#Data Centre Modular Hardware System

[govindhtech]

OCP DC-MHS Data Centre Modular Hardware System Explained

OCP DC-MHS

Data Centre Modular Hardware System examined by OCP. The Open Compute Project cooperation enables more complete data centre solutions with unified systems administration.

Executive Summary

The cross-industry Open Compute Project (OCP) standardises server hardware “blocks” for AI and edge deployments.

Intel, together with other major technology companies including cloud providers, hardware manufacturers, and OEMs, created new rules and standards for the Data Centre Secure Control Module (DC-SCM) and Data Centre Modular Hardware System. DC-SCM is part of the DC-MHS modularity family but works under the Open Compute Hardware Management Project. Modular computing reduces waste, optimises data centre energy use, and simplifies systems maintenance.

How about DC-MHS?

DC-MHS (Data Centre Modular Hardware System), developed by the Open Compute Project (OCP), promotes modular, scalable, and interoperable data centre architectures over monolithic ones.

Innovative MHS architecture simplifies generational transfer

Data Centre Modular Hardware System (DC-MHS) is a standard developed by the Open Compute Project (OCP). It aims to replace monolithic server designs with more flexible and effective modular ones. By minimising components, this design saves energy and waste. DC-MHS facilitates generational changeover and reduces carbon footprint through exact scalability and hardware resource efficiency. The DC-MHS design extends server life, reducing hardware production and disposal emissions.

Challenge

The data centre is under more strain than ever. Edge computing and machine learning (ML) companies must optimise their system hardware and software for hyperscale efficiency. One server solution cannot satisfy all client demands. Modern organisations need more consistency in many areas, including unified management.

Technology vendors must collaborate to standardise products, simplify client technology solutions, and launch systems quickly. Businesses need ways to extend the life of their gear to cut costs.

By improving server infrastructure, customers may enhance processing density and operate sustainably. The Open Compute Project establishes a secure space for industry partners to collaborate, creating a diverse supply chain.

Solution

Modular computing technologies like Intel Xeon CPU servers might tackle all these issues at once. Intel led the OCP DC-MHS effort to improve data centre scalability, sustainability, and security with help from AMD, Dell, Google, HPE, Jabil, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Ampere Technology. Due to their collaborative specification and modular design philosophy, these technology suppliers may help customers future-proof their platform investments.

Distributing that investment among many technology suppliers reduces development, integration, and validation costs. By standardising management interfaces and form factors across building blocks, DC-MHS projects will improve data centre and edge deployment compatibility. Standards-based solutions set to enter the market may help customers embrace greener and more energy-efficient infrastructure faster.

Because server components may be recycled or reused, the OCP DC-MHS standard can help organisations reduce waste and grow their data centres while consuming less power.

Results

Intel reduced worldwide data centre energy consumption by 20% annually between 2010 and 2018, despite a 550 percent increase in compute instances and a 6% rise in electricity demand. The cross-industry DC-MHS standard will continue that trend by offering eco-friendly computing density solutions. Intel's modular component connections and rightsizing reduced a reference system's carbon footprint by 27%.

Important Takeaways

The integrated OCP DC-MHS initiative enables more complete data centre solutions with unified systems administration.

Successful modular data centre solutions may help firms grow and improve computing capacity while saving money on infrastructure.

Modular, recyclable components save waste and carbon emissions for businesses.

[oliviiaagraceeeeee]

Bridging Australia’s Connectivity Insights into ASX Communication Stocks

Highlights

Examination of sector structure, key operators and service models

Analysis of infrastructure expansion, regulatory framework and technology trends

Pathways for accessing detailed sector updates and network milestones

Australia’s telecommunications sector serves as a backbone for voice, data and media distribution nationwide. ASX Communication Stocks cover a suite of companies offering mobile networks, broadband services and digital content platforms. These firms operate across urban and regional areas, maintaining infrastructure that supports diverse communication needs. A steady flow of network traffic, content streaming and digital messaging highlights the vital role of listed communication entities in the national economy.

Sector Structure An overview of market segmentation shows network operators, internet service providers and media broadcasters among the listed entities. ASX Communication Stocks feature companies that manage core network infrastructure, deliver high speed internet and facilitate content delivery through fixed and wireless connections. Revenue streams include subscription fees, data throughput charges and service level agreements for enterprise and consumer customers in varied geographic regions.

Key Companies Three major entities dominate market capitalization and service reach within the sector. ASX Communication Stocks include Telstra, which operates national networks and digital platforms; TPG Telecom, known for broadband and mobile aggregation; and Vocus Group, which offers enterprise networking solutions and subsea cable systems. Each entity maintains fibre, wireless and satellite assets that support data transmission across metropolitan and regional zones, reinforcing connectivity.

Infrastructure Investments Capital allocation towards network expansion has accelerated in recent years. ASX Communication Stocks have committed resources to fibre to the premises and mobile network densification projects across urban centres. Infrastructure partners have collaborated on satellite launches to extend coverage in remote regions. Continued upgrades in switching centres and core routing equipment underscore commitments to robust service delivery by ASX Communication Stocks across diverse environments, including rural areas.

Regulatory Environment Regulatory oversight by the Australian Communications and Media Authority ensures compliance with service standards and spectrum licensing requirements. ASX Communication Stocks adhere to guidelines for data privacy, network reliability and equitable access provisions. Licence renewals and spectrum allocations influence capital planning cycles and operational timetables for listed communication entities without invoking speculative outcomes or forward looking statements.

Emerging Trends Shift towards fifth generation mobile services and internet of things integration has reshaped bandwidth requirements and network designs. ASX Communication Stocks benefit from partnerships with hardware vendors to deploy low latency applications in manufacturing, health services and public safety networks. Adoption of cloud delivery models and content distribution networks underscores evolving operational frameworks as listed entities respond to changing traffic patterns.

Technology Adoption Innovation in satellite technology and unmanned aerial systems has introduced alternate backhaul and last mile pathways. ASX Communication Stocks engage in trials for high throughput satellites and fifth generation fixed wireless access demonstrations. Emphasis on open access architectures fosters interoperability between service providers, reduces barriers to network deployment and supports a more modular infrastructure landscape.

Global Comparisons Comparative metrics with international peers reveal competitive spectrum pricing and high network reliability rankings in the domestic market. ASX Communication Stocks exhibit resilience in revenue and service scope despite global supply chain challenges affecting equipment delivery. Infrastructure sharing agreements and cross border data exchange protocols illustrate alignment with global standards and reinforce the robustness of listed communication offerings.

Engagement and Updates Inquiries into detailed performance records, infrastructure milestones and compliance filings can be directed to official registries and sector publications. ASX Communication Stocks insights and infrastructure updates are available through subscription to digital briefings and regulatory bulletins. Explore announcements and sector news by subscribing to a curated newsletter focused on communication sector developments and network innovation led by ASX Communication Stocks.

[melssblog]

Have your PIC-based devices been tested reliably and quickly?

Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) solutions are being adopted by manufacturers to address the reduced size and complexity challenges while also addressing heat management issues experienced in today’s data centres. Frantic development of smaller, faster, cheaper and greener transceivers/active components and passive components is driving the development of high-speed networks and 5G, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).

Passive optical components used in optical systems operate without external power or active control. They use processes such as transmission, reflection, polarisation, coupling, splitting, filtering, and attenuation to alter light signals.

Need for Testing

A PIC is composed of many optical components such as optical couplers, fibre-optic switches, splitters, attenuators, wavelength-division multiplexers, and transceivers.

Testing of any PIC-based device is needed in all life cycle stages — from design and development, and qualification to validation of production.

Testing – The Requirements

Automation, repeatability, scalability and parallelisation of the testing processes are needed for the huge volume of circuits and ports, to be able to meet the profitability of economies of scale. Photonics labs must evolve with the optical test requirements of passive (guiding light) optical components.

The fast maturing PIC die manufacturing has given rise to photonic wafers containing thousands of components made available by foundries through Process Design Kits (PDKs). Reliable testing is needed to optimise the different parameters of a given optical component.

Testing – The Challenges

Accuracy/repeatability: Obtaining traceable results for tight acceptance thresholds and greater yield of known good dies.

Dynamic range: Seeing full optical spectral contrast in a single measurement.

Speed: Keeping alignment and measurement time to a minimum, but also accelerating the ease of the test and analysis iterative flow.

From data to insight: Generating and managing structured data that is ready for artificial intelligence and business intelligence.

Flexible/scalable: Leveraging test station modularity and third-party compatibility of software to improve test throughput and complexity over time or swap equipment as needed.

Automation: Automating chip and wafer advanced navigation to control any instrument and execute data analysis in user-defined test routines to test massive circuits with minimal cost of ownership.

Testing PIC-based passive components is challenging due to the high port count of some components like Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) and the huge number of components to test on a single die. A component test platform operates in conjunction with a continuously tunable laser to measure optical insertion loss, return loss and polarisation-dependent loss across the laser’s spectral range. Optical spectrum must be realised quickly and with a high wavelength resolution, typically to the order of a picometer.

Testing – The Process

The PIC devices are usually tested at the wafer level prior to dicing to detect defects as early as possible and to avoid packaging defective dies.

Using a PIC wafer probe station, light is coupled into the wafer to enable measurement of the optical characteristics of the DUT.

Testing Solutions for Photonics from MELSS

MELSS brings you Test and Measurement (T&M) hardware and software solutions from market leaders EXFO, which are automated, scalable, fast, accurate and cost-optimised. These T&M solutions range from those for Passive and Active components as well as automated probe stations for wafer and single-die testing.

The OPAL series of probe stations deliver industry-leading performance for testing wafers, multiple as well as single dies, enabling accurate, repeatable and fast measurement. The PILOT software suite offers automation capabilities that support the full test flow (preparation through measurement to results analysis), using EXFO’s or third-party T&M instruments.

EXFO’s comprehensive range of optical testing solutions includes component test platforms, optical testing solutions, light sources, benchtop tunable lasers, passive component testers, optical spectrum analysers, tunable filters with adjustable bandwidth, variable attenuators, switches and power meters.

EXFO has developed automated, scalable, fast, accurate and cost-effective Test and Measurement (T&M) hardware and software solutions. Ranging from simple optical testing to spectral optical characterisation or traffic analysis, EXFO offers an extensive selection of probe stations for wafer, bar, multi-die or single die configurations, and a powerful automation software suite.

The CTP10 from EXFO specifically addresses key PIC measurement challenges. measuring optical components quickly, reliably and accurately.

The CTP10 is a modular component test platform that operates together with the T200S or T500S continuously tunable lasers. The CTP10 characterises the spectral properties of high port count devices in one single scan with

High spectral resolution

70-dB dynamic range, even at a sweep speed of 200 nm/s

Operation from 1240 to 1680 nm

Coverage of a wide range of applications, including telecom, sensing and LIDAR.

Both optical and photocurrent measurements with analog output for PIC first-light search and coupling optimisation

Fast data transfer

Remote control using SCPI commands is possible

Increased PIC testing throughput

Reduced test time

High sampling resolution of 20 fm

Accurate measurement of narrow spectral features

The CT440 is a compact variant of the CTP10, with the same performance – ideal for the characterisation of PIC components with limited outputs.

In addition to the above range of products, EXFO produces other advanced products such as the T200S, T500S, CTP10, CT440, OSICS T100, FTBx-2850 and OSA20.

Author: MELSS

[pyrotechworkspacesolution]

Unveiling the Future of Command and Control Centre Design with PyrotechWorkspace

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the efficiency and effectiveness of command and control centres are more crucial than ever. From emergency response units to military operations and industrial management, these centres serve as the nerve centers for decision-making, communication, and coordination. In such critical environments, the design of the command and control centre plays a pivotal role in ensuring seamless operations and swift responses to dynamic situations.

Enter PyrotechWorkspace – a revolutionary approach to Command and Control Centre design that integrates cutting-edge technology with ergonomic principles to create spaces that empower operators and enhance overall performance. Let's delve into how PyrotechWorkspace is reshaping the future of command and control centres.

The Evolution of Command and Control Centres

Traditionally, command and control centres were characterized by rows of desks, banks of monitors, and a myriad of cables snaking across the floor. While functional, these setups often lacked the flexibility and scalability required to adapt to changing needs and technologies. Moreover, they could be visually overwhelming and physically taxing for operators, leading to decreased productivity and increased stress levels.

Recognizing these challenges, PyrotechWorkspace has reimagined the command and control centre as a dynamic, user-centric environment. By leveraging advanced design principles and state-of-the-art technology, PyrotechWorkspace offers a holistic approach that prioritizes both form and function.

Key Features of PyrotechWorkspace

Ergonomic Design: PyrotechWorkspace places a strong emphasis on ergonomics to create workspaces that promote comfort and efficiency. Adjustable desks, ergonomic chairs, and optimal monitor positioning reduce strain and fatigue during prolonged operations, allowing operators to remain focused and alert.

Integrated Technology: From high-resolution video walls to real-time data visualization tools, PyrotechWorkspace integrates the latest technology seamlessly into the command and control centre environment. This ensures that operators have access to the information they need, when they need it, facilitating informed decision-making and rapid response times.

Modular Architecture: The modular design of PyrotechWorkspace allows for easy customization and scalability. Whether expanding operations or integrating new hardware and software solutions, command and control centres built with PyrotechWorkspace can adapt to evolving requirements without costly and disruptive renovations.

Enhanced Collaboration: Collaboration is key in command and control environments, and PyrotechWorkspace facilitates seamless communication and teamwork. Integrated communication systems, collaborative workstations, and centralized information hubs enable operators to share insights, coordinate responses, and optimize resource allocation effectively.

The Future of Command and Control Centre Design

As technology continues to advance and operational requirements evolve, the demand for innovative command and control centre solutions will only grow. PyrotechWorkspace stands at the forefront of this evolution, offering a transformative approach to design that empowers operators, enhances situational awareness, and maximizes operational efficiency.

From emergency response agencies seeking to improve disaster management capabilities to corporations optimizing industrial processes, PyrotechWorkspace provides a versatile platform that can be tailored to a wide range of applications.

In conclusion, the design of command and control centres plays a critical role in shaping the effectiveness and resilience of organizations across various sectors. With PyrotechWorkspace, the future of command and control centre design is not just about technology – it's about creating environments that empower operators, foster collaboration, and enable rapid, informed decision-making in the face of uncertainty.

[yasirsheikh1898]

Tech Nexus: Navigating the Frontier of Cutting-Edge Hardware

In the relentless pursuit of technological innovation, the landscape of cutting-edge hardware becomes a frontier where every component plays a crucial role. Amidst the array of hardware elements, the Hobble emerges as a symbolic cornerstone, transcending its traditional role in mechanics. This article delves into the multifaceted dimensions of the Hobble in modern technology, unravelling its applications in connectivity, security, and the seamless integration of diverse hardware components. As we navigate the tech nexus, the Hobble becomes a metaphorical linchpin, uniting disparate elements and fortifying the foundations of contemporary hardware systems. In the intricate dance of modern technology, where hardware components form the building blocks of innovation, the unassuming Hobble takes centre stage as a metaphorical linchpin, binding together the disparate realms of mechanics and electronics. Traditionally associated with physical restraint and connection in mechanical systems, the Hobble undergoes a transformative journey in the realm of cutting-edge hardware, embodying the principles of connectivity, security, and integration.

The Hobble's evolution in cutting-edge hardware begins with its newfound role as a symbol of connectivity. In the expansive world of networking and inter-device communication, the Hobble becomes the digital thread that intricately weaves together disparate components. Like a masterful choreographer orchestrating a dance, the Hobble ensures that data flows seamlessly through connectors, ports, and interfaces, binding hardware elements in a harmonious symphony of information exchange. Its role extends beyond mere physical restraint, evolving into a facilitator of digital connections that underpin the collaborative dance of modern technology.

Security, a paramount concern in the digitized era, sees the Hobble transforming into a sentinel of safeguarding. The Hobble metaphorically embodies the encryption protocols, access controls, and authentication mechanisms that stand as digital sentinels, fortifying hardware against unauthorized access and potential threats. In this paradigm, Hobble's journey encompasses a shift from physical constraint to becoming a guardian of the digital realm, ensuring the sanctity and integrity of sensitive information flowing within interconnected systems.

In the context of connectivity, the Hobble becomes emblematic of the links that bind hardware components together. In networking hardware, where the efficient flow of data is paramount, the Hobble metaphor manifests in the form of connectors, ports, and interfaces. Just as a Hobble securely connects and restrains, these digital counterparts facilitate the seamless exchange of information, ensuring the harmonious operation of interconnected devices. Security, a paramount concern in the digital age, sees the Hobble as a metaphor for safeguarding sensitive information and protecting hardware systems. In cybersecurity, the Hobble analogy extends to encryption technologies, access controls, and authentication mechanisms. Much like a Hobble provides a physical barrier, these digital safeguards create a secure environment, fortifying hardware against unauthorized access and potential threats.

The Hobble's role in cutting-edge hardware goes beyond mere connectivity and security—it becomes instrumental in the integration of diverse components. In the design of modular and scalable systems, the Hobble metaphor embodies the concept of adaptability. These digital Hobbles, in the form of standardized interfaces and protocols, allow for the seamless integration of new technologies, ensuring that hardware remains flexible and capable of evolving with the technological landscape.

Exploring the impact of the Hobble on modern hardware also reveals its significance in ensuring the reliability and functionality of interconnected systems. In aerospace technology, where physical Hobbles secure payloads during transport, the digital equivalent ensures the integrity of data transmission and the reliable operation of interconnected devices. The Hobble thus becomes a metaphor for the structural integrity that underpins the seamless functioning of cutting-edge hardware. Moreover, the shackle finds resonance in emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT). In the interconnected world of IoT, where devices communicate and collaborate seamlessly, the Hobble becomes symbolic of the protocols and standards that enable interoperability. The ability of devices to securely connect and share information mirrors the efficiency with which a Hobble securely fastens and links disparate elements.

As we navigate the intersection of hardware innovation and the shackle metaphor, it becomes evident that this unassuming component embodies more than its mechanical function. It represents a fundamental principle in technology—the need for secure connections, adaptable design, and reliable functionality. The Hobble, in the context of cutting-edge hardware, serves as a reminder that even the most humble components can play a transformative role in shaping the future of technology.

Exploring the impact of the cargo hook on cutting-edge hardware also unveils its significance in ensuring the functionality and reliability of technological systems. In aerospace technology, for instance, cargo hooks play a pivotal role in securing payloads during transport. Drawing a parallel to this, hardware security in computing systems becomes the digital cargo hook, safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring the integrity of digital operations.

The cargo hook's integration into cutting-edge hardware highlights the importance of adaptability and innovation. As technology evolves, so too must the hardware that supports it. The cargo hook analogy emphasizes the need for hardware solutions that can flexibly accommodate new functionalities, much like a cargo hook adjusting to different loads and requirements. Moreover, the cargo hook finds resonance in emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT). In the interconnected world of IoT, where devices communicate and collaborate seamlessly, the cargo hook becomes symbolic of the interoperability and compatibility required for a harmonious digital ecosystem. The ability of devices to securely connect and share information mirrors the efficiency with which a cargo hook securely fastens and transports diverse loads.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Hobble's evolution from a mechanical device to a symbolic linchpin in cutting-edge hardware encapsulates the essence of technological progress. Its adaptability, security features, and role in fostering connectivity resonate in diverse applications, from networking hardware to modular designs and cybersecurity. As we continue to navigate the tech nexus, the shackle remains a symbol of innovation—a silent but crucial partner in the ever-expanding frontier of hardware advancements.

[govindhtech]

IonQ Roadmap: Described The Future Of Quantum Computing

IonQ roadmap

IonQ Accelerates its Roadmap and Acquires Key Technologies for the Quantum Future.

Leading quantum computing startup IonQ announced an accelerated technology roadmap supported by strategic acquisitions to achieve  fault-tolerant quantum computing “full throttle” With these advancements, IonQ will lead quantum computing, networking, and scalable real-world applications, which are predicted to greatly increase the commercial quantum advantage and rewrite the timetable for viable quantum solutions.

This week, IonQ announced a final contract to buy Oxford Ionics, a “significant milestone” for quantum computing, and a groundbreaking quantum-accelerated drug development workflow with AstraZeneca, AWS, and NVIDIA. This alliance showed IonQ's quantum technology's “full-stack potential” spanning its roadmap and real-world applications, reaching a 20x speedup over previous benchmarks.

Strategic purchases boost speed and scale. Lightsynq and Oxford Ionics acquisitions by IonQ marked a “turning point” in its development. All acquisitions add powerful capabilities:

Asynchronous entanglement and network buffering are achievable using Lightsynq's quantum memory-based photonic interconnects. These interconnects make clustered quantum computing conceivable and “commercially ready by 2028” by increasing ion-ion entanglement by 50x compared to memory-free alternatives. This planned move is akin to NVIDIA's purchase of Mellanox, which enabled AI to move from standalone GPUs to networked data centres, but for quantum computing.

Oxford Ionics' proprietary 2D ion trap technology may give 300x more trap density than proposed 1D devices. This greatly increases the number of physical qubits that can be stored on a semiconductor and operated in parallel with high fidelity.

These integrated technologies should “accelerate the deployment of interconnected quantum systems” and usher in fault-tolerant and logical computing. The addition of pioneers like Dr. Chris Ballance and Dr. Mihir Bhaskar strengthens IonQ's scientific leadership.

Ion Capture Durability IonQ's architectural advantage relies on trapped ion technology. Since ions are similar and stable, they offer “unmatched gate fidelity and coherence” compared to other approaches. The modular architecture, which joins premium qubit traps via photonic interconnects, ensures high connection and support for several error correction methods. Reduced error correction costs, algorithmic flexibility, and better circuit compilation result from this combination.

IonQ Roadmap with ambition: 10K to 2M qubits

IonQ's ambitious qubit scaling roadmap leverages strategic acquisitions and technological advances:

2025: 100-qubit Tempo development platforms.

A chip having 10,000 qubits by 2027.

In 2028, two coupled chips will build a 20,000-qubit device with networking capabilities. The quantum equivalent of distributed supercomputing.

IonQ's quickly scalable design is expected to provide a system with over 2,000,000 physical qubits by 2030. These physical qubits should equal 40,000–80,000 logical qubits.

IonQ's solutions use the latest resource estimation and error-correcting codes. By 2030, logical qubits are expected to achieve “incredibly accurate logical error rates of less than 1E-12” (<1 part in a trillion) for optimal fault-tolerant applications in shallow memory architectures. Flexible design allows future error repair code improvements. IonQ claims this accelerated roadmap will produce the most rational qubits and the lowest commercial system production costs.

Several sectors are seeing measurable benefits from IonQ systems. The recent partnership with AstraZeneca, AWS, and NVIDIA recreated a Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, a vital drug development process, in the “most complex chemical simulation run on IonQ hardware to date”. Time-to-solution was 20x faster in this collaboration than earlier demonstrations.

IonQ's work with Ansys has shown “tangible performance gains in real-world simulations” and opened new avenues for quantum-accelerated computational fluid dynamics outside the pharmaceutical business. AI hybrid models using quantum computers as classification heads in massive language models are being studied by IonQ. These models improve anomaly identification and sentiment categorisation in low-data contexts. These “proof points” show that IonQ's solutions are “active contributors to R&D pipelines in healthcare, aerospace, and AI” not merely theoretical.

Future Outlook: Limited Benefit to Wide-Spread Effect Currently, IonQ stands out for its “full stack” development, not its hardware size. To ensure clients can readily access quantum resources, the company's software, control systems, and cloud deployment infrastructure are developing alongside its hardware.

IonQ wants a “commercially available, interconnected system” by 2028. Rethinking drug discovery, next-generation AI architectures, and first-principle simulations of innovative catalysts would require many logical qubits by 2030, according to the business. These systems are expected to have 1E-12 logical error rates, making them suitable for “enterprise-grade operations,” such as national defence, secure communications, and exceedingly delicate materials research and energy modelling. IonQ can be customised to maintain optimal physical-to-logical qubit ratios and lower error rates due to its software-driven design.

The acquisition of Oxford Ionics and integration of Lightsynq marked a “pivotal moment for IonQ and the quantum industry at large”. IonQ claims to scale hardware and “scaling impact” via practical breakthroughs. Once a distant concept, the quantum future is now a “fast-approaching reality”. IonQ wants to help corporations, governments, and researchers “seize this moment” because they believe “quantum transformation” will be the next great thing, not “quantum speedup”.

[melssblog]

Have your PIC-based devices been tested reliably and quickly?

Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) solutions are being adopted by manufacturers to address the reduced size and complexity challenges while also addressing heat management issues experienced in today’s data centres. Frantic development of smaller, faster, cheaper and greener transceivers/active components and passive components is driving the development of high-speed networks and 5G, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).

Passive optical components used in optical systems operate without external power or active control. They use processes such as transmission, reflection, polarisation, coupling, splitting, filtering, and attenuation to alter light signals.

Need for Testing

A PIC is composed of many optical components such as optical couplers, fibre-optic switches, splitters, attenuators, wavelength-division multiplexers, and transceivers.

Testing of any PIC-based device is needed in all life cycle stages — from design and development, and qualification to validation of production.

Testing — The Requirements

Automation, repeatability, scalability and parallelisation of the testing processes are needed for the huge volume of circuits and ports, to be able to meet the profitability of economies of scale. Photonics labs must evolve with the optical test requirements of passive (guiding light) optical components.

The fast-maturing PIC die manufacturing has given rise to photonic wafers containing thousands of components made available by foundries through Process Design Kits (PDKs). Reliable testing is needed to optimise the different parameters of a given optical component.

Testing — The Challenges

Accuracy/repeatability: Obtaining traceable results for tight acceptance thresholds and greater yield of known good dies.

Dynamic range: Seeing full optical spectral contrast in a single measurement.

Speed: Keeping alignment and measurement time to a minimum, but also accelerating the ease of the test and analysis iterative flow.

From data to insight: Generating and managing structured data that is ready for artificial intelligence and business intelligence.

Flexible/Scalable: Leveraging test station modularity and third-party compatibility of software to improve test throughput and complexity over time or swap equipment as needed.

Automation: Automating chip and wafer advanced navigation to control any instrument and execute data analysis in user-defined test routines to test massive circuits with minimal cost of ownership.

Testing PIC-based passive components is challenging due to the high port count of some components like Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) and the huge number of components to test on a single die. A component test platform operates in conjunction with a continuously tunable laser to measure optical insertion loss, return loss and polarisation-dependent loss across the laser’s spectral range. The optical spectrum must be realised quickly and with a high wavelength resolution, typically to the order of a picometer.

Testing — The Process

The PIC devices are usually tested at the wafer level prior to dicing to detect defects as early as possible and to avoid packaging defective dies.

Using a PIC wafer probe station, light is coupled into the wafer to enable measurement of the optical characteristics of the DUT.

Testing Solutions for Photonics from MELSS

MELSS brings you Test and Measurement (T&M) hardware and software solutions from market leaders EXFO, which are automated, scalable, fast, accurate and cost-optimised. These T&M solutions range from those for Passive and Active components as well as automated probe stations for wafer and single-die testing.

The OPAL series of probe stations deliver industry-leading performance for testing wafers, multiple as well as single dies, enabling accurate, repeatable and fast measurement. The PILOT software suite offers automation capabilities that support the full test flow (preparation through measurement to results analysis), using EXFOs or third-party T&M instruments.

EXFOs comprehensive range of optical testing solutions includes component test platforms, optical testing solutions, light sources, benchtop tunable lasers, passive component testers, optical spectrum analysers, tunable filters with adjustable bandwidth, variable attenuators, switches and power meters.

EXFO has developed automated, scalable, fast, accurate and cost-effective Test and Measurement (T&M) hardware and software solutions. Ranging from simple optical testing to spectral optical characterisation or traffic analysis, EXFO offers an extensive selection of probe stations for wafer, bar, multi-die or single-die configurations, and a powerful automation software suite.

The CTP10 from EXFO specifically addresses key PIC measurement challenges. measuring optical components quickly, reliably and accurately.

The CTP10 is a modular component test platform that operates together with the T200S or T500S continuously tunable lasers. The CTP10 characterises the spectral properties of high port count devices in one single scan with

High spectral resolution

70-dB dynamic range, even at a sweep speed of 200 nm/s

Operation from 1240 to 1680 nm

Coverage of a wide range of applications, including telecom, sensing and LIDAR.

Both optical and photocurrent measurements with analog output for PIC first-light search and coupling optimisation

Fast data transfer

Remote control using SCPI commands is possible

Increased PIC testing throughput

Reduced test time

High sampling resolution of 20 fm

Accurate measurement of narrow spectral features

The CT440 is a compact variant of the CTP10, with the same performance — ideal for the characterisation of PIC components with limited outputs.

In addition to the above range of products, EXFO produces other advanced products such as the T200S, T500S, CTP10, CT440, OSICS T100, FTBx-2850 and OSA20.

Author MELSS

[aircondition-server-rack]

Customize Your Air-Conditioned Server Rack to Fit Your Data Center Needs

Data centers form the very foundation of an array of businesses. With growing demands placed on server infrastructure, ensuring a stable, controlled environment is extremely important for achieving optimal performance and a long server life span. The air-conditioned server rack is one solution that keeps data centers one step ahead of their needs for reliability and efficiency in cooling solutions. Customization of an air-conditioned server rack addresses unique problems while optimizing your infrastructure for performance, energy efficiency, and scalability.

Housing servers can generate immense heat in data centers. Overheating can cause failure of hardware units, slow performance, and expensive downtime if data centers are not cooled sufficiently. Additionally, high humidity triggers condensation, short circuits, and all sorts of conditions that damage fragile hardware. Precision cooling is necessary and provides the basis for a modern data center operation.

What is an air-conditioned server rack?

An air-conditioned server rack is specially designed to solve your temperature and humidity regulation inside the rack so that the stability of such an environment for servers can be controlled. An air-conditioned server rack contrasts traditional room-based cooling because its targeted cooling is very efficient for eliminating energy waste. It represents the future of cooling infrastructure with a blend of functionality and scalability coexisting in such designs.

Why Customize Your Air-Conditioned Server Rack?

More than just cooling, an air-conditioned server rack takes on such tasks:

Enhancing server reliability - The lower temperatures increase the life of servers and reduce the likelihood of overheating and moisture damage.

Improving energy efficiency - Cooling focused on specific areas, such as a rack or row, minimizes energy use over cooling the entire system.

Improves scalability - The modular designs allow the business to grow its infrastructure smoothly.

Air-conditioned server racks can be customized to impact your data centre's performance and efficiency significantly. Here's why personalization matters.

Cooling Matters for an Air-Conditioned Server Rack

Cooling is a cornerstone of an air-conditioned server rack since a lower temperature range shows effective performance. Even minor deviations could degrade hardware and cause system failure. In this regard, customization ensures that just the right amount of cooling for your specific equipment requirements.

Addresses Unique Data Center Challenges

Since each data center is different, the challenges will vary when it comes to space, power requirements and compliance standards. With custom air-conditioned server racks, you can address these differences and work within your infrastructure while ensuring it's fully compatible.

Tailored Racks for Optimal Cooling Efficiency

Custom-built individual air-conditioned server rack support advanced features like variable speed fans, smart temperature controls, and energy-efficient components to make sure the system runs efficiently while being cost-effective and environment friendly.

Key Considerations When Customizing an Air-Conditioned Server Rack

When designing your air-conditioned server rack, there are factors that give you optimum efficiency and performance.

Choosing the Right Size

The size of your racks should be able to accommodate your current servers and make room for expansion. Small racks can result in overheating, while oversized racks can waste not only space but also cooling resources.

Cooling Capacity Requirements

The heat your servers produce tells you how many cooling units you'll need. Precision cooling prevents your equipment from experiencing temperatures that are too high or too low.

Material and Build Quality

Durable materials such as steel frames and robust components increase your rack's physical security and longevity. This provides protection for your equipment against any physical and environmental damage.

Cable Management Solutions

Cable Management Solutions prevents the accumulation of clutter and improves the flow of air and easy maintenance. Check out for integrated cable trays, gland modules and dust management for IP 50.

Smart Monitoring

Modern innovative racks have remote monitoring facilities, which allow you to observe temperature, humidity, and so on in real time. This ensures quick action in case some issues occur and hence reduces the downtime.

Noise Reduction

A good work environment, of course, involves noise reduction. To enhance acoustic performance, custom racks come with noise-reducing materials and silent cooling technologies.

Energy Efficiency

Variable-speed fans and earth-friendly refrigerants can optimize energy usage and reduce costs while advancing sustainability goals.

Assessing Data Center Needs

To customise your air-conditioned server rack for your data center, you must assess specific requirements such as server density, power consumption, and ambient conditions to design a rack that meets your need.

Designing

Cooperate with your chosen vendor to develop a solution that is scalable, energy efficient and will ensure you meet all your requirements and physical security.

Installing and Integrating

The correct installation provides a perfect fit-up with your existing infrastructure. Choose professional installation to reduce errors and guarantee the best performance.

Transform Your Data Center with a Customized Air-Conditioned Server Rack

A customised air-conditioned server rack boosts confidence in your data center against all the challenges of modern times. From superior cooling efficiency to high reliability and scalability, a customised solution will benefit businesses of all sizes. Consider thoughtful aspects such as cooling capacity, energy efficiency, and smart monitoring to get your infrastructures to full capacity for today's demands and to embrace future growth.

Visit us: https://www.airconditionedserverracks.com/

Phone: +91-6366375522

Mail: airconditionedserverracks@gmail.com

[topwebstore]

Intel 'Alder Lake' 12th Gen Core, 'Alchemist' GPU Architectures Detailed

Intel held a virtual Architecture Day presentation, disclosing details of the engineering behind several upcoming products in the consumer and data centre spaces. While exact specifications of CPUs and GPUs will have to wait till they are actually launched, we now have a better idea of the building blocks that Intel is using to put them together. Intel SVP and GM of the Accelerated Computing Systems and Graphics group, Raja Koduri, led the presentation during when multiple senior Intel engineers appeared. The 12th Gen Core CPU lineup, codenamed ‘Alder Lake', is expected to launch within the next few months, starting with desktop models. These will be the first mainstream Intel CPUs to feature a mix of high-performance and low-power cores – which is common across mobile SoCs today. This follows the experimental ‘Lakefield' CPU which has had only a limited release so far. Alder Lake will use a more modular approach than before, with different combinations of logic blocks for different product segments. Intel will use the terms Performance core and Efficient core, often shortened to P core and E core. For Alder Lake, the E cores are based on the ‘Gracemont' architecture while the P cores use the ‘Golden Cove' design. For Gracemont, Intel targeted physical silicon size and throughput efficiency, to target multi-threaded performance across a large number of individual cores. These cores run at low voltage and will be used primarily by simpler processes. The Golden Cove-based P cores are designed for speed and low latency. Intel calls this the highest-performing core it has ever built. New with this generation is support for Advanced Matrix Extensions for accelerating deep learning training and inference.   Three different Alder Lake dies will serve different product segments Combined, this generation of P and E cores in the Alder Lake architecture will be highly scalable, from 9W to 125W, which covers most of today's mobile and desktop categories. It will be manufactured using the newly announced Intel 7 process, which is a rebranding of the 10nm ‘Enhanced SuperFIN' process. Different implementations will integrate different combinations of DDR5, PCIe Gen5, Thunderbolt 4, and Wi-Fi 6E. The desktop implementation will use a new LGA1700 socket with up to eight performance cores (two threads each), eight efficient cores (single-threaded), and 30MB of last-level cache memory. The integrated GPU will have up to 32 execution units for basic display output and graphics capabilities. It will not have integrated Thunderbolt or an image processing block, but it will support 16 lanes of PCIe Gen5 plus another four lanes of PCIe Gen4. The matching platform controllers for motherboards will have up to 12 more PCIe Gen4 and 16 PCIe Gen3 lanes. Two mobile versions of Alder Lake were also discussed – a more mainstream die with six P cores and eight E cores, and an ultracompact die with two P cores and eight E cores. Both will have GPUs with 96 execution units as well as image processing units and integrated Thunderbolt controllers, and will be aimed at devices that won't have discrete GPUs. All Alder Lake CPUs are comprised of modular logic blocks – the CPU cores, GPU, memory controller, IO, and more. They will support up to DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-5200, DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4X-4266 RAM, and it will be up to motherboard and laptop OEMs to decide which to implement. The modular blocks of each CPU will be connected through three fabrics – Compute, Memory, and IO. Intel describes 100GBps of compute fabric bandwidth per P core or per cluster of four E cores, for a total of 1000GBps between 10 such units. Last-level cache can be dynamically adjusted between inclusive and exclusive depending on load.

Thread Director requires Windows 11 for optimum utilisation of all cores We now have a bit of information about how workloads will be balanced between P and E cores. Intel is announcing a new hardware scheduler called Thread Director, which will be completely transparent to software and will work with the OS scheduler to assign threads to different cores based on urgency and real-time conditions. Designed to scale across mobile and desktop CPUs, Thread Director will be able to adapt to thermal and power conditions and migrate threads from one type of core to another, as well as manage multi-threading on the P cores, with “nanosecond precision”. Thread Director requires Windows 11, and so Alder Lake will perform optimally under this upcoming OS, though Windows 10, Linux, and other OSes will also work. It means that the OS scheduler now understands what kinds of threads require what kinds of resources, and can prioritise latency, power saving, or other parameters depending on operating conditions. Intel has been teasing its first high-end gaming GPU for a while now, and is ramping up hype with the recent announcement of a new Intel Arc brand for GPU hardware, software and services. The first-generation product is codenamed ‘Alchemist', and will launch in early 2022. This is a tier of the Xe architecture product stack known as Xe-HPG, or High Performance Gaming. Alchemist will be manufactured by TSMC on its N6 node. It will support hardware ray tracing as well as DirectX 12 Ultimate features such as mesh shading and variable rate shading.

XeSS will use AI to upscale frames and improve performance, much like DLSS Each first-gen Xe-HPG core will have 16 vector engines and 16 matrix engines plus caches, allowing for common GPU workloads as well as AI acceleration. Four such cores, plus four ray tracing units and other rendering hardware, make up a “slice”. Each Alchemist GPU can have up to eight such slices. Now, we also know that Intel will roll out its own version of AI upscaling, called XeSS (Xe Super Sampling), to take on Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR. XeSS is an AI-based upscaling method that combines information from previous frames. Intel is claiming up to 2X better performance by rendering at lower resolutions and then upscaling to the target resolution. XeSS will run even on Xe LP integrated GPUs, and multiple game developers are on board to support it. While we don't have any GPU specifications yet, Intel did say it has worked on delivering “leadership” performance per Watt. We're sure to find out more as the launch draws nearer. Intel also made several announcements related to its server and datacentre businesses during the Architecture Day, including a demonstration of the upcoming Ponte Vecchio architecture for big data which will be the basis of the Aurora exascale supercomputer. Other highlights were the modular ‘Sapphire Rapids' Xeon Scalable platform, the oneAPI software stack, and an emerging product category – Infrastructure Processing Units (IPUs), designed to separate infrastructure overheads from client data and processing requirements in cloud-centric datacentres. Source link Read the full article

[messunggroup]

DRIVING PRODUCTIVITY IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY Holistic solutions from Messung Group

Messung Group has been closely associated with India’s automobile and automotive industries for four decades. Messung has partnered with two wheeler and four wheeler manufacturers in their journey towards smart manufacturing, developing solutions for every stage of the vehicle manufacturing process.

Today, Messung’s capabilities stretch beyond factory automation to a complete package of technology solutions - under one roof! With innovative products & solutions, forty years of industry experience, and proven expertise in the auto sector, Messung delivers customised, high-performance solutions for practically every need in Automobile/Ancillaries manufacturing.

40 YEARS OF INNOVATION

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION & CONTROL

REQUIREMENT: The auto industry globally and in India, has been one of the first industries to embrace automation and to continuously drive the need for such technologies. New, additional technologies such as 3D printing, robots and collaborative robots, or co-bots are speeding up operations and ensuring high outputs and minimal downtime. As the industry shifts from combustion vehicles to electric ones, robotic automation will play an even more critical role as robots can be programmed to meet higher demands and perform new roles while meeting production criteria.

SOLUTION: To help automobile manufacturers and suppliers handle rising costs as well as constantly increasing productivity and quality demands, Messung provides process controllers for optimizing all production processes. The range ofindustrial automation applications covers the Press shop, Body shop, Assembly shop and Paint shop, as well as the intricate network of conveyors running through the factory.

Messung offers a complete range of Programmable Logic Controllers in India, from the large modular Nx-era Premium to the Nx-era Xpress, the leading micro PLC in India. Messung also manufactures Remote I/O modules under the XM-PRO Series – for Modbus, CANopen and their own ‘Mesbus’. They also provide servo& motion control solutions and VFD drives in collaboration with their partners, Sigmatek, Austria and Fuji Electric, Japan. In fact, Messung not only provides IoT-enabled automotive automation and control for machines and linked plants, they optimise every process stage and ensure greater reliability.

A PLC FOR EVERY APPLICATION

Messung solutions also facilitate the “Andon” system, the “Poka Yoke” system and the “Pica Pica” system that help automobile manufacturers to create an error free assembly process for the Engine assembly line and the Chassis assembly line. These systems help prevent errors, eliminate waste and streamline processes.

In addition to turnkey system solutions, Messung supplies standard Automation products, which allow machine manufacturers to configure controllers that are individually tailored to their applications. The control platform is based on industry and IT standards, and supports the implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts for machine-to-machine communication and for data processing and analysis in the cloud (OPC-UA and MQTT).

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

REQUIREMENT: While demand for vehicles is increasing worldwide, automotive OEMs are simultaneously coming under growing pressure to reduce their energy consumption. Worldwide pressure to cut carbon emissions and increase sustainability has led the automotive industry to evolve its production processes.

Given that the automotive industry is the most highly automated manufacturing industry, its energy management requirements are also important. Truly effective energy management depends on manufacturers being able to control and utilise this precious resource right across their production facilities. Energy management means managing Power Quality, including reducing Transients, Sag-Swell, Utilising Reactive power effectively and monitoring RCM (Residual Current monitoring) across the whole plant.

Cutting back on the energy consumed relies on detailed process insights that are at the heart of what Industry 4.0 and smart factory concepts are now delivering with tangible benefits.

SOLUTION:Messung, in partnership with Janitza, delivers customised energy management systems as per IEC 61000-4-30, EN 50160 and IEC 61000-2-4 standards to enable power conservation, optimise power consumption and improve quality of power. Using Janitza’s advanced power quality analysers and digital energy meters for energy management, power quality monitoring and residual current monitoring,and by leveraging the power of IoT, Messung ensures connectivity and real-time data analyses for prompt, informed decision making. Using ISO 50001 based supervisory softwares for supervision and monitoring of the entire Energy management systems, uniquely designed Device Home pages with innovative Apps downloaded on the Power quality meters greatly enhances user experience and utilisation.

Messung is also Master Distributor for Wöhner busbar systems, and designs advanced power distribution & control panels using their own PLCs, and Busbar products from Wöhner, international grade HMIs, energy meters and cloud interfaces. All control panel designs made by Messung are as per the latest technologies and as per IEC 61439 standards. Using high-end design software,

Messung is able to provide good quality documentation for easy and accurate maintenance and servicing.

EMS AS PER IEC 61000-4-30, EN 50160, IEC 61000-2-4

ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE CONTROL

REQUIREMENT: Similar to warehouses and distribution centres, manufacturing facilities are high-bay buildings and require heating and ventilation systems as well as tempered cooling at times. Different parts of the automotive plant have different HVAC requirements and thus need a different mix of products to achieve the desired indoor air quality and thermal comfort levels.

HVAC systems consume a large amount of Energy and when used in areas of manufacturing where a lot of heat is generated, very careful algorithms need to be implemented to see that the usage of Energy is at its most efficient.

SOLUTION: Messung's HVAC solutions are designed and customised to meet all system requirements and provide optimal energy- and cost-efficiency.

Messung building management systems (BMS) can monitor the HVAC of manufacturing plants, assembly units and warehouses to ensure proper temperature and airflow, plus control of humidity and gas concentrations where management of these parameters is required.

Messung's innovative integrated building management systems enable you to connect and integrate HVAC and other different systems on a single, unified platform so you gain maximum functionality and operational efficiency while reducing costs and providing a safer, more comfortable indoor environment for your employees.

For factories and offices, Messung also provides a complete solution for “Lighting Management System” (LMS) based on advanced technology, service and support – to control lighting systems and their energy usage in a cost-efficient way.

The product range consists of a web-based, reliable software platform with redundancy option, shading control systems, visualisations, energy reporting systems and hardware components like occupancy sensors, photocell sensors, centralised and distributed routers, fixture-integrated sensors. All products are based on open standards like KNX, DALI, BACnet, Modbus, SNMP, TCP/IP, etc., and support the latest IoT technologies like MQTT and OPC UA.

IoT-enabled HVAC, BMS & LMS

WATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT

REQUIREMENT: Automotive manufacturing facilities use a large amount of water in various manufacturing processes e.g. for surface treatment, coating, engine block cleaning, rinsing, paint spray booths, hosing, coolants used in machines, all producing large amounts of wastewater.This results in oily waste water with hydrocarbons and metal content.

From large plants to smaller mechanical workshops, all have to follow stringent trade waste regulations and therefore wastewater treatment plants are compulsory.

SOLUTION: Messung’s extensive knowledge and innovative technologies combine to deliver automated water purification systems and process controllers that reduce cost and down time while maximizing productivity. They build sustainability and expandability into their integrated automation solutions for plant engineering and plant lifecycle management while ensuring you meet regulatory compliance with efficiency.

The advanced technology embedded in Messung products provides extremely accurate data collection, secure communication and integrated control to make operations more agile and productive.

WORKPLACE ERGONOMICS

REQUIREMENT: Even though the automotive industry is highly automated, manpower is still an important asset, working closely with machines for better productivity. Industry needs to provide ergonomic working conditions for its people. In areas where electronics testing or R&D is done, ESD-safe furniture is essential for Health andSafetycompliances.

SOLUTION: For R&D labs, testing labs, calibration stations, manufacturing departments, assembly stations and training centres spread across the automotive industry, Messung offers an innovative range of ESD and general furniture that is designed to improve efficiency, safety and comfort.

Messung manufactures a world-class range of ESD chairs & stools, ESD workstations, ESD racks, etc. as per IEC 6134-5-1 and ANSI ESD S20.20.2014. Messung’s industrial work tables, lab tables with drawers and other workplace solutions enable users to optimise their work environment for enhanced productivity.

Messung's range of ergonomic workstation chairs and stools, andlaboratory chairs are proven in tough industrial conditions, and trusted for enhancing comfort, boosting productivity.

ESD TABLES & CHAIRS AS PER IEC 6134-5-1

CONCLUSION

Contact Messung Group for any requirements in your automobile manufacturing or automotive ancillary industry. Messung is a leading Top 10 PLC manufacturer in India with decades of experience in the automotive sector, so you can expect efficient and cost-effective solutions – to enhance productivity and help you achieve global quality and sustainability standards.

[pyrotechworkspacesolution]

Command and Control Centre Design: Elevating Efficiency with Pyrotech Workspace

In today's fast-paced world, where critical decisions must be made swiftly and accurately, the design of command and control centres plays a pivotal role. These centres, often the nerve centres of operations in sectors such as defense, emergency response, utilities, and transportation, require meticulous planning and design to ensure optimal functionality. Pyrotech Workspace stands at the forefront of this design revolution, offering cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

The Importance of Command and Control Centre Design

A well-designed command and control centre is the backbone of efficient operations. It ensures that teams can monitor, manage, and respond to situations in real-time, leveraging advanced technology and streamlined workflows. The key elements of an effective command and control centre design include:

Ergonomics and Human Factors: Ensuring comfort and minimizing fatigue for operators who may need to work long shifts.

Technology Integration: Seamlessly incorporating state-of-the-art hardware and software for real-time data processing and communication.

Scalability and Flexibility: Allowing for future upgrades and changes without major overhauls.

Redundancy and Reliability: Incorporating fail-safes and backup systems to ensure continuous operation during crises.

Pyrotech Workspace: Pioneering Command and Control Centre Design

Pyrotech Workspace specializes in creating command and control centres that not only meet but exceed industry standards. Here’s how Pyrotech Workspace elevates command and control centre design:

Ergonomics and Human-Centric Design

At Pyrotech Workspace, the design process begins with a deep understanding of the human operators' needs. Ergonomic furniture, adjustable workstations, and optimal lighting are meticulously planned to reduce operator strain and increase productivity. The layout is designed to facilitate easy communication and quick access to critical information, ensuring that operators can perform their duties with minimal physical and mental fatigue.

Cutting-Edge Technology Integration

Pyrotech Workspace integrates the latest technology into their control centre designs. From high-resolution video walls to advanced data analytics tools, every element is chosen to enhance situational awareness and decision-making capabilities. The seamless integration of these technologies ensures that operators have all the information they need at their fingertips, presented in an intuitive and accessible manner.

Scalability for Future-Proofing

Recognizing that technology and operational needs evolve, Pyrotech Workspace designs command and control centres with scalability in mind. Modular components and flexible layouts allow for easy upgrades and reconfigurations. This future-proofing ensures that the command centre remains state-of-the-art without requiring extensive renovations or downtime.

Emphasis on Redundancy and Reliability

In critical operations, downtime is not an option. Pyrotech Workspace incorporates multiple layers of redundancy into their designs. This includes backup power supplies, redundant communication lines, and failover systems that ensure continuous operation even in the event of a component failure. This reliability is crucial for maintaining trust and efficiency in high-stakes environments.

Case Studies: Success Stories with Pyrotech Workspace

Emergency Response Centres

Pyrotech Workspace has designed numerous emergency response centres that enable quick and coordinated responses to crises. By integrating GIS mapping tools, real-time communication systems, and ergonomic workstations, these centres allow emergency personnel to manage incidents effectively, saving lives and property.

Transportation Hubs

In the transportation sector, Pyrotech Workspace has revolutionized control centres for airports, railways, and public transit systems. Their designs incorporate advanced surveillance systems, real-time traffic monitoring, and predictive analytics, ensuring smooth and safe operations.

Utility Control Rooms

For utility companies, Pyrotech Workspace creates command centres that monitor and manage power grids, water supply networks, and more. These centres are equipped with state-of-the-art SCADA systems and intuitive interfaces that help operators maintain service reliability and quickly address any issues.

Conclusion

In the realm of command and control centre design, Pyrotech Workspace is a leader, providing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reliability, and future-readiness. By prioritizing ergonomics, technology integration, scalability, and redundancy, Pyrotech Workspace ensures that command centres are not just functional, but also optimized for peak performance. Whether in emergency response, transportation, or utilities, Pyrotech Workspace's designs empower operators to make critical decisions with confidence and precision.

[agritecture]

Berlin-Based startup “Infarm” raises $25 Million for vertical farming system

CONTENT SOURCED FROM TECHCRUNCH

Infarm, a startup that has developed vertical farming tech for grocery stores, restaurants and local distribution centres to bring fresh and artisan produce much closer to the consumer, has raised $25 million in Series A funding.

The round is led by London-based VC firm Balderton Capital, with participation from TriplePoint Capital, Mons Investments, and previous investors Cherry Ventures, QUADIA and LocalGlobe.

It brings the total raised by the Berlin-based company to $35 million, including a $2.5 million grant from the European Commission as part of the Horizon 2020 program.

Infarm says the new capital will be used for international expansion and to further develop its 5,000 sqm R&D centre in Berlin. This will include bringing its vertical farming system to Paris, London, and Copenhagen, in addition to other German cities later this year. The startup is targeting 1,000 farms to be operational across Europe by the end of 2019.

Founded in 2013 by Osnat Michaeli, and brothers Erez and Guy Galonska, Infarm has developed an “indoor vertical farming” system capable of growing anything from herbs, lettuce and other vegetables, and even fruit. It then places these modular farms in a variety of customer-facing city locations, such as grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and schools, thus enabling the end-customer to actually pick the produce themselves.

The distributed system is designed to be infinitely scalable — you simply add more modules, space permitting — whilst the whole thing is cloud-based, meaning the farms can be monitored and controlled from Infarm’s central control centre. It’s incredibly data-driven, a combination of IoT, Big Data and cloud analytics akin to “Farming-as-a-Service”.

The idea, the founding team told me back in June last year when I profiled the nascent company, isn’t just to produce fresher and better tasting produce and re-introduce forgotten or rare varieties, but to disrupt the supply chain as a whole, which remains inefficient and produces a lot of waste.

“Behind our farms is a robust hardware and software platform for precision farming,” explained Michaeli. “Each farming unit is its own individual ecosystem, creating the exact environment our plants need to flourish. We are able to develop growing recipes that tailor the light spectrums, temperature, pH, and nutrients to ensure the maximum natural expression of each plant in terms of flavor, colour, and nutritional quality”.

Two years since launch, Infarm says it is now operating more than 50 farms across Berlin in supermarket aisles, restaurants kitchens, and distribution warehouses. This includes introducing in-store farming into EDEKA and METRO locations, two of Germany’s largest food retailers, in which dozens of “quality herbs and leafy greens” are grown and sold at what the startup describes as affordable prices.

Noteworthy, with an output of up to 1,200 plants per month from a single farm unit, Infarm claims it has already enabled some locations to become completely self-sufficient in their herb production.

“This is the beginning of the urban farming (r)evolution: it will redefine what it means to eat well, reshape the landscape of cities, and re-empower the people to take ownership of their food,” says Erez Galonska in a statement. “Our ambition is to reach cities as far as Seattle in the United States or Seoul, South Korea with our urban farming network”.

[iotfynow]

Six must have functionalities in any Edge IoT Platform

Intelligent Edge IoT Platforms much have certain functionalities that are critical for any successful IoT implementation. IoT solutions provide visibility on how your assets and processes are performing.  They use real-time sensor data to get insights into your plant’s performance that help answer “what if” scenarios for various stakeholders.   

 Let us first start with a quick review of the traditional approach to monitoring and control of processes and machines.  PLCs/RTUs are typically used for this purpose today.  PLCs/RTUs are purpose-built hardware for controlling a machine. PLCs/RTUs are not built for 1) collecting sensor data using various industry wireless interfaces (Zigbee/BLE) and cannot handle wired interfaces such as Video feeds and 2) Transform the ingested data before transporting it into an IoT application using secured communication protocol over GSM/GPRS/4G/Wifi. Hence you need a system that was designed with IoT in mind.

 First the intelligent edge IoT hardware should be designed for collecting sensor data at scale, transforming it into actionable intelligence with a powerful on-board processor with support for high-level and general-purpose programming languages such as Python, Flow chart programming, Node RED and others.

 Edge computing pushes intelligence, data processing, analytics, and communication capabilities to where the data originates. It enables latency-sensitive computing, offers greater business agility through better control and faster insights, lowers operating expenses, and results in a more efficient network bandwidth utilization.

 Here are six must have Edge IoT Platform functionalities needed for any successful IOT project implementation. Please feel free to add to my list — or challenge it — in the comments

 Six must have Edge IoT Platform functionalities:

Connectivity     to Machines:  Various on-board Wireless (Wifi, ZigBee,     LE, 4G) and Wired (RS485, High speed Ethernet, POE) communication options     with industry standard protocols (Modbus TCP, DNP3.0, OPC DA, UA) to     connect sensor data or PLC/DAQ systems. 

Data     Integration & Transformation- Raw data can be transformed     using Python, Node RED or Flowchart based programming at the Edge.

 Store     & Forward – to store data in the memory in the event of     communication network failure or intermittent network.

 Transport     Raw/Transformed data – Secured data transfer to the     cloud/data centre using secured MQTT/HTTP Protocols.

  One      view of Edge device fleet uptime, device health, resource usage,      security, and alarm conditions.

OTA      (Over the Air) Firmware upgrade

 Modular,     Scalable, Simple to configure: Integrate with customer’s     choice of IoT Platform (AWS/Azure/Google/PTC)

 Want to find out more about our intelligent Edge IoT Platform?  Write us at prashant.kapadia@IoTfyNow.com to schedule a private demo of our platform and get a trial account to test it for yourself.

 Tags:

Edge Computing Services USA

Data & Analytics Services USA

IoT Consulting Services USA

[govindhtech]

Pasqal Roadmap to Scalable Neutral-Atom Quantum Computing

Pasqal roadmap

Pasqal, a leader in neutral-atom quantum computing, presented its 2025 product and technology roadmap for quantum computing. From Paris, France, the corporation pledged to provide meaningful benefits now and a smooth transition to fault-tolerant systems in the future on June 12, 2025.

The roadmap has three major pillars:

Implement quantum computing quickly.

Industry-relevant quantum advantage (QA) is shown.

A faster digital path to  fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC)

Current Pasqal machines compute analogly using physical qubits. They are designed to switch to digital FTQC utilising the same modular, upgradeable hardware. This revolutionary architecture ensures consumers get quick quantum performance without losing long-term scalability for future breakthroughs.

Large-scale deployment: Quantum power to users Today Pasqal's proposal emphasises large-scale quantum processing unit (QPU) deployment to let clients use quantum power now. Pasqal achieved major achievements last year by installing the first neutral atom QPUs in HPC centres. Genci bought the Orion Beta computer, known as “Ruby,” in France and gave another to Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany. These deployments introduce a new era by directly integrating enterprise-grade quantum processors into computing infrastructures.

Pasqal will be deployed in Canada, the Middle East, and Italy's CINECA HPC centre. These implementations are critical to hybrid quantum-classical workflow development. In this paradigm, QPUs, high-performance CPUs, and classical computers will work together to solve difficult problems. Pasqal is collaborating with NVIDIA and IBM to standardise QPU integration in HPC infrastructures to simplify hybrid workflow orchestration.

Quantum Advantage gives industry measurable performance

Pasqal is working to prove quantum advantage (QA), the theory that quantum computers outperform classical systems in real applications. The company is developing a 250-qubit QPU optimised for this purpose on an industry-relevant problem for a demonstration in the first half of 2026. Pasqal trapped over 1,000 neutral atoms in a quantum processor, making tangible, domain-specific quantum advances.

The QA effort targets three key algorithm development areas:

Optimisation: For complex scheduling and logistics challenges.

Quantum simulation: modelling and identifying new materials for data storage and energy.

Machine Learning: Accelerates predictive modelling and pattern recognition.

Short-term domain-specific gains are expected from neutral-atom quantum computers before digital FTQC matures. Pasqal expects its QPUs to alter pharmaceutical drug development and materials sciences in five years through quantum simulation and quantum-enhanced graph machine learning.

Building the Future with Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Pasqal's roadmap includes a lot of hardware technology for scalable, digital fault-tolerant quantum computing. The company wants 1,000 physical qubits by 2025 and 10,000 by 2028.

Scaling quantum computers involves increasing the number of physical qubits and logical qubits to improve their reliability. Logical qubits let computations perform slower and more accurately by integrating numerous physical qubits to substantially reduce errors. Pasqal's technology roadmap promises improved logical performance:

Start with two logical qubits in 2025.

Increasing to 20 by 2027.

By 2029, 100 high-fidelity logical qubits will exist.

In 2030, 200 logical qubits will exist.

Pasqal hopes to release Orion Gamma, the third Orion QPU platform, with over 140 physical qubits by 2025. Also expected: future generations

In 2027, Vela will have over 200 physical qubits.

Centaurus, designed for 2028 early FTQC.

Lyra should deliver strong FTQC in 2029. Pasqal's processors have more qubits and improve fidelity, repetition rate, and parallel gate operations with each iteration.

Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) in Pasqal's next-generation machines are crucial to its FTQC transition. This planned move follows the purchase of Canadian PIC pioneer Aeponyx. PICs should improve hardware scalability, system stability, and qubit control fidelity. PICs will improve qubit manipulation accuracy, making scaling from hundreds to thousands of qubits easier and increasing hardware platform adaptability.

Community, Open Software, and Hybrid Integration Empower the Ecosystem

A new open innovation centre, Pasqal Community, will open in 2025. Pasqal is aggressively expanding hardware availability with cloud growth and a full open-source software stack. This endeavour empowers developers, scholars, and quantum enthusiasts through performance unlocking, education support, and quantum ecosystem collaboration.

Pasqal's specific user interface and popular cloud platforms like Google Cloud Marketplace and Microsoft Azure make the Orion Alpha Machine accessible. This comprehensive strategy ensures availability and simplifies integration for many users.

According to Loïc Henriet, CEO of Pasqal, the 2025 plan aims to scale effect by growing worldwide deployments, demonstrating quantum advantage on industry difficulties, and accelerating digital quantum computing development. He praised Pasqal for leading quantum technology adoption and the sector's next phase. Another webinar with technical experts and company leaders will outline the 2025 roadmap.

Pasqal, founded in 2019 by the Institut d'Optique, creates quantum processors with organised neutral atoms in 2D and 3D arrays to address real-world problems and deliver quantum advantages. Over €140 million was raised by the company.

Pasqal's 2025 product and technology roadmap and strategy news emphasise quick value delivery, quantum advantage, and fault-tolerant quantum computing.

[meetingroombooking]

Meeting Room Booking System

Meeting Room Booking System Overview :

Meeting rooms play an important role in the office environment. In the post COVID workplace, where a large number of employees will work from home, Meeting Rooms will serve as the main collaborative spaces for the employees. Thus, Meeting Room Management will be an important KRA for CRES/ FM Managers going ahead.

What is a Meeting Room Booking System?

Meeting room booking systems consist of software for conference room scheduling and also hardware interfaces, or digital signage. The software allows company employees or guests to book meetings online or through an app.

Some of the typical problems that CRES/ FM Managers face are:

Can the employees book Meeting Rooms easily?

Can I monitor and report ghost-bookings?

Are themeeting rooms being utilised to their capacity?

Can I set occupancy thresholdsto avoid overcrowding?

Can I deployMeeting Room sanitisation plans based on the utilisation?

Can I automate HVAC & Lighting systems based on the occupancy?

Flamenco Tech’s DB Spazio Meeting Room Management Solution is purpose-built to answer these problems.

DB Spazio Meeting Room Management is an intuitive and easy-to-use solution for the employees as well as the CRES/ FM Staff.

The solution can be used by employees across three feature-rich interfaces viz. Mobile App, Web & Touchscreens.

The employees can visualise the availability of Meeting Rooms through an interactive floor map, and book a room that best suits their requirement & schedule.

They are free to change/ modify their booking at any time.

The solution is very well integrated with Microsoft Office 365 so that an employee can invite his/ her colleagues to collaborate for the meeting.

Employees can search for a room by capacity and amenities (e.g. VC rooms, AV rooms, Phone Booths etc.)

They can also search for a room simply from a drop-down list of available rooms for their desired time slot

The solution introduces a unique, QR-Code based check-in system that employees have to use to validate their meetings. If not scanned within a configurable time limit, the booking is invalidated and the room is released for someone else to book immediately. This ensures that there will no longer be the issue of ‘Ghost-Bookings’ i.e. booking without utilisation, which is one of the biggest pain-points for Enterprises to manage their Meeting Rooms.

When combined with Flamenco Tech’s state-of-the-art Occusenz Occupancy Sensors & People Count Sensors, you can track the Occupancy Status as well as the utilisation of the Meeting Rooms.

Thus, you can avoid scenarios where meeting rooms are occupied without being booked.

                                                 Fig 1.1 : OccusenZ People count Sensor

Utilisation sensors can give you deep insights about understanding if your Meeting Rooms are used efficiently as per their capacity or not.

E.g. it can send alerts if a 12-Seater Meeting Room is being used only by 2 people.

Flamenco Tech’s advanced Occusenz sensors ( Fig 1.1 )  can also throw up LED & Audio alerts if the occupancy threshold of any meeting room is breached. This feature is especially important in the post-COVID world where social distancing will be here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Digital Blanket is a powerful workplace solution platform that can leverage the utilisation data of your meeting rooms to create sanitisation alerts. You can sanitise the meeting rooms based on the booking data or based on the utilisation data. Thus, it empowers you to create and deploy very practical sanitisation plans.

Digital Blanket’s AUTOmate Building OS can integrate with your existing BMS system to energise and optimise the HVAC & Lighting systems for your meeting rooms based on the booking schedules. Thus organisations can proactively manage the Energy consumption of Meeting Rooms, while at the same time creating a ‘Wow-factor’ with such automation.

Flamenco Tech’s DB Spazio Meeting Room Management solution is differentiated from other solutions in the market today because of its unique approach towards keeping Employee Experience at the centre while empowering organisations to manage their Meeting Room Inventory effectively.

Key Benefits of

Meeting Room Booking Systems

Are :

Optimise and save upto 30% office space by reducing your real estate and operational cost

Forecast and plan future expansion with data on allocation, occupancy, and utilization trends

Reduce search time enhancing user experience, satisfaction and productivity

High accuracy, flexibility, and modularity with options of implementing one or more modules

Integration with other building systems for enhanced space control, employee comfort & convenience

Provide safe seating with easy execution & management

Reach out to us for a quick demo of the solution and how can help you deploy this solution for your organisation.

connect@flamencotech.com   |   www.flamencotech.com   |   731, 7th cross, 3rd Block, Koramangala Bengaluru, IN 560034.

[un-enfant-immature]

Infarm raises $170M in equity and debt to continue building its ‘vertical farming’ network

Infarm, the vertical farming company that has built a network of urban farms to grow fresh food closer to consumers, has raised $170 million in new investment in a “first close” of a Series C.

Leading the round — which is expected to reach $200 million and is a mixture of equity and debt — is LGT Lightstone, with participation from Hanaco, Bonnier, Haniel, and Latitude. Existing Infarm investors Atomico, TriplePoint Capital, Mons Capital and Astanor Ventures also followed on. It brings the company’s total funding to date to more than $300 million.

That’s likely testament to the speed of new retail partnerships over the last twelve months. They include Albert Heijn (Netherlands), Aldi Süd (Germany), COOP/Irma (Denmark), Empire Company’s Sobeys, Safeway, and Thrifty Foods (Canada), Kinokuniya (Japan), Kroger (U.S.), and Marks & Spencer and Selfridges (U.K.).

With operations across 10 countries and 30 cities worldwide, Infarm says it now harvests over 500,000 plants monthly, and in a much more sustainable way than traditional farming and supply chains. Its modular, IoT-powered vertical farming units claim to use 99.5% less space than soil-based agriculture, 95% less water, 90% less transport and zero chemical pesticides. In addition, 90% of electricity used throughout the Infarm network is from renewable energy and the company has set a target to reach zero emission food production next year.

Founded in 2013 by Osnat Michaeli, and brothers Erez and Guy Galonska, Infarm’s “indoor vertical farming” system is capable of growing herbs, lettuce and other vegetables. It then places these modular farms in a variety of customer-facing city locations, such as grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and schools, thus enabling the end-customer to actually pick the produce themselves. To further scale, it also installs Infarms in local distribution centres.

The distributed system is designed to be infinitely scalable — you simply add more modules, space permitting — whilst the whole thing is cloud-based, meaning the farms can be monitored and controlled from Infarm’s central control centre. It’s also incredibly data-driven, a combination of IoT, Big Data and cloud analytics akin to “Farming-as-a-Service”.

The idea, the founding team told me back in 2017 when I profiled the nascent company, isn’t just to produce fresher and better tasting produce and re-introduce forgotten or rare varieties, but to disrupt the supply chain as a whole, which remains inefficient and produces a lot of waste.

“Behind our farms is a robust hardware and software platform for precision farming,” explained Michaeli at the time. “Each farming unit is its own individual ecosystem, creating the exact environment our plants need to flourish. We are able to develop growing recipes that tailor the light spectrums, temperature, pH, and nutrients to ensure the maximum natural expression of each plant in terms of flavor, colour, and nutritional quality”.

On that note, I caught up with two of Infarm’s founders to get a brief update on the Berlin-headquartered company and to dive a little deeper into how it will continue to scale.

TechCrunch: What assumptions did you make early on that have turned out to be true or, more interestingly, not panned out as expected?

Osnat Michaeli: When we first chatted about four years ago…, we were 40 people in Berlin and much of the conversation centered around the potential that our approach to urban vertical farming might have for retailers. While for many it was intriguing as a concept, we couldn’t have imagined that a few years later we would have expanded to almost 10 countries (Japan is on its way) and 30 cities, with partnerships with some of the largest retailers in the world. Our assumptions at the time were that retailers and their customers would be attracted to the taste and freshness of produce that grew right in front of them in the produce section, in our farms.

What we didn’t anticipate was how much and how quickly the demand for a sustainable, transparent and modular approach to farming would grow as we, as society, begin to feel the impact of climate change and supply chain fragility upon our lives, our choices and our food. Of course we also did not anticipate a global pandemic, which has underscored the urgency of building a new food system that can democratize access to high quality, amazing tasting food, while helping our planet regenerate and heal. The past few months have confirmed the flexibility and resilience of our farming model, and that our mission is more relevant than ever.

In terms of signing on new retailers, based on your progress in the last 12 months, I’m guessing this has got easier, though undoubtedly there are still quite long lead times. How have these conversations changed since you started?

Erez Galonska: While lead times and speed of conversations can vary depending upon the region and retailer. In mature markets where the concept is familiar and we’re already engaged, deal conversations can reach maturity in as little time as 3 months. Since we last spoke we are already working with most of the leading retailers that are well established in Europe, U.K. and North America. Brands which in each of their markets are both forerunners in a retail industry rapidly evolving to meet the demand for consumer-focused innovation, while proving that access to sustainable, high quality, fresh and living produce is not only possible, but can be available in produce aisles today, and every day of the year, with Infarm.

I’m interested to understand where Infarms are installed, in terms of if the majority is in-store and consumer-facing or if the most scalable and bulk of Infarm’s use-cases are really much larger distribution hubs in cities or close to cities i.e. not too far away from places with population/store density but not actually in stores. Perhaps you can enlighten me on what the ratio looks like today and how you see it developing as vertical farming grows?

Erez Galonska: Today across our markets, the split between our farms in stores and in distribution centers is roughly 50:50. However as you anticipate, we will be expanding our network this year with many more distribution hubs. This expansion will likely lead to an 80:20 split as early as next year, with the majority of our regions being served with fresh, living produce delivered throughout the week from centrally-located hubs. This not only offers retailers and restaurants flexibility in terms of volumes of output, and the ability to adapt the presentation of our offerings to floor areas of different sizes, but it also allows us to begin to serve whole regions from our next generation farms under development today.

Based in our hubs, these farms will deliver the crop-equivalent of an acre or more of fresh produce on a 25 m2 footprint, with significant further savings in energy, water, labor and land-use. We believe this technology will truly challenge ideas of what is possible in sustainable, vertical farming and we look forward to talking about it more soon.

Lastly, what are the main product lines in terms of food on the shelves?

Osnat Michaeli: We have a catalog of more than 65 herbs, microgreens, and leafy greens, that is constantly growing. Our offerings range from the known and common varieties like Coriander, Basil, or Mint, to specialty products like Peruvian Mint, Red Veined Sorrel or Wasabi Rucola.

Because our farms give us excellent control over every part of a plant’s growth process, and can imitate the complexity of different ecosystems, we will be able to expand the diversity of Infarm produce available to consumers to include root vegetables, mushrooms, flowering crops and even superfoods from around the world in the near future. What you see today with Infarm is still only the beginning.