u-blox Offers New GNSS Antenna
u-blox announced the external GNSS antenna ANN-MB2 for wide coverage, multi-constellation high-precision applications. Optimized for the u-blox high-precision GNSS technology, ANN-MB2 is well-suited for industrial automation, surveying, autonomous vehicles, mobile robotics and other applications requiring centimeter-level position accuracy in challenging environments.
The u-blox ANN-MB2 is a compact, high-precision real-time kinematic (RTK) antenna that supports L1, L2, E6/B3, L5, L-band, and all major GNSS systems. This all-band antenna features a robust architectural design, superior multipath mitigation, and versatile mounting options. With its excellent price-to-performance ratio, ANN-MB2 is suitable for easy evaluation and fast design-in of wide-band high-precision positioning applications, paving the way for mass-market adoption.
ANN-MB2 engineering samples are available now, and production is planned for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Ezurio Expands Sona Portfolio
Ezurio is adding the Sona TI351 to its Sona portfolio of Wi-Fi 6 modules. Designed to meet the demands of industrial and medical IoT applications, the Sona TI351 combines wireless technology with a compact, robust form factor, ensuring reliable and secure connectivity in the most challenging environments.
Based on the Texas Instruments SimpleLink CC3351 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE companion IC, the Sona TI351 is engineered with the latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth LE 5.4 standards, delivering high data throughput, enhanced range, and improved network efficiency. With dual-band capabilities, the TI351 supports high-speed data rates of up to 40 Mbps, making it ideal for applications that require real-time data transmission and low-latency communication.
The TI351 is purpose-built for industrial IoT connectivity with access to SDIO and UART interfaces, industrial operating temp range, latest generation Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE combination and available in both pluggable card and SMT M.2 packaging. Eight different pre certified antennas families are available with the TI351 offering form factors such as chip, mini nanoblade and FlexPIFA providing flexible implementation, optimized performance and significantly faster route to regulatory approvals.
AsReader, Teijin Frontier Gaining Marketplace Access
A new wearable RFID device from two Japan-based tech manufacturers — AsReader and Teijin Frontier — has achieved FCC/FDA approval in the U.S. The device, called RecoHand, has been shown to manufacturers, logistics and material handling companies and retail giants at several 2024 tradeshows in the USA and UK, including RFID Journal LIVE! 2024.
“UHF and RAIN RFID devices like the ASR-L251G are great for counting a large number of items quickly, even from a distance,” AsReader’s Paul Whitney said. “But when it comes to just reading one tag at a time, it’s not the best technology for that. All wearable RFID readers until now read everything in the area around the RFID reader, and if you went to grab one item, there was no guarantee that you didn’t accidentally read the tag of the item right next to it, especially the smaller items such as jewelry pieces where the tags get too close together.”
Teijin Frontier, a textile manufacturer based in Japan for more than a century, makes high-quality technical materials, and they created a technology that confines radio waves. By integrating this technology with the fibers cultivated from their foundational business, they have created RecoHand with the same materialization as a golf glove and was put to use by the Japanese government two years ago.
Employees learned to scan bins by running their hands across products, and while grabbing the items they’re able to read it simultaneously. Used at hospitals’ warehouses for first responders and COVID-19 response, the Japanese government reported that using RecoHand more than doubled their productivity speed.
Pine Labs, Visa Partner to Boost Digital Payments in India
Fintech Pine Labs and Visa have come together to scale digital payments acceptance and further India’s vision of a digital economy by unveiling Pine Labs Mini, a soundbox-enabled device for QR, Near Field Communication (NFC) and card payments.
The partnership aims to significantly upgrade the in-store payment experience of millions of merchants across the country who currently rely on only printed QR codes or low-tech solutions. This development will also provide a valuable choice to the millions of consumers who want to pay digitally at the time of checkout.
This eco-friendly and economical digital payment device – equipped with QR, card, and NFC capabilities – is specifically designed for small and medium-sized merchants. It will enable them to capitalize on the growing consumer adoption of tap-to-pay card (and smartphone) payments and UPI in India.