RFRD

rfrd

Radio-frequency identification and near-field communication are two similar technologies used in many industries. Their fields of application include inventory tracking, location tracking, access control, contactless payments, logistics, manufacturing, marketing, retail, and more. In this article, we are going to talk about these systems from an electronics design perspective. We will also take a look at RFID and NFC device development cases. How do RFID and NFC Technologies Work? is a wireless communication technology that uses radio waves to uniquely identify tagged items. A radio-frequency identification system generally consists of three elements: a reader, a tag, and RFID software. The RFID tag carries unique ID information and other data associated with the item it is placed on. When activated, the reader sends radio waves. The waves power any tags within the interrogation zone. They send back the data to the reader. The software processes the raw data for the end user. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) Radio-frequency identification allows you to track and identify unique items and people. For this reason, RFID technology is used in many spheres: asset and location tracking, inventory management, access control, theft prevention, etc. is a short-range wireless communication technology that uses high-frequency radio waves to uniquely identify tagged items and exchange data with other NFC-enabled devices. While RFID uses a broad range of radio frequencies, NFC devices work at 13.56 MHz only. This technology evolved from RFID and can be regarded as its fine-tuned subset. Near field communication (NFC) NFC technology is commonly used in contactless payment terminals in retail stores. NFC systems consist of the same elements as RFID: a reader (called initiator), a tag (called target), and NFC software. They work the same way as RFID systems. However, they have a much shorter operating range (up to several centimeters). That is why near field communication is primarily used in contactless payment. Nevertheless, other applications similar to that of RFID systems are also possible. Unlike RFID, NFC devices are capable of two-way communication. So, they are also used where data exchange is required. These technologies are very similar, but suit different business tasks. NFC systems can work in . active or passive modes of communication , one active device (Initiator) generates a radio-frequency field. The passive device (Target) draws power from the alternating magnetic field and acts as a transponder. It uses load modulation for data transferring. In passive mode , both the Initiator and the Target are active and generate magnetic fields in turns. The field deactivates while the device is waiting for data and activates when the device is ready to respond. In active mode An active NFC device can work in any of these operating modes: The device acts as a contactless smart card. The radio-frequency field is generated by the reader. Typical application: smartphone as an instrument of payment. The device acts as a reader for NFC and RFID tags. When the tag is close enough, the device detects it with a collision avoidance mechanism. Then it can read the data from the tag or write new information to it. Typical application: smart posters. Both devices act as a reader and a tag to alternately transmit and receive data. It allows them to exchange information such as pictures, business cards, etc. Android Beam technology uses this mode. Card emulation mode. Reader/writer mode. Peer-to-peer mode. Here are the key differences between RFID and NFC systems. You can learn more about these and other differences and the applications of RFID and NFC systems in our previous article. RFID and NFC Tags RFID Tags RFID and NFC tags consist of three elements: a substrate, an antenna, and a microchip. Tags come in various shapes and sizes: plastic cards, key fobs, paper or plastic stickers, badges, etc. The microchip is responsible for the signal modulation and demodulation. It also stores and processes information. There are three types of RFID tags: tags do not have a power source. In order to function, they use the energy from the reader’s radio signal. tags have their own power source (usually a small battery). It allows them to transmit signals periodically. The battery boosts the signal. Active tags can be read from longer distances. (battery-assisted passive) tags also use batteries but do not transmit periodic signals. When the tag receives the signal from the reader, the battery only turns on the tag. So, all the energy from the reader’s signal is reflected back. They also have a longer range than passive tags. Passive Active Semi-passive RFID systems can operate at different frequencies. They commonly use the following radio frequency bands. Note that the bands are defined by national standards and regulations. , particularly 120-140 kHz. In ideal conditions, these radio waves can travel up to 50 cm. But in practice, their range does not exceed 10-20 cm. LF RFID tags do not have security standards. So, they are not recommended for applications requiring encrypted communication. They can also penetrate through metals and liquids. , particularly 13.56 MHz. The read range of these systems usually varies from 10 to 20 cm but can reach about 1 m. HF RFID tags cannot penetrate through liquids and dense metals but work fine with most other materials including thin metals. tags operate at frequencies of 865–868 MHz (Europe) and 902–928 MHz (North America). Their reading range usually does not exceed 12 m. Note that some UHF RFID systems use 433 MHz and can reach up to 100 m. Low frequency band High frequency band Ultra-high frequency Some RFID tags operate at 2.45-5.8 GHz, 3.1-10 GHz, and 24.125 GHz. However, frequency bands higher than 928 MHz are not common for commercial RFID tags. Most civil-grade systems use LF, HF, and UHF tags. NFC Tags Near field communication utilizes the same frequency as HF RFID tags – 13.56 MHz. NFC-Forum defines the following types of NFC tags. Note that custom RFID and NFC systems usually do not require custom tags. However, one may require to design a non-standard device with a reader, which includes custom PCB design and embedded software development. RFID and NFC Readers NFC devices can work as readers and tags. RFID readers can only scan tags. Readers consist of an oscillator, transceiver, receiver, control unit (processor), and an external antenna. They come in three form factors: - Mobile (handheld) readers that often have the shape of a pistol; - Fixed readers that can be attached to walls or near doors; - Vehicle-mounted readers that are often integrated into material handling devices. The reading range of RFID and NFC readers depends on their transmitting power. This, in turn, is defined by the type of antenna, the operating frequencies, and the power source. Environmental conditions and local regulations can cap the reader’s maximum range as well. Many RFID-enabled devices have an integrated NFC module, which enables them to read both RFID and NFC tags. They can also have a few additional modules: a 1D/2D scanner, a camera, GPS, or a cellular connection (in case Wi-Fi is unavailable). RFID readers can be either active or passive. Depending the type of readers and tags, RFID systems can be classified as follows: - (Passive Reader Active Tag) systems. The reader has no power source and can only receive data from active tags. PRAT - (Active Reader Passive Tag) systems. The reader sends interrogation signals to passive tags and powers them. ARPT - (Active Reader Active Tag) systems. Both elements have power sources. Semi-passive tags can also be used here. ARAT Unlike NFC devices, RFID readers can scan multiple tags simultaneously with one of these anti-collision algorithms: either probabilistic or deterministic detection. To transmit the data from the reader to a host computer, several network connection types can be used. Fixed readers usually utilize USB, serial interface, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and POE. Mobile models usually use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB. These network connections can also be used to charge the device. Custom RFID and NFC Device Development Usually, one has a number of options here. If it is possible to create the system with off-the-shelf (OTS) readers and tags, then all you need is to develop software. In some cases, one can even purchase OTS software packages for RFID and NFC systems. However, there are relatively few of them. Due to complicated or specific tasks, businesses may also require custom-design readers and, thus, custom NFC or RFID hardware development. Non-standard applications and requirements will probably need a research and development stage. As for tags, engineers usually use OTS models even for custom solutions. Manufacturers offer so many models that there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Designing a printed circuit board for an RFID or NFC-enabled device starts with choosing a suitable reader. The choice is defined by various factors: the required read range, frequency band, environmental conditions, etc. The PCB will also require a microcontroller or a microprocessor, as well as various passive components. Another obligatory component is the antenna, but it is placed outside the board. Depending on what additional functions the device must perform, the team may need to mount additional modules and components. Custom NFC and RFID device development also involves software design. Such systems typically require three types of software. 1. that manages the work of the hardware. Tags come with firmware developed by the manufacturer and don’t require any changes. But designing a custom reader also includes RFID or NFC firmware development. Simpler solutions can be written in C, while more complex devices will most likely be written in C++. Firmware 2. , i.e. the highest-level software that manages the processed data, collected with the reader, to address particular business needs. Application 3. , i.e. the software between the firmware and the high-level application. As a rule, NFC systems do not require middleware, unless an NFC-enabled device serves as an intermediate link between the tag and an enterprise information system, which is uncommon. Middleware is more common for RFID systems. connects the readers and the data they collect with the application or enterprise information system. It processes the raw data coming from the readers before passing it on as aggregated data. It also provides an application-level interface for managing readers and querying data. Middleware Middleware The middleware and the application level software can be written in C++, C#, Python, Java, and other languages. The choice is defined by the system’s size, the complexity of its tasks, and hardware requirements. When there’s a need for cross-platform solutions, Qt development is a better option. The most important requirements for the language for middleware is the ability to reach the hardware on the one hand and to interact with the high-level software on the other hand. The following cases demonstrate two projects from our portfolio that involved custom RFID and NFC device development. Case #1: Custom RFID Device Development Our customer wanted to develop an RFID system for livestock enterprises to identify animals, track their movements, and collect other data for timely disease diagnostics. Our job was to design a handheld RFID data terminal for this system. Our RFID device development resulted in a data terminal operating at 860-960 MHz with multiple modules. The terminal can read multiple tags simultaneously from a distance of several meters. For this project, our team developed a custom single-board computer  based on the STM32MP151AAD3 microprocessor with one Arm® Cortex®-A7 core for high-level operations and one Cortex®-M4 core for low-level operations. This microprocessor features a low price and allows us to curb the number of components to make the device smaller but more energy efficient. Pared with the microprocessor, the device also uses energy-saving 1GB MT41K512M16HA-125A SDRAM-DDR3L memory and 4GB EMMC04G-MK27-A01C FLASH-NAND (MLC) memory with eMMC interface. The RFID reading function is implemented with the ST25RU3980 single chip reader. It’s a highly-integrated solution compatible with ISO 18000-6C/EPC Class1 Gen2 transponders. The reader is battery-powered and features very low power consumption. Pared with a custom patch antenna, it provides a very high sensitivity and resistance to reflection and self-clutter effects. The ESP32-C3-MINI-1-N4 module with an integrated PCB antenna is responsible for the WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth v5.0 interfaces. They allow the device to connect to local data networks. The Telit ME310G1W103T040100 module is responsible for cellular connection and data transmission in the field. The device is also equipped with a Newland EM2096 module for scanning 1D and 2D barcodes. The team used a USB Type C Amphenol 124019322112A connector for data transmission over USB 2.0 and battery charging. It has IPX4 level of protection, which makes it suitable for outdoor applications. The terminal is also equipped with an MC6470 inertial measurement unit. It allows businesses to track the location of the device, which can be important for keeping record of its work. The device is powered with a 3.7V 12Ah single-cell Li-ion battery, which should be enough for a 12-hour shift. The scope of work also included firmware and software development. For the microprocessor, the team used the Android distribution package provided by the manufacturer. We developed the firmware in C for the ESP32-C3-MINI-1-N4 module with programming libraries. It is controlled by the microprocessor with the help of AT commands. We also wrote a custom driver in C for the RFID reader, as it uses an SPI interface. Other modules use standard drivers. Case #2: Custom NFC Device Development This case demonstrates how NFC technology can be adapted for non-standard use. The project involved both custom NFC hardware and software development. Our job was to design an NFC-enabled device for orienteering events and location-based games. With the device we created, event participants can scan NFC tags placed on control points. The reader then transmits the data to a host computer used by the administration to let them know which team reached the point. The device can also perform a number of other tasks. The device is based on an NXP PN7362BNHN microcontroller. It has an integrated radio interface with NFC support and low energy consumption for autonomous work. The microcontroller has all the necessary NFC components inside. The team only had to add impedance-matching circuits. It also has enough memory capacity (160 KB) for complex algorithms. As the microcontroller has an integrated radio interface, it is also responsible for reading NFC tags. The microcontroller is paired with a passive, small-size flexible antenna – Pulse/Larsen W7001. The system supports all protocols and modes defined by NFC-Forum. It features high sensitivity and stability. Its read range equals 40 mm. Data transmission in field conditions is implemented with a Quectel MC60ECB-04-BLE module. It has an integrated navigation receiver (GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou/QZSS) and supports 2G cellular communication. The module supports navigation, based on GSM signals, and multiple data transmission protocols (TCP/UDP/FTP/PPP/HTTP/NITZ/NTP/PING/HTTPS/TCP/SSL/MQTT). It allows the device to send data to the administration as well as receive various messages: confirmations, warnings, hints, statistics, etc. The information is displayed on a monochrome graphic display (Orient Display JAZZ-BC-W). The device is equipped with an emergency button. When it is pressed, the device sends an emergency signal to the host computer along with location data. The device’s location is tracked with an MC6470 inertial measurement unit. The device is powered by a built-in single-cell 3.7V 1.2Ah Li-ion battery. It can work over 8 hours on a single charge. Using the energy-saving mode of the microcontroller can extend this period. The device is fitted with a USB Type C Amphenol 124019322112A connector, so it is well protected against moisture and dust. The software development team wrote firmware for the microcontroller in C using an AT command library to control the 2G module. Conclusion In most cases, one can use off-the-shelf RFID and NFC systems. Different types of readers and tags suit different purposes. Technical characteristics of the devices, such as operating frequency, power source, or memory capacity, define the system’s read range, penetration capability, etc. With off-the-shelf elements, it is only a matter of software design. But sometimes, complicated or non-standard tasks can require a custom solution. RFID and NFC device development involves designing a custom PCB, as well as embedded firmware and software development. Depending on what tasks the system must perform, the team can also install additional components, so that the device could work in field conditions, or scan 1D/2D codes, and so on. This story was first published here.

Custom RFID and NFC Device Development: Theory and Practice

Differences Between RFID and NFC Systems, their Applications, and Alternatives

The continuous increase in accidents at work is doing an intensification of efforts and especially investment in technological research, aimed at identifying viable solutions to prevent dangerous situations. In this video it is presented a solution based on technologically advanced RFID last generation systems that, if applied in large and medium-sized shipyards or on oil platforms, will allow lowering the number of accidents in the workplace at the same time favoring a greater empowerment of workers in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

DPI Visual Analyzer “A new RFID solution for your safety at work” By Intellisystem Technologies

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Penetration testing — or “pen testing,” for short — is central to many organizations’ cybersecurity operations. While the practice has gained popularity, it’s often incomplete. Digital methods usually take the spotlight, but physical penetration testing may be just as important and more frequently overlooked. What Is Physical Penetration Testing? All penetration testing aims to find security vulnerabilities by simulating a hacking attempt. Physical pen testing is different from conventional approaches in that it resembles an in-person attack. Instead of remotely hacking into a network, the pen tester will attempt to gain material access to company information or systems. Cybersecurity is a largely digital field, but physical risks can still affect it. A criminal could steal sensitive data by finding it in the mail or deliver malware via a flash drive on an open computer when no one is looking. While attacks like this are often easy to miss, they affected over 127,000 victims in 2023 alone. Physical Penetration Testing Methods and Strategies Like conventional hacking simulations, physical penetration testing can employ several strategies to highlight common vulnerabilities. Here are five of the most common of these methods. Social Engineering Social engineering is the most common data breach attack vector, and while it often takes digital forms — like phishing — it can rely on physical means, too. Pen testers may impersonate maintenance personnel, IT specialists or employees from other departments to gain workers’ trust. They can then walk into a building or room without raising suspicion. Tailgating is a common form of physical social engineering strategy. Here, attackers follow someone with authorized access to get somewhere without their own authorization. They may do this by asking employees to hold the door while they have their hands full with documents or coffee cups — the sort of things one would expect at an office. Lock Bypassing Sometimes, pen testers are unable to tailgate an authorized worker into an area. High-security rooms like data centers, for example, typically have stricter policies around who can enter and how people get in. In such cases, the attacker may bypass the lock to get inside. Lockpicking is the most familiar example, but it’s not the only option. One common alternative is to trigger the motion sensors that unlock exits from the inside. Many of these use infrared sensors — which technically detect changes in temperature, not strictly movement — so criminals can spray compressed air beneath a door to activate them and unlock an exit. RFID Cloning Radio frequency ID (RFID) is another common technology in physical security systems today. Many locks rely on RFID tags assigned to each employee, so only badge-bearing workers can unlock certain doors. While such systems are generally more secure than conventional locks, pen testers can sometimes get around them through RFID cloning. RFID cloners are devices that analyze nearby RFID signals and then mimic the same frequency. Using this technology, attackers can gain easy access to prohibited areas, and the digital register will show the employee whose badge they scanned was the one who entered the area. Shoulder Surfing Not all physical penetration testing techniques are so sophisticated. One of the simplest yet still effective is to look at employees’ screens and desks — an attack known as “shoulder surfing.” People often aren’t aware of who else is around them or where others are looking when they access or type in sensitive data. Consequently, it’s easy to see someone enter their PIN or pull up bank details. In some cases, the target does not even need to be present — 41% of American users write down their passwords, so simply scanning a document on a desk can give an attacker crucial information. Dumpster Diving Similarly, criminals can glean a surprising amount of data by going through the trash. Unshredded documents that end up in the garbage may include financial reports, utility bills and personal correspondence, all potentially containing sensitive info. Pen testers finding such data in the trash could use it to craft more convincing spear-phishing attacks or commit credit card fraud. While the solution to this vulnerability is straightforward — businesses only need to shred old documents — it’s easy to overlook, making dumpster diving a common physical attack method. Benefits of Physical Penetration Testing Across all of these strategies, physical pen tests have several advantages. The most significant is that they reveal vulnerabilities organizations may otherwise miss. While the prospect of hiring someone to attack the company seems daunting, pen testers strengthen defenses against future threats in the long run by revealing where things must improve. All cyber incident simulations enable such improvements, but physical ones include targets conventional approaches miss. As important as digital protections are, they cannot stop in-person breaches. Consequently, businesses need physical security checks, too, if they hope to achieve comprehensive coverage. Considerations When Implementing Physical Pen Tests As with traditional pen testing, physical penetration tests require a careful approach. Companies wanting to make the most of them should keep a few factors in mind. When comparing top penetration testing services, organizations should look for accredited, well-reviewed security firms. Hiring an unknown team can be risky, considering the business is inviting them to breach their systems. It’s also important to review different providers’ methods and past experiences. Ideally, they should use as wide a variety of techniques as possible and be familiar with the given industry so they can provide relevant, comprehensive results. Extensive customer support and fast turnaround times are other top qualities to look for. Finally, organizations must consider the price. Expert services can get expensive, but a more thorough test may be worth the expense. It’s cheaper to hire a pen tester to find and fix a vulnerability than it is to deal with a breach once a criminal takes advantage of the weakness. Penetration Testing Must Be Comprehensive Pen testing needs to address as many potential weak points as possible to be an effective defense. Consequently, businesses that want confidence in their cybersecurity must include physical penetration testing in their vulnerability assessments. Looking for these risks will ensure organizations stay safe from all threats, not just the usual suspects. Penetration testing — or “pen testing,” for short — is central to many organizations’ cybersecurity operations. While the practice has gained popularity, it’s often incomplete. Digital methods usually take the spotlight, but physical penetration testing may be just as important and more frequently overlooked. Penetration testing — or “pen testing,” for short — is central to many organizations’ cybersecurity operations. While the practice has gained popularity, it’s often incomplete. Digital methods usually take the spotlight, but physical penetration testing may be just as important and more frequently overlooked. What Is Physical Penetration Testing? What Is Physical Penetration Testing? All penetration testing aims to find security vulnerabilities by simulating a hacking attempt. Physical pen testing is different from conventional approaches in that it resembles an in-person attack. Instead of remotely hacking into a network, the pen tester will attempt to gain material access to company information or systems. aims to find security vulnerabilities aims to find security vulnerabilities Cybersecurity is a largely digital field, but physical risks can still affect it. A criminal could steal sensitive data by finding it in the mail or deliver malware via a flash drive on an open computer when no one is looking. While attacks like this are often easy to miss, they affected over 127,000 victims in 2023 alone. over 127,000 victims in 2023 over 127,000 victims in 2023 Physical Penetration Testing Methods and Strategies Like conventional hacking simulations, physical penetration testing can employ several strategies to highlight common vulnerabilities. Here are five of the most common of these methods. Social Engineering Social engineering is the most common data breach attack vector , and while it often takes digital forms — like phishing — it can rely on physical means, too. Pen testers may impersonate maintenance personnel, IT specialists or employees from other departments to gain workers’ trust. They can then walk into a building or room without raising suspicion. most common data breach attack vector most common data breach attack vector Tailgating is a common form of physical social engineering strategy. Here, attackers follow someone with authorized access to get somewhere without their own authorization. They may do this by asking employees to hold the door while they have their hands full with documents or coffee cups — the sort of things one would expect at an office. Lock Bypassing Sometimes, pen testers are unable to tailgate an authorized worker into an area. High-security rooms like data centers, for example, typically have stricter policies around who can enter and how people get in. In such cases, the attacker may bypass the lock to get inside. Lockpicking is the most familiar example, but it’s not the only option. One common alternative is to trigger the motion sensors that unlock exits from the inside. Many of these use infrared sensors — which technically detect changes in temperature , not strictly movement — so criminals can spray compressed air beneath a door to activate them and unlock an exit. technically detect changes in temperature technically detect changes in temperature RFID Cloning Radio frequency ID (RFID) is another common technology in physical security systems today. Many locks rely on RFID tags assigned to each employee, so only badge-bearing workers can unlock certain doors. While such systems are generally more secure than conventional locks, pen testers can sometimes get around them through RFID cloning. RFID cloners are devices that analyze nearby RFID signals and then mimic the same frequency. Using this technology, attackers can gain easy access to prohibited areas, and the digital register will show the employee whose badge they scanned was the one who entered the area. Shoulder Surfing Not all physical penetration testing techniques are so sophisticated. One of the simplest yet still effective is to look at employees’ screens and desks — an attack known as “shoulder surfing.” People often aren’t aware of who else is around them or where others are looking when they access or type in sensitive data. Consequently, it’s easy to see someone enter their PIN or pull up bank details. In some cases, the target does not even need to be present — 41% of American users write down their passwords, so simply scanning a document on a desk can give an attacker crucial information. 41% of American users 41% of American users Dumpster Diving Similarly, criminals can glean a surprising amount of data by going through the trash. Unshredded documents that end up in the garbage may include financial reports, utility bills and personal correspondence, all potentially containing sensitive info. Pen testers finding such data in the trash could use it to craft more convincing spear-phishing attacks or commit credit card fraud. While the solution to this vulnerability is straightforward — businesses only need to shred old documents — it’s easy to overlook, making dumpster diving a common physical attack method. Benefits of Physical Penetration Testing Across all of these strategies, physical pen tests have several advantages. The most significant is that they reveal vulnerabilities organizations may otherwise miss. While the prospect of hiring someone to attack the company seems daunting, pen testers strengthen defenses against future threats in the long run by revealing where things must improve. strengthen defenses against future threats strengthen defenses against future threats All cyber incident simulations enable such improvements, but physical ones include targets conventional approaches miss. As important as digital protections are, they cannot stop in-person breaches. Consequently, businesses need physical security checks, too, if they hope to achieve comprehensive coverage. Considerations When Implementing Physical Pen Tests As with traditional pen testing, physical penetration tests require a careful approach. Companies wanting to make the most of them should keep a few factors in mind. When comparing top penetration testing services , organizations should look for accredited, well-reviewed security firms. Hiring an unknown team can be risky, considering the business is inviting them to breach their systems. comparing top penetration testing services comparing top penetration testing services It’s also important to review different providers’ methods and past experiences. Ideally, they should use as wide a variety of techniques as possible and be familiar with the given industry so they can provide relevant, comprehensive results. Extensive customer support and fast turnaround times are other top qualities to look for. Finally, organizations must consider the price. Expert services can get expensive, but a more thorough test may be worth the expense. It’s cheaper to hire a pen tester to find and fix a vulnerability than it is to deal with a breach once a criminal takes advantage of the weakness. Penetration Testing Must Be Comprehensive Pen testing needs to address as many potential weak points as possible to be an effective defense. Consequently, businesses that want confidence in their cybersecurity must include physical penetration testing in their vulnerability assessments. Looking for these risks will ensure organizations stay safe from all threats, not just the usual suspects.

Inside the Secrets of Physical Penetration Testing

Μέσα στα μυστικά της δοκιμής φυσικής διείσδυσης

Los secretos de las pruebas de penetración física

בתוך הסודות של בדיקת חדירה פיזית

Ֆիզիկական ներթափանցման փորձարկման գաղտնիքների ներսում

物理的侵入テストの秘密

ფიზიკური შეღწევადობის ტესტირების საიდუმლოებების შიგნით

Физикалык кирүү тестинин сырларынын ичинде

Na kati ya ba Secrets ya Test ya Pénétration Physique

Por dentro dos segredos dos testes de penetração física

உடல் ஊடுருவல் சோதனையின் ரகசியங்கள் உள்ளே

Jismoniy kirish testining sirlari ichida

SEOUL, Korea/ September 2, 2024/--Kroma, a prominent Layer 2 blockchain solution provider, has successfully completed its Series A funding round and publicly announced the participation of a diverse group of investors. The round secured backing from Asia Advisors Korea, Gate Ventures, ICC Venture, Planetarium, Presto, RFD Capital, Taisu Ventures, The Spartan Group, Waterdrip Capital, and other additional partners have also participated in this round. Kroma is Asia’s leading Layer 2 solution, designed to make Web3 accessible through intuitive, gamified real-life decentralized applications (dApps). Built on the OP Stack, Kroma is the first Ethereum Layer 2 solution to implement zk fault proofs, creating a permissionless network for validators. By using its modular zero-knowledge (zk) proving library, Tachyon, the network enhances transaction speed and reduces gas fees, making zk proof generation more cost-efficient and faster. Kroma is also pioneering Native Account Abstraction (AA) within the Superchain ecosystem to deliver a seamless Web3 gaming experience. With over 81 partners, including SK Planet, Xangle, and Hexlant, Kroma is expanding its impact across gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and beyond, contributing essential technology to the community. Kroma has recently completed a significant shift in its shareholding structure, transitioning from a subsidiary of Wemade to hosting a broader base of shareholders and partners centered around the founders and management. This change positions Kroma to drive its global business forward with enhanced support from a diverse range of stakeholders. Kroma will continue to collaborate with Wemade on various initiatives and ensure the continued growth of the Gamified Web3 ecosystem. To further this goal, Kroma has secured key investors such as ICC Venture, ISKRA, Overtake, Planetarium, Wellxy, and XStar, and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with these partners. The capital raised will be directed towards further advancing Kroma’s infrastructure, with an emphasis on expanding its functionalities and enhancing the platform’s development. Kroma’s applications are designed to appeal to a broad audience while maintaining high standards of security and operational efficiency. Taekyu Park, CEO of Kroma, stated, “This investment reflects strong confidence in Kroma’s technology and strategic vision. We look forward to leveraging this funding to enhance our Layer 2 solutions, ensuring we continue to deliver efficient and secure blockchain services.” Kroma’s strategic direction and technological innovations have garnered significant attention from the investment community. The funds will play a crucial role in scaling operations and integrating new features, further solidifying Kroma’s position in the evolving blockchain landscape.Follow us: Website | Twitter | Discord | Github | Docs | Ecosystem | Brand Kit | Foundation Grant SEOUL, Korea/ September 2, 2024/--Kroma, a prominent Layer 2 blockchain solution provider, has successfully completed its Series A funding round and publicly announced the participation of a diverse group of investors. The round secured backing from Asia Advisors Korea, Gate Ventures, ICC Venture, Planetarium, Presto, RFD Capital, Taisu Ventures, The Spartan Group, Waterdrip Capital, and other additional partners have also participated in this round. Kroma is Asia’s leading Layer 2 solution, designed to make Web3 accessible through intuitive, gamified real-life decentralized applications (dApps). Built on the OP Stack, Kroma is the first Ethereum Layer 2 solution to implement zk fault proofs, creating a permissionless network for validators. By using its modular zero-knowledge (zk) proving library, Tachyon, the network enhances transaction speed and reduces gas fees, making zk proof generation more cost-efficient and faster. Kroma is also pioneering Native Account Abstraction (AA) within the Superchain ecosystem to deliver a seamless Web3 gaming experience. With over 81 partners, including SK Planet, Xangle, and Hexlant, Kroma is expanding its impact across gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and beyond, contributing essential technology to the community. Kroma has recently completed a significant shift in its shareholding structure, transitioning from a subsidiary of Wemade to hosting a broader base of shareholders and partners centered around the founders and management. This change positions Kroma to drive its global business forward with enhanced support from a diverse range of stakeholders. Kroma will continue to collaborate with Wemade on various initiatives and ensure the continued growth of the Gamified Web3 ecosystem. To further this goal, Kroma has secured key investors such as ICC Venture, ISKRA, Overtake, Planetarium, Wellxy, and XStar, and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with these partners. The capital raised will be directed towards further advancing Kroma’s infrastructure, with an emphasis on expanding its functionalities and enhancing the platform’s development. Kroma’s applications are designed to appeal to a broad audience while maintaining high standards of security and operational efficiency. Taekyu Park, CEO of Kroma, stated, “This investment reflects strong confidence in Kroma’s technology and strategic vision. We look forward to leveraging this funding to enhance our Layer 2 solutions, ensuring we continue to deliver efficient and secure blockchain services.” Taekyu Park, CEO of Kroma, stated, “This investment reflects strong confidence in Kroma’s technology and strategic vision. We look forward to leveraging this funding to enhance our Layer 2 solutions, ensuring we continue to deliver efficient and secure blockchain services.” Kroma’s strategic direction and technological innovations have garnered significant attention from the investment community. The funds will play a crucial role in scaling operations and integrating new features, further solidifying Kroma’s position in the evolving blockchain landscape.Follow us: Website | Twitter | Discord | Github | Docs | Ecosystem | Brand Kit | Foundation Grant Website Website Twitter Twitter Discord Discord Github Github Docs Docs Ecosystem Ecosystem Brand Kit Brand Kit Foundation Grant Foundation Grant

Kroma Secures Series A Funding From Prominent Investors

Kroma Tanınmış İnvestorlardan A Seriyasının Maliyyələşdirilməsini Təmin edir

Kroma забяспечвае фінансаванне серыі A ад вядомых інвестараў

Kroma assegura el finançament de la sèrie A d'inversors destacats

Kroma obtiene financiación de serie A de importantes inversores

Kromak A serieko finantzaketa ziurtatzen du inbertitzaile garrantzitsuengandik

クロマ、著名な投資家からシリーズA資金調達を獲得

Kroma უზრუნველყოფს სერიის დაფინანსებას გამოჩენილი ინვესტორებისგან

کروما د نامتو پانګوالو څخه تمویل لړۍ خوندي کوي

Kroma siguron financime të serisë A nga investitorë të shquar

Kroma залучає фінансування серії A від відомих інвесторів

کروما نامور سرمایہ کاروں کی جانب سے ایک فنڈنگ کو محفوظ کرتا ہے۔

Kroma taniqli investorlardan A seriyasini moliyalashtirishni kafolatlaydi

Exploring Drone Dynamics: Stability and Force Generation in Multimedia Design

Authors:
(1) Hamed Alimohammadzadeh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(2) Rohit Bernard, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(3) Yang Chen, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(4) Trung Phan, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(5) Prashant Singh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(6) Shuqin Zhu, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(7) Heather Culbertson, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA;
(8) Shahram Ghandeharizadeh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. Table of Links Abstract and Introduction Flying Light Specks User Interaction Multimedia Systems Challenges Related Work Conclusions and Current Efforts, Acknowledgments, and References 2 FLYING LIGHT SPECKS An FLS is a miniature sized drone configured with light sources. Each FLS is too simple to illuminate a point cloud by itself or facilitate complex and noticeable haptic interactions. The inter-FLS relationship effect of an organizational framework will compensate for the simplicity of each individual FLS, enabling a swarm of cooperating FLSs to illuminate complex shapes and render haptic interactions. Therefore, we stipulate that an FLS must include communication in order to coordinate and cooperate with other FLSs, storage to memoize its assigned lighting tasks at specific coordinates, processing to implement algorithms, and a wide variety of sensors for localization, collision avoidance, and haptic interactions. Eleven quadrotors that measure between 1.8 in (45 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) from motor shaft to motor shaft and weight from 0.4 oz (11.5 g) to 2.5 oz (72 g) are evaluated in [22]. A survey of 93 rotorcrafts is presented in [4], which classifies the rotorcrafts along 12 dimensions including rotor type, application, battery capacity among others. It uses regression to establish relationships between size and performance parameters for the preliminary design of rotorcraft. This study found a wide variety of small drones that are already mass-produced as consumer products, meaning that miniaturization of components has already received significant attention. This miniaturization, along with advancements in batteries and autopilots, shows the feasibility of smaller and lighter FLSs. Figure 3 shows the architecture of today’s drone electronics [66]. One of the most important components, the Flight Controller (FC), stabilizes the FLS to perform precise flight maneuvers. Today’s FCs are circuit boards that adjust the speed of the motors to move the drone in a desired direction. They interface with an Electronic Speed Controller, ESC, that connects to the motors, controlling the speed at which the motors must rotate for the applied throttle. A 4-in-1 ESC allows an FC to control all four motors of a quadrotor. An FC is equipped with sensors that detect the drone’s movements. Basic FC sensors include gyroscopes (gyro) and accelerometers (acc). While the gyro is used to measure angular velocity, the acc measures linear acceleration. Other sensors may include barometric pressure sensors and compasses (magnetometer). Today’s FC may serve as a hub for other drone peripherals like LED light sources, cameras, and video transmitters (VTX), see Figure 3. A current trend is smaller FCs with more features. Different FC boards may require different firmware. Configuring the FC’s firmware is the process of adjusting settings of its Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controller, RC rates which determine how rapidly the drone rotates about an axis, and others to achieve desired flight characteristics. It strives to harness the full potential of the FC for a target application. A firmware setting may use only one sensor such as the gyro[2] or require multiple sensors[3], such as both gyro and acc. An FC may include a wireless networking card, and uses a microcontroller unit, MCU, to store firmware data and perform complex computations. At the time of this writing, MCU speeds range from 72 MHz to 480 MHz with memory sizes ranging from 128 KB to 2 MB. The MCUs are evolving rapidly to provide faster speeds and higher memory capacities, retiring older models. An FC has a Blackbox feature that logs attitude of the drone, gyro sensor measurements, RC commands, motor outputs, etc., which is useful for tuning and troubleshooting an FLS. It requires the FC to have either a flash memory chip (e.g., NOR flash) or a SSD card recorder. The rate of logging is an adjustable parameter. Visualization tools for the Blackbox logs enable a user to select the traces and generate graphs of interest. Example timeline graphs include FC throttle levels, attitude, motor outputs, and PID controller outputs. Today’s FCs use a hardware serial interface named Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) that allows external devices to be connected to the FC. Examples include serial radio receivers, telemetry, race transponders, and VTX control. It is possible to create additional UART ports in the firmware, using the MCU to emulate multiple UARTs. This feature is called SoftSerial. Future FLS Architectures: We envision the future architecture of an FLS will include a System-on-Chip, SoC, and disaggregated designs. The SoC will resemble that of Figure 3 with additional functionality implemented in FC. The disaggregated design is shown in Figure 4. It envisions a plug-n-play system bus that empowers an experimenter to use with alternative devices. The tradeoff between the two include weight, size, and modularity with the ability to switch components. The SoC will almost certainly be lighter and more compact. However, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to change one or more of its components. For example, it may be challenging to replace its WiFi hardware component with the power efficient ZigBee (802.15.4, 2.4 GHz). This may be ideal for a product offering such as a next generation gaming display. However, for research and evaluation purposes, a disaggregated design maybe preferable as it empowers an experimenter to evaluate alternative hardware components and their tradeoff when designing and implementing different algorithms.In essence, one may use the disaggregated design to identify components of a SoC. Below, we describe the disaggregated architecture. There are several differences between the architecture of Figure 3 and the disaggregated architecture of Figure 4. First, the disaggregated architecture requires external devices to interface with the system bus directly, making a UART redundant. Second, it replaces MCU with a Central Processing Unit, CPU. The CPU will host a general purpose operating system. It will enable an experimenter to implement and evaluate diverse algorithms such as collision detection and avoidance [5–7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 31– 33, 35, 44, 45, 47, 53, 54, 67, 70–74, 77], a continuous battery charging technique such as STAG [26], localization [15, 30, 40, 79], 3D audio [25], among others [25]. A Localization device, LOC, will enable the experimenter to plug-in alternative localization sensors such as Bluetooth [48, 75], Wi-Fi [55, 59], RFID [9, 50, 76, 81], UWB [36, 39, 63], Lidar [18, 65], RGB cameras [8, 51, 65, 80] and infrared [35, 54, 57]. They will be used by the software hosted on the local CPU to compute the position of an FLS relative to other FLSs and the display volume. A challenge of Figure 4 is how to realize a layout that is light, compact, economical, and adjustable by an experimenter with minimal effort. While the architecture of Figure 3 is not adjustable, it is lightweight and compact. For example, SpeedyBee[4] F7 [66] stacks an FC with a 4 in 1 ESC that weighs 19.2 grams with dimensions of 45.6mm (Length) x 40mm (Depth) x 8.8mm (Height) at $119. Ideally, a disaggregated design should closely approximate these specifications, and its future SoC implementations should be orders of magnitude smaller, lighter, and cheaper. Downwash is the rapid displacement of air by an FLS’s rotors. It may impact the position of other FLSs, resulting in unstable visuals and inconsistent haptic feedbacks. An FLS may use an existing method such as a neighbor-aware states to train its policy to counter downwash [58, 62]. Moreover, FLSs may allocate extra thrust to counteract disturbances. This will require an FLS to provision its thrust to implement other tasks such as haptic feedback. An FLS has a fixed flight time on a fully charged battery. An alternative is to use a continuous power source such as a laser power beam [2] or a tethered FLS [46] with an umbilical link to a power source. It may also be possible to have a laser beam charge an FLS mid-flight [49]. A charging software solution such as STAG [26] also benefits from a hardware solution that enables an FLS to switch its depleted battery with a fully charged one [69]. This paper is available on arxiv under CC 4.0 license. [2] This is the Acro Mode setting of Betaflight firmware. [3] Examples include Betaflight’s Angle Mode, Horizon Mode, and Rescue mode. [4] F7 identifies a 216 MHz MCU with either 0.5 or 1 MB of memory. Authors: (1) Hamed Alimohammadzadeh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (2) Rohit Bernard, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (3) Yang Chen, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (4) Trung Phan, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (5) Prashant Singh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (6) Shuqin Zhu, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (7) Heather Culbertson, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (8) Shahram Ghandeharizadeh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. Authors: Authors: (1) Hamed Alimohammadzadeh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (2) Rohit Bernard, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (3) Yang Chen, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (4) Trung Phan, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (5) Prashant Singh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (6) Shuqin Zhu, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (7) Heather Culbertson, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; (8) Shahram Ghandeharizadeh, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. Table of Links Abstract and Introduction Abstract and Introduction Flying Light Specks Flying Light Specks User Interaction User Interaction Multimedia Systems Challenges Multimedia Systems Challenges Related Work Related Work Conclusions and Current Efforts, Acknowledgments, and References Conclusions and Current Efforts, Acknowledgments, and References 2 FLYING LIGHT SPECKS An FLS is a miniature sized drone configured with light sources. Each FLS is too simple to illuminate a point cloud by itself or facilitate complex and noticeable haptic interactions. The inter-FLS relationship effect of an organizational framework will compensate for the simplicity of each individual FLS, enabling a swarm of cooperating FLSs to illuminate complex shapes and render haptic interactions. Therefore, we stipulate that an FLS must include communication in order to coordinate and cooperate with other FLSs, storage to memoize its assigned lighting tasks at specific coordinates, processing to implement algorithms, and a wide variety of sensors for localization, collision avoidance, and haptic interactions. Eleven quadrotors that measure between 1.8 in (45 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) from motor shaft to motor shaft and weight from 0.4 oz (11.5 g) to 2.5 oz (72 g) are evaluated in [22]. A survey of 93 rotorcrafts is presented in [4], which classifies the rotorcrafts along 12 dimensions including rotor type, application, battery capacity among others. It uses regression to establish relationships between size and performance parameters for the preliminary design of rotorcraft. This study found a wide variety of small drones that are already mass-produced as consumer products, meaning that miniaturization of components has already received significant attention. This miniaturization, along with advancements in batteries and autopilots, shows the feasibility of smaller and lighter FLSs. Figure 3 shows the architecture of today’s drone electronics [66]. One of the most important components, the Flight Controller (FC), stabilizes the FLS to perform precise flight maneuvers. Today’s FCs are circuit boards that adjust the speed of the motors to move the drone in a desired direction. They interface with an Electronic Speed Controller, ESC, that connects to the motors, controlling the speed at which the motors must rotate for the applied throttle. A 4-in-1 ESC allows an FC to control all four motors of a quadrotor. An FC is equipped with sensors that detect the drone’s movements. Basic FC sensors include gyroscopes (gyro) and accelerometers (acc). While the gyro is used to measure angular velocity, the acc measures linear acceleration. Other sensors may include barometric pressure sensors and compasses (magnetometer). Today’s FC may serve as a hub for other drone peripherals like LED light sources, cameras, and video transmitters (VTX), see Figure 3. A current trend is smaller FCs with more features. Different FC boards may require different firmware. Configuring the FC’s firmware is the process of adjusting settings of its Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controller, RC rates which determine how rapidly the drone rotates about an axis, and others to achieve desired flight characteristics. It strives to harness the full potential of the FC for a target application. A firmware setting may use only one sensor such as the gyro[2] or require multiple sensors[3], such as both gyro and acc. An FC may include a wireless networking card, and uses a microcontroller unit, MCU, to store firmware data and perform complex computations. At the time of this writing, MCU speeds range from 72 MHz to 480 MHz with memory sizes ranging from 128 KB to 2 MB. The MCUs are evolving rapidly to provide faster speeds and higher memory capacities, retiring older models. An FC has a Blackbox feature that logs attitude of the drone, gyro sensor measurements, RC commands, motor outputs, etc., which is useful for tuning and troubleshooting an FLS. It requires the FC to have either a flash memory chip (e.g., NOR flash) or a SSD card recorder. The rate of logging is an adjustable parameter. Visualization tools for the Blackbox logs enable a user to select the traces and generate graphs of interest. Example timeline graphs include FC throttle levels, attitude, motor outputs, and PID controller outputs. Today’s FCs use a hardware serial interface named Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) that allows external devices to be connected to the FC. Examples include serial radio receivers, telemetry, race transponders, and VTX control. It is possible to create additional UART ports in the firmware, using the MCU to emulate multiple UARTs. This feature is called SoftSerial. Future FLS Architectures: We envision the future architecture of an FLS will include a System-on-Chip, SoC, and disaggregated designs. The SoC will resemble that of Figure 3 with additional functionality implemented in FC. The disaggregated design is shown in Figure 4. It envisions a plug-n-play system bus that empowers an experimenter to use with alternative devices. The tradeoff between the two include weight, size, and modularity with the ability to switch components. The SoC will almost certainly be lighter and more compact. However, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to change one or more of its components. For example, it may be challenging to replace its WiFi hardware component with the power efficient ZigBee (802.15.4, 2.4 GHz). This may be ideal for a product offering such as a next generation gaming display. However, for research and evaluation purposes, a disaggregated design maybe preferable as it empowers an experimenter to evaluate alternative hardware components and their tradeoff when designing and implementing different algorithms.In essence, one may use the disaggregated design to identify components of a SoC. Below, we describe the disaggregated architecture. Future FLS Architectures: There are several differences between the architecture of Figure 3 and the disaggregated architecture of Figure 4. First, the disaggregated architecture requires external devices to interface with the system bus directly, making a UART redundant. Second, it replaces MCU with a Central Processing Unit, CPU. The CPU will host a general purpose operating system. It will enable an experimenter to implement and evaluate diverse algorithms such as collision detection and avoidance [5–7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 31– 33, 35, 44, 45, 47, 53, 54, 67, 70–74, 77], a continuous battery charging technique such as STAG [26], localization [15, 30, 40, 79], 3D audio [25], among others [25]. A Localization device, LOC, will enable the experimenter to plug-in alternative localization sensors such as Bluetooth [48, 75], Wi-Fi [55, 59], RFID [9, 50, 76, 81], UWB [36, 39, 63], Lidar [18, 65], RGB cameras [8, 51, 65, 80] and infrared [35, 54, 57]. They will be used by the software hosted on the local CPU to compute the position of an FLS relative to other FLSs and the display volume. A challenge of Figure 4 is how to realize a layout that is light, compact, economical, and adjustable by an experimenter with minimal effort. While the architecture of Figure 3 is not adjustable, it is lightweight and compact. For example, SpeedyBee[4] F7 [66] stacks an FC with a 4 in 1 ESC that weighs 19.2 grams with dimensions of 45.6mm (Length) x 40mm (Depth) x 8.8mm (Height) at $119. Ideally, a disaggregated design should closely approximate these specifications, and its future SoC implementations should be orders of magnitude smaller, lighter, and cheaper. Downwash is the rapid displacement of air by an FLS’s rotors. It may impact the position of other FLSs, resulting in unstable visuals and inconsistent haptic feedbacks. An FLS may use an existing method such as a neighbor-aware states to train its policy to counter downwash [58, 62]. Moreover, FLSs may allocate extra thrust to counteract disturbances. This will require an FLS to provision its thrust to implement other tasks such as haptic feedback. An FLS has a fixed flight time on a fully charged battery. An alternative is to use a continuous power source such as a laser power beam [2] or a tethered FLS [46] with an umbilical link to a power source. It may also be possible to have a laser beam charge an FLS mid-flight [49]. A charging software solution such as STAG [26] also benefits from a hardware solution that enables an FLS to switch its depleted battery with a fully charged one [69]. This paper is available on arxiv under CC 4.0 license. This paper is available on arxiv under CC 4.0 license. available on arxiv [2] This is the Acro Mode setting of Betaflight firmware. [3] Examples include Betaflight’s Angle Mode, Horizon Mode, and Rescue mode. [4] F7 identifies a 216 MHz MCU with either 0.5 or 1 MB of memory.

Dronevision: An Experimental 3D Testbed for Flying Light Specks: Flying Light Specks

Artificial intelligence and robotics have a largely unearned reputation for stealing jobs and putting hard-working, honest people out of work. This statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Robotics and AI have the potential to streamline many mundane or repetitive tasks, freeing up employees for more complex, essential, or customer-focused tasks. How are AI and robotics applications promoting productivity in retail? Shelving for Inventory Management Utilizing RFID trackers for inventory management isn’t a new concept. Equipping products with RFID tags enables companies to track their inventory from the moment it leaves the manufacturing facility until a consumer takes it home. Meshing RFID technology with shelves with weight sensors and an AI algorithm to track the data can take this technology to the next level. Weight sensors can detect when someone takes an object from the shelf. The AI can automatically update the inventory reports when it matches a sale. It can help improve productivity by reducing the time necessary for manual inventory tracking. This technology can benefit both retail storefronts and the warehouses that support them. Supporting Audits Speaking of inventory audits, these can take an incredible amount of time. Many big corporations outsource the task, bringing in third-party counters to keep track of each piece of inventory in their facility. Robotics, especially those supported by an AI algorithm, could carry out audits using computer vision to scan the shelves and count each available item. This application could reduce or even eliminate the need for manual inventory counts. The downside is that messy or overstuffed shelves might prove challenging for the robotic auditor to analyze. Bettering Customer Experience Customer service is generally considered a task requiring human intervention, but the retail industry could easily automate many components of the experience. AI-based chatbots are becoming a popular choice for answering frequently asked customer questions. If the problem is more complex, it can go to a customer service representative, but most people only consider perceived humanness when deciding if they’re satisfied or not. Speaking to a chatbot is much better than sitting on hold or waiting for a human agent to answer their questions. This application also frees up human agents to tackle those more complex tasks without worrying simple questions aren’t getting answers. Improving Warehousing Efficiency Retail efficiency and productivity aren’t just crucial in storefronts. It starts in the warehouse because retail workers can’t be productive with empty shelves. Pairing robotics with a powerful AI and machine-learning system can help business owners make the most of warehouse setups to optimize efficiency and productivity. Warehouses already generate massive amounts of data, from inventories to customer orders and even client demographics. Sorting through that data and turning it into actionable insights is the task of an AI system. Improving Workplace and Consumer Safety The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how many businesses operate — including their hours. Companies that used to be open 24 hours a day now keep more limited hours to give their teams time to clean and sterilize their facilities. Robotics can help remove some of the burdens of cleaning and fixing from human team members, as multiple airports have already discovered. These autonomous robots can travel the facility using UV-C lights to sterilize commonly touched surfaces. UV radiation kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that could transmit illness in these highly trafficked spaces. The Future of Robots in Retail Robotics and AI are just beginning to make appearances in retail spaces. These technologies could have potentially positive impacts on retail productivity. Working side by side with these devices will take some getting used to for anyone who’s spent their career in retail, but the benefits are worth a bit of discomfort. Sources: https://modernretail.co.uk/smart-shelving-the-future-of-smart-warehouses/ https://risnews.com/brave-new-world-computer-vision-4-things-retailers-need-know https://www.nexgen-net.com/news/how-digital-should-your-enterprise-be https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Avelo-using-UV-light-robots-to-disinfect-16974759.php Artificial intelligence and robotics have a largely unearned reputation for stealing jobs and putting hard-working, honest people out of work. This statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Robotics and AI have the potential to streamline many mundane or repetitive tasks, freeing up employees for more complex, essential, or customer-focused tasks. How are AI and robotics applications promoting productivity in retail? Shelving for Inventory Management Shelving for Inventory Management Utilizing RFID trackers for inventory management isn’t a new concept. Equipping products with RFID tags enables companies to track their inventory from the moment it leaves the manufacturing facility until a consumer takes it home. Meshing RFID technology with shelves with weight sensors and an AI algorithm to track the data can take this technology to the next level. shelves with weight sensors shelves with weight sensors Weight sensors can detect when someone takes an object from the shelf. The AI can automatically update the inventory reports when it matches a sale. It can help improve productivity by reducing the time necessary for manual inventory tracking. This technology can benefit both retail storefronts and the warehouses that support them. Supporting Audits Supporting Audits Speaking of inventory audits, these can take an incredible amount of time. Many big corporations outsource the task, bringing in third-party counters to keep track of each piece of inventory in their facility. Robotics, especially those supported by an AI algorithm, could carry out audits using computer vision to scan the shelves and count each available item. carry out audits using computer vision carry out audits using computer vision This application could reduce or even eliminate the need for manual inventory counts. The downside is that messy or overstuffed shelves might prove challenging for the robotic auditor to analyze. Bettering Customer Experience Bettering Customer Experience Customer service is generally considered a task requiring human intervention, but the retail industry could easily automate many components of the experience. AI-based chatbots are becoming a popular choice for answering frequently asked customer questions. If the problem is more complex, it can go to a customer service representative, but most people only consider perceived humanness when deciding if they’re satisfied or not. easily automate many components easily automate many components Speaking to a chatbot is much better than sitting on hold or waiting for a human agent to answer their questions. This application also frees up human agents to tackle those more complex tasks without worrying simple questions aren’t getting answers. Improving Warehousing Efficiency Improving Warehousing Efficiency Retail efficiency and productivity aren’t just crucial in storefronts. It starts in the warehouse because retail workers can’t be productive with empty shelves. Pairing robotics with a powerful AI and machine-learning system can help business owners make the most of warehouse setups to optimize efficiency and productivity. Warehouses already generate massive amounts of data, from inventories to customer orders and even client demographics. Sorting through that data and turning it into actionable insights is the task of an AI system. Improving Workplace and Consumer Safety Improving Workplace and Consumer Safety The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how many businesses operate — including their hours. Companies that used to be open 24 hours a day now keep more limited hours to give their teams time to clean and sterilize their facilities. Robotics can help remove some of the burdens of cleaning and fixing from human team members, as multiple airports have already discovered. These autonomous robots can travel the facility using UV-C lights to sterilize commonly touched surfaces. UV radiation kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that could transmit illness in these highly trafficked spaces. travel the facility using UV-C lights travel the facility using UV-C lights The Future of Robots in Retail The Future of Robots in Retail Robotics and AI are just beginning to make appearances in retail spaces. These technologies could have potentially positive impacts on retail productivity. Working side by side with these devices will take some getting used to for anyone who’s spent their career in retail, but the benefits are worth a bit of discomfort. Sources: Sources: https://modernretail.co.uk/smart-shelving-the-future-of-smart-warehouses/ https://modernretail.co.uk/smart-shelving-the-future-of-smart-warehouses/ https://modernretail.co.uk/smart-shelving-the-future-of-smart-warehouses/ https://risnews.com/brave-new-world-computer-vision-4-things-retailers-need-know https://risnews.com/brave-new-world-computer-vision-4-things-retailers-need-know https://risnews.com/brave-new-world-computer-vision-4-things-retailers-need-know https://www.nexgen-net.com/news/how-digital-should-your-enterprise-be https://www.nexgen-net.com/news/how-digital-should-your-enterprise-be https://www.nexgen-net.com/news/how-digital-should-your-enterprise-be https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Avelo-using-UV-light-robots-to-disinfect-16974759.php https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Avelo-using-UV-light-robots-to-disinfect-16974759.php https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Avelo-using-UV-light-robots-to-disinfect-16974759.php

AI & Robotics Applications Promoting Productivity in Retail

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