Get the latest from Ultralife, Accutronics & SWE

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.

Ultralife Corporation is now offering four new pre-engineered Thin Cell® 3V primary (non-rechargeable) batteries to electronic design engineers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the globe.  The new slimline batteries measure as thin as 1.1mm to meet the increasing demand for handheld and wearable electronic devices.

Guest experience is quickly becoming an increasingly important factor in the hotel world, with decisions being made on where to stay based on service and reliability.  To aid with this, service robots are being introduced.  But, while hoteliers are open to adopting new technologies to enhance guest experience, safety devices are often neglected.

Since 2019, a Formula 1 rule states that the fastest lap winner of each race gains a bonus point, encouraging drivers to get to the finish line sooner every lap.

This means that Fire Protection Groups and Fire Departments must be cautious when it comes to battery selection.  Many factors must be considered, from high performance to longevity.