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A new year isn't just a fresh start—in our industry, it's a chance to find out what some of the biggest names in tech are showing off in Las Vegas at the massive Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Sure, some are talking about cool robots and flashy consumer products, but there's something more here: advances in technology that address timely market demands.
We've spent a few weeks reflecting on everything we saw and put together the five most compelling trends from the show, including Matter, Wi-Fi 7, bidirectional charging, nanoPower-based wearables, and automotive security. These advancements are not just about enhancing user experience or connectivity; they represent a shift towards a more integrated, energy-efficient, and secure world.
CES brought attention to Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7™, making waves with features like high speed, low latency, and reliable connectivity. This technology is poised to enhance Wi-Fi® performance, specifically for high bandwidth applications, ensuring seamless user experiences across connected devices.
Qorvo showcased its broad technological portfolio under the theme, “Qorvo Unlocks Smart Living.” Qorvo's early adoption of Wi-Fi 7 places them at the forefront of smart home innovation. These technologies are essential for creating more connected, energy-efficient smart homes.
Qorvo's IoT Dev kit showcases its dedication to scalable and interoperable solutions in the smart home device sector. Their early integration of Matter and Wi-Fi 7 is noteworthy because it enables rapid development and market introduction of advanced devices.
CES also showcased a promising technology that could accelerate EV growth: bidirectional charging. This breakthrough transforms EVs into power sources for homes, appliances, and possibly even the utility grid, potentially leading to reduced energy bills by charging EVs during low-cost periods and supplying electricity when prices are higher. Although currently limited in availability, its popularity is rising, and widespread development seems quite plausible.
NXP's presentation of its S32G2 vehicle network processors showed off its combination of safety, security, high-performance processing, and network acceleration, catering to the needs of modern vehicle architectures and supporting bidirectional charging. This advancement holds promise for the future growth of EVs.
The IoT landscape is evolving rapidly, with the smart home sector experiencing a transformative shift. Initially hindered by user implementation challenges and compatibility issues among devices from various manufacturers, the advent of the Matter protocol is changing the game. It's elevating smart home devices by bolstering security and reliability, simplifying the setup process, and tackling common challenges faced by users.
At CES, Silicon Labs and Arduino announced their collaboration on integrating the Matter protocol. This partnership makes Matter-compatible Silicon Labs MCUs available within the Arduino IDE, a huge step forward in IoT accessibility and innovation. The integration is already a reality, with the Arduino core being added to four wireless development boards from Silicon Labs, including the SparkFun Thing Plus Matter MGM240P, along with three other developer and explorer kits. Enthusiasts and developers can explore this new frontier by downloading the core for the Silicon Labs xG24 Explorer Kit and the SparkFun Thing Plus Matter.
The collaboration marks the dawn of a new era in IoT, making it easier for a broader audience to engage with IoT technology and develop devices with enhanced capabilities. The SiWx917, a Matter-ready SoC from Silicon Labs, even earned recognition with an Innovation Award, adding promise to this IoT development. This SoC is designed for ultra-low power, battery-operated IoT devices, supporting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, Matter, and IP networking, further cementing the future of interconnected IoT devices.
The growth of battery-powered applications, such as IoT devices, wearables, health monitors, and field sensors, drives demand for extended run time, efficient heat dissipation, and smaller form factors.
At CES, Analog Devices (ADI) showcased its nanoPower Technology, demonstrating how smaller batteries can prolong device operation between charges in healthcare applications. This technology captures clinical-grade data, converting it into reliable insights with minimal power consumption, characterized by less than 1μA of quiescent current. This leads to superior performance, minimal heat generation, and extended operational life.
ADI's nanoPower technology is shaking up the wearables industry, particularly in smartwatches, by enhancing battery life and fitness features. Their ADXL367 MEMS Accelerometer supports single-cell operation, stressing the importance of low power consumption for wearables like digital healthcare devices. This isn't just about monitoring health; it's about doing so more efficiently and for longer durations with nanoPower Technology.
CES 2024 also bore witness to a thrilling leap in automotive technology with Microchip Technology’s demo of their 10BASE-T1S Ethernet, a robust solution for safeguarding in-vehicle communications.
Imagine your vehicle not just as a mode of transportation but as a fortress on wheels, impermeable to cyber threats. This Ethernet technology is not just a shield; it's an intelligent protector capable of continuous system monitoring through the internet, seamlessly integrating with IoT products using diverse interfaces like PCI/PCIe, SPI, USB, and 8-/16-bit parallel bus.
Microchip Technology's showcase wasn't just a demo but a glimpse into a future where vehicles are more intelligent and secure. Using IEE802.1AE, MACSec security transforms automotive Ethernet networks into digital forts, lowering security threats to nearly zero. This technology can monitor packet delays, detect anomalies, and eliminate any data from unauthorized sources, with the option of ensuring confidentiality.
Microchip Technology's portfolio, featuring an array of PIC MCUs and SAM MCU/MPUs, redefines versatility and integration. With support for Ethernet and interfaces like MII, RMII, or RGMII, these devices are ready to connect with Ethernet PHYs and Switches, bringing a new level of sophistication to vehicle networks.
CES 2024 showcased a fusion of groundbreaking technologies like Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7™, bidirectional EV charging, and the Matter protocol, signaling a shift towards an integrated, efficient, and secure future. These innovations paint a vision of a seamlessly connected world poised for transformative adoption.
Carolyn Mathas is a freelance writer/site editor for United Business Media’s EDN and EE Times, IHS 360, and AspenCore, as well as individual companies. Mathas was Director of Marketing for Securealink and Micrium, Inc., and provided public relations, marketing and writing services to Philips, Altera, Boulder Creek Engineering and Lucent Technologies. She holds an MBA from New York Institute of Technology and a BS in Marketing from University of Phoenix.