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Technology

The advantages of USB-C

USB C connector of PM67

First released to the public in 2014, the new USB-C standard brought a new connector design, faster data rates, while providing a lot more power for charging. The idea is to only need one type of cable for one type of port, through which all devices can be connected. It took a few years until we saw USB-C in consumer devices, and traditionally, the rugged device industry adapted the connector a bit later. Since 2018, all new Point Mobile devices have USB-C.

USB-C port on a PM67 mobile computer
USB-C allows much faster data rates, a reversible design, and a higher power output

What benefits does USB-C offer?

The tiny connector features a reversible design, which means, you don’t need to flip the connector three times anymore before you finally got the right orientation. The new ports have a more refined structure and are safer to use overall. For manufacturers of portable computers and smartphones, the smaller connector is a big deal, since less required space allows for better product design.

Many USB-C ports offer USB 3.1, which can theoretically transfer data at speeds of up to 10Gbps – twice as fast as USB 3.0 in comparison. When equipped with Intel’s Thunderbolt 3 technology, data speeds are four times faster than USB 3.1. Thanks to Alternate Mode or Alt Mode, the same USB-C port can be used to push video to HDMI, VGA, and other common types of video ports on external devices. As for rugged devices, those data rates are usually not required in daily work life, resulting in device manufacturers mostly using USB 2.0 or 3.0 standard. Those connections are already pretty speedy for handling all kinds of tasks.

There is more: USB PD (Power Delivery) for charging through USB-C. Currently, a USB 2.0 connection is capable of delivering up to 2.5 watts, which lets you charge smaller devices like a phone. The USB PD specification delivers up to 100 watts, so charging a laptop is absolutely no problem. The most notable feature here is that data can be transmitted even while power is being supplied – through the same connection!

And the drawbacks?

We have talked about the benefits of USB-C, but everything has downsides, right? Well, there is only one catch: Although USB-C sounds like it is the main standard for all kinds of devices today, it actually only describes the style of the connector. There are several internal specifications that define the speed of a port, which can be tricky and confusing at first.

USB4 is next

In an effort to reduce end-user confusion about all the standards, USB4 was developed by the USB Promoter Group and first released in August 2019. It is also based on Thunderbolt 3 protocol, and provides a higher bandwidth, but retains backward compatibility with existing USB and Thunderbolt products. One major change is that USB4 requires USB-C connectors, other than older standards, which means only USB-C to USB-C cables work. All USB4 devices must support 20Gbps, or optionally up to 40Gbps when using a shorter cable.

The advantages of USB-C are obvious and it is clear why manufacturers today mostly build rely on it. The idea of implementing a unified standard was long overdue, and the potential this standard brings with it is massive.

Visit the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) ? 

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Industries News Technology

Automated storage and retrieval system for small urban warehouses

AutoStore overview
How AutoStore save the valuable space for your warehouse

All around the world, the pandemic has made people more likely to buy things online, and the demand for fast and free shipping is only getting bigger. In the process of providing a consistently fast delivery service to the increasing volume of customers, a major change is happening.

New fulfillment centers are being built closer to the major city centers for easy access to the final destination. Due to the high land price, naturally, they are in a much smaller size than conventional ones, which poses challenges to businesses who need to store thousands of different kinds of products in a limited space. This new type of tiny warehouse in urban areas is called a micro-fulfillment center.

Amazon is planning the construction of around 1,000 new micro-fulfillment centers in cities and suburbs all across America, and Korean e-commerce giant Coupang went public with similar future plans. Also eager to catch up with this trend is SoftBank Group, which invested $2.8 trillion USD in AutoStore taking up 40 percent of its share last April.

AutoStore is a robot manufacturer that also provides a total solution for Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS). Its robots are built to maximize the small space of the micro-fulfillment center.

AutoStore differs itself from other automated warehouse system providers as it designs robots and systems to prevent extra space from being wasted: No room for air, just for products. Thanks to its extremely efficient use of space, small warehouses, once thought is impossible to be fully automated, are now being filled with robots. On average, AutoStore saves 20 to 50 percent of land-use costs by increasing the maximum storage capacity up to 3 to 4 times, resulting in an astronomical cost saving when you combine the real estate market of major cities and the sheer number of micro-fulfillment centers.

¼ footprint for same capacity compared to conventional storage system.

AutoStore also uses an algorithm that optimizes the box placement – the automated system will put products that come and go more often on top, and others below. This “queuing” algorithm aligns products in the most time- and space-efficient order.

Description: Modular design makes it fit into various layouts

The modular design makes it easy to expand in any size. When necessary, the business can easily add new space and integrate it into the existing system, making it possible to increase capacity without re-designing the whole system. Plus, newly added space does not have to follow the cube shape as each module can be ever so small.

Robots designed by AutoStore are now working in around 300 businesses across 35 different countries, including Walmart, Pfizer, Intel, Siemens, IKEA, etc.

E-commerce businesses are going through bloody competition and constantly innovating themselves. Same day and even three-hour delivery which seemed impossible once are now making our life comfortable, and I think it is worth noting the behind-the-scene innovation of the logistics industry.

Sources:
Parcel Industry: The Competitive Advantage of Omnichannel Strategies
Bloomberg – Amazon plans to put 1,000 warehouses-in-neighborhoods
CNBC – SoftBank invests $2.8 billion in Norwegian robotics firm AutoStore
Business Insider – Watch Masayoshi Son get in the groove as Softbank’s ‘golden goose eggs’ followed his famous unicorn slide
AutoStore website – brochure

Categories
Industries Technology

How warehouses use UHF technology to improve work efficiency

Typical UHF reader for the warehouse: Gun handle or pistol grip style (PM85 + RF851)

Work efficiency is getting more important for businesses, as consumers demand faster availability and live and accurate stock information. Warehouses need to adapt to these changes by utilizing technologies that help them to keep track of items. This is where RFID comes in: A lot of companies already use RFID readers as a substitute for or an addition to barcode readers which boosts productivity and accuracy tremendously.

What is RFID?

Available in various shapes and sizes: RFID tags

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is a technology that can read so-called RFID tags through radio waves. Inside of such a tag is a microchip that reacts to a specific wave, or MHz (Megahertz). RFID tags are available in lots of versions: They can be active or passive, they can be really tiny for the anti-theft system of your car, or they can be used as a sticker or integrated into a card, to name just a few examples.

There are various sub-categories of RFID, such as LF (Low Frequency, less than 134.2MHz) or HF (High Frequency, 13.56MHz). You’ve likely came across HF in daily use already, since it is widely used in modern smartphones for payments using the NFC standard (Near Field Communication). NFC enables communication between compatible devices and, as the name suggests, only works for short distances.

As for warehouses and distribution centers however, UHF (Ultra High Frequency) is the most commonly used RFID technology. UHF uses a frequency of 800-900MHz (and even higher) and is able to track and identify goods from a distance of up to 9 meter (30 ft) if the conditions are right.

What’s the difference between UHF and barcode scanner?

Barcode scanner technology has dramatically improved work efficiency, but there’s a problem: Scanners need the line of sight to operate, meaning the scanner needs to literally see the barcode in order to capture it. If the barcode is hidden in a box, unreachable or heavily damaged, there is no way to read it. It is also only possible to read only a single barcode at a time. By using UHF, these problems will be eliminated as data can be captured even when it is hidden. And since UHF is capable of reading multiple data at once, it is the optimal technology for warehouses where lots of boxes are stacked and piled up. Unlike barcode scanners, RFID tags don’t have to be placed in a specific place to obtain information, as long as it inside the box or attached to the product. Imagine you have to regularly perform inventory tracking, and you’ll see immediately why UHF is a much faster and safer way to know exactly what is going on in your floors. Of course, this technology does not only have advantages: Certain materials or liquids can influence the signal, more complicated implementation and lastly, RFID readers are usually more expensive than their barcode pendants.

Capturing data from an RFID tag

In a typical (connected) warehouse, large scale RFID gates are installed where boxes arrive or leave. This way, all incoming and outgoing shipments can be tracked and monitored at all times. This works similar to how shopping malls or stores prevent stealing by installing those RFID readers at the entrance. If a tagged product surpasses the gate, the system detects goods being stolen and an alarm will go off.

Passing this gate with a tagged product will immediately identify you as a thief

Back to the warehouse. The systems for tracking goods are a lot more complex and require the right software solution and the right hardware. The hardware (for example the RFID gate, or a handheld pistol grip style RFID reader such as the RF300 or RF851) ensures that the tag data is captured properly in all conditions, while the software processes the data to the backend and forwards it to the staff to inform them about model, quantity, and supplier details. The data is either being sent by the Wifi installed in the warehouse, or by cellular connection, for example in outdoor areas or areas with low Wifi signal strength. Automating warehouse processes for both incoming and outgoing shipments reduces processing time, and also significantly lowers the error rate.

Point Mobile’s RFID reader are using UHF, which is a form of RFID. UHF has an higher read range compared to other forms (LF,HF), it means it is specialized for warehouse environment. RF300 can read up to 6m, RF851 can read up to 8m.

Will RFID replace barcode scanners?

Improving work efficiency is very important and this technology can certainly help to do so. But as great as it sounds, RFID is not perfect. While it can scan data from multiple items at once, and it is more durable, it’s also much more expensive than barcode technology. As the industry keeps developing and warehouses get more and more automated, we expect a steady trend towards companies adapting UHF technology, but as barcodes may not be as efficient, they are a solid solution and implementation is a lot simpler – especially when you’re on a budget.

The answer is: Both technologies will keep co-existing. Sometimes, the better way is to use barcodes, other times it may be smart to use RFID, and then sometimes, a mix of both worlds is the way to go.

Categories
Technology

5G: Will it come to rugged devices, and when?

As the fifth generation technology for cellular networks, 5G is expected to replace 4G as as the worldwide standard. In a few years, most devices in the market will take advantage of the higher speed, lower latency and possibly reduced error rate. It looks like a bright future for us consumers – but what does it mean for professionally used devices in the enterprise environment?

Traditionally, the Auto ID industry is always a bit slower in adapting new trends and technology. When Android was already a big hit on consumer phones, enterprise devices were still running Windows Mobile operating systems, and it took another 2-3 years until the first rugged Android device saw the light of day. Up until now, there is still a surprising amount of Windows device being used, despite having no access to any kind of bugfixing or security patches. But why does it take so long much longer to use newer technology? In the enterprise field, often times apps (and even peripherals) are built for a specific type of device, running a specific type of software. Those customized apps run on hundreds or thousands of devices all over the place. When one of them fails, it will be replaced with the exact same type of device. This ensures the user needs no training for another device, software does not have to be changed, and accessory can keep being used. All in all, it is about saving money. That’s why companies rely on the same hardware platform for years until they are ready to deploy new devices. While consumer phones are typically replaced every two years, enterprises use their rugged devices for five to seven years and sometimes even longer.

5G in the auto industry world
5G is up to 100 times faster than 4G – but is it necessary for the Auto ID industry?

Great for consumers – not yet so great for professional use

We all know the incredible power of 5G: It is up to 100 times fast than 4G, offering data rates up to 10Gbp/s. There is a lower latency (only 1 millisecond compared to 4G’s 200 milliseconds), and it eventually brings better security. Downloading high quality videos will be done in minutes, streaming in 4K will be even faster. All in all, 5G will soon make our lives even more connected and comfortable.

So, 5G is mostly useful when loading huge files or using streaming services for videos or games. But looking at the enterprise sector, the typical data packages are rather small, sending mainly numbers and text in the background, and sometimes pictures for proof of delivery, for example. While 5G might open up great new opportunities in our industry, at this point there is simply no usage for that kind of transfer speed.

The biggest downside for using 5G in the Auto ID industry however is battery life: Operating a 5G chip will reduce battery life considerably, making users be more dependent on recharging devices or carrying replaceable batteries.

Point Mobile is testing prototype hardware with 5G

Even though adapting 5G for the mass market doesn’t seem to be something the Auto ID industry will do in the near future, we are testing the power and performance of 5G modules in some of our devices. The market has been slow on adapting trends in the past, but as the majority of professionally used Android devices is going through the roof, newer technologies seem to arrive in our sector faster than before. As a manufacturer for rugged mobile devices, we are preparing ourselves for the adaption of 5G, and will be ready with an updated line-up in time.