MEMS & Sensors Safeguard Autonomous Cars, Boost Agricultural Productivity and Anticipate Needs

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Lama Nachman, Intel fellow and director of the company's Anticipatory Computing Lab, explored contextually aware systems during her keynote. Lachman said that technology needs to be more proactive, anticipating our needs, e.g., Google Now. One challenge lies in using sensors to measure things for which they were not designed, such as emotions and physiology. Lachman exhorted MSEC attendees to develop more configurable systems and sensors so that they can be used for other applications and possibly drive the next "killer app."

Lars Reger, CTO, NXP Automotive Business Unit, described the essential and extensive use of MEMS and sensors in automotive connectivity, autonomy, electrification, and safe and secure mobility during his keynote. Reger noted that "motion sensors are the key to increasing security in keyless entry systems, reducing hacking." He concluded that "entering a new era of automated driving requires functional safety and security," telling MSEC attendees, "we need the best sensors to achieve a failure-free model in autonomous vehicles."

Alissa Fitzgerald, founder and managing member, A.M. Fitzgerald & Associates, noted that the pipeline for emerging technologies generally begins with university labs turning out proof-of-concept devices. "The next $1B product is lurking in a lab somewhere," said Fitzgerald. She also encouraged attendees to look for key trends in emerging technologies, citing "ultra-low power, a migration from capacitive MEMS to piezoelectric sensors and actuators, the stagnation of silicon sensors, and a movement toward paper and plastic sensors." She drew her results from a review of more than 500 papers from academic conferences, filtered for commercial viability.

Henri Hekman, CEO and president of SoilCares BV, explained how his company is using MEMS near infrared (NIR) devices to scan soil samples. "To feed a surging global population, we cannot increase arable land so we must increase agricultural productivity. The place to start is in the soil." Hekman said that SoilCares is conducting trials in Africa and North America as it launches in 20 countries in 2017.

SEMI-MSIG Executive Director Frank Shemansky expanded upon themes from MEMS & Sensors Executive Congress. "From device-makers to commercial application developers, there was a collective buzz around ubiquitous intelligent sensing," said Shemansky. "Speakers explored the critical role of sensing in more natural and immersive user interfaces, including voice, in interpreting emotion, in anticipating needs, in managing medication, and in providing safer, more secure ways to build autonomous vehicles that will actually save human lives. As we look toward 2018 and beyond, the MEMS and sensors industry will continue to work closely with the consumers of our products, as we help them to further advance human-machine interaction in meaningful ways."

Technology Showcase Winner and Hall of Fame Recognitions
A highly anticipated event at the Executive Congress,the Technology Showcase, was a forum where four finalists competed for attendees' votes and the title of "winner." The 2017 Technology Showcase winner, Menlo Digital-Micro-Switch Technology by Menlo Micro, demonstrates fundamental materials' advancements that improve the size, speed, power handling and reliability of MEMS switches. Menlo Micro's MEMS-based switching element is the width of a human hair, enabling RF switching 1,000 times faster and lasts 1,000 times longer than traditional mechanical switches.

SEMI-MSIG also inducted two new members into the SEMI-MSIG Hall of Fame: Raji Baskaran, pathfinding lead, Hardware and Software Co-optimization, Intel Corporation: Saffron Technology Group, and Kevin Crofton, executive vice president and COO, SPTS Technologies, an Orbotech Company.

Upcoming Events
SEMI-MSIG will host a MEMS & Sensors Pavilion at CES 2018, January 12-19, 2018 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.

MEMS & Sensors Technical Congress will take place February 12-15, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey in Monterey, CA.

For a complete list of SEMI-MSIG events, please visit: http://www.semi.org/en/msig-events-and-blog

About MEMS & Sensors Executive Congress
Now in its 13th year, MEMS & Sensors Executive Congress is an annual event that brings together business leaders from a broad spectrum of industries: automotive, communications, consumer goods, energy/environmental, industrial, Internet of Things and biomedical. Premier sponsors of MEMS & Sensors Executive Congress 2017 include: Platinum Sponsor: EV Group; Gold Sponsors: AMEC and SPTS Technologies; Silver Sponsor: Lam Research and NXP; and Bronze Sponsors: Analog Devices, Applied Materials, Okmetic, Tecnisco, ULVAC and X-FAB. Event sponsors include: Coventor, mCube, PNI Sensor and Rogue Valley Microdevices. Media sponsors include: 3D InCites, AZoNano, LUX Research, MEMS & Nanotechnology Exchange, MEPTEC, MIPI Alliance, Semiconductor Packaging News, Sensors Online, Solid State Technology and Yole Développement.

About SEMI-MSIG
SEMI^® connects over 2,000 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. FlexTech and MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) are SEMI Strategic Association Partners, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies. Since 1970, SEMI has built connections that have helped its members prosper, create new markets, and address common industry challenges together. SEMI maintains offices in Bangalore, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley (Milpitas, Calif.), Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.semi.org.

The SEMI logo is a registered trademark, and MEMS & Sensors Industry Group and the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group logo are trademarks of SEMI. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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