Automation – Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News | Manufacturing | Automation | Quality Control

Power Of Industry 4.0 Unlocked At METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024

Christellee — Fri, 17 May 2024 03:49:16 +0000

Power Of Industry 4.0 showcased at METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 in Malaysia propels the country’s manufacturing sector towards a sustainable and prosperous future.

Industry 4.0 showcased at Southeast Asia’s biggest event for the metalworking, machine tools, and automation industries opened with a prestigious ceremony graced by YBhg. Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary General (Industry) of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). YBhg. Tan Sri Dato Sri Dr Hj Mohd Nasir Bin Mohd Ashraf, Organising Chairman, Informa Markets Malaysia, YBhg. Dato Dr Tan Chin Huat, Chairman of METALTECH & AUTOMEX, and Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Country General Manager of Informa Markets Malaysia, were also present. The ceremony highlighted the significance of METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 as a platform for growth and innovation in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector.

Datuk Hanafi delivered a keynote address about Malaysia’s manufacturing sector.

“We are witnessing impressive growth, with investments surging to RM152 billion, a remarkable 80.3% increase compared to the previous year,” he declared. He continued by emphasising the importance of METALTECH & AUTOMEX, saying, “These exhibitions play a crucial role in propelling Malaysia towards becoming a regional leader in smart manufacturing, advanced technologies, and high-tech industries.”

METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 boasts an unparalleled showcase, featuring over 1,500 brands and companies from 40 countries. With 18,000 trade buyers and visitors anticipated from 49 countries, the event is poised to be a dynamic hub for forging new partnerships and exploring the future of manufacturing.

Themed “Industry 4.0 Innovations: Powering Malaysia’s Manufacturing Future,” the event places a strong emphasis on the transformative potential of Industry 4.0. Visitors can delve into dedicated pavilions from industry leaders in Germany, South Korea, mainland China, Singapore, and Taiwan region, all showcasing groundbreaking solutions in automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing.

“This year’s METALTECH & AUTOMEX goes beyond just speed,” said Mr. Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Country General Manager of Informa Markets in Malaysia. “The theme highlights how Industry 4.0 advancements can optimise processes, drive efficiency, reduce costs, and promote sustainability. Businesses can discover eco-friendly technologies that minimise environmental impact, achieving a future where efficiency and sustainability go hand-in-hand.”

The manufacturing landscape is undergoing a revolution. AI, robotics, and the IoT are fundamentally reshaping how products are designed, produced, and delivered. METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 empowers businesses to stay ahead of the curve by providing a platform to explore these trends, connect with solutions providers, and gain valuable insights from industry experts.

“METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a game-changer for Malaysian manufacturers. By showcasing the latest Industry 4.0 advancements – from automation to AI-powered solutions – the event serves as a vital launchpad for progress. These innovations hold the key to greater efficiency, enhanced sustainability, and a stronger position in the global marketplace,” emphasised Dato Dr Tan Chin Huat, Chairman of METALTECH & AUTOMEX.

In addition to the exhibition, METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 featured a comprehensive program of industry-leading seminars, offering valuable insights and knowledge-sharing opportunities for manufacturers and professionals navigating the evolving industrial landscape.

Following the opening ceremony, Guest of Honour, YBhg. Datuk Hanafi Sakri, along with Chairman Dato Dr Tan Chin Huat and Country General Manager Gerard Leeuwenburgh, embarked on a tour of the exhibition floor. This high-profile visit presents a golden opportunity for exhibitors. It allows them to directly showcase their cutting-edge technologies and solutions to key decision-makers, potentially leading to valuable partnerships and business deals.

METALTECH & AUTOMEX 2024 is a global stage for industry giants to showcase their latest cutting-edge technologies for the first time. From pioneering advancements in automation and robotics to revolutionary solutions in digital manufacturing, this event offers a glimpse into the future of the industry.

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Universal Robots Launches 30 Kg Cobot

Christellee — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 02:51:42 +0000

Universal Robots (UR) expanded its leading product portfolio with a new 30 kg payload cobot. UR30 is the second in UR’s new series of cobots.

UR30 cobot is ideal for several applications, including machine tending, handling and high torque screw driving. It offers extraordinary lift, and its superior motion control ensures the perfect placement of large payloads, allowing it to work at higher speeds and lift heavier loads.

For machine tending, the high payload brings new possibilities as it allows the cobot to use multiple grippers at the same time. This means it can remove finished parts and load more material in one single pass, shortening changeover times and maximising productivity.

UR30 will also effectively support high torque screw driving as it can handle larger and higher-output torque tools, and thanks to a steady mode feature UR30 delivers straight and consistent screw driving. This will be beneficial in, for example, the automotive industry.

The 30 kg payload makes UR30 a great match for material handling and palletising of heavy products across all industries, with the small footprint enabling it to fit into almost all workspace – relieving humans of the heavy lifting. Weighing only 63.5 kg, it can also be easily moved between work cells.

The company’s President, Kim Povlsen, says: “The higher payload and greater flexibility underpin a new era in automation. Industries around the world are embracing more agile manufacturing and modularity in production – part of achieving that modularity and agility is about mobility and this cobot delivers that despite its payload.

“As industries evolve, the UR30 anticipates shifting demands, enabling businesses to adapt and respond to changing needs effectively. As we continue to innovate, the UR30 is another step in UR’s journey in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of automation.”

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Asia’s Robotic Revolution: Emerging Trends Shaping The Industrial Landscape

Christellee — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:38:58 +0000

Nikhil Kaitwade, Chief Analyst Automotive and Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights takes APMEN through on industrial robotics market in Asia, and what can the market expect in terms of growth operating alongside humans.

Industrial robots are getting widely adopted these days as they operate at faster speeds than humans leading to increased production rates and throughput along with more accuracy and consistency. So, a significant spike is expected in the global industrial robots market, with overall market value estimates exceeding an astonishing US$220 billion by end of 2033. This significant increase might be propelled by a strong annual growth rate of 18.9% expected during the period between 2023 and 2033.

Automated robots for industries have reached a stage of programmable marvels that are capable of performing a wide range of tasks in manufacturing and other functional areas. Such industrial robots thrive in repetitive, high-volume jobs that are hard, or time-consuming by human employees or labourers.

Such self-performing robots have incredible strength, allowing them to effortlessly move and maneuver large items that guarantee high-quality results in repetitive processes. The major advantage of using industrial robots is their capacity to do dangerous activities reducing possible injury to human workers.

Gaining Momentum With Automation Wave

By the end of the previous fiscal, there were 39,000 cobot installations in total, highlighting the growing need for adaptable automation systems and a trend towards flexible, programmable machines. Cobots are a good example of how robotics are developing since they emphasise their compatibility and collaboration with human employees, and have quickly became prominent as a thriving trend with a stunning growth rate of over 50% in the last few years.

East Asia emerges as the forerunner in this dynamic terrain accounting for more than two-thirds of total sales of industrial arms and robots in the global market. We will explore the critical role that robots play in improving worker safety and operational efficiency across industries in several Asian countries and how a new market for such novel robots is developing in the region.

Read more here https://rb.gy/yragpc

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Rise Of The Machine In Shop Floor: Don’t Panic Just Yet

Christellee — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:35:37 +0000

Automation through machine is widespread in manufacturing in the metalworking world and consistently evolving with technologies such as Industry 4.0, Data Analytics and Predictive Maintenance. Nonetheless, machine shop operator should not jump into panic mode assuming the latter developments will take their place.

“Automation” is intimidating, more so when paired with “machine”. A piece by David Adkin from The Dartmouth noted firstly, the very existence of automation implies the loss of jobs. Automation is a way for companies to make jobs cheaper and more efficient through the use of technology.

Machines, big or small, are used in lieu of human labour. Companies may prefer to pay for one machine that can produce the same amount of goods to paying numerous human workers.

While this is a financially sound decision for companies, workers face unemployment. As economist and John French economics professor at Dartmouth Douglas Irwin pointed out in Foreign Affairs, automation has created a reality where many blue-collar jobs have become “obsolete”.

Chronicle Of Automation

Some sources noted our version of automation dates back to early 20^th century. That was when Henry Ford introduced assembly line for mass production. This move propelled manufacturing efficiency and productivity.

Programmable controllers entered the ring in the middle of the 20^th century, plus the development of electronic and computer technology. Combining manufacturing machinery with computer programmes did wonders for lines with repetitive and complex tasks.

Robots gained prominence subsequently in manufacturing and began performing tasks like welding, painting and assembling, notably with precision. Today, the world is buzzing with technology jargons such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and IoT (Internet of Things). Their exponential growth somehow exerted more pressure towards service, quality and efficiency.

Manufacturing players started to get acquainted with terms like “virtual reality”, “augmented reality” and even “preventative maintenance”. The common denominator among these are immediate data.

Even waiting for status report does not accommodate waiting times. Decisions need to be made within seconds to keep production running as downtime is equivalent to losses.

In a cutthroat manufacturing landscape, another business is always ready to take over your client’s account just because they have the bandwidth to produce the goods quicker and ideally at a lower rate. In other scenarios, having to wait for parts replacement just by operating in dated ways is also a deal breaker.

Read more here https://t.ly/LiYDk

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3D Printing In Construction And Its Impact On The Labour Market

Christellee — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 06:59:07 +0000

Construction is among the main industries that contribute to countries’ economic development, with a 9% GDP (gross domestic product) share and about 7~8.5% of the total global employment. Yet, using additive manufacturing (AM) in construction is slower than manufacturing.

Total worldwide spending in construction was US$11.4 trillion in 2018 and is expected to increase to US$14 trillion by 2025. Being huge economic contributors, the industry is yet plagued by low productivity, technological advances, minimum automation and robotic usage.

There is a strong link between the level of digitisation and its productivity improvement. The U.S. construction industry invested only 1.5% of value added on technology — much lower than the manufacturing industry (3.3%) and the overall average in the economy of 3.6%.

Various analyses portrayed that productivity in construction remained almost the same over the last few decades, whereas that in manufacturing nearly doubled. Recent studies depict the construction industry is gradually embedding automated systems and robotic usages, mostly in the research and development with very limited practical applications.

Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, drones, robotic arms, lesser scanning/photogrammetry, 3D printing (3DP) are the several forms of automation being researched and used in construction. Nevertheless, most of these automated technologies are particularly used for some specific projects.

Considering the unique nature of construction, these technologies are not readily applicable or repeatable to multiple construction projects unlike manufacturing productions.

Read here for more https://shorturl.at/buvJL

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EMO Hannover 2023 Scores With Innovative Solutions For Today’s Challenges

Christellee — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:15:57 +0000

A spectacular display of innovations, high levels of global visitor interest, and a great atmosphere in the halls: “After four years, the relaunch has been a huge success for EMO Hannover,” sums up EMO Commissioner General Carl Martin Welcker after six days in Hannover.

Its strengths included the internationality of the exhibitors and visitors, and the fair once again provided a perfect platform for top-class technical innovations.

“We saw everything here for the future of production: new solutions for automation, for networking within the factory and for sustainable production. When digitalisation finds its way into the factory, there is no end to the potential for new solutions and increased efficiency. This was impressively demonstrated by the exhibitors. And there was a positive mood at the event, despite the tense economic situation,” continues Welcker.

Around 1,850 exhibitors attended, with roughly 70% coming from 45 different countries, including China, Italy, Taiwan, Switzerland and Japan. Of the approximately 92,000 trade visitors, 54% came from 130 countries. Here, the five largest visitor countries were Turkey, China, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland. Around one third of the trade visitors came from Asia.

Günter Szerenczés, Member of the Executive Board of Israeli tool manufacturer Iscar, says: “EMO is once again a triumph, attracting a highly international audience from a wide range of industries. Visitors have been specifically asking about innovations.”

The visitor survey reveals that 30% of visitors gave “obtaining information about innovations and trends” as their top priority. A further goal was finding concrete solutions for their specific problems.

Dr. Jochen Kress, Managing Partner, Mapal Präzisionswerkzeuge Dr. Kress KG, Germany, says: “The main focus of the discussions we’ve been having is on customer-specific aspects. And the EMO is just the right platform for strengthening the cooperation between customers and suppliers, I think.” Dr. Matthias Klein, CSO of the Emag Group adds: “We have seen an overwhelming level of interest in the innovative solutions and machines of the Emag Group. In particular our solutions presented for machining electric vehicle powertrain components met with great interest. Overall, we are more than satisfied with the response from the market.”

Focus On Automation, Digitalisation And Sustainability

The shortage of skilled workers was a further reason why automation was a clear focus of the trade fair. Over one-third of visitors cited this as a key issue for the industry. Almost a quarter mentioned digitalisation and networking. They were able to find just what they were looking for on the many stands.

Several hundred robots were counted at EMO. A new aspect is that it is no longer necessary to have programming skills in order to use cobots (collaborative robots) for different applications such as loading and unloading, quality control, painting, washing, as well as connecting to measuring devices.

The cobots are equipped with sensors that mimic the human sense of touch. This allow them to compensate for workpiece tolerances or work around obstacles in the workspace.

In collaboration with employees, this facilitates enclosure-free operation, for example. This trend also means that robot manufacturers are currently doing good business. “Cobots are continuing to enjoy rising popularity in manufacturing, especially in smaller companies that are now struggling to find staff,” says Nils Tersteegen, Marketing Manager at Japanese vendor Fanuc.

Another focus is on connectivity. The main emphasis here is on the open exchange of data – based on OPC UA, for example. This is the basis for the Companion Specification OPC UA for Machine Tools under the umati umbrella.

Retrieving large amounts of data from digital controls without affecting the process is a key factor here. The availability of transparent process data is crucial for process monitoring and related quality management.

The Future of Sustainability in Production was high on the agenda for 68% of visitors. Foreigners accounted for three quarters of this group, meaning that they were more strongly represented than their German counterparts.

A key aspect was efficiency. Some examples: The Product Carbon Footprint indicates the level of carbon emissions during production and provides customers with detailed information on what indirect emissions the tools they use contribute to their overall carbon footprint. Another example is the structure of spindles which are designed for energy efficiency and not primarily for maximum performance. Finally, cooling lubricants can be used for longer through monitoring and filtering.

Dr. Hubert Ermer, Managing Director for Products and Markets at Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH, Germany, summarizes. “Digitalisation and automation are continuing to develop at a rapid pace. The overall aim is to ensure reliable manufacturing processes. This increases productivity while also reducing the carbon footprint. EMO has given us a platform to discuss the specific challenges of transformative manufacturing processes with our customers and to provide them with full support.”

High Number Of First-Time Visitors

More than half of the visitors to the EMO were attending for the first time, the exhibition company claimed. This dovetailed nicely with the exhibitors’ goal of attracting new customer business.

Dr. Karsten Röttger, CEO at Ecoroll AG of Germany, says: “Many visitors became aware of us for the first time. They hadn’t even considered the possibilities of mechanical surface finishing. Our tools allow them to meet the increasing product quality requirements, but above all the higher demand for sustainable products.”

Around one fifth of the exhibitors were also at the event for the first time.

Representing this group, Jörg Rommelfanger, head of ABB’s Robotics Division, Germany, says: “This year’s EMO provided the ideal platform for showcasing our latest technologies and solutions for the industry for the first time. These included a machine loading cell specially designed for the fast and automated removal of randomly arranged workpieces. There was tremendous interest, and the numerous conversations and demonstrations we conducted were fruitful and inspiring.”

EMO Is The Trade Fair For Decision Makers

It is important for exhibitors to be seen at EMO Hannover, to showcase their offerings and to demonstrate competence. EMO is therefore a trade fair for executives and decision-makers from the mechanical engineering, automotive and supplier industries, metal processing, precision mechanics, optics, the aerospace industry and many more.

Almost 60% of the visitors are executives or come from top management. Just under half have decision-making authority for purchasing and procurement. Indeed, half of the trade visitors actually stated that they came to EMO with concrete investment plans.

On average, these visitors planned to invest just under €3 million. More than a quarter said they had placed orders at the fair.

Stephan Nell, CEO of the United Grinding Group from Switzerland, can also report on this: “The number of leads is currently at the same level as in 2019. Some machine contracts were also signed directly at the trade show booth.” Another quarter of visitors intends to place orders after the trade show, according to the survey.

“EMO Hannover has once again confirmed and consolidated its position as the world’s leading trade fair for production technology,” Welcker concludes. He is looking forward to the next event, which will doubtless attract even more exhibitors in two years’ time once the economy has improved.

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JAINNHER Reflects Path To Grinding Perfection

Christellee — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 05:46:57 +0000

JAINNHER MACHINE Company Ltd has a wide variety of CNC Grinders. Such is a clear indication of the company’s readiness in adapting to market needs and applications, as corroborated by William Lee, Sales Manager for Export.

When APMEN spoke to William, the latter shared it was a refreshing scent of optimism paired with market recovery after the pandemic. Skipping an edition of a well-known exhibition like TIMTOS was not only a wise move, JAINNHER returned with new offerings as a message to the industry that they are ready to assist clients to make informed decisions in accordance to respective applications. Dedicated to advancements in diversity and automation, JAINNHER is constantly offering new and improved machines.

Diverse Product Line And Southeast Asian Presence

JAINNHER MACHINE Company’s main products include centerless, cylindrical, internal, double spindle (OD & ID), thread, center hole and vertical grinding machines as well as various NC & CNC automatic loading and unloading systems. In the machinery industry, precision requirements are the highest for grinding machines.

With their extensive expertise and in-depth knowledge of grinding technology, JAINNHER knows exactly how to assist clients in selecting the best CNC grinder tailored to specific needs. Their team of seasoned professionals is committed to understand all requirements and provide personalised solutions that guarantee optimal performance and efficiency.

Given automotive is one of the hottest industries in Southeast Asia, William disclosed JAINNHER is well-represented in the region through various partners. “JAINNHER has been fortunate to have fostered good relations with various agents and distributors within the region. Hence, I am pleased that we are evenly represented. This enables us to be there for our clients to address their challenges promptly,” he remarked.

Read more here

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Tesla Leverages Malaysia Tariff Liftings For A Later Grand Entrance

Christellee — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 02:49:40 +0000

Tesla’s Model Y has made it into Malaysia – according to reports priced at about RM 200,000 (S$88,000). The cars are still assembled in China for obvious reasons. However, manufacturing may shift to Malaysia in due course.

Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association of Malaysia (PEKEMA). PEKEMA plans to import at least 500 Teslas a year, buoyed by the recent removal of road tax, sales tax, and excise and import duty for electric vehicles in Malaysia. The Malaysian government has moved to catalyse the adoption of EVs, giving 100% duty exemption for completely built electric cars up to 31 December 2024. Chinese suppliers supporting Tesla will still be grinning their way to the bank (for now).

They have also put in place 100% duty exemption for completely knocked down kits for electric cars for local assembly up to 31 December 31 2025. Thailand’s The Nation reported the Malaysian government is actively promoting EV adoption, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim holding a virtual meeting with Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO. They discussed investments in the EV industry and satellite internet services by SpaceX, another company owned by Musk.

Malaysia is placing great importance on developing the infrastructure for an environmentally friendly automotive industry and provides incentives for electric vehicle purchases through various benefits, such as tax exemptions. The strategic goal is to move towards net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050.

Malaysia aims for electric and hybrid cars to make up 15% of all new registered vehicles within the next 7 years. Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) announced that it has approved Tesla’s application to import battery electric vehicles into Malaysia. MITI says Tesla will now proceed to establish:

An Office
Tesla Experience and Service Centres
A Supercharger Network

MITI also says that Tesla is the first applicant of MITI’s BEV Global Leaders Initiative, aimed at boosting BEV demand in the country. Malaysia’s Minister of International Trade & Industry, Tengku Zafrul, welcomed the development and said this will help create skilled and better paying jobs for Malaysians.

Jumpstarting The Metalworking Tool Sector

When Malaysia starts assembling Tesla’s cars, there will be a range of metalworking tools in demand, plus the skilled operators. For a start, the following classes of machine tools may enjoy a demand:

CNC Machines (Computer Numerical Control): Versatile and widely used in the manufacturing of EVs. They include CNC mills, lathes, and routers, which can precisely cut and shape various materials like metal, plastic, and composites to create parts such as chassis, motor components, and body panels.

Injection Molding Machines: Used to produce plastic components like interior parts, dashboards, and covers. Injection molding machines melt and inject molten plastic into molds to form the desired shape.

Metal Stamping Presses: They are needed to produce large quantities of metal components with consistent quality. Stamping presses can create body panels, structural parts, and other metal components used in the EV assembly.

Welding Machines: Welding is crucial for joining metal components together. Various types of welding machines, such as MIG (Metal Inert Gas), TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), and spot welders, are used in EV manufacturing.

Battery Assembly Equipment: They are specialised machines are required for assembling lithium-ion battery packs, including spot welding machines for battery cells and modules, electrolyte filling equipment, and battery testing systems.

Electric Motor Manufacturing Equipment: Electric motors require specific manufacturing processes, such as winding machines for creating coils, lamination stacking machines, and magnet assembly equipment.

Battery Cell Production Equipment: If the EV manufacturer produces its own battery cells, they will need equipment for processes like electrode coating, calendaring, electrolyte filling, and cell assembly.

Robotic Automation: Robots are employed in various aspects of EV production, including assembly, welding, painting, and material handling. They help improve efficiency and precision.

3D Printers: Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is increasingly used in the automotive industry to create prototypes, custom parts, and certain tooling.

Testing and Quality Control Equipment: To ensure the safety and reliability of EVs, testing and quality control equipment, such as dynamometers, leak testers, and metrology tools, are essential for conducting thorough inspections.

Assembly Line Equipment: Conveyor systems, robotic arms, and automated assembly stations are used to streamline the production process on the assembly line.

Manufacturing electric vehicles requires a diverse range of specialised machine tools and advanced manufacturing processes. From CNC machines that shape various components with precision to robotic automation that streamlines assembly, the EV industry relies on cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of sustainable transportation.

Furthermore, battery assembly equipment and electric motor manufacturing tools play a critical role in the development of efficient and powerful EVs. As the automotive industry continues to embrace innovation and sustainability, the evolution of machine tools and manufacturing techniques will undoubtedly lead to more efficient, reliable, and accessible electric vehicles for a cleaner and greener future — at least for Malaysia in this case.

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Designed By Humans, Perfected By A.I.

Christellee — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 01:31:40 +0000

China has stuck its fingers into automating chip design using artificial intelligence — taking it a step further. It may not be so if one looks deeper; it is still designed by humans, only “perfected” by A.I..

DIGITimes reported scientists from the Institute of Computing Technology under Chinese Academy of Sciences have recently published a research paper showcasing capability to use AI in automating chip design. Titled “Pushing the Limits of Machine Design: Automated CPU Design with AI”, the research claims that a 32-bit RISC-V CPU design was automatically generated within 5 hours, and that the CPU, with a clock rate up to 300MHz, already entered tape-out in December 2021 on 65nm process.

In addition, the research claimed that the CPU was tested successfully on the Linux operating system and performed “comparably against the human-designed Intel 80486SX CPU.”

This came shortly after Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang declared his take about the power of A.I. — qualifying anyone as a programmer. No longer will programmers need to write lines of code, only for it to display the dreaded “fail to compile” because of a missing semicolon.

How will this be done? By generative artificial intelligence, Huang said during his keynote speech at the Computex forum in Taiwan on 29 May 2023.

Genesis Remains From Engineers

Though modern commercial electronic design automation (EDA) tools such as logic synthesis or high-level synthesis tools are available to accelerate the CPU design, all these tools require hand-crafted formal program code as the input, the research paper explained. In other words, engineers must use formal programming languages to implement the circuit logic of a CPU based on design specification, before various EDA tools can be used to facilitate functional validation and performance/power optimization of the circuit logic.

The highly complex process typically iterates for months or years, “where the key bottleneck is the manual implementation of the input circuit logic in terms of formal program code,” indicated the paper.

What the research group aimed for was automating the CPU design without human programming. It was done by using partial input output examples to replace human-written programs as the inputs, as such examples were directly accessible from a large number of legacy test cases.

Therefore, according to the research, “The problem of automated CPU design can be formulated as generating the circuit logic in the form of a Boolean function satisfying the input-output specification.” Using the approach, the report claimed to successfully generate “a large-scale Boolean function with almost 100% validation accuracy (e.g., > 99.99999999999% as Intel) from only external input-output examples”.

Notably, the paper claimed that the adopted approach could discover not only the general von Neumann architecture, but also fine-grain architecture optimisation from scratch. Despite the claimed success, this only marks the first step.

If the design complexity was increased, with a more complex CPU and some other IP blocks, tougher performance targets have to be met to evaluate how good the AI flow is, according to Woz Ahmed, Managing Director of Chilli Ventures and former Chief Strategy Officer of Imagination Technologies.

“Setting aggressive design constraints with a new process and integrating complex IP is the real test, to see if automation will match experienced engineers in power, performance and area (PPA), testability and manufacturability,” Ahmed observed. “Given the US chokehold on EDA tools, China’s best hope in indigenous EDA is to leverage its broad AI capabilities,” Ahmed further noted, “they need to be getting hold of lots of relevant training data.”

The Real Battle

This research appears to be a direct attempt to discredit Nvidia CEO’s take on technology’s ability match human intelligence. This is in spite of Nvidia’s recent unveiling of their super computers.

Such is debatable given the recent prominent blunders caused by people using A.I. chatbot for programming. The value add of chatbots remains unquestionable as at today.

Despite the headline of its ban in many nations, the advanced countries recognise the advantages ChatGPT has to offer albeit the plethora of data security issues. Many organisations have resorted to develop their inhouse A.I. chatbot to prevent confidential data leak.

In fact, it may take competition a notch higher. Hence, if coding takes centrestage, the real battle is between the engineers’ coding prowess, instead of the program.

While the technology itself is impressive, it is the skill and expertise of the engineers that ultimately determine the success and capabilities of the chatbot. These engineers are tasked with training, fine-tuning, and optimising the model, ensuring that it can generate accurate and coherent responses to a wide range of queries.

They constantly strive to improve the system, addressing its limitations, enhancing its understanding, and refining its ability to engage in meaningful conversations. It is their collective knowledge, experience, and ingenuity that fuels the competition, as they push the boundaries of what ChatGPT can achieve, shaping the future of conversational AI.

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China’s Electronics Manufacturing Scene Sees Closures

Christellee — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:42:57 +0000

Several businesses involved in the local supply chain for electronics parts and other devices have suffered factory closures and layoffs in southern and eastern China, industry sources revealed. Such is a glaring indication of shifts in manufacturing preferences affected by socio-economic and geopolitical tensions.

Source: DIGITIMES

Due to a poor outlook on China’s consumer electronics market, numerous small and medium-size businesses in southern China that are part of the local supply chain for electronics accessories, parts, and other products have relocated or closed. The factories that remain open have also implemented layoffs, wage reductions, and unpaid leave to respond to dwindling orders, the sources indicated.

Despite the progressive relaxation of COVID lockdowns and restrictions in China, the country’s southern area, where manufacturing is the mainstay, faces a dire economic situation, the sources said. China’s domestic demand is cautious, and market competition is severe, with raw material prices rising.

More electronics manufacturing companies in Southern China will close, according to the sources. The industry supply chain in Shenzhen, for example, is mostly involved in the fields of electronics and toys. The global economic downturn and diminishing market demand have had an immediate impact on local factory operations in Shenzhen, the sources noted.

If a demand is dwindling, one has to take into consideration if consumers’ have limited resources to spend extra dollars for items which falls under wants. Consumer electronics was seen as a field where technologies were applied, not invented. Today, this relationship is being inverted as technology is driven by the wants and needs of individuals.

A wave of industry closures accelerated in southern China since 2022, with large electronics factories in operation for more than 30 years declaring their closure one after the other. Several factories in Shenzhen were closed during the city’s lockdown. There were production issues, orders were received, and delivery could not be fulfilled, resulting in the inability to begin work.

While the epidemic has subsided, consumption has yet to recover. Despite the fact that the present surviving factories have avoided bankruptcy, orders in the electronics supply chain remain disappointing. To save costs, factory hiring is still strictly regulated, resulting in an oversupply of labour in both southern and eastern China, the sources indicated.

The layoff phenomenon may persist in part because most businesses are pursuing industrial transformation, upgrading technology and equipment, and eventually replacing labour with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation equipment, according to the sources.

Furthermore, rising geopolitical tensions push businesses to diversify their manufacturing bases. The strategy for using China as a manufacturing base has evolved, affecting the electronics industries of southern and eastern China, the sources said. That could only slow down China’s pace towards the goal of being self-reliant.

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