Embedded Executive Podcast

No matter what your end device is, be it a light bulb or a driver’s license, it needs to be secure. I don’t think we need to go through the reasons why it needs to be secure. How you do that is becoming increasingly more difficult. And you may be looking at protecting millions of devices, where each one needs its own unique identity. To get a handle on how you would do this, at least where you would begin this daunting task, I spoke to two experts: Patrick Carrier, a Manager for Secure Solutions at Infineon, and Xin Qiu, the Head of Security Solutions at CommScope. On this week’s Embedded Executives podcast, they lay out the need and then the process a developer would follow.

AI is a technology that generally requires a significant amount of power and high compute performance. Hence, it’s typically relegated to the Cloud or to an Edge-based computer.Performing AI at the endpoint has not been feasible for those reasons. With ambiq’s Sub-threshold Power Optimized technology (SPOT), performing AI at the endpoint is a reality. And the doors/applications that it opens are extremely cool. Hear more about it in this week’s Embedded Executives podcast, where I spoke to Ambiq’s Vice President of AI, Carlos Morales. Note that Ambiq just recently released the latest version of neuralSPOT, which now includes key performance enhancements specific to the company’s Apollo5 family, amongst other features, some of which are specific to AI development.

We’ve done podcasts in the past that discussed automating your code documentation. But we haven’t touched much on automating the code generation itself until now. On this week’s Embedded Executives podcast, I spoke to Jonathan Hacker, the Founder and CTO of TeleCANesis, and that’s exactly what they do. We got into the issues of why automated coding is better than manual coding. Then we had a very interesting discussion about why you shouldn’t consider AI for code generation, at least not yet.

Designing a device that incorporates AI can be daunting, for a good reason—it’s very complex. When you push that design out to the Edge, it brings in even more challenges, both on the hardware and software sides of the equation. To understand what these challenges are and where a designer can turn for help, I spoke to Amir Panush, the CEO of CEVA, on this week’s Embedded Executives podcast. He addresses these issues on a regular basis and has a good understanding of what a designer needs to know.

Sharon Hagi, the Chief Security Officer at Silicon Labs, dives into the intricacies of embedded system security. The discussion reveals that achieving PSA Level 4 certification signifies top-tier security but may not be necessary for every design. Hagi explains the dynamics of cyber threats, addressing misconceptions about smaller companies. He also talks about the complexities of security measures and the need for adaptive strategies. Furthermore, he highlights an advanced System on Chip's capabilities, emphasizing the importance of integrating security into future designs.

We’re in the era of quantum computing. That brings with it a lot of great things. But at the same time, it brings some not so good things. Once again, we’re in a race to stay ahead of the bad guys to keep our systems secure. Folks like the experts at Infineon are doing what they can to do just that. And the best part is that they are trying to insulate their customers from having to deal with all the different measures that must be put in place. Hear from Eric Wood, Infineon’s Senior Director of Microcontroller Cryptography and Product Security, to see if this sounds like a fit for your design. Check out this week’s Embedded Executives podcast to learn more.

Sean Park, the President, CEO, and Founder of Point2 Technology, discusses the urgent need for efficient interconnect solutions in rapidly expanding AI data centers. He highlights the transition from traditional copper to advanced optical systems to meet soaring power demands. Sean explains the distinctions between active and passive interconnects, introducing the innovative E-tube solution for simplified energy-efficient transmission. The conversation also delves into strategic partnerships and the economic advantages of these technologies, paving the way for a greener future in computing.

For as long as we’ve been designing embedded computers and consumer electronics, we’ve had a problem figuring out how to handle the heat that’s created. Known as thermal management, the problem seems omnipresent as systems become more compact, processors run faster, and so on. Unfortunately, many designers don’t think about thermal management until it’s too late in the design process, which further exacerbates the problem. So what’s a developer to do? That’s what I asked Carl Schlachte, the President and CEO of Ventiva, who specializes in this technology, in this week’s Embedded Executives podcast.

While it may not be as intimidating as it once was, antenna design can still be a make-or-break aspect of your end product. Make the antenna too big, and the end users balk. Make the antenna too small, and the device won’t function properly (and end users will balk). To understand where and how the antenna design should begin, I spoke with Dermot O'Shea, the CEO of Taoglas, an expert in antenna design and certification, on this week’s Embedded Executives podcast.

TSMC recently announced its exit from the GaN space. Well, maybe “announced” is the wrong word, but they did let customers know that they will not be producing GaN devices going forward. Details are still coming out, so we don’t know exactly when that stoppage will occur. So what does that mean for TSMC partners who relied on them to produce their products? To understand what that means, I spoke to Johannes Schoiswohl, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Infineon’s GaN Business Line. Infineon may have an easier time than others making this transition, but it’s an interesting time nonetheless. Check out this week’s Embedded Executives podcast to learn more.