NEWS EDITOR’S CHOICE


LATTICE EXPANDS MVISION STACK CAPABILITIES L


attice Semiconductor Corporation has launched the latest version of its solutions stack for low


power embedded vision systems, Lattice mVision 2.0. The new version features multiple updates that further accelerate the design of embedded vision applications for industrial, automotive, medical, and smart consumer systems. It includes support for popular new image sensors used in industrial and automotive systems and a new image signal processing IP core and reference design to help developers design smart vision applications at the Edge. The stack also includes support for the Lattice


Propel design environment to simplify development of vision systems with an embedded RISC-V processor. The COVID-19 pandemic and the drive to


improve safety and efficiency is accelerating the need for industrial companies to incorporate smart


embedded vision technology in their systems to support human presence detection, touchless HMI, and enhanced AR/VR capabilities, while simultaneously striving to improve manufacturing quality and throughput by leveraging intelligent machine vision technology. According to Allied Market Research, “the global machine vision system market size was valued at $29.7 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $74.9 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 11.3% from 2020 to 2027.” “Lattice CrossLink-NX devices with integrated


hard MIPI support and low power consumption are ideal for camera applications operating at the Edge. Using CrossLink-NX with an embedded RISC-V processor enables a more compact and efficient ISP implementation,” said Arndt Bussman, CTO at Helion, a customer using the technology. “We applaud Lattice for its ongoing


work to enhance their mVision solutions stack, and we’re pleased to partner with Lattice to provide optimised ISP solutions to the industry.” “Lattice solutions stacks make it easier for


customers to adopt emerging technologies by providing a comprehensive collection of ready-to- use software, IP, hardware demos, and reference designs that help them quickly deploy applications like embedded vision in current and future product designs,” said Mark Hoopes, director of industrial segment marketing, Lattice Semiconductor. “These updates expand the potential use cases


for mVision by broadening support for popular image sensors used in industrial and automotive markets, simplifying hardware and software design with our drag-and-drop Propel design environment, and adding development boards and reference designs powered by our FPGA for embedded vision, CrossLink-NX.”


COMMERCIAL TRUCK ELECTRIFICATION IS WITHIN REACH


operating costs over the lifetime of the truck. The researchers also showed that future reductions in battery costs


– taken together with a more aerodynamic design and monetised benefits of reduced pollution – would result in a 50% per mile lower total cost of ownership compared to a diesel long-haul truck by 2030. The electrification of long-haul trucks therefore is possible, and figuring out what is required to move the nation’s trucking fleet to widely adopt electric trucks is the next step, the authors said. “Given the massive economic and environmental benefits, the case


for long-haul electric trucking is stronger than ever before,” said Berkeley Lab Research Scientist Nikit Abhyankar, one of the authors of the study. “Enabling policies such as adoption and charging infrastructure incentives, sales mandates, and cost-reflective electricity pricing are crucial.” Electric cars are becoming more prevalent now, with a substantial


increase in global sales and commitments from several major auto manufacturers, including General Motors and Volvo, to sell only electric vehicles by 2030-2035. Long-haul trucks have not experienced the same level of growth, yet they are diesel-fuel guzzlers and a major source of air pollution, contributing more than 20% of U.S. transportation-sector greenhouse gas emissions.


When it comes to electric vehicles, particularly for heavy-duty trucks, the limitations of battery technology are often seen as the main barrier to widespread adoption. However, a new analysis concludes that it’s the lack of appropriate policies around adoption incentives, charging infrastructure, and electricity pricing that prevents widespread electrification of commercial trucking fleets. Researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National


Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California, Los Angeles published a new study that makes the case for prioritising public policy to help move long-haul trucking from diesel to electric. Doing so will mean huge gains in addressing the climate crisis and avoiding premature deaths due to local vehicular pollution, which disproportionately affects communities of colour. The study analyses the total cost of ownership of an electric long-haul


truck compared to a diesel long-haul truck. Using the current price of a battery pack and assuming a 375-mile range, the researchers found that an electric long-haul truck has a 13% per mile lower total cost of ownership, with a net savings of $200,000 over the lifetime of the electric truck. The total cost of ownership analysis takes into account the purchase price and


6 Berkeley Lab scientists have done extensive research tracking the impact


of diesel trucks on air quality and public health in disadvantaged communities. Even though diesel trucks account for just a small fraction of motor vehicles, they are responsible for almost one-third of motor vehicle CO2 emissions. The transportation sector was the largest contributor of CO2 emissions associated with the US economy. “If we can move away from diesel-dependent heavy-duty vehicles, we


have a chance at significantly reducing greenhouse gas and particulate emissions from the transportation sector,” said Berkeley Lab Staff Scientist Amol Phadke, lead author on this study. There are currently two main pathways to electrify trucks – fuel cells and


batteries – and both are actively being pursued by researchers at Berkeley Lab. Long-haul trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells are on the horizon, and Berkeley Lab scientists are playing a leading role in a new DOE consortium called the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT) to advance this technology. Battery-powered electric trucks have seen the most dramatic improvements in technology in recent years, making the battery costs more affordable and competitive. www.lbl.gov


MARCH 2021 | ELECTRONICS / ELECTRONICS


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