Fibocom (Stock code: 300638), a global leading provider of IoT (Internet of Things) wireless solutions and wireless communication modules, today announces the expansion of its RedCap module portfolio by launching FG332 during Computex 2024 and introduces a cutting-edge 5G RedCap CPE solution integrated with the newly launched FG332 and the latest Wi-Fi 7/Wi-Fi 6 technologies.The industry-piloting layout of the 5G RedCap module and RedCap CPE solution is set to accelerate the 5G RedCap commercialization. The FG332 is a 3GPP R17-compliant module tailor-made for the lightweight of 5G IoT applications with optimized power consumption, enhanced network coverage, and R17 small data transmission.Developed from MediaTek's T300 chipset, the world's first 6nm Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSOC) single die solution for 5G RedCap, the module supports 5G SA and a maximum bandwidth of 20MHz, enabling the peak transmitting performance up to 227Mbps downlink and 122Mbps uplink, and it is also backward compatible with 4G, ensuring the constant network connections. In hardware excellence, FG332 adopts the LGA form factor packaged at 29 x32mm and utilizes the cutting-edge hardware density design for a compact PCB area, allowing greater flexibility in product design.In terms of pin-compatibility, the module is pin-compatible with Fibocom LTE Cat 4 module series NL668, thus easing the customer's concern about hardware investment and time to market. Leveraging the optimized power consumption system, FG332 performs in a highly power-efficient mode and helps the UE (User Equipment) to extend the battery life. The module supports regional frequency bands in Europe, North America, and APAC, and the engineering sample of FG332-NA will be available in Q3 2024.FWA is gaining a larger market share to enable everyone's access to broadband networks anywhere, anytime. The FG332 is positioned for the mass deployment of CPE (Customer-Premises Equipment) and portable mobile hot spot devices with RedCap capabilities.Propelling the high-cost performance and low-power consumption of 5G RedCap, in conjunction with the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 technology, Fibocom further offers a complete 5G RedCap CPE solution integrated with the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 technologies, pivotal for consumer-level and enterprise-level users to enjoy the deadzone-free and interference-free wireless experience.The new generation 5G RedCap plus Wi-Fi 7 solution delivers higher data throughput of BE3600 and lower latency, compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be protocols, enabling the end devices to run at full speed of a maximum of 3571Mbps under the concurrent dual-band circumstance of 2.4GHz + 5GHz. The solution features Wi-Fi 7 benefits 4K-QAM for mass data loading thus enhancing the throughput, along with MLO, MRU, and preamble puncture to fully utilize the bandwidth, and software intelligence to improve the data transmission efficiency.For a more popularized 5G RedCap + Wi-Fi 6 selection, the solution utilizes a hardware accelerator for power optimization while maintaining an incredible speed of 3Gbps. The solution outperforms in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, the maximum 2402 Mbps can be achieved under the working mode of Wi-Fi 2X2 160MHz at 5GHz as well as 574Mbps under the working mode of Wi-Fi 2X2 40MHz at 2.4GHz. In terms of network coverage, uncompromised signaling and consistency will bring stable and seamless connectivity to end users."We are excited to unveil the FG332 RedCap module powered by MediaTek's T300 chipset at Computex 2024. At Fibocom, we are always dedicated to leading the way in 5G innovation, thanks to the cooperation with our ecosystem partner MediaTek, we launched the 5G RedCap CPE solution that integrates advanced Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 technologies, delivering exceptional data throughput and low latency," said Simon Tao, VP of MBB Product Management Dept., Head of MBB BU at Fibocom. "These innovations underscore our commitment to driving 5G RedCap monetization, ensuring our customers develop the FWA devices based on the latest technologies and capture the market opportunity ahead of time."Welcome to visit Fibocom stand #K1215a at Computex 2024 for more details about 5G RedCap demonstrations.Fibocom FG332

Detection not only safeguards the quality of products, but it can also discover flaws early in the production line through detection in key links – and further prevents the waste of manpower from continuous processing of defective products.The smart factory solution from ASUS AIoT which integrates AI, optics, IoT, and other technologies, has helped many manufacturer customers from different fields optimize the efficiencies of their production lines. Recently, this solution has been launched overseas for the first time to help a major motherboard manufacturer in China, Amertek Computer, Co, build a smart detection system to help the company reduce detection time and optimize the scheduling of human resources.ASUS established the ASUS IoT business group in 2019, and ASUS as a whole now retains nearly 1,000 engineers dedicated to the development of IoT and AIoT hardware and software. Under the framework of Industry 4.0, ASUS IoT develops B2B IoT and AIoT hardware and software integration services.Amertek was founded in 1994 and mainly manufactures computer mainboards. Its customers include international manufacturers of large servers and industrial computers. For its motherboard production lines, Amertek relied on manual visual inspection to detect flaws such as improper placement, missing components, skewness, and polarity reversal of components on the dual-inline package (DIP) line. This operation method produced has several pain points that are not easy to overcome.For starters, inspection personnel need to focus on tiny and complex components for long periods of time, which can easily cause visual fatigue and affect the accuracy and consistency of inspections. Manual visual inspection also relies on personal judgment, and different personnel may have different inspection standards, resulting in inconsistent inspection results.Then, when production quantity is increased, the efficiency of manual visual inspection is low and is unable to meet rapid production needs. Subsequently, when missed components enter the next production link and then problems are discovered, they need to be reworked or repaired, which causes increased cost and prolonged production cycles, affecting the production pace and product delivery times directly.Finally, the professional requirements for visual inspection works are relatively high and require long-term training and accumulation of experience to reach the inspection standard. In addition, due to the monotonous nature and high pressure of the work, the turnover rate of the staff is also greater compared to other workstations, and this causes the recruitment and training costs of enterprises to remain high.In order to soothe these pain points and more, Amertek decided to introduce a smart factory solution from ASUS AIoT. Since the production systems and processes of each manufacturing field are different, the ASUS IoT team provided a comprehensive service – from specification to build and installation.Numerous meetings were held during the early stages of system introduction to evaluate the specific requirements of Amertek and restrictions of the existing production processes. ASUS IoT engineers also visited Amertek's manufacturing site to understand the conditions of the production lines.Then, an AIoT solution was tailored according to the specific process requirements of Amertek, including customization of software and hardware tools, industrial camera configurations, optimization of image-processing algorithms, system integration and adjustments, and more. The ASUS IoT system accurately responded to the specific challenges of the production lines.Under the service of the ASUS IoT team, Amertek's current AI vision-inspection solution, AISDIS-100D, is equipped with industrial cameras that can scan both the front and back sides of motherboards at the same time. This solves the problem of manual visual inspection being able to inspect only one side of the mainboard, often resulting in missing the flaws on the other side.In addition, the AI algorithm developed by ASUS IoT can analyze the images collected by the industrial cameras and compare them with the images of the qualified and defective products in the database, vastly increasing the accuracy of inspection. The defect rate of the products on the production line was 3% during the early stages of introduction and had reduced to 1% after the introduction – significantly reducing material waste and human resources. The maintenance and rework costs of products also decreased.In terms of manpower scheduling, through the ASUS IoT AI vision-inspection solution, Amertek reduced the human resources required for inspection from the original two workers to one – and the transferees were moved to more satisfying jobs. By reducing necessary personnel by half, the inspection efficiency improved: the original manual operation took approximately 17 seconds per piece, and was cut to 15 seconds – not including the rest times required to alleviate eye fatigue. Also, the machine-learning model built into the ASUS IoT system can self-learn and adjust continually to quickly respond to the various production changes, maintaining the consistency of inspection quality for long periods of time.In terms of future plans, Amertek is currently cooperating with ASUS AIoT to develop an AI-powered review system that can be used for complex quality-control tasks such as precise flaw classification and detailed error analysis. Also, for specific problems such as mainboard deformation, Amertek plans to introduce professional board inspection systems to ensure that the products shipped from the factory can meet the highest physical specification standards.From the long-term goal and strategy perspective, Amertek plans to continue to expand and introduce the applications of ASUS IoT vision-inspection solution into its production lines – deepening its cooperation with both ASUS IoT and the wider ASUS group to expand its market competitiveness.For more product information, please refer to iot.asus.com.ASUS AISDIS 100D, equipped with industrial cameras capable of simultaneously scanning both sides of a motherboard and a proprietary AI algorithm, significantly improves inspection accuracy and reduces waste in materials and labor costs

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) has always played a crucial role in quality control during the production process.In recent years, the proportion of high-mix, low-volume production modes has gradually increased, making traditional AOI technology insufficient to meet the current production line requirements. In response, industrial computer giant NEXCOM has adopted an AI-powered, vision-based smart factory solution from ASUS IoT.This integration has successfully applied AI-powered vision-inspection technology to the production of high-end industrial computers and servers. The system leverages AI to overcome the limitations of traditional AOI, significantly reducing modeling time and improving detection accuracy.ASUS established the ASUS IoT business group in 2019, and ASUS as a whole now retains nearly 1,000 engineers dedicated to the development of IoT and AIoT hardware and software. Under the framework of Industry 4.0, ASUS IoT develops B2B IoT and AIoT hardware and software integration services.NEXCOM, a prominent industrial manufacturer for more than 30 years, primarily produces industrial mainboards, high-end industrial computers, and AI servers. Its high-end industrial computers are called Box PCs, which are around the same size as makeup bags.Each Box PC contains up to 40 slots, each with 200 pins, resulting in a vast number of pins throughout the machine. In addition, with the development of AI servers, the number of CPUs and pins on the motherboards has also increased.NEXCOM previously relied mainly on manual visual inspection for quality control. However, it is difficult for the human eye to focus on tiny pins for long periods of time, and pin defects or foreign objects are challenging to detect from different angles.As the number and density of pins increase, the difficulty and uncertainty of manual inspection also increase. NEXCOM tried to introduce AOI equipment for automated inspection.However, since AOI equipment requires modeling for every pin defect, engineers need to write complex programs, which is both time-consuming and skill-intensive. Furthermore, the overkill rate – where good products are mistakenly identified as defective – of AOI equipment remains high.As a result, the workload of manual review did not drop. That's when NEXCOM called in ASUS AIoT to implement an AI-powered inspection solution to create a smart factory.As a professional industrial computer manufacturer, NEXCOM also established a subsidiary, NexAIOT, focusing on smart system integration. ASUS IoT has deep technical expertise in automated processes and equipment, especially in AOI and AI algorithms – with a substantial amount of implementation experience.The technical advantages of both parties highly complement one another. NexAIOT can efficiently integrate ASUS IoT solutions into NEXCOM's production environment, solving production line issues and creating new values.During the process of helping NEXCOM build its smart inspection system, the ASUS IoT team fully demonstrated its ability to provide customized services. Faced with the specific conditions of NEXCOM's production environment, including narrow spaces in production lines and large product sizes, ASUS IoT engineers team first conducted on-site evaluations to understand the specific needs and then optimized the system architecture accordingly.In terms of hardware design, ASUS IoT transformed the original floor-standing inspection equipment into a suspended type to fit NEXCOM's continuous production line layout. For the larger high-end industrial computer production lines, the inspection equipment was designed to be lightweight and movable, improving flexibility to meet the needs of different production lines and inspection points. In terms of software, ASUS IoT customized and adjusted the interface of the inspection software, including button positions, font sizes and warning colors to improve the operational convenience for users.ASUS IoT also helped NEXCOM accelerate the modeling efficiency of the inspection system through AI technology. Unlike traditional AOI that requires extensive time to write programs, the ASUS IoT AI inspection solution, AISDIS 100P NCC, requires only a small number of good product images with simple defect annotations to complete modeling within 30 minutes.This modeling method allows the inspection equipment to quickly go online in the early stages of new product introduction, perfectly matching the production pace. In addition, the deep learning algorithm of ASUS IoT AI inspection solutions can identify pin defects and foreign objects quickly and accurately, maintaining high levels of detection rate under different angles and lighting conditions.With the self-learning capability of the AI model, the system continually optimizes detection rules, keeping the overkill rate under 15%, significantly lower than the 70% of manual inspection. In terms of production efficiency, AI vision inspection also improved the inspection time significantly. In the past, manual inspection of an industrial computer took in excess of a minute, but the AI system reduces this to 30-40 seconds.Beyond solving existing problems, ASUS IoT AI inspection solutions also brought new values to NEXCOM. Through AI empowerment, NEXCOM has enhanced its flexible production capabilities to adapt to market changes and established a data-driven mechanism for precise manufacturing and continuous optimization. In terms of business, this has enabled NEXCOM to add ODM design services, successfully initiating its smart transformation.As for future plans, NEXCOM will continue to cooperate with ASUS IoT, expanding AI vision-inspection applications from motherboard and machine inspections to warehousing, logistics, and production management. This will create a comprehensive and multi-faceted smart manufacturing ecosystem, allowing the benefits of smart technology to become the driving force for the sustainable growth of the enterprise.For more product information, please refer to iot.asus.com.ASUS IoT's AI inspection solution, AISDIS 100P NCC, can rapidly and accurately identify pin defects and foreign objects, maintaining a high detection rate even under different angles and lighting conditions – reducing operating time by up to 50%Photo: ASUS

Ensuring the quality and efficiency of batteries is crucial for the performance and safety of electric vehicles (EVs). With this in mind, most new energy EV battery manufacturers are actively advancing towards smart technologies, integrating motion control, visual inspection, and other technologies into the initial, middle, and final stages of the manufacturing process.For instance, a leading automotive battery manufacturer has recognized that traditional manual sampling inspections are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also tend to identify defects late in the process. This results in the production of defective products and increased waste.In due course, the manufacturer entrusted a specialized System Integrator (SI) in visual inspection and AI analysis to establish a tailored quality control mechanism. This involves real-time detection and adjustment of "Key Process Input/Output Variables" (KPIV/KPOV) to prevent failure modes from affecting subsequent processes.However, given that the SI specializes in visual inspection software development rather than the installation and maintenance of computers and peripheral equipment, they sought a supplier capable of providing a one-stop solution that includes industrial computers, expansion cards, and GPU cards. This supplier must offer comprehensive after-sales service to address multi-source supply challenges, such as incompatibility and troubleshooting issues. After a thorough evaluation, the SI decided to adopt ADLINK Technology's complete solution, which includes an industrial PC, image capture card, and GPU card.Establishing a Digital Inspection Infrastructure with IPC and Image Capture CardsHsin-Chen Lin, Product Manager at ADLINK Technology's Edge Computing Platform Product Center, put an emphasis on the battery manufacturing process, which is divided into three stages: initial, middle, and final. The initial stage involves the "electrode production" process, which includes steps such as raw material mixing, coating, electrode pressing, and die-cutting.The middle stage is the "battery cell assembly," which involves placing the battery case through winding or stacking methods, followed by sealing through hot pressing, ultrasonic welding, and laser welding. The final stage is "activation testing," where the battery is activated by injecting electrolytes, followed by charge and discharge testing, and capacity grading and sorting marking the final step.Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing ProcessHe elaborated further that after the three stages, the battery proceeds to the modularization phase, which includes component gluing, side plate welding, harness installation, and final testing. These steps are pivotal for assembling the final automotive battery module.Using ADLINK Technology's IPC and professional image capture card visual inspection solutions for digital inspection enables real-time monitoring during these production stages. This ensures adherence to rigorous manufacturing standards at every step.Given the complexity of the over ten detailed processes across these stages, numerous critical monitoring and inspection requirements are presented. For example, in the early stage's coating process, AI technology with Camera Link cards and line scan cameras must accurately detect coating defects and width discrepancies, preventing conductivity issues and material exposure. It ensures the battery's optimal charge and discharge performance.Similarly, in the die-cutting process, it is essential to check the electrode tab-cutting precision. Lastly, the middle stage also presents strict challenges, ensuring precise alignment between winding and stacking and mitigating safety risks of low capacity or lithium plating. During ultrasonic and laser welding processes, it is necessary to meticulously inspect the electrode tab welds for scratches, fractures, and wrinkles. AI technology plays a key role here, effectively detecting defects that traditional vision systems may overlook.In the modularization stage, component gluing and shell welding processes also rely on advanced imaging technology and AI machine learning to inspect the quality which is crucial for preventing component misalignment and electrolyte leakage, thus avoiding potential battery short circuit issues.Understanding the specific inspection needs of SIs, ADLINK Technology delivers a complete solution based on the IMB-M47 motherboard as the core of the Industrial Computer (IPC), combined with a dedicated chassis and Power Supply Unit (PSU), paired with the PCIe-GIE74P image capture card and GPU card. This comprehensive solution showcases ADLINK Technology's thoroughness and expertise compared to most industrial control companies only offering motherboards or Box PCs.This one-stop solution simplifies system configuration and speeds up the deployment process. It allows SIs to quickly and effectively integrate visual inspection software into battery production equipment, significantly enhancing production efficiency and product quality control.Leading Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing into a New Era of InnovationADLINK Technology provides comprehensive support services, allowing SIs to confidently resolve any issues with industrial computers, expansion cards, and other critical components. This enables SIs to focus on software development without worrying about hardware-related problems, thereby helping automotive battery manufacturers reduce inspection time, lower scrap rates, and detect subtle defects. This results in lower production costs while enhancing battery production efficiency and quality.ADLINK solutions offering for EV battery manufacturingHsin-Chen Lin emphasized ADLINK Technology's latest solution, the IMB-M47 motherboard, highlighting its two significant technological advancements. He noted its superiority, achieved through the utilization of 12th/13th generation Intel Core processors combined with the latest memory and I/O expansion interfaces like DDR5 and PCIe Gen5, offering significantly better processing performance than the commonly used 8th/9th generation processors.It is complemented by the IMB-M47 motherboard's ability to support at least two PCIe-GIE74P image capture cards to handle multiple complex inspection tasks. With the increasing demand for visual inspection and the large data volume generated by high-resolution line scan images, the high-performance IMB-M47 motherboard paired with PCIe-GIE74P image capture cards ensures precise and fast inspections, making it an ideal combination.Comprehensive Expansion Card Solutions Accelerate Intelligent Battery ManufacturingADLINK Technology's greatest advantage in the realm of "intelligent manufacturing for new energy EV battery equipment" stems from its roots in expansion cards. Whether it's image capture cards, motion control cards, DIO cards, or GPU cards, ADLINK Technology boasts the most comprehensive and high-quality product lineup.Currently, the primary application involves integrating IPCs and image capture cards for visual inspection. However, across the entire automotive battery manufacturing process, spanning from early to late stages and including equipment such as mixers, coaters, cold press machines, die-cutters, winding/staking machines, and more, ADLINK Technology's innovative solutions play a vital role.Through ongoing R&D investments, ADLINK Technology consistently incorporates the latest technology standards and chipsets into its industrial computer systems, significantly boosting processing speed, data transfer efficiency, and reliability. Furthermore, ADLINK Technology's internal expansion card solutions effectively tackle compatibility issues faced by system integrators, further enhancing overall production efficiency.These innovative technological solutions reinforce ADLINK Technology's leadership in the automotive battery manufacturing sector and establish it as the preferred partner for automotive battery manufacturers, production equipment suppliers, and system integrators.Learn more about ADLINK Industrial PC or contact ADLINK for more information about products and solutions.

The global healthcare sector was amazed when a little girl with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was cured after being treated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies (CAR-T) in 2012.Dr. Kuo-Hsiang Chuang, who just started his job at the Graduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, Taipei Medical University (TMU) at that time, thought CAR-T would help doctors and patients successfully fight cancer. However, CAR-T, mostly based on retrovirus gene delivery, leaves a lot of room for improvement. Dr. Chuang therefore developed the unique "Armed-T" technology and founded CytoArm in 2020, which now offers five T cell products against different cancers based on the Armed-T cell platform. CAR-T delivers effective results but has room for improvementAccording to a WHO report released on February 1, 2024, there were close to 20 million new cases of cancer in the year 2022 alongside 9.7 million deaths from cancer. It is not an exaggeration to call cancer the biggest threat to human health. This is also why the world including the healthcare sector is paying attention to CAR-T following the successful treatment of the little girl with leukemia in 2012.According to Dr. Chuang, CAR-T makes use of genetic engineering technologies to change the patient's immune cells called T cells, and enable them to effectively attack the cancer. T cells are collected from the patient and re-engineered in the laboratory to produce proteins on their surface called Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) using retrovirus gene delivery.The genetically reengineered CAR-T cells can precisely identify tumor-specific antigens. When deployed back in the patient's body, CAR-T cells can specifically bind to cancer cells and destroy them.FDA approved the first CAR-T therapy in 2017, which has been proven to deliver promising results for blood cancers and impressive survival outcomes. However, Dr. Chuang pointed out the risks of CAR-T. First of all, it uses retrovirus vectors for gene delivery into T cells, which might elicit an unexpected immune response or cause T cell mutation.Furthermore, CAR-T costs will remain high as the processes of collecting, reengineering, and readministering T cells require a highly specialized team of professionals and expensive lab equipment. The gene (or virus) reengineering and cell culturing processes are also very challenging. Last but not least, CAR-T patents are owned by a small group of big pharma players, barring the entry of newcomers with formidable licensing fees or potential infringement lawsuits.Armed-T fights cancer even more effectivelyCytoArm's Armed-T technology addresses all of the above issues. According to Dr. Chuang, with Armed-T therapy, specific molecules are attached to the surface of the patient's T cell, much like putting armor on the T cell like Iron Man, described by Dr. Chuang.The armed T cells are then equipped to identify and destroy cancer cells. As opposed to CAR-T therapies that need 30 days for virus culture or reengineering, it only takes 10 days to produce high-purity cancer-fighting Armed-T cells and the therapeutic results are significantly more promising. To top it off, as no retrovirus gene delivery or genome editing technique is used, Armed-T cells are free of cancerization or mutation risks, making Armed-T a safer treatment choice for patients.In general, it is not easy for genetic reengineering techniques to achieve a high purity. CytoArm's Armed-T technology generates cancer-fighting cells at an impressive 90%+ purity. As to costs, without the need for retrovirus gene delivery, CytoArm can offer Armed-T technology at more affordable prices, allowing more patients to receive the treatment.Armed-T technology has another advantage, noted Dr. Chuang. The molecules that are attached to the surface of the T cell can be customized to allow the T cell to target and kill a specific type of cancer cell.CytoArm has developed five Armed-T products — CTA-01, CTA-02, CTA-03, CTA-04 and CTA-06. Experiments on lab mice with human B-cell leukemia indicate that CTA-01 can rapidly target and effectively destroy B-cell leukemia cancer cells with no obvious signs of recurrence. CTA-03 is for treating prostate cancer and CTA-04 is for treating metastatic breast carcinoma.CytoArm's first Armed-T product, CTA-02, is for treating incurable colorectal cancer associated with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene or its downstream effectors. In the first half of 2024, CytoArm is set to submit applications for CTA-02 clinical trials in Taiwan, Singapore, and the US.Poised to become a powerful weapon against cancer, CytoArm's Armed-T technology received worldwide attention following its introduction. Dr. Chuang named Taiwan's maturing startup ecosystem a key contributor to CytoArm's success.As a TMU-incubated startup, CytoArm developed a patent plan with TMU's guidance right when it was first founded. It also reached out to a U.S. IP firm for advice and confirmation that Armed-T does not infringe upon big pharma players' CAR-T patents, allowing the company to steer clear of obstacles that might hinder its research.The industry, government, and academia are stepping up efforts to support innovations and startups. Since CytoArm's establishment in 2020, capital investment, professional guidance, and market-driven strategies have all fueled the company's growth. Going forward, Dr. Chuang suggests that the government strengthen research grant and talent incubation policies and drive the commercialization of academic research to keep Taiwan's industry reinvigorated.CytoArm's Armed-T products. The first product, CTA-02, is for treating incurable colorectal cancer associated with mutations in the EGFR gene or its downstream effectors. Phase I clinical trials are scheduled to begin in 2024. It can be used to treat pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, TNBC and other types of cancer in the future.

AI technologies being used for image recognition is one of the disciplines seeing rapid developments today. AI image recognition is adopted in wide-ranging applications including city, factory, and traffic management systems.However, there are three major challenges to overcome to roll out AI image recognition implementations – limited service scalability, poor model adaptability, and time-consuming data collection. Linker Vision's all-in-one solution offers an auto-labeling tool to help system developers and application users reduce the need for human feedback. It also uses a data-driven AI training platform to increase model adaptability and scalability, thereby lowering cost and driving AI popularity. Established in 2021, Linker Vision focuses on full stack computer vision AI development, providing cloud-to-edge vertical integration solutions. Despite burgeoning AI and machine learning applications, businesses endeavoring to bring the applications into reality still face challenges.For example, they have difficulty scaling out their services. The models do not readily adapt to different use scenarios. Data annotation requires considerable time and effort. These problems hinder AI system implementation and rollout.To help businesses overcome these challenges, Linker Vision introduces the VisionAI platform. Based on Linker Vision's unique large vision model, VisionAI enables one-touch deployment of zero-shot AI, accelerates sampling and training for continuous learning, and provides auto-labeling for massive data annotation.VisionAI significantly speeds up the process of AI deployment and quickly boosts enterprises' core AI capabilities. Moreover, VisionAI reduces the human resources and costs required to have AI systems up and running.Linker Vision's solution has been widely used in autonomous driving, smart city, smart manufacturing, and a slew of other applications. The outstanding real-time image recognition performance provides strong support for enterprise digital transformation and automation upgrades. Comprehensive, convenient, and prompt services, Linker Vision leverages cloud computing for data storage and processing as well as model training of its AI solution. It also uses cloud platforms to quickly grow its service scale and application scope. Thanks to this, Linker Vision can create greater business value and capture enormous AI opportunities.

The advent of burgeoning public cloud services has not only revolutionized personal digital experiences but has also significantly enhanced operational efficiencies and reduced management costs for corporations worldwide.Traditionally, retail and food franchises faced substantial expenditures on diverse devices and IT infrastructure optimization to oversee branch operations and devise unified marketing strategies. This often entailed establishing a central management platform in home office data centers, necessitating costly periodic visits by IT engineers—an expense beyond the means of many small and medium-scale retail chains.Founder and CEO of Kabob Cloud, Steve Tsai, emphasizes the proliferation of digital signage, kiosks, and smart devices over the past decade. An increasing number of retailers are leveraging these tools to streamline branch operations and minimize management expenses.Today, retail and food franchises can install Android TVs at their branch stores, enabling managers to oversee operations and gather data via public cloud platforms, thereby obviating the need for costly traditional systems. This innovation not only slashes management costs but also empowers franchise operators to swiftly adapt to market changes through diverse marketing campaigns, facilitating the growth of small and medium-scale franchises.Having established a robust presence in Taiwan, Kabob Cloud has successfully expanded its operations into Asia and North America. Anticipating the trend towards smaller displays and the rising popularity of Android TVs equipped with versatile apps, Kabob Cloud, founded in 2016, developed a suite of management tools tailored for food chains and retail brands. With enthusiastic reception in Asian markets, including China, Japan, and Singapore, Kabob Cloud has recently established branch offices in North America, and partnered with distributors in Korea and Australia to further expand its footprint.To cater to evolving market demands, Kabob Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of 20 diverse service apps. They include digital signage management (Lookr), audio management (Voicer), advertisement integration (Adder), omnichannel content marketing (Fafa), queue management (Tico), staff training (Teachor), and floor guidance (Kiosk).Business owners can seamlessly deploy these service apps onto various devices at their stores via Kabob Cloud's platform, which boasts an intuitive management interface and hassle-free configuration. As a result, Kabob Cloud's solutions have garnered adoption by over 500 franchise brands, including industry giants such as McDonald's, SEPHORA, Burger King, MeetFresh, and Ganso, spanning over 110,000 connected devices across 30,000 stores.Tsai highlights that while Kabob Cloud initially targeted food and retail chains, its smart remote management and face recognition solutions are also suitable for AIoT applications. Consequently, these solutions find applications in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, real estate, and telecommunications. Kabob Cloud's participation in CES 2023 proved instrumental in bolstering its presence in North American markets, attracting significant attention from industry professionals and generating numerous inquiries.With subscription-based services becoming increasingly prevalent, Kabob Cloud recognizes the proliferation of similar offerings in the market. However, unlike many solution providers offering bundled software and hardware packages, Kabob Cloud's solutions seamlessly operate across various devices and brands used at franchise stores, supporting multiple platforms such as Android, Linux, Windows, and iOS. This flexibility allows business owners to choose devices based on their preferences, budgets, and store characteristics, while managing and maintaining all devices effortlessly via a centralized platform, thereby maximizing operational efficiency.In response to intensifying market competition and evolving application scenarios, Kabob Cloud is committed to ongoing app development and collaboration with third-party software developers to expand its offerings. By establishing a software marketplace, Kabob Cloud aims to foster mutually beneficial partnerships with customers and partners, ensuring its continued leadership in the industry.(Editor's note: The original article was published in TTA Magazine Issue 14. Read more startup stories in TTA Magazines.)Kabob Cloud – a one-stop management platform integrating multiple applicationsPhoto: Kabob Cloud

In recent years, due to increased domestic safety awareness and a need for convenience, there has been an increasing consumer use of induction cookers.Induction cookers are presently well-established mature products that use electromagnetic induction heating technology. They have the advantages of intelligent functions, high heating efficiency, no open flames, less smoke, excellent safety, cleaning convenience as well as affordable prices.The use of electromagnetic induction heating technology has given rise to a diverse range of products such as rice cookers, milk frothers, electric tea kettles, etc. Over the years, the market size of these related product areas has seen continued and steady growth.Holtek's Induction Cooker ASSP MCUs have already experienced several development generations with each generation encompassing new innovations. Holtek's technical expertise and its mature technology has resulted in a diverse and abundant MCU product range. These include the following MCU devices:1. Induction Cooker MCUs: HT45F0058, HT45F0005A, HT45F0006 2. Low Power Continuous Heating Induction Cooker MCUs: HT45F0059, HT45F0035A, HT45F00363. Half-bridge Induction Cooker MCUs: HT45F0074A, HT45F00754. Matching touch key panel MCUs: BS86C12CA, BS86D12C5. Matching touch key panel MCUs: HT66F3185, HT66F3195Comprehensive System Protection MechanismsInduction cooker internal systems require both high voltage and high current circuits and additionally are required to operate in high-temperature environments. In order to prevent problems due to electronic component aging, where the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor, IGBT, VCE voltage is susceptible to increase, or problems due to component temperature rise, insufficient environmental power supplies, or safety issues due to power grid surges, and mains power fluctuations, the induction cooker circuitry needs to incorporate a range of protection mechanisms.These will include surge protection, overcurrent protection, mains over/under voltage protection, IGBT over-temperature protection, and heating surface over-temperature protection. For half-bridge induction cookers, phase protection, dead zone setting, and minimum frequency limiting will also be added. For single IGBT induction cookers, IGBT over-voltage protection, pulse width limit protection, and non-re-trigger function will be added.Holtek offers induction cooker solutions, ensuring that customers have all the resources they need to reduce their product cycle time.HOLTEK offers induction cooker solutions, ensuring that customers have all the resources they need to reduce their product cycle timePhoto: CompanyHOLTEK Induction Cooker SolutionsHoltek's comprehensive range of induction cooker MCUs, having a high degree of functional integration, provides customers with excellent solutions for all their induction cooker control requirements. Holtek also offers full technical support, ensuring that customers have all the resources they need to reduce their product cycle time. For more information please contact Holtek sales or agents who will be happy to assist.HOLTEK also provides the Induction Cooker Solutions brochure which can be downloaded using the following QR code link.Induction Cooker Solutions brochure

As the global lingua franca, English communication skills are crucial for anyone looking to succeed in academics and the workplace.However, improving English proficiency typically requires a lot of effort for non-native speakers, especially in listening and speaking. Immersing in an all-English environment and having a 24/7 personal tutor who converses exclusively in English would be immensely beneficial for any learner, but not everyone can afford it, finding the right teacher is another challenge.This was also the challenge faced by Vu Van, who was born and raised in Vietnam. She initially thought her English level was good enough, and she got many opportunities in the local job market to work for international companies because of her language proficiency. It was not until Vu went to study at Stanford University, where she pursued an MBA and a Master's in Education that she realized her non-native accent prevented her from freely expressing herself and communicating smoothly with professors and classmates.The situation left her feeling frustrated so she started to look for a speech coach to improve her pronunciation. It turned out extremely expensive, the hourly rate could be as high as $200. All these became the driving force behind her founding ELSA eight years ago.Aimed to create an affordable personal English tutor available 24/7, Vu collaborated with a speech technologist, Dr. Xavier Anguera, to form a company and officially launched ELSA Speak in 2016. According to Michael Ngo, ELSA's General Manager of SEA Cluster and Taiwan, leveraging AI technologies and a self-built large database, the ELSA Speak smartphone app is not only a personal English tutor right in learners' pockets, but also a unique learning tool that can pinpoint pronunciation mistakes in every sound of a word and sentence, even at conversation level, then provide real-time, accurate feedback to guide users on how to improve.8 years ago, AI was not such a hot topic as today, "there were existing models that were available, but none of them were good enough for what we want," Ngo said. At the time, AI models could only conduct certain conversations but were unable to serve as learning tools. So the ELSA team built their own AI model and introduced generative AI technology to their solutions, to enable a unique personalized English learning tool."Recently, we've successfully developed & released two more powerful AI tools that bring users' English to the next level. One is ELSA AI, which lets users practice real-world roleplay conversations with AI and Speech Analyzer, which provides detailed feedback for any free-formed speeches." As Ngo mentioned, these tools are not only capable of engaging in ongoing conversations with users without limitation of time and location, help to correct pronunciation and grammar, but also simulate specific scenarios, such as job interviews and business conversations, allowing users to practice before entering the actual events, enhancing their confidence.ELSA's uniqueness and advantages have gained favor from numerous investors, including leading venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Gradient Ventures, an outstanding venture fund specializing in investing in the AI of Google is also one of them. So far ELSA has successfully raised $50 million in capital and got over 50 million downloads globally, their subscribers across more than 195 countries worldwide.Since its launch, ELSA has also won many prestigious awards and recognitions, including "Best Digital Learning App" by Reimagine Education, winner of SXSWEdu Launch Competition, the leading education technology exhibition in the US, Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Applications by Research Snipers, and a world-changing AI product mentioned by Forbes. Recently, ELSA has secured Series C funding, including the participation of UniPresident Taiwan. ELSA will use the funding "to support, grow the platform, and expand our global offering by increasing our presence further in Taiwan with our new investors," Vu said.With its semiconductor and electronics industry supply chain, Taiwan plays an increasingly significant role in the global market. More and more international companies have come for investment, increasing the need for local employees with bilingual skills. Taiwanese companies also need many experts with a variety of abilities, including English and international mobility, to adapt to global supply chain deployment. ELSA recognizes the growth potential of the Taiwan market and considers it one of the key focuses for future operations."And we see Taiwan has set a goal of becoming bilingual in Chinese and English by 2030. To achieve that goal, the Taiwanese government also urged educators and learners to leverage technology and AI for people to practice English with more effective, personalized, and engaging methodologies." Ngo added that, in addition to subscription service for individual users, collaborating with schools and businesses to provide English training solutions has always been one of the business models that ELSA values greatly.Ngo recalls how a blue-collar worker who worked in a factory in Vietnam improved his English proficiency significantly within six months with ELSA's tools and got the opportunity to study abroad. After completing his studies and returning to Vietnam, he obtained higher-level job opportunities and pay. ELSA has also helped a stay-at-home mother who relocated to the United States with her husband to master English language skills and the ability to run her small businesses to contribute to their households financially. These success stories motivate ELSA to continue improving and providing subscribers with a better user experience.As a successful startup, ELSA also shared its tips for operating a business with other entrepreneurs. " First, start with the big problem, because if the problem you try to solve is too small or too niche, you won't be able to scale up," Ngo said. Second, stay agile, "As technology advances rapidly, it's crucial to constantly assess the market's response to your products and services, swiftly determine the necessary changes and what's your next step." Last but not least, "Always focus on the end user's experience. Building a cool product is good, but if nobody uses it or has no value, it's probably not going to be a viable business."(Editor's note: The original article was published in TTA Magazine Issue 14. Read more startup stories in TTA Magazines.)ELSA English AI tutor

Targeting the booming industrial control applications driven by the AI wave, global AI PC and AIoT solutions leader MSI is unveiling its next-generation Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) solution at COMPUTEX, equipped with the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin module. This advanced AMR solution leverages intelligent vision and AI technologies to deliver unparalleled versatility and efficiency to industries such as warehousing, automotive, semiconductor, and panel manufacturing.Additionally, MSI's Smart 360° AI Patrolling Solution integrates cutting-edge AI image recognition and edge computing technologies to help enterprise clients achieve remote inspection, 24-hour unmanned surveillance, and production line safety protection. This solution targets industrial IoT opportunities in smart factories and smart cities, further diversifying MSI's AI product line and applications.MSI, dedicated to innovative research and development, was the first in the industry to launch AI PCs and continues to invest in AI application product development and hardware-software integration to meet enterprise needs.MSI AMR-AI-Cobot Pro Autonomous Mobile Robot Powered by NVIDIAThe MSI AMR-AI-Cobot Pro is equipped with a smart robotic arm designed to enhance productivity and safety across industries. Powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin platform, it features precise SLAM-based navigation, efficient 3D route planning, accelerated object detection, and seamless integration with third-party applications. This makes it ideally suited for use in diverse sectors including semiconductor, panel manufacturing, electronics, warehousing, logistics, textiles, biotechnology, and the food industry.MSI AMR-AI-Delivery Robot Pro Autonomous Mobile Robot Powered by NVIDIAEquipped with advanced AI features, the MSI AMR-AI-Delivery Robot Pro includes smart face and speech recognition for safe and accurate deliveries. Powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin platform, it excels in diverse environments, boasting SLAM capabilities, 3D navigation routes, and accelerated object detection. Its support for third-party APIs ensures seamless integration with other applications, making it highly versatile for use in factories, warehouses, medical facilities, offices, residential areas, and shopping centers.MSI autonomous mobile robotsThe "Smart 360° AI Patrolling Solution" uses MSI's intelligent industrial computers, MS-C910 and MS-C909, as the core computational units. These are combined with 360-degree panoramic video products, solar panels, EV-grade lithium iron phosphate batteries, and eco-friendly paper displays (EFPD). Through advanced AI and edge computing, this solution delivers efficient security monitoring and intelligent disaster prevention alert functions.MSI MS-C910 intelligent industrial computersFor example, in outdoor parking lots, the MS-C910 can serve as a small server system for AI image computation, data center tasks, and transmitting parking management information to an edge box, while the MS-C909 collects and manages solar energy charge and discharge information, sending it back to the C910. With license plate and facial recognition technology, this system intelligently identifies and displays vehicle entry and exit, parking space status, and provides real-time directions for vehicle retrieval, enhancing operational efficiency and improving overall management integration.MSI MS-C909MSI @ COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2024Date: Tuesday, June 4 - Friday, June 7, 2024Time: 9:30 - 17:30Booth: M0806Venue: 4th Floor, Hall 1, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center