All Articles

What does single pair Ethernet bring to the IIoT?

Single pair Ethernet, or SPE, can legitimately be described as a “disruptive technology.” Avnet spoke with George Zimmerman, who chaired the IEEE 802.3cg 10 Mb/s Single Pair Ethernet Task Force, to find out why.

How no-code design could accelerate Industrial IoT development

Developing large numbers of new and diverse devices for an Industrial IoT solution can challenge your engineering resources. Using a no-code approach to development can reduce the size and complexity of that challenge.

The Industrial IoT is driving economic growth

With billions of dollars at stake, Industrial IoT isn’t just about financials. Safety, scalability and flexibility are part of digital transformation. In industrial sectors this has significant implications, but is no longer unchartered territory.

Time-of-flight cameras make patient monitoring secure and private

A growing need exists for alternative solutions to patient monitoring applications in healthcare facilities. Time-of-flight cameras enable sensors to read position data of scenes within the field of view, but without identifying patient information.

Behind the datasheet: HW-RTOS

Using hardware accelerators is nothing new, but what about an accelerator to improve the way your operating system handles data communications?

How to get to market with machine learning

Some may think of machine learning as the supporting act for AI, but in the industrial sector it is the main attraction. We spoke with Avnet Silica’s Michaël Uyttersprot, manager, system solutions, AI/ML and Vision, EMEA, to find out more.

Three future Industrial IoT trends manufacturers should think about now

AI may be the headline act, but a greater impact on manufacturing will come from the trends enabled by AI. OEMs can expect to feel the impact in three areas.

Supporting a service-oriented approach in the IIoT

Your industrial environment is a complex network of devices with varying roles and responsibilities. Bringing all that together requires the application of proven and new technologies. Efforts are underway to make them all work in harmony.

Five ways for engineers to spend their holiday gift cards

At Avnet, we understand that you’re difficult to shop for. Not to worry! We’re here to help you find some fun ways to spend those gift cards on the things you really want.

Data security in the IIoT is only going one way

Data diodes are older than the internet and only allow information to flow in one direction. They enforce security at the hardware level, but do they still have a place in a world where everything relies on two-way communications?

Considerations when designing with wide bandgap devices

SiC and GaN wide bandgap semiconductor switches can provide a step improvement in efficiency in power converters. Engineers should be aware that they have different secondary characteristics compared with Si-MOSFETS and IGBTs.

Selecting wide bandgap devices for motor control applications

When it comes to smart control applications, it’s worth taking a step back to consider when and if the switch to wide bandgap from MOSFET or IGBT makes sense. When the answer is yes, then the decision is whether SiC or GaN is the way to go.

How 5G will deliver more for less

From improved timing algorithms and sleep modes to the modernization of network hardware and new network protocols, 5G employs several power reduction strategies to manage network energy consumption.

Want an overview of industrial automation? Send a drone!

Industrial automation technology is the use of control theory, instrumentation theory and computer information technology to achieve detection, control, optimization, scheduling, management and decision-making of industrial production processes.

Seeing doesn’t mean understanding – security must also be "smart"!

Since we now live in a society that wants every single device to be smart, security needs to learn from its past mistakes and institute its own smart upgrades.

Remote testing gives RF engineers a short-cut to mmWave application development

For RF engineers working on mmWave applications, limited access to hardware and test equipment can mean delays, cost and complexity. Remote testing over a secure internet connection lets engineers jump directly to application development.

Just how Fast is EV “Fast Charging”?

Drivers of electric vehicles are a diverse bunch, but they are united by two questions: How far can my car go? and Where can I charge?...Today, we will be talking about that specific concern—electric vehicle (EV) charging.

Cellular may be the solution to common Industrial IoT networking woes

A recent survey found 99 percent of respondents identified networking challenges as their customers’ primary roadblock to Industrial IoT implementation. Can cellular networks replace conventional networks for IIoT applications?

When will wireless power transfer redefine the Industrial IoT?

Power loss in a single sensor might result in downtime for an entire production line, so keeping them operational will be critical. With developments in the enabling technologies, could wireless power transfer be the answer?

Quick solutions for intelligent condition monitoring

A small intelligent condition-monitoring project provides a great entry point to the IIoT. Modules are available that make light work of sensing, data analytics and device management.

How the Root of Trust underpins device-level IoT security

With over 5,400 cyberattacks monthly on IoT devices, security by design is an imperative for industrial installations. Designing Root-of-Trust concepts into MCUs and other components could be key to more secure IoT networks.

Amid chip shortage, focus shifts to assurance of supply

From standard inventory fulfilment and management programs to sophisticated supply-chain-as-a-service-models, companies are looking to achieve a reliable flow of components all along the electronics ecosystem.

Strengthening our roots: at the center of the technology value chain

Avnet is entering into its second century in business deeply rooted in the same principle that helped us succeed in the first: we stay situated at the center of the technology value chain — constantly adjusting as this center morphs with time.

The 5G interconnect design challenges and their solutions

Avnet spoke with Molex Global Product Manager Mike Hansen about the role copper interconnect is playing in the development of the next high-speed cellular network.

Beyond millimeter wavelengths, the terahertz domain awaits

Realizing the potential of terahertz frequencies will require enormous advances in technologies from semiconductors through network design.

What to know about electromechanical interconnects for 5G systems

High-performance radio frequency, input/output and board connectors are helping developers meet the challenge of 5G. Designed for mmWave and PAM-4 signals in the fronthaul of the network, engineers can use them to improve signal integrity.

No, millimeter-wave 5G is not ‘dead’

5G will require a new network design in which smart repeaters, advanced software and algorithms, digital beamforming, and other techniques allow millimeter-wave signals to permeate RF-restrictive environments.

The future of 5G depends on software-defined radio

5G is a technological moving target. If designers had to rely only on hardware to make those changes, it’s possible that 5G would be far too expensive or technically impossible to deploy. That’s where SDR comes in.

How 6G networking will solve your city’s traffic problems

6G networking and self-driving cars could make traffic congestion a thing of the past.

As 5G evolves, 6G takes aim at Internet of Everything

Work on 6G is already underway to define what the standard will do and how it will do it. If 5G is about enabling the Internet of Things (IoT), 6G is about enabling the Internet of Everything – including you.