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Preview Release of Picamera2 Python Library for Interfacing External RPi Cameras

Posted on 24 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

On February 15, 2022, Raspberry Pi’s engineer, David Plowman, announced the release of the Picamera2 library as a replacement for the existing Python-based Picamera package. For those who have already worked with interfacing cameras on the Raspberry Pi computer, you are probably familiar with the Picamera library designed to ease the image processing on the RPi. As the Raspberry Pi Foundation pledges towards building more open and standard Linux APIs, the existing Picamera library built on the proprietary Broadcom camera stcameraacamerack would be no good.

The original Picamera library was third-party software, developed by Dave Jones and not worked on by us here at Raspberry Pi. However, the library proved immensely popular with our users, so we’ve undertaken to provide a replacement. Imaginatively named Picamera2, the new library is being developed in-house here in Cambridge by Raspberry Pi, and will eventually be an officially supported package.

says David Plowman.

As the release comes with the tag “preview” suggesting that there is much of a work in progress with some important things missing in the initial release. Also, as a public-facing API, the designer notes that certain aspects of the functionalities might change before the final release is made. As part of the preview release, the Picamera2 python library allows you to configure and start the camera to receive multiple image streams. The package also supports preview windows, either standalone or embedded within the Qt applications.

Additionally, there comes a query and set camera parameters that allow you to capture full-resolution still images as JPEGs and PNGs. For image analysis and processing, the package enabled picture capture as NumPy arrays to feed them as input. Unfortunately, for recording video from Python using Picamera2, the library doesn’t seem to support it in the preview version, but won’t be long to see it added to the final release.

With the preview release, we have already started witnessing preliminary usage of the Picamera2 library with TensorFlow Lite. [Alasdair Allan], head of documentation at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, published a detailed blog post explaining the work carried out with TensorFlow and Raspberry Pi with Picamera2 to test QtGL preview window and overlay real-time object detection on the stream.

Altium Designer 22 Aims to Solve the Supply Chain Distress

Posted on 24 February, 202224 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

The automated electronic design specialist, Altium, unveils the Altium Designer 22 – the most recent version of the printed circuit board (PCB) design tool. Claiming itself as “the electronics industry’s first ‘design with manufacturing’ application,” the manufacturer, Altimade allows users to request PCB fabrication and assembly while exiting the application.

Altium is committed to providing all engineers with a high-performance, unified, and elegant design experience,” says Lawrence Romine from the team of Altium about the organization’s latest version. “Altium Designer 22 and Altium 365 will work together to streamline the design process and ensure that our engineers get the supply chain intelligence they need to finish their work in a single design environment.

says Altium.

Elevating the Altium Designer to the next level of PCB design, Altium 365 facilitates seamless partnership points across the PCB development process, resulting in the industry’s most connected design experience. From mechanical designers through parts procurement to fabrication and assembly, Altium 365 is a cloud-based infrastructure platform that integrates all of the essential players and disciplines. In other words, Altium 365 bridges the gap between electronics design and production.

Adding a number of additional design features to the existing designer base, the Altium Designer 22 encompasses technology-aware modeling for optimal design on more complicated projects. Moreover, with the enhanced SPICE simulation capabilities with Monte Carlo quality evaluation, the new build comprises “Parts Insight Experience,” which pulls supply chain data from sources such as Octopart and IHS Markit. These sources give a clear response to the industry’s ongoing component shortages.

Thanks to the collaboration with MicroFab, Altimade allows its users to place their manufacturing orders right with the design tool.

“Altium and MacroFab have modernized PCB design and manufacturing by bringing them to digital-first, cloud platforms,” says the chief executive of MacroFab, Misha Govshteyn, on the collaboration. “Combining them truly redefines the PCB design to the manufacturing process and has the potential to accelerate product development and unlock enormous value for our customers.”

If you’re interested Altium Designer 22 can now be availed by purchasing it for one year or as a perpetual license, which includes access to Altimade as well. The new version, however, will be included in the subscription for Altium 365 users.

[Image Credits: Hackster]

Raspberry Pi 5G Dev Kit to test 5G based PoCs

Posted on 24 February, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

The Sixfab Raspberry Pi 5G development kit is to develop and test your ideas and validate the PoC (proof of concepts) in preparation for the real-world 5G applications.

The world is on the cusp of the 5G revolution. With the USP of low latency, 5G can enable critical operations. Remote Surgery, tactile internet, enhancement in Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like self-driving cars, drone technology, VR, home broadband, and many more can be possible with high precision with 5G technology. This opens up possibilities for many more applications. Hence the requirements for smart testing equipment for such applications arise.

Sixfab 5G Development Kit is an easy way to get started with data-intensive IoT/eMBB and test your idea using a real-world 5G infrastructure. It is a set of cost-efficient equipment to connect and experiment with 5G networks and infrastructure. It supports M.2 modem cards that are available worldwide. The modem carrier HAT is compatible via USB cable with personal computers and boards like NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit, Beaglebone, Asus Thinkerboard, NXP i.MX 8 architectures.

The worldwide 5G Sub-6GHz coverage gets you going with high throughput, with a range up to 5.0 Gbps DL and 1.0 Gbps UL. The modems that are compatible with this coverage support both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes. The development and testing of wireless applications are done in standalone mode.

The kit is equipped with a mounting bracket inside the enclosure to connect Raspberry Pi and peripheral devices like I/O, Raspberry Pi 5G HAT to connect to 5G wireless networks.

The HAT includes M.2 5G Modem like Quectel RM50xQ or Telit FN980(optional) for connecting to 5G wireless networks, 4x LTE/5G High-Performance Antenna – SMA Connector, 5x Adapter Cable for Modem to SMA Antenna Connection, USB 3.0 Bridge for Raspberry Pi to Modem Carrier HAT, Cooling Fan, and 5V DC – 3A Type-C power supply.

For more details, visit the product page.

Pettee Released an Ultra-Wideband Board Designed for Asset Tracking

Posted on 24 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Pettee Ultra-Wideband (UWB) employs the STM32F401RBT6 microcontroller unit, which facilitates speed and is capable of managing and running powerful applications. The Pettee UWB custom board’s design consists of sample sketches that illustrate functionality for all of the board’s peripherals. The Pettee UWB board was predominantly designed based on the Decawave DWM1000 UWB transceiver, which makes way for precise distance computation among units. The use of four units (one UWB tag and three UWB anchors) permits precise 2D location tracking within an area.

Onboard battery management system (MP2695GQ) and wireless charging characteristics drive it to be ideal for creating a fully modular and mobile UWB network that can be used in a multitude of indoor and outdoor environments. Enabling the board to calculate orientation and speed, the board comes with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) which encompasses an accelerator and gyroscope.

Specifications:

Specifications of the Pettee UWB board
- System-on-chip: STM32F401RBT6 (32-bit ARM Microcontroller)
- Maximum Clock Frequency: 84 MHz
- Program Memory Size: 128 kB
- Data RAM Size: 64 kB
Wireless connectivity: UWB Transceiver (DWM1000)
- IEEE 802.15.4-2011 UWB compliant
- Facilitates 4 RF bands from 3.5 GHz to 6.5 GHz
- Designed to fall in with FCC & ETSI UWB spectral masks
Onboard Sensors: 6-Axis IMU (LSM6DSM)
LEDs: 3x LEDs (1x Power Green LED, 1x Free-to-use Red LED, and 1x Free-to-use Green LED)
Power supply: 3.7V 1200mAh Lithium-ion Battery (AS624046), Wireless Charging Receiver (BQ51013B), Wireless Charging Coil (WMRR132F-0)
Dimension: 50.8×47.2 mm

Pettee’s exposed USART and I2C ports let you connect/interface with additional peripherals like a monitor or a Bluetooth adapter. Allowing the board to be programmed and debugged using an ST-Link V2 programmer, the UWB board features an exposed JTAG SWD programming interface. Directly connecting the board’s exposed JTAG SWD, power, and ground pins, the ST-Link V2 facilitates firmware flashing and debugging. Compatible with the popular Arduino IDE, the board also supports STM32CubeIDE, ProjectIO (Visual Studio Code), and any other IDE that facilitates flashing STM32 MCU-based boards.

If you are interested in the Pettee UWB board, priced at $69.99, head to the Pettee’s Tindie store for more information.

MangoPi-Nezha MQ Development Board with C906 RISC-V Core

Posted on 23 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

In the last decade, RISC-V has seen an exponentially increased adoption from manufacturing, designing a wide range of boards under its ecosystem, offering high performance. A Chinese open-source community working on the real-time operating system (RTOS) has designed a RISC-V-based development kit, MangoPi Nezha MQ featuring popular Allwinner D1s (commonly seen as F133 on the hardware) system-on-chip.

Last year, we saw the Allwinner D1 development board, but due to its increasing SoC cost, the manufacturer had to release a cheaper onboard chip which was later introduced as Allwinner D1s. The new system-on-chip comes with Alibaba/T-Head Xuantie C906 RISC-V core clocked at a frequency of 1GHz with integrated 64MB DDR2 memory.

Specifications of MangoPi-Nezha MQ Developer Kit

SoC: Allwinner D1s with C906 RISC-V processor core @1GHz
Memory: 64MB DDR2
Wireless connectivity: RTL8189-based Wi-Fi
USB Connectivity: USB Type-C support for USB-OTG and USB-HOST
Expansion: 2x 22-pin expansion headers
Storage: MicroSD card slot and solder points for NAND/NOR flash
Display: 15-pin Raspberry Pi DSI FPC, 40-pin RGB FPC, 6-pin capacitive touch FPC
Audio: Onboard microphone
Camera: 24-pin DVP interface
Buttons: BOOT and Reset buttons
Power supply: 5V via USB Type-C
Dimensions: 4×4 cm

When it comes to software support, the MangoPi-Nezha MQ development board runs Tina Linuz, an OpenWrt-based embedded system. To take advantage of the hardware functionalities, the board is combined with the LVGL open-source graphics library. For real-time applications, the manufacturer has also supported xboot and RT-Smart. As a high-performance microkernel operating system fills the gap between traditional real-time operating systems (RTOSs) and Linux., RT-Smart You can consider purchasing the hardware if you are new to the RISC-V hardware ecosystem.

Being an open-source project, schematics and PCB layout files are available on the official GitHub repository. As developers look for community support, the product will soon be available for crowdfunding on CrowdSupply. If you are interested in supporting the mission, consider signing up on the pre-launch product page.

Flexx2 3D Development Kit offers an improved depth-sensing performance

Posted on 23 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

pmdtechnologies announces its next-generation 3D time-of-flight (ToF) development kit, the flexx2. Thanks to the collaboration of PMD Technologies with the California-based, hardware/software specialist, Emcraft Systems, to deliver better depth-sensing performance with 38,000 3D pixels and a 56×44 degree Field-of-View.

“The flexx2 builds on the success of the now-discontinued “PicoFlexx”,

that already brought pmd’s 3D depth-sensing technology to the hands of thousands of developers worldwide”, said the Vice President of pmdtechnologies Inc., Mitchell Reifel.

“Countless exciting and industry-changing projects are built upon the flexibility and reliability of the 3D Development Kits and make use of the high-quality depth data from Infineon’s IRS2381C REAL3 Time-of-Flight Image Sensor and pmd’s powerful SDK”, he further adds.

For those who are new to the 3D ToF sensor technology, it is widely used in an industrial setup that uses high-power optical pulses to capture depth information for short distances. The distance is measured by illuminating the target object with a modulated light source such as a laser and a sensor that is sensitive to the laser’s wavelength for capturing reflected light. The time delay between the light emitted by the laser and the reflected light detected by the sensor is directly proportional to twice the distance between the camera and the object.

Specifications of Flexx2 Development Kit

Sensor type: Infineon REAL3 3D Image Sensor
Resolution: 224 x 172
Frame rate: Up to 60fps (3D frames)
Field-of-View: 56×44
Range: 0.1 to 4 m
Interface: USB 3.0 Type-C
Accuracy: <= 1% of distance (0.5 to 4 m at 5fps) and <= 2% of distance (0.1 to 1 m at 45fps)
Software: Royale SDK C/C++ based supports Matlab, DotNet, CAPI, OpenCV, OpenNI2, ROS 1+2
Dimension: 72.1×19.2×10.2 mm

The hardware is employed with IRS2381C Infineon REAL3 3D Image Sensor, designed for mobile consumer applications with a high-performance pixel array of 224×172 resolution that is sensitive to 940 nm infrared light. The single-chip design comes with Suppression of Background Illumination (SBI) circuitry in every pixel that offers enhanced performance under all environmental light conditions– from bright sunlight to dim light and shadow.

The shipment for the Flexx2 development kit is expected to begin in February 2022 with a starting price of $399. If you are a returning customer already working on pico flexx or pico monstar, you can get priority access to place an order.

Newt, a low-power open source display powered by an ESP32-S2 module

Posted on 23 February, 2022 by Tope Oluyemi

A campaign was launched on Crowdsupply for Newt, which is a battery-powered, always-on, wall-mountable display that can go online to retrieve weather, calendars, sports scores, to-do lists, quotes. Newt is powered by an ESP32-S2 microcontroller which enables you to program with Arduino, CircuitPython, MicroPython, or ESP-IDF.

About Newt, the company says:

“We consider Newt to be the next step in the evolution of low-power display boards.”

Newt is the ideal tool for makers because its Sharp’s Memory-in-Pixel (MiP) technology avoids the slow refresh times associated with E-Ink displays. Newt operates “untethered,” meaning it can be mounted on places where it will be hard for a power cord to be placed would be like on a wall, refrigerator, mirror, or dry-erase board. It comes with an optional stand, so you can mount it on desks, shelves, and nightstands.

The idea behind Newt was primarily to serve as a multi-function smart device to display weather reports, agendas, and shopping lists right there on your refrigerator. However, users have come up with additional uses like:

Home Applications:

Kitchen timer
Bedside alarm
Habit tracker
Weather station
Sports-score or news-headline display
Daily quotation, vocabulary word, bible verse, etc.

Professional Applications:

Meeting room status (occupied, available, date when last cleaned, etc.)
User-productivity (integration with project-management tools, task lists, etc.)

More Complex Applications

Some of which might require integration with third-party services:

Fitbit stats
Google calendars, to-do lists, or fitness data
Alexa to-do and shopping lists (require the development of Alexa smart skills)
Display of current traffic conditions and arrival-time estimates for work, school, etc.
Movie clips and animations

Newt features a 2.7-inch, 240 x 400-pixel MiP LCD which can deliver high-contrast, high-resolution, and low-latency content with ultra-low power consumption Reflective mode leverages ambient light to eliminate the need for a backlight. It also features a speaker/buzzer with mini class-D amplifier on DAC output A0 which can play tones or lo-fi audio clips. Newt can operate for one to two months between charges thanks to its 500 mAH LiPo battery. It features a USB Type-C connector for programming, power, and charging. Its low-quiescence voltage regulator (TOREX XC6220) is capable of providing an output 1 A of current and operating as low as 8 uA. Additional features include a JST connector for a Lithium-Ion battery, battery-charging circuity (MCP73831), and a low-battery indicator (1uA quiescence current).

Newt is open-source therefore, all design files and libraries are available for review, use, and modification. Each Newt comes with working code with the following features:

Current weather details
Hourly and daily weather forecast
Alarm
Inspirational quotes
Air-quality forecast
Habit Calendar

You only need to follow the Wi-Fi provisioning instructions (no app downloads required) to get started. For more information, visit the campaign page on Crowdsupply.

4D IMAGING RADAR LEADER VAYYAR EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT WITH NEW JAPAN OFFICE

Posted on 22 February, 2022 by mixos

Vayyar Imaging, the global leader in 4D imaging radar, is set to open a new office in Tokyo, Japan, as the company intensifies its advanced engagements with leading enterprises. Vayyar Imaging Japan LLC will spearhead the company’s continued expansion in the APAC region, primarily in the senior care and automotive industries.

The newly assembled team is comprised of experts from across the senior care, automotive and semiconductor sectors. The office will specialize in business development, system application and marketing.

Vayyar’s senior care solutions are deployed in facilities and private homes around the world, providing real-time activity monitoring that supports automatic fall detection and a wide range of behavioural insights, enabling person-centred care.

Sensors mounted on walls or ceilings constantly monitor the surroundings, delivering exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view in all conditions, including pitch darkness and even dense steam, making them ideal for use in bathrooms and bedrooms where privacy, as well as safety, is key.

The solution’s multifunctionality allows facilities to reduce the number of single-purpose sensors installed in residents’ rooms, providing rich data that creates a comprehensive view of health and wellbeing.

“Establishing an office in Japan is a vital step in our global expansion, enabling us to deepen our existing relationships with many of the world’s leading healthcare and automotive players and to redefine numerous other verticals,” said Raviv Melamed, Vayyar Co-founder and CEO. “We look forward to continuing our close collaborations with Japanese partners, improving safety using best-in-class imaging radar technology.”

Vayyar’s automotive platform enables cost-effective advanced safety applications across the In-Cabin Monitoring Systems (ICMS), ADAS/ARAS, and AV domains. Built around a high-performance radar-on-chip array of up to 48 transceivers, it delivers exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view in all road conditions, while protecting user privacy.

“We are very proud to be advancing Vayyar’s goal of providing affordable, multifunctional radar-on-chip platforms to Japan’s leading automakers and suppliers and senior care providers, which can leverage our uniquely versatile technology to protect some of society’s most vulnerable people,” Melamed added.

3V to 5V DC Output Step-Up DC-DC Converter using MAX668

Posted on 22 February, 202223 February, 2022 by mixos

The project presented here is a powerful constant-frequency, pulse-width modulating (PWM), current-mode step-up DC-DC switching regulator efficiently producing 5V from input voltages between 3V to 5V. The project can be used in a portable device that works with a battery. The module produces a peak current of up to 1A and an output voltage of 5V DC.

3V to 5V DC Output Step-Up DC-DC Converter using MAX668 – [Link]

Crocus Technology CT450 XtremeSense® TMR Sensors

Posted on 22 February, 2022 by mixos

Crocus Technology CT450 XtremeSense^® TMR Sensors are high bandwidth and low noise integrated contactless current sensors. The CT450 implements patented XtremeSense TMR technology to enable high accuracy current measurements for many consumer, enterprise, and industrial applications.

The Crocus CT450 XtremeSense TMR Sensors support eight field ranges where the CT450 senses and translates the magnetic field into a linear analog output voltage. The CT450 device features a total error output of less than ±1.0% over voltage and temperature.

The CT450 has less than 1.0µs output response time while the current consumption is about 5.0mA. The Sensors are equipped with over-field detection (OFD) circuitry to identify out-of-range fields. Additionally, the CT450 has a fault-bar (FLT) pin should over-field faults occur, then an active LOW digital signal will be activated by the CT450 to alert the microcontroller that a fault condition has occurred.

The CT450 is offered in a very low profile, industry-standard 8-lead TSSOP package that is “green” and RoHS compliant.

Features

Integrated Contactless Current/Field Sensing Ranges:
- 0mT to +8mT
- -8mT to +8mT
- 0mT to +12mT
- -12mT to +12mT
- 0mT to +20mT
- -20mT to +20mT
Linear analog output voltage
Total error output < ±1.0%, -40°C to +125°C
1 MHz Bandwidth
Response time <1.0µs
Reference voltage output for unipolar/bipolar field measurements
VOUT – VREF < 1.0% (Typical)
Low noise performance
- Detects out of range fields
8-Lead TSSOP package

more information: https://crocus-technology.com/products/ct450/