In the future, infotainment systems will perform increasingly more tasks. (Image: Fotolia) In 2015, Audi AG, BMW Group, and Daimler AG paid a total of €2.8 billion to take over Nokia’s geodata company. The significance of navigation systems at the advent of autonomous driving couldn’t be

Modern IoT wearables—ranging from health trackers to smart fitness gear—rely on reliable, non‑volatile memory to store firmware, sensor logs, and user data. While traditional embedded solutions have depended on external Flash, the relentless push toward smaller, cheaper SoCs has made on‑chip Flash i

Automation & Voice: The Next Frontier In a world that demands instant answers and rapid action, automation is no longer optional—it’s essential. Yet many businesses and consumers remain hesitant, citing legacy systems, usability concerns, and, most critically, data ownership and security. Voice tech

Machine learning and deep learning are now woven into everyday technology. From natural‑language assistants to real‑time object detection, AI drives a growing number of consumer and industrial devices. Yet most of these applications rely on cloud‑based inference engines—an architecture that raises c

In this final article of the series, we examine the key decision of whether to integrate Bluetooth Mesh via discrete chips or turnkey modules, and how that choice can shape your product’s success. Bluetooth Mesh is the connective tissue of the IoT era, turning passive devices—like a light bulb—into

Smart speakers and voice‑controlled devices are rapidly expanding their reach, with assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant improving at deciphering our spoken commands with each update. One of the biggest draws of this interface is its effortless nature—no learning curve, just natural c

In today’s fast‑moving technology era, the most common approach for meeting market demands is the system‑on‑chip (SoC). A SoC is a single integrated processor core surrounded by specialized accelerators and extensive I/O that support the peripherals it powers. Since the mobile‑data boom of 2002, SoC

The advent of 5G delivers faster mobile connectivity, unlocking a surge of IoT and Big Data applications. These innovations demand Ethernet connectivity for an expanding array of powered devices—IP cameras, 802.11ac/ax access points, LED luminaires, 5G small cells, and other IoT appliances. Power‑ov

The consumer electronics sector is plagued by massive e‑waste. According to the latest Global E‑waste Monitor report, roughly 1 million tonnes of power adapters are produced annually, bundled with everything from laptops and tablets to smart speakers and power tools. While most of these adapters can

In the preceding articles of this series, we explored what Bluetooth Mesh is (Part 1), how it functions (Part 2), and why it delivers robust privacy and security (Part 3). These strengths make Bluetooth Mesh an attractive low‑power, highly interoperable network for a wide range of IoT scenarios. How

In my first two posts I explained why digital signal processors (DSPs) are increasingly replacing custom hardware accelerators (HWAs). This article offers a concrete framework to help you decide whether a DSP or an HWA is the right choice for your next project. DSPs shine in applications that requir

In Parts 1 and 2 we explored Bluetooth Mesh architecture and message flow. In today’s hyper‑connected world, security isn’t optional—it’s a non‑negotiable foundation for any Mesh‑powered IoT solution. Bluetooth SIG requires every Mesh device to implement security; disabling it is prohibited. Classic

In the relentless pursuit of higher system performance, Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs) routinely design digital interfaces that operate at high speeds even in electrically challenging environments. Standard protocols such as SPI and I2C offer a reliable, vendor‑agnostic way to interconnect c

Building a reliable Bluetooth Mesh network starts with understanding how nodes exchange data. This article explores the core communication mechanisms, node architecture, and the models that enable interoperability across diverse devices. Managed Flood – The Backbone of Mesh Messaging Bluetooth Mesh

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has become the backbone of the IoT ecosystem, powering smart homes, home‑healthcare devices, and asset‑tracking solutions with its low‑power profile. Yet traditional BLE is limited to one‑to‑one or one‑to‑many links, and its short range makes it difficult to control all de

Embedded CPUs became ubiquitous because they combine flexibility, solid performance, low power consumption, and cost‑effectiveness. Switching from a separate microprocessor or microcontroller to an embedded CPU was a clear win for most applications. Yet, no CPU can run every algorithm efficiently—so

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In a landmark announcement at Arm TechCon, Arm CEO Simon Segars revealed that the company will now permit licensees to embed custom instructions within its Cortex‑M cores, marking a significant shift from its historically rigid instruction set architecture (ISA). After decades of

When ARM CPUs first gained traction—thanks to early adopters like Apple—mobile usage surged. The benefit was clear: an embedded processor could turn any device into a versatile, feature‑rich platform. Moreover, software updates could extend the hardware’s life, allowing a single chip to power multip

SLAMcore has released a new version of its spatial‑intelligence suite that now supports ROS integration, wheel odometry, and extensive environmental customization. The update is aimed at developers building autonomous robots and consumer devices that rely on accurate, real‑time localization and mapp

Direct Insight has released a brand‑new board support package (BSP) that brings QNX 7.0 to the Toradex Colibri iMX8X computer‑on‑module. The package is ready to ship, enabling developers to tap into QNX’s proven real‑time capabilities on a high‑performance, low‑power ARM platform. The BSP bundles a