July 2020 | Vol. 52 No.
7 | ISSN-0013-516X
Contents
18 HEALTHCARE: Electronic Authentication
Of Organic Foods
24 INTERNET OF THINGS: Exploring The
Applications Of IoT
26 Artificial Intelligence: AI Insurance
Is Coming, Here’s Why
30 EDUCATION: Online Learning: An Antidote
To Uninterrupted Education Amidst
Covid-19 Crisis
32 POWER: Use Of Supercapacitors In
Defence And Transport
defence electronics
The Changing Face Of
India’s Defence Sector
In Perspective
40
INTERVIEW
49 “There Is No Machine Which
Can’t Be Made In India”
Ashok Chadda, managing director,
Powersem GmbH Germany and Powersem
Semiconductors Pvt Ltd India
50 “Everyone With A Smartphone
Now Has A Personal Satellite
Navigation System”
Jim Lin, marketing director, SkyTraq
Do-It-Yourself
51 OTP Based Wireless Smart Lock System
54 Make This Handy Zener Meter For
Faster Testing
56 Conveyor Jam Detector For Industries
58 Protect Your Appliances With This
Power-On Delay Timer
60 Automatic Hand-Wash Timer
61 Make A Simple Capacitive Touch Keyboard
With Arduino
Regulars
06 Feedback: Your Suggestions
08 Q&A: Things You Wanted To Know!
10 Tech News: Technology Updates
4 July 2020 • electronics For You
52nd Year of Publication
Since January 1969
37 TECH FOCUS: AI And ML Shifting Focus Next Issue
Back To Hardware • Understanding Cryptocurrency
43 Artificial Intelligence: AI In • Bad Users Can Fail Good
Military Service: Rules Sky, Land And Sea AI Systems
• Electronics In Education &
46 Test & Measurement: T&M Solutions Skill Development
For Satellite Systems • Cutting-Edge Gadgets For
Smart Classrooms
70 Market Survey: Growth Of 5G Market
• Diy: 9V Adaptor For Arduino
And Its Impact On Economy
76 Facts & Figures: Scheme For
Editor : Ramesh Chopra
Promotion Of MSMEs In Defence
Editorial : Editorial Secretary
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14 Hydrogen As A Fuel For Next-Gen Mobility taiwan : J.K. Media, Ph: 886-2-87726780 ext. 10
E-mail: taiwan@efy.in
15 Wind-Solar Hybrid Systems To Improve
United States : E & Tech Media
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16 Innovations Thriving In The Battle Against E-mail: usa@efy.in
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66 The IoT And AI In Defence E-mail: germany@efy.in
67 Going Green With EV Charging
67 Self-Driving Electric Vehicle For Delivery Printed, published and owned by Ramesh Chopra. Printed at
International Print-o-Pack Ltd, C-4 to C-11, Hosiery Complex, Phase-II
68 Solving Water Crisis With Air And Extension, NOIDA-201305, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, on the
Nanotechnology
69 The IoT For Digital Farming
first day of each month and published from D-87/1, Okhla Industrial
Area, Phase-1, New Delhi 110020. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved
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EFY will not be responsible for any wrong claims made by an advertiser.
Disputes, if any, will be settled in a New Delhi court only.
80 First Look: Some New Gadgets
82 DIGITAL: How Intelligent Toilets Can SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Bring Efficient Public Toilet Management Period Newstand You saarc Countries Other Countries
Year Price (`) Pay
In India (`)
Digital Print Digital Print
84 Buyers’ Guide: Some Mid-Range Five 6000 3000 US$ 50 — US$ 50 —
Smartphones With Powerful Battery Three 3600 2150 US$ 33 US$ 135 US$ 33 US$ 270
And Processor One 1200 840 US$ 12 US$ 50 US$ 12 US$ 100
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www.EFYMag.com
 FeedBack
Your suggestions
EFY GOING DIGITAL
It is very difficult to fully enjoy reading
EFY online. Being highly technical,
some articles are to be read again and
again for understanding. Without a
print version, one will lose interest
and concentration on the subject and
will get diverted to unrelated materials
available online.
Gopal Jagwani
EFY. Thanks for sharing your feed-
back! There is delay in printing some
issues, and we decided not to print
April issue, due to Covid-19 and its
effect on portal as well as courier
services.
•••
AI AND ROBOTICS: HYPE OR
REALITY
I came across your article on ‘AI and
Robotics: Hype or Reality’ published
in October 2019 issue. I really like the
way you balanced the article giving
importance to both AI and Robotics.
I am looking forward to many such
articles in the future.
Siddharth S.
EFY. Thanks for your feedback! We
are glad that you liked the article.
We will try to cover related topics in
some forthcoming issues of Electron-
ics For You as well.
•••
YOUR REQUEST
Please publish a series of articles on
programmable automation controllers
and industrial controllers.
Er. Sunil Pedgaonkar
EFY. Thanks for the request! We will
try to cover the relevant topics in
forthcoming issues.
•••
6 July 2020 • electronics For You
FM BROADCASTING
This is regarding ‘Make Your Own India’s
FM Transmitter For Broadcasting’ Electronics
Magazine
DIY project published in November
R A N K IN G A S PER
2019 issue, which is also available ELCINA-IMRB
REPORT
on your website www.electronics-
foru.com (like all other projects).
Can I use 27MHz crystal oscillator
in this circuit?
Don’t
Jose Rizal
The author Joy Mukherji replies:
Yes, replace capacitor C5 accord-
Be A
ingly for resonance at 3rd or 4th
harmonic of 27MHz (81MHz or
108MHz). Replace C5 with a trim-
mer and tune for maximum range
Loser!
and best sound output. If ISV149
is not easily available, try using
a 1N4007 or several of them in
parallel.
•••
MICROTURBINE You don’t know
This is regarding ‘Generate Power how much you
Using Microturbine’ DIY article don’t know.
published in August 2019 issue.
The microturbine hardly gener-
ates an output of 12V DC and
20mA current. Can we use any
12V DC motor to get atleast 200
Read
to 500mA?
Dr P. Chandra Shekar
The author A. Samiuddhin replies: to keep up-to-date
Thank you for taking interest with the tech world
in my article. The microturbine
used in this project generates
AC and not DC. Depending upon
the water flow, the microturbine
output could be 20V, 150mA max-
imum. Any microturbine having
a maximum output up to 40V,
3A can be used in this project.
Make sure that the microturbine
doesn’t have internal regulator. To subscribe, Scan
visit efy.in or OR This
If so, the efficiency will be com- contact us at: 011-4059660 Code
Email: support@efy.in
promised.
Also available at all leading magazine outlets
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 Q&A
Things You Wanted to Know!

Q1. What are the differences between USB 3.x and USB-C?
Anand B.

A1. You must have seen different

USB-C USB 3.x
types of Universal Serial Bus or USB
hardware. USB is supposed to be
universal, but in reality, this is not
the case because there are so many
different types of USB devices avail-
able in the market. Most people get
confused, especially with the more
recent ones such as USB 3.x and
USB-C.
USB 3.x. The USB x.x defines
the data transfer speed. The recent
USB 3.x standard is much faster than
USB 2.0 and USB 1.0. It is recom-
mended for devices like external
hard drives. You can identify USB Fig. 1: Different USB types with pin details (Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org)
3.x port or connector by its blue
colour. Many USB 3.0 ports also have an SS symbol (which and faster. It can receive and provide more power than previ-
stands for SuperSpeed). Most new computers have at least ous versions of USB. You can find it on many latest devices,
one USB 3.x port. You can use a USB 2.0 device in a USB including Apple’s MacBook. It has become the new standard
3.x port, or USB 3.x device in a USB 2.0 port, but neither for mobile devices. The biggest advantage of USB-C is that it
setup provides the extra speed benefit. The pin details of is reversible, and so, it can be plugged in either up or down
the USB3.0 connector are shown in Fig. 1. direction. Male plugs of USB-C are found on cables and adap-
USB-C. Formally known as USB Type-C, it is a 24-pin tors, while female receptacles are mounted on host devices
USB double-sided connector. USB-C is smaller, reversible, and adaptors.

Q2. What is zero PCB or veroboard mentioned in your DIY articles?

Alok Mathur

A2. Zero PCB is basically a general-purpose printed

circuit board (PCB), also known as perfboard or
DOT PCB. It is a thin rigid copper sheet with holes
pre-drilled at standard intervals across a grid with
2.54mm (0.1-inch) spacing between holes. Each hole
is encircled by a round or square copper pad so that
component lead can be inserted into the hole and
soldered around the pad without short-circuiting the
nearby pads and other leads. For connecting the lead
of component with another lead, solder these together
or join these using a suitable conducting wire. Fig. 2: Typical zero PCB Fig. 3: Typical veroboard
Veroboard or stripboard is also a general- (Credit: www.roboelements.com) (Credit: www.tubesandmore.com)
purpose PCB characterised by a 2.54mm regular
(rectangular) grid of holes, with parallel strips of copper ish company Vero Technologies Ltd and Canadian company
cladding running in one direction across one side of the Pixel Print Ltd.
board. This general-purpose PCB is known by the name Both zero PCB and veroboard are popular among hobbyists,
of the original product, Veroboard, a trademark of Brit- beginners, and students for rapid prototyping and project works.

Answers compiled by Sani Theo, technical editor. Letters and questions for publication may be addressed to Editor, Electronics For You, D-87/1, Okhla Industrial Area,
Phase 1, New Delhi 110020 (e-mail: editsec@efy.in) and should include name and address of the sender.

8 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU www.EFYMag.com

 Tech News
Technology Updates

New AI tool turns low-pixel faces into realistic images

Researchers at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina
have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can turn
blurry and unrecognisable images of people’s faces into perfect
computer-generated portraits. The method, called PULSE,
searches through AI-generated examples of high-resolution
faces to match the ones that look similar to the input image
when compressed to the same size.
Representational image
“While the researchers focused on faces as a proof of con-
cept, the same technique could, in theory, take low-resolution
shots of almost anything and create sharp, realistic-looking
pictures, with applications ranging from medicine and micros-
copy to astronomy and satellite imagery,” says co-author Sachit
Menon from the Duke University.
Instead of starting with a low-resolution image and slowly
adding detail, PULSE traverses a high-reso-
lution natural image manifold, searching for
images that downscale to the original low-res-
olution image. The team used a tool in machine
learning called ‘generative adversarial network’
or GAN, which are two neural networks trained
on the same data set of photos.
One network comes up with AI-created
human faces that mimic the ones it was trained
on, while the other takes this output and
decides if it is convincing enough to be mis-
taken for the real thing. The system can convert
a 16x16 pixel image of a face to 1024×1024
pixels in a few seconds. Details such as pores,
wrinkles, and wisps of hair that are impercep-
tible in the low-pixel photos become crisp and
clear in the computer-generated versions.

Telcos increase vigilance as government warns of phishing attacks

Telecom companies have increased their vigilance of networks oversee disbursement of government fiscal aid. The attackers
and systems following the government’s recent warning on are expected to send malicious e-mails under the pretext of
large-scale phishing attacks in the coming days against individ- local authorities that are in charge of dispensing government-
uals and businesses, where attackers may use Covid-19 as bait. funded Covid-19 support initiatives.
In a security advisory to its business-to-business
customers, Airtel says it is monitoring the situation on a
real-time basis and has upgraded the security operations
centre to a higher threat-level status and promised to
send daily dashboards to customers.
Citing various reports, the company warns that cyber-
attacks can be initiated by exploiting various vectors
such as e-mail/phishing attack, suspicious webpages,
internet links, unpatched/un-updated systems connected
on the network, or identity theft (poor ID management).
A source from Jio says that the company has raised its
vigilance levels and is keeping a close watch on traffic.
Recently, India’s cybersecurity nodal agency, CERT-
In issued an advisory warning of the potential phishing
attacks that could impersonate government agencies, Telecom companies have increased vigilance following the government’s recent warning
departments and trade bodies which have been tasked to (Credit: www.pixabay.com)

10 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Tech News
Ultra-thin film turns smartwatch into health monitoring system
Researchers have developed a thin adhesive film that could
upgrade a consumer smartwatch into a powerful health-
monitoring system. The system looks for chemical indicators
found in sweat to give a real-time snapshot of what’s happen-
ing inside the body. According to the study, published in the
journal of Science Advances, the researchers have engineered
a disposable, double-sided film that attaches to the underside
of a smartwatch.
The film can detect molecules such as metabolites and
certain nutrients that are present in body sweat in very tiny
amounts. They also built a custom smartwatch and an accom-
panying app to record data. 
According to the researchers, the skin-touching side of the
adhesive film collects and analyses the chemical makeup of
droplets of sweat. The watch-facing side turns those chemical
signals into electrical ones that can be read, processed, and
then displayed on the smartwatch.
While the team designed a custom smartwatch and app
to work with the system, the research team says the concept
could someday be applied to popular models of smartwatches.

Google now shows Covid-19 testing centres in India

Google has partnered with information and guidance needed before using their services. 
the Indian Council of Medical The listing also shows the government-mandated require-
Research (ICMR) and MyGov to ments, which include calling the national or state helplines
help people find Covid-19 test- before heading out to get tested, carrying a doctor’s prescrip-
ing centres in India. The tech tion (referral required), testing restrictions (tests are limited
company has introduced a new to certain patients) and information about whether the lab is
testing tab on its Covid-19 relat- government or private. 
ed search. This tab provides the Tapping the ‘learn more’ link leads to more information
location of listed testing centres from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
close to the user. Along with According to the company, currently, the search has over 700
the location, it also shows key testing labs listed on Search, Assistant, and Maps spanning
more than 300 cities. The new feature is currently available in
Google has introduced a new testing tab on its
Covid-19 related search, which provides the location English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada,
of listed testing centres (Credit: Google) Marathi, and Gujarati.

Low-cost emergency ventilator to help fight Covid-19 crisis

Fitbit has developed a low-cost ventilator to help save lives This stand is big enough to fit various sizes of oxygen tanks.
during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ventilator, called Fitbit The team at Fitbit is working on improving Fitbit Flow by
Flow, is a low-cost, high-quality, and easy-to-use automatic including a high-resolution add-on display, for viewing the
resuscitator, developed with the objective of providing ventila- system’s status and pressure waveforms.
tion during any emergency.
Fitbit has received a nod from the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) for using
the product during the Covid-19 pandemic
in situations where conventional ventila-
tors are not available. Inspired by the MIT
E-Vent Design Toolbox, the ventilator has
been developed based on the inputs from
clinicians looking after Covid-19 patients
at Oregon Health and Science Hospital and
Mass General Brigham Center.
It is easy to use and doesn’t require
trained professionals to operate. This ena-
bles more volunteers to monitor a patient,
given that trained staff supply is strained
at the moment. The mechanical ventila-
tor is compact and made from laser-cut
aluminium. It can sit on a tabletop or a
stand with wheels for ease in mobility. Fitbit Flow (Credit: Fitbit)

12 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Tech News
Intel launches 3D Lakefield chips for foldable and ultra-thin laptops
Intel has launched new hybrid processors, which have been package area for up to 47 per cent smaller board size and
codenamed, Lakefield. These chipsets are made for next-gen extended battery life. This will enable original equipment
PCs with foldable and dual-screen devices of the future.  manufacturers (OEMs) a more flexible form factor across
The Intel Core i5 and i3 Lakefield processors with Intel single, dual, and foldable screen devices. 
hybrid technology are built for intense workloads and fore- The company claims that these will be the first Intel
ground applications while balancing power and performance Core processors to deliver as low as 2.5mW of standby
optimisation for background tasks.  system-on-chip (SoC) power—an up to 91 per cent reduc-
The Lakefield chipsets are completely compatible tion compared to Y-series processors for more time between
with Windows 10 application in up to a 56 per cent smaller charges.

AI-based system to track social distancing in public places

Researchers at IIT-Kharagpur have developed a cyber-physical
system based on artificial intelligence for monitoring social
distancing in public places. The team, under the leadership of
professor Debashish Chakravarty and professor Aditya Bando-
padhyay, has engineered a low-cost device which can detect
the gap between individuals, a spokesperson of IIT-KGP said.
“The device will play a proximity alert sound through
audio output, whenever any violation of the social distancing
norms occurs. It captures images of the field view and com-
putes the distance as per criteria set by the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare,” a member of the research group says.
The researchers have focused on the ease of deployment of
such a device in remote places and curtailing the cost by using
inexpensive and easily accessible hardware materials. Students
have come up with the device leveraging readily-available
hardware while the lockdown was in place. The system has
been successfully tested by installing three prototypes of the
device within the IIT-Kharagpur campus.

Now digitise your dog into a computer game

Researchers from the University of Bath have developed data can then be transferred onto a digital character for use in
a motion capture technology that enables you to digitise films or computer games.
your dog without a motion capture suit and using only one However, these technologies—particularly when applying
camera. them to animals—require expensive equipment and dozens of
Motion capture technology is widely used in the entertain- markers to be attached. Computer scientists at CAMERA at the
ment industry, where actors wear a suit dotted with white University of Bath collected the movement data of a range of
markers, which are then precisely tracked in 3D space by mul- dogs to produce a model that could predict the poses of dogs
tiple cameras taking images from different angles. Movement from images taken by a single RGBD camera.
Wearing special doggie motion
capture suits with markers, the dogs
were filmed under the supervision
of their BCDH handlers doing a
range of movements as part of their
enrichment activities.
They used this data to create
a computer model that can accu-
rately predict and replicate the
poses of dogs when they’re filmed
without wearing the motion capture
suits. This model allows 3D digital
information for new dogs—their
shape and movement—to be cap-
tured without markers and expen-
sive equipment and just using a
single RGBD camera. While normal
digital cameras record the red,
green and blue (RGB) colour in each
pixel in the image, RGBD cameras
Researchers from the University of Bath have developed motion capture technology that can digitise your dog also record the distance from the
(Credit: University of Bath) camera for each pixel.

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 13


Hydrogen As A Fuel For
1 Next-Gen Mobility 2 To Improve Grid Stability
HYDROGEN AS A FUEL
1 FOR NEXT-GEN MOBILITY
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are more efficient than a combustion engine as no greenhouse gases
are emitted. However, the process of generating hydrogen should also be green. Commonly used
processes for separating hydrogen from other substances include steam reforming of methane,
gasification, and electrolysis
H
ydrogen has been used as a
source of clean energy through-
out history, from spacecraft
and submarines to refineries and
forklifts. When vehicles are powered
by hydrogen fuel cells, the only by-
product is water, which is emitted in
the form of pure water vapour, and
hence no greenhouse gases are emit-
ted. In addition to hydrogen’s abun-
dance in nature (as part of water and
atmospheric gas), hydrogen-powered
vehicles are more efficient than a
combustion engine since there are no
moving parts.
For zero net emissions, the process
of generating hydrogen should also
be green. Commonly used processes
for separating hydrogen from other
substances include steam reforming
14 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU
Smart World
Wind-Solar Hybrid Systems Innovations Thriving In The
3 Battle Against Coronavirus
(Credit: https://afdc.energy.gov)
of methane, gasification, and elec-
trolysis. Hydrogen is also a byproduct
of many industrial processes where it
is often treated as waste.
In the most popular process known
as electrolysis, an electric current is
passed through water to separate its
primary constituents—hydrogen and
oxygen. Electricity is not generated
from fossil fuels but produced from
sources like wind, solar, and hydro
energies to mitigate carbon footprints.
Hydrogen binds to most other
substances and is a flammable gas.
So, it is stored in liquid form in a fuel
tank for ease of transportation until it
is needed by the fuel cell stack (col-
lection of electrodes). The amount of
energy stored is decided by the size
of the hydrogen fuel tank. Besides,
Automated
4 Food Cooking
in gaseous form, costs for compres-
sion, cooling, transport, and storage
of hydrogen differ. Other key compo-
nents of a hydrogen vehicle include
electric traction motor(s), thermal
system, auxiliary battery, traction bat-
tery pack, among others.
Manufacturers define the power of
the vehicle by the size of the electric
motor. Since the hydrogen engines are
powered by an electric motor, these
vehicles are also known as fuel cell
electric vehicles (FCEVs). Power is
generated when hydrogen inside fuel
cells in vehicles undergoes reverse
electrolysis. In this process, hydrogen
present in tanks reacts with oxygen in
the air to produce electrical energy,
water, and heat. The electricity thus
produced can either directly flow
to the electric motor, which in turn
is converted to mechanical energy
to drive the vehicle’s wheels, or the
energy can be stored in the battery
pack, depending on the requirement.
The auxiliary battery is mainly present
to start the vehicle, and the thermal
system keeps the operating tempera-
ture range in check.
Unlike battery electric vehicles
(BEVs) that require recharging from
an external source, FCEVs produce
electricity themselves and use a small
and lightweight battery for storage.
The main benefits of this propulsion
technology include no engine noise,
quick charging time of less than five
minutes, and longer range as com-
pared to fully electric vehicles, regard-
www.EFYMag.com

less of environmental conditions.
In the Asian market, companies
like Hyundai and Toyota have taken
an interest in the field. Even world-
wide, manufacturers like Audi and
BMW are already working on hydro-
gen vehicles. Numerous experts are
expecting a lot from this alternative,
while others still remain skeptical.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles require
high-pressure compression to work,
which is difficult to achieve due to the
low density of hydrogen. Also, there are
a limited number of refueling stations
that exist in just a few countries (like
Germany and the US) due to lack of
sufficient manufacturing and demand.
2 Wind-Solar Hybrid Systems
to improve grid stability
Using renewable energy sources like wind and solar for power generation has helped in
reducing carbon footprints and made power available to non-electrified remote areas. A hybrid
power system that combines the benefits of both sources can improve the reliability and stability
of the grid to deliver non-intermittent electric power
S
ustainable power generation
through renewable energy,
instead of conventional fossil
fuels, has not only helped in reducing
carbon footprints but also made power
available to non-electrified remote
areas. While choosing green energy
options for a region, several factors
like geographic variability, economic
feasibility, and so on need to be con-
sidered.
For complete reliance on renew-
able energy like solar or wind, it must
be available in all seasons. However,
this is not the actual case due to unpre-
dictable weather. For example, solar
energy cannot be harnessed to its
full potential in monsoon, and wind
speeds may be highest in one season
and not so in others. In areas where
more than one renewable energy like
wind or solar is available, a hybrid
power system that combines their
benefits can improve the reliability
and stability of the grid.
Wind-solar hybrid systems inter-
face wind turbine generators and solar
panels to generate power in a decen-
tralised mode, typically in the range of
1kW to 10kW. The standalone system
is connected to a charge controller that
www.EFYMag.com
The low demand for hydrogen vehicles
stems from the fact that these are quite
expensive to buy as well as use. The
overall efficiency is almost half of what
BEV has due to losses in hydrogen pro-
duction through electrolysis.
New techniques can help in allevi-
ating risks regarding the safety of such
a vehicle. For instance, researchers at
Northwestern University in the US,
in collaboration with the Colorado
School of Mines and National Insti-
tute for Standards and Technology,
have recently come up with novel
adsorbent materials that are built from
organic molecules and metal ions or
clusters and can store hydrogen at
can handle both systems for charg-
ing the battery so that energy can be
used whenever needed. A compatible
inverter converts DC output to AC
for purposes like power distribution,
powering appliances like refrigerator
and oven, and so on. In case of on-grid
hybrid systems, the battery is charged
by the grid when both solar and wind
are not available.
These systems can be installed
on rooftops if size permits. The cost
varies based on the ratio of wind and
solar components and maybe even
cheaper than a solar system. The size
Smart World
much lower pressures.
It is also crucial to develop
advanced infrastructure to refuel
these vehicles and shorten transpor-
tation distances and make policies to
increase their adoption. In the US, the
California Energy Commission (CEC)
and the state’s Air Resources Board
provide subsidies for new hydrogen
car buyers. South Korea plans to
expand the country’s hydrogen refu-
elling infrastructure to 660 pumps by
2030. Completely switching to such
clean energies will go a long way in
keeping the air clean and ensuring
sustainable mobility.
—Ayushee Sharma
of the battery storage also gets
reduced, which makes it easier
to handle.
The generation of power
from wind energy is done by
wind turbines (commonly verti-
cal or horizontal axis), whose
blades rotate with wind blow-
ing within the range of defined
cut in (usually, a minimum of
4-5m/s) and cut off speeds, cou-
pled with generators. The axis
of rotation of the turbines must
align with the wind direction.
Solar power systems have
solar panels, which consist of
photovoltaic (PV) cells that utilise
sunlight to generate electrical energy.
Factors like sunlight intensity and
duration, as well as cleanliness of
panels and their orientation, need to
be considered for efficient solar panel
arrangement. Some arrangements
also involve moving solar panels in an
accurate direction by tracking the sun
to get more light.
Hybrid systems are often used for
small loads. In the residential sector,
there has been significant adoption—
particularly in single-family homes,
luxury apartments, and large multi-
electronics For You • July 2020 15
 Smart World
family buildings—to fulfil a definite
set of power requirements. In commer-
cial and industrial sectors, these can
be used in places with chronic power
shortage, or where the grid has not
reached—like rural offices, schools or
small hotels for basic needs—as only
a few loads like fans and lights have
to be powered. Due to this, standalone
hybrid systems are generally preferred
over on-grid systems.
Other application areas include
military and railways. Indian Rail-
ways, for example, is already issuing
tenders to implement wind-solar
hybrid projects.
In spite of the potential of hybrid
systems, a high initial investment,
considerable duration for payback,
3 Innovations thriving in the battle
against coronavirus
Amidst the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, existing technologies and innovations like
robots and drones are becoming common. These are being used for sanitisation, awareness,
adherence to social distancing rules, and to deliver medical supplies
U
nforeseen situations call for
unforeseen measures. Such is
the case of the Covid-19 pan-
demic, where the urgency of response
has resulted in a host of innovations
and proactive measures through col-
laborations among universities, indus-
tries, startups, and the government.
Existing technologies like robots
and drones are becoming common.
Robots are being used round the
clock in hospitals to provide medica-
tion and meals to patients. In office
entrances and public places, these
are being used for sanitisation and
awareness. Drones are being used to
monitor adherence to social distancing
rules, do temperature screening using
thermal imaging, and deliver medical
supplies
Big data and availability of digital
resources on government platforms
are not only helping citizens but also
those developing solutions by serving
as an authentic source of information.
In South Korea, artificial intelligence
(AI) has been used to develop test-
ing kits and other tools. For example,
VUNO‘s Chest X-Ray AI image support
decision tool uses an algorithm to clas-
16 July 2020 • electronics For You
and uncertainty about their applicabil-
ity makes people skeptical regarding
their viability, thereby decreasing
the rate of adoption and implementa-
tion in various countries. To bring a
positive change, several companies
in India are working in the area of
wind-solar hybrid, including Super-
nova Technologies Private Limited,
Zenith Solar Systems, Alpha Wind-
mills, Unitron Energy System Pvt
Ltd, and ReGen Powertech Pvt Ltd.
The Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy (MNRE) has introduced the
National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy to
promote large-scale wind-solar hybrid
power projects through measures
like encouragement to technological
advancements and better utilisation
sify intensive care patients by using
X-ray images and can examine the
lung within just three seconds.
Singapore, which in spite of being
a small country is densely populated
and relies on an open economy, has
been able to manage well till now and
kept its Covid-19 cases under control.
Technological innovations and modi-
fication of pre-existing solutions to
cater to the needs in this scenario have
played a vital role in ensuring this.
For example, an automated ther-
mal screening device iThermo scans
people’s temperature as they walk
by at IHiS’ office and St. Andrew’s
Community Hospital in Singapore and
alerts staff when a person with a high
body temperature is detected. People
don’t have to stop in queues, and
frontline workers have lower chances
of contact with the undetected person.
The benefits of using such technolo-
gies include a lower risk of infection
and reduced need for manpower
in places like hospitals, according
to luxresearchinc.com.  Initiative (NIPI) and Wadhwani Insti-
In India, innovations that can deal
with multiple patients at a time are
helping in dealing with the situation,
of transmission infrastructure.
Outside India too, various ini-
tiatives are being taken to boost the
sector. Gamesa, Blue Pacific Solar
Products, Grupo Dragon, and Alter-
nate Energy Company are some of the
popular names in this field. Last year,
the Kenyan Investment Authority and
Meru County Government entered
into a Memorandum of Understand-
ing (MoU) with Windlab and Eurus
Energy for the development of the
Meru County Energy Park, African
continent’s first large-scale wind-
solar-storage hybrid project. The aim
is to produce up to 80MW of clean
energy to power homes, and construc-
tion is expected to begin next year.
—Ayushee Sharma
given the huge population of the coun-
try. One such example is Telemetric
Patient Monitoring System by Cardiac
Design Labs that allows healthcare
workers and volunteers to monitor the
vitals (like respiration, body tempera-
ture, and blood pressure) of multiple
patients at a time from a central loca-
tion by attaching wearable devices to
their chests. Besides hospitals, it can
also be used in homes, hotels, schools,
and the like.
A large population of India lives
in rural areas. Numerous startups are
developing economical and portable
ventilators for critical care owing to
their shortage that can be deployed
in both urban and rural areas of the
country after medical regulatory
approval.
AI and machine learning (ML)
are playing a key role in helping state
governments. For instance, in April,
Bihar permitted the development of an
AI-powered tool through a partnership
between Norway India Partnership
tute of AI that can determine potential
patients through cough-sound analy-
sis. In Andhra Pradesh, an ML-based
www.EFYMag.com

automated number plate recognition
system has been deployed by L&T to
check for violations such as the speed
of vehicles or distance travelled by
individuals from their homes.
Even mobile apps are being devel-
oped that cater to people with older
phones, who do not own smart-
phones. For example, GoK-Direct app,
developed by the Kerala government
in partnership with Qkopy, sends noti-
fications and SMS regarding Covid-19
4 Automated
Food Cooking
With the introduction of advanced technologies such as cooking robots,
people can enjoy hassle-free cooking and save considerable time. The goal
of using such innovations is to cook hygienic food at a quicker pace
I
n this fast-paced world, after a tiring
job of cooking, you barely get time
for anything else. While ordering
food on a daily basis can affect your
health, hiring a perfect maid can also
be a difficult task. However, with the
introduction of advanced technologies
such as cooking robots and machines,
you can enjoy hassle-free cooking and
save considerable time and effort.
These robots and machines work
through robotic arms with multiple
joints, numerous actuated degrees
of freedom, tactile sensors, and
sophisticated control systems. These
technologies feature the best of indus-
try’s software, robotics, and artificial
intelligence (AI) skills with top-tier
culinary expertise. The major players
in restaurants, industries, airlines,
kitchen developers, and even chef
training schools are also looking to
deploy these new innovations.
The goal is not to automate away
humans entirely but to automate the
portion of the restaurant experience
that can be done better, faster, and be
more cost-efficient with machines.
The following are four smart auto-
mated cooking machines:
Euphotic Delight Cooking
Machine. What’s so smart about it?
Well, the machine by Euphotic Lab
starts cooking food of your choice on
one touch of a button or through an
app command. It has the capability of
www.EFYMag.com
updates and travel information in both
English and Malayalam to masses with
older phones.
Both the central and state gov-
ernments in India are working on
crowdsourcing ideas and mapping
innovations in the country for funding
promising ones. For instance, C-CAMP
Covid-19 Innovations Deployment
Accelerator or C-CIDA was launched
in March to search for innovations
that could be deployed immediately
cooking a variety of dishes, tailored
according to your taste and preference.
You just need to prepare a vegetable
plate at night, store it in the fridge and
load the plate into the device before
heading to work. You can access this
automated cooking machine from any-
where via an app to give commands to
cook food. On arriving home, you will
get fresh and healthy homemade food.
It can cook almost all Indian recipes
like Indian curries, rice dishes, samb-
har, poha, upma, and many more. The
most exciting part is that your mother
can teach it different recipes through
live camera feed.
Moley Robotic Kitchen. It is an
advanced, fully functional robot that
cooks with the same speed, skill,
and sensitivity of a master chef. The
Moley Robotic Kitchen has an inbuilt
library of recipes from around the
world. You just need to prepare a
plate with ingredients, give a com-
mand via the app or use the touch-
screen, and let the robot prepare a
delicious meal. You can also down-
load a recipe and cook yourself.
Creator Burger-Making Robot.
This robot features around 350 sen-
sors and twenty microcomputers to
produce the best, freshest, and locally
sourced cheeseburger for just six
dollars. The machine is also capable
of making multiple kinds of burgers,
with a vastly different taste, ingredi-
Smart World
or in the near future based on factors
like feasibility, scientific validity, and
scope of impact. Innovation categories
include screening, vaccines, thera-
peutics, public health, diagnostics,
containment strategies, and much
more. Such initiatives need to be taken
because at a time when the economy is
a major concern, it is crucial to invest
only in technology that is necessary
and not just jump onto the bandwagon.
—Ayushee Sharma
ents, and condiment combinations.
It is a well-programmed robot that
can cook food faster than people.
Touchscreens and mobile ordering cut
down on long lines and clumsy inter-
actions with cashiers. This robot helps
humans to focus on creating better
recipes and tastier food while main-
taining cheaper bills for customers.
It is a fully automated, end-to-end
burger assembly line running com-
pletely on codes. It uses computer
vision and other AI features to operate
a grill. On completion, a human server
takes the burger out, inspects it for
quality, and preps it neatly on a plate.
RoboChef. This fully automated
robotic kitchen can cook 800+ reci-
pes, powered by IoT, robotics, and AI.
RoboChef solves your food wastage
problems through precise measuring
cups and sensor fusion technology.
You can record or customise a recipe
and cook it whenever you like. You just
need to choose a recipe from the app
or RoboChef control screen, load the
ingredients, and select start cooking. It
has zero CO2 emissions and 24/7 moni-
toring. It provides intelligent, hygienic,
and predictive maintenance.
Here are a few of the countless
advantages of automated cooking
robots: save time, consistent, safe to
use, more hygienic, trustworthy, and
personalised.
—Deepshikha Shukla
electronics For You • July 2020 17
 Healthcare

Electronic Authentication
Of Organic Foods
The availability of adulterated food products in the market has led to a number of health
problems. In response to this, people are now moving towards the use of organic food products,
which are naturally produced, safe, healthy, and of higher quality. In addition, several new
electronic methods have been devised to ensure proper labelling of these organic products

(Credit: https://foodrevolution.org)

I
Dr S.S. Verma
is professor at
Department of Physics,
Sant Longowal Institute
of Engineering and
Technology, Sangrur,
Punjab
n the present times, human health is
degrading fast due to available reasons
such as dependency on technology,
lack of hard work, and adulterated food
products available in the market.
Adulteration of food products (whether
raw or cooked) takes place at every level—
be it cultivation, production, marketing,
or consumer levels. People are therefore
getting attracted towards organic food
products, whose market is steadily increas-
ing worldwide. Consumers want to use
organic food products as they believe
these are naturally produced, safe, healthy,
and of higher quality. Organic food products
are grown without using pesticides and
weedicides, which can affect the chemical
composition of organic food products.
Organic food and its labelling
Organic food products are produced by
methods that comply with the specific stand-
ards of organic farming but may vary world-
wide. Private and government agencies are
regulating the production and processing
of organic products by restricting the use of

18 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Healthcare
OrganaDx acts as a preliminary tester before food products go to testing labs (Credit: www.mydxlife.com)
certain pesticides, weedicides, and fer-
tilisers in the farming methods as well
as the use of irradiation, industrial
solvents, or synthetic food additives.
The labelling of organic food
products is the need of the hour to
strengthen consumers’ trust. Organic
products often have a number of
labels on them depending on the
place of their origin and testing, but
the USDA (United States Department
of Agriculture) organic label is the
only one that’s federally certified by
accredited agents. Here are some of
the general standards fixed for the
production and processing of food
products, which can then be labelled
or certified as organic:
• Food products are grown and
processed according to the guidelines
based on several factors such as soil
quality, animal raising practices, pest
and weed control, and use of additives
• Producers rely on natural sub-
stances and physical, mechanical, or
biologically based farming methods
• Product is assigned as organic
if it is grown on soil that has used no
prohibited substances (pesticides,
weedicides, and fertilisers) for three
years prior to harvest
• Similarly, regarding organic
meat, the regulations require that
animals are raised in living conditions
accommodating their natural behav-
iour, fed hundred per cent organic
feed and forage, and not administered
antibiotics or hormones
• Regarding processed multi-
20 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU
ingredient foods, the organic stand-
ards specify additional regulations
prohibiting artificial preservatives,
colours, or flavours and require that
their ingredients are organic
• No organic food is grown or
handled using genetically modified
organisms
A comparison between organic
and conventional food products
With only some recognised differences
between nutrient and anti-nutrient
contents of organically and conven-
tionally produced food, the variable
nature of food production, shipping,
storage, and handling it is difficult
to generalise the results. Moreover,
from the perspective of science and
consumers, there is not enough evi-
dence to support the claims that eating
organic food is safer or healthier in
comparison to conventional food.
Even the several claims suggesting
that organic food tastes better are not
supported by tests. Further, organic
farming has higher production costs
and lower yields, and thus higher
consumer prices as compared to con-
ventional food.
But still, the demand for organic
food is high as consumers are con-
cerned about their personal health
and environment. Becoming familiar
with the organic label and understand-
ing its claim empower consumers to
make informed decisions about the
food they purchase. Consumers can
look for the identity of the certifier on
a packaged product for verifying that
the organic product meets organic
standards. However, some people are
always trying to sell conventional food
as organic to earn more money.
Authentication methods
The consumer’s interest in organic
foods is increasing, and so is the need
for robust analytical tools for their
authenticate labelling and certifica-
tion as organic. The certification of
food products as ‘organic’ is protected
by laws in every country and can be
used by producers who have received
official certification according to
standards. In some countries, organic
food production is being developed
as a self-regulated industry. The food
products marketed as organic are to be
produced in a way that complies with
organic standards set by national gov-
ernments and international organic
industry trade organisations.
On these lines, currently, the
European Union, the United States,
Canada, Japan, and many other
countries require producers to obtain
special certification based on govern-
ment-defined standards to market
food as organic. Products are tested
for authenticity before being certified
as organic. This certification acts as
a guarantee to consumers that the
organic food items have been pro-
duced and processed without the use
of pesticides and chemical fertilisers
and do not contain any contaminant.
There are different biomarkers/
analytical approaches available for
the authentication of organic produce.
Services of organic food testing labo-
ratories are often utilised to analyse
organic foods for their nutrition con-
tent and for the added health benefits
they might claim. Food testing assures
consumers that the products they are
purchasing are authentically organic.
Food Safety and Standards Author-
ity of India (FSSAI) has recently
operationalised the Food Safety and
Standards (Organic Foods) Regulation,
2017 so that the food standards and
safety are maintained. Food testing
laboratories provide these services
to ensure that organic food produc-
tions, as well as processed products,
are free of chemical and microbial
contaminants. Before certifying food
items, the certifying authorities like
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 Healthcare
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
and Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) India also
need analysis reports from organic food testing labora-
tories stating that organic foods contain no residues of YOU CAN NOW
SETANUP
pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics, etc.
The complete compliance with regulations in mark-
ing food products as organic is not strictly monitored
due to the hand and glove approach between the regu-
lation enforcement agencies and producers. Therefore
non-organic foods are often being falsely labelled and
marketed as organic foods. There are several chemical EFY-CERTIFIED
SKILL
and electronic methods in use for the authentication of
organic foods, but taking into consideration the easy

DEVELOPMENT
handling and non-invasive nature of electronic meth-
ods, this article only highlights the growth in electronic
authentication of organic foods.
CENTRE IN YOUR
Electronic authentication
Currently, there is an increase in consumer awareness
about the quality and authenticity of the food. With
INSTITUTION
ever-increasing health problems at present, a growing In Partnership with EFY
number of consumers are willing to pay extra for fruits,
vegetables, and other food items labelled organic, but
whether they’re getting what the label claims is another
matter. Now scientists studying conventional and
organic foods are devising new ways, in general, and
electronic methods, in particular, to make sure farms are
labelling their products appropriately, which could help
prevent organic food frauds and cheating of consumers.
Nowadays, for food analysis, electronic sensors are used
because they require less time and operate at a lower
cost per analysis than other techniques.
1. Authenticating supplier’s identity and data on
organic food products. Organic food product supplier’s
digital authentication or e-authentication may be used
when referring to the electronic authentication process
that confirms or certifies a person’s identity and work.
In a time, when fraud and identity theft have become
rampant, electronic authentication can be a more secure EFY-CERTIFIED

Skill DEVELOPMENT
method of verifying the identity of the supplier.
There are various e-authentication methods that
can be used to authenticate a supplier’s identity as CENTRE
well as data of organic food products ranging from a
Referred to as ESDC, the Centre will help
password to higher levels of security that utilise multi-
students improve their hands-on skills,
factor authentication (MFA). When used in conjunction
make exciting projects of their own and
with an electronic signature, it can provide evidence of understand the latest technologies
whether data about organic food products received/
reported has been tampered with after being signed by
its original sender.
For more details, please call: Shyam (+91-8800100761)
Under electronic authentication, a quick response email: efyenq@efy.in or visit: https://efymag.com/ESDC
code, a type of 2D bar code is used to provide easy
access to information with the help of a smartphone ESDC’s New Partners
or QR scanner. Information like authentication code,
grower code, name, location, contact number, Face-
book URL, production date, expiry date, and regulatory
authority URL about authentic organic growers can be
embedded on QR code that can be tracked easily at no
cost. The model of adopting a QR code-based labelling
mechanism for organic produces drastically better trust-
worthiness among organic consumers.

www.EFYMag.com electronics FOR YOU • JULY 2020 21

 Healthcare
2. Electronic food analyser. Imme-
diate testing is important instead of
sending the food items for analysis
to expensive food testing labs and
waiting for results. For this, we need
electronic devices that we can use on
our own to authenticate contaminated
food products. OrganaDx (developed
by MyDx, Inc., USA) acts as a prelimi-
nary tester before food products go to
testing labs.
It detects harmful chemicals in
food within minutes. The analyser
offers one of the most practical food
quality testing options for consumers
today. It is a battery-operated hand-
held electronic analyser for consum-
ers that contains a sensor to test for
certain pesticides and helps to verify
the safety of cannabis plants, fruits,
and vegetables.
OrganaDx is the most practical
food quality tester that allows detect-
ing pesticides in food, ensuring that
we do not unknowingly consume
potentially dangerous cancer-causing
pesticides at unsafe levels. It also
allows testing of food quality for heavy
metals to see whether it is safe for
consumption.
The device is about the size of two
iPhone 5s stacked together that fit
into the palm of a hand. It has a small
chamber where the sample is put to
have a complete analysis of various
chemicals in it. The analyser is con-
nected via Bluetooth to a smartphone
app, which people can use to report
their data. The data will get shared
(but information about the person
who enters the data will be hidden) so
that others can also benefit.
3. Electronic noses and tongues.
Adulteration of food products due to
use of pesticides, weedicides, and fer-
tilisers during production, and use of
additives on the way to consumers is
one of the grave health risks. The con-
cern for the quality of food products
is relevant for producers, distributors,
retailers, consumers, and national
governments.
The electronic tongue and nose
in the food industry authenticate
tests of the different groups of food
products. This is a rapid and pow-
erful technique, which requires no
special sample preparation to deter-
mine the quality of a product for the
determination of food authenticity,
22 July 2020 • electronics For You
including adulteration. The use of
these devices involves electronic
products of advanced chemical and
physical sciences combined with
intuitive integration of microproces-
sors, advanced bioinformatics, and
statistics.
The tests are based on voltam-
metric, bio-electronic, and piezoelec-
tric platforms made from a variety
of components. Electronic tongue
or nose makes use of components
based on the use of nanoparticles,
enzyme biosensors, heavy metals,
graphite-epoxy composites, metal
oxide semiconductors, microe-
lectrodes, microfluidic channels,
pre-manufactured gas sensors,
redox enzymes, and others as ideal
resources for understanding and
utilising their power in food science.
The versatility of electronic devices
lies with their capability to analyse
multiple food items.
4. Blockchain and organic food.
To ensure whether or not we are con-
suming authentic chemical-free food
produce calls the need for a technol-
ogy solution that can help resolve
issues in one of the most effective,
trusted, regulated, and consumer-
driven food systems in the world. A
new system to electronically certify
organic products and ingredients has
come into force, promising to tighten
traceability, fight fraud, and collect
reliable data on organic trade. The
e-system (blockchain) tracks the
movement of food products across
the world. This aims to reduce fraud
risks by providing greater transpar-
ency in the supply of organic prod-
ucts to consumers.
The blockchain was born with
cryptocurrencies but is now growing
in every sector where transactions
take place. The blockchain is the
technological basis of a platform in
which those who participate in the
supply chain interact with each other.
It is an ecosystem in which from the
suppliers and growers of organic
seeds to commercial operators and
certified processing companies, all
are connected at different levels.
Blockchain—a distributed ledger
technology offers the much-required
traceability and transparency in an
otherwise complex food supply chain
by preventing fraudulence and ensur-
ing the authenticity of products to the
consumers. Besides capturing data at
every point within the supply chain
ecosystem, a cloud and IoT powered
blockchain system also ensures that it
is shared amongst every supply chain
participant such as farmer, manufac-
turer, supplier, distributor, and finally
the consumer. The security of data is
the immutability element of block-
chain, which adds an additional level
of security and prohibits any sort of
fraudulent activity.
5. NIRS technology. The applica-
tion of well-developed Near-Infrared
Spectroscopy (NIRS) can be a rapid,
cost-effective, and non-destructive
method to verify the organic identity
of food products. Recently, NIRS has
been widely implemented in the food
industry for analysing ingredients in
foodstuffs and can be used without
sample preparation. Spectral regions
related to protein and fat content are
among the most important ones for
the classification model.
The models are based on data
preprocessing using direct orthogonal
signal correction (DOC), standard
normal variant (SNV), and first and
second derivatives provide the most
successful results in terms of median
sensitivity and median specificity.
6. Nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) spectroscopy. Figuring out
whether a fruit or vegetable has been
grown under organic conditions is full
of complications. The most reliable
authentication technique currently
used is based on analysing the stable
isotope composition of nitrogen in
food products, which is also not
foolproof.
Scientists and engineers are look-
ing towards the use of nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy to
authenticate food products, including
honey and olive oil. New methods
with the potential to authenticate
different organic foods based on the
use of NMR technology are under
development.
In conclusion, the development of
fast, cost-effective, non-destructive,
and portable electronic authentica-
tion techniques to certify the organic
food products in the near future will
be of great help for consumers to have
healthy consumption of food and a
safe environment.
www.EFYMag.com
 Internet Of Things

Exploring The Applications

Of IoT
The Internet of Things
has become a game
changer in today’s
world and is playing
a vital role in the
industrial revolution.
This article explores
the uses of IoT in
healthcare systems,
water supply, recycling
systems and many
other areas

Wipro’s IIoT Center of Excellence in Kochi, Kerala (Credit: Tech Observer)

T
he Internet of Things (IoT) could be
a game changer for India, but the
country is lagging far behind China
in its adoption. Today, the IoT is transform-
ing industrial revolution. An IIoT factory
can yield 5-12.5% cost reduction in opera-
Vinayak tion and optimisation, 10-40% cost savings
Ramachandra in predictive maintenance and 20-50%
Adkoli is BE in cost reduction in inventory optimisation.
industrial production.
He has been a To boost IoT concepts, Indian technol-
lecturer in mechanical ogy giant Wipro announced the launch
department for ten
years in three different
of industrial IoT Center Of Excellence
polytechnics. He is also (COE) in Kochi, Kerala on March 14,
a freelance writer and 2019. According to Wipro, this COE aims
cartoonist
at developing innovative solutions for
customers in industrial manufacturing,
automotive, healthcare and pharmacy.
COE aims at developing customer-ready
IoT solutions.
Innovations needed for
IoT industries
Innovation leads, the world follows. With
the rise in the Indian Startup Ecosystem,
innovation has reached its peak in the
country with 45,444 patent applications
filled in 2016-17 alone.
Today, a lot of IoT related startups are
coming and working in India. They are
deliberately taking advantage of the Internet
to enhance the abilities of the devices. The
devices may be lighting system, entry into
home, water sprinklers used for irrigation in
agriculture, traffic control system, vehicles,
road lighting systems and many more. In
a smart city, electric transmission, billing
and the security of various services such
as banks, ATMs, hotels, etc, are all done
through IoT-operated devices. Dealing with
IoT related projects by companies and start-
ups is offering great challenges.
Vyuti is a visual object intelligence
provider for the manipulation of objects by
robotic arms. It can pick, orient and place
objects in various locations. With adequate
training, the solutions can be applied in
sectors like manufacturing, construction,
healthcare, and warehousing. Today, there
are many solutions in the market for object
recognition. Funded by N.A. Gokul, Vyuti is
in talks with TVS, AMS and Sansera.
Numocity is working with the electric
vehicle ecosystem. It aims in connecting bat-
tery, charging stations, etc, via a transaction

24 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Internet Of Things
engine, distributed ledger in unlimited extrac- resulted in saving of thirty per cent of
and an artificial intelli- tion of water. With- overall water costs.
gence (AI) based engine. out considering the
Founded by Ravikiran research of aquifers Effects of IoT based wearables
Annasamy, Numocity as well as other envi- in the healthcare system
was a member of Bosch’s ronmental factors, The market size for wearables had
DNA 2.0 Cohort in 2018. ground water source reached 25 billion dollars by the end
may be threatened. of 2019. Currently, wearable technolo-
Areas benefitting IoT based systems gies are considered as an integral part
through IoT can even help to uti- of IoT based projects and include
While India is considered lise waste water at smartwatches, fitness bands, and even
to be the fourth largest malls, flats, etc. Not AR/VR headsets.
home for startups, the less than 380,000 The smart contact lens is one of the
failure rates are also very litres of water is most anticipated medical IoT technol-
high here due to many recycled at Orion ogies. Pharmaceutical giant Novartis
factors including diffi- mall, Bengaluru teamed up with Google to build this
culties in managing the Fig. 1: Multi-sensor, multi-parameter, every day based revolutionary device that promises to
ventures. multichannel water analysing on an IoT based help patients with diabetes by meas-
instrument to measure pH, residual
The hundred billion chlorine, ORP, Ozone etc (Credit: system. uring their glucose levels as well as
dollars Indian healthcare processinstruments.co.uk) Greenvironment assisting those with eye problems.
industry is set for revolu- India is an environ- The smart contact lens looks like a
tion. Big data, IoT and AI will shape mental engineering company incu- regular contact lens, but it comes
the future of this new ecosystem. bated at IIT Chennai, offering smart with a sensor that can track the blood
Increased entry of affordable IoT water and waste water management sugar level of the user non-invasively
devices and rising consumer expecta- solutions for residential companies/ through the tears and correct vision in
tions are driving the rapid growth of the apartments, commercial establish- a new innovative way. The project was
IoT market. The IoT market in India is ments, institutions and industries. initially designed by Google X.
expected to reach 15 billion dollars by IoT based smart sensor solutions The lens contains a tiny and
2020, accounting for nearly five per cent on the cloud can monitor pH, Flow, ultra-slim microchip that is embed-
of the total global market. With nearly DO (dissolved oxygen ), ORP (oxida- ded in one of its thin concave sides.
120 firms offering solutions in the IoT tion reduction potential), TDS (total Through its equally tiny antenna, it
segment today, there are tremendous dissolved salts), level, pressure, tem- will send data about glucose measure-
opportunities for further growth. perature of water during water supply. ments from the user’s tears to his or
Smart lifestyles, embedded homes, It can keep automatic records of the her paired smartphone via installed
buildings, healthcare and manufactur- above parameters and send alerts over software. This technology has got the
ing are key sectors in India for IoT start- email or SMS. potential to lower the cost of manag-
ups. Investors are now showing more Smart water management systems ing the chronic disease and encourage
interest in IoT startups with a cumu- in multi-specialty hospitals are help- people to get involved in managing
lative investment of more than sixty ing to reduce hundred litres/person/ their health digitally.
million dollars since 2014. The top four head resulting in 20-30 per cent water
areas of funding are: lifestyle/weara- conservation. Today, in 172 apart- To sum up
bles, embedded computing, industrial ments of Chennai, dependency on IoT is an emerging field of Internet
Internet and connected homes. an external supply of water is greatly technology. It is a field of research and
Today, various operations of the reduced by producing good-quality innovation concerned with increasing
city such as traffic, electricity, water, recycled water for 55 per cent of the the abilities of devices on the Internet
waste management, and much more communities living here using an scale. Ordinary rules of operating
are done on IoT platforms. Samsung efficient IoT based system. This has devices no longer apply here. Basi-
R&D Institute in Bengaluru, Nasscom, cally, here the Internet leaves
Intel and L&T together have announced its classical realm and enters a
the formation of Open Connectiv- new world of control of devices
Soft contact lens
ity Foundation (OCF) India Ecosystem encapsulates mechanism.
Task Force to increase awareness about electronics The scientific community,
global IoT standards and their benefits Sensor detects
policy makers, apex bodies
for the Indian IoT industry. glucose in tears and funding agencies are con-
tinuously striving to progress in
IoT based systems for water Chip and antenna
receives power and various areas of IoT. In the last
supply and water recycling sends info
two decades, India has achieved
Increasing dependence on ground many milestones in the areas
water as a reliable source of water Fig. 2: Google Novartis Diabetes Smart Contact Lense of IoT and many are yet to be
in rural areas of India has resulted to improve vision (Credit: pinterest.com) achieved.

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 25

 Artificial Intelligence

AI Insurance
Is Coming,
Here’s Why
Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool,
but it may pose some risks if used
incorrectly. These risks can be unknown
or uncontrollable and hence, you need
to find other ways to deal with it

Anand Tamboli
is a serial entrepreneur,
speaker, award-winning
published author and
emerging technology
thought leader
A
rtificial intelligence (AI) is not
only a powerful tool, it can also be
a highly risky technology if used
incorrectly. No matter how much you
take care, there still might be some lurking
risks, which are either unknown or uncon-
trollable, and that means you will be need-
ing a different way of risk-management.
If you perform a thorough pre-mortem
analysis, please ensure that training and
testing are complete. A stress test of all
the systems with the help of red teams
will make you more confident about their
performance. However, there still might be
some risks that are unidentified, or identi-
fied but can’t be anticipated or controlled.
Such residual risks can be dealt with by
way of transference.
Transference or risk transfer is a risk
management and control strategy that
involves the contractual shifting of a pure
risk from one party to another. One exam-
ple is the purchase of an insurance policy,
by which a policyholder passes the speci-
fied risk of loss to the insurer.
Currently available options
and their limitations
If you have an IT solution, which is the
closest equivalent for an AI solution, a few
options are already available in the market
for transferring some of the risks.
Information Technology Liability (IT
Liability) insurance covers claims arising
from the failure of information technology
products, services, and/or advice.
The information technology (IT) indus-
try has unique liability exposures due to
the crossover between the provision of
professional services and supply of goods.
Many service providers in this industry offer
a mix of both goods and services. It gets
further complicated by the legal ambiguity
around software advice and development
and whether it is, in fact, the provision of a
service or sale of goods.
Traditional Professional Indemnity insur-
ance policies often have onerous exclusions
relating to the supply of goods. In contrast,
traditional Public and Products Liability
policies often contain exclusions relating to
the provision of professional services.
Many insurers have developed a range
of insurance options to address these issues,
which they commonly refer to as IT liability
policies. These policies represent a combina-
tion of Professional Indemnity and Public
and Products Liability insurances bundled
into one product. These policies were
developed to minimise the prospect of an
uninsured claim due to its ‘falling between
the gaps’ between the two traditional insur-
ance products.
However, the added complexity of AI

26 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com


solutions is driven by complex algo-
rithms in addition to the data ingested
or processed. Over time, change in
data can significantly change product
or solution characteristics; add to that
cloud-based services. It just widens
the gap in existing options, and with
that, the prospect of falling through
the gaps increases significantly.
Hence the AI insurance
Before we even think about AI insur-
ance, let’s see if there is a need for it.
This need can only become evident
when there are multiple issues with
significant complexity. There has been
a steady stream of warnings since the
last half century to slow down and
ensure we keep machines on a tight
leash.
Many thought leaders have asked
critical questions such as who accepts
the responsibility when AI goes
wrong, and what are the implications
for the insurance industry when that
happens.
Autonomous or driverless cars are
the most important considerations for
the insurance industry. In June 2016,
British insurance company Adrian
Flux started offering the first policy
specifically geared towards autono-
mous and partly automated vehicles.
This policy covers typical car insur-
ance options, such as damage, fire,
and theft.
Additionally, it also covers acci-
dents specific to AI—loss or damage
as a result of malfunctions in the car’s
driverless systems, interference from
hackers, failure to install vehicle soft-
ware updates and security patches,
satellite failure, or failure of the manu-
facturer’s vehicle operating system or
other authorised software.
Volvo has said that when one of
their vehicles is in autonomous mode,
they are responsible for what happens.
I think this is an important step.
However, still, it fails to answer the
question of who is liable for any
accidents? Who is at fault if the car
malfunctions and runs over someone?
When autonomous machinery
goes wrong in a factory and disrupts
production, who is responsible? Is it
the human operator who has thin-
threaded control, or is it the manage-
ment for buying the wrong system?
May be it should be the manufac-
www.EFYMag.com
turer for not testing the autonomous
machinery thoroughly enough.
We need to establish specific
protections for potential victims of
AI-related incidents, whether these are
businesses or individuals, to give them
confidence that they will have legal
recourse if something goes wrong.
The most critical question from
a customer’s standpoint would be,
who foots the bill when a robot or an
intelligent AI system makes a mistake,
causes an accident or damage, or
becomes corrupted? The manufac-
turer, developer, the person controlling
it, or the system itself? Or is it a matter
of allocating and apportioning risk
and liability?
Drew Turney, a journalist, argues
in one of his articles, “We don’t put
the parents of murderers or embez-
zlers in jail. We assume everyone is
responsible for his or her decisions
based on the experience, memory,
self-awareness, and free will accumu-
lated throughout their lives.”
There are many examples where
complex situations have occurred,
which begets a need for AI insurance.
AI loses an investor’s fortune
Austria-based AI company 42.cx had
developed a supercomputer named
K1. It would comb through online
sources like real-time news and social
media to gauge investor sentiment
and make predictions on the US stock
futures. Based on data gathered and
its analysis (based on that data), it
would then send instructions to a
broker to execute trades, adjusting its
strategy over time based on what it
had learned.
In May 2019, a Hong Kong real
estate tycoon Samathur Li Kin-kan
decided to sue the company that used
trade-executing AIs to manage his
account, causing him to lose millions
of dollars. A first-of-its-kind court case
opened up that could help determine
who should be held responsible when
an AI stuffs up.
While it is the first known instance
of humans going to court over invest-
ment losses triggered by autonomous
machines, it also highlights the black-
box problem of AI vividly. If people
don’t know how the AI is making
decisions, who’s responsible when
things go wrong?
Artificial Intelligence
The legal battle is a sign of what’s
coming as AI gets incorporated into all
facets of life, from self-driving cars to
virtual assistants.
Karishma Paroha, a London based
lawyer, who specialises in product lia-
bility, has an interesting view. She says,
“What happens when autonomous
chatbots are used by companies to sell
products to customers? Even suing the
salesperson may not be possible. Mis-
representation is about what a person
said to you. What happens when we’re
not being sold to by a human?”
Risky digital assistant
for patients
In mid-2019, a large consulting firm
started deploying voice-controlled
digital assistants for hospital patients.
The idea was that a digital device
would be attached to the TV screen
in the patient room, and the patient
could request for assistance.
The firm wanted to replace the
age-old call button service due to
its inherent limitations. One of the
significant limitations cited was that
there was not enough context avail-
able for nurses to prioritise patients
only based on the call request. With
the age-old call button system, two
patients could request help at the
same time. While one of them may
require urgent help, the other one
could wait. However, with just the
indication of help requests, nurses
couldn’t determine the patient who
needed immediate help. With voice-
based digital assistants, the firm and
hospitals anticipated that, with more
context from the command text, they
could prioritise nurse visits.
The system was deployed with
prioritisation based on the words
uttered by the patients. For example,
if a patient asked for drinking water,
the request was flagged as a low prior-
ity, whereas if someone complained
about pain in the chest, they were
flagged with the highest priority. Vari-
ous other utterances were prioritised
accordingly. The idea behind these
assigned priorities was that patient
needing water to drink can wait for a
few minutes, whereas a patient with
chest pain may be at risk of attack and
needs immediate assistance. Generally
speaking, this logic would work in
most of the scenarios.
electronics For You • July 2020 27
 Artificial Intelligence
However, this system
wasn’t linked with the
patient information data-
base. Such that, besides
getting the room number
of the requester, the system
did not know anything
else. Most importantly, it
did not understand what
the patient’s condition was
and why they were in the
hospital.
Not knowing the
patient’s condition or ail-
ment may prove to be a
severe impediment in some
cases. These cases may be at
the long tail of the common
scenarios, and I think that is
what makes it more dangerous.
For example, if a patient has
requested water, the system would put
it as a low priority request and give
other requests a relatively higher prior-
ity. However, what if the patient was
not feeling well, and hence requested
water. May be not getting water in time
could worsen the patient’s condition.
It may be that the patient was choking
or coughing and therefore asked for
water. Continuous coughing may be an
indicator of imminent danger. Without
knowing the patient’s ailment and con-
dition, it is tough to determine whether
a simple request for water is a high
priority or low priority, and these types
of scenarios are where I see significant
risks. One may term this system as well-
intentioned but poorly implemented.
Now the question is—in a scenario
where a high priority request gets
flagged as a low priority on account
of the system’s limited information
access, who is responsible? If the
patient’s condition worsens due to this
lapse, who would they hold account-
able?
Who (or what) can be held
accountable for such failures of ser-
vice or performance is a major lurking
question, and perhaps, AI insurance
may be able to cover the end-users in
all such scenarios when the need for
compensation arises.
Many regulators are
swiftly gearing up
Since 2018, European lawmakers, legal
experts, and manufacturers have been
locked in a high-stake debate: whether
28 July 2020 • electronics For You
it’s the machines or human beings
who should bear ultimate responsibil-
ity for their actions.
This debate refers to a paragraph
of text that was buried deep in an
European Parliament report from early
2017. It suggests that self-learning
robots could be granted ‘electronic
personalities.’ This status could allow
robots to be insured individually and
be held liable for damages, if they
go rogue and start hurting people or
damaging property.
One of the paragraphs says, “The
European Parliament calls on the com-
mission, when carrying out an impact
assessment of its future legislative
instrument, to explore, analyse and
consider the implications of all pos-
sible legal solutions, such as establish-
ing a compulsory insurance scheme
where relevant and necessary for
specific categories of robots whereby,
similarly to what already happens
with cars, producers, or owners of
robots would be required to take out
insurance cover for the damage poten-
tially caused by their robots.”
Challenges for AI insurance
Although the market is tilting quickly
to justify AI insurance products, there
are still a few business challenges.
These challenges are clear roadblocks
for any one player to take the initiative
and lead the way.
A common pool. As the insurance
fundamentally works with a common
pool, the first challenge appears to
be not having enough quorum to
start this pool. Several AI solutions
companies or adop-
ters can come together
and break this barrier
by contributing to the
common pool.
Equitability. The
second challenge is
whether this common
pool is equitable
enough. Due to the
nature of AI solutions
and customer base, not
every company would
have equivalent rev-
enue and pose a com-
parable risk. Being equi-
table, though may not
be mandatory in the
beginning, it will soon
become an impediment for growth if
not appropriately managed.
Insurability of cloud-based AI. In
the case of minors (children), parents
are liable and responsible for their
behaviours in the public domain. Any
wrongdoing by them results in parents
paying for it. However, as they grow
and are termed as adults, responsibil-
ity entirely shifts to them.
Similarly, the liability of AI going
wrong will have to shift from vendors
to users over time, which may impact
the annual assessment of premiums.
Any updates to the AI software may
bring this a few steps backward for
vendors as there are new inputs to AI
now. If AI works continuously without
any updates, the liability will keep
shifting gradually towards end-users.
However, in terms of cloud AI
(cloud-based AI solution), this shift
may not happen at all since vendors
would always be in full control.
If customers or AI users supply the
training data all the time, there would
be a shared liability from the solution
and outcome perspective.
Attribution. However, of all, attri-
bution of failure might be the biggest
challenge with AI insurance. Several
cases discussed in series of my articles
have shown us how challenging and
ambiguous it can be to ascertain fault
contributing factors in the entire AI
value chain.
AI typically uses training data to
make decisions. When a customer
buys an algorithm from one company
but uses their own training data or
buys it from a different company and it
www.EFYMag.com

doesn’t work as expected, how much
at fault is the AI and how much is the
fault of training data?
Without solving the attribution
problem, insurance proposition may
not be possible.
As I interviewed several insurance
industry experts during the last year,
all of them insisted that a good insur-
ance business model demands correct
risk profile and history.
Unfortunately, this history doesn’t
exist yet. The issue is that it won’t
exist at all if no one ever takes the ini-
tiative and makes the flywheel rotate.
So the question now is—who will do it
first? What might make it work?
While doing it first in the tech
industry is quite a norm, in risk-averse
sectors like the financial industry, it is
just the opposite. So, until that hap-
pens, there might be an intermediate
alternative.
How about insurers covering not
the total risk but only the damage
control costs? For example, if some-
thing goes wrong with your AI system,
and it causes your process to come to
a halt, you will incur two financial
burdens. One would be on account of
revenue loss and the other would be
fixing the system. In this case, while
the revenue loss can be significant,
system fixing costs may be relatively
lower, and insurance companies may
start by offering only fixing part of
the cover.
Insurers may also explore Para-
metric Insurance to cover some of the
known or fixed cost issues.
Aggregators can combine the
risks of a cluster of several companies
matching specific criteria. They can
cover part of those risks themselves
and transfer partial risks to the insur-
ers. Either way, it is not a complete
deadlock to get this going.
AI insurance is coming,
here’s why
Implementing an AI solution means
you can do things at a much larger
scale. If you have been producing x
number of widgets per day without
the use of AI, you may end up creating
1000x widgets with AI.
This type of massive scale also
means when things fail, they would
also fail magnanimously. The issues
1000x failures can bring upon a busi-
www.EFYMag.com
Artificial Intelligence
ness could be outrageous. These
would typically not only result in rev-
enue losses but also put a burden on
fixing them, making alternate arrange-
ments while these are being repaired,
and so on.
This scale is dangerous, and
therefore having an AI insurance
would make sense. Additionally, with
this option in place, it will also make
people more responsible for develop-
ing and implementing AI solutions.
These options would also contribute
towards the Responsible AI design and
use paradigm.
And more importantly, every
human consumer or user would want
some level of compensation at some
point in time when AI solutions go
wrong. They won’t accept it if you say
AI is at fault. It is a fair expectation to
be compensated.
The question is, who will foot the
compensation bill?
This question is the biggest reason
why I believe AI insurance will be nec-
essary. It may be a fuzzy concept for
now but will soon be quite relevant.
Better risk management
is the key
Getting AI insurance may be a good
idea, but that shouldn’t be your objec-
tive. Instead, you must focus on a
structured approach for development
and deployment. By doing it, you can
minimise risks to such an extent that
it (AI solution) is safe, useful, and
under control.
If you follow my three core prin-
ciples of good problem solving, i.e.,
doing the right thing, doing it right,
and covering all your bases, it will
help.
Given that almost everything you
would have mitigated or had planned
to do so, there would be hardly any-
thing that would qualify as residual
risk. Managing residual risk is more
like a remaining tail when the entire
elephant has passed through the
door.
If, however, there is any uncertain-
ty or unknown risk to your solution,
risk transfer should be more effortless
as you would have completed the
required due diligence already.
It is always a good idea to deal with
problems and risks in their smallest
states. Stich in time saves nine!
electronics For You • July 2020 29
 Education

Online Learning: An Antidote

To Uninterrupted Education
Amidst Covid-19 Crisis
With the outbreak of novel coronavirus, many business sectors have been affected
tremendously. The education sector is the latest area that has been affected by this prevailing
situation. Most countries have shut down their universities, colleges, and schools

Dr Parteek Bhatia
is an Associate
Professor at Department
of Computer Science
and Engineering,
Thapar Institute of
Engineering and
Technology, Patiala

T
he outbreak of the deadly corona-
virus has unleashed a global crisis.
With an impact spanning over
hundred countries, the virus is already
impacting the global economy in a hard
way. Uncertainty looms all over the world,
and everyone is feeling the heat of this pan-
demic. To restrict the further spread of the
virus, mass events or gatherings have been
cancelled, lockdowns and travel restrictions

30 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com


have been imposed, and as a result,
multiple business sectors have been
affected. People are being encouraged
for self-isolation. The fear among the
public is quite evident and it may not
be abating soon.
The education sector is the latest
sector that has been affected by this
prevailing situation. Most countries
have shut down their universities,
colleges, and schools. In India, most
states have suspended teaching in
universities, colleges, and schools,
and no one knows how long this situ-
ation will prevail. Due to this dubious
situation, institutes for higher educa-
tion around the globe are trying to
boost their online teaching capacity
to ensure uninterrupted delivery of
courses during such crisis to the
stranded students.
But the big question is—are we
prepared for it?
In India, the number of institutes
involved in practicing online teaching
is quite low. The use of online educa-
tion is common only in professional
institutes. Most of the science and art
colleges are not using online educa-
tion seriously. The situation is worst
in rural and small city colleges.
Technically, India has the poten-
tial to provide online education to
all the students in the current situ-
ation after the suspension of formal
classroom teaching. India is one of
the largest broadband content con-
sumers in the world. Many of these
consumers are students, who use the
Internet mainly for social media and
entertainment purposes. The use of
the Internet as a mode of education
is still abstract to them.
This is contrary to the fact that
www.EFYMag.com
the Internet could be a great asset for
educating students in offline mode
by providing them content in the
form of video lectures, blogs, and
presentations.
Numerous colleges in India have
not considered online video sessions
as a serious way of delivering content
to the students. It is worth noting that
the major hindrance in the usage of
online content by the students is the
language barrier and lack of custom-
ised content according to their syl-
labus and needs.
The current scenario of battling
with coronavirus and suspension of
classes may force the educational
institutes to consider online learning
more seriously. Our previous experi-
ence with demonetisation gives an
indication of this. While demoneti-
sation affected a large user base in
India, it also had a positive outcome
in the form of a boost in online pay-
ment transactions. Before demon-
etisation, people did not use online
payment methods and it was used
only by a few tech-savvy people.
But due to demonetisation, most of
the ATMs dried up and people had
no other option than switching to
online mediums for their payment.
This resulted in a boost in digital
payment platforms in India. These
online transactions helped the
country keep going in the absence of
printed money.
In the same way, in the current
situation, the universities and col-
leges also have the option of only
online mode for the delivery of con-
tent. The online learning can keep the
education uninterrupted even in the
moment of crisis.
Education
Technically, with the current
broadband speed and millions of
smartphone users, online education
is a more feasible idea to deliver
content to students in the absence of
traditional teaching. The only need
is to motivate the teachers to create
their own online content.
Of course, the Internet is already
filled with a variety of learning con-
tent, but still, students don’t use
them. They don’t find the existing
content adhering to their needs of
syllabus and examination pattern.
Students need assurance that online
content is authentic and they will
perform well in the examination after
studying it. They want the content in
the same language in which they are
comfortable. The need of students
can only be fulfilled if their teachers
come forward and record the content
specifically for them so that they can
feel the same personal connection
and confidence as they do in class-
rooms.
This wreaking pandemic may
push educational institutes across
India to create their online con-
tent and further deliver it to their
students through proper channels
and platforms. This will ensure
that the education would keep on
going even when the universities
and colleges are suspending classes.
This will also help the colleges and
universities to keep the teachers
and students engaged in positive
activities, instead of spending time
in fear. In this moment of crisis,
teachers and students can come for-
ward to keep the flow of knowledge
and learning uninterrupted through
online learning.
electronics For You • July 2020 31
 Power
Use Of Supercapacitors
In Defence And Transport
Supercapacitors are energy storage devices that bridge the gap between electrolytic
capacitors and rechargeable batteries. This article explains their importance and usage in
defence and transportation sectors
E
Rathindra Nath
Biswas is a
1964-batch chemical
engineering graduate
from Jadavpur
University, Kolkata.
He was awarded a
certificate for designing
Benzol Plant by
Giprokoks, USSR, and
Certificate of Honour
by Indian Institute
of Metals. He has
published 35 research
papers in various
journals. He retired
from service as head -
MECON, Durgapur
32 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU
lectricity is a hugely versatile form
of energy, but it suffers one major
drawback; it is relatively difficult
to store. Batteries can store large amount
of power, but they take hours to charge
up. Capacitors, on the other hand, charge
almost instantly but store only tiny
amounts of power.
In the next few decades, our fossil-
fuelled cars and home heating appliances
will need to be switched over to electric
power, if we are to avert catastrophic
climate change. Besides, in modern-day
defence equipments, there is a need to
supply high energy electric pulse. In our
electric-powered future, where we will be
required to store and release large amounts
of electricity very quickly, it is quite likely
we will turn to supercapacitors that com-
bine the best of both the worlds.
What is a supercapacitor?
The structure of a capacitor is rather
simple. It consists of two electric conduc-
tors called plates and an insulating layer
between them called dielectric medium.
If these two plates are connected to direct
voltage, they become charged, and the
magnitude of electric charge accumulated
on the plates becomes proportional to the
magnitude of voltage. The more charge it
takes when voltage is applied, the higher
the capacitance is. A supercapacitor is dif-
ferent from an ordinary capacitor mainly in
two important ways—its plates effectively
have a much bigger area and the distance
between them is much smaller because
the separator between them works in a dif-
ferent way than a conventional dielectric.
Like an ordinary capacitor, a superca-
pacitor also has two plates that are sepa-
rated. The plates are made of metal that is
coated with a porous material like activated
carbon, which provides the plates effectively
with a bigger surface area, rendering it to
store much more charge. For better under-
standing, let’s assume electricity as water—
where an ordinary capacitor is like a cloth
that can mop up only a tiny little spillage
of water, while a supercapacitor’s porous
plates can soak up many times more because
they are more like a chunky sponge. Porous
supercapacitors are big electricity sponges.
In an ordinary capacitor, the plates are
separated by a relatively thick dielectric
made of mica or plastic, or even simply air.
When the capacitor is charged, positive
charges form on one plate and negative
charges on the other plate, creating an elec-
tric field between them. The field polarises
the dielectric, so its molecules line up in the
opposite direction to the field and reduce
its strength. That means the plates can
store more charge at a given voltage. This is
shown in Fig. 1.
Classification of supercapacitors
Supercapacitors are mainly classified into
three types: Double-layer capacitors; Pseu-
do-capacitors; Hybrid capacitors.
Double-layer capacitor (DLC). A capaci-
tor consists of two electrodes, separator and
electrolyte. As shown in Fig. 2, in a double-
layer capacitor (DLC) there is no dielectric
as such. Supercapacitors are often termed as
DLC. The electrolyte in a DLC is the mixture
of positive ions and negative ions dissolved
in a solvent. Both the plates are soaked in
an electrolyte and separated by a very thin
insulator made of carbon, paper or plastic.
When the plates are charged up, an elec-
trical double layer appears at the interface
www.EFYMag.com

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of ordinary capacitor
between a conductive electrode and
an adjacent liquid electrolyte. At the
boundary, two layers of charge with
opposing polarity are formed, one at
the surface of the electrode and one in
the electrolyte.
These two layers are typically
separated by a single layer of solvent
molecules (generally one molecule
thick) that adhere to the surface of the
electrode and act like a dielectric as in
a conventional capacitor. The solvent
molecules act as a barrier and prevent
combination of opposite charges.
Therefore no electric charge flows in
between electrode and electrolyte. In
conventional capacitor, the thickness
of dielectric might range from a few
microns to a millimetre or more.
In short, supercapacitors get their
much bigger capacitance from a com-
bination of plates with a bigger surface
area and less distance between them
(because of the very effective double
layer). The supercapacitor’s capaci-
tance is in direct proportion to the area
of electrical double layer.
Upon voltage application, the
electrical double layer is created that
aligns both negative and positive
charges along the boundaries of elec-
trodes and electrolytic solution. When
these negative or positive ions migrate
close to the electrode, they experience
Performance Parameters
Parameters Electrolytic
capacitors
Temperature range (°C) -40 to +125
Maximum charge (V) 4 to 630
Recharge cycles (thousands k) Unlimited
Capacitance (Farads) Up to 2.7
Specific energy (Watt hours per kg) 0.01 to 0.3
Self-discharge time Short, in days
Efficiency (%) 99
Working life in years 20
www.EFYMag.com
(a) Positive ions Separator
Negative ions Electrolyte
Fig. 2: Double layer supercapacitor: (a) discharged, (b) charged
strong opposition from the solvent
molecules. Hence, no charge transfer
takes place between electrolyte and
electrode.
However, these opposite charges
exert electrostatic forces on each
other. Thus, a large amount of charge
is built up at the common boundary
of electrode and electrolyte. The acti-
vated carbon layer deposited on the
electrodes is very much porous and
provides astounding surface area and
acts as a storehouse for storing electric
charges during charging.
Pseudo-capacitor. A pseudo-
capacitor is a hybrid between a battery
and electric double-layer capacitor. It
also consists of two electrodes sepa-
rated by an electrolyte. Charge storage
occurs by chemical and electrostatic
means. The chemical process involves
charge transfer by means of reduction-
oxidation that is redox reaction when
most of the charge is transferred near
the surface of the electrode.
On the other hand, in double-
layer capacitors, positive and nega-
tive charges reside on two electrode
surfaces. While the charge transfer
is similar to that in a battery, transfer
rates are higher because of the use of
thinner redox material on the elec-
trode, or lower penetration of the ions
from the electrolyte into the structure.
Double layer Pseudocapacitors and
supercapacitors hybrid type (Li-ion)
-20 to +70 -20 to +70
1.2 to 3.3 2.2 to 3.8
100k to 1000k 20k to 100k
100 to 12,000 300 to 3300
4 to 9 10 to 15
In weeks Long, in months
95 90
5 to 10 5 to 10
Power
Molecular dielectric (b)
Electrolyte
Because of multiple processes
acting to store charge, the capacitance
values are higher. Pseudocapacitance
is accompanied by an electron charge
transfer between electrolyte and elec-
trode coming from a de-solvated and
adsorbed ion. The adsorbed ion has
no chemical reaction with the atoms
of the electrode since only a charge
transfer takes place. It uses transition
metal-oxides like RuO2, IrO2, or MnO2
inserted by doping in the conductive
material like active carbon, which
covers the electrode. Both pseudoca-
pacitance and double-layer capaci-
tances contribute inseparably to the
total capacitance value.
Hybrid supercapacitor. Hybrid
supercapacitors are the devices with
elevated energy storage capability
and elevated capacitance. It combines
electric double-layer capacitor and
lithium-ion technology, resulting in
an energy density up to 115 per cent
higher. The hybrid capacitor offers an
enhanced capability of energy storage,
providing power to applications more
quickly and efficiently.
Construction details
Electrodes. The internal arrangement
of a wound type cylindrical superca-
pacitor is shown in Fig. 3. It comprises
active layers made from activated
carbon electrodes and separator with
aluminium tabs inserted in-between
active layers. Aluminium foils should
be able to distribute a peak current of
100A, and act as the current collec-
tor. They are coated with activated
carbon, which is electrochemically
etched, so that the surface area of
the material is about 100,000 times
greater than the smooth surface. The
electrodes are separated by a very
thin ion-permeable separator made
of porous polymeric films or woven
ceramic fibres.
electronics FOR YOU • JULY 2020 33
 Power
1. Terminals 6. Separator
2. Safety vent 7. Carbon electrode
3. Sealing disc 8. Collector
4. Aluminum can 9. Carbon electrode
5. Positive pole 10. Negative pole
Fig. 3: Exploded view of a wound supercapacitor
Virtually all supercapacitor manu-
facturers use activated carbon made
from coconut shells as the active
component of the electrode. During
processing, the ash is removed and
kept below one per cent, iron is kept
below 100ppm and halogens are
removed in order to have an extended
cycle of operation. High porosity of
this material can provide an electrode
area up to 3000 sq. metre/gm. It can
yield capacitance of 145 F/gm. Active
material represents half the total cost
of a supercapacitor. As the cost of acti-
vated carbon is cheaper, about ` 1050/
kg, it is being widely used.
A carbon nanotube (carbon mole-
cules with a cylindrical nanostructure)
is another promising active material,
but is quite costly to manufacture.
Carbon nanotubes cost about ` 3500/
kg, but have double the energy density,
and therefore are used for special-pur-
pose supercapacitors. The nanotube
surface provides greater wettability
and has high conductivity. It can yield
capacitance up to 180 F/gm.
Graphene, a two-dimensional
carbon monolayer, is another promis-
ing candidate whose cost varies from
` 350 to ` 2800/kg. But its fluffiness
limits the energy density of a super-
capacitor and can’t be competitive,
unless a way is found to tightly pack it.
For pseudocapacitors based on
Redox, Ruthenium dioxide yielding
capacitance of 750 F/gm, Manganese
dioxide, which gives capacitance of
350 F/gm, IrO2, etc are typically used
as electrodes.
34 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU
Fig. 4: A hybrid motor using supercapacitor
Fig. 5: Capa bus
Electrolytes. Electrolytes consist of
solvent and dissolved chemicals that
dissociate into positive cations and
negative anions. Aqueous acidic or
alkaline electrolytes are used in super-
capacitors with low specific energy
and high specific power. Electrolytes
with organic solvents are more expen-
sive but can give a higher capacitor
voltage of 2.7V.
Uses of supercapacitors
Vehicles. Supercapacitors are used
in vehicles for regenerative braking.
They have much higher power densi-
ties than batteries and can charge and
discharge more rapidly. They also
store much more energy as compared
to conventional electrolytic capaci-
tors. This makes them more suitable
for capturing kinetic energy as a vehi-
cle slows and release it for bursts of
acceleration.
They don’t have the ability to store
large amounts of energy, but they
are high powered devices, primar-
ily because the electrons can move
back and forth very quickly. Superca-
pacitors can provide extra
power of up to 34hp and
can be used to smooth out
acceleration, bridging the
gaps in power delivery that
occurs when the mechani-
cal transmission changes
gear. This removes any
jerkiness that would occur
during a shift. As super-
capacitors can charge and
discharge symmetrically
and in seconds, they make
for an incredibly efficient
means of providing a short
but strong electric assist in a
vehicle while driving. The supercapac-
itor is discharged during acceleration
and recharged during braking, which
means that a hybrid motor or an
e-motor never lacks the power it needs
during driving, ultimately increasing
the efficiency of the vehicle.
As shown in Fig. 4, the system gen-
erally uses a 12-25V variable energy
alternator that generates electricity
during regenerative braking at up to
25V before sending it to a low-resist-
ance electric double-layer capacitor
that can be fully charged in seconds.
A DC-DC converter then steps down
the electricity from 25V to 12V before
distributing it to the vehicle’s electri-
cal system.
Capa bus. A capacitor vehicle or
capa vehicle, as shown in Fig. 5, is
a traction vehicle that uses superca-
pacitors to store electricity. In general,
supercapacitors can store about 5 per
cent of the energy that lithium-ion
rechargeable batteries can. This limi-
tation restricts the range of driving to
a couple of kms per charge. But they
can be charged in a matter of seconds.
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So, in public transport systems such as
buses that have to stop frequently at
known points where charging facili-
ties are installed, using supercapacitor
as the energy storage device is quite
viable.
Since 2010, capa buses have been
operating in Belgrade in Serbia,
Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sofia, Bul-
garia, and Graz in Austria without
any major trouble. These buses are
provided with supercapacitors made
of activated carbon and have a typical
energy density of about 10 watt-hours/
kg compared to 200 watt-hours/kg of
a high-performance Li-ion battery.
These buses consume energy that
is only one-tenth of the cost of fuel
consumed by a diesel bus and can
achieve lifetime fuel savings of about
` 15 million per bus.
The buses use 40 per cent less
electricity, even when compared to
an electric trolley bus, mainly because
they are lighter. The capa bus is 40 per
cent cheaper than a Li-ion battery bus
and far more reliable. The buses need
to stop regularly every 5km allowing
Fig. 6: Laser gun fitted in a destroyer
Projectile velocity is five times the speed of sound and its firing range can reach 370 km
Railgun Device
Source of
electromagnetic
pulse
Power
generator
Armature Projectile
The current flowing
through the armature
Round
Conductive rails
Charge
The railgun uses electromagnetic force (Lorentz force) to propel an electrically conductive projectile that is initially part of a chain.
Currently I, flowing through the rails, generates magnetic field B in the rails and armature. As a result, under the action of force F,
the armature is pushed out of the magnetic field of the rails and the projectile accelerates.
Fig. 7: Railgun
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quick recharging at charging stations
at bus stops. A collector on top of the
bus rises a few feet and touches an
overhead charging line at the stop.
Within a few minutes, the superca-
pacitor banks stored under the bus
seats are fully charged. The buses also
capture energy from braking.
The recharging stations can be
equipped with solar panels. A third-
generation bus has been developed,
which can extend the range up to
32km. In the future, buses would use
supercapacitors with vertically aligned
carbon nanotubes as the active ele-
ment that would have one-quarter of
the energy density of a lithium-ion
battery. Future developments include
the use of inductive charging under
the street to avoid overhead wiring.
Spot welding gun. Spot welding
guns are generally used in the current
robotic system in assembly lines for
resistance welding of thin gauge steel
(about 0.8mm). These machines use
a pneumatic/electromechanically
operated forcing system to apply force
to electrodes and power supply to
provide energy for weld-
ing. It weighs about 50kg
including the weight of
the transformer, which is
about 25kg.
These welding guns
are gradually replaced
with supercapacitors
based devices that result
in a reduction in weight
by 50 per cent due to
elimination of bulky
transformers. It yields a
reduction in the cost of
Interaction of Magnetic Fields
Magnetic field B
Magnetic field B
Current I
Magnetic field
of the armature Current I
Negatively
charged rail
Force F
Positively
charged rail
Power
` 7 million per unit and also reduc-
es the scale of automation in the
assembly line. These new generation
machines are provided with superca-
pacitors up to a level of 5000 F and
operate at a voltage less than 10V.
Defence application
Where to use supercapacitors in mili-
tary devices? In applications where the
charge can more or less be maintained
continuously, but at times it is required
to obtain enormous amounts of energy
impulsively in a very short period of
time. Supercapacitors already have set
their foot in military technology.
Laser weapons (LaWs). Laser
weapons no longer exist only in sci-
ence fiction. USA, Russia, China, and
India have systems with which enemy
aircraft, ballistic missiles, anti-ship
ballistic missiles are destroyed with
a laser beam. Onboard generator of
the aircraft or ship provides electrical
energy that is stored in the superca-
pacitor banks.
In case of a fast moving distant
target like an enemy aircraft, mis-
sile, etc, it is not possible to hold the
laser beam on the target. Therefore
the energy that can destroy the target
must be delivered in the form of single
radiation of 10-100kW power pulse in
a few milliseconds. Only supercapaci-
tors have the capability of doing this
task. Laser weapon systems are tied to
ship or aircraft’s navigation radar and
can be operated through the mother
vehicle’s combat information centre.
A typical arrangement of LaWs is
shown in Fig. 6.
Railgun. A railgun is a military
device that uses electromag-
netic force known as Lorentz
The Principle Behind
Lorentz Force force to launch projectiles 2m
long and weigh 100-120kg at
The current speeds exceeding Mach 7-8
flowing
through the using a sliding armature that
armature
is accelerated along with a
pair of conductive rails. The
projectile normally does not
contain explosives, but relies
on the projectile’s high speed
Armature Force
F to inflict damage.
The railgun uses a pair of
Rail
parallel conductors, or rails,
along which a sliding armature
is accelerated by the electro-
magnetic effects of a current
that flows down on one rail
electronics FOR YOU • JULY 2020 35
 Power
Fig. 8: Schematic diagram of a pulsed linear accelarator weapon
Fig. 9: KALI 5000 system
into the armature and then back along
the other rail. It is based on principles
similar to those of homopolar motor.
However, the problem is that ships,
like an aircraft carrier or destroyer,
which can generate 25MW of power,
are only suitable for its installation
due to the high power requirement of
the rail gun. The device uses super-
capacitors to store the enormous
power and deliver it as a pulse in a
short period of time. Fig. 7 shows the
arrangement of a railgun.
Heavy mobility truck. Heavy
Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
(HEMTT) is an eight-wheel-drive,
9,100kg tactical truck with a 470hp
diesel engine used by the US army and
many other countries for transporting
combat vehicles and weapons. This
diesel-electric hybrid truck does not
use batteries. Instead, it uses superca-
pacitors that accept more of the power
created by regenerative braking and
deliver the power to the wheels during
acceleration. This increases efficiency
by up to 20 per cent. This hybrid tech-
36 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU
nology delivers up
to 120kW of power
to run an airfield,
weapons, radar sys-
tems, hospitals, or a
disaster relief com-
mand centre.
Pulsed linear
accelerator weapon.
It is a futuristic
directed-energy
weapon designed to
work in such a way
that if any enemy
missile is launched towards a country,
it will quickly emit powerful pulses of
the relativistic electron beam, which
is converted by other components of
the machine down the line into flash
x-ray and high power microwave that
destroy the target. Unlike laser beams,
it does not bore a hole in the target
but thoroughly destroys the onboard
electronic system.
As shown in Fig. 8, the circuit
generates a high-voltage pulse by a
Marx generator by charging several
capacitors (likely supercapacitors) in
parallel by a DC power supply through
the resistors and discharging them in
series. The output is available as a
brief pulse. USA, Russia, China, and
India have this powerful weapon.
India has developed this machine and
christened it as KALI (Kilo Ampere
Linear Injector) (refer Fig. 9). KALI
5000 system can produce electron
pulses of about 100ns with energy of
about 1MeV, current 40kA, a power
of 40GW, and microwave radiation at
3-5GHz.
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 Tech Focus

AI And ML Shifting Focus

Back To Hardware
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in different sectors has
transformed the conventional approach for different applications. Although the terms AI and ML are
used interchangeably, the former aims at the success of a task, whereas the latter ensures accuracy

Ayushee Sharma

(Credit: https://medium.com)

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 37

 Tech Focus
F
rom marketing and retail to
healthcare and finance, adop-
tion of artificial intelligence
(AI) and machine learning (ML) in
these sectors is drastically transform-
ing the conventional approach for
different applications. AI makes it
possible for systems to sense, com-
prehend, act, and learn for perform-
ing complex tasks such as decision
making that earlier required human
intelligence. Unlike the regular pro-
gramming, where action needs to
be defined for every situation, AI in
conjunction with ML algorithms can
process large data sets, be trained to
choose how to respond, and learn
from every problem it encounters to
produce more accurate results.
This has not only impacted how
we use data but also how we design
and fabricate hardware chips or
integrated circuits (ICs) for enabling
next-generation devices, thereby
opening new opportunities. The
growth of AI shifts the core of inno-
vation from the software back to
hardware. For better performance,
for example, AI needs more memory
as compared to traditional require-
ments to process and transfer large
data sets. Consider the case of virtual
assistants that are increasingly being
used in homes. Without reliable
hardware for such functionalities as
those associated with memory and
logic, these cannot work properly.
According to Accenture Semi-
conductor Technology Vision 2019,
from the annual report by the Accen-
ture Labs and Accenture Research,
the semiconductor industry is highly
optimistic about the potential of AI
in their work in the coming years
Data Data
Generated Stored
Big Data
Structured and Data is stored
unstructured in databases
(ex. video) data and servers
The process (Credit: https://cooltechnospy.com)
38 July 2020 • electronics For You
when compared to that in technolo-
gies like extended reality, distributed
ledgers, and quantum computing.
Three-quarters (77 per cent) of semi-
conductor executives surveyed for
the report claimed that they either
had already adopted AI within their
business or were piloting the tech-
nology.
The concept of AI and ML
Although the terms AI and ML are
used interchangeably, the former
aims at the success of a task, whereas
the latter ensures accuracy. So,
solving a complex problem is done
through AI training, but maximising
efficiency by learning from the data
and already performed tasks is the
concept of ML. ML relies on large
datasets to find common patterns
and makes predictions based on
probability.
Applied AI is more commonly
seen in systems that are designed
for financial market predictions and
autonomous vehicle control. Gener-
alised AIs to handle different general
situations is where ML, usually con-
sidered the subset of AI, comes into
play. In what is called supervised
learning ML algorithm, the relation-
ship model between input data and
target output is established to make
predictions, whereas unsupervised
learning does not involve categoris-
ing data for training. In situations like
competing with humans in complex
computer games where information
needs to be gained from the environ-
ment continuously, reinforcement
learning is implemented.
Sub-branches of ML like deep
neural networks have already been
Data
Processing
Artificial Intelligence
Data is processed using
central processing unit (CPU)/
graphics processing unit
(GPU) and AI algorithms to
detect patterns
applied to fields, including speech
recognition, social network filtering,
computer vision, natural language
processing, and so on. These tech-
nologies take and examine thousands
of users’ data for precision and accu-
racy applications like face recogni-
tion. This is contributing to the rapid
development of innovations that are
considered magical right now, but
with hardware advancements, its
place might be taken by much more
advanced innovations in the coming
decades.
How AI and ML applications
are redefining the traditional
systems
AI and ML could grow to the current
extent due to advancements in not
only algorithms but also in storage
capabilities, computation capac-
ity, networking, and the like, which
made it possible to make advanced
devices accessible to the masses at
an economical cost. Traditionally,
logic was usually hard-wired in the
design of electronic systems. But in
the light of high manufacturing costs
presently and the growing complex-
ity of chip development, AI-driven
processor architectures are redefining
traditional processor architectures to
suit new demands.
Computation is mainly done on
the central processing unit (CPU),
the brain of the computer. With
the emergence of computationally
demanding applications that apply
AI and ML algorithms, additional
processing choices through combi-
nations of graphics processing units
(GPUs), microprocessors (MPUs),
microcontrollers (MCUs), field-
programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),
and digital signal processors (DSPs)
Actionable
Insights are coming up to meet the optimum
feature requirements. The options,
considered distinct categories, are
gradually becoming heterogeneous
processing solutions like system-on-
chips (SoCs) and custom-designed
application-specific integrated cir-
cuits (ASICs).
Predictive
Unlike traditional storage meth-
signals are ods to store parameters while tuning
generated a neural network model during train-
ing and inference, high-bandwidth
RAM is required not only at data
centres but also for edge computing.
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Graphcore’s AI chips used in MS Azure cloud (Credit: www.eetindia.co.in)
The increased amount of volatile
memory for proper functioning
causes an excessive rise in power
consumption levels. This is driving
the need for evolving memory inter-
faces to ensure that the tasks get
executed at high speeds. Although
new processor architectures are
helping reduce the load, other mech-
anisms like new memory interfaces
and processing into memory itself
are also being researched upon and
implemented.
UK-based startup Graphcore’s
IPU is a novel processor with
high on-chip memory capacity
specifically designed for dealing
with complex data structures in
machine intelligence models. Out-
side memory sources take much
more time to return a result than
on-chip ones. According to a report
from IHS Markit, worldwide rev-
enue from memory devices in AI
applications will increase to 60.4
billion dollars in 2025 from 20.6
billion dollars in 2019, while the
processor segment will grow from
22.2 billion dollars in 2019 to 68.5
billion dollars in 2025.
Thus, semiconductors pro-
vide the necessary processing and
memory capabilities required for all
AI applications. Improving network
speed is also important for working
with multiple servers simultane-
ously and developing accurate AI
models. Measures such as high-
www.EFYMag.com
speed interconnections and routing
switches are being examined for load
balancing.
The answer to improving chips
for AI applications lies with the tech-
nology itself. AI and ML are being
leveraged to improve performance,
and as design teams become more
experienced in this field, they will
enhance how chips are developed,
manufactured, and tweaked for
updates. Complicated issues related
to the implementation, signoff, and
verification of chips that cannot be
solved and optimised with traditional
methods can be solved with AI and
ML.
Using ML-based predictive models
inside the existing EDA tools, US-
based company Synopsys claims
to have achieved results like a five
times faster PrimeTime power recov-
ery and a hundred times faster high
sigma simulation in HSPICE. All this
requires a focus on R&D and accu-
rate end-to-end solutions, creating
opportunities for possibly entirely
new markets with value-creation in
different segments of semiconductor
companies.
Overcoming the challenges
The main focus is on data and its
usage. This requires more than just
a new architecture for the processor.
Different chip architectures work for
different purposes, and factors like
the size and value of the training
Tech Focus
data can render AI useless for some
applications.
AI makes it possible to process
data as patterns instead of individual
bits and works best when memory
operations are to be done in the form
of a matrix, thereby increasing the
amount of data being processed and
stored and hence the efficiency of
the software. For instance, spiking
neural networks can reduce the flow
of data as the data is fed in the form
of spikes. Also, even if there is a lot
of data, the amount of useful data
to train a predictive model can be
reduced. But the issues still exist.
Like in chip design, the training of
ML models happens in different
environments independently at dif-
ferent levels.
There needs to be a standardised
approach to the application of AI.
For efficient utilisation of AI, chips
designed for AI, as well as those
modified to suit AI requirements,
need to be considered. If there is a
problem in the system, there is a
need for tools and methodologies to
quickly solve it. The design process
is still highly manual despite the
growing adoption of design auto-
mation tools. Tuning the inputs is a
time-consuming yet highly inefficient
process. Even just one small step in
a design implementation can be an
entirely new problem itself.
There has been widespread
misuse by companies claiming to
use AI and ML to gain the advantage
of the trend and increase sales and
revenue. Although the cost of com-
pression and decompression is not
so high, the cost of on-chip memory
is not so cheap. AI chips also tend to
be very large.
To build such systems that store
and process data, the collaboration of
experts on different teams is neces-
sary. Major chipmakers, IP vendors,
and other electronics companies
will be adopting some form of AI
to increase efficiency across their
operations. The availability of cloud
compute services at a reduced cost
of computing can help in boosting
evolution. Technology advancements
will force semiconductor companies
to empower and reskill their work-
forces, enabling the next generation
of devices in the marketplace.
electronics For You • July 2020 39
 Defence Electronics

The Changing Face Of

India’s Defence Sector
In Perspective
India is one of the largest importers of defence equipment worldwide. However, the government
is now planning to reduce the country’s dependence on imports with focus on indigenous
production of defence equipment. With a slew of recently announced reforms, the defence
sector will surely gain more momentum in its path to self-reliance in defence production

Potshangbam July

I
ndia is one of the largest import-
ers of defence equipment in the
world. Imports account for 60-65
per cent of the country’s military
requirements, which are being met
by foreign suppliers. In a significant
move, the government seeks to reduce
electronics import with focus on indig-
enous production of defence equip-
ment. This will encourage increased
participation of the private sector in
defence manufacturing. With a slew
of reforms recently announced by the
government, including banning the
import of weapons that can be made
in the country, corporatisation of Ord-
nance Factory Board (OFB), and rais-
ing foreign direct investment (FDI) in
defence manufacturing to 74 per cent
from 49 per cent, the defence sector
will surely gain more momentum in
its path to self-reliance in defence
production.
In tandem with current develop-
ments in the defence sector, a webinar
titled ‘Defence Electronics—Policy
Focus on Domestic Manufacturing,

40 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com


Procurement and Atmanirbharta’
was organised by ELCINA (Electronic
Industry Association of India) in col-
laboration with Ernst & Young (EY).
The discussion focused on various
aspects, including defence production,
domestic manufacturing, offset policy,
opportunities for MSMEs and startups,
among others.
Moderated by Col. KV Kuber (retd),
director, Aerospace & Defence, EY
India, the imminent panel of experts
included:
• Sanjay Jaju, JS (DIP), Ministry of
Defence, government of India
• Lt Gen. Sanjay Verma, AVSM
(Ati Vishisht Seva Medal), VSM (Vish-
isht Seva Medal), DG of Weapons
and Equipment (DGWE), Ministry of
Defence
• Lt Gen. AKS Chandele (retd),
PVSM (Param Vishisht Seva Medal),
AVSM, senior advisor, ELCINA
• Col H.S. Shankar, VSM (retd),
CMD, Alpha Design Technologies
• JD Patil, director and senior
executive vice president, L&T defence
business
• Emmanuel de Roquefeuil, vice
www.EFYMag.com
president and country director, Thales
India
• Ankit Tyagi, manager, aerospace
and defence, EY India
Domestic manufacturing
In its latest efforts to boost indigenous
defence production, the government is
planning to introduce a list of weap-
ons/platforms to ban imports with
year-wise timelines. Priority will be
given to the indigenisation of spares
that are currently imported, and a
separate provision will be introduced
in the budget to buy military hardware
from domestic manufacturers.
Sharing his perspective on the
measures taken by the government, Lt
Gen. AKS Chandele (retd) says, “The
government will prepare a negative list
of items and equipment, which will
ban the import of particular equip-
ment. So far, we have been relying on
the defence procurement procedure,
which has been incentive-based start-
ing from IBM and on the other side by
global. So, the idea is to incentivise
domestic design and manufacture.
The negative list will ensure that items
Defence Electronics
which can be produced in the country,
and which the Indian industry has the
capability of producing, shall not be
open for import.”
Highlighting the scenario on the
manufacturing aspect, Sanjay Jaju
says, “India has a huge requirement,
and the bulk of this requirement has
been met through imported routes in
the past. Nevertheless, we have made
significant progress over the years,
and a large number of defence plat-
forms are being manufactured in our
country.”
He adds, “We also have a robust
private sector, which is taking shape
from 2001 onward, and close to 450
licenses have been given to the private
sector. Many of these companies have
been producing state-of-the-art and
world-class equipment, which has
been used by our services. We have
also started to make decent progress
in terms of exporting some of our
products. And we have set a target of 5
billion dollars of export from India by
2024-25.”
India has been making steady pro-
gress in exports and has seen a growth
electronics For You • July 2020 41
 Defence Electronics
of over five times in the last four years.
On a positive note, Jaju says, “There is
an increase in FDI cap for the defence
sector, and notification will get issued
shortly. Our focus should not be just
manufactured in India but manufac-
ture in India for the world. We have an
online portal, which issues clearances
to all the exporters in a time-bound
manner. Last year, we gave all the
clearances within the timeline that we
stipulated.”
Besides, the discussion also
focused on the space sector. In the
latest development, the government
has announced to bring more private
players in the space segment in an
effort to promote ‘self-reliant India’
mission. Col. H.S. Shankar says, “After
the announcement, there have been
some inputs coming from the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
and government of India. ISRO has
come out with an expression of inter-
est for handing over the total manu-
facturing, assembling, integration,
and testing of the PSLV 3 program to a
consortium of private industries. So,
two or three such consortiums have
been made, and ISRO will request the
proposal or tender. On the basis of it,
ISRO will decide which particular con-
sortium will be given the task of build-
ing and making its own factory. This
is a very good example of how ISRO
wants to utilise the private industry.
And we welcome this.”
Defence procurement policy
India’s defence procurement policy
aims to push forward higher indig-
enous content for defence equipment
and supports various initiatives for
local material/vendors as part of Make
in India initiative.
Lt Gen. Sanjay Verma says, “As far
as Indian army is concerned, 75 per
cent of the last five-year procurement
has been from Indian industries, both
in terms of the number of contracts as
well as the monetary value. Whatever
expenditure has been done on the con-
tract, it has been done on the Indian
industries.”
He adds, “Another good thing that
we would like to share is that request
for proposals (RFPs), which we have
floated around 70 to 75 per cent, are
directed at the Indian industry. So, we
are in sync with the Make in India ini-
42 July 2020 • electronics For You
tiative. In fact, with the new reforms,
this will gather momentum.”
While discussing the General Staff
Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) of
weapons and platforms, Lt Gen. Chan-
dele points out, “The government has
suggested that the armed forces, when
they make their wish lists, should have
realistic GSQR. A little word of cau-
tion—it should not dilute the opera-
tional parameters of the equipment,
which is to be procured. You will
require equipment that is comparable
and better than what the adversary
possesses. You can’t fight tomorrow’s
war or today’s war with yesterday’s
tools. So, we require modern state-of-
the-art equipment. And there should
be a balance between what is opera-
tionally required and what is desired.”
As far as the offset policy is con-
cerned, Emmanuel de Roquefeuil
highlights, “We are a bit cautious with
the offset part. It could be much better
if more incentives were given. Because
at the end of it, the purpose of the
offset part of the DDP is to invite com-
panies like Thales and others. They
need to invite those companies which
are ready to invest in India. This part
of the documents could be improved.”
Further, he welcomed the initiative
of raising the foreign direct investment
(FDI) cap from 49 per cent to 74 per
cent via the automatic route, which
was announced by the government of
India recently.
The discussion also highlighted
the inspection process of the equip-
ment, which is a concern considering
its time-consuming process. JD Patil
says, “The one big bugbear in the
defence sector has always been the
inspection process. Until the inspec-
tion is not completed, the equipment
is not stamped for delivery. Since the
outbreak of the Covid-19, digital has
taken some amazing levels of initia-
tives. Now, we have started inspecting
equipment online with proper kinds
of cameras, special software, etc. In
fact, we have already delivered three
systems within four weeks—fully digi-
tally inspected and digitally certified.
Before this, it was unthinkable in the
defence industry—everything had to
be carried out on paper and done in
a set format. I think those myths are
falling out and falling apart. These
bad times are teaching us new things.
Some of the long-run processes and
procedures which have been hold-
ing the industry have been changing
substantially.”
Opportunities for MSMEs
and startups
The role of startups and MSMEs is
significant to help India in achieving
its goal of indigenisation and self-
reliance in the defence sector. Their
participation can boost innovation
and technology development in the
defence manufacturing ecosystem.
With the government’s focus on lev-
eraging small businesses and startups,
there is an increase in MSMEs’ share
in India’s current defence space.
Stressing on the importance of
startups, Jaju says, “We have fairly
strong and robust startups in the coun-
try, which is the second-largest eco-
system. We run a programme called
‘Innovation for Defence Excellence,’
and as part of this programme, we
have been doing ‘Defence India Start-
up Challenge.’ Now, we have close
to fifty startups, which are working
on futuristic technologies. We expect
these startups to start contributing
along with the bigger players in the
development of futuristic technolo-
gies, and work in tandem to create a
defence manufacturing ecosystem.”
Lastly, Ankit Tyagi also gave a
presentation where he talked about
the demand for innovative products
and equipment, which will rise in
areas of cybersecurity, surveillance,
communications, and electronic
warfare equipment. “The innovation
category will become the impetus to
initiate this technology revolution
for the Indian Armed Forces, which
is again a great opportunity. And
finally, with the global downturn, the
companies across are looking for new
market spaces and local partners. So,
it is expected that many foreign com-
panies will look to further expand
into the Indian market through col-
laborations and JVs. And this will
give an opportunity to the MSME
sector,” he says.
The discussion concluded with
several queries raised by the audience
concerning the domestic defence
industry, which was addressed by the
panel of experts with fresh insights
and thoughts.
www.EFYMag.com
 Artificial Intelligence

AI In Military Service:
Rules Sky, Land And Sea
With the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, modern electronics warfare has become more
intelligent, effective, and precise in many ways. Leveraging AI technology in warfare equipment
gives more advantages in the race towards modernisation of military equipment. This article covers
the use of AI in military applications and on-going modernisation of Indian warfare equipment

A
Sani Theo recently published book, Army of
None, authored by Paul Scharre,
talks about autonomous weapons,
artificial intelligence (AI), and cutting-edge
technology in modern warfare. Experts
think that in future, wars will be fought by
AI-based autonomous machines. However,
it’s difficult to predict whether humans will
still be in charge of the deadly machines.
Looking back at the history of warfare
revolutions, modern warfare is unique,
lethal, and much more destructive than
ever. You may refer the ‘AI In Defence: The
Warfare Revolution 3.0’ article published
in EFY July 2019 issue, which talks about
various warfare revolutions in the history
of mankind.
Modern warfare is part of the third revo-
lution that uses drones, unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs), and AI. With the use of

Representation of AI-robotic armies (Credit: lifeboat.com)

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 43

 Artificial Intelligence
AI technology, modern electronics
warfare is becoming more intelli-
gent, effective, and precise in many
ways. The recent killing of Iranian
major general Qasem Soleimani near
Baghdad International Airport by a
US drone in January this year was
an example of the preciseness and
effectiveness of a drone and also an
eye-opener. According to some news,
the world’s most feared drone, MQ-9
Reaper, had killed Soleimani. The
recent tension between the US and
Iran has witnessed the use of many
deadly drones in the Middle East.
Every country has its own secret
planning and strategy to modernise
warfare equipment in the airspace,
ground, and sea. Leveraging AI tech-
nology in warfare equipment gives
greater advantage in the race towards
modernisation of military equipment.
All the autonomous machines have
some form of AI and other sophisti-
cated technologies involved. This is
why an autonomous drone is one of
the most advanced and secret pro-
jects of the defence department in
many countries.
This article covers the use of AI
in military applications, including
skies, lands and seas, and on-going
modernisation of Indian warfare
equipment.
AI in sky
Skyborg drone, originally designed
as a flying AI machine, is now envi-
sioned as a combat aerial vehicle
having the capability to carry out
dangerous missions, including hunt-
ing down or jamming enemy air
defence networks, recon-
naissance missions, or
striking targets in heavily
defended airspace. Ear-
lier, Skyborg was meant
to operate either togeth-
er with a piloted fighter,
providing assistance to a
human pilot, or as an AI
flying machine on autono-
mous mode. AI-powered
Skyborg drones are likely
to be put into use by 2023.
XQ-58 Valkyrie drone
can fly at a high sub-
sonic speed and take off
without a runway. It is a
stealthy drone designed Uran-9 robot (Credit: armyrecognition.com)
44 July 2020 • electronics For You
MQ-9 Reaper drone (Credit: en.wikipedia.org)
and built by Kratos Defence & Secu-
rity Solutions for the US Air Force. It
has been designed to perform and
operate as a fighter jet. Further, the
air force is exploring to use F-35 and
F-15EX fighter jets together with the
Valkyrie drone.
MQ-9 Reaper, developed by
General Atomics Aeronautical Sys-
tems, is the first hunter-killer UAV
designed for long-endurance and
high-altitude surveillance. It is also
called Predator B, capable of being
remotely controlled or autonomous
flight operations, primarily for
the US Air Force. It has a range of
1,850km and an operational altitude
of 15km, which makes it useful for
long-term loitering operations for
both surveillance and support of
ground troops. The Reaper has been
sold to many countries, including the
UK, France, and Australia.
AI on ground
Some countries are replacing foot
soldiers on the ground with intelligent
robots, allowing them to engage with
enemies without putting human lives
at risk. Robot tanks, vehicles, and
sentries are being developed to replace
human soldiers.
For example, the Uran-9 robot is
an unmanned combat ground vehicle
(UCGV) developed and produced by
the Russian Defence company, UPTK.
The robot is especially designed to
deliver combined combat, reconnais-
sance, and counter-terrorism units
with remote reconnaissance and fire
support. It can be used autonomously
on predefined paths or manually oper-
ated on roads.
The robotic system
is equipped with a wide
range of remote-controlled
sensor modules such as
laser warning systems and
electro-optic and ther-
mal imaging cameras.
The onboard fire control
system consists of auto-
matic target detection,
identification, and tracking
devices as well as ballistic
computers. It is capable
of detecting and tracking
enemy targets at a distance
up to 6km during day and
3km at night. The Uran-9
www.EFYMag.com

robotic armed vehicle was inducted
in January 2019.
SGR-A1, an AI-based sentry gun,
is a stationary lethal autonomous
weapons system (LAWS). South Korea
is using these sentry guns for years
along the heavily defended border
with North Korea. They are placed at
a fixed location to watch and respond
to possible threats. These were devel-
oped in 2006 and reportedly deployed
in 2010 along the demilitarised zone.
A similar system, developed by
DoMaam Super aEgis II, was also
unveiled in 2010. It can detect humans
at a distance up to 3km during day
and 2.2km at night. It is normally
equipped with a 12.7mm caliber
standard gun.
AI in sea
Robots and AI are not only used for
research in the deep sea but also for
defence applications.
The US defence research agency
DARPA has developed an unmanned
submarine tracking vessel called Sea
Hunter. It has been built with many
electronic sensors, image-processing
hardware, and software. It can be
armed and used for anti-submarine
and counter-mine duties. This autono-
mous ship can travel thousands of
miles for months without a human
crew.
The Russian Poseidon is an auton-
omous, nuclear-powered, and nucle-
ar-armed unmanned underwater
vehicle under development by Rubin
Design Bureau. It is capable of deliv-
ering both conventional and nuclear
payloads. The Poseidon is a family of
drones having multiple features and
HSU001 autonomous underwater vehicles (Credit: www.forbes.com)
www.EFYMag.com
Artificial Intelligence
BrahMos missile (Credit: www.fresherslive.com )
capabilities. It is an oceanic multipur- is expected to be ready within three
pose system. to five years.
China is believed to have deployed Kamorta-class corvettes with the
many unmanned underwater vehicles Indian Navy, currently in service,
(UUVs) and autonomous underwater are a class of anti-submarine warfare
vehicles (AUVs) in the South China corvettes. These were the first anti-
Sea. The HSU001, one of its autono- submarine warfare stealth corvettes
mous vehicles, was showcased during to be built in India. INS Kavaratti
China’s 70th National Day in October corvette is one of the projects that
last year. recently completed sea trials and was
delivered to the Indian Navy in Febru-
Modernisation of Indian ary 2020.
warfare equipment The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) vision
The government of India has already for 2020 includes plans to raise its
initiated the process of preparing inventory of fighter combat squad-
Indian defence forces in using AI and rons, acquire more advanced fighters,
developing the technology within the sophisticated defence systems, and
country in order to modernise the smart long-range weapons. The IAF
defence equipment. will receive forty upgraded Su-30MKIs
A fully indig- capable of carrying the BrahMos
enous Futuristic cruise missile, possibly before 2020
Infantry Combat end.
Vehicle (FICV) is BrahMos is a medium-range
being developed ramjet supersonic cruise missile that
by Ordnance Fac- can be launched from submarines,
tory Board (OFB) ships, aircraft, or land. It is described
and Defence as the world’s fastest supersonic
Research Devel- cruise missile with a high degree of
opment Oranisa- precision and accuracy. It can be used
tion (DRDO) for by Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
use by the Indian Ghatak, an unmanned combat
Army. Most of the air vehicle (UCAV) and, Rustom, an
parts to be used unmanned air vehicle (UAV), are under
in the production development by DRDO. India is also
w i l l b e d eve l - likely to purchase thirty Reaper drones
oped in India. It from the US State Department.
electronics For You • July 2020 45
 Test & Measurement

T&M Solutions
For Satellite Systems
A satellite has to operate in very harsh conditions after launch. It has to function in a vacuum
while handling high levels of electromagnetic radiation and fluctuation in temperatures.
Therefore it’s crucial to test each satellite properly before it enters space. This article covers the
various types of satellites testing and challenges that may occur during the process

Deepshikha Shukla

Satellite testing before launch (Credit: https://images.unsplash.com)

M
ost people probably never think
of how many times satellites
affect their lives. But every time
you turn on your GPS to find a location,
or check the weather forecast, satellites
play an essential part. We rely on satellites
for so many things in our lives, including
communication, navigation, remote sens-
ing, surveillance, and earth observation.
Therefore satellites have to be durable
and reliable.
A satellite has to operate in very harsh
conditions after launch. It has to function
in a vacuum while handling high levels of
electromagnetic radiation and fluctuation
in temperatures. Also, it must survive
the extreme vibrations and high acoustic
levels during launch. Governments or pri-

46 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com


Satellite thermal vacuum testing (Credit: www.nasa.gov)
vate companies that spend millions
or even billions of dollars a year on
satellite technology need to ensure
that their investments would be
fruitful. That’s why it’s vital to test
each satellite properly before it gets
launched into space.
Satellite testing approach
Testing must begin at the initial
phase of satellite construction for
checking each component’s accel-
eration during launch, power con-
sumption, RF performance, etc.
Common components that need
testing include solar panels, anten-
nas, batteries, electrical equipment,
fuel cells, and radio equipment for
transmitting information from the
satellite to the ground station.
As these parts get assembled into
larger pieces, they must undergo
additional tests. At the final stage, a
quality control team must conduct
rigorous testing before declaring the
satellite ready for flight.
Requirements for satellite testing
depend on its construction, design,
and payload. Once satellites are in
orbit, these are usually beyond the
reach of repair. That is why compa-
nies that design and test satellites
must consider every contingency
and examine everything multiple
times to avoid any error. Although,
if a part of the satellite fails after
launch but other components that
www.EFYMag.com
are providing critical information
are still operational, the satellite will
remain in use until it has reached the
end of its lifecycle.
A crucial part of all satellite test-
ing is the recording of data that will
later get analysed to find and repair
problems with the satellite. Test
throughput and cost of the test are
major contributors to these structures.
Regular verification of test equipment
performance as per specifications
ensures repeatable measurements and
successful acceptance testing, which
can significantly reduce the time and
cost of tests.
Challenges of satellite testing
Satellite testing presents unique chal-
lenges. When you test a satellite, you
are often testing the one that will
eventually go into orbit. Therefore,
while the tests need to be meticulous,
the testing itself should not damage
the satellite in any way.
It costs hundreds of millions of
dollars to manufacture and launch
a satellite. Currently, satellites are
simply decommissioned when these
run out of fuel. Satellites are subject
to the most challenging technological
standards and requirements while
operating in space.
Once the satellite is built, no part
of it is generally removed for testing.
Hence, without being able to see
the inside of the satellite, you need
Test & Measurement
to perform all the checks. Thus,
sufficiently thorough and accurate
preflight testing is required within
provided schedules and budgets.
The characteristics of satellite com-
munications such as propagation
delay, variable channel, and limited
bandwidth present challenges for
the service providers.
Various tests performed
on integrated satellite
Reducing the cost of tests can sig-
nificantly reduce the total cost of a
satellite program, enabling profit-
able ventures in new satellite appli-
cations. Maintaining instrument and
system accuracy and regular check-
ing of the key parameters reduce the
overall cost of tests and shorten the
program schedule in multiple ways.
Following are a few major satellite
tests:
Thermo-vacuum testing. In this
test, the satellite is kept in a vacuum
chamber to check the working of
its hardware under various thermal
loads. The thermal insulation has
to maintain the temperatures of the
PCBs and sensors like magnetometer
and GPS, and also the battery, in
the desired range. The functioning
of each PCB, sensor, actuator, bat-
tery, uplink, and downlink is thor-
oughly tested within the extreme
space temperature range. Thermal
vacuum chambers are used to test
satellite operating performance in a
space environment (vacuum) with
great temperature fluctuations to
ensure that thermal control analysis
performed during the design phase
is accurate.
Antenna deployment test. It
helps to ensure successful deploy-
ment of satellite antenna in space.
For establishing a reliable com-
munication between the ground
control station and satellite, antenna
deployment is one of the most
important tasks. It includes antenna
design validation in transmitting and
receiving mode to test transmitting/
receiving modules and verify switch
matrix performance to meet the
highest performance requirements
in the hazards of space.
Global Navigation Satellite
System (GNSS) testing. GNSS
receiver tests can only be conclusive
electronics For You • July 2020 47
 Test & Measurement
Satellite communication testing (Credit: www.gl.com)
when these are performed under an
environment that is close to reality.
Thus, GNSS simulation must include
proper simulation of satellite orbits,
interfering signals, signal propaga-
tion characteristics, characteristics
of receiver antenna, and receiver
environment.
Ground station and ground
terminal testing. Once a satellite is
on its target orbit, several routines
need to be performed to ensure
optimum performance of the entire
chain of satellite communications.
Validation, monitoring, and perfor-
mance test of ground stations are
of vital importance for the satellite
operator.
Vibration testing. Vibration tests
are very costly to carry out and are
among the most crucial checks to
conduct. The collected data from the
vibration test allows the analysis of
the satellite structure design to meet
the vibration requirements. Vibra-
tion test is generally done before
the thermo-vacuum test by applying
various loads on the launch vehicle
as follows:
• Static loading tests the vibra-
tions due to accelerations experi-
enced during flight
• Harmonic loading simulates
the vibrations that the satellite will
experience during launch
• Random loading tests random
vibrations in time and frequency
domain
• Shock testing tests for mechan-
48 July 2020 • electronics For You
ical shocks during the liftoff and sub-
sequent launch trajectory
• Acoustic test simulates a vibra-
tion environment to verify whether
the satellite can function normally
after bearing acoustic vibrations
Satellite payload testing. Satellite
payload systems must operate reliably
in space, providing reliable service for
decades of operational life. Additional
tests will include measurements to
learn each satellite’s exact centre of
gravity and mass to ensure its compat-
ibility with its launch vehicle. It also
helps to control the orientation when
the satellites are in orbit, which can
determine how long they will operate
in space.
Electromagnetic compatibility.
Satellites also need to get tested for
shielding against external radio sig-
nals. The electromagnetic (EM) inter-
ference and compatibility tests are
used to understand EM field response
produced by the satellite itself under
normal operation and to determine
the EM interference limit that satellites
can tolerate.
Hardware-in-the-loop simulation
(HLIS) test. A HILS facility is used to
test one of the most complex systems
onboard, the Attitude and Orbit Con-
trol System (AOCS) of satellites in a
closed-loop, catering to the stringent
requirements of the spacecraft mis-
sion. During HILS tests, deficiencies
in the spacecraft hardware, software,
interfaces, etc, are determined and
corrected to achieve flawless opera-
tion of AOCS in orbit.
Subsystem testing. It includes
battery voltage and bus voltage test-
ing, primary and secondary battery
voltage testing, solar panel voltage
checking, actuator and sensors
testing, momentum wheel testing,
magnetic voltage, sun sensor test-
ing, indoor and outdoor testing, RF
emission testing, pressure checking,
fuel tank and oxidiser tank testing,
solenoid valve checking, static and
dynamic load testing, and satellite
thrusters testing.
Some satellite testing
solutions providers
For many years, only governments
were involved in the construction
and testing of satellites. However,
these days large and small private
companies are increasingly investing
in satellites for commercial purposes
like television and radio signals, tel-
ecommunications, and even military
applications.
NTS provides a network of facili-
ties to conduct the necessary tests,
including building gigantic climate
chambers, to analyse how a satel-
lite would respond to the vacuum
of space or to extreme changes in
temperature. It also conducts tests
for vibration, solar radiation, dealing
with the dust of space or pyroshock,
which might occur during the booster
separation stage or the satellite sepa-
ration stage from explosive bolts.
NASA and some other private
companies are exploring the ways of
satellite servicing, which can make
spaceflight more sustainable, afford-
able, and resilient. It is testing space
robots to diagnose, maintain, and
extend a spacecraft’s life.
GNSS test solutions from Rohde &
Schwarz and some others enable test-
ing subsystems, assemblies, and com-
ponents to validate the performance
of ground station terminals and
in-orbit service under well-defined
and controlled conditions. All GNSS
scenarios are fully customisable and
repeatable.
GL Communications provides
various test solutions to monitor and
test backhaul networks, no matter
what type of media, bandwidth, or
signalling is over the satellite net-
work.
www.EFYMag.com
 Interview Make in India

There Is No Machine
Which Can’t Be Made In India
Ashok Chadda
managing director, Powersem GmbH Germany
and Powersem Semiconductors Pvt Ltd India

Make in India is surely what we all should promote; but first of all, we need a well-developed infrastructure for the same. Ashok Chadda,
managing director, Powersem GmbH Germany and Powersem Semiconductors Pvt Ltd India, in a conversation with Deepshikha Shukla,
discusses how Make in India helps to uplift the Indian electronics market and what its challenges are

Q. How can Make in India products
help to reduce costs?
A. Customers in India should buy
innovative modules made in India
and believe more in Indian products.
If you want to innovate with your
application, use resources available in
India. Also, with new kinds of mount-
ing technologies and modules, you
can really save costs.
Q. What is a good way to target cus-
tomers in the electronics market?
A. It’s good to look for distributors
both online as well as offline. But we
are thinking about selling products
online only. In Europe, we’re selling
mainly through online distributors,
and it is working fine. Therefore we
are also starting online sales in India.
Earlier, we were only exporting, but
now we are in contact with some of
the online distributors. We’re looking
for partnerships in India with online
distributors and application centres.
Q. How far the Make in India govern-
ment policies are helping manufac-
ture in India?
A. A lot of developers of semicon-
ductors are from India, but living and
working abroad. We can all innovate
here too, but to sell products from
India worldwide, we need a far better
infrastructure facilities, better corpo-
rate laws, and more support from the
Indian government. What we have
seen so far is that there is no machine
which can’t be made in India.
Right now, it is very difficult to
manufacture in India as there are
sudden introductions like GST. But
we feel that with this government,
we can get it done. We have to talk
openly and keep trust in our abilities
because Europeans and Americans
trust Indian abilities, and a lot of
their CEOs are Indians.
Q. Do you believe that moving
towards industry automation can
help India?
A. We believe that with the
number of people we have in India,
we should mainly work with them.
And we don’t believe in buying
expensive machines from Ger-
many or Europe because you will
also have to fly in people who are
maintaining these. We don’t need
to buy big expensive machines from
Europe as we can make alternative
machines even in India and learn to
use and improve them step by step.
So, in India, we have got every-
thing, including skilled labour and
industries that can make customised
machinery, which is much cheaper.
If we buy machines in India, these
can be maintained by Indians. So,
our maintenance costs also get
reduced. And the other thing is that
we don’t believe in making goods
in India by buying machines from
abroad like from China, USA or
Europe.
Q. What are the challenges faced by
the Indian market and how are you
planning to overcome them?
A. There are a lot of foreign
companies that are coming to India
and are manufacturing products
in Sweden, Germany, Brazil, or
the USA. They are coming to India
and want to sell the same products
in India. But it makes no sense
manufacturing in Germany and
other places and sending it all the
way here because the cost becomes
in addition very high. And if you
want to be competitive with China,
you have to reduce costs. So, we
want to make the same modules in
India that we make in Germany for
the local market and also for export
to Middle East Turkey, Australia
or Malaysia and other emerging
markets.
Q. How are you planning to contrib-
ute to the Indian electronics market?
A. Powersem’s main target is
to sell innovative and customised
power semiconductor modules in
India—whether developed and made
in Germany or India. We want to
offer a single quality worldwide that
can be also exported from India.
We provide power semiconductor
modules for the PC board, which can
be mounted directly on the board or
can be pressed in or can be soldered.
We are also focusing on the minia-
turisation of electronic components
to save material and costs. We are
planning to supply innovation made
in India not bought from China or
Germany into India. Currently, we
have a manufacturing unit in Banga-
lore, and we are planning to expand
it to North India, Pondicherry or East
India.

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 49

 Interview Test & Measurement
Everyone With A Smartphone
Now Has A Personal Satellite
Navigation System
From providing logistic solutions to guiding users, navigation satellite systems are fundamental to modern technologies like the
Internet of Things (IoT). Jim Lin, marketing director, SkyTraq, discusses the operation and scope of GPS/GNSS technology for industrial
and consumer navigation and tracking applications in an interaction with Ayushee Sharma
Q. What are the applications of GNSS
receivers?
A. Popular Global Navigation Satel-
lite System (GNSS) receiver applica-
tions are navigation with smartphones,
calling taxi knowing where it is and
when it’ll arrive, fleet management,
vehicle anti-theft GPS locator, GPS
sports watch, etc. Less well known are
time synchronisation and frequency
reference application, which can be
used for synchronising time across
the globe to the accuracy of 10nsec,
or used in GPS Disciplined Oscillator
(GPSDO) to generate precise reference
frequency for base stations.
Q. How are compatibility and interop-
erability among different service pro-
viders of navigation satellite systems
maintained?
A. The compatibility and interoper-
ability of different global and regional
navigation systems were carried out
bilaterally in the past between US-India
on GPS/IRNSS, EU-US on Galileo/GPS,
EU-China on Galileo/BeiDou, and US-
Japan on GPS/QZSS. Multilaterally, the
compatibility and interoperability are
discussed through ICG (International
Committee on Global Navigation Satel-
lite Systems).
Q. Can you explain the working of
GNSS?
A. The principle of GNSS is trian-
gulation. The GNSS receiver measures
the travel time of GNSS signals from
satellites to the receiver. Using decoded
data from GNSS signals, the receiver
can compute the position of satellites.
By using travel time measurements,
one could derive travelled distance by
multiplying travel time by the speed
of light. By combining positions of
three satellites, one can draw three
50 July 2020 • electronics For You
Jim Lin
marketing director, SkyTraq
spheres in 3D, with sphere centre being
the satellite position and the sphere
radius being travelled distance, the
receiver position will be one of the two
intersecting points; that is, using three
satellite measurements to derive the
(x,y,z)- three unknowns of the receiver
position.
GNSS receivers typically do not have
super-accurate atomic clocks as in the
navigation satellites but have low-cost
time reference that has some time dif-
ference (dt) from the atomic clock. This
unknown dt time difference requires
another satellite measurement. Once dt
is known, the GNSS receiver can adjust
its local time to match atomic clock time
within 10nsec.
Q. On what factors is the selection of a
GNSS module based?
A. Applications such as autono-
mous ground vehicle precision guid-
ance or UAV to spray pesticides will
require centimetre-level-accuracy RTK
receivers. Applications that are often in
a partial signal blockage environment
may benefit from the latest quad-GNSS
capable receivers. Being able to use
more satellite constellations, a quad-
GNSS receiver can have more satellite
signals to work within urban canyons
than a regular GPS/GLONASS receiver,
thus providing better accuracy.
Another consideration may arise
from regulation requirements. For
example, the AIS-140 application in
India requires a minimum of NavIC/
GPS capability.
Q. What considerations in design can
help ensure GPS accuracy?
A. There are various new devel-
opments on the satellite signals to
improve GNSS receiver accuracy.
Precise Point Positioning (PPP) cor-
rection data is being broadcast on the
satellite signal. Japan’s QZSS satellites
are broadcasting LEX signals to provide
centimetre-level accuracy positioning to
Japan and Asia-Pacific regions. Galileo
plans to provide high accuracy service
by broadcasting E6 signals to enable
better than 20cm accuracy positioning
globally, and so on.
New GNSS chipsets will accom-
modate these new signals to enable
the standalone centimetre-level to
decimetre-level accuracy. By using an
inertial measurement unit with a GNSS
receiver, high accuracy can be main-
tained for a while after signal blockage
to ensure reliability.
Q. Which GNSS system is most often
found in smartphones?
A. A smartphone has a minimum
of GPS/GLONASS signal receiving
capability. Newer models can receive
additional Galileo and BeiDou signals.
They have similar 2.5m CEP accuracy
(inferior to precise RTK or PPP solu-
tions) under the open sky. The ones
capable of using more satellite constel-
lations can have better accuracy under
adverse signal environments.
Q. How do you see the growth of the
consumer satellite navigation market in
the coming years?
A. Everyone with a smartphone
now has a personal satellite naviga-
tion system. New growth areas would
be smartwatches with GNSS function
for accurate fitness tracking of running
distance and pace rate, cars with satel-
lite navigation systems having inertial
measurement units, and barometric
pressure sensors that provide improved
position accuracy in all road envi-
ronments, giving correct navigation
instructions.
www.EFYMag.com
 Do-It-Yourself
OTP Based Wireless
Smart Lock System
T
his is a one-time password
(OTP) based smart locking
system using Arduino and Blue-
tooth. It can generate a new password
Fig. 1: Author’s prototype wired on breadboard
Fig. 2: Arduino code with library and variables
Fig. 3: Setup serial, servo and pin mode
www.EFYMag.com
Ashwini Kumar Sinha
every time you try to unlock it, which
gives you extra security.
A key-based locking system has
now become outdated because if your
Fig. 4: Loop( )and OTP( ) functions
EF Y
o
i The
San
key is lost or stolen, it creates a huge
problem. Also, the electronic wireless
locking system is not that safe because
you might forget your password, or it
might get stolen by others while enter-
ing the password on your device. So,
we can make a DIY smart lock that
has the capability to remove all these
security threats and problems.
The author’s prototype wired on a
breadboard is shown in Fig. 1.
To start the project, we need the
following hardware components/
materials:
• Arduino Uno
• Bluetooth HC-05
• Jumper wires
• Servo motor
• LED
• 5V battery or power bank
• USB type-B cable for program-
ming Arduino
• Breadboard or veroboard PCB
After collecting all these compo-
nents, start the project by writing an
Arduino code.
Coding
First, we need to include the library
and declare variables, as shown in
code snippet Fig. 2. Include a servo
library and then create a string array
to generate a password. Next, create a
few more string variables to store the
password, OTP, and LED pin numbers
as given in code snippet.
Now, in the second code snippet,
electronics For You • July 2020 51
 Do-It-Yourself
we need to set up serial and baud rate
for Bluetooth as shown in Fig. 3. Set
up a pin for servo using servo.attach
(PWM pin number) function. Then
define pin mode as output for LEDs.
In the third part of the code, create
a loop, and check the incoming data
from Bluetooth. Next, create ‘if state-
ment’ to check the device ID. If it
matches, create OTP ( ) function for
generation of OTP as shown in Fig. 4.
In the last part of the code, as
shown in Fig. 5, create a check ( )
function to check whether OTP is
correct or not. If it is correct, turn the
servo to an open position to unlock the
locking system.
Congrats, you have done Arduino
coding part!
Fig. 5: Check ( ) function
Fig. 6: Smart lock layout for Android app
52 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU
Now, let’s develop an Android
app for our project. We can develop
an Android app on two different
platforms—Android Studio and MIT
App Inventor. Here, let’s choose the
MIT App Inventor because it’s easy to
make an app with blocks and without
normal coding.
Android app development
First, you need to have a valid Google
email account. Next, open the link
https://appinventor.mit.edu to start
the MIT App Inventor project. You will
find two tabs—Designer and Blocks
on the top right side of the screen.
Create a layout from the designer
section, as shown in Fig. 6. Just drag
and drop the components from the
Connections with Arduino
Uno and Other Components
Arduino pins Components and pin
Pin 9 (PWM) Servo yellow wire (signal
input wire)
Rx Bluetooth module Tx
Tx Bluetooth module Rx
GND Bluetooth (-Ve)
Vcc 5V battery (+Ve)
Pin 12 Red LED (Anode)
user interface (UI) on the left side or
download the .aia file from source.
efymag.com.
Now, select the Blocks tab to start
blocks coding. (In this platform, you
can program the app’s behaviour
by putting blocks together). First,
we need to initialise Bluetooth list
available for connection from the
App Inventor Blocks Editor section.
Then we need to set a button function
to send device ID according to our
Arduino code, as shown in Fig. 7.
Now, save the file as .apk on your
computer. Transfer .apk file to your
Android smartphone and install it.
We are almost done now. We
have completed Arduino coding and
Android app development. Now, let’s
start our hardware setup and connec-
tions. The circuit connections with the
Arduino Uno board and other compo-
nents are given in the table and also
shown in Fig. 8.
Next, let’s crosscheck everything,
including connections. Wrong connec-
tions can damage your costly Arduino
board. Do not connect servo motor
directly to the 5V pin of Arduino.
It is not safe because
Arduino has not been
made for the amount of
current that is required
for servo motor to oper-
ate. Use a separate 5V
DC supply for the servo
motor. For interfacing
the servo motor with
the actual lock, you may
refer to the ‘Make Your
Own Smart Wireless Bio-
metric Lock’ DIY article
published in February
issue.
Congrats, you have
completed your awe-
some project! Now,
switch on your OTP
www.EFYMag.com
 Do-It-Yourself

Now
Book
Your Ads
Online

25%
And Get

Fig. 7: App Inventor blocks for the smart lock layout

Instant Discount!
ALL CREDIT CARD / DEBIT CARD /
NET BANKING ACCEPTED

You can even

select the position
of your choice.

Facility is
available for
multiple insertions.

Pay online and

get confirmation
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Scan this Code
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www.efymag.com/advertise
Fig. 8: Complete circuit connections of smart lock system

based smart wireless locking system nected’ message on the app.

and follow the steps given below:
1. Open the installed OTP_Smart-
lock app and turn on the Bluetooth in
your Android phone.
2. Touch on the Bluetooth icon to
get a list of Bluetooth connections for
pairing.
3. Select HC-05 from the list. On
4. Touch on the key icon to send
the device ID. If the device ID of app India’s
and lock matches, then an OTP will be
received in the app next to the key icon. Electronics
5. Touch the lock icon and enter Magazine
OTP in the text bar. If everything RANKING AS PER
is fine, the servo motor will move ELCINA-IMRB
to unlock the lock. At the same REPORT

successful pairing, you will get a ‘con- time, the onboard LED of Arduino
will light up, indicating success-
ful unlocking of the smart lock
system.
EFY Note
The source code Ashwini Kumar Sinha is an electronics
of this project hobbyist and tech journalist at EFYi
is available
for free download
at source.efymag.com
www.EFYMag.com electronics FOR YOU • JULY 2020 53
 Do-It-Yourself
EF Y
vedi
Dwi
S.C.

Make This Handy Zener Meter Fayaz Hassan

For Faster Testing

T
he circuit presented here is com-
pact and handy for measuring the BOARD1= STEP UP BUCK BOOSTER/CONVERTER (9V TO 30V OR 40V)
D2
voltage rating of a Zener diode 1N4007 BOARD1
CON2
instantly. To check a Zener diode, it is D1 VIN+ VOUT+ PZ1 FOR
connected across a DC power supply 1N4007
1 IC1 3 R1 VOUT−
R3
PIEZO
SJ2
R2 VIN− BUZZER
with a suitable resistor in series, then 7805 2.2K
10K
10K
R5
the voltage drop across Zener diode 2 SJ1,SJ2 ARE 12K
is measured using a multimeter. The \1
RESET Vcc
8 SHORTING
P+
LED1 JUMPERS
whole setup, including selection of S1
POWER INDI. 2
PB3 ADC1
7
R6
470K
voltage range in multimeter, takes POWER C1
10u
C2
3 6
ON/OFF 10u PB4 PB1 R4
more time than the actual measure- 25V 16V 2.2K R7
4 5
ment itself. GND PB0
T1
47K

SDA
GND

This circuit uses only a 9V battery
as a power supply for checking voltage
drop across a Zener diode that may
be rated even higher than 9V. It may
also be used as a continuity tester,
diode junction tester, LED tester, etc.
It displays basically the voltage drop
across its two probes, which is useful
for such testing.
Circuit and working
The circuit diagram of the Zener meter
is shown in Fig. 1. It is built around a
5V voltage regulator 7805 (IC1), micro-
controller ATtiny85 (IC2), an organic
light-emitting diode (OLED) display,
transistor 2N2222 (T1), buck-boost
converter (Board1) and few other
components.
The ATtiny85 microcontroller
(MCU) configured as a voltmeter using
its ADC channel displays the voltage
across the probes on OLED display. A
buck-booster module is used to step-
up the 9V DC input to about 42V DC,
which is required for measuring the
voltage drop across the Zener diode.
Due to small size of the components
used here, the circuit becomes compact
and handy.
The OLED display used here is
2.4cm in size with 128×64 pixel
resolution, which requires a 5V DC
supply and an I2C connector. It has
four pins, out of which two are for
power supply, one for serial data
(SDA) and one for the clock (SCL).
The text/message is displayed in
16×8 bit size font and voltage is dis-
SCL
BATT.1
Vcc
9V CON1
FOR
OLED
GND P+,P− ARE THE PROBES USED TO MEASURE THE VALUE OF ZENER DIODE
Fig. 1: Circuit diagram of handy Zener meter
played in 32×24 bit size font.
A buck-boost converter (Board1) is
a type of DC-DC switch-mode power
Parts List
Semiconductors:
IC1 - 7805 voltage regulator
IC2 - ATtiny85 microcontroller
D1, D2 - 1N4007 rectifier diode
T1 - 2N2222 npn transistor
LED1 - 5mm LED
Board1 - LM2577 buck-boost converter
Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon):
R1, R4 - 2.2-kilo-ohm
R2, R3 - 10-kilo-ohm
R5 - 12-kilo-ohm
R6 - 470-kilo-ohm
R7 - 47-kilo-ohm
VR1 - 10-kilo-ohm potmeter
Capacitors:
C1 - 10µF, 25V electrolytic
C2 - 10µF, 16V electrolytic
C3 - 0.1µF ceramic disk
Miscellaneous:
BATT.1 - 9V battery
CON1 - 4-pin connector
CON2, CON3 - 2-pin connector
S1 - On/off switch
SJ1, SJ2 - Shorting jumper
PZ1 - Piezo buzzer
- 4-pin OLED, 2.4cm
128×64 pixel
- 8-pin IC base
- Jumper wires
- Berg connector
- 2-pin terminal connector
for battery
(All these are available from kitsnspares.com)
IC2 2N2222
C3 CON3 P−
ATTINY85 0.1u FOR VR1
SJ1 10K
supply module to change the output
voltage. The buck-boost converter
used here is an LM2577 based step-
up module. Any step-up buck-boost
module with more than 30V DC
output may be used in this circuit.
The circuit can work in either 0-30V
range (in case jumper SJ1 is shorting)
or 0-40V range (in case jumper SJ1 is
open/disconnected). The range may
be selected based on the maximum
output of the buck-boost module.
Software
The software code (ZenerMeter.c)
for ATtiny85 MCU is written in C
language. It requires three libraries
(oled_lib.c, font_basic_16x8.h and
oled_nums_32x24.h), which are kept
in the same folder as ZenerMeter.c.
The hex code (ZenerMeter.hex) can
be generated using any AVR C com-
piler such as Programmers Notepad
(WinAVR). During testing, we used
ISP programmer for burning the hex
code ZenerMeter.hex into ATtiny85.
You can use any suitable AVR MCU
programmer.
The software controls the display
through I2C serial communication
protocol. The physical I2C pins (SDA
and SCL) of ATtiny85 are not used in

54 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Do-It-Yourself
this project. Note that the
OLED can be controlled
through two pins of any
AVR MCU using software,
leaving I2C pins for other
applications or control.
An actual-size PCB
layout for the handy
Zener meter is shown in
Fig. 2 and its components
layout in Fig. 3. Assemble
the circuit on the PCB
and connect 9V battery
to it.
Fig. 2: Actual-size PCB layout of Zener meter
Initial setup
1. Disconnect shorting
jumpers SJ1 and SJ2.
Wr i t e / p r o g r a m t h e
zenermeter.hex code to
ATtiny85 MCU through
ISP port using an AVR
programmer. Insert the
programmed MCU on the
PCB. It is recommended
to use an 8-pin IC base
for the MCU on the PCB.
2. Connect a multi-
meter in voltage mode
across Vout+ and Vout-
of the buck-boost module Fig. 3: Components layout of the PCB
(Board1) and switch on
S1. Then, adjust inbuilt potmeter of diode, it will start displaying the
module to get about 42 volts. In case, unknown voltage drop of the diode.
the maximum output of the module is The circuit is now ready to use. This
below 42 volts, then adjust the inbuilt circuit can measure Zener voltages
potmeter to about 32 volts. Now, dis- of up to 40V.
connect the multimeter. When no component is connected
3. Connect a known voltage source across the probes (P+ and P-), ‘Zener
(between 10V DC and 25V DC, say absent’ message is displayed on
12V) and a multimeter (in voltage the OLED. When a Zener diode is
mode) across the probes P+ and P-. connected (in reverse polarity), the
Adjust VR1 to match the voltage read- voltage drop across the Zener diode
ing on OLED display with multimeter is displayed on the OLED. When a
reading. Now, disconnect the multim- junction diode is connected in for-
eter. ward bias mode, or both the probes
4. Connect shorting jumpers SJ1 are shorted (continuity tester mode),
and SJ2. Now, restart the circuit by the voltage drop across the probes is
switching S1 off and on again. The displayed and a small beep is gener-
‘Zener meter’ along with a maximum ated. In case an LED is connected in
voltage range message will appear forward bias mode, the LED glows
on the OLED display. Connect the and voltage drop across the LED is
probes (P+ and P-) across a Zener also displayed.

Fayaz Hassan is a manager

efy Note at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant,
The source code Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
His interest includes MCU projects,
of this project mechatronics, and robotics
is available
for free download
at source.efymag.com
www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 55
 Do-It-Yourself
EF Y
vedi
Dwi
S.C.

Conveyor Jam Detector T.K. Hareendran

For Industries

T
he conveyor jam detector cir- While packages of various shapes fixed-voltage timing application. It is
cuit presented here is designed and sizes move down a conveyor belt, advisable to connect the entire elec-
to activate an alarm device or it is imperative that they continue tronic assembly to an industry-grade
programmable logic controller (PLC) to travel down to prevent potential linear/switch mode DC power supply
when the speed of the conveyor system delays or severe damages due to an adaptor.
falls below the set minimum speed, accidental jam. Following the common You can design a range of prox-
alerting the workers the possibility of industrial practice, the sensor head of imity sensors as the sensor head for
jamming of the conveyor system. Con- the conveyor jam detector can be the conveyor jam detector but using
veyor jam detector is an indispensable installed in the second return idler a readymade inductive (or optical)
sensor device found in most conveyor support from the drive-end. (Normally proximity sensor can save both time
safety and control systems. when the speed of the conveyor belt is and effort.
slowing down, the rota- The circuit diagram is very clear
tion speed of the return and self-explanatory. The first mon-
idler is slowing down as ostable (IC2A) of IC2, which com-
well.) The conveyor jam prises pins 1 through 7, is configured
sensor head installation as a retriggerable monostable, and
is shown in Fig. 1. the leading edge of its output pin 6
is used to trigger the second mon-
Design description ostable (IC2B), which comprises
The circuit diagram of pins 9 through 15. LED1 and LED2
the conveyor jam detec- are system status indicators wired
tor is shown in Fig. 2. It to the output of the first and second
is built on a dual preci- monostable, respectively. RC timing
sion monostable mul-
tivibrator HCF4538B Parts List
that offers stable retrig-
Semiconductors:
gerable/resettable one- IC1 - LM7812, 12V voltage
Fig. 1: Conveyor jam sensor head installation shot operation for any regulator
IC2 - HCF4538B dual monostable
T1 - BC547 npn transistor
LED1, LED2 - 5mm LED
D1 - 1N4007 rectifier diode
1 IC1 3 C4 100n
R4 100K Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon):
LM7812 C3
C1 R1, R2, R4 - 100-kilo-ohm
100u
100u 2 VR2 1M R3, R6 - 2.2-kilo-ohm
25V 1 16 C5
63V Cx1 VDD
R5 - 10-kilo-ohm
10u,25V
15
2
RxCx(1) Cx2 VR1, VR2 - 1-mega-ohm potmeter
R1 100K
3 14 Capacitors:
RESET(1) IC2 RxCx(2)
C2
T1 CON4 C1 - 100µF, 63V electrolytic
D1 VR1 1M BC547 C2 - 1µF, 25V electrolytic
1u,25V HCF4538B 13
FOR
1N4007 4
+TR(1) RESET(2) C3 - 100µF, 25V electrolytic
SIGNAL
5
−TR(1) +TR(2)
12 OUT C4 - 100nF ceramic disk
R2 100K 6 11
R5 C5 - 10µF, 25V electrolytic
Q1 −TR(2) 10K
7 10 GND Miscellaneous:
CON1 R3 Q1 Q2
CON1 - 2-pin terminal connector
FOR CON2 2.2K 8
Vss 9
16V − FOR SJ1
Q2 CON2-CON4 - 2-pin connector
R6 - 16V-24V unregulated power
24V CON3 2.2K supply
FOR LED1 LED2
SENSOR - 16-pin IC base
RUNNING SJ1= SHORTING JUMPER HALTED
IN - SN04-N inductive proximity
SENSOR IN = SENSOR ASSEMBLY OUTPUT PULSE sensor (optional)
- 4N25 opto-coupler (optional)
(All these are available from kitsnspares.com)
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of conveyor jam detector

56 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Do-It-Yourself
100-kilo-ohm
(R1+VR1) to ensure
that the first mon-
ostable is compatible
with the sensor pulse
input. The preferred
pulse width of the
second monostable
is about ten times of
the first monostable,
which results in RC
values as 100-kilo-
Fig. 3: Actual-size PCB layout for conveyor jam detector Fig. 7: Partial view of author’s prototype ohm and 10µF (that is,
R4+VR2=100-kilo-
components R1, VR1, and ohm and C5=10µF).
C1 set the RC time con- The calibration will ensure that
stant of IC2A whereas R4, while the conveyor is moving, the first
VR2, and C5 set RC time monostable of IC2A is triggered by the
constant for IC2B. sensor pulses through CON3, which in
The input pull-up turn triggers the second monostable of
resistor R2 is added IC2B. Hence, T1 gives a closed output
intentionally because the through CON4. This action continues
circuit input at CON3 till the conveyor moves at the desired
is configured to handle speed.
negative-going (falling In case the conveyor comes to a
edge) pulses only. For a halt (or slows down), IC2A no longer
Fig. 4: Components layout of the PCB sensor with an inbuilt gets the trigger pulse, therefore T1 is
pull-up resistor, simply opened by IC1B (after a short delay)
remove shorting jumper to indicate the conveyor jam or failure.
(SJ1). Output pin 10 of
the second monostable Construction and testing
(IC2B) drives the output The actual-size PCB layout for the
(CON4) via the NPN conveyor jam detector is shown in
open-collector transistor Fig. 3 and its components layout in
switch (T1). Fig. 4.
The DC input (16V to The prototype was tested using
24V) connected across a square type inductive proximity
CON1 is protected against sensor SN04-N, powered by a 12V
reverse polarity feed by supply. The author’s model of DC
one 1N4007 diode (D1). motor driven idler wheel used for test-
The fixed voltage regula- ing the prototype is shown in Fig. 5.
tor LM7812 (IC1) lets Note that SN04-N has an internal
Fig. 5: Idler wheel model you power up the circuit 10-kilo-ohm pull-up resistor, so if
through any unregulated you are powering it (or any other
DC supply adaptor. inductive/optical proximity/rota-
tion sensor module with internal
Rs = Vcc −1.3V/50mA Calibration pull-up resistor) from an external
Rs
CON1# 1 6 C Calibrate the setup with power supply (usually 10V to 30V),
FOR(Vcc)
+10V−30V 2 the help of potmeters remember to include a simple iso-
IC 5 VR1 and VR2. Assuming lated interface circuit like the one
1 3 4N25 E the rotation per minute shown in Fig. 6.
CON2# 4
2
FOR (RPM) of the idler wheel Partial view of author’s prototype
3
SN04−N 1 = BROWN WIRE OF SN04 is 600, the concerned wired on a bread board is shown in
2 = BLACK WIRE OF SN04 rotation sensor assembly Fig. 7.
3 = BLUE WIRE OF SN04
GND
(RPM sensor) giving one
CON1#= 2−PIN CONNECTOR
CON2# = 3 PIN CONNECTOR
pulse per rotation results
in a period of 100ms. T.K. Hareendran is an electronics
SN04−N = INDUCTIVE PROXIMITY SENSOR hobbyist, freelance technical
Since C1 is a 1µF author and circuit designer.
capacitor, you need a He is founder and promoter of
TechNode
Fig. 6: Isolated interface circuit resistance value of

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 57

 Do-It-Yourself
EF Y
vedi
Dwi
S.C.

Protect Your Appliances With This S. Thangamani

Power-On Delay Timer

T
his simple delay timer circuit is
used to prevent noise and spike
in electrical equipment before
switching on the main input supply.
Most electrical appliances powered by
230V AC mains produce large voltage
spikes when the power is switched
on. The voltage spike also affects low-
power electronic circuits. Hence, noise
suppression and spike protection are
very important. One of the easiest
solutions is to use a power-on delay
circuit that switches on the electronic
circuit after a few seconds. Fig. 1: Author’s prototype
The author’s prototype is shown in
Fig. 1. Block diagram of the power-on The output is built
delay timer circuit is shown in Fig. 2. around triac BT139,
which can switch
Circuit description up to 16-ampere AC
Circuit diagram of power-on delay load. The maximum
timer circuit is shown in Fig. 3. It is 16-ampere current
built around a timer NE555 (IC1), means we can have
60 per cent as opti-
mum current, that
Parts List
is, up to 9.6 amperes
Semiconductors: (or 16×0.6=9.6
IC1 - NE555 timer
IC2 - 4017B decade counter amperes). The opti-
IC3 - MOC3041 optotriac mum load will be
Triac1 - BT139/BTA12 triac Fig. 2: Block diagram of the power-on delay timer 2 20 V × 9 . 6 A = 211 2
BR1 - 1A, bridge rectifier
watts. The triac is trig-
Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon), unless stated
otherwise: decade counter 4017B (IC2), opto- gered by optotriac MOC3041 (IC3).
R1 - 100-ohm, 0.5W triac MOC3041 (IC3), triac BT139 Optotriac has the advantage of trig-
R2-R5 - 10-kilo-ohm (TRIAC1), a 100-kilo-ohm preset gering 230V AC power by itself and
R6 - 330-ohm, 0.5W
(VR1) and a few other components. providing circuit isolation.
R7 - 1.5-kilo-ohm
R8 - 150-ohm, 0.5W Timing accuracy is achieved by DC power for this circuit is derived
R9 - 1-mega-ohm using decade counter 4017B. NE555 from step-down transformer X1,
VR1 - 100-kilo-ohm preset IC is used as a bistable oscillator. bridge rectifier BR1 and capacitors C3
Capacitors: VR1 preset is used to vary the tim- and C4. Resistor R2, capacitor C5 and
C1 - 100µF, 25V electrolytic
C2, C3, C6 - 0.1µF ceramic disk ings from 0.1-sec to 1-sec pulse in preset VR1 are timing components for
C4 - 1000µF, 25V electrolytic NE555 IC. When the main power is NE555 IC. You can change the delay
C5 - 4.7µF, 25V electrolytic switched on, 4017B starts counting time (0.1 to 1-sec) of this circuit by
C7 - 0.01µF, 400V ceramic disk
the pulses received from NE555. The varying VR1.
Miscellaneous:
CON1, CON2 - 3-pin terminal connector output pulses from NE555 are fed During power-on, clock enable
MOV1 - 270V metal oxide varistor to clock input pin 14 of 4017B. As a pin 13 (CLK EN) and pin 11 (Q9) of
X1 - 230V AC primary to 9V, result, 4017B gets breezed and its ten 4017B are in low states. Each output of
300mA secondary
transformer
outputs (Q0 through Q9) become high 4017B goes high one by one after each
- Heat-sink for triac sequentially. Output pin 11 (Q9) of clock pulse. When Q9 goes high with
(All these are available from kitsnspares.com) 4017B goes high at 10th pulse received tenth pulse, CLK EN also goes high.
from NE555. This stops the counting process in

58 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Do-It-Yourself
AC IN = 230V AC,50HZ
C1 C2 3
R1 R2 100u,25V 0.1u O0
L
100E 10K 16 VDD
O1 2 N
4 8
E
RESET Vcc O2 4 R6
15 RESET
7 330E CON1
X1 DIS 7
O3 0.5W FOR
6
TH 3 14 IC2 MOV1 AC IN
9V AC IC1 O/P CLK
O4 10
4017B 1 6 G 270V
NE555 1
A MT MT1
BR1 2
TRI 13 O5
1A
CLK EN 2 K
IC3 NC
5
VR1 5 TRIAC1 MT2 C7
100K
O6 MOC3041 BT139 0.01u
3 MT 4
12 NC R9
CV GND CO 6
O7
5 1 R8 1M
R4 O8 9
8 Vss
150E
10K 0.5W L
C5 O9 11
C3 R3 C6 N
C4 4.7u R7
0.1u 10K 0.1u E
1000u 25V 1.5K
R5
25V CON2
10K
FOR
X1 = 230V AC PRIMARY TO 0−9V,300mA SECONDARY TRANSFORMER GND AC OUT= 230V AC,50HZ AC OUT

Fig. 3: Circuit diagram of the power-on delay timer

spike arrester circuit built around

resistor R9, metal oxide varistor MOV1
and capacitor C7 is used.
Construction and testing
An actual-size PCB layout for the
power-on delay timer is shown in Fig.
4 and its components layout in Fig.
5. After assembling the circuit, con-
nect the 230V, 50Hz AC supply across
CON1. AC load should be connected
across CON2.
For initial testing, remove IC3
from the circuit and connect an LED
across pins 1 and 2 of MOC3041.
Fig. 4: Actual-size PCB layout for the power-on delay timer Switch on the delay timer circuit. The
LED should glow after a delay. If LED
does not glow, check voltage at pin
3 of NE555 with multimeter. If volt-
age pulses are available at pin 3 of IC
NE555, check 4017B and its associated
components.
If LED glows after a time delay,
your circuit is working well. Now,
remove the LED and insert the opto-
triac MOC3041, triac BT139 and asso-
ciated components. The power-on
delay timer is now ready for use.
A suitable heat-sink is recom-
mended for triac BT139. You may use
BTA12 in place of BT139.

Fig. 5: Components layout of the PCB S. Thangamani is electronics reverse

4017B. The current high output states
of 4017B remain high till the power is
off. High state at Q9 makes MOC3041
to conduct. This triggers the main triac
engineer with 38 years of service in
the electronics industry. He is the
BT139 and the AC supply for the load proprietor of Parvaty Electronics,
becomes available across connector Madurai and vice president, Tamil
CON2. Nadu Electronics Technicians
Association
To improve the life of triac, the

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 59

 Do-It-Yourself
EF Y
o
i The
San

Automatic Shashank T.S.

Hand-Wash Timer

A
ccording to the World Health want to use their expensive phones hands near the IR sensor module,
Organization (WHO) guide- near washbasins. So, it becomes dif- the sensor detects your hands. The
lines, people need to wash ficult to keep a check on time for the detection makes the sensor to send a
their hands with soap and water at handwashing procedure. low pulse signal to pin 2 of the NE555
least for 20 seconds to get rid of any Here is a low-cost and simple timer to trigger it. This activates
virus. Although you have a stopwatch solution that uses a timer at the heart NE555, and its output pin 3 goes high
on phones, wristwatches, and other of the circuit. NE555 timer is used for 20 seconds. The flush LED1 con-
electronic devices, it is not convenient in monostable mode along with an nected to pin 3 of NE555 glows for 20
to use them. Also, some people do not IR sensor to trigger it. The FC-51 IR seconds. During this time, you can
sensor module has an inbuilt wash your hands until LED1 turns off.
CON2 transmitter and receiver. Also, a buzzer can be connected to pin
FOR IR
S1
When you stand in front of 3 of IC1 for audio indication.
R3 4 8
180K RESET Vcc POWER the washbasin and place your The whole circuit can be assem-
ON/OFF
7
DIS
Vcc

GND
OUT

6
TH 3 CON1
R2 IC1 O/P
10K NE555 FOR 5V
2
TRI
R1
1K
C2
CV GND
100u
5 1
16V LED1
C1 FLUSH
0.01u

IR = IR SENSOR MODULE GND

Fig. 1: Circuit diagram of automatic hand-wash timer

Fig. 3: Prototype kept near the washbasin during hand-wash

Parts List bled on a general-purpose PCB

Semiconductors: or veroboard. The author’s pro-
IC1 - NE555 timer totype assembled on the vero-
LED1 - 5mm LED board is shown in Fig. 2. The
IR - 3-pin FC-51 IR sensor module
Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon):
prototype kept in a glass near
R1 - 1-kilo-ohm the washbasin during hand-
R2 - 10-kilo-ohm wash is shown in Fig. 3.
R3 - 180-kilo-ohm
Capacitors:
C1 - 0.01µF ceramic
C2 - 100µF, 16V electrolytic
Miscellaneous: Shashank T.S. is an
CON1 - 2-pin male connector embedded engineer
CON2 - 3-pin female connector at Adappt Intelligence,
S1 - On/off toggle switch Bengaluru. He has
- 5V DC power supply a keen interest in
- 8-pin IC base robotics and AI
Fig. 2: Author’s prototype

60 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Do-It-Yourself

EF Y
Make A Simple Capacitive Touch Amal Mathew S.C.
Dwi
vedi

Keyboard With Arduino

C
ertain shortcuts on your key-
board such as copy, paste or
print can definitely simplify
your work. And what if you can create
these different keyboard operations
on your own? Have you ever thought
about this?
This simple DIY project explains
how you can make a portable device
that performs different keyboard
operations like copy and space bar.
It is a small single keypad device
that works on Arduino and capaci-
tive touch sensor. The sensor can be
made using any metallic object like
aluminium foil, coin, etc. The author’s Fig. 1: Author’s prototype wired on a breadboard
prototype wired on a breadboard is
shown in Fig. 1. sensor library in Arduino IDE. The
Hardware components include library turns two or more Arduino
TP1= ALUMINIUM
Arduino Micro, 1-mega-ohm resistor, pins into a capacitive sensor, which POWER USB
FOIL OR
INPUT SCL
jumper wires, and aluminium foil. can sense the electrical capacitance COIL

LEONARDO
ARDUINO
SDA
Arduino Micro is the smallest of the human body. Capacitive sensor IOREF
AREF
GND
board of the family of ATmega32U4 can detect anything that is conductive RST 13

Arduino. It is easy to integrate with or that has a significantly different per- 3.3V
5V
12
11
everyday objects to make them inter- mittivity than air, such as the human GND 10
GND 9
active. It is based on the ATmega32U4 body or hand. Vin 8
TP1

microcontroller (MCU) featuring a The project was tested using a A

MEGA32U4

built-in USB, which makes the Micro 1-mega-ohm resistor. If you are using 7
6 B
recognisable as a mouse or keyboard. a different resistor value, use the pro-
DIGITAL

A0 5
Note that you can use only the Ardui- gram (capturing_sensor_value.ino) to A1 4
ANALOG

A2 3
no boards that use ATmega32U4 such find the sensor value before uploading A3 2

as Micro, Leonardo, Leonardo ETH, the main Arduino sketch to Arduino A4

etc.
Circuit and working
The circuit diagram of the capacitive
touch keyboard using Arduino is
shown in Fig. 2. Digital pins 2 and 4
of Arduino are used to interface with
the sensor.
The sensor setup includes a
medium to high-value resistor, some
jumper wires, a small piece of alu-
minum foil. You can use any resistor
value between 100-kilo-ohm and
50-mega-ohm. Note that at higher
resistor value, it behaves like a prox-
imity sensor.
The circuit requires a capacitive
board.
Software program
Software is written in Arduino pro-
gramming language. The captur-
ing_sensor_value.ino code is used
to decode the sensor value. The
copy_operation.ino code is used for
copy operation and the space_bar.ino
code is used for space bar operation
on the keyboard.
After installing Arduino IDE in
your PC, launch Arduino IDE Soft-
ware, connect Arduino Micro to
your PC, select the board (Arduino/
Genuino Micro) and COM port. Then
install capacitive sensor library, which
A5
TX 1
RX 0
R1
1M
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of the capacitive touch
keyboard
can be downloaded from the link
https://github.com/arduino-libraries/
CapacitiveSensor/zipball/master
For obtaining the sensor values,
open capturing_sensor_value.ino
from Arduino IDE, compile and
upload to Arduino board with the
sensor connected to the board. Next,
open serial monitor of Arduino IDE
and observe the values. The default
sensor values obtained on the serial
monitor without touching the sensor

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 61

 EFY Note
Do-It-Yourself The source code
of this project
is available
for free download
at source.efymag.com

used such that whenever sensor value

goes over 1000, a keyboard operation
is performed.
Sensor values after touching the
sensor are shown in Fig. 4. You can
change the sensor values by chang-
ing the resistor value and use suitable
sensor values in the main codes (copy_
operation.ino and space_bar.ino)
Testing steps
1. Upload capturing_sensor_value.ino
code to Arduino board
2. Open the serial monitor and
observe the values with and with-
out touching the sensor. When you
Fig. 3: Sensor values without touching sensor
touch the sensor, the value comes in
between 3700 and 4052 as shown in
Fig. 4. For example, let us take a value
of 3800.
3. Next, open copy_operation.ino
code, insert the value 3800 in this code
as sensor1 ≥3800. Compile and upload
it to Arduino board
4. Now open any document file.
Select a line of text from this docu-
ment file. When you touch the sensor
it will perform the copy operation,
equivalent to ctrl+c operation on the
normal keyboard.
5. Similarly, open space_bar.
ino code and use 1000 in the code
as sensor1 ≥1000 and Keyboard.
write(32) for space bar operation.
After compiling and uploading the
code into the Arduino board, touch
the sensor. It performs space bar
operation by simply moving the cursor
towards right on each touch.

Fig. 4: Sensor values after touching sensor

are shown in Fig. 3. resistor, at every touch, the sensor Amal Mathew is an
Whenever you touch the sensor, value goes up by 1000. So, a condi- electronics hobbyist
the value increases. With 1-mega-ohm tion statement in Arduino sketch is

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62 JULY 2020 • electronics FOR YOU www.EFYMag.com

 Industry News
Industry Updates
PLI scheme for promoting
manufacture of medical devices
The Department of Pharmaceuticals
(DoP) that falls under the Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilisers has notified
a production linked incentive (PLI)
scheme for promoting domestic manu-
facturing of medical devices in India.
The new scheme proposes to extend a
five per cent incentive on incremental
sales (over the base year). This applies
to medical devices produced in India,
and these goods must be covered
under the target segments.
DoP’s official statement reads,
“The expected incentive to the tune of
` 34.20 billion will be provided during
the tenure of the scheme.”
It is to be noted that India import-
ed medical devices worth ` 433.65
billion during the financial year 2018-
19. The export figures, during the
same tenure, stood at ` 163 billion.
India’s share in the global medical
MSMEs get additional assistance amidst
Covid-19 crisis
The interventions by the government
for micro, small and medium enter-
prises (MSMEs) have been gaining
rapid traction. Under the emergency
credit line backed by the government,
banks from public and private sectors
have so far already sanctioned loans
worth over ` 790 billion as of 20th
June. More than ` 350 billion has
already been disbursed.
“As part of the Aatmanirbhar pack-
age, the government had announced
its plans for three lakh crore rupees
(` 3,000 billion) as an additional
Electronics production to reach ` 10,000 billion by 2025
The Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY) has
formally unveiled all the conditions
www.EFYMag.com
device market is 1.6 per cent.
Cancer care, radiotherapy medi-
cal devices, radiology and imaging
medical devices, nuclear imaging
devices, anesthetics, cardio-respirato-
ry medical devices, renal care medical
devices, and all medical implants have
been included in the target segments
of medical devices eligible under the
PLI scheme.
The tenure of the scheme has been
set from 2020 (base year) to 2026 (year
of completion). This makes the scheme
eligible for a maximum of five years.
The objective of this scheme has
been announced as a step towards
strengthening the existing infrastruc-
ture facilities to make the Indian medi-
cal device industry a global leader.
The government has currently banned
exporting any kind of essential medi-
cal devices in the wake of Covid-19.
credit to MSMEs and small businesses.
Such enterprises were to be eligible to
receive up to twenty per cent of their
existing borrowing as additional loans
at interest rates which were capped,”
reads an official press note issued by
the ministry of finance.
The top lenders under the scheme
are SBI, HDFC bank, Bank of Baroda,
PNB and Canara bank. As per the
ministry, this scheme has helped 1.9
million MSMEs and other businesses to
restart their operations post-lockdown.
MSMEs form an integral part of
and specifications of three schemes
aimed to take India’s electronics man-
ufacturing capabilities to a new level.
On The move
Vikram Solar appoints Suman Nag
as CRO
Vikram Solar has announced the appointment
of Suman Nag as its chief revenue officer
(CRO). As CRO, Nag will be responsible for
developing and implementing the commercial
strategy and identifying profitable commercial
opportunities to grow revenue and market
share for the company. He will drive business
development, topline, branding, and
marketing.
He has an experience of over 25
years across industries like renewables,
automotive, and IT. Prior to joining Vikram
Solar, Nag was associated with Suzlon Group
as chief commercial officer for two years and
six months. He has also worked as a sales
manager with Mercedes Benz India.
Dr Vivek Lall joins USA-based General
Atomics as chief executive
Dr Vivek Lall has been appointed as the
chief executive of General Atomics Global
Corporation. Before joining General Atomics,
he was associated with Lockheed Martin
as vice president, strategy and business
development.
He has also served Reliance as president
and CEO from April 2011 to August 2014. Lall
was responsible for spearheading growth
in the new ventures vertical for Reliance. He
has worked with Boeing Defence Space and
Security as vice president and country head
from September 1996 to April 2011.
the electronics manufacturing sector
in India. A couple of years back, the
ministry of MSME had pointed out
that there are about thirty million SME
manufacturing units in India, which
contribute about 45 to 47 per cent to
India’s industrial output and 42 per
cent to the country’s total exports while
employing over 60 million people.
The SME sector creates more than
1.3 million jobs every year and pro-
duces more than 8,000 quality prod-
ucts for the domestic and international
markets.
Dubbed production linked incentive
scheme (PLI) for large scale electron-
ics manufacturing, scheme for promo-
electronics For You • July 2020 63
 Industry News
tion of manufacturing of electronic
components and semiconductors
(SPECS), and modified electronics
manufacturing clusters (EMC 2.0)
scheme, these were first announced
in March 2020.
These schemes entail an outlay
of about ` 500 billion (approximately
Calendar of Forthcoming Electronics
Fairs/Exhibitions/Seminars/Events
Event, Date and Venue Topics Contact address for details
IFA Berlin Main meeting place for key retailers, IFA Berlin
September 3-5, 2020 buyers, and experts from the industry and Website: https://b2b.ifa-berlin.com
Exhibition Grounds Berlin Expo the media
Center City, Messedamm 22,
Berlin, Germany

7 billion dollars). The schemes will
help offset the disability of domestic
electronics manufacturing and hence
strengthen the electronics manufac-
turing ecosystem in the country.
The promotion of electronics
manufacturing has been a key
component of the Make in India
programme. It is to be noted here
GITEX Technology Week
September 27-October 1, 2020
Dubai World Trade Centre
OSI Days
October 8-9, 2020
Nimhans Convention Centre,
Bengaluru
Engineering Design Show
October 14-15, 2020
The Ricoh Arena, Coventry
World-class technology event. Technology
leaders, enterprises and startups from
around the world come together to show the
future of every business and every industry
Mega technology show with multiple events
including expositions, conference and
seminars
UK’s only event entirely dedicated to
engineering, electronics and embedded
design
GITEX
Website: www.gitex.com
EFY Enterprises Pvt Ltd
Website: www.opensourceindia.in
Engineering Design Show
Website: www.engineeringdesignshows.
co.uk

that India’s production of electron-
ics grew from 29 billion dollars in
2014 to 70 billion dollars in 2019. The
growth in mobile phone manufactur-
ing, in particular, has been remark-
able during this period.
3rd Automotive World
October 21-23, 2020
Portmesse Nagoya, Japan
Light + LED Expo India 2020
December 3-5, 2020
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Exhibition and conference for advanced
automotive technologies including
electronics, smart factory and robotics
Will have Future Zone for innovative
products, Solar Zone, and Launch Zone for
new products
Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd
Website: www.automotiveworld-nagoya.jp
Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Private
Limited
Website: www.in.messefrankfurt.com
Email: deepak.bohara@india.
messefrankfurt.com

EV sales increase with CES 2021

implementation of
stringent emission norms
The global electric vehicle (EV) sales
have increased with the implementa-
tion of stringent emission norms, as
per Frost & Sullivan’s recent analy-
sis, Global Electric Vehicle Market
Outlook 2020. The report says that
global EV sales stood somewhere
January 6-9, 2021
Global consumer electronics show Consumer Technology Association
Website: www.ces.tech
Las Vegas, Nevada
NEPCON JAPAN Asia’s leading electronics tech show Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd
January 20-22, 2021 about R&D and manufacturing, including Website: www.nepconjapan.jp/en
Tokyo International Exhibition packaging, with seven concurrent
Center, Tokyo specialised shows
India Electronics Week Mega electronics and technology show EFY Enterprises Pvt Ltd
February 3-5, 2021 with multiple co-located events including Website: www.indiaelectronicsweek.com
Karnataka Trade Promotion expositions, conference and seminars
Organisation, Bengaluru
Since this information is subject to change, especially due to coronavirus breakout, all those interested
are advised to ascertain the details from the organisers before making any commitment.

between ±9 per cent in 2020 com-

pared to 2019 under three different
scenarios—gradual containment,
severe pandemic, and global emer-
gency.
It adds that as the market recov-
ers, which is probably after June in
the best-case scenario, it is likely to
experience healthy growth. In an
optimistic scenario, EVs market is
estimated to grow by 8.6 per cent
year-on-year (YoY), registering 2.5
million unit sales (battery electric
vehicles plus plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles) globally in 2020.
The report further adds that
to tap into the growth prospects
exposed by EVs, market participants
should focus on the introduction of
new models to help OEMs increase
the percent penetration of EVs. It
says that a big number of recyclers
and dismantlers would come into
play as the first phase of batteries
will be available for second life or
recycling.
Compound semiconductor
materials market to reach
$66.6 billion by 2027
The global compound semiconduc-
tor materials market is expected to
reach 66.6 billion dollars by 2027, as
per a report by Reports and Data. The
report also says that Gallium Arsenide
(GaAs) generated a revenue of 7.71 bil-
lion dollars in 2019 and is expected to
grow at a CAGR of 7.7 per cent in the
forecast period.
This is due to superior funda-
mental characteristics being utilised
in the development of infrared
light-emitting diodes, microwave
frequency integrated circuits, solar
cells, laser diodes, optical windows,
among others.
The report further adds that power
semiconductors are expected to grow
at a CAGR of 8.3 per cent during the
forecast period. This is due to highly
conductive and flexible properties,
which can be used as a switch or
rectifier in power electronics.
As per the report, the Informa-
tion and Communication Technology
(ICT) sector is the major contribu-
tor to the market. The construction
sector of the Asia Pacific region is the
major shareholder of the market and
held around 29 per cent of the market
in the year 2019 due to a variety of
applications in the integrated ana-
logue and digital circuits.
AI in healthcare market to
reach $45 billion by 2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) in the
healthcare market is expected to
grow at a CAGR of 44.9 per cent
from 2020 to 2026, as per a report
by Reportlinker. It will stand at 4.9
billion dollars in 2020 and reach
45.2 billion dollars by 2026.
The major factors driving the
growth of the market are the increas-
ing volume of healthcare data and

64 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Snippets Industry News

Tata Power to develop 120MW solar project in Gujarat
Tata Power has announced that Tata Power Renewable Energy Lim-
ited (TPREL), the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, has received a
Letter of Award from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) to de-
velop a 120MW solar project in Gujarat. The energy will be supplied to
GUVNL under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), valid for a period
of 25 years from scheduled commercial operation date. The project is
required to be commissioned within eighteen months from the date of
execution of the PPA. Tata Power’s renewable capacity will increase to
3,457MW, out of which 2,637MW is operational, and 820MW is under
implementation, including 120MW won under this letter of intent.
Entrepreneur First and IIT Kanpur to support aspiring
entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur First (EF) and Foundation for Innovation and Research in
Science and Technology (FIRST), a section 8 company promoted by the
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), have joined hands to build
a supportive ecosystem for aspiring tech entrepreneurs. This partner-
ship will facilitate the journey for exceptional and talented individuals
who aspire to start tech ventures. EF will support the process of finding
a co-founder at the very early stage of a startup and close mentorship
on the idea and business model, and pre-seed investment. The startups
formed will have an opportunity to access the IITK business incubator.

Webee joins Lora Alliance for industrial IoT adoption
Webee Corporation has announced that it has joined LoRa Alliance to
advance the deployment of IoT and AI solutions, offering a next-gen
no-coding toolset for manufacturing, agriculture, and supply chain
operations. LoRa Alliance is a non-profit association that enables
large scale deployment of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN)
IoT through the development and promotion of LoRaWAN open
standard. Webee is a technology company that has developed a
no-coding visual approach in building complex AI, IoT, and computer
vision applications.
Tesla signs battery supply deal with Panasonic
As per a report by Reuters, Tesla has signed a three-year pricing deal
with Japan’s Panasonic Corporation in relation to the manufacture
and supply of lithium-ion battery cells at the Gigafactory in Nevada, as
per a filing by the carmaker. The report says that Tesla and Panasonic
have been in talks to expand the battery joint venture’s capacity. The
report adds that deal is effective from first April of this year. It sets
the terms for production capacity commitments by Panasonic and
purchase volume commitments by Tesla over the first two years of the
agreement.

growing complexities of datasets, the
need to reduce high healthcare costs,
improving computing power and
declining hardware costs. The report
adds that a growing number of cross-
industry partnerships and collabora-
tions, and rising imbalance between
health workforce and patients are
pushing the need for improvised
healthcare services.
As per the report, a big factor for
the growth is the adoption of this
technology by multiple pharmaceu-
tical and biotechnology companies
globally to expedite vaccine or drug
development processes for Covid-19.
The report mentions that a major
restraint for the market is the reluc-
tance among medical practitioners to
adopt AI-based technologies and lack
of a skilled workforce. The report adds
that the microprocessing unit (MPU)
processor segment is expected to hold
the largest share in AI in healthcare
in 2020.
Infrared LED market
growing faster due to
technological advancements
The infrared LED market is set to grow
from its current market value of more
than 500 million dollars to over one
billion dollars by 2026, as reported
in the latest study by Global Market
Insights, Inc. The infrared LEDs are
utilised in cameras, remote controls
for televisions, as well as in several
other types of electronic devices.
“The infrared LED market is
anticipated to witness significant
growth over the coming period
owing to ongoing technological
advancements, high demand from
the automotive sector, as well as
rising adoption of CCTV and surveil-
lance cameras across the industrial
sector,” reads the report.
Since infrared LED is used in
combination with different types of
sensors, it is now becoming common
in the Internet of Things (IoT) appli-
cations as well as M2M (machine-
to-machine) environments. Apart
from these, the IR LED is used in
applications such as smoke detec-
tor, transmission system, infrared
applied systems, optoelectronic
switch, industrial equipment, and
infrared remote-control devices.
For end-use, the infrared LED
market is bifurcated into consumer
electronics, retail, aerospace and
defence, healthcare, automotive,
industrial, BFSI, and education.
The industrial end-use segment
held a market share of over fifteen
per cent in 2019 owing to the grow-
ing adoption of CCTV and surveil-
lance cameras in the manufactur-
ing process.
Realme to set up SMT lines
for TV motherboards
in India
Realme India has said that it is
investing in a complete production
line to build products and surface-
mount technology (SMT) lines for
TV motherboards. It will soon start
manufacturing some of its Internet of
Things (IoT) products. The company
has also launched its new product
strategy called 1+4+N.
Madhav Sheth, Realme India
CEO, says that the company will soon
start manufacturing some of the AIoT
products in India. Sheth further adds
that the company plans to increase
its local workforce strength (at the
facility) to 10,000 in India by the
end of this year. The new strategy,
he said, will help the company fur-
ther enhance smartphone and AIoT
product portfolios. The company
is also expanding its distribution
channels to tier-IV and V towns and
will hire more than 5,000 sales team
members.
The strategy works on three
foundations. The first is ‘1 Core,’
under which Realme smartphones
will be at the core of its AIoT eco-
system. The second foundation of
the strategy is ‘4 smart hubs,’ which
has been further divided into four
sub-categories—smart TVs, smart
earphones, smartwatches, and
smart speakers. The third founda-
tion is ‘N AIoT products,’ under
which Realme plans to launch
lifestyle products and accessories.
This will range from in-car chargers,
backpacks, luggage cases to smart
home gadgets.

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 65

 Startup Zone
The IoT And Going Green
1 AI In Defence 2 With EV
Charging
1 The IoT and AI
in defence
M
ission-critical applications
require technologies that
can be utilised in real time
with high reliability and accuracy.
Any sort of failure or defect in the
function of systems deployed for
such applications can have disastrous
consequences. Founded in 2015 by
Tushar Chhabra, Saurav Agarwala,
and Tomer Katzenellenbogen, defence
technology startup CRON Systems cre-
ates end-to-end encrypted solutions to
solve convoluted security problems at
India’s borders.
The startup tries to bridge the gap
between fragmented sensing solutions
market and field requirements by
providing intelligent sensing that inte-
grates multiple sensors to perceive the
environment even in harsh weather
and terrain conditions through its
Smart Sensor Fusion platform. Using
this technology, the company has built
66 July 2020 • electronics For You
Self-Driving
3 Electric Vehicle
For Delivery
4 With Air And
(Credit: https://factordaily.com)
Kavach, an advanced intrusion detec-
tion system that provides accurate
animal, object, and human detection
for complete situational awareness
in areas like the Indo-Pak border in
Kashmir. The merit is that there is little
chance of false alarms, and identifying
humans, animals, or objects becomes
easy. In 2016, the Indian Border Secu-
rity Force (BSF) installed several of
these laser walls at hostile areas along
the country’s western border.
Apart from ground intrusion, 3D
sensing also helps in the detection of
drones or unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs). Besides this, the team has also
designed SenseEdge, a software with
advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine learning-based perception,
prediction, and planning features.
The startup is backed by strategic
partners and investors—YourNest
Venture Capital, Techstars Adelaide,
Solving Water Crisis The IoT For
Nanotechnology
5 Digital Farming
and Cisco Launchpad. In 2017, the
organisation signed an exclusive tech-
nology agreement with Israel-based
Automotive Robotic Industry Ltd, a
defence robotics company, to integrate
their rovers with its laser-guided sur-
veillance systems, thereby reducing
risks in the lives of soldiers.
In 2018, the company signed
a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) for a strategic collaboration
with US-based Quanergy Systems, a
provider of light detection and rang-
ing (LiDAR) sensors and smart sens-
ing solutions, to upgrade detection
features (addition of classification
and tracking) of its advanced Kavach
series for the Indian armed forces and
perimeter security in an economical
and efficient way to prevent insur-
gency and illegal immigration. Numer-
ous devices can be connected to each
other at a time based on the perimeter
size that needs to be secured.
Besides surveillance and security
for defence as well as commercial
areas like airports, these offerings
also cater to autonomous vehicles
and mobility perception, crowd con-
trol and people counting, and indus-
trial automation. The company has
recently introduced an AI platform
called Innovace that utilises several
thermal sensing cameras integrated
with LiDAR to continuously scan and
detect people with high temperatures
in public places such as airports,
malls, and hotels. A person with a
normal body temperature appears as
a green dot in the system, while those
with higher temperatures appear as
red ones. Movements of red dots are
then constantly tracked within the
coverage zone, and it has an alarm
option if any dot is found within a
few feet of a green dot, representing a
healthy individual.
—Deepshikha Shukla
www.EFYMag.com

2 Going Green
with EV charging
T
he automobile sector has seen
a huge increase in the develop-
ment of vehicles that run on
clean fuels. In India, the growth of
electric vehicles (EVs) is on the rise.
Yet, one of the main reasons why
people willing to invest in a cleaner
option for mobility are holding back
is range anxiety arising from lack of
enough charging stations.
To overcome this hurdle, startup
Meras Plugins was established in 2017
to develop advanced charging solu-
tions and public charging infrastructure
across India. Founded by Vivek Swa-
mynathan, Ragavendra Ravichandra,
Satheesh Venkatachalam, and Raghav-
endra TS, it is currently incubated with
IIT Madras Research Park (RTBI).
Ragavendra Ravichandran, co-
founder, Meras Plugins, says, “We
started with an aim to promote a
shift towards e-mobility, which helps
in reducing carbon footprints. The
company was running as a bootstrap
startup until the development of proto-
types. The fully developed prototypes
were tested at IIT Madras battery
centre for various parameters includ-
ing a smart feedback communication
system. Our chargers, which have
been sold to Amaron batteries, Acad-
emy of EV technology, have shown
promising results in comparison to
other standard chargers.”
The company offers charge stations
that enable easy charging on the go.
The chargers operate on power ranging
from 3.3kW to 50kW and can be lever-
3 Self-driving electric vehicle
for delivery
W
hile growth of the Internet
and its access to the masses
has made it possible for
e-commerce businesses to start in
different parts of the world, it is the
reliable delivery service that has been
the backbone of these flourishing
businesses today. From food and med-
icines to clothes and other consumer
essentials, items can be ordered from
www.EFYMag.com
aged for residential, corporate, and
industrial purposes. AC slow charging
stations developed by the company
enable charging of three EVs at a time.
The AC chargers operate on three-
phase input and deliver power ranging
from 3.3kW to 14.5kW. The AC Type
2 chargers range from 7kW to 22kW.
In DC fast-charging stations, a
single module provides an output of
5kW (24V 200A), which can be paral-
leled with four other units at a time to
achieve 25kW. These fast chargers are
integrated with multiple communica-
tion protocols (CHAdeMO, CCS, and
GB/T), which makes them compatible
with all types of EVs.
These are compliant with Bharath
standard (AC001 and DC001) and
equipped with a complete protection
function to ensure robustness, reliabil-
ity, and security. Additional features
include mobile app integration for
connecting to the cloud and allow-
ing users to spot the nearest charge
stations, Wi-Fi or GSM-based cloud
interaction, RFID-based user authen-
tication, and hassle-free payments.
The startup has also built an IoT-
based, scalable automotive telematics
platform with the latest cloud-based
technologies to gain valuable infor-
mation (such as vehicle tracking, fuel
metrics, and driver efficiency) and
analytics in real time. The platform
is capable of handling millions of
events per second and can be used to
optimise the overall cost in the system.
Ravichandran adds, “The optimal-
anywhere via mobile phones. With
lockdowns imposed in various nations
due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the
need has grown further.
Nuro, a 2016 startup founded by
Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu, aims to
utilise technologies like robotics and
artificial intelligence (AI) for common
well-being. The team has designed,
prototyped, and extensively tested a
Startup Zone
ly-built algorithm schedules charg-
ing for maximum utilisation of grid
resources. Our flexible control system
provides us with a network that can
be connected to various systems and
devices for information exchange.
Energy management software and
mobile app will further help people to
adopt EVs.”
When it comes to future plans,
Ravichandran says, “In April 2020, we
participated in Open Charge Alliance
plugfest along with leaders in the EV
sector globally to test the efficiency of
our charging station and charging man-
agement system. Besides supporting
EV manufacturers through delivering
high quality, algorithm-driven charg-
ers, we also aim to be a significant
contributor in transforming the EV
sector by setting up comprehensive
charging infrastructure with our future
proof cloud solutions. Being the first
company to test OCPP 2.0.1 from India,
the company is currently focusing on
further international expansion.”
—Ayushee Sharma
fully autonomous electric vehicle (EV)
to make transportation of local goods
more accessible, including groceries,
prescription drugs, dry cleaning, and
much more.
For self-driving, the vehicle uses its
onboard sensors (like high-definition
cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors,
and audio sensors) to provide a 360-
degree live image of the surrounding
electronics For You • July 2020 67
 Startup Zone
area, calculate its location and localise
its position in the world map. High-
definition 3D maps mark road features
such as lane centres and markers,
curbs, traffic signs and lights, cross-
walks and speed bumps, and help in
figuring the safest and most efficient
route to the destination. Finally, the
vehicle’s computer signals the rel-
evant hardware systems for steering,
acceleration, brake, or taking a turn
whenever required. The greater the
movement, the smarter the system
4 Solving water crisis
with air and nanotechnology
T
he scarcity of clean water
and its access is affecting the
entire human population, be
it directly or indirectly. Along with
natural causes like droughts, reasons
like the rising population and global
warming are hugely responsible for
adding to this pressure. Clean, fresh,
and safe water is not only essential
for drinking but also for food pro-
duction, besides other important
uses. Indian cities, too, will run out
of or contaminate groundwater and
surface water resources completely
in a few years, if proper measures are
not taken.
This is where an IIT Madras-incu-
bated company VayuJal Technologies,
which aims to translate advanced
technologies for social good came up
with a unique solution to deliver clean
water suitable for drinking and other
day-to-day purposes on-demand, that
is, when and wherever required with
quality assurance. The team, consist-
ing of founders Thalappil Pradeep,
68 July 2020 • electronics For You
gets by learning more about
the path and behaviour of
drivers via the implemen-
tation of computer vision
and advanced machine
learning.
There are no drivers
or passengers, and lower
speed operation at/or
below 40kmph enables
more time for reaction and
prevents collisions. The
vehicle emits zero emis-
sions, and alternative fuels
are used to power these vehicles. Also,
there are no parking and network con-
nectivity issues for these lightweight
and narrow-framed machines. Exten-
sive testing is conducted before the
vehicle begins driving on roads, and
even during operation, it checks for
errors hundreds of times per second
for safety and collision avoidance. It
never gets distracted like human driv-
ers and focuses on defensive driving.
With multiple compartments,
multiple trips can be combined that
Ramesh Kumar, and Ankit Nagar in
2017, raised a seed fund from Engi-
neers India Limited (EIL) under the
Startup Fund scheme.
Their environmentally sustainable
device, atmospheric water generator
(AWG) unit, captures moisture avail-
able in ambient air. The units are
made with patented surface engineer-
ing technology, energy-efficient unit
design, and mineralisation technology
that expands their water collecting
efficiency. The moisture is condensed
and collected into a tank. The con-
denser is made using nanotechnology
incorporated products such as biomi-
lower the energy, lessen congestion on
roads and economic costs. Customers
do not have to bend over to lift items.
The doors open without swinging far
out, enabling the bot to avoid blocking
cars. Unlike traditional vehicles, softer
materials are used for the front and
rear panels, and design is such that it
minimises chances of injury.
The company started with vehicles
making trips in the neighbourhood for
grocery delivery. Customers can place
delivery orders on the Web or through
a mobile app. Recently, the company
began working with CVS Pharmacy to
provide prescriptions and essentials
through its vehicles in the US. The
customers can place orders on the CVS
website or via mobile app and select
free autonomous delivery options at
their preferred location during the
pilot. When the autonomous Prius
vehicles (and later on delivery bot
R2) reach the location, users need to
confirm their identity to unlock their
delivery.
—Ayushee Sharma
metic, nano-engineered, and micro-
nano structure patterned surfaces.
Modular water purifier cartridges
remove undesirable impurities present
in water. Re-mineralisation cartridges
then add essential minerals (calcium,
magnesium, iron, copper, potassium,
sodium, selenium, zinc, cobalt, vana-
dium, and molybdenum) to purified
water in a sustainable and controlled
manner.
The cost is significantly less than
that of currently available bottled
mineral water. As these units can run
on off-grid solar panel systems, these
are highly beneficial in remote or rural
areas where water cannot be made
available due to issues like financial
constraints. Energy consumption of
solar products is low, which makes
them suitable for commercial pur-
poses, thereby boosting the renew-
able energy sector. The water quality
complies with BIS - IS 2012 and all
necessary World Health Organization
(WHO) standards, and maintenance is
www.EFYMag.com

customer-friendly.
The company offers variable
capacity machines to cater to several
applications such as irrigation, army
tanks, construction sites, and more.
The startup has introduced multiple
variants of AWGs, including VJ-30 LPD
unit (small-scale generator), VJ-100
LPD unit (domestic purposes), VJ-400
LPD unit (commercial purposes),
5 The IoT for
digital farming
A
griculture is one of the most
important industries in the
world that not only provides
food but also raw materials for other
industries like textiles. Still, it is
plagued by several issues, both natural
and man-made, that make life difficult
for the farmers.
xFarm, an agtech startup in
Milano, was founded in 2017 out
of Matteo Vanotti‘s need to use a
digital service to manage his family’s
agricultural company in an efficient
manner. He was joined by Salvatore
Ferullo, the company’s CEO and
Martino Poretti, head of Research and
Development. The company aims to
create a comprehensive digital plat-
form using the Internet of Things (IoT)
to help farmers and others save time
while working.
The ecosystem provided by them
includes an agricultural application
that works both on mobile and desk-
top platforms, dashboard analytics to
manage multiple farms, and a line of
connected IoT sensors optimised for
agricultural use that can communicate
via the Internet directly with users’
accounts.
xSense weather stations and
sensors that are necessary to track
weather data and environmental
parameters come with SIMs so that
users can send data via GSM to the
software. The application provides
up to thirteen free functions like
recording treatments and processes
in the field, tracking movements and
transport, viewing the position of
fields and crops, managing warehouse
inventory, among others.
Premium xNode smart mod-
ules, when paired with sensors, add
www.EFYMag.com
and VJ-2000 LPD unit (solar-powered
off-grid settlements). For these units
to work properly and efficiently, the
temperature should lie between 20
and 42 degrees Celsius with a relative
humidity of 35-99 per cent. The weight
and size of these units vary based on
the requirement for the rated produc-
tion capacity.
Devices that have been installed
Battery
xNode has a long battery
life. You will have to
recharge it only after
one year!
Resistant - IP67
The xNode devices are designed to
be positioned in the field and for this
reason they are IP67 certified, i.e.,
protected against the ingress of dust
and water resistant to a depth of 1m
advanced functionalities, including
forecast models, telemetry, finance
management, and precision fertilisa-
tion for improved work efficiency and
productivity. As the modules use a
LoRa wireless system, it is easy to con-
nect up to a hundred devices within an
approximate range of ten kilometres
on the same network without high
battery consumption.
This enables farmers to track
activities and analyse local and reli-
able data, monitor crops, obtain per-
sonalised recommendations for their
plots to plan optimal crop schedules,
improve irrigation and fertilisation,
protect plantations, and more. The
information provided under the envi-
ronment tab is made simple to under-
stand with the help of graphs and
images. Using telemetry, it becomes
simple to control the performance of
vehicles, send prescription maps, and
allocate fuel expenses.
Startup Zone
in various places like schools, restau-
rants, houses, offices, and so on, have
already dispensed more than 85,000
litres of water. The team is also work-
ing on a VJ-1000 LPD unit, and with
its expansion to more cities and other
deprived regions, the demand-supply
gap for potable water will gradually
diminish.
—Ayushee Sharma
xNode devices
farming IoT sensors
Connection
xNode uses a LoRa
connection to stay
connected up to a
distance of 1km away
from your xSense Compatible
sensors
You can pair the
xNode to dozens
of different sensors
based on your needsn
diversi in base alle tue
necessitu00e0
No SIM Connected with xFarm
xNode devices do not need a xNode devices communicate
SIM card as they use the LoRa directly with your xFarm account
connection to send all the data to and allow you to view data easily,
the nearest xSense station as well as use it for advanced
features
Besides farmers, target customers
include associations, cooperatives,
contractors, dealers, agronomists,
insurances, and the like. For those
employing several workers for their
farms, staff management options are
available to streamline the process.
These customers can keep track of
market prices for different crops as
well as analyse and manage their com-
pany’s financial statements.
The mobile version available for
Android version 5.0 and above is free
without in-app purchases. Sensors and
advanced modules have to be bought.
In the past few years, many other IoT-
based startups like Auroras, MotorLeaf,
Swinesmart, FieldIn, and Cowlar have
also started investing in agriculture and
dairy industries. The ultimate goal is
the same, that is, to aid people in this
sector and thereby boost the economy
and well-being of individuals.
—Deepshikha Shukla
electronics For You • July 2020 69
 Market Survey

Growth Of 5G Market And

Its Impact On Economy
The introduction of 5G has benefitted the economy in several ways. It has helped in the growth of
various new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality
(VR), augmented reality (AR), machine learning (ML), and blockchain. Apart from leading the growth of
new business operations and applications, it has provided revenue platforms for telecom operators

Nijhum Rudra and

Deepshikha Shukla

T
echnology has been going through
an endless revolution for the past
couple of years. It has transformed
our lives and several industrial sectors in
various ways. Telecommunication is one of
the major sectors that has benefitted greatly
from new technologies. Mobile Internet has
played a huge role in uplifting the popular-
ity of smartphones among every age group.
It all started from 2G, then moving onto
3G and 4G, and now it has entered a new
phase, 5G.
The primary objective of 5G is increas-
ing data speed while also reducing the
cost of operations in terms of per GB
cost. 5G will escort innovative business
models, thereby providing state-of-the-art
applications to individuals and scores of
sectors such as industrial, commercial,
educational, healthcare, agricultural, and
social. All these sectors require a faster
and uninterrupted network that can be
offered by only 5G.
The 5G network furnished with

70 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com


ultra-low latency will also help in the
growth of various new and emerging
technologies such as the Internet of
Things (IoT), artificial intelligence
(AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented
reality (AR), machine learning (ML),
blockchain, and fixed wireless high-
speed broadband network. Apart from
leading the growth of new business
operations and applications, it will
also provide revenue platforms for
telecom operators.
The countries that have successful-
ly deployed 5G networks are Australia,
South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the US,
UK, Germany, and a few others. They
lead in terms of 5G network deploy-
ment, and site activations within the
Asia Pacific have 5G non-standalone
architectures that support 4G/LTE
infrastructure for higher speeds.
As of now, India is home to a mere
322 million wireless broadband sub-
scribers. However, as per a report by
Edelweiss, the subscribers are expect-
ed to jump to one billion by 2025 with
5G. It is crucial as telecom is the very
backbone of India’s digital revolution.
Potential market areas
of 5G communication
As per IDC’s carrier transformation
survey run at APeJ level, the top three
5G use cases for operator CXOs are
massive IoT, remote-controlled auto-
mation, and multi-access edge com-
puting. Under the current scenario, a
gamut of interconnected products and
services (smart home, smart refrigera-
tors, smart HVAC, smart cars, CCTVs,
smart devices, etc) might be an ideal
play for operators, but India is still at
a very nascent stage for 5G adoption.
Hence, in this context, let’s find
out what the experts have to say:
100
90
80
70
Capex (US$ billion)
60
50
40
30
20
8.6
10
0.6
0 (OECD) committee on digital econom-
2018 2019
Fig. 2: Forecast of annual global 5G capex by mobile operators (Credit: Heavy Reading)
www.EFYMag.com
1,500
(Figures are in million)
1,200
900
600
300
145
177
0
2017
3G
Fig. 1: Projected growth in wireless broadband subscriber base, post 5G rollout (Credit: Edelweiss
research)
Faisal Kawoosa, founder and
research analyst at techARC, says,
“Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis,
we have seen how much we can
leverage from a robust and fast broad-
band connection. We believe that we
have several use cases like industrial
automation, high-speed home broad-
band, or immersive collaboration, be
it for education, healthcare, or just
office collaboration. Then there are
use cases like ultra-rich multimedia
content where we can use AR/VR for
entertainment and gaming.”
Rajan S Mathews, director general,
COAI, says, “With 5G, technologies
such as autonomous driverless cars,
smart transportation and logistics,
smart farming, drone patrolling for
road safety, holograms, and remote
robotic healthcare are expected to
enter our world and become more and
more pervasive by the day. The tech-
nology is poised to open up a plethora
of possibilities in terms of business
87.9
58.5
34.2
16.0
2020 2021 2022 2023
Market Survey
229
1,205
2025
4G 5G
models, better education, healthcare,
smart cities, smart manufactur-
ing, intelligent logistics, and overall
enhanced lifestyles. The potential can
be imagined by the fact that by 2026
there will be an estimated 619 billion
dollars revenue potential for telecom
operators.”
Yash Jethani, research manager,
Regional Telecommunications Team,
IDC Asia/Pacific, says, “For operators,
new areas are clearly in education,
healthcare, and government (public
sector as IDC defines it) in the Covid
environment, but in the long term,
driverless connected cars, 4K/8K
streaming, smart cities, and mixed
reality/immersive videos are some
interesting use cases for Asia/Pacific
operators. India’s aggregate telecom
spends on fixed data and fixed voice
is thirty per cent and forty per cent,
respectively, from B2C. B2C spend is
even more predominant in the mobile
data and mobile voice segments.
Hence, for any future uptake in the
market, the B2B focus also gives
operators newer avenues to explore.
With newer avenues, there will be
numerous opportunities to capture
under the government’s push with
Digital India.”
When can we expect 5G
in India
As per the Organisation for Eco-
nomic Cooperation and Development
ic policy, 5G will not only amplify the
country’s GDP but will also open up
electronics For You • July 2020 71
 Market Survey
new avenues of employment and dig-
itise the economy. 5G will also open
opportunities for India to connect with
global markets and take advantage of
economies of scale. The 5G high-level
forum is drawing up an action plan in
this direction. 5G once implemented,
will open up new avenues of revenue
for service providers.
To justify the statement, Yash
adds, “Covid-19 has definitely impact-
ed the progress. There are now signs
of coming out of it amidst fresh PE
investments/FDI in the sector and
regulatory support, but CAPEX spend
as per IDC is expected to remain
muted for Indian operators over
2019 to 2024. This is largely due to
the fact that any increase in material
change will not immediately result in
the CAPEX increase. Plus, Reliance
Jio has already shown its interest in
vendor-agnostic procurement, so the
dynamics of the industry could shift
from CAPEX-led investments to OpEx-
led ones with the move towards open
source and cloud-based workloads.
So, once the auction takes place next
year in an optimistic scenario, 5G
test licenses will be followed by tech-
nology trials, industry formulation,
global and regional cooperation with
network sharing. So, the real commer-
cialisation is only expected by 2022 or
2023 realistically.”
According to a report of COAI, the
telecom industry, along with DoT, is
leaving no stone unturned in making
India 5G ready, and by next year,
India will be on a 5G map. To ensure
the commercial deployment of 5G, a
high-level 5G India forum has been
instituted where experts across the
globe are collaborating and discussing
challenges and opportunities, making
India a true 5G powered nation. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious
Digital India programme and better
telecom and Internet connectivity
will benefit each other. 5G will open
up new opportunities and catapult
India’s transition towards digital
empowerment.
5G market forecast
The 5G economy study stated that
by 2035, the entire world would
understand the huge potential and
benefits of 5G as it is expected to have
a positive impact on various indus-
72 July 2020 • electronics For You
Others
LG 8%
OnePlus 2%
2%
Huawei
12%
Samsung
25%
Fig. 3: Premium segment market share
by OEMs, Q3 2029 (Credit: Counterpoint
Technology Market Research)
trial sectors. It is likely to produce up
to 12 trillion dollars worth of goods
and services. In India alone, the 5G is
expected to push the economy to 1 tril-
lion dollars in the coming years, at the
same time, it is now being witnessed
as a potential game-changer with an
ability to offer an economic growth of
more than one trillion dollars by 2035.
The success of 5G requires huge global
investments, which is speculated to
surpass 3.5 trillion dollars between
2020 and 2035.
The overall expenditure on 5G is
expected to reach 88 billion dollars by
2023, according to Heavy Reading’s
Mobile Operator 5G Capex. The statis-
tics above display the expected global
yearly growth of investment in the tel-
ecommunication industry from 2019
to 2023. IDC expects the total 5G and
LTE router/gateway market to grow
by 3 billion dollars in 2024 worldwide,
at a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 21.2 per cent. IDC projects
the number of 5G connections to grow
by 1.01 billion in 2023.
Yash further adds, “The domestic
5G mobile phone market is still expect-
ed to be below 50 million dollars mark
in 2020. There is still a long way to go to
have a mature ecosystem for justifying
the CAPEX investment by operators.
Jio, in its current shape and form,
with all PE investments, is best poised
to take a lead in the 5G space—but it
could only happen with the best mix
of B2B and B2C/B2B2C models. As for
any technology generation to succeed,
there needs to be a timely push and a
timely pull from the regulatory depart-
ment in the right direction, and that’s
what India needs.”
Mathews adds, “However, ini-
tially, 5G applications and software
Apple
will require a considerable amount
52%
of funding by the government. The
5GHLF has recommended an all-
encompassing planning estimate of
39.34 million dollars in the first year,
52.45 million dollars in the second,
65.57 million dollars in the third, and
52.45 million dollars in the fourth
year. A few roadblocks and challenges
need to be addressed for 5G to become
a resounding reality.”
Challenges of 5G communication
The biggest challenge is of course
handset cost and localised use cases.
Currently, 5G smartphones are avail-
able in the price range of ` 40,000
and above. Due to the Covid-19 crisis,
manufacturing is impacted, and so is
the supply chain. Another challenge is
to maintain the infrastructure in such
difficult times of lockdown. Field forces
faced a lot of issues in keeping towers
and cables up and running. There was
also a quick requirement of expanding
the network capacities, which meant
working round and against the clock.
According to COAI, while talking
about 5G in India, the issues about
the spectrum cannot be ignored. Tradi-
tionally, the spectrum has always been
expensive. In India, 20MHz blocks
in the 3,300-3,600MHz band for 5G
services have been priced at 49.20
million dollars per MHz by TRAI in its
recommendations. In Korea, for exam-
ple, the same band was priced at 17.2
million dollars per MHz in auctions.
The most critical factor in the uptake
of the 5G spectrum would be its price.
The 5G high-level forum has lately
recommended early allocation of 5G
spectrum, increasing the quantum of
spectrum available and reducing the
prices. The initial expenses on equip-
ment would also be costly.
For 5G effective deployment,
operators will have to wait for the
current pandemic to pass. The latency,
throughput, and scale are important
factors for any use case deployment,
but battling out current challenges
pertaining to procurement, proving
the ROI for a use case, cultural align-
ment with DevOps teams, adoption
of microservices, and seamless use of
orchestration platforms remain crucial
for 5G’s success in India.
www.EFYMag.com
 New Products
Components
Air quality sensor
Renesas Electronics Corporation has
enhanced its ZMOD4410 Indoor Air
Quality (IAQ) sensor series
with the power of embed-
ded artificial intelligence
(e-AI), enabling smart
odour sensing for ventila-
tion systems, bathroom monitoring and
controls, and air quality monitors.
The reinforced platform combines
neural network-trained firmware on
various microcontroller units (MCUs),
such as RL78 MCU, to provide higher
resolution measurement results.
With these new capabilities, the
ZMOD4410 is not only capable of detect-
ing gases that indicate the presence of
certain odours in small enclosed rooms
with higher accuracy and improved
part-to-part deviation but can also dis-
tinguish between sulphur and ethanol-
based odours.
Renesas’ unique software-configu-
rable ZMOD platform provides greater
design flexibility for smart sensing sys-
tems, allowing firmware updates with
application-specific capabilities, such
as selective measurements, to detect
volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Renesas
www.renesas.com
Body temperature MCU
Health monitoring at home and in
public places has become crucial
these days. Due
to the impact
of the Covid-
19 pandemic,
the world has
drastically
changed in its
operations in public places by checking
health conditions through temperature
monitoring. In such conditions, rapid
measurement and accuracy play an
important role.
Keeping this in mind, Holtek has
www.EFYMag.com
announced BH67F2742, which is a
dedicated MCU for contactless infrared
thermometer applications. The MCU
flash architecture facilitates production
parameter adjustment, product calibra-
tion, and data storage. Compared with
traditional solutions, the integrated
LDO, EEPROM, LED and LCD drivers,
low noise operational amplifier, and
24-bit A-D converter reduce the require-
ments for large numbers of external
components.  regulated outputs, this series provides a
The BH67F2742 has a built-in LCD
driver used to drive an LCD to display
temperature. Buzzer and motor are used
for vibration and sound output alert
when the measurement is complete.
Holtek
www.holtek.com
Car door lock IC
STMicroelectronics has intro-
duced L99UDL01, an automotive uni-
versal door-lock integrated circuit (IC)
that integrates six MOSFET
half-bridge outputs and
two half-bridge gate
drivers with protec-
tion and diagnostic
functions.  allows military
As a complete centralised solution
for electronically driving car locks from
a body control module (BCM), the IC
replaces multiple individual motor
drivers and associated analogue and
passive components while providing
sophisticated functionalities.  motive, industrial logging equipment,
It comes with unique safety features
for normal operation in the event of an
accident and ensures quick access to
the vehicle.
Also, the L99UDL01 has two power-
saving modes—a 50µA standby mode
ready for re-activation by an SPI com-
mand from BCM and a sleep mode that
reduces current to below 15µA. It is
packaged in 10mm×10mm TQFP64L.
STMicroelectronics
www.st.com
NEW
DC-DC converter
TRV 1M by TRACO Power is a 1W
DC-DC converter series with reinforced
isolation of 5000V
AC for medical and
industrial applica-
tions. The series
offers several models
with different input voltages
(±10 per cent) between 5 and 24V DC. 
With continuous short circuit pro-
tection and low leakage current of less
than 2µA, this converter series is suited
to protect any connected interfaces or
applied parts to patients. Featuring semi-
good level of regulation without affect-
ing the cost-efficiency. 
It is an ideal solution for applications
where a completely unregulated DC-DC
converter would not meet your regula-
tory requirements.
The device can operate up to 5000m
altitude and is now available in a com-
pact SIP-9 package.
TRACO Power
www.tracopower.com
Diode array
Microchip Technology has launched
a new series of Transient Voltage Sup-
pressor (TVS) vertical arrays—MDA3KP
TVS. The offering
sys t e m c i rc u i t
protection for rug-
gedised handheld
radios, Global Positioning System (GPS),
and communication test equipment.
Other device applications include auto-
power supplies, and marine systems.
Microchip’s MDA3KP TVS diode
array family offers an integrated multi-
diode solution and provides fast-react-
ing avalanche breakdown diode (ABD)
that can divert excess current around
sensitive components to protect them
from electrical overstress.
Its vertically constructed 8-diode,
16-pin surface-mount package allows
efficient layout and ease of design, thus
facilitating less requirement of printed
electronics For You • July 2020 73
 New Products
circuit board (PCB) space while ena-
bling higher power densities.
Microchip Technology
www.microchip.com
Memory chip
In a bid to offer a next-generation
solution for ultra-responsive low
latency operation, Teledyne e2v has
announced DDR4T04G72M, a radia-
tion-tolerant DDR4
memory chip
that features 4GB
capacity. It is cur-
rently validated at
2133MT/s with a
target to increase to 2400MT/s in the
near future. It features a 72-bit bus,
where 64 bits are dedicated to data and
8 bits to error correction code (ECC).
Further, high-reliability manufacturing
and radiation-tolerant robustness make
it highly suitable for dealing with the
rigours of space environments.
The DDR4T04G72M enables
increased performance while taking up
minimal board space—something that
is certain to be of value in highly space-
constrained and densely-packed satellite
designs. It can be used in conjunction
with processors and FPGAs having a
DDR4 controller, and is in particular,
embedded on the Teledyne e2v space
version of the Qormino common com-
pute platform together with the space
version of NXP LS1046 quad-core pro-
cessor (QLS1046-4GB).
Teledyne e2v
www.teledyne-e2v.com
MEMS sensor
Murata has developed a new micro-
electro-mechanical system (MEMS) with
six degrees of freedom (6DoF) inertial
sensor SCHA600 that provides high per-
formance for safety-
critical automotive
applications. The
sensor enables new
advanced driver-
assistance systems (ADAS)
functionality and automated driving
through data fusion with Global Naviga-
tion Satellite System (GNSS) and various
sensors such as camera, radar, and lidar.
This new sensor is a single package
6DoF component integrated with GNSS
and perception sensors for L2+ and
74 July 2020 • electronics For You
higher levels of autonomy. It enables
centimetre-level-accuracy with respect
to vehicle dynamics and position, thus
enabling safe and robust autonomous
driving. The device guarantees better
operation during high mechanical shock
and vibration.
It comes in an SOIC housing (32 pins)
with dimensions of 18.7mm×8.5mm×
4.5mm. The product is qualified accord-
ing to the AEC-Q100 standard and is
ISO26262 ASIL-D (Automotive Safety
Integrity Level) compliant.
Murata
www.murata.com
MCU
NXP Semiconductors has introduced a
new family of ultra-low-power, multi-
protocol wireless MCUs, K32W061/41.
The new low-power devices comple-
ment the recently introduced pin-com-
patible JN5189/88
(Thread/Zigbee)
and QN9090/30
(Bluetooth LE)
MCUs and pro-
vide original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
with a simple support system for current
and emerging smart home and building
use cases.
Low-power consumption of today’s
smart home and Internet of Things
(IoT) devices is crucial for achieving
high performance from a single-coin
cell battery. NXP’s K32W061/41 MCU
achieves this via multiple low-power
modes and low transmit/receive radio
power capabilities.
The K32W061/41 wireless micro-
controllers are based on Arm Cortex
M4 microcontroller core running at
48MHz and include 640kB onboard
flash and 152kB SRAM, providing stor-
age space and flexibility for complex
applications and software over-the-air
(OTA) updates. The optional NFC NTAG
provides standardised out-of-band com-
munications for simplifying the pairing
process.
NXP Semiconductor
www.nxp.com
Motor control chip
Dialog Semiconductor, a provider of bat-
tery management, AC-DC power conver-
sion, Wi-Fi, BLE, and Industrial ICs, has
launched SLG47105, a motor drive CMIC
that delivers both configurable logic and
configurable analogue with high-voltage
outputs.
The device is a part of the
company’s GreenPAK product
family and provides a
cost-effective, one-
time NVM program-
mable option for
designers to integrate both digital and
analogue system functions while mini-
mising component count, board space
and power consumption for consumer
and industrial motor applications.
The new device is capable of driv-
ing two brushed DC motors, a single
stepper motor, solenoid, or any other
load requiring up to 1.5A RMS current
per output. It has an operating voltage
of up to 13.2V. Besides protection fea-
tures such as over-temperature, under-
voltage and overcurrent protection, the
SLG47105 also includes configurable
digital and analogue resources, allowing
the user to create a customised protec-
tion and motor control scheme with
current or voltage regulation, stall detec-
tion or soft motor start to enable higher
system reliability and more efficient
battery usage.
Dialog Semiconductor
www.dialog-semiconductor.com
POWER SUPPLies
AC power supply
RECOM has announced the extension
of its open-frame AC-DC power supply
range with the addition of the RACM60-
K series. The low-
profile 5cm×7cm
design features 90
per cent efficien-
cy across its load
range and enables full-power operation
from -40°C to +55°C without forced
cooling, and up to +85°C with derated
or forced air. Input range is from 80V AC
to 264V AC and outputs available are 5V,
12V, 15V, 24V, 36V and 48V.
The products are suitable for a wide
range of applications with EN 62368-1,
IEC 61558-1/-2-16, and IEC/EN 60335-
1 certifications for ITE/audio-visual,
industrial, and household use, respec-
tively.
The RACM60-K series features full
protection against short-circuits, output
www.EFYMag.com

over-voltage, over-current, and over-
temperature and has a line and neutral
fusing for medical applications. No-load
input current is only 100mW at 230V AC.
RECOM
www.recom-power.com
TEST & MEASUREMENT
Power measurement instrument
Boonton Electronics, a provider of
enhanced test instrumentation and sen-
sors, has announced
the launch of the
new PMX40 RF
power metre, a high-
performing radio frequency (RF) power
measurement instrument.
By combining the utility of a tra-
ditional benchtop instrument, per-
formance of modern USB RF power
sensors, and simplicity of a multi-touch
display, it delivers a high utility value to
engineers and technicians for designing
and testing. The PMX40 streamlines RF
testing and is optimal for broad use in
the semiconductor, military, aerospace,
medical, and communications indus-
tries.
Boonton Electronics
www.boonton.com
Probe card
FormFactor, a semiconductor test and
measurement supplier, has reached a
high-throughput mile-
stone in dynamic
random access
memory (DRAM)
wafer testing with the
release of the SmartMatrix 3000XP probe
card. The new SmartMatrix 3000XP
probe card allows DRAM manufactur-
ers to test 3000 dies or more at once
using FormFactor’s proprietary Tester
Resource Enhancement (ATRE) and
MEMS probe technologies. The new
breakthrough allows the simultaneous
test of approximately 1000 additional
dies over previous capabilities and can
reduce the test cost per die by more than
25 per cent.
The SmartMatrix 3000XP probe
card’s key features include proprietary
TTRE (Terminated Tester Resource
Enhancement) technology, ultra-high
switch-density ATRE (Advanced Tester
Resource Enhancement) components,
www.EFYMag.com
proven low-force 3D MEMS probe
technology and test clock rates up to
200MHz at wafer sort. The 1Z DRAM
node will move to high volume produc-
tion later this year.
FormFactor
www.formfactor.com
Testing equipment
Keysight Technologies has announced a
cost-effective test solution, Ixia AresONE
400 gigabit Ethernet (GE) that enables
data centre operators to leverage 400GE
capable test ports to link with and test
legacy 100GE network equipment.
The new test solution is based on
pulse-amplitude modulation level-4
(PAM4) signalling interconnection
to 100GE non-return-to-zero (NRZ)
networking equipment
ports using Credo’s
HiWire active
electrical cable
(AEC) technol-
ogy. It also provides
speed-shifting of signalling rates and for-
ward error correction (FEC) conversion.
As of now, many data centre opera-
tors have widely deployed 100GE NRZ-
based technologies. However, higher
speeds such as 400GE provide a new
mixed signalling and mixed FEC in
a multi-rate environment. This new
environment produces unique chal-
lenges relating to the integration of
PAM4-based 400GE and 100GE-capable
switch ports with existing 100GE NRZ
signalling-based switch port technology.
Therefore the combined Keysight
and Credo test solution bridges the
gap between incompatible PAM4- and
NRZ-encoded signalling. It removes
potential testing issues to improve over-
all performance validation and quality.
The AEC cable technology performs the
necessary conversions to allow a PAM4-
encoded port to interoperate with an
NRZ-encoded port.
Keysight Technologies
www.keysight.com
miscellaneous
Robot controller
ADLINK Technology, an edge comput-
ing solution provider, has launched
ROScube-I, in collaboration with Intel.
The ADLINK ROScube-I series is a ROS
New Products
2-enabled robotic controller based on
Intel Xeon E, 9th Gen Intel Core i7/i3,
and 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processors.
The series fea-
tures an I/O
connectivity
that supports
a wide variety
of sensors and actuators for meeting
the needs of a wide range of robotic
applications.
The ROScube-I supports an exten-
sion box for convenient functionality
and performance expansion with Intel
VPU cards and the Intel Distribution of
OpenVINO toolkit for computation of
artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms
and inference.
Robotic systems based on the ROS-
cube-I are supported by ADLINK’s
Neuron SDK, a platform specifically
designed for professional robotic appli-
cations such as autonomous mobile
robots (AMR).
ADLINK Technology
www.adlinktech.com
Raspberry Pi audio amplifier
Infineon Technologies has developed a
fully self-contained Raspberry Pi audio
amplifier Hardware Attached on Top
(HAT) board. It
offers high defi-
nition audio at
boom box power
levels in a small form
factor. Infineon’s multilevel technology
ensures minimum size and consump-
tion, state-of-the-art power efficiency,
and HD audio quality for Raspberry Pi
users and makers. The target field of use
is active speakers with wireless music
streaming.
The board (KIT_40W_AMP_HAT_
ZW) is compatible with Raspberry Pi
Zero W and Raspberry Pi 3 and 4. It
leverages the MERUS multilevel class
D amplification enabled by the MERUS
MA12070P amplifier, which allows for
filter-free amplifier design that does not
need to use a filter-coil at the output
filter. This significantly reduces the BOM
cost and enables PCB area reduction.
The board furthermore provides
high output power in small form factor
up to 40W instantaneous peak power
at 4 Ohms.
Infineon Technologies
www.infineon.com
electronics For You • July 2020 75
 Facts & Figures
Scheme For Promotion Of
MSMEs In Defence
O
ne of the key objectives of the govern-
ment’s Make in India initiative is to bring
micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) into the defence supply chain and
thereby boost the self-reliance of the country
and contribute towards growing defence exports
market. MSMEs are already contributing in
defence manufacturing with thousands of qual-
ity products, mainly at sub-system and compo-
nent levels. In addition, as much as fifty per cent
of the manpower is engaged in MSMEs.
It is high time that such measures are adopted
that would help to create an enabling environ-
ment to utilise the potential of MSMEs in the
defence sector to the maximum. Therefore, last
year, it was proposed to create a scheme for the
promotion of MSMEs.
Objectives.
• To unlock the potential of non-defence
sector MSMEs located in Tier II and Tier III cities
across India by providing them with relevant
information about the government’s Make in
India programme in defence
• To give a new impetus to the development
of defence production in the country for its
domestic needs and also for exporting to friendly
countries by involving MSMEs in larger numbers
• To provide the know-how to Indian MSMEs
active in non-defence sectors for their entry in
the defence sector through workshops and con-
claves
• To tutor MSMEs about the prospective
market and business opportunities around the
world
• To enable institutionalisation of the inter-
action of foreign OEMs (original equipment
manufacturers) with MSMEs to encourage wider
participation in the offset business industry
Scope.
• MSME vendors to be imparted awareness
and information about opportunities emanating
out of the Defence Procurement Procedure, and
more specifically out of the new Make II proce-
dure
• MSMEs from non-defence sectors to be con-
nected with OEMs, defence public sector undertak-
ings (DPSUs), and ordnance factory board (OFB)
to help them avail the opportunities under Make
76 July 2020 • electronics For You
in India programme in the defence sector
• MSMEs to be educated about the relaxa-
tions in the procurement process
• MSMEs to be familiarised with the various
funding mechanisms established specifically for
facilitating capable entrepreneurs low on capital
or for capital intensive projects
• Exploring the possibility of establishing
common testing and allied facilities at select
centres
Coverage.
• Boost Make in India, consolidate exist-
ing defence manufacturing ecosystem, and
induct competent MSMEs of other sectors to the
defence sector
• Identify location-specific problems that
need to be addressed by the Ministry of Defence
(MoD), particularly, Department of Defence
Production (DDP)
• Identify MSMEs with strong potential to
meet the technology requirements of the armed
forces.
• Promote defence exports
• Boost MoD outreach
Eligible agencies. Under this proposal, the
management of the proposed events can be
through DEO, leading think tanks, industry
associations, local industry chambers, NSIC,
or any entity as may be recommended by the
department of MSMEs.
Criteria for sanction. The factors to be
considered for the assessment include pro-
posed coverage in terms of the catchment area,
number of MSME units, range of defence items/
equipment targeted, potential outreach of the
proposing agency, geo-demographic potential of
the region, and extant infrastructural facilities.
Funding. Annual sponsorship subject to a
maximum limit of 0.2 million rupees/event (for
national-level events) and 0.10 million rupees/
event (for state-level events) along with permis-
sion to use the logo of MoD from DPP. Since
finance ministry had approved one national
level and three state level conclaves in pilot
mode, fund requirement up to September 2019
was estimated to be 0.50 million rupees.
Source: https://www.defenceexim.gov.in
www.EFYMag.com
 Facts & Figures
Guidelines For Use Of IAF Test
Facilities By Private Entities
E
xtending the usage of Indian Air
Force (IAF) test facilities, includ-
ing aviation assets to private
sectors/entities, would boost the indige-
nous aviation defence industry, thereby
reducing dependence on foreign suppli-
ers. These guidelines aim to outline the
modalities for the use of IAF assets (test-
ing and evaluation establishments, labs,
ranges, aircraft, helicopters, radars,
and ground equipment) by the private
sector to test equipment and systems
being designed and developed to meet
IAF requirements. The test facilities/
assets would be provided for use by the
private sector when not in use by the
IAF. However, IAF reserves the right
to change the time slot, or deny usage
of the test facilities due to operational,
security, or weather reasons.
Test facilities with IAF. IAF has
specialised establishments dedicated
to test aviation equipment and sys-
tems. Apart from these, various air to
ground/small arms ranges, aircraft,
helicopters, radars, and other ground
equipment required for testing pur-
poses could be sourced by private
entities for testing and evaluation of
equipment and systems developed by
them for defence applications.
Procedure. The following pro-
cedure is used for availing IAF test
facilities/assets by the Indian private
sector/entity:
Testing coordination cell (TCC)
has been set up at Air HQ under the
deputy chief of air staff (DCAS). TCC
is the single point of contact between
the private entities and IAF test estab-
lishments/facilities. The main tasks of
TCC are to:
1. M a i n t a i n a n d u p d a t e t h e
approved list of test facilities and assets
that can be offered to private entities
from time to time on the Ministry of
Defence (MoD) and IAF websites.
2. Expeditiously action the request
submitted by private entities.
www.EFYMag.com
3. Coordinate/facilitate discussion
between IAF testing agencies and pri-
vate entities as required.
4. Allot time slots/assets for testing
and evaluation by the private sector
with due approval of the DCAS.
5. Work out testing modalities in
consultation with IAF test centres and
private entities.
6. Work out the cost of testing,
taking into account the approved usage
rates of assets and facilities being uti-
lised, likely usage of consumables, and
other associated costs, in consultation
with the private sector. A memoran-
dum of understanding (MoU)/agree-
ment will be signed that stipulates the
terms and conditions, including pay-
ment terms by the private sector and
indemnities to safeguard the interests
of the government of India.
7. Coordinate security clearances
of private entities interested in testing
their equipment at IAF establishments.
8. Prepare a detailed task directive
for conducting trials.
Approval for utilisation of IAF
test facilities/assets. On receipt of a
request from private entities, the nodal
officer at TCC will ascertain that the
system/equipment to be tested using
the IAF facility has been developed
for meeting the IAF requirement. The
officer will ascertain the availability of
test facilities/assets and seek approval
of the DCAS for conducting trials using
IAF test facilities/assets.
Trial and evaluation, cost of
testing, non-disclosure agreement.
Certain tests may require modification
of the platform. Such modifications,
if deemed unsuitable by the IAF, will
be denied. Further, the private sector/
entity will bear the cost of any modifi-
cation and de-modification that may be
required for carrying out testing. Such
modifications will be carried out only
by authorised agencies, following due
clearances and certifications.
A trial coordination meeting will
be conducted at Air HQ or on-site to
formulate a trial directive. The meeting
is to be attended by all stakeholders.
Subsequently, TCC will issue a trial
directive duly approved by the DCAS,
addressing all issues related to trials
and exercise command and control
over the conduct of trials. The TCC, on
the conclusion of trials, will settle the
final bill with the private sector/entity.
The approved rates of usage of IAF
assets, as available with Directorate of
Financial Planning, shall be used as a
basis of all cost calculations. The cost
of carrying out test procedures will be
calculated on a case to case basis and
approved by the DCAS.
Adequate safeguards are to be
incorporated so as to avoid any leak-
age of information by private entities
and vice versa. Therefore these entities
are required to sign a non-disclosure
agreement with all stakeholders, which
prohibits the sharing of information
with regards to testing equipment with
any other agency.
Accident coverage and indemnity
bond. The private sector cannot claim
any compensation from IAF/MoD.
However, damage to service property
due to negligence on the part of the
private sector would be paid in full by
them. Damage to government prop-
erties not attributable to the private
sector would be written off against loss
to the government of India (GoI). Air
force personnel involved in testing and
evaluation would get immunity in case
the equipment of the private sector gets
damaged during the process of testing
and evaluation. The participants of
the private sector would also sign the
indemnity bond to absolve the IAF/
GoI of any damage/harm caused to
them during the process of trials and
evaluation.
Source: https://indianairforce.nic.in
electronics For You • July 2020 77
 Software

Free Daily Utility Tools

Software For
strategic
+ Office tools: Apache OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org)
+ Zipping software: WinZip (www.winzip.com)
+ Browser: Mozilla Firefox (www.mozilla.org)

applications
+ PDF Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (get.adobe.com)
+ Media player: PotPlayer (potplayer.daum.net)

Ayushee Sharma

AnyLogic EWare IFS Maintenix

Visit: https://www.anylogic.com
Full version: Paid; free trial
Anylogic software for defence model-
ling and simulation provides a flex-
ible virtual environment for faster
analysis, testing, forecasting, and
optimisation of complex processes,
systems, and operations necessary
to make the right decisions while
mitigating risks involved. Modelling
of systems required for military plan-
ning and management is done prior
to their use in different applications,
and their role and interoperability
is tested. For disaster response sce-
narios, this is possible by consider-
ing environmental variables, human
behaviour, and technology systems
while creating testing responses.
Visit: https://systematic.com/
?lang=en
Full version: Paid
EWare by Systematic is a standard-
based, off-the-shelf software built for
easy deployment in military organ-
isations to help them make accurate
tactical decisions to prevent loss
of life and property while avoiding
ambiguities. This powerful electronic
warfare tool allows users to process
data reliably before passing it to
frontline units that include both day-
to-day management and updating of
mission-critical data. With improved
threat identification, the team can
minimise risk of such incidents. It
can be customised to the geography
of any planned mission.
Visit: https://www.ifs.com/corp
Full version: Paid
IFS Maintenix is an easily scalable,
end-to-end aviation maintenance
management software that allows
organisations to maximise the rev-
enue potential of assets through stan-
dard and predictable maintenance.
Users are provided with reliable and
timely information, which improves
their productivity and efficiency. The
software has a component-based
architecture featuring controlled
workflow and point-of-maintenance
access to real-time information,
which enables working with any
maintenance and engineering (M&E)
system. Other features include auto-
mated planning, paperless execution,
and compliance.

GeorbIS
Visit: https://www.vizexperts.com; Full version: Paid
GeorbIS is a 3D GIS (Geospatial intelligence) platform for visualisation, analysis,
and development of data. The software helps to enhance the planning process of
defence and paramilitary forces through several ways, such as the area of interest
visualisation, real-time sensor data integration, terrain analysis, among others.
Besides following global symbology standards like the MIL 2525D, it is OGC
certified and also compatible with MIL symbology used by the Indian military
along with support for the Indian Military Grid Reference System (IMGRS). It
also helps in making intelligent decisions when it comes to forest management,
oceanography, and disaster management.

78 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 Software

Voyager CommandTRACKER
Visit: http://www.salientcrgt.com; Full version: Paid

(Credit: www.salientcrgt.com/
Voyager CommandTRACKER is an incident and asset management system that provides real-

newsroom/media-library)
time awareness about the location of mobile users and assets, be it in vehicles or on foot via
tracking of GPS-enabled portable and mobile radio units. ‘Always On’ geo-fencing alerts and
notifications get triggered as assets enter or leave defined areas. Integration of third-party GPS
devices to other existing applications or systems enables easy sharing of data amongst command
staff, communications specialists, and emergency operations managers for management across
multiple locations.

mobile apps Scan the QR codes to download

the apps based on the operating
For Strategic Applications system of your device

UgCS for DJI
Updated: June 2020
OS: Android and iOS
Download: Full version (free)
UgCS for DJI allows users to establish
a connection between DJI drones (like
Phantom 4, Inspire 2, Spark) with GPR
mounted on them and UgCS desktop
(version 3.5 or higher) ground station for
uploading and carrying out a previously
planned mission, or to fly the drone in
‘Click&Go’ mode. This enables ground-
penetrating radar (GPR) surveys in harsh/
hazardous environments without compro-
mising the security of team members. It
can also be used as a standalone applica-
tion for manually flying drones. Other fea-
tures include Live HD camera view, home
position reset, flight simulation, support
for metric and imperial units, and so on.
Mgrs & Utm Map
Updated: April 2020
OS: Android and iOS
Download: Full version (free)
Mgrs & Utm Map was developed to
mainly help military personnel with
GPS and coordinate systems. The app
uses satellite navigation systems such as
GPS, GALILEO, and GLONASS (GNSS)
supported by smartphones and their sen-
sors to show the most accurate position
of the user. There are several location
(coordinate) format options, including
MGRS, UTM, or Latitude/Longitude. The
centre of the map also follows user loca-
tion while on the move, which enables
measurements of distance, altitude, area,
and the like. It can even assist users with
outdoor activities and sports.
100% Army Fit
Updated: November 2019
OS: Android and iOS
Download: Full version
(free)
Android
100% Army Fit app by the
British Army is a training
and fitness tool built for
prospective recruits who
are preparing for an assess-
ment, or even those who iOS
wish to achieve the fitness
level of military personnel. It allows users
to track their goals, which include train-
ing curated by fitness coaches for losing
weight, increasing muscular strength,
improving distance running performance,
and the like. Training plans can be custom-
ised based on the user’s requirements. The
app also offers nutrition advice to ensure
that exercises deliver expected results.

Military Flashlight
Android iOS Android iOS Updated: February 2020
OS: Android
Download: Full version
(free)
Military flashlight app Android
Military News allows users to simply swipe
Updated: March 2020 for a strobe light and has different strobe
OS: Android light blinking frequencies, including Morse
Download: Full version (free) code SOS signal as well as a standard com-
Military news app provides the latest news in the field of military/ Android pass dial. Only smartphone camera access
defence taking place around the world by analysing numerous news is needed for rear flash operation. It caters
stories and breaking news from reliable news publishers. Updates on military programmes to all military lovers, veterans, soldier
and such technologies as for military gear and equipment that are happening globally are families, and personnel. Users can also
also provided regularly. This includes notifications for breaking new stories and videos personalise the torch with different colours
for a better understanding of different situations. Other features include a bookmarking (depicting Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air
system for future reference, news sharing options, and much more. The latest version Force, and Coast Guard). The ad-free ver-
sion of this app is paid.
comes with a username update option and other improvements for optimisation.

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 79

 First Look

EFY Bureau
Price
32-inch models:
` 12,999

Smart TVs
43-inch models:
` 21,999

With built-in Chromecast

Vu has launched two new smart TVs in India under its
Vu Cinema Smart TV series. The latest Vu Cinema TV
comes in 81.3cm (32-inch) and 109.2cm (43-inch) sizes.
Both smart TVs come with built-in Chromecast and
support for Apple AirPlay and Dolby Audio. The smart TVs
also feature a voice assistant remote and run on Android
9.0 Pie. There’s access to OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime
Video, Hotstar, YouTube, and Google Play apps.
These are powered by a quad-core processor paired
with 8GB storage and 1GB RAM. Their connectivity The voice assistant feature supports the Hindi language as
options include Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, HDMI CEC, and well. There is a Vu Help app, which provides steps on how to use
ARC. Both the smart TVs feature thin bezels with a 40W Android Smart function, learn more about the apps and software,
soundbar attached. or how to set up the TV.

Earbuds Notebook
With extra bass With better audio quality
Sony has launched its first-ever truly wireless earbuds in Acer has expanded its notebook series by launching Swift 3
India—WF-SP800N and WF-XB700. The earbuds are avail- notebook in India. It is available in a silver colour variant. It
able in black and blue colour options for XB700 and black, sports a 35.5cm (14-inch) full HD IPS display with 82.73 per
blue, and white colour options for SP800N. cent screen-to-body ratio. The notebook is powered by AMD
WF-SP800N earbuds are part of the sports-focused Ryzen 4000 series mobile processor coupled with Radeon
range of personal audio products. These come with active graphics, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage space.
noise cancellation and IP55-certified dust and water resist- It also features DTS audio for better audio performance
ance. These earbuds are an excellent option for users who and Windows Hello via a fingerprint reader. It comes with a
are looking for premium features in true wireless ear- Wake on Voice (WoV) feature that enables users to activate
phones. Windows 10 using their voice even when the screen is off.
The earbuds have a battery life of nine hours and an It also allows users to interact with Cortana when the note-
additional nine hours from the case. These also feature quick book is on the standby mode. There’s also password-free
charging that brings an hour of use with ten minutes of charg- access, which gives users quick access to the notebook.
ing. There are gesture controls on the earbuds, access to voice As far as connectivity is concerned, the notebook fea-
assistants, app-based customisation through the Sony Head- tures support for dual-band Wi-Fi-6 (802.11 ax), USB Type-C
phones Connect app, and USB Type-C charging.  port, and Bluetooth 5.0, among other things. It comes with
WF-XB700 earbuds a battery that can last up to eleven hours.
Price are part of the compa-
SP800N:
` 18,990 ny’s ‘extra bass’ range.
XB700: ` 9,990
These feature an IPX4
water resistance rating
Price
and up to eighteen ` 59,999
hours of battery life.
The earbuds get sup-
port for SBC and AAC
Bluetooth codecs. The
charging case features
a USB Type-C port.

80 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com

 First Look

Refrigerators Smartphone
With AI-enabled technology With dewdrop notch
Panasonic has launched a new range of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled refrigera- Oppo A11K comes with a full-
tors in India. The new refrigerator range has three types of sensors. screen display with a dewdrop
The door sensor senses how frequently the door is opened to understand a fam- notch on the top centre. The
ily’s needs to automatically switch between the power saving mode to other power phone has a 15.8cm (6.2-inch)
modes. The temperature sensor detects the internal and external temperatures to display with HD resolution and
determine and adjust to the required cooling power without human intervention. 270ppi pixel density. It runs on
The light sensor, on the other hand, adjusts the temperature as per ambient light. Android 9.0-based ColorOS 6.1.
Additionally, these refrigerators come with AG Clean technology, which the For performance, Oppo A11K
company claims can deactivate up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria to keep food fresh relies on MediaTek Helio P35
and healthy. The new range comes with twenty per cent extra storage space with a octa-core processor coupled with
35-litre vegetable box.

Prices
starts at
` 22,900

Smartwatch
With GPS positioning chip Price
` 64,990
Huami has launched Amazfit Stratos 3 smartwatch in India for athletes and sports
enthusiasts. It features a dual-chip and dual operating system. The smartwatch pro-
vides up to fourteen days of battery life. It comes with a GPS tracker and transflec- 2GB RAM and 32GB built-in stor-
tive MIP display with a 3.4cm full-round display. It is available with Corning Gorilla age. The phone supports expand-
Glass 3 protection and anti-fingerprint coating. able storage up to 256GB via a
The wearable has built-in activity profiles like ultra-endurance mode, exercise microSD card slot. It is powered
effect (TE), exercise load (TD), and recovery time data. It comes with eighty differ- by a 4,230mAh battery.
ent sports modes, includ- Oppo A11K has two rear
ing snowboarding, skiing, cameras featuring 13MP and 2MP
outdoor skating, fencing, sensors. The cameras come with
karate, and more. a bunch of modes such as AI
The smartwatch incor- beautification, bokeh, HDR, and
porates a three-mode/ photo filters. For selfies, it has a
four-satellite GPS position- 5MP front-facing camera. Other
ing chip, which provides key features of the phone include
increased speed and dual-SIM support, dual 4G, and
trajectory accuracy. It also a dedicated fingerprint sensor on
Price
the back.
` 13,999 comes with internal music
storage of up to 400 songs.

The prices, features and specifications are based on information provided to us, or as available on various websites and portals. EFY cannot vouch for their accuracy.

www.EFYMag.com electronics For You • July 2020 81

 Digital

how intelligent toilets

can bring efficient
public toilet
management in india
Potshangbam July

T
he invention of intel-
ligent toilets has
been creating quite
a ripple across the
globe, considering
their smart capabilities to gather
insights into public health and
diseases. A few months back,
Numi 2.0, an advanced intel-
ligent toilet, was recognised in
the smart home category at the
2020 International Consumer

Electronics Show (CES) Awards
held in Las Vegas.
Talking about India, the state
of public toilets is in a deplorable
condition. Maintenance and sus-
tainability of public toilets are
among the biggest challenges
across the country. Despite their
several benefits, not many are
aware of smart toilets. The intel-
ligent toilet is still an untapped
area, and this technology is yet
to hit the mainstream in the
country.
This article explores how
intelligent toilets can help in
mitigating the most neglected
issues concerning public toilets.
Public toilet challenges
in India
It is undeniable that poor public
sanitation is one of the major
concerns in India. Many do not
have access to safe and private toilets
till date. This is not a case that one
witnesses only in remote villages, but
also in the cities. It is a major concern
for the country as human waste breeds
various diseases and contributes to
environmental pollution that kills
nearly one thousand children each
day. To contain the matter, the Swachh
Bharat Mission was launched by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on October
2, 2014, which has made India open
defecation-free to a large extent.
Under the mission, it has been
(Credit: www.watergroup.com)
reported that over 95 million toilets
have been built across the country. The
pressing problem is the upkeep and
maintenance of these toilets. There is
no mechanism to provide clear insights
into water usage, hygiene conditions,
infectious diseases, the number of
people using the toilets, etc. In such
a scenario, utilising the Internet of
Things (IoT) enabled technologies can
bring effectiveness in the whole opera-
tion and change the perception about
Indian public toilets.
Toilet maintenance is indeed com-

82 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com


plex and not sustainable. Moreover,
people don’t want to spend their entire
day cleaning toilets and engage in this
thankless job. This situation is not just
prevalent in India; globally too, most
of the public toilets remain defunct or
close after six months of operations as
there is no clear sustainability plan.
Therefore public toilets powered by
IoT and artificial intelligence (AI) are
quite a realistic solution to fill gaps in
the sanitation sector.
How intelligent toilets
can benefit public
In today’s connected world, intelligent
toilets can certainly bring a paradigm
shift in public sanitation management.
Supported by smart IoT technologies
and several other innovations, intel-
ligent toilets are capable of interacting
and connecting with the central com-
mand centre. These toilets provide
real-time updates, which makes it
possible to monitor the situation from
a remote location. The smart feed-
back helps extensively in increasing
operational efficiency and data-driven
decision-making. Smart toilets use the
right amount of water, which reduces
the wastage of water. Besides water
conservation, smart toilets also save
a lot of energy, which makes them
environmentally friendly.
These are equipped with external
CCTV cameras, sensors for automatic
cleaning and flushing, choke detec-
tion, and voice announcement on mis-
management that alerts the officials
in charge through IoT devices. These
innovations can also accurately moni-
tor footfall in a day.
The smell is one of the key prob-
lems that is difficult to deal with, espe-
cially when it comes to public toilets.
With IoT smell indicators, it is pos-
sible to increase cleaning frequency
to maintain hygiene. These toilets are
fast and effective in mapping cleaning
standards and frequencies.
The most interesting thing about
intelligent toilets is their ability to
yield insights into public health by
analysing the waste. These toilets can
detect early symptoms of a disease
and can even identify the person from
the fingerprint sensors embedded on
the flush handle. After scanning the
toilet, they send an alert to the cloud
www.EFYMag.com
Digital
or an app on a smartphone. Such toi-
lets have the capability to prevent a
disease outbreak before it becomes a
full-blown tragedy.
Besides, what makes it easier for
the general public is the availability of
apps that helps them to locate public
toilets. These apps give information
on opening hours, cleanliness ratings,
water availability, the style of toilet,
toilet fee charges, free toilets, etc.
As per a report, a normal flush
toilet, when integrated with IoT, has
the potential to beat wearable smart
technologies. In the coming years,
smart toilets are likely to capture
health and fitness and tech space,
too. Interestingly, Google was recently
granted a patent for toilets that can
help in tracking the user’s health
condition by putting sensors on dif-
ferent parts of the washroom. In short,
opportunities with intelligent toilets
are endless.
Current scenario of intelligent
toilets in India
In India, the penetration rate of these
high-tech public toilets is still lagging
despite the Indian government’s initia-
tives. However, there is an increasing
awareness of smart toilets that can
reduce the problems of public sanita-
tion.
In recent years, many startups
have shown interest in intelligent
toilets and they have come up with
several innovative concepts. These
startups work in collaboration with a
large number of government bodies.
They have installed toilets in slum
areas, metro stations, government
schools, railway stations, refugee
camps, etc.
In an interesting development last
year, Google Maps listed over 57,000
public toilets in over 2,300 cities
across the country. One can easily
look up and search for the nearest
toilet with the help of Google search,
Google Assistant, or Google Maps and
get instant results.
No doubt, smart toilets have been
Read
able to strike a positive impact on the Electronics Bazaar
public sanitation scenario. To ramp up
the number of installations, the price
factor, which is a major challenge,
should be worked out without com-
promising the quality.
electronics For You • July 2020 83

some mid-range
smartphones
with powerful battery
and processor
Nijhum Rudra
S
m a r t p h o n e s a re
considered to be one
of the biggest inno-
vations in the field
of technology and
have truly transformed the lives
of people in several ways. With-
out any doubt, India is one of
the fastest-growing smartphone
markets worldwide. The country
has several brands under its belt
that are available in various price
segments along with the latest
specifications. From the budget
category to high-end premium
and flagship smartphones, there
are several choices available in
the market.
Smartphones have almost
become mini-computers for
people as these help them to
stream online videos along
with carrying out official work.
Keeping in mind the demand
of people, phones are avail-
able with powerful features and
specifications such as 6GB RAM,
2TB expandable storage, high
internal storage options, power-
ful optical sensors, and so on.
But for the past one and a
half years, people are demanding
phones with powerful battery
and processor. While the former
helps to use the device more, the
latter helps in running the device
seamlessly. Hence, companies
are now introducing powerful
batteries and processors even in
84 July 2020 • electronics For You
Buyers’ Guide
the mid-range phones along with other
new features.
Before we move to the variety of
smartphones, we would first like to men-
tion the qualities you should look for
before buying a smartphone:
Processor. A processor is considered
to be the backbone of every device, and
therefore a good chipset is also required
for the smooth functioning of your phone.
But, you must note that the processing
power of a smartphone differs from one
product to another due to various reasons
such as user interface (UI), bloatware,
operating system (OS), and more. If you
want to use your phone for heavy-duty
purposes such as gaming and editing
photos and online documents, you should
opt for Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 or
Snapdragon 820/821. But if you are a
light user, you can go for any phone with
a good MediaTek processor.
Battery. It is the second most impor-
tant criterion for buyers, especially for
those who spend most of their time on
phones every day. If you stream OTT plat-
forms and play games, you need a smart-
phone with at least 3,500mAh battery.
If you are an average user, a 3,000mAh
backed phone is good for you. However, it
also depends on the quality of the battery
that a company uses. Also, you should
check the battery backup time carefully.
Phone body. It is another important
criterion that you must look for before pur-
chasing a smartphone. Nowadays, phones
are available in both plastic and metallic
bodies, and some devices even have glass-
coated panels. If you are someone who
keeps dropping the phone, you should go
for metal or plastic built handset. Glass
body phones, on the other hand, are sure
to produce cracks on falling, so you
should avoid buying such phones.
Display. If you want to buy a
phone for just checking emails, social
networking, and clicking photos, you
can choose a 12-14cm (approx. 5 to 5.5
inches) HD or full HD display phone.
If you want a phone to stream videos,
edit photos and videos, or download
and view movies, a 14-15cm (approx.
5.5 to 6 inches) full HD or QHD resolu-
tion display would be a perfect choice.
Optical sensor. When we talk about
optical sensors, many people have a
misconception that high megapixels
mean better quality pictures, which is
not the case. A high megapixel might
help you get a non-pixelated picture,
but that doesn’t guarantee a crystal-
clear image. Several specifications,
such as camera aperture, ISO levels,
pixel size, autofocus, and more, need
to be considered. Most importantly,
you will have to check the quality of
the camera lens being used. Leica or
Sony optical sensors always give you
the best photos.
Now, let’s have a look at some mid-
range and premium smartphones with
powerful batteries, processors and other
important features:
Nokia 7.2. Launched at the IFA
trade show in 2019, Nokia 7.2 is backed
by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdrag-
on 660 chipset. The phone
features a 16cm (6.3-inch)
touchscreen coupled with
a resolution of 1080×2340
pixels. It is powered by a
3,500mAh non-removable
battery with fast charging
options. Along with 4GB
www.EFYMag.com

RAM, the smartphone has an internal
storage of 64GB that is expandable
up to 512GB. It features three rear
cameras—a 48MP primary camera, a
second 5MP camera, and a third 8MP
camera. The front camera sports a
20MP sensor for selfies.
Price: ` 16,999
Samsung Galaxy A31. This pre-
mium A series smartphone was
launched by Samsung in India on
24th March. With a resolu-
tion of 1080×2400 pixels
and 20:9 aspect ratio, the
phone is available in a
16cm (6.4-inch) display.
The phone is backed by
a 2GHz octa-core Medi-
aTek Helio P65 processor
that features two cores
clocked at 2GHz, and six cores clocked
at 1.7GHz. For battery backup, the
phone is powered by a 5,000mAh bat-
tery along with support for fast charg-
ing. The phone operates on the latest
Android 10 OS. It features 6GB RAM
and an internal memory option of
128GB that is expandable up to 512GB
via an SD card. As far as the cameras
are concerned, the phone features a
48MP primary camera, a second 8MP
camera, a third 5MP camera, and a
fourth 5MP camera. It sports a 20MP
camera on the front.
Price: ` 21,999
Samsung Galaxy M31. The Sam-
sung Galaxy M31 features a 16.2cm
(6.4-inch) display and a waterdrop
notch at the top. It has
thin bezels around
the AMOLED display,
which helps it stand
out among the com-
petition. The Galaxy
M31 is comfortable to
hold but a little heavy
at 191gm. The weight of the smart-
phone is mainly due to the 6,000mAh
battery. The phone is equipped with
Exynos 9611 SoC and 6GB RAM. It
has two storage variants to choose
from—64GB and 128GB. The Galaxy
M31 is a dual SIM device with support
for 4G as well as VoLTE. It has a quad-
camera setup at the back with a 64MP
primary camera. It also houses 8MP
ultra-wide-angle camera, 5MP macro
camera, and 5MP depth sensor.
Price: ` 18,499
www.EFYMag.com
Buyers’ Guide
Asus Zenfone 5Z. The Asus
ZenFone 5Z comes with a 15.7cm
(6.2-inch) display with full HD+ reso-
lution and 19:9 aspect
ratio. It is powered by
Snapdragon 845 proces-
sor that is clocked at
2.8GHz. It features 6GB
RAM and 64GB internal
storage, which is fur-
ther expandable up to
2TB. The phone runs on
Android 8.0 Oreo with ZenUI 5 on
top. It sports a dual-camera setup at
the back—a 12MP primary camera
and an 8MP secondary camera with
a wide-angle lens. At the front, it has
an 8MP selfie camera. The phone is
powered by a 3,300mAh battery along
with 18W fast charging support. It is a
dual SIM device with a hybrid SIM slot
and support for Dual 4G and VoLTE.
Price: ` 16,999 (6GB+64GB),
` 18,999 (6GB+128GB)
Panasonic Eluga Ray 810. This
Panasonic smartphone comes with
a 15.7cm (6.2-inch)
touchscreen. The
phone is backed by a
MediaTek Helio P22
chipset and is powered
by a 4,000mAh battery.
It sports a 16MP prima-
ry camera and a second
2MP camera. On the front, it sports a
16MP camera for selfies. It features
4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage.
Price: ` 8,499
Moto G8 Power Lite. It is a com-
plete budget smartphone launched
by Motorola in April this
year that comes with
a powerful battery, an
efficient processor, and
many more features.
Along with a resolution
of 720×1600 pixels at
a density of 269 pixels
per inch (ppi) and an aspect ratio
of 20:9, the phone comes with a
16.5cm (6.5-inch) display. It is
backed by a 2.3GHz octa-core Medi-
aTek Helio P35 (MT6765) chipset.
It operates on Android 9 and is
powered by a 5,000mAh non-remov-
able battery. The phone features a
16MP+2MP+2MP rear camera and
an 8MP selfie camera.
Price: ` 8,999
electronics For You • July 2020 85
 advertisers’ index
Client name Page No. Client name Page No.

Digi-Key Electronics (www.digikey.in)......................................................................................2 National Controlling & Equipments........................................................................................89

EFY Group of Publications: Subscription Scheme..................................................................3 Sakthi Accumulators Private Ltd............................................................................................89

element14 India Pvt Ltd..........................................................................................Front Cover Samwha India Energy Saving...............................................................................................11

Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Bidar.........................................................................87 Shavison Electronics Pvt Ltd (www.shavison.com)...............................................................85

Hasco Relays & Electronics International Corp. (www.hascorelays.com).............................31 Siglent Technologies Co., Ltd..................................................................................................9

HK Wentworth (India) Pvt Ltd (www.electrolube.in)...............................................................19 Smec Electronics India Pvt Ltd..............................................................................................88

India Technology Week.........................................................................................................92 STMicroelectronics Private Limited (www.st.com)...................................................................5

LWI Electronics Inc. (www.livewireinfo.com).........................................................................23 Technocomm Intruments Pvt Ltd (www.technocommgroup.com).........................................88

Montu Electronics LLP...........................................................................................................89 TME SLOVAKIA.......................................................................................................................7

Advertisers’ product categories index

Products Page No. Products Page No. Products Page No.

Batteries & Power Supplies Smec Electronics India Pvt Ltd............................................ 88 LWI Electronics Inc. ............................................................ 23

Montu Electronics LLP ........................................................ 89 STMicroelectronics Private Limited ...................................... 5 TME SLOVAKIA .................................................................... 7
Sakthi Accumulators Private Ltd ......................................... 89 TME SLOVAKIA .................................................................... 7

Shavison Electronics Pvt. Ltd.............................................. 85

Components (Including Active & Passive)
Digi-Key Electronics.............................................................. 2
element14 India Pvt Ltd ....................................... Front Cover
Test & Measurement Equipment (Including Indicators
Materials (Including Chemicals & Consumables)
& Monitors)
HK Wentworth (India) Pvt Ltd ............................................. 19
Siglent Technologies Co., Ltd................................................ 9
Technocomm Intruments Pvt Ltd......................................... 88
Reseller and Distributors

Hasco Relays & Electronics International Corp................... 31 Digi-Key Electronics.............................................................. 2

LWI Electronics Inc. ............................................................ 23 element14 India Pvt Ltd ....................................... Front Cover Training and Certification Institutes

Samwha India Energy Saving............................................. 11 Hasco Relays & Electronics International Corp................... 31 Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Bidar....................... 87

EFY Magazine Attractions During 2020

Month Theme/Focus Areas Artificial Intelligence Tech Focus eStyle Buyers’ Guide MARKET SURVEY
January Anniversary Issue/ AI for Smart Home and Smart Smart Consumers Driving Smart Laptops Priced Under ` 25k Growth of Electronics R&D
Tech Trends City Industries Segment in India
February Augmented and Extended AI for News, Publishing and AR-Based Solutions for Top AR and VR Headsets Market Ratio for AR and VR
Reality Writing Businesses
March Automotive and Electric AI in Logistics and Intelligent Transportation and Top Solar-Powered Vehicles Automotive versus EV
Vehicles Transportation Mobility Systems
April Healthcare AI in Telemedicine and Role of Data Analytics in Healthcare AI-Based Healtcare Equipment Role of Wearables
Telehealth for Hospitals
May Quantum Computing AI for Manufacturing High-Performance Computing - Top Quantam Computing Platforms Edge and Cloud Computing
QuantumComputing for 2020
June Drones and Quadcopters AI and Hybrid Drones AI in Surveillance and Security Upcoming Drones for Industry Drones in Delivery and
Manufacturing Logistics
July Strategic Electronics AI for Military Operations AI and ML to Enhance the Powerful Smartphones with Signal Processing in
Performance of Semiconductors Powerful Batteries and Processors Communication
and Electronics
August Education and Skill AI in Education Industry Technologies in Education and Cutting-Edge Gadgets Making Schools Electronics in Education and Skill
Development Skill Development and Classrooms Smarter Development
September AI, Robotics and Cobots AI in Humanoid Robots Exoskeletons for Healthcare Top AI-Powered Speakers Industrial Automation Through Robots
Under ` 15k and Cobots
October Renewable Energy AI in Fighting Global Climate Electricity from Snow, Plastic Top Solar and Wind Power Panels Transition from Conventional to
Change and Any Other Raw Materials Renewable Sources of Energy
(Other Than Water and Solar)
November Bots and Conversational Apps AI in Customer Service Industry Robotic Process Automation Top Free Bots and Conversational Apps Chatbots Prospects in Businesses
December Blockchain AI and Blockchain - A Perfect Blockchain for Travel and Tourism Top Antivirus Software for Malware Database Management with
Match Blockchain
In addition, there will be regular series every month on subjects such as: Plus, subjects such as the following will be covered more or less in each issue:
 Smart World  Do-It-Yourself  eStyle  Automation
 Test & Measurement  Market Survey  New Products  Healthcare
 Design/R&D  Startup Zone  Tech News  The Internet of Things (IoT)
 Artificial Intelligence  Interviews  Industry News  Wireless/5G

90 July 2020 • electronics For You www.EFYMag.com