Tracking devices play a critical role in the Internet of Things (IoT) by enabling real-time monitoring and data collection across various industries. As IoT applications expand, the demand for energy-efficient solutions becomes increasingly important. This article explores the rise of battery-efficient tracking devices and their transformative impact on IoT ecosystems

Amidst the reality of global oil prices continuously skyrocketing due to war, the global market is facing the formidable challenges posed by the turbulence impacting the global economy in 2026. Major Taiwanese electronics manufacturers and supply chains are pivoting to review comprehensive AI strategies. They are adopting a particularly aggressive stance in their strategic deployment of cloud server systems and AI infrastructure, aiming to achieve an operational breakthrough where the market outlook remains far from optimistic

Technology news, product launches and show highlights from the event attendees available for download (PDF).

NewPower Worldwide, a leading independent distributor of electronic components and supply chain management solutions, today announced an expansion of its committed credit facility to $500 million, strengthening the company's ability to respond quickly to evolving market dynamics and meet customers' ever changing needs.The expanded facility underscores strong lender confidence in NewPower Worldwide's operational excellence, financial discipline, and ability to move decisively in rapidly shifting global markets."This expanded credit facility gives us the financial flexibility to execute deals of any scale at the pace our customers require," said Carleton Dufoe, Chief Executive Officer of NewPower Worldwide. "Our customers need partners who can move fast, adapt to change, and deliver consistent results. This additional capacity ensures we can meet those demands every time.""Our continued partnership with NewPower reflects our confidence in their ability to support customers through dynamic market conditions," said Jason Upham, Senior Vice President at Citizens. "Our team led a new credit facility that will give NewPower the agility and resources needed to deliver solutions that align with their customer's supply goals and timing."This increased capacity provides NewPower Worldwide the financial strength and flexibility to execute deals of any size with speed and consistency. It enables the company to align seamlessly with its customers' pace, delivering tailored supply solutions that help them maintain stability, adapt quickly to market changes, and move forward with confidence.

Intelligent Asia Thailand 2026, Southeast Asia's leading B2B platform for PCB manufacturing and industrial automation, will take place from 11 to 13 March 2026 at Event Hall 98, BITEC, Bangkok. The exhibition brings together global technology providers and regional manufacturers seeking to enhance efficiency, precision, and production flexibility, offering a unique gateway to the region's rapidly evolving electronics and smart manufacturing market.Thailand's electronics and smart manufacturing sector is expanding rapidly. In 2025, foreign direct investment in the country reached 324 billion THB (approximately USD 10.5 billion), a 42% increase compared with the previous year. While the semiconductor industry remains at an early stage, the country already demonstrates strong potential due to advanced infrastructure, skilled talent, a business-friendly environment, and integrated downstream supply chains. These conditions make Intelligent Asia Thailand 2026 a timely platform for connecting with key stakeholders and exploring growth opportunities.According to the Board of Investment (BOI), between 2018 and November 2025, investment promotion applications in the electronics and electrical sector totaled 1.17 trillion THB(USD 37 billion) across 1,748 projects. This accounted for 19% of total promoted investments, making electronics the sector with the highest investment volume. Growth was driven primarily by printed circuit boards, semiconductor packaging and testing, hard disk drives and components, as well as electronic parts for automotive, medical, telecom, and smart electronics manufacturing - further underscoring the importance of this industry in Southeast Asia's economic development.Positioned at the intersection of electronics manufacturing and smart automation, Intelligent Asia Thailand 2026 features strong participation from Taiwan's semiconductor and PCB supply chain leaders expanding into Southeast Asia. Visitors can discover cutting-edge technologies, forge regional partnerships, and seize emerging business opportunities across Thailand and neighboring countries. Covering 10,000 sqm with over 310 exhibitors, the event is organized by Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co., Ltd., Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, Taiwan Branch, and GMTX Company Limited.Dual Focus: PCB Thailand and Automation ThailandThe exhibition is structured around two core pillars - PCB Thailand and Automation Thailand - providing a comprehensive platform where electronics manufacturing and smart automation converge. Exhibitors showcase end-to-end solutions spanning advanced PCB materials, precision processing, surface treatment, inspection systems, robotics, motion control, factory automation, and digital management. These technologies enable manufacturers to optimize production efficiency, enhance quality control, and respond flexibly to evolving market demands. FeaturedExhibitors and Technologies:PCB & Advanced Electronics Manufacturing Atotech(Thailand) – Surface treatment, plating, and finishing solutions for electronics and industrial applications.Hunson – Industrial cameras, AOI inspection systems, sensors, and machine vision solutions. Jiangsu Ysphotech – High-performance integrated circuit equipment and solutions. Nano Electronics & Micro System Technologies – Plasma etching, drilling, and cleaning machines for HDI/ABF PCBs.PATA Chemicals & Machinery – Tailored chemicals and process support for plating and surface treatment. Qnity – Advanced connectivity materials for flexible, rigid-flex, and rigid PCBs. SCREEN GP Thailand – PCB production systems: imaging, miniaturization, energy-efficient solutions. Schlötter Asia – Specialty electroplating chemicals and surface finishing solutions.Automation, Robotics & Industrial ControlAuer Signal – Smart signaling devices for industrial automation, real-time status visualization, predictive maintenance. DEEP Robotics – Quadruped robots for inspection, rescue, and industrial applications. FINERN – Automation and intelligent measurement systems for automotive, electronics, and healthcare. MRDVS Technology – AI-powered 3D robot cameras and navigation modules for AMRs and AGVs. Smart Motion Control – Motion control products: servo motors, drivers, amplifiers, PC-based controllers. TJ Solutions – Automation and QC measurement solutions with application-based consulting. Weldex – High-efficiency welding and cutting solutions with German/US technology support. Wieland Electric Singapore Pte. Ltd. – Scalable industrial safety solutions: sensors, relays, safety controllers.Manufacturing Infrastructure & Supporting TechnologiesEVERBIZ Industrial – Customized wiring solutions for automotive, electronics, and industrial applications. Long Long Clean Room Technology – Dust-free and sterile cleanrooms for semiconductor, medical, and precision industries. Molding Innovation Technology （Minnotec） – Smart mold and plastic injection solutions for Southeast Asia. Taiwan Grace – High-efficiency industrial filter cartridges, media, and housings. Thai Murata – Ceramic passive components, wireless modules, and power conversion technologies. Factory Max – 3D scanning, motor spindles, and advanced manufacturing solutions. Software & Digital Manufacturing SolutionsData Systems – Digiwin ERP and sMES for manufacturing management, IoT integration, and production optimization. Xian Jin Trading – CAD/CAM/CAE software solutions for design, engineering, and manufacturing.Technical Forums and Industry SeminarsIn parallel with the exhibition, a three-day seminar and management forum program offers actionable insights and practical guidance for manufacturing transformation:Day 1(11 March 2026): Opening Ceremony and Management Forum on Thailand's manufacturing strategy in Southeast Asia, with sessions on AI-driven quality improvement and smart factory maintenance systems.Day 2 (12 March 2026): AIoT and EDGE technologies in modern manufacturing, smart factory integration, and next-generation PCB processes.Day 3(13 March 2026): Dedicated PCB Seminar, KAIZEN-based manufacturing excellence, and strategies for high-value electronic component production.These sessions are designed for engineers, plant managers, system integrators, and business decision-makers seeking practical strategies to optimize production efficiency, quality control, and smart manufacturing capabilities. Coupled with the country's growing electronics investment, participants can gain insights aligned with Southeast Asia's dynamic industry trends.Why Attend Intelligent Asia Thailand 2026Gain first-hand access to the latest PCB and automation technologies, connect directly with industry-leading suppliers, and acquire actionable knowledge to enhance efficiency, quality, and production flexibility. Don't miss the opportunity to explore business potential in Thailand's expanding electronics sector. Register now for free visitor access: website.Credit: Intelligent Asia ThailandCredit: Intelligent Asia ThailandCredit: Intelligent Asia Thailand

Today, an increasing number of scientific papers, media repoerts, and television health programs - highlighting the increasing incidence of heart attacks and strokes. What is often overlooked is that a large portion of these cases are linked to atrial fibrillation (AF). In fact, AF is associated with more than 80% of strokes and heart attacks, and it significantly increases both the risk of having a stroke and the risk of dying from it.Even more alarming is the fact that most people with AF are unaware they have it. Current statistics indicate that only around 30% of individuals with AF know about  their condition, meaning millions of people worldwide are living with an undiagnosed, potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.That is the reality that EDABK from Vietnam set out to change. Rather than relying on bulky ECG monitors or expensive medical devices, the team developed a low-power edge AI chip that could be embedded into the smartwatches and other wearables devices already used in daily life.  Their innovation, which won a Silver Medal at Taiwan's 2025 Best AI Awards, is a signal of where healthcare is headed: real-time, always-on, and hyper-personalized. "We chose to focus on atrial fibrillation detection because we saw a real, unmet need - one that current solutions haven't adequately addressed," said Nguyen Duc Minh, representative of Team EDABK. "We wanted to make AF monitoring accessible, low-cost, and capable of running entirely on a chip, without relying on the cloud."AF is typically detected through electrocardiograms (ECGs), which requires hospital visits and professional equipment. EDABK's idea was to use photoplethysmography (PPG) - the same light-based technology found in off-the-shelf wearables. While PPG data is noisier than ECG, the team developed a processing pipeline that enables reliable AF detection.They began with preprocessing and quantization of the raw PPG signal, followed by a novel Pi-K Plot technique to extract irregularities in heart rhythm. These signal is transformed into spikes and fed into a Spiking Neural Network (SNN) - a brain-inspired AI architecture optimized for low power consumption and low latency.SNNs represent a fundamental shift in how AI operates. Instead of running continuous computations, they activate only "spike" when meaningful data appears, mimicking the behavipr of biological neurons.  This event-driven architecture allows AI to run in real-time on small chips, using a fraction of the energy required by traditional neural networks. "Our model reduces RAM usage by more than 80%, while still detecting early warning signs of AF in real time," Minh explained. "It's built for wearables - devices with tight constraints on battery life, processing power, and form factor."The improvement is enormous, with no reliance on cloud services, users receive faster feedback, enhance privacy, and a more seamless user experience. And because the chip behaves like standard memory, it can also be easily integrate into commercial hardware.While still based at a university, EDABK is actively working with local partners to collect clinical data and validate the model beyond the laboratory. The team is already planning a smart ring prototype, complete with PPG sensors and wireless connectivity to deliver alerts directly to a smartphone.Beyond AF, the system's architecture is modular and generalizable. The SNN core and its toolchain can be retrained to detect other heart rhythm disorders or physiological abnormalities - simply by introducing new datasets and adjusting design goals."Our roadmap includes expanding detection to multiple arrhythmias, not just AF," Minh said. "The goal is to build a scalable platform that enables proactive health monitoring in daily life."For Team EDABK, the Best AI Awards did more than validate their work - it opened a new chapter. "We were amazed by how advanced Taiwan is - not just in chip design, but in edge AI innovation at the silicon level," Minh noted. "Some of our members are now considering graduate studies in Taiwan to take our work even further."This experience has also sparked early discussions around potential commercialization in Taiwan, where the supply chain for AI chips and medical wearables is already world-class.As wearable adoption continues to accelerate globally - forecasted to exceed 1.2 billion devices in use by 2028 - solutions like EDAB's EADK's point to a future where AI does not simply reside in the cloud, but operated quietly in the background of everyday life, watching for the warning signs users may not feel."We're not just building a device," Minh said. "We're building a safety net - one that helps users become aware of silent health threats before they become emergencies." In a world where heart disease remains the leading cause of death, that safety net cannot arrive soon enough.EDABK won the Silver Medal in the International Group IC Design Category at the 2025 Best AI Awards. Now it's your chance to shine - bring your innovation to the world and apply for the 2026 Best AI Awards! With global tracks open for both AI Applications and IC Design, students and companies worldwide can compete for the grand prize of up to USD 30,000 (NTD1,000,000). The deadline is March 16, 5pm (GMT+8), follow offcial Linkedin for the latest updates.