensured that every aspect
of this was addressed every
single time,” Gupta explains.
The Sad, Mad, Glad approach
at the group became so fruitful
that Gupta was requested to
conduct the same exercise for the
entire group every quarter.
For the record, Gupta moved
from Duet Technologies when
Motorola acquired it. Motorola then
spun off Freescale Semiconductor to
focus on the automotive, embedded,
and communications markets in
2004. In 2015, NXP Semiconductor
to merge. Technically, Gupta never
resigned and was still in his first
job, one that he started right after
college.
Building a global MNC
from India
Since November 2022, probably a
month or two after Gupta resigned
from his first-ever job, he has been
busy building an MNC that aims to
represent India’s automotive prow-
ess on the global scale. Assigned the
role of President and CEO at Spark
Minda, there are various aspects
he is working on, which cannot be
shared here as they are part of the
core strategy of the Minda Group.
One thing to note here is that Gupta’s
love for automotive remains intact.
“At NXP, we started many
projects for startups and women. I
thought of these after my daughter
won a Google scholarship. These
initiatives led me to take an active
part in various government min-
istries as well as associations like
IESA. I believe this is where the
leadership of the Minda Group iden-
tified me as a leader. I never wanted
to leave my first job behind, but this
was an opportunity to put India on
the global map. I just couldn’t say
no,” he says.
At the same time, he is proud
that engineers from countries like
Germany, China, and the United
States are reporting to the team he
built. “From being used to reporting
to managers sitting outside India,
to having those managers report to
teams in India, is one of the best
feelings in the world,” he says.
However, that wasn’t enough, and
he said to himself, “Why not build a
company that can help automotive
giants around the world in innova-
tion and technology?” He said yes to
Spark Minda!
Gupta credits all his achieve-
ments to his wife, parents, and
children. He says his fortune turned
around when he tied the knot. “She
has taken care of the family in my
absence. I still reach home late, but
her love for me has not changed but
only increased. I am blessed to have
her in my life,” he says with a lot of
love and pride.
And, what’s the most romantic
thing he has ever done for his wife?
An international vacation is planned
every alternate year, if not every
year, for the couple! Moreover, he
made sure his parents visited the
char dham in their prime, so they
could enjoy each of them! Gupta’s
son is preparing for IIT JEE exams,
while his daughter is in her final
year of engineering at the same col-
lege Gupta studied.
“Only a human can beat him/
herself. No one can defeat you un-
less you say you have lost. Every
time you go through a setback, get
yourself up, and walk ahead,” he
concludes.
www.eFYmag.com

ChatGPT TERMINAL Made Using ESP32
Y
ou are all aware of ChatGPT
and its power. This device
that can incorporate ChatGPT
and give you a portable, easy-to-
Fig. 1: Author’s prototype
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram
WWW.EFYMAG.COM
EF Y
DO-IT-YOURSELF: PROJECT K.
wini
Ash i n h a
S
B
use, complete GPT machine. You the ESP32 microcontroller (MCU),
can simply ask a question, seek an and the terminal will assist you in
answer, or request a snippet of code, displaying the problem statement on
using a PS/2 keyboard connected to the TFT screen.
9-12V
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023 77
 DO-IT-YOURSELF: PROJECT
The ESP32 will then send the and a secret key to access the Chat- in Fig. 1. The components used in
query to ChatGPT, and the output GPT API. This is the single-point the terminal are listed under Bill of
obtained from ChatGPT will be access key for openai.com; no other Materials in Table 1.
reproduced on the same TFT screen. login or password is required.
You don’t need an elaborate com- The author’s prototype is shown Circuit and working
puter for this task. Of course, you Fig. 2 shows the circuit diagram of
TABLE 2
need an internet Wi-Fi connection the ESP32-based ChatGPT terminal.
CONNECTION OF TFT It is built around the ESP32 board
TABLE 1 AND ESP32 (MOD1), an 8.9cm (3.5-inch) TFT
BILL OF MATERIALS TFT Pin ESP32 Pin display (MOD 2), 5V voltage regula-
Items Quantity CS 33 tor IC 7805 (IC1), PS2 keyboard, and
ESP32 MCU (MOD1) 1 DC 15 a few other components.
PS2 keyboard 1 RST 32 For the proper connection of the
8.9cm TFT (MOD2) 1 WR 4 entire ChatGPT terminal, connect the
Wires, PCB, connector RD 2 TFT display to the ESP32 board as
7805: 5-volt regulator IC (IC1) 1 D0 12 well as the PS2 keyboard pins on the
Diode 1N4007 1 D1 13
TABLE 3
D2 26
D3 25
CONNECTION OF PS2 KEY-
D4 16 (RX2)
BOARD PIN AND ESP32
D5 17 (TX2)
PS2 Keyboard Pin ESP32 Pin
D6 27 Data pin 35
D7 14 IRQ pin (clock pin) 34
VCC/5V 5 volts from regulator 5V 5 volts from regulator
GND Ground GND Ground
Fig. 3: PS/2 key and mouse cable details

Fig. 4: OpenAI API creation

78 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS WWW.EFYMAG.COM

 DO-IT-YOURSELF: PROJECT
ESP32. Refer to Table 2 and Table 3,
and Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, for the connec-
tions.
For connecting PS2 keyboard, refer
to Fig. 3 and Table 3. A PS2 keyboard,
like a USB keyboard, needs only 4 pins
to connect to an MCU: 5V, ground, data
pin, and clock pin (or IRQ pin). Since
this is a pure data-in device, GPIO pins
34 and 35 can be connected to it. GPIO
pins 34 and 35 are data-in pins only;
they are not data-out pins. Never use
them for TFT, LEDs, relays, etc as they
require signal output, unlike keyboard
Fig. 5: Snippet of source code configuration of the Wi-Fi SSID and password pins that need data input. Of course,
you can connect a PS2 keyboard to
other GPIO pins as well.
Here, the ESP is used to connect
to the internet and ChatGPT using
the OpenAI API, and the TFT display
is used as terminal display for the
ChatGPT output. The query can be
entered using the PS2 keyboard.
You may wonder why an old
PS2 keyboard is being used in the
prototype instead of a USB keyboard.
I tried to connect a sleek, small USB
keyboard, but I could not get it to
work with the ESP32.

Software coding
Fig. 6: Snippet of the source code configured to the OpenAI model First, you need to create an OpenAI

Fig. 7: Final assembled terminal used for testing

WWW.EFYMAG.COM ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS | NOVEMBER 2023 79


account, and then create the OpenAI
API as shown in Fig. 4.
Next, you need to install the
library in the Arduino IDE according
to the TFT display you are using, fol-
lowed by the PS2 keyboard library.
In the code, after including the
libraries, you need to configure the
Wi-Fi SSID and the password of
your Wi-Fi router and network. Af-
ter that, configure the API key in the
code that you have created earlier
on the OpenAI website.
Fig. 5 shows a snippet of source
code configuration for the Wi-Fi
SSID and password. In the source
code, you need to configure the
OpenAI model you want to use. Fig.
6 shows a snippet of source code
configuration for the OpenAI model.
After completing all configurations
in the source codes, upload the full
source code by selecting the right
COM port and the name of the
board model.
Co-located with
India's #1
Event On
Embedded
Systems
embedded
days
31st JAN - 2nd FEB 2024 | KTPO (BENGALURU)
ENABLING SMARTER TECH…
An embedded conference
which will focus on latest
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To exhibit, please call +91-9811155335 or growmybiz@efy.in
80 NOVEMBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU EXPRESS
DO-IT-YOURSELF: PROJECT
Construction and testing
After uploading the source code and
assembling the terminal, it is ready
to be tested, as shown in Fig. 7.
The delays used inside the loops
are very specific. You may change
them, but start with these values,
and then, once you have a handle
on your responses, you may adjust
them. You may begin with simple
questions like: “translate ‘I love
you’ into Bengali,” “translate ‘I love
you’ into Chinese,” and “translate ‘I
love you’ into Japanese.” ChatGPT
meticulously produces the English
scripts of the translated versions on
the TFT screen.
Then, you may raise the level of
questions to tasks like: “create an
Arduino code for blinking,” “MicroPy-
thon code for blinking,” and “Mi-
croPython code for text to speech.”
Please note that ‘create an’ is op-
tional; you may drop it as ChatGPT is
TELECOM / 5G
(31 January)
AI & ML
Discover how embedded
solutions are becoming
more intelligent by adopting
AI/ML technologies.
OPEN SOURCE
Discover how Open Source is
enabling better, faster and
cheaper development of
embedded solutions.
THE EXPO: EXPERIENCE LATEST TECH FIRST-HAND
AI HARDWARE
DEV TOOLS
EFY Note
The source code of this
project is available
for free download at
www.electronicsforu.com
very intelligent.
The highest level of questioning
that was used with this prototype
was to “write 5 sentences about Elek-
tor magazine,” “write 5 sentences
about NTPC,” and “write 5 sentences
about BHEL.” For all the tests, Chat-
GPT performed exceptionally well.
This ESP32 ChatGPT is only a
proof of concept to show that with a
keyboard and an internet connection,
AI can be used at the ESP32 MCU
level as well. In the next develop-
ment process, the keyboard may be
replaced with speech-to-text interface
or ChatGPT voice interactive solu-
tions.
Somnath Bera is an electronics
enthusiast. He is a freelancer
and has written several articles
across the globe
INDUSTRIAL AEROSPACE & DEFENCE
(1 February) (2 February)
THE THEMES
IOT
Discover how to develop world-class
IoT solutions using state-of-the-art
embedded tech.
DEV TOOLS
Discover latest development tools
that are game changers—before
your competition does.
COMPONENTS & MODULES DISPLAYS
TEST & DEBUG SOLUTIONS SMART CONNECTORS
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