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Jun 5, 17:21
Metalenses move from lab concept to robotics opportunity
As artificial intelligence (AI) drives demand for more powerful computing systems and smarter machines, Taiwanese optics manufacturer Ability Opto-Electronics Technology is positioning itself at the intersection of two emerging technology frontiers: metalenses and optical interconnects.
Taiwan-based electronic paper leader E Ink Holdings is preparing to bring its color-changing vehicle technology to market after overcoming key regulatory and technical hurdles with BMW. The milestone marks a significant step in the company's strategy to extend e-paper beyond displays and into vehicle exteriors, consumer products, and large-scale architectural surfaces.
Data Image will exhibit rugged outdoor display solutions for AI unmanned vehicles at BenQ Qisda Group's "AI in Action" pavilion during Computex 2026, the company announced. The firm will showcase 10.1-inch and 15.6-inch models that combine high-brightness panels, zoned backlight control, and weather-resistant construction to support handheld controllers and ground control stations.
Airoha Technology, a subsidiary of MediaTek Group, said it will make its global debut of a 4.2-inch Ripple electronic shelf label ( ESL) application at the ePaper zone of Computex 2026, marking the company's expansion from Bluetooth audio into short-range wireless retail displays. The company announced the Ripple ESL was developed in collaboration with E Ink and leverages Airoha's two decades of wireless experience to target retail, logistics, and advertising use cases with improved transmission reliability and anti-interference performance.
LG Electronics has denied a Korean media report that it discussed a possible sale or restructuring of its TV business with China's Hisense, as intensifying competition from Chinese brands puts new pressure on legacy TV makers in South Korea and Japan.
E Ink Holdings held its annual shareholders' meeting on May 27, 2026, and passed all proposals. Chairman Johnson Lee said the global tech industry is rapidly entering a new stage in which energy efficiency has become the core competitive edge, and that the sector is shifting from pursuing process shrink and performance gains to optimizing energy acquisition and use. As global demands for energy saving and carbon reduction grow stricter, Lee said this trend will accelerate the adoption of e-paper in outdoor advertising and smart city applications.
Sharp President and CEO Tetsuji Kawamura said the company has eased some long-standing management pressures, but its main challenge now is to expand its brand, develop new businesses, and accelerate globalization simultaneously. He outlined the strategy in an interview with DIGITIMES.
AUO said its automotive business has entered a high-growth phase, with annual orders for in-vehicle products now exceeding current-year revenue. The company expects revenue benefits from orders secured over the past two years to begin in the second half of 2026 or 2027, supporting growth at AUO Mobility Solutions.
AUO's entry into Micro LED co-packaged optics sampling could give the display maker a new growth path as it seeks to expand beyond panels. Chairman Paul Peng said the company is preparing optical communication modules as a future driver of revenue and profits.
Innolux plans to accelerate its transformation in 2026, with chairman and CEO Jim Hung pointing to three priorities: advanced semiconductor packaging, smart cockpits, and higher-margin panel applications.
The humanoid robotics industry is looking beyond mechanical structures for its next wave of innovation, with materials emerging as a potential focus for new market opportunities. A Google-backed humanoid robot startup is exploring electronic paper as a next-generation display technology for robot skin, with Taiwan-based E Ink Holdings (EIH) entering the supply chain.
The Taiwanese semiconductor materials company Visual Photonics Epitaxy, a supplier of compound semiconductor wafers used in optical communications, said demand tied to artificial intelligence data centers was accelerating rapidly as the industry prepares for the transition from 800-gigabit to 1.6-terabit optical networks.