Tau Research, the sensors business of Australian company Science Logic Pty Ltd., presented at Sensors Expo new technology that can allow sensor circuits to approach the theoretical limits of linearity performance. Science Logic CEO Carl Renneberg says sensor linearization is a hot area of research for his company, and one capable of delivering significant commercial benefit. The same technology can be used to optimize temperature compensation circuits, too: "We see this as a platform technology, with broad application in sensor systems," he explains. www.science-logic.net
From booth # 603 Tendril announced its deepened partnership with Ember Corp. Tendril, whose vision is to allow interaction with the physical world in areas where computing has previously been cost-prohibitive, offers the first distributed-system software that integrates different types of low-power sensors and actuators with enterprise and PC/PDA-based systems. The approach promises dramatic results, enabling OEMs to integrate wireless into their products in less than a week and allowing system integrators to deploy in just hours.
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Tendril and Ember will integrate Ember's ZigBee-compliant networking platform with other environments, including IP and building-automation networks, and PC/PDA-based applications. Tendril software will also be included in Ember packages such as the recently announced EM250 JumpStart and Development kits. www.tendrilinc.com www.ember.com
In a related announcement, Arch Rock Corp. says it has integrated the ZigBee stack with its open, hardware-independent software and systems suite to allow unprecedented flexibility and choice for product development. The company demonstrated ZigBee, integrated for the first time as a networking option over the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, with a TinyOS 2.0-based embedded operating system. Running on Ember's new EM260 chip, the integration creates a set of Arch Rock–enabled platform choices. "The significance of the integration of ZigBee and TinyOS 2.0 is profound for the wireless sensor industry and is in the true spirit of open systems," says Arch Rock president and CEO Roland Acra, who promises ease of deployment, operation, and enterprise integration as a result. www.archrock.com
Meanwhile, Helicomm demonstrated its integrated platform for wireless monitoring and location tracking. The system targets public safety, logistics, asset management, and healthcare applications. It consists of wireless mesh access points, low-power mobile tags, and an application management interface designed for quick integration and deployment. Thirty access points can cover a maximum 4 million sq ft area. The management-tool API promises seamless integration with third-party graphic and database tools. www.helicomm.com