Watch out World Cup, here come the robots

Great news for soccer fans: The World Cup won’t be the only event taking Brazil — and the global stage — by storm this month. Kicking off in little over a week, robots from 45 countries will gather in João Pessoa to compete in the international soccer tournament known as RoboCup.

Founded in 1997, RoboCup is an annual international robotics competition aspiring to promote robotics and AI research by offering a publicly appealing, yet formidable challenge. The ultimate goal? To beat the human World Cup champions within the next 35 years.

When robots initially began playing soccer, it was a feat in itself just to have them see the ball, let alone stay upright and kick. Nowadays, these ‘bots are running up and down the field, scoring goals and “sometimes they’re so fast, you can’t even understand what’s going on,” says tournament co-chair Esther Luna Colombini.

The “players,” which range from life-size humanoids to soccer ball-sized wheeled gadgets, compete in size-based divisions on miniature indoor pitches.

According to Forbes writer Jeff Bercovici, the tournament (a perfect blend of athletics and Maker Movement) has matured throughout the years. The inaugural event hosted 38 teams from 11 countries; this year’s tournament will feature 550 teams from more than 45, competing in various divisions.

“You don’t program humans to play soccer,” said Sean Luke, a computer science professor. “We want (robots) to learn how to play soccer the same way humans learn how to play soccer.”

While certainly fun to watch, organizers say the annual competition isn’t just about creating kickin’ machines — it’s about teaching the fully-autonomous robots to make quick, smart decisions while working together in a changing environment.

“Those algorithms can translate off the field into technology like self-driving cars or delivery drones, said University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Dan Lee. RoboCup includes separate contests for service robots and search-and-rescue droids.”

Whether you’re predicting the German or Argentine squad to win this Sunday’s World Cup final, one thing is for certain: The team will be made of flesh and bones, and not powered by microcontrollers. By 2050, that may all change.

After Tim Howard’s incredible, record-breaking performance earlier this month, it makes you wonder if robots have already arrived!

Learn more about the upcoming event, which is scheduled to run from July 19 to 25, by visiting the event’s official website. In case you missed it, RoboCup was also recently featured in our Maker-themed infographic.

 

Drones!

So my buddy Andy Aronson over at honored competitor Texas Instruments mentioned he has a photographer buddy in Australia (check out his pic above) that just bought a new HD camera drone. No footage from it yet, the fellow is still sussing it out.

Andy also sent me a link to a video honoring my dear departed mentor Bob Pease. It must be drone season since that video had an advertisement for yet another HD camera drone, but one not yet in production. They had a video of the commercial as well.

I sent the link to a bunch of friends, noting that Arthur Clarke said “A sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” but magic only sells when narcissists can use it for selfies. I also wondered if you had to have the fighter-pilot vision and reflexes of my buddy Bob Dible, who is an RC model racer champion in order to fly them. I guess so. My crack protege Francis Lau wrote back, noting:

My buddy got one and was showing if off to a few friends. He launched it and flew it straight up about 30 meters. It then promptly lost the GPS lock and started tilting forward towards the river. Controls were lost too and it was on its own in a trajectory towards the river. It wasn’t smart enough to just stay still if it lost connection. Alas, it was a short 30 seconds in the air before it hit the side pier wall of a house next to the river. It fell in and the quadcopter was lost forever. At least the thing was a freebie for my friend.

This was the model:

http://www.gizmag.com/dji-phantom-quadcopter/25672/

I’ve heard other stories of similar nature where the control isn’t very good and needs some work. Thousands lost and the promise of having an easy to fly drone not met.

Well the drone website says it will “…land automatically,” and I guess it did. So yeah, before you drop acid and take your new drone to the beach, you might want to work on your RC skills a bit, and make sure you know the limitations of the craft you just spend a few thousand bucks on. Otherwise what starts out like a Pepsi commercial might end up like a Greek tragedy.

What’s not quite MCU, and not quite SoC?

There has been a lot of railing lately about how we don’t have quite the right chips for the upcoming wave of wearables. Chips one would drop in a smartphone are often overkill and overpowered, burning through electrons too quickly. Chips one would use for a simple control task generally lack peripherals and performance, offsetting their low power advantage.

One area we can feel this pressure building is in the Arduino community. Authentic Arduino boards have been Atmel AVR based, hosting 8-bit microcontrollers in a low power, simple-to-use,and easy-to-program environment. The popularity of Arduino shields for I/O expansion has driven a comber of compatible boards tossing 16- and 32-bit MCUs, and even some notable low-end SoCs, into the mix. Of course, straying into SoC territory introduces other popular form factors as well.

As with most technology with a sizable following, Arduino is now being forced to grow, as much due to its own success as due to external competition. Having mastered the basics of 8-bit, many makers are now stretching their capability and taking on more ambitious goals. At the same time, the pinout popularized by the Arduino Uno (ATmega328 MCU) remains in vogue, and changing too many things at once is bad form.

The recent debut of the Arduino Zero, and its first real-world appearance at Maker Faire Bay Area 2014 in May, marked the launch of the industrial-strength Atmel SAM D21 microcontroller with its ARM Cortex-M0+ core into the hearts and minds of Makers. However, this isn’t the first time a 32-bit ARM MCU has been seen in the Arduino neighborhood, but the endorsement with official Atmel-based hardware is a big step for the community.

A closer look reveals our budding trend of interest. The Atmel SAM D family is built for traditional control tasks, sans on-chip wireless and opting instead for ultra-low power and a mostly MCU-like peripheral mix. Revealed in the block diagram – note, on the Arduino Zero not all these features make it off the board – is a very SoC-like chip architecture, scaled down for power.

The Cortex-M0+ processor core in the Atmel SMART SAM D21 connects to three AHB bus segments plus memory ports via a high speed bus matrix, effectively separating traffic for memory, DMA and USB, power and clock management, and mixed signal I/O. One might wonder out loud what “high speed” means given a 48 MHz core frequency and the mix of peripherals shown, but let’s keep the context in mind.

Commenting on the current mania of smartphone SoCs being crammed into wearables with less than stellar results so far, I made a statement a few days ago I’ll stand by:

“A typical smartphone chip is 1W – for many wearables, that will be at least one and maybe two orders of magnitude off.”

The SAM D21 weighs in at less than 70uA/MHz, meaning fully clocked it pulls somewhere around 3.3mW – in the range of interest. Within that envelope, it can run full speed USB 2.0, unimpeded by other interrupts and without external components in “device” mode. An integrated I²S block brings full-rate audio streaming, and the obligatory Atmel integrated peripheral touch controller enables user interfacing. Also on chip are a flexible serial block, a multi-channel A/D, comparators, a D/A, plus a spate of timers.

Strictly speaking, the SAM D21 is still an MCU, demarcated primarily in terms of on-chip flash and RAM and no external memory. By retaining ultra-low power behavior while segmenting buses and rethinking integration for mixed signal, USB, audio, and touch, Atmel has taken a first step into the space between control MCUs and smartphone SoCs – with an eye on what wearables actually need to succeed. It’s a smart move to get the Arduino community on board and find out where this can go.

This post has been republished with permission from SemiWiki.com, where Don Dingee is a featured blogger. It first appeared there on May 21, 2014.

A $214 billion global embedded market

A new report authored by Grand View Research analysts confirm the global embedded systems market remains on track to reach $214.39 billion by 2020.

To be sure, a favorable regulatory environment for the installation of smart devices such as smart meters is expected to drive global embedded system demand over the forecast period.

In addition, the growing adoption and evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) propelled by technological advancement is also expected to fuel the industry over the next six years.

“Increasing demand for end-use industries such as healthcare and consumer electronics is [also] expected to positively impact the embedded systems market,” a Grand View Research analyst explained.

“Key requirements for an efficient embedded system include high degree of reliability and responsiveness as well as low cost, since these devices are embedded in safety critical systems. Decreasing prices of microcontrollers, which are a key component of embedded hardware, is expected to give impetus to the market in the coming years.”

Additional key findings detailed in the above-mentioned report include:

• Embedded hardware is expected to remain the dominant product segment and accounted for 93.8% of the global market in 2013, including Digital Signal Processors (DSP), microprocessors as well as microcontrollers.
• Embedded software is projected to grow at the fastest rate of 8.1% from 2014 to 2020, with the market for healthcare applications on track for a CAGR of 7.1% from 2014 to 2020.
• Automotive will continue leading the global market; the segment accounted for 20.8% of the overall market share in 2013.

Interested in learning more? You can purchase the full report here.

Atmel celebrates first-ever White House Maker Faire

Atmel Corporation, a global leader in microcontroller (MCU) and touch solutions, calls the first-ever White House Maker Faire a success. With a goal of making technology simple, accessible and easy to use, Atmel is an ardent supporter of the Maker Movement and shares the passion for tomorrow’s innovators, visionaries and manufacturers.

From powering 3D printers to Arduino boards, Atmel’s 8 and 32-bit microcontrollers enable makers to create an extensive range of projects, further strengthening the DIY experience and government funded initiatives such as STEM, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

“The Maker Movement is the next great revolution of industry and embodies the American Spirit,” said Sander Arts, vice president of marketing at Atmel.

“We congratulate the White House for putting on such a great event and appreciate its recognition and advocacy for the Maker Movement. Whether a hobbyist or an engineer, the power of this community is inspiring and Atmel is honored to be at its heart, providing the technologies that empower makers of all ages to turn imagination into reality.”

As seen at Atmel’s booth during Maker Faire Bay Area 2014, Atmel attended the White House Maker Faire joined by key makers who showcased their technologies including Quin Etnyre, age 13, CEO of QTechknow and Sylvia Todd, age 12, from Super Awesome Sylvia.

Additionally, Arduino, the popular open source platform and community for prototyping, was represented at the White House Maker Faire. Leveraging Atmel’s technology in a series of development boards, communities such as Arduino aim to enable open source collaboration, foster creativity and promote tinkering.

Follow the whereabouts of Atmel, Quin and Sylvia online and join the conversation with @Atmel and @TheAVRMan using the hashtag #NationofMakers.

For questions about the event and Atmel’s participation at White House Maker Faire, please email events@atmel.com.

More Information

Atmel at White House Maker Faire 2014: http://www.atmel.com/atmel-makes/default.aspx
About Maker Faire: http://makerfaire.com/
Embedded Design Blog: www.atmelcorporation.wordpress.com
Atmel Twitter: www.atmel.com/twitter
Atmel AVR Man: https://twitter.com/TheAVRMan
LinkedIn: www.atmel.com/linkedin

Atmel celebrates Makers with President Obama

As Tom Kalil and Jason Miller note on the White House blog, the United States has always been a nation of tinkerers, inventors and entrepreneurs.

“In recent years, a growing number of Americans have gained access to technologies such as 3D printers, laser cutters, easy-to-use design software and desktop machine tools. These tools are enabling more Americans to design and build almost anything,” Kalil and Miller write.

“Across the country, vibrant grassroots communities of innovators, visionaries and manufacturers are organizing Maker Faires, creating local Makerspaces and mentoring the next generation of inventors.”

According to the White House, the rise of the Maker Movement represents a huge opportunity for the United States, with new tools for democratized production boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing.

Indeed, Making is capable of inspiring and empowering more young people to excel in design and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as helping them pursue careers in manufacturing.

That’s why President Obama is hosting the first-ever White House Maker Faire today, with Makers, innovators and entrepreneurs of all ages showcasing their cutting-edge tools and projects.
 We at Atmel are proud to be at the very heart of the global Maker Movement, with Quin Etnyre and Super Awesome Sylvia (both sponsored by Atmel) attending the DC Faire.

Indeed, our microcontrollers (MCUs) power a wide range of open source platforms and devices, from 3D printers to wildly popular Arduino boards.

For us, every Maker Faire has always been the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly venue of invention, creativity, resourcefulness and a celebration of DIY culture. Simply put, it’s a place where people of all ages and backgrounds gather together to show what they are making and share what they are learning, whether in Washington DC, New York, San Mateo or Shanghai.

Working together, we can prove that in America, the future really is what we make of it.

Tom Kalil is Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Jason Miller is Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy at the National Economic Council.

Transforming fashion with tech

17-year-old Ella DiGregorio recently introduced a line of “Transforming Beauty” gowns that literally change from long skirts to short with the touch of a button.

Image Credit: MySuburbanLife.com

As Mari Grigaliunas of MySuburbanLife reports, DiGregorio’s sample dress uses threads that run from the bottom hem to the waist of the garment to shorten the skirt when she pushes the button of an Atmel-based Arduino board hidden in the back of the dress.

Additional designs sketched by the teen arrange the threads in various designs to create completely different looks including a high-low skirt, a layered look and an Angelina Jolie inspired slit that disappears.

“I really like the idea of technology and fashion. There’s so many possibilities.” DiGregorio said.

Image Credit: MySuburbanLife.com

“I’m kind of use to hiding things in clothing,”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, quite a lot of wearable activity is currently centered around companies like Arduino and Adafruit. Both offer wearable electronic platforms powered by versatile Atmel microcontrollers (MCUs).

“Building electronics with your hands is certainly a fun brain exercise, but adding crafting into the mix really stretches your creativity,” says Becky Stern, Adafruit’s director of wearable electronics.

Image Credit: Adafruit

“Sewing is fun and relaxing, and adorning a plush toy, prom dress, or hat with a circuit of tiny parts can make you feel like you’re some kind of futuristic fashion designer. Playing with sensors and conductive textiles breaks electronics out of their hard shells and makes them more relatable.”

Just like their IoT DIY Maker counterparts, the soft electronics community has adapted various Atmel-powered platforms specifically for wearables, including the Arduino Lilypad (ATmega328V) (developed by MIT Media Lab professor Leah Buechley) and Adafruit’s very own Flora (ATmega32u4), which can be easily daisy chained with various sensors for GPS, motion and light.

Interested in learning more? You can check out our wearables article archives here.

Worldwide IoT market to exceed $7 billion by 2020

Analysts at IDC confirm a transformation is underway that will see the worldwide market for IoT solutions increase from $1.9 trillion in 2013 to a staggering $7.1 trillion in 2020. Indeed, consumers continue to experience and embrace IoT in their homes, cars and in many other aspects of their daily life.

Globally, individuals are developing a high affinity for full-time connectivity, which makes consumer IoT a compelling proposition. Businesses are also intrigued by the efficiencies, business process implications and revenue opportunities IoT solutions are capable of generating.

“Businesses are taking the necessary steps to gain a deeper understanding of IoT and the overall value,” explained Vernon Turner, Senior VP of IDC’s Enterprise Infrastructure, Consumer, Network, Telecom and Sustainability Research. “Technology vendors are evolving their solutions in a supply-driven market that’s edging toward becoming a more demand-driven market.”

Carrie MacGillivray, Program VP, Mobile Services, IoT, and Network Infrastructure at IDC, expressed similar sentiments.

“The worldwide IoT market is exploding… IoT solutions are at the heart of IDC’s view of the third platform and the four pillars — mobility, social business, big data/analytics, and cloud — resulting in millions of applications available to billions of end points.”

MacGillivray also noted that developed regions (currently) garner the majority of the IoT market, representing approximately 90% of installed units. However, the worldwide IoT install base is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% from 2013 to 2020.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel is well-positioned to benefit from the rapidly evolving Internet of Things (IoT). According to Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Andrew Uerkwitz, Atmel is one of a handful of companies that makes microcontrollers (MCUs) that will increasingly be in demand.

“As we move toward Internet of Things, if you think about everybody’s connected devices today, everybody has about three to four connected devices, meaning connected to each other in some way. And we believe within five to 10 years, that’s going to be about 10 devices,” said Uerkwitz. “Everyone’s going to have 10 things that are connected to the Internet or connected to a smartphone or just generally connected whether it’s in the automobile, in the home or in the office.”

As Uerkwitz points out, a number of devices, such as thermostats and televisions that may not currently be connected to the Internet will increasingly become “smart devices.” 

As this trend plays out, those devices will require the components that Atmel supplies.

“So, their core business has thousands of customers trying to add these microcontrollers to devices, consumer electronics and we think that core business will grow nicely,” Uerkwitz added.

Interested in learning more about the IoT? You can check out Atmel’s recent IoT SoMa panel on the subject here, Patrick Sullivan’s EELive! 2014 presentation and our extensive Bits & Pieces IoT article archive here.

Analyst says IoT a boon for Atmel

Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Andrew Uerkwitz says Atmel is “well-positioned” to benefit from the rapidly evolving Internet of Things (IoT).

According to Uerkwitz, Atmel is one of a handful of companies that makes microcontrollers (MCUs) which will increasingly be in demand.

“As we move toward Internet of Things, if you think about everybody’s connected devices today, everybody has about three to four connected devices, meaning connected to each other in some way. And we believe within five to 10 years, that’s going to be about 10 devices,” Uerkwitz explains.

“Everyone’s going to have 10 things that are connected to the Internet or connected to a smartphone or just generally connected whether it’s in the automobile, in the home or in the office.”

As Uerkwitz notes, a number of devices, such as thermostats and televisions that may not currently be connected to the Internet will increasingly become “smart devices.” 

As this trend plays out, those devices will require the components that Atmel supplies.

“So, their core business has thousands of customers trying to add these microcontrollers to devices, consumer electronics, and we think that core business will grow nicely,” Uerkwitz adds.

Interested in learning more about the IoT? You can check out Atmel’s recent IoT SoMa panel on the subject here, Patrick Sullivan’s EELive! 2014 presentation and our extensive Bits & Pieces IoT article archive here.

Atmel @ Maker Faire Day 1

Bay Area Maker Faire 2014 kicked off today, with hackers, modders, makers and veteran DIYs showcasing their creations, many of which are powered by Atmel microcontrollers.

Atmel’s booth – #205 – is drawing large crowds, with entire families clustering around to see a wide range of Atmel-based products, including the MakerBot Replicator 2 desktop 3D printer, Mel Li’s wearable electronics, various Arduino boards, Red Boards, ProtoSnap Pro-Mini, MicroView, FuzzBots, the Phoenar, Touch Board, Hexabugs and uToT Robots.

There are literally thousands of cool creations here at the show so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures below! The gallery for Day 2 is available here.