Semiconductor testing plays a crucial role in the supply chain, with industry players prioritizing factors such as test speed, cost, signal measurement accuracy, one-stop test capabilities, and software support. Chroma ATE holds a key position in the global ATE (Automated Test Equipment) market, offering a diverse range of solutions and maintaining a strong global presence. Recently, the company hosted a Semiconductor Test Equipment User Conference in Hsinchu, Taiwan, where it shared its 2025 hardware and software test solution roadmap with customers.Commitment to growth with customers: A comprehensive solution blueprint for global expansionGeorge Chang, president of Chroma ATE's Semiconductor Test Business Unit, highlighted in his opening speech that Chroma has been engaged in the semiconductor sector for over 20 years. With an installed base of more than 4,300 test systems worldwide, the company serves markets across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Chroma's product lines can be categorized into five segments: digital, analog, mixed-signal, interface solutions, and software. The company is also actively developing next-generation products for applications in RF, power, and audio testing.George Chang, president of Chroma ATE's Semiconductor Test BU, stated that as of November 2024, Chroma's global installed base of semiconductor ATE exceeds 4,300 systems. Credit: Chroma ATEFocusing on hardware test platforms with wide range of test boards to meet diverse needsFor wireless solutions, Roger Huang, vice director of the Application Engineering Department at Chroma Group subsidiary Adivic Technology Co., introduced the Chroma 3680 HDRF2 test board. Huang noted that the Chroma 3680 platform natively supports testing of a wide range of chips, but when combined with the HDRF2, it can meet extensive wireless and RF (radio frequency) testing needs, including Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0/BLE, GPS, and wide-area IoT technologies. Chroma is already developing its successor model, the HDRF3, to address standards such as Wi-Fi 6E/7 and 5G FR1. The company has also developed solutions specifically tailored for the 5G mmWave spectrum. The 30GHz range is addressed by the existing Chroma 3680 HDRF2, while the 48GHz range is supported by the MP5808 model paired with the mmWaveBox, catering to 5G FR2, FR3, and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite applications.For power-related chip testing, Spancer Lee, senior manager of Product Marketing at Chroma's Semiconductor Test BU, highlighted the pivotal role of the Chroma 3650 platform. Lee noted that since launching the 3650 platform back in 2002, Chroma has continuously evolved its solutions to meet market demands for power management. The company introduced various test boards and solutions to complement the 3650, culminating in the release of its successor, the Chroma 3650-S2, in late 2022. Chroma is also preparing to unveil a new product, the HTMU board, further demonstrating its commitment to addressing diverse voltage and current combinations for power chip testing. The testing needs of third-generation semiconductors with high-voltage specifications can be effectively met by stacking Chroma's HVVI boards.Lee also mentioned that as the design of power chips becomes more complex and the manufacturing process evolves, the timing information and related parameters to be measured for power chips become more challenging. Chroma ATE launched these test boards, together with the Chroma 3650-S2, to meet the testing needs of the new generation of power chips.In the mixed-signal domain, Blair Fan, associate product manager at Chroma's Semiconductor Test BU, focused on the company's roadmap for audio mixed-signal solutions. Fan pointed out that the Bluetooth headset and speaker market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20% from 2024 to 2029, reaching a total market value of $38.2 billion. From a product design perspective, challenges in Bluetooth and audio applications include the integration of digital and analog testing, as well as cost control to maintain chip profitability. Chroma addresses these challenges with the Chroma 3380 platform paired with the MXADO module board.Minimizing platform conversion time using large language models (LLMs) Beyond hardware, Chroma has also made significant strides in software solutions. Ray Hsu, software engineer at Chroma's Semiconductor Test BU, explained that in the long run, semiconductor manufacturers will inevitably transition between test platforms. This process typically requires around 140 hours of additional software migration time. However, Chroma leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) to reduce this to just 5 hours. He further explained that the conversion process involves two stages: the first uses LLMs for processing and the second uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology. Parameter adjustments and removal of unnecessary parameters are still required to ensure ideal conversion results.Hsu emphasized that while conversion is not 100% perfect and still requires manual refinement, it saves substantial amounts of time compared to traditional methods, which is of great benefit to customers.In addition to introducing its next generation of semiconductor test solutions, Chroma invited strategic partners Dr. Chen Wei-yang from TMY Technology and Mr. Tai Yu-che of the R&D and simulation department at Keystone Microtech to share relevant insights on their collaborative advancements.To sum up, Chroma ATE offers a diverse range of solutions covering digital, analog, and mixed-signal testing in the global ATE market. At the recent user conference held in Hsinchu, Chroma unveiled its 2025 roadmap for hardware and software solutions. The company showcased an array of test equipment, including the Chroma 3650, 3680, and the newly launched HDRF series, catering to power management, high-frequency testing, and wireless technology applications.Amid evolving US-China trade dynamics, Chroma is deepening its localized services while utilizing AI technologies like LLM and RAG to shorten software migration times and enhance testing efficiency. Looking ahead, Chroma ATE is poised to continue integrating innovative technologies to meet the testing needs of next-generation semiconductors, foster growth alongside customers, and strengthen its global market presence.Live demonstration of the Chroma 3680 Advanced SoC Test System. Credit: Chroma ATEChroma's Semiconductor Test Equipment User Conference attracted nearly 200 industry professionals. Credit: Chroma ATE

STMicroelectronics' L99MH98 8-channel gate driver brings patented features for building automotive motor drives without sensing resistors, reducing power dissipation and the bill of materials.The L99MH98 can drive four external full bridges, eight half bridges, or single high-side/low-side powering mechanisms such as seat-position adjusters, window lifters, sunroofs, pumps, seatbelt pre-tensioners, and other actuators. The L99MH98 can also drive resistive loads such as heaters, and the internal circuitry contains a charge pump whose output can control a reverse-battery protection MOSFET.While the drivers can control both logic-level and standard-level MOSFETs, extended gate current capability, programmable up to 120mA, permits driving large numbers of external MOSFETs. Three-stage gate control, which applies the gate signal in three steps, helps to minimize electromagnetic emissions.Designed to provide each MOSFET's drain-source voltage (VDS) to an analog-digital converter (ADC), the L99MH98 leverages indirect current measurement to replace sensing resistors. This ST-patented technique calculates the drain current in each MOSFET by combining the measured VDS with RDS(on) predicted using sensed temperature. The system is calibrated at manufacture to find the nominal RDS(on) values, enabling predictions to be made using the MOSFETs' resistance-versus-temperature curves.A further feature, also ST-patented, is the programmable multi-failsafe function that enhances reliability by turning off bridges individually to protect against faults while allowing unaffected bridges to operate normally. Multi-failsafe detects faults, including supply overvoltage, high-side over/under voltage, thermal warning, charge-pump failure, and VDS-monitoring failure, and selectively turns off functions such as diagnostics, watchdog and charge pump depending on fault type.The L99MH98 is AEC-Q100 qualified and meets ISO 26262 criteria for functional-safety applications up to safety integrity level (ASIL) B.Available now in a VFQFN48L package with wettable flanks and exposed underside cooling pad.

After successfully launching the 7th generation Micro-Pattern Trench (MPT) technology-based discrete IGBT new products in Q2 2024, PARA LIGHT ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. (Referred to as"Para Light" hereafter) recently announced its plan to introduce six additional products in Q1 this year. These new offerings will target applications in medium-to-high power servo motor drive control, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, solar inverters, industrial induction heating, energy storage, and smart grid-connected systems.The product lineup will include four high-performance discrete devices in TO247-3Plus packaging and two high-power modules featuring a half-bridge circuit structure, which is compatible with Infineon's EconoDUAL™ 3 (ED3) package. Leveraging advanced 7th-generation MPT-IGBT chip design and manufacturing technology, these new products will provide the application market with exceptional solutions for enhanced efficiency and stability.Para Light's IGBT Product Portfolio includes six new products, designed and manufactured using 7th-generation Micro-Pattern Trench (MPT) chip technology. *Note: PCA0N065GH7S is a custom product and is not available for the mass market at the moment. Credit: Para LightPerformance Benchmarking – Para Light's 7th-Gen IGBT vs. 6th- and 7th-Gen IGBTs of a global leading brand. Para Light's 7th-Gen IGBT solutions deliver performance on par with the global Tier-1 brands' 7th-Gen IGBT products while outperforming 6th-Gen counterparts by 20–30%. Credit: Para LightIn these four TO247-3Plus packaged products, the metal surface area for heat dissipation has increased by approximately 18% compared to the standard TO247-3 package. This enhancement effectively reduces the chip's thermal resistance and operating temperature, thereby extending the lifespan and stability of customers' power systems while also lowering cooling system costs. Notably, a new solution with a 1200V/60A specification will soon be available in the standard TO247-3 package (tentatively designated as PC60N120AH7S), offering customers more options when designing power systems.For higher-power applications, Para Light has also introduced two high-performance IGBT module products with power ratings of 1200V/600A and 1200V/450A. Both modules adopt a standard half-bridge configuration and incorporate built-in negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistors to provide reliable over-temperature protection. Furthermore, the flat packaging, which is compatible with Infineon's EconoDUAL™3 (ED3) package, significantly enhances the power density of the overall power system.Eric Hung, Deputy General Manager of Business and Marketing for Para Light's Power Semiconductor Division, stated that whether in discrete or module IGBT products, Para Light is committed to using the advanced seventh-generation MPT chip technology for both design and manufacturing. In addition to delivering higher operational efficiency, our G7th IGBT technology achieves exceptionally high chip production yield, underscoring the mature, reliable, and stable quality of Para Light's IGBT products—key attributes that set the brand apart in a competitive industry. Moreover, the IGBT products offer several advantages, including a maximum operating junction temperature of up to 175°C and excellent short-circuit current capability and overload test performance under high-temperature conditions. These features ensure that customers' power systems maintain high stability and an extended service life, even under full load or harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, the wide range of applicable switching frequencies enables parts consolidation, effectively reducing procurement costs.David Ma, the Chairman of the Board, emphasized that since IGBTs are key components in various power electronic systems, their performance and quality stability not only directly affect overall system performance but also play a critical role in material management and reducing the hidden costs associated with system failures. Listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and a global leader in LED design and manufacturing since its establishment in 1987, Para Light's core competencies in continuous product innovation and strict in-house quality control have been central to maintaining its competitive advantage. In recent years, the company has further leveraged these strengths to expand into the power semiconductor sector. As one of the few industry brands with an advanced seventh-generation IGBT power transistor product line and packaging and test plant, Para Light's IGBT products offer significant value by delivering enhanced efficiency and stability to customers' power systems.Para Light Electronics holds ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and IATF 16949 quality management certifications. Its power semiconductor products undergo JEDEC's six major reliability tests, and all critical processes—from incoming inspection to product shipment—are rigorously controlled through SPC. The proven stability and consistency of these products have resulted in high market acceptance, with several strategic customers in the regions of Greater China, Taiwan, and India continuously integrating Para Light's solutions into applications such as industrial servo motor drive control, UPS systems, industrial solar inverters (PV inverters), and energy storage power management equipment. Looking ahead, the company plans to extend its product applications into electric vehicle DC fast-charging solutions.Para Light Electronics holds ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and IATF 16949 quality management certifications. Its power semiconductor products undergo JEDEC's six major reliability tests, and all critical processes—from incoming inspection to product shipment—are rigorously controlled through SPC. The proven stability and consistency of these products have resulted in high market acceptance, with several strategic customers in the regions of Greater China, Taiwan, and India continuously integrating Para Light's solutions into applications such as industrial servo motor drive control, UPS systems, industrial solar inverters (PV inverters), and energy storage power management equipment. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its product applications into electric vehicle DC fast-charging solutions soon.

Plustek delivered an impactful presence at CES 2025, captivating audiences over four inspiring days with groundbreaking advancements and solutions tailored to tackle the pressing challenges of today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.Attendees shared the obstacles faced when adopting complex technologies into their daily workflow and highlighted and highlighted a demand for intuitive, seamlessly integrated technologies that deliver both efficiency and user satisfaction. Plustek's high-performance data extraction, AI-enhanced dynamic file renaming, and a revolutionary standalone network scanner solution provide a straightforward answer, meeting the needs of users with little to no code needed, designed to simplify workflows and resolve challenges faced in daily business operations.At CES 2025, Plustek showcased an array of transformative solutions that redefine business operations. The Codeless ID Data Parsing technology seamlessly integrates identification data, simplifying deployment and reducing errors across industries like healthcare and automotive. AI-enhanced file management solutions automate complex tasks, enabling effortless categorization, renaming, and data extraction to enhance efficiency. Additionally, Plustek's standalone network scanner combines plug-and-play simplicity with secure, high-resolution scanning, delivering precision and reliability. Together, these innovations empower businesses to streamline workflows, save time, and unlock new levels of productivity."CES 2025 provided an incredible platform for Plustek to connect with customers, partners, and industry leaders, delivering valuable feedback and revealing exciting potential," said Ken Lin, Director of Sales and Marketing at Plustek. "The enthusiastic response to our latest innovations, including auto file renaming solutions that streamline workflows and codeless ID solutions simplifying deployment for complex integrations, highlights the growing demand for smarter, more efficient technologies. Our solutions at CES 2025 inspired further innovation, delivering transformative technologies that empower businesses and individuals."During the four-day event, Plustek's booth garnered significant interest, highlighting the demand for solutions that simplify workflows and empower individuals to achieve greater impact. Plustek demonstrated how automation can tackle key challenges like streamlining complex processes and freeing up time for meaningful, high-value tasks. By automating repetitive work, Plustek's solutions allow individuals to focus on strategic, creative, and impactful contributions, enhancing both personal and organizational growth. Attendees recognized how Plustek's approach not only makes processes more efficient but also elevates the role of human expertise in achieving meaningful outcomes.Plustek is at the forefront of driving digital transformation across industries, delivering solutions that seamlessly blend advanced technology with user-centric innovation. Its globally recognized Auto Fill-In technology continues to simplify data management, catering to businesses of all sizes. Supported by an experienced team of consultants, these solutions enable organizations to thrive in the evolving digital landscape. With four decades of expertise, Plustek provides AI-driven innovations that integrate effortlessly into workflows, empowering businesses to focus on strategic growth and unlocking the full potential of digital transformation. For more info visit: www.plustek.com/us/news/events-and-trade-shows/ces2025/index.php

People love gaming which has made it an industry where many technological advancements are happening to appease players. This creates a high demand among people, hence the growth of this industry is quite massive. For example, in 2024, the gaming industry generated close to US$455 billion. We have also seen how Google has announced that it is working on a "Deep Mind" team to completely transform the gaming industry by improving the user experience through the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) and physical simulation technology. Users are intrigued by this step of simulating real-world mechanics in the game and the outcome it will reflect on the future of entertainment and gaming.In the following article, we will discuss how DeepMind has trained an Artificial Intelligence model to work in real-world games along with the effects of physical mechanics and simulations on the overall experience of traditional and modern gamers.Can Online Gambling Evolve In That Realm of Innovation?Online casino games are becoming famous among gamers because of the latest artificial intelligence technology and real-world experiences. The gaming industry has changed completely with the increase in the number of players gambling online on digitally advanced platforms.These platforms have used sophisticated technologies, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and real-world experiences to give a traditional feel to casino games. You can enjoy a realistic experience of interactions with dealers and sound effects within the game due to real-life simulations. Your engagement with the game also increased due to the adjustment of difficulty and mechanics according to your skill set and way of playing.As platforms continue to adopt groundbreaking advancements, such as AI simulations of the physical world, the future of online gambling looks increasingly dynamic and personalized. However, it's still difficult to estimate the possible impact of technologies simulating the real world. One thing is certain - the gambling industry will be one of the early adopters to push the limits of digital gaming.AI & Simulating the Real World in GamingArtificial Intelligence is one of the fastest-growing advancements in technology, especially after the advent of generative AI, with its market amounting to around 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. It also serves as a core model for Google DeepMind to offer you real-world simulations in your gameplays. The AI used to enhance your gameplay is trained through the original clips of the game to create accurate frames for you in real-time.This system makes the gameplay more engaging and realistic for you by predicting your moves and optimizing the mechanics of the game and the behaviors of non-playable characters (NPCs) accordingly. Artificial Intelligence (AI) also makes your gameplay more dynamic and responsive by quickly processing large amounts of data about your gaming style and game mechanics.Redefining Immersion With Advanced Physics EnginesImproving the physical engines plays a very important role in giving you a realistic experience in your gameplay by giving accurate interactions with objects, a visually appealing environment, and real-like character movements. Google DeepMind has improved these physical engines by combining Artificial Intelligence and simulation technology. This combination of technologies gives you smoothness in complex physical interactions between objects within your game.DeepMind's model also replicated gravitational forces and collision effects from real life into the game's mechanism. This gives a simulation of the real world of an object's behaviors in the environment, so you can experience next-level accuracy.Why Google DeepMind Is Simulating Real-World in Gaming?The main reason behind this process of simulating real-world mechanics in our gaming experiences is the development of Artificial general intelligence (AGI). DeepMind is building a gaming environment where the evolution of elements, objects, and environment within the game depends upon your choices and actions.This process also allows generalized AI to improve itself with the help of reinforcement learning models. For example in gaming, AI will manipulate the behaviors of animals, characters, NPC personalities, and the entire ecosystem according to your actions during gameplay. This will improve the ability of this system to perform different types of tasks in numerous niches and decision-making while giving you a personalized and rich gaming experience.Google DeepMind is also working on making AI capable of not just improving your in-game interactions, but also changing the game's map on its own, known as AI-driven game design. This will give you unique challenges while offering an endless experience due to its ability to grow depending upon how you interact with challenges.ConclusionThe future for gamers is really exciting as the gap between the real world and the digital world will be reduced during this project. Google DeepMind's efforts in simulating the world welcome a new era in the gaming industry. The practical benefits of this project are vast ranging from offering you a real-like experience in games to improvement of Artificial general intelligence.This project helps you experience dynamic and responsive experience while playing games with the help of Artificial Intelligence and advanced physical engines. Simulation of the world also transforms online gambling by giving you engaging and similar experiences to traditional casinos.

The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) paradigm revolutionizes networking and security. SASE converges wide-area networking (WAN) and network security services into a single, cloud-delivered solution to securely and efficiently provide access to users, devices, and applications.Though sase is simple, there's still some work to do. Adoption can often be stymied through roadblocks that prevent fully enjoying its benefits. In this article, we explore these challenges and present actionable solutions to overcome them.Understanding SASENow that we know what we are diving into, let's understand what SASE is. SASE is a cloud-native architecture that bundles several networking and security capabilities from the likes of SD-WAN, Secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), and zero-trust network access (ZTNA), to name a few.It protects networks while facilitating easy remote access to remote workers and distributed branches. For information on sase and its components, see this in-depth guide on SASE.Top SASE Challenges1. Unclear about what the requirements and goals are.When adopting SASE, many organizations have a tough time defining their exact goals. Without established objectives it becomes hard to discern how does SASE relate to the organization's current infrastructure and security strategy.Solution:Start your attack on your current network and security posture. Find pain points — is your remote access lackluster or do you have gaps in security? Define clear goals like better remote access, better threat detection, or reduced number of tools by bringing too many tools into one platform. Work with important stakeholders to align SASE adoption with business objectives.2. Integrating Legacy Systems is a Problem of Complexity.Many organizations run legacy infrastructure and use processes that were not designed to integrate with more modern technological SASE solutions. Such an incompatibility can cause delays and cost more when implementing.Solution:Migrate in a phased approach. Begin by including key areas of SASE, e.g., SD-WAN or ZTNA and not interrupt current systems. Choose a SASE vendor that can deploy in a way that fits your needs, and will work with your existing systems instead of forcing you to tear everything down and start fresh.3. Lack of Internal ExpertiseTo implement SASE, you must know both networking and security very well. Unfortunately, most IT teams do not have the required proficiency in specialized knowledge to design and roll out the full SASE framework.Solution:Ensure that your IT staff is given the attention and training to become upskilled on SASE technologies and best practices. You can alternatively partner with a managed service provider (MSP) or SASE vendor that provides end–to–end deployment support. It makes for a smoother transition, as it removes the pace of strategic decisions from your team.4. Resistance to ChangeWhile stakeholders are expecting legacy system behavior, shifting to a cloud-native SASE architecture often faces resistance. But this resistance tends to slow down the adoption process.Solution:Stakeholders engage them early in the decision-making. Draw out the constraints of current systems and accentuate the long-term benefits of SASE like cost savings, better performance and better security. Communicate clearly and train easily.5. Managing CostsAlthough SASE can lower your operational expenses in the long run, it's an upfront cost that can initially be a major hurdle for many businesses since it requires new hardware, software, and employee training.Solution:You should first develop a clear budget and ROI analysis prior to your SASE journey. A number of vendors' pricing models support this with scalable pricing — you could, for example, incrementally start adopting SASE. Select a solution that fits your budget but should be able to meet your requirements.6. Consistent Performance Across LocationsSASE implementation causes organizations with distributed teams and global operations to have inconsistent network performance.Solution:Choose a SASE provider with a rich Points of Presence (PoPs) global network. Thus, it's low-latency connections with a predictable performance, regardless of the user's location. And use SD-WAN's intelligent traffic routing to optimize performance.7. Adapting to Evolving Threat LandscapesBeing able to protect your organization from new threats is especially difficult because cybersecurity threats are also dynamic.Solution:Go with a SASE vendor that leverages advanced threat intelligence and regularly refreshed security capabilities. Seek out solutions that use machine learning and automation to proactively detect and respond to threats.Facing Implementation ChallengesSASE has to be done right. The implementation of SASE needs careful planning, collaboration, and the right vendor partnership to be done successfully. The hurdles of SASE are common, and with the right strategy and an open mind, organizations can realize the full power of SASE while securing, simplifying, and growing a modern network for their organization.Yet, as organizations adopt digital transformation, SASE emerges as an important enabler for securing and making use of efficient connectivity. If prepared adequately and with the right resources, you can overcome these challenges and set your organization up for success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

MetAI, a Taiwanese startup pioneering the integration of industrial AI and 3D simulation technologies, today announced the successful close of a $4 million seed funding round. Investors include Addin Ventures, Kenmec Mechanical Engineering (6125.TWO), NVIDIA, Solomon Technology (2359.TW), SparkLabs Taiwan, and Upstream Ventures. This milestone underscores MetAI's pivotal role in advancing physical AI and bridging the gap between simulation and reality through cutting-edge technologies.The funding will accelerate MetAI's research and development efforts, scale its engineering team, and expand operations into the US market with a focus on semiconductor manufacturing, automated warehousing, and robotics applications.Revolutionizing physical AI and world models with scalable digital twinsThe next wave of AI, often described as the revolution of physical AI or generative physical AI, relies heavily on physically accurate simulated environments where robots, autonomous systems, and operational AI can be trained and validated before deployment. The transition to physical AI—and the development of comprehensive world models—has been hindered by the complex and time-consuming process of creating realistic, functional digital twins.MetAI addresses this challenge with its proprietary generative model, a cutting-edge technology that enables the instantaneous generation of "SimReady (Simulation-Ready)" digital twins. By converting CAD files into operational 3D environments within minutes, MetAI's technology allows businesses to deploy precise, scalable, and fully functional simulations instantly.Developing physically accurate digital twins is seen as a barrier to entry for those looking to develop physical AI at scale," said Daniel Yu, CEO and Co-founder of MetAI. "We're changing that narrative by enabling businesses to instantly train AI systems—whether for robotics, logistics, or manufacturing—in physics-based virtual environments with unprecedented efficiency and scalability."Driving real industry impact: collaboration with KenmecMetAI partnered with Kenmec Mechanical Engineering in 2023 to revolutionize the creation of automated warehouse digital twins. MetAI's technology reduced the time needed for warehouse digital twin simulations from thousands of hours to just 3 minutes, dramatically saving operational and verification efforts. The generated digital twins operate with real-world fidelity, effectively establishing a warehouse world simulator—a dynamic virtual environment that mirrors real-world operations, enabling immediate throughput validation, optimization, and potential integration with AI agents to explore the world in simulations.Credit: MetAIThis collaboration demonstrated such significant value that Kenmec became a major investor in MetAI during this funding round."MetAI is changing the automated industry with its digital twin and simulation technologies," says Jonas Ko, President of Kenmec. "With their advanced technology combined with Kenmec's leading automated solutions, we aim to work together to deliver the most optimal and efficient outcomes for end customers, accelerating the adoption and implementation of automation with unprecedented precision and speed, empowered by AI advancements."Building on this success, MetAI has initiated collaborations with major manufacturing giants, including semiconductor fabs, aiming to apply the same methodology to create operational digital twins for fabs, further accelerating industry-wide efficiency.From real-to-sim to sim-to-realMetAI's technology goes beyond digital twin creation to provide tools for physical AI training, validation, and the generation of precise world models. By integrating scalable digital twins with reinforcement learning, MetAI enables robots and AI agents to learn, adapt, and optimize performance within simulated environments that replicate real-world complexities before real-world deployment.Key benefits include:Scalability: Organizations can rapidly generate environments for multiple scenarios or facilities, enabling faster prototyping and validation, and reducing simulation setup time from months to minutes.World Models for Industrial Use: With digital twins that highly resemble the real world, MetAI enables the creation of world simulators—dynamic, physics-based virtual representations of physical environments—supporting comprehensive AI testing and optimization. Precision Training: Robots and autonomous systems can be trained in physically accurate environments, minimizing real-world testing time, risks, and costs. Iterative Optimization: AI systems can refine their strategies continuously, leveraging reinforcement learning to adapt to changing needs.Driving value for the semiconductor and robotics industriesOne of MetAI's primary focuses is accelerating semiconductor manufacturing, an industry that faces significant challenges in labor constraints and the operational efficiency of factor designs. By simulating fab construction and production line setup with AI agents, MetAI has the potential to reduce timelines by up to a year, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.MetAI's broader applications extend to robotics and warehouses/logistics, where its ability to generate precise, dynamic environments allows for optimal training of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), robotic arms, and other precise industrial systems. This scalability helps industries maintain competitiveness in markets that evolve so fast nowadays.Credit: MetAICredit: MetAICollaboration with NVIDIAAs a member of the NVIDIA Inception program for startups, MetAI has collaborated closely with NVIDIA to refine its applications by integrating NVIDIA Omniverse technologies, unlocking new opportunities and industrial use cases. By taking advantage of the exceptional simulation scalability of the NVIDIA Omniverse platform, MetAI aims to empower businesses with applications that possess unprecedented speed and precision to train AI systems for real-world deployment.Scaling in the US MarketBuilding on its momentum and preliminary success with industry leaders in Taiwan's manufacturing and automation sector, MetAI is set to fuel the momentum of growth and accelerate its presence in the US market. With plans to deepen its US operations in 2025, the company is committed to bringing its groundbreaking technologies to the US semiconductor and automated warehouse industries, supporting businesses to achieve new heights of operational efficiency and digital transformation.Credit: MetAICredit: MetAI

Artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage at CES 2025, bringing a key challenge for tech giants into focus: balancing high performance with power efficiency amid growing computational demands. In CES 2025, Silicon Motion Technology introduced its PCIe Gen5 SSD controller, the SM2508, specifically designed to address this need. Leading brands like ADATA Technology, BIWIN, and Lexar showcased a range of next-generation PCIe Gen5 SSD products powered by the SM2508 controller. Meanwhile, Fanxiang unveiled several storage solutions featuring the SM2320 controller, demonstrating Silicon Motion Technology's extensive expertise in storage controller innovations.CES 2025 – Striking the Perfect Balance Between High Performance and Power Efficiency in the Computational EraThe SM2508 capitalizes on TSMC's 6nm EUV process technology to slash power consumption by 50% compared to 12nm solutions. Its PCIe Gen5 implementation operates below 7 watts, delivering a 70% improvement in energy efficiency. Equipped with an advanced 8-channel architecture, the SM2508 supports capacities of up to 8TB. It is paired with a NAND flash interface speed of up to 3600MT/s, enabling sequential read/write speeds of 14.5GB/s and 13.6GB/s, respectively. The controller also delivers random read/write performance exceeding 2.5 million IOPS, representing a threefold improvement over its predecessor.At CES 2025, ADATA Technology showcased its new MARS 970 series, introducing two SSDs powered by the SM2508 controller for desktops and laptops. The MARS 970 STORM, designed for desktop computers, features an ARM Cortex R8 real-time computing architecture and an 8-channel NAND flash design. It achieves sequential read speeds of 14,000MB/s and sequential write speeds of 12,000MB/s. Combined with XPG's exclusive hybrid liquid-air cooling system, it is particularly suited for high-load applications such as AAA gaming, high-performance workstations, and AI computing. The MARS 970 BLADE, designed for laptops, breaks the limitation of large heatsinks typically required for PCIe Gen5 SSDs. It delivers sequential read speeds of 12,000MB/s and sequential write speeds of 11,000MB/s, while an innovative ultra-thin heatsink design ensures excellent cooling without increasing the laptop's thickness or weight. ADATA Technology expressed its intention to continue deepening its partnership with Silicon Motion Technology, expanding the application of PCIe Gen5 technology to develop diversified storage solutions such as USB devices and external SSDs, catering to various market demands and providing comprehensive storage products for both consumer and enterprise users.Another storage giant, BIWIN (BIWIN STORAGE TECHNOLOGY), also exhibited a range of new storage products powered by Silicon Motion Technology controllers. Among them, the flagship PCIe Gen5 SSDs X570 PRO and Predator GM9000, both utilizing the SM2508 controller, offer read speeds of 14,000MB/s and write speeds of 13,000MB/s, along with up to 4GB of DRAM cache. These features, along with smart optimization mechanisms, significantly enhance data processing and multitasking capabilities. With a high-quality 3D TLC NAND flash memory design, the random access performance reaches 2 million IOPS, meeting the stringent demands of high-end users for professional workstations and gaming computations. For portable storage solutions, BIWIN introduced the Amber PR2000 external SSD powered by the SM2320 controller. It supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 specifications, offering read speeds of up to 2,000MB/s and write speeds of 1,800MB/s, providing high-performance mobile storage for professionals.Lexar presented several products based on its latest collaborations with Silicon Motion Technology. Among them, the SL500 external SSD, a recipient of the 2025 CES Innovation Award, features an innovative magnetic design for direct attachment to a smartphone's back and supports 4K 120fps high-quality video recording, catering to the mobile shooting needs of content creators. Another key product is the NM1090 Pro SSD, developed for PC gamers, which is powered by the SM2508 controller built using Silicon Motion Technology's 6nm process. It offers sequential read speeds of up to 14GB/s and write speeds of 12GB/s, nearly doubling the performance of PCIe 4.0 products. Thanks to the advanced manufacturing process of the SM2508 controller, this product not only effectively manages heat dissipation during high-speed operation but also maintains stable performance and excellent energy efficiency during professional applications such as 4K/8K video editing, AI model training and high-performance graphics computing.At CES 2025, Fanxiang showcased several new products powered by Silicon Motion SM2320 controller. Silicon Motion's SM2320 portable SSD controller is equipped with both Type-C and USB-A interfaces, supporting transmission speeds of 20Gbps and 10Gbps, respectively. Despite its compact size—roughly that of a USB flash drive—it delivers outstanding performance, transferring 4GB of video in just 2 seconds, even in low-temperature environments. This makes it particularly well-suited for mobile professionals, content creators, and business users.As the AI computing era unfolds, the balance between storage device performance and power consumption becomes increasingly important. At CES 2025, leading storage companies such as ADATA Technology, BIWIN, Lexar, and Fanxiang showcased several products powered by Silicon Motion Technology controllers. Whether it's the high-speed read/write performance sought by gamers, the stable computational performance demanded by professional workstations, or the need for thin and efficient cooling in laptops, Silicon Motion Technology's solutions cater to these diverse requirements. Looking to the future, Silicon Motion Technology is committed to deepening its relationships with customers and partners, seizing opportunities in the next generation of storage technology.Lexar - NM1090 Pro SSDCredit: LexarBIWIN - X570 SSDCredit: BiwinAdata - MARS 970 STORM SSD Credit: AdataAdata - MARS 970 BLADE SSDCredit: Adata

As a DIGITIMES senior analyst covering the wearable technology sector, I've observed an interesting shift in the smart glasses market. While most manufacturers race to pack more technology into their frames, a new segment is emerging that prioritizes lifestyle integration over cutting-edge features.The current smart glasses landscape"Most AR smart glasses can be separated into two categories based on their projection systems," notes Will Greenwald in his comprehensive CES 2025 coverage. "Prism systems that bounce a projection off of a prism into your eye, and waveguide systems that use special etchings in a flat lens to guide the projection into your eye."However, this tech-first approach may be missing what everyday consumers actually want from their eyewear.The power challenge and innovationThe smart glasses industry has consistently struggled with power management. While established players like TCL's RayNeo X3 and Even Realities G1 (priced at US$599) focus on wireless capabilities and AI integration, MagicPalm's approach to battery life through magnetic swappable batteries could influence future design trends. They claim over six hours of continuous use, with the potential for extended use through battery swaps.This practical solution to one of the industry's most persistent challenges exemplifies how focusing on user experience rather than technical specifications can lead to meaningful innovation.A fresh perspective on smart eyewearWhile tech-focused companies compete on features like AR displays and AI integration, MagicPalm has entered the market with a distinctly different philosophy – focusing on everyday usability and compatibility with existing eyewear. Their approach suggests that the future of smart glasses might not lie in maximizing technical capabilities, but in seamlessly integrating with users' daily lives.Simplicity as innovationThe smart glasses industry has traditionally emphasized technological advancement, with prices ranging from $400-$600 for feature-rich devices. However, MagicPalm's focus on core functionalities – audio, battery life, and style compatibility – represents a pragmatic shift toward what consumers might actually need.Their patented integration technology, which works with 90% of global eyewear styles, addresses a simple but crucial consumer need: the ability to make their existing, preferred eyewear "smart" without compromise.Practical solutions to real challengesAs Greenwald points out in his CES coverage, different manufacturers are targeting specific use cases. While Captify glasses from Solaire Inc. focus on real-time captioning and translation, and others pursue AR capabilities, MagicPalm's approach centers on lifestyle enhancement through practical features like directional audio for private conversations and music listening.Accessibility and market impactThe smart glasses market has traditionally targeted early adopters with premium pricing. MagicPalm's announced Amazon launch price of US$150-US$200 suggests a strategic focus on mainstream adoption. This pricing, combined with their compatibility-first approach, could open up the smart glasses market to a broader audience who might have been hesitant about investing in more expensive, tech-heavy options.Looking forwardWhile Greenwald observes that "we're closer than ever to a world where I can have a mini-map and quest objectives in the corner of my vision," there's perhaps an equally important trend emerging: smart glasses that prioritize everyday practicality over futuristic features.MagicPalm appears to have created something special here – smart glasses that finally feel like they're designed for the way we actually live, not just how we imagine the future. This focus on present-day usability over futuristic promises could well be the catalyst that brings smart eyewear into mainstream adoption.As the market matures, we'll be watching several key trends:•The growing demand for lifestyle-focused wearables•Consumer preference for simplicity versus feature-rich devices•Price accessibility and market adoption rates•Integration with existing eyewear ecosystems

The accelerating global digital transformation has positioned storage devices as no longer merely tools for data storage but as critical cornerstones for facilitating information security, promoting computational efficiency, and shoring up business innovation. In response to the industry trends, BIWIN has unveiled a brand-new generation of storage solution - Mini SSD, a revolutionizing version that breaks through the volume limitations of traditional SSD. The breakout product is a masterpiece that combines all aspects of powerful performance, compact size, and high reliability, redefining new benchmarks for storage peripherals, breaking the boundaries between storage and application, and immersing users with efficient and secure data management experiences anytime, anywhere.Redefining Storage Form Factor: Balance Between Small Size and High PerformanceThe Mini SSD crystallizes BIWIN's years of technological accumulation in storage solutions and packaging and testing fields. The application of LGA (Land Grid Array) packaging technology contributes to high integration of controller and NAND flash modules, resulting in the integral dimensions of just 15mm×17mm×1.4mm which is almost equivalent to a microSD card or just half the size of a coin, yet realizing a leapfrog in performance and capacity enhancement. Its design meets both the needs of terminal devices for slim portability and provides greater design flexibility for device manufacturers.Redefining Storage Form Factor: Balance Between Small Size and High PerformancePowered by complementary slot design to enable a flexible plug-and-play experience, this innovation allows for extensive compatibility with abundant devices including laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, NAS, smart photo albums, and portable SSDs, effortlessly fitting massive data into your "pocket". Furthermore, the removability functionality featured by Mini SSD simplifies data transfer processes, breaks data boundaries, and enhances data sharing convenience between devices, meeting storage needs in different scenarios and becoming a capable assistant for smart living.Size Down, Performance Up Driving a Comprehensive Upgrade of Smart ExperienceMini SSD achieves excellent performance in its compact body. The product supports PCIe 4.0×2 interfaces and NVMe 1.4 protocol, and by adopting 3D TLC NAND, it achieves read speeds up to 3700MB/s and write speeds up to 3400MB/s, along with a wide range of capacity options covering 512GB~2TB, fulfilling high-efficient storage needs across various scenarios including mobile devices and edge intelligent terminals.Size Down, Performance Up Driving a Comprehensive Upgrade of Smart ExperienceWith extraordinary efficiency performance as swift as a strong gale, the Mini SSD effortlessly handles high-load scenarios, including rapid loading of large AAA games, 4K video editing, image rendering, real-time interactions, and multitasking demands. Whether for gaming enthusiasts or content creators, the Mini SSD delivers an unprecedented smooth and efficient user experience.With extraordinary efficiency performance as swift as a strong gale, the Mini SSD effortlessly handles high-load scenariosThe substantial capacity of the Mini SSD equips customers to handle multi-functional media centers and small data centers on home/enterprise NAS, and smart photo albums, providing excellent storage and performance guarantees for home audio-visual entertainment, photo album sharing management, cloud collaborative working, and remote file access applications, all of which help to ensure perfect preservation of precious moments from business exhibitions, artistic creation, and family life, making life more convenient and memories more vivid.Collaborative Hardware and Firmware: Dual Protection of Security and ReliabilityIn addition to demonstrating excellence in performance, Mini SSD from BIWIN qualifies for data security and device stability through hardware and software collaborative design. The products are equipped with top-notch integrated packaging technologies which are replete with capabilities of vibration resistance and shock resistance, as well as IP68 rating dust and water resistance. Designed to withstand outdoor drops and impacts, it's able to endure falls from a height of up to 3 meters without damage, meeting high-standard data protection in a wide range of complex and variable environments. The particular LGA packaging form creates reliable electrical and mechanical connections through direct pad-to-pin connections, engineered to power well-established vibration and shock resistance and then secure stable operation under harsh circumstances.Collaborative Hardware and Firmware: Dual Protection of Security and ReliabilityIn terms of firmware algorithm, this Mini SSD boasts technical features like dynamic SLC cache, dynamic wear leveling, Trim, GC (Garbage Collection), and advanced thermal management, ensuring continuously durable writing and secure reliable storage of data and thereby protecting data integrity and consistency.The launch of the Mini SSD, which marks an important step in BIWIN's integrated R&D and packaging and testing business model, not only crystallizes its profound insights into storage technology but also injects fresh vitality into the industry with its exceptional performance and innovative design.BIWIN has a clear sense that not only is the success of a product determined by the technology itself but also backed by collaborative cooperation with upstream and downstream partners in the industry chain. Looking ahead, BIWIN will continue to bear in mind the concepts of openness and mutual benefits to forge partnerships with terminal manufacturers and industry collaborators with the goal of promoting the marketization of Mini SSD, accelerating ecosystem development, and achieving dual empowerment of technology and business value. Taking Mini SSD as a springboard, BIWIN is readily steeling itself to explore the new frontiers in storage technologies, funding development efforts into technical research and development and diversifying the product matrix, thereby sparking valuable growth for users and partners and jointly creating unlimited possibilities for the future of storage.For More About BIWIN: https://en.biwin.com.cn/