The first smart meter was developed and produced in the late 70s and, by the mid-80s, manufacturers of these devices found Lithium Thionyl Chloride (Li/SOCl2) cells to be an extremely well-suited source of power due to their long service life that reduces the need for replacement. Ultralife has recently introduced a new line of Li/SOCl2 cells, called ER Generation X, that are a great option for those who consider performance, price and lead time.
In hotels over Christmas, there is an increase in the use of electrical items (such as light up decorations), which may pose a risk of fires developing. Therefore, smoke alarm battery manufacturer Ultralife Corporation has put together an infographic offering a few fire safety tips to hoteliers, while emphasising the importance of installing proper smoke alarm batteries.
When OEMs are undertaking new product development, asking the right questions and having a competitive advantage can mean the difference between success or failure. For instance, can improvements be made to ensure the products operate more effectively in their intended environments (particularly in industries such as medical and military)? Plus, with over 20 new laws and legislations being passed in the UK every year, there is the challenge to stay compliant in the process.
Tom Hanks' 2021 film, Finch, tells of a man who is terminally ill and must teach his robot how to look after his dog when he's gone. The film conveys a possible family unit of tomorrow (a man, his dog and his robot – named Jeff – living in harmony).
According to Amazon, a record number of smart home devices were sold during the 2018 holiday season, a trend that looks set to continue this year. However, sales are dominated by household names, such as Amazon and Google, making it difficult for competitors to secure a coveted place under the Christmas tree. Here, we look at a home automation and smart home security device from other manufacturers and discuss the ways that batteries are developing to meet the emerging power needs.
In an emergency, search and rescue devices need to be put swiftly to use and cannot shutdown until the mission is complete. Therefore, the source of power should be a vital consideration for OEMs early in the product development or design process. Taking emergency beacons and drones as examples; here we consider how the functionality of these devices can dictate the battery design.
If there is one form of robotics where safety is of paramount importance, it would be in the medical or surgical sectors. Batteries have played a vital role in allowing surgical robots to become accepted by medical professionals and patients alike. To understand the impact that batteries have had on surgical robots and, perhaps more importantly, the impact they could have in the future, it is useful to go back to the beginning.
When the word “robot” is mentioned, most people think about old sci-fi depictions like droids in Star Wars or Cybermen in Dr Who; where actors hid inside shiny, light covered costumes. Back then, little more than metallic spray-paint and a ring-modulated audio track was enough to create a robotic superstar, but today’s world is filled with genuine robotic celebrities.
In 2021, over £9 million worth of counterfeit medical devices were seized by UK officers as part of a global operation tackling illegal online sales. For hospitals, this means there is an increasing need to ensure the authenticity of Medtech, as sub-standard products may not have the safety and reliability needed for life critical applications. For OEMs, ensuring the hospital is only using genuine parts in their Medtech can help to protect against false warranty claims.
Ultralife has enhanced its URB12400-U1-SMB Lithium Iron Phosphate smart battery to offer a 19% increase in energy (584Wh compared to 492Wh). To reflect the change, the product has a new name - the URB12450-U1-SMB - but is still commonly referred to as the smart U1.
