TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS
compounds (VSCs) and other gas types
such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in the parts
bacteria in the food. Similarly, bad breath or body
WWW.MADEIN.IE « MARCH 2021 « 13
Digital nose for air quality
»
Bosch Sensortec has announced the BME688, the
first air quality MEMS sensor that combines gas,
humidity, temperature and barometric pressure
sensing with innovative artificial intelligence (AI)
capability; essentially creating the world’s smallest
four-in-one air quality measurement solution. This
single device enables customers to reduce their total
cost of ownership, cut their development time and
simplify design.
The new BME688 is ideal for the latest,
customized applications, such as food spoilage
detection and timely forest fire detection by
detecting the gases present, and tracking
temperature and humidity changes. The sensor’s AI
features and Bosch Sensortec’s new BME AI-Studio
software tool make it straightforward for customers
to rapidly develop custom solutions for their specific
use cases. To further cut time to market, Bosch
Sensortec also provides an Adafruit-compatible
development kit.
Built on Bosch Sensortec’s proven BME680
platform, the BME688 features an updated gas
sensor enabling an extended measurement range
and sophisticated AI features. The gas sensor now
detects the presence of many gases, including
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), volatile sulfur
per billion (ppb) range.
“The BME688 combines reliable high-precision
sensors with wide-ranging gas detection and
innovative AI capabilities in a single package,” says
Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO at Bosch Sensortec. “This
enables our customers to rapidly develop the next
generation of applications designed to improve wellbeing,
lifestyle and sustainability.”
For example, a customer may want to develop a
sensor-based product that can detect spoiled food,
which would be indicated by the VSCs produced by
odour could be detected based on the VSCs they
produce.
The optimal approach is to collect indicative
real-life data directly in the field. For instance
by sampling gases in the vicinity of both fresh
and decaying food, to thereby create different
combination models for the VSCs present in the
given air sample. The BME688 is capable, by default,
of very accurate detection of VSCs, and the BME
AI-Studio enables it to be optimised for other gas
mixtures and applications.
Flexible e-chain assembly
»
For safe cable guidance in unsupported and long
travels, igus has developed the E4Q energy chain.
The bionically inspired design saves weight, while
crossbars with locking tabs reduces the assembly
time of the e-chain by 40%. To facilitate assembly
further, igus has launched a new interior separation
system for the E4Q. Universal separators are placed
on the chain crossbars, shelves can be inserted from
the left or right, along either the inner or outer
radius. A mechanism in the separators automatically
locks the chain when closing.
The separator and shelving system in the E4Q
energy chain needed to be simple and easy to
assemble. The result is an integrated energy supply
system for unsupported and long travels that uses
less material and is 10% lighter than the previous
E4.1 series energy chain, achieved through an
organic, bionically inspired design. In addition, it
is more robust and tougher than its predecessor.
Uniquely, the chain can be opened and closed
without tools with the help of a special crossbar
feature, saving the assembly time by 40%, a popular
feature among users as well as the jury of the
German Design Award 2021, where the E4Q won a
prize for its pioneering design.
To populate the E4Q with cables even faster,
igus has now developed a new flexible interior
separation system in co-operation with its
customers. The system consists of universal
separators and lockable shelves, which keep cables
separated on different layers. The cable-protecting
separators have fixtures for inserting the shelves.
To assemble the interior separation system, the
separators are placed on the crossbars, then the
shelves can be pushed into the required level from
both sides.
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