Despite recent advances with bipedal robots, most are not graceful, and they have not been able manipulate objects with the dexterity of stationary robotic arms. Agility Robotics Inc. yesterday unveiled Digit, which builds on the design of its ostrich-like Cassie robot. Digit includes an upper torso, more sensors, and additional computing capabilities. Most importantly, it…
5G Robotics Challenge winners named by MassTLC, Verizon, Ericsson
BOSTON — The Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC) today announced the winners of the 5G Robotics Challenge, sponsored by Verizon and Ericsson. This first-of-its-kind challenge asks teams to develop 5G-powered robotics technologies that will transform modern industry. The winners include teams from Northeastern University and University of Massachusetts, Lowell, as well as five start-ups: 6 River Systems Inc.,…
Lightweight 2.2/5 connector is ideal for 5G wireless infrastructure
Amphenol RF introduced its new 2.2/5 connector series. This interface is a compact version of the previously released 4.3/10 connector series with a footprint that is 53% smaller. This connector series is lightweight and can accommodate thick, low loss cables up to a half inch. The robust design makes these connectors ideal for both indoor and […]
ERFV RF coax connectors from TE Connectivity enable 5G wireless designs
TE Connectivity has introduced its new ERFV RF coax connectors for 5G wireless applications. The new solutions are being showcased in an active antenna display at TE’s booth (Hall 82, Booth 225) at the Electronica this week in Munich. Future 5G wireless equipment designs will require a new level of highly reliable and customizable components, […]
5G Robotics Challenge launches in Boston
The robotics industry is poised to be a major beneficiary of 5G, the fifth generation of wireless communication. If 5G meets its advertised median speeds of 1 Gbps, 5G will have a speed 20 times faster than 4G. Combine that increased speed with lower latency (about 1ms) and next-generation, 5G-powered robots should be more reliable…
Ericsson Ramping Up R&D, Manufacturing Investments in US as 5G Demand Grows
Ericsson is boosting 5G investments in the United States, with plans to open a new R&D center and produce 5G radios in the country later this year. The strategic moves will enable Ericsson to operate closer to customers and meet operator’s growing appetite for 5G products, the Swedish telecom equipment giant said Friday. “The United…
WIN Semiconductors releases 0.45µm GaN Power Process for 5G applications
WIN Semiconductors Corp has expanded its gallium nitride (GaN) process capabilities to include a 0.45µm-gate technology that supports current and future 5G applications. The NP45-11 GaN-on-SiC process allows customers to design hybrid Doherty power amplifiers used in 5G applications including massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) wireless antenna systems. Similar to macro-cell applications, MIMO base stations…
Hybrid active optical cable assembly from Hirose supports up to 12.5GBPS and 3.3V
Hirose has designed an intrafacility fiber cable (IFC) assembly system that supports bidirection optical transmission of 6.25Gbps and unidirection up to 12.5Gbps (6.25Gbps x 2ch). The high-speed BF4-IFC Series cable assembly integrates the BF4M Series active optical connector into a rugged circular shell with a superior push-pull design for quick and easy mating/unmating operation. The…
FirstNews Briefs: Samsung’s Leadership Structure; Nokia 5G Call in France
The world’s largest smartphone maker could fall under a new ownership structure if South Korea’s top antitrust official gets his way. Reuters reports that Korea Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kim Sang-jo this week characterized Samsung Group’s current organization — which includes its flagship Samsung Electronics — as “not sustainable,” and that he has urged embattled…
Brainstorm: How Are Manufacturers Preparing For 5G?
Q: In what ways are manufacturers preparing for 5G? By Michael Chinn, Deputy General Manager ICT Group, Electronic Components Sales & Marketing Group, Senior Vice President, TDK Referred to as the enabler of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” 5G facilitates wireless solutions for applications across many industries by reliably connecting massive numbers of devices, providing ultra-low…
Illinois Governor Signs Plan to Expand 5G Technology
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a measure that local governments say would limit their ability to regulate big wireless facilities including AT&T and Verizon. The plan expands access to 5G networks by allowing companies to install small cell antennas on streetlights and utility poles. Local governments cannot regulate or charge for the installation or maintenance of…
5G Technology and the Smart City
The wireless industry is moving inexorably toward 5G technology as the next wave of wireless broadband connectivity. This trend coincides with an increasing focus on the part of municipal authorities, urban planners and technology vendors of all kinds to make cities smarter. Where do these trends intersect? While there are as many smart city strategies…
Nevada Ready To Embrace 5G
Surprisingly (at least to some), Nevada is one of the country’s most innovative states, with autonomous vehicles currently being tested on their roads, along with drones in the skies above. City planners and government officials in the state have been very receptive to new and developing technologies in recent years, which has brought new companies,…
Blocked Broadcom-Qualcomm Tie-Up Highlights 5G Security Fears
The unusual move by President Donald Trump to block a proposed takeover of Qualcomm by a Singapore-based chip rival highlights growing concerns about the rise of Chinese competitors. Trump issued an order Monday barring the proposed $117 billion acquisition, citing credible evidence such a deal “threatens to impair the national security of the United States.”…
Sprint Readies for 5G, Plans Massive MIMO Deployments in 6 Cities
Small Cell Forum: 5G Cells to Overtake 4G by 2024
A new report expects the deployment of 5G small cellular sites to rapidly accelerate in coming years and eclipse small 4G installations by 2024. The latest Market Status Report from Small Cell Forum suggested companies would utilize more than 70 million small cells worldwide by 2025, with more than 13 million 5G or multi-mode small…
Tuesdays with Roger: The Problems with Nationalized 5G
Roger Entner of Recon Analytics on a proposal for the U.S. government to build a 5G network — and why the plan wouldn’t work. Need to listen on the go? Tune in to Tuesdays with Roger episodes in podcast form here. Also, follow Roger on Twitter at @RogerEntner for more insights throughout the week, and stay up to date on…
Backhaul Backbone: Fiber and Other Options for a 5G World
A faster, denser network of wireless infrastructure is rapidly approaching. Many of the world’s telecommunications giants are already conducting tests of 5G networks, with some preparing to deploy 5G as soon as 2018. In this report, we’ll delve deeper into the backhaul needs of a 5G world — and how the wireless and telecom industries are…
Video: 4G Vs. 5G Connectivity
With the highly anticipated release of 5G connectivity on the horizon, it’s worth reiterating what’s making people across all industries excited. Among the major takeaways of the 5G network is its high-quality speed that will be capable of making anything from streaming online content to remote controlling. While 4G and LTE have done their part…
Emerging 5G Networks – New Opportunities For Drone Detection?
Researchers from Aalto University and Tampere University of Technology in Finland have addressed new possibilities for efficient detection of drones by relying on future 5G communication systems. There, mmWave base stations may act as multistatic radar system receivers, thus acquiring the reflected signal from nearby flying drones. Today, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or simply drones, are becoming…
Rigol RSA5000 3.2/6.5GHz Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers
The Rigol Technologies RSA5000 Series of RF spectrum analyzers scan a complete frequency spectrum of 9kHz to 3.2 or 6.5 GHz with a maximum sample rate of 51.2MS/s. They offer significant performance improvements over traditional swept spectrum analyzers with a 1ms full span sweep, an expanded vertical range to +30dBm, reduced phase noise to -108dBc/Hz,…
Satellites Will Play Instrumental Role In 5G Network
For over 50 years, satellites have been instrumental in the telecommunications industry, despite mostly being used by government and major communication entities. With satellite uses roles becoming increasingly broad in recent years, the economics of these crafts are evolving. Manufacturing and operational costs are being lowered due to trends like miniaturization, along with companies like…
Team Uses 4.5G Mobile Phone Network For Drone Traffic Management
Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has embarked on a research project which uses existing high-speed mobile phone networks to track and control drones. In collaboration with a leading telecommunications company, M1 Ltd, researchers from NTU Singapore will be mapping the signal strength of M1’s 4.5G Heterogeneous Network (HetNet). Knowing the exact cellular…
5G Could Be China’s Gateway For Technological Domination
The highly anticipated emergence of 5G in the telecommunications industry is going to play a profound role in the entire industrial economy over the next several years. All indications point to 5G going well beyond the Internet of Things (IoT), onto broader applications involving big data transmission and artificial intelligence (AI). Having said that, the one who…
Trump Administration Includes 5G in National Security Outline
The White House this week listed 5G networks — albeit briefly — among its national security goals this week. The administration’s first National Security Strategy, which is delivered to Congress each year, made headlines primarily for aggravating China and Russia, reversing long-standing positions on issues such as climate change and even running contrary to the…