Specialized Article
Technology Trends
Technology trends are important for achieving social and economic improvement. [...]
Technology trends are important for achieving social and economic improvement. Grupo Álava works closely with various sectors to deliver the solutions and products needed for each application. Drawing on our cross-functional approach and broad perspective, we aim to share our vision of the latest and most widely used technology trends today.
Thermography
The applications of infrared thermography are virtually endless and can be used across all sectors, both for industrial applications (machine vision, maintenance, surveillance, gas detection, etc.) and for R&D. What R&D, Production, or Maintenance Manager wouldn’t be interested in understanding the thermal behavior of their assets or products? All of this while keeping in mind that it is a non-invasive method that poses no risk to either the product or the operator. It is one of the trends in technology; every year, it improves both in terms of its technical capabilities and the potential cost of implementing the required cameras.
On average, in less than 20 years, the cost of the detectors used in this technology has fallen to approximately one-fifth of what it was. This, combined with the promotion of various applications by manufacturers such as FLIR and pioneering companies like Grupo Álava, has been essential to the growing market penetration of these cameras. Although they are already among the most widely used industrial technologies, they will soon become a commodity product, and their use will be as commonplace as that of a matrix machine vision camera or a perimeter security camera.
LIDAR TECHNOLOGY
LiDAR technology is a cornerstone of 3D digitization, both for man-made objects and structures and for the natural environment around us. A wide variety of information can be extracted from the 3D point cloud generated by Riegl’s LiDAR devices: how many trees—and with what specific characteristics (height, trunk diameter)—there are across an area of millions of hectares, how many thousands ofcubic meters of earth will need to be moved to build that section of high-speed rail, how many vehicles (and any other obstacles) an autonomous vehicle (on Earth or Mars) will have to navigate around, or which geographic areas are at the highest risk of flooding.
Smartphones with LiDAR technology are already on the market, so in the coming years we’ll see drones, self-driving cars, industrial robots, and other devices incorporate this technology, just as cars now come equipped with power windows. As for applications related to mapping/surveying and geodesy, LiDAR sensors will increasingly come into play, offering advantages in terms of speed and accuracy when digitizing large numbers of objects and very large environments—a development that will be made possible in part by the benefits of quantum computing.
Power Converters
Regenerative power converters help advance developments in such important fields as electric mobility, energy management, and renewable energy. By using these systems, electrical installations require smaller components, and power consumption is drastically reduced to just system losses, thanks to the principle of energy regeneration. This equipment not only reduces development and testing costs but is also highly energy-efficient.
Over the next few years, the development of these technologies will enable us to make significant progress toward cleaner energy sources that have a lower environmental impact. We are proud to work alongside Cinergia and its renewable energy teams to create a more sustainable future with significant environmental improvements.
COMPUTER VISION
Machine vision gives automation devices the ability to “see,” enhancing their capabilities to remain at the forefront and optimize industrial performance. Cameras from Basler, an international leader in machine vision, combine reliable and robust “made in Germany” hardware design with software that is 100% integrable into any software application in the world of industrial automation. In addition, the wide range of accessories for each camera ensures compatibility and optimizes the performance of the complete solution.
Looking ahead to the coming years, the market for machine vision components is projected to grow by 8%–12%. This is one of the trends in technology, and its major emerging markets include embedded vision, deep learning, 3D vision, and multi- and hyperspectral vision, with a wide variety of applications that significantly improve the quality of processes.
Shakers
These systems are essential for innovation and industrial progress. Manufactured by our partner, IMV Corporation, they simulate vibrations for technologies under development. This allows us to detect design flaws, verify compliance with regulations, subject them to fatigue testing, or simulate impacts. Following these tests, the product’s design and quality can be refined before it is launched on the market.
Shakers are used in the final stage of the manufacturing process and can be found in a wide variety of industries. Among other success stories, there is a cell phone manufacturer that has improved quality and/or obtained certification to sell its products in Europe. Another use case is an automotive headlight manufacturer that needs to improve quality and/or obtain certification from its customer (the vehicle manufacturer). In Spain, more and more companies are beginning to conduct these R&D tests to optimize their products’ performance; using shakers to certify the quality and design of cutting-edge technologies is becoming a necessity for all manufacturers if they want to remain competitive in the market.
SENSORY
Sensórica specializes in complex, specialized applications, providing effective solutions to ensure the smooth operation of a wide range of industrial processes. In addition, the sensors are beginning to incorporate wireless and iCloud technology.
Vaisala, one of the most recognized manufacturers in the market, is expanding its range of wireless devices and creating new cloud-based platforms, such as the recently launched Jade. It controls the entire manufacturing process (research, development, and production) to ensure high quality, and integrations for all physical variables are currently being developed. This allows us to achieve full compatibility among the different sensors.
Sensors are beginning to be used in rapidly emerging niche areas of the life sciences sector: CO2 measurement and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-based biodecontamination. Therefore, to foster these technological trends, it is vital to invest time and money in training programs designed to promote these applications.
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