Wednesday 29 January 2025 - State of the industry update on autonomous cars and factors driving demand for higher-performance radars; State-of-the-art technology from tier ones; Next-generation technologies from start-ups; Longer-term prospects for automotive radar

Quantum computers can be built in many ways. You may be familiar with the competing modalities claiming to offer various advantages over others in terms of quality, scalability, cost, and more. However, it is increasingly apparent across them all that new generations of optics and photonics technologies will be essential. This opens an exciting supply chain opportunity for many players, old and new, in the photonics eco-system.

The HPC hardware market is set for enormous growth driven by the ongoing AI boom, with a market value exceeding half a trillion dollars predicted by 2035. HPC has long been an integral tool across critical industries, from facilitating engineering modeling to predicting the weather. AI has intensified development in the sector, growing the capabilities of hardware technologies, including accelerators, interconnects, and memory, at astounding rates.

Sensor technology comes in many shapes and sizes, designed to measure a wide range of metrics for a host of different applications. There are sensors to collect data from almost all physical parameters: motion, magnetic field, current, temperature, force-light intensity - the list goes on. These miniaturized components are everywhere, from our smart-phones and home appliances to within cars, factories, and satellites.

Chiplet technology is poised to revolutionize the semiconductor industry by offering a flexible, cost-effective solution that enhances performance while addressing supply chain challenges. As outlined in the IDTechEx report "Chiplet Technology 2025-2035: Technology, Opportunities, Applications," this technology will continue to create opportunities for innovation across various sectors, driving growth and fostering collaboration among industry players.

The data center cooling value chain is long, complicated, and chaotic, consisting of multiple stakeholders. Data center cooling happens on multiple levels including chip and server level, as well as the rack and facility level.

As well as being heroic in many ways, quantum technology could also be a large threat to security over the next 30 years when used to break cryptographic and authentication algorithms that many companies rely upon to keep data safe.

IDTechEx predicts that GPUs with a TDP of over 1500W could be expected over the next year in 2025, with the management of energy costs becoming slightly trickier. Thermal management and cooling systems will therefore need to become a main consideration in data center designs to enable efficient cooling, enhanced thermal efficiency, and reduced energy waste.

In the last week Google's latest quantum breakthrough has been splashed across the headlines. This has created a surge of interest in quantum and the revolutionary potential of this technology. IDTechEx has been following key trends in the quantum technology market for many years, and this article picks out key takeaways you should know that go beyond the buzz.

Thursday 19 December 2024 - What is quantum computing, and what is the state of the industry?; How is the industry evolving as commercialisation ramps up?; How do scalability challenges vary between quantum computing modalities?; What are some key updates from major players in the eco-system from 2024?; Which trends can be expected in the quantum computing market in 2025 and beyond?

Ensuring that a suitable diagnostic service is provided for insured battery deployments can be advantageous. Already, the market has seen arrangements whereby an insurer will offer better premiums for fleet and BESS owners should they use machine-learning-assisted diagnostics services.

IDTechEx predicts that 2024 and the coming couple of years will be seen as the hockey-stick moment for robotaxis. Companies across the US and China are preparing for a mass roll-out of services. Cruise was one of the early leaders in robotaxi development, getting off to a good start and attracting the attention of General Motors who acquired the company in 2016. However, in December 2024 it appears that GM and Cruise's robotaxi endeavour is coming to a premature end.

As applications for wearable technology grow, there are increasing opportunities for sensors that can detect more advanced metrics, be integrated into novel form factors, offer enhanced performance, or demand less power and space. Innovations in wearable sensor technology are expanding the envelope of biometrics accessible through watches and skin patches, addressing the rising demand for remote patient monitoring and decentralized clinical trials but also increasing consumer expectations.

As quantum computing capabilities are becoming more sophisticated, so has engagement from research institutions and supercomputing centers who are investing tens of millions for on-premises installations of the latest machines. So, as pressure mounts on quantum computing to continue showing it is on track to provide a return on investment from governments and private ventures alike - what are the crucial next steps?

Industrial Internet of Things sensor technology (IIoT) seeks to enable greater industrial automation, improved worker safety, and streamlined maintenance planning. From cameras, LiDAR, and radar for machine vision in robotics, to skin patches and miniaturized gas sensors in smart personal protection equipment, emerging IIoT applications present growth opportunities for a variety of sensor technologies.

Thursday 12 December 2024 - Machine Learning Methods for Battery Development, Manufacturing and Management; An introduction to challenges in the battery industry; An overview of machine learning and how it can be applied for batteries; Use-case analysis for five different market sectors Business model analysis for the overall market; Qualitative conclusions on how and where machine learning will see use over the next few years

Thursday 19 December 2024 - What is quantum computing, and what is the state of the industry?; How is the industry evolving as commercialisation ramps up?; How do scalability challenges vary between quantum computing modalities?; What are some key updates from major players in the eco-system from 2024?; Which trends can be expected in the quantum computing market in 2025 and beyond?

The development of autonomous buses and roboshuttles is likely to continue somewhat slowly due to a lack of funding and regulatory challenges. However, IDTechEx highlights the next stages of developments within their report, and with the already commercialized examples of autonomous city buses and minibusses, success in the industry is increasingly likely.

As the electric vehicle (EV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) industries grow, requirements for the batteries that power them become more demanding. To achieve more energy-dense batteries that aren't unsustainably expensive, faster battery development is needed, as well as more efficient management, manufacturing, and recycling methods. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play an important role in achieving these goals.

Utilizing alternatives to helium where possible could allow for a greater conservation of helium, which could prove to be necessary for the market going forward. IDTechEx reports that since 2005, there have been 4 supply shortages of helium, each resulting in high price volatility, with the price of helium having almost doubled since 2021.