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Philip Ling

About Author

Philip Ling - Senior Technology Writer at Avnet

Philip Ling is a senior technology writer with Avnet. He holds a post-graduate diploma in Advanced Microelectronics for Industrialist and has over 30 years of electronics industry experience. Philip has experience both as a design engineer working on mixed signal embedded systems and as a technical journalist and editor covering the industry for several European technical magazines. He has worked for small, medium and large companies as well as startups, and is pleased to say he is constantly learning.

More From Author

Beyond the datasheet: The no-code route to MEMS-based machine learning at the edge

By Philip Ling - January 17, 2025

Technical article

New MEMS sensors from STMicroelectronics integrate an innovative machine learning core, making it simpler to deploy machine language in many applications where motion detection is used. We take a look beyond the datasheet to see how it works.

Time-of-flight distance measurement enables emerging markets

By Philip Ling - August 7, 2024

Technical article

Smart homes, industrial automation and healthcare can all benefit from new technologies for detecting proximity, presence and distance. Time-of-flight solutions offer many benefits, so how do they work?

How to win at e-ride-share

By Philip Ling - April 8, 2024

Technical article

Electrification of transport is happening on a personal scale. Micromobility enables people to move around cities with greater freedom. What advanced features can we expect from technology providers?

Avnet_case_study_series_wear_tech_part_1

AI-powered wearable targets preventable deaths – Part 1

By Philip Ling - April 5, 2024

Technical article Case Study

Proof of Concept. The first part in an Avnet Case Study Series

a-construction-site-seen-from-above-at-night

From idea to proof of concept for connected lighting in less than two months

By Philip Ling - March 28, 2024

Technical article Case Study

Developing an IoT-enabled modular system with Clear-VU Lighting extends the benefits of LED solutions targeting harsh environments.

seedlings growing out of a circuit board

Hitting the triple bottom line drives sustainable design

By Philip Ling - December 6, 2023

Technical article

Sustainability at a corporate level continues to gain attention. Commercial success comes with social responsibility, something referred to in business as the triple bottom line and represented by the three Ps: profit, people and planet.

How to secure your IoT infrastructure

By Philip Ling - December 6, 2023

Technical article

IoT infrastructure security needs to be treated holistically. The challenge many OEMs face is implementing a homogeneous solution to a network of heterogeneous devices.

The AMD platform approach to robotics delivers significant productivity gains

By Philip Ling - November 10, 2023

Technical article

Robots are transforming industry by boosting productivity. Standardizing on common hardware and software platforms accelerates product development.

How is AI changing the electronics industry?

By Philip Ling - October 6, 2023

Technical article

Artificial intelligence has the potential to influence every part of any company. As a trusted partner and leader in technology, Avnet has a responsibility to its customers and suppliers to consider the impact of AI from all angles.

a-microchip-with-the-image-of-a-neural-network-on-the-top

Why AI must redefine processor architectures

By Philip Ling - October 3, 2023

Technical article

Artificial neural networks are complex, multi-layered and multi-dimensional arrays of interconnected numerical values. Executing the math behind those connections is at the heart of AI. This math is unlike any other in the digital domain.

Why AI and embedded design share the same DNA

By Philip Ling - September 26, 2023

Technical article

Intelligence comes in many forms. More of us are interacting with devices that appear to understand us. What and how they understand depends on the technology inside. How are embedded engineers implementing intelligence?

An environmentally conscious semiconductor industry takes on sustainability

By Philip Ling - September 25, 2023

Technical article

Momentum is building to make the semiconductor supply chain more sustainable. Leading manufacturers are committing to deadlines for carbon neutrality, as we discuss the second issue of What’s Next, Avnet’s digital magazine.

A-hand-reaching-out-to-touch-a-display-panel-showing-automation-technology-system

Factory automation realizes boost from new technologies

By Philip Ling - July 6, 2023

Technical article

The technologies behind automation must combine reliability and stability with an eagerness to develop in a commercially responsible way. Discover the technologies making the grade right now.

What are the trends in embedded electronics?

By Philip Ling - March 24, 2023

Technical article

The electronics industry just returned from this year’s Embedded World exhibition and conference in Nuremberg, Germany. So, what are the latest trends? What’s hitting maturity and what do we need to watch out for in the months to come?

factory showing IoT data on screens above the machines

When edge and enterprise collide

By Philip Ling - March 9, 2023

Technical article

See the building blocks of a connected world at Embedded World 2023

IoT HVAC Air Pressure Monitoring Display

Avnet and supplier partners demonstrate connected capabilities at Embedded World 2023

By Philip Ling - March 8, 2023

Technical article

Avnet will be supported by several semiconductor supplier partners and cloud platform providers at Embedded World 2023 to demonstrate real-world solutions based on IoTConnect®.

Avnet and supplier partners put HVAC control in the cloud to turn data into insights

By Philip Ling - March 3, 2023

Technical article

Efficiency in the way we create, distribute and consume energy is becoming a priority in nearly every vertical market application. The IoT is here to help, as shown with this HVAC system control demonstration.

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads

By Philip Ling - February 17, 2023

Technical article

We’re a grounded species reaching for the stars. Personal aircraft will let us colonize the air immediately above us and expand our cities in ways that don’t need networks of multilane highways. For eVTOLs, air taxis are just the beginning.

Do you need to know more about vehicle electrification?

By Philip Ling - January 4, 2023

Technical article

The POWER UP webinars from Avnet Silica dive deep into the world of electric vehicles. Watch this series of free webinars to learn more about what’s involved with vehicle electrification and charging.

Putting 5G in space for the massive IoT

By Philip Ling - January 4, 2023

Technical article

5G cellular networks and the massive IoT are a natural fit. Putting 5G cell towers in space is taking massive to a new level. To learn more, Avnet spoke with Sateliot Chief Business Officer Gianluca Redolfi, one of the pioneers in this area.

Get your free copies of the EV Charging Infrastructure Design books

New, free design books deliver inside story on EV charging

By Philip Ling - December 19, 2022

Technical article

EV charging infrastructure has the capacity to support many more suppliers at every stage in the supply chain. If you manufacture EV supply equipment, or are looking at the market opportunity, these new design resources are a must-read.

person taking a picture of a virtual prototype

Get ready to replace your prototype with a virtual model

By Philip Ling - December 5, 2022

Technical article

The sand is shifting between what is real and what is virtual. If the result is the same, does it matter? The engineering community is embracing virtual prototyping to increase innovation and reduce time to market.

Do we really need to prototype anymore?

By Philip Ling - December 5, 2022

Technical article

We live in the age of over-the-air updates and constant upgrades. These can be used to fix bugs, but they are also used to deliver value-added or paid-for features. Does that make the concept of prototyping redundant?

AI-based image recognition does the hard work

By Philip Ling - October 21, 2022

Technical article

Taking pictures is easy. Analyzing images is the hard part. Let algorithms do the heavy lifting and get better results, faster.

Build better IoT applications

By Philip Ling - October 20, 2022

Technical article

More OEMs like you now favor a microservice architecture. Remove the barriers to agile development and give your engineers greater freedom. The results will be worth the effort of migration.

A woman sitting and eating a snack while she is being monitored by a wearable device

Seven strategies for designing wearable devices on an ultra-low power budget

By Philip Ling - September 13, 2022

Technical article

The design requirements for wearable devices are unique amongst embedded systems. Design engineers don’t have the freedom to trade size against weight, or performance for power.

Why should you consider a smart monitoring system for your diesel generator?

By Philip Ling - August 17, 2022

Technical article

The IoT is changing the way we manage and maintain essential assets. Smart sensors, cloud-based analytics and remote management are coming together to increase productivity, efficiency and reliability.

The IoT is ready for the era of virtual clinical trials

By Philip Ling - August 15, 2022

Technical article

Clinical trials take time and money, but they also need participants and lots of data. The IoT is now being used to capture that data from participants virtually and to conduct clinical trials in the digital domain.

Commercial greenhouses are using the IoT and automation control systems to maximize yield

By Philip Ling - August 8, 2022

Technical article

Connected sensors and the experience of professional growers are coming together to change the shape of farming. The greenhouses of the future will leverage the IoT to increase crop yield and reduce energy usage.

Can green hydrogen become the world’s most sustainable source of energy?

By Philip Ling - August 2, 2022

Technical article

The universe is filled with hydrogen just waiting to be put to good use. Are we on the cusp of an energy revolution?

The entrance to Embedded World 2022 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center

It’s good to be back! Reunited at Embedded World 2022

By Philip Ling - July 26, 2022

Technical article

With some new solutions from leading suppliers, and a major announcement between Amazon Web Services and Avnet, the Embedded World exhibition and conference reflects what’s important to the wider industry.

New technologies could make building management, HVAC systems even smarter

By Philip Ling - May 12, 2022

Technical article

The IoT has connected buildings in new and enabling ways. The next stage, already started, is to use AI to make buildings even smarter. AI relies on data, and data comes from sensors essential to these systems.

How to use structured light and image sensors for range detection and identification

By Philip Ling - April 25, 2022

Technical article

Today’s most popular 3D imaging technologies are Time of Flight (ToF), stereo vision and structured light. This article overviews the basic operating principles and the relative strengths, weaknesses and trade-offs associated with each option.

A graph of standing waves occur in transmission lines when there is an impedance mismatch.

The double edge of standing waves

By Philip Ling - April 1, 2022

Technical article

A standing wave occurs when the reflected signal is in phase with the source. When it happens in a transmission line, it is normally unwanted because it results in emitted radiation. However, it is exactly that radiation that maximizes the signal’s streng...

Are microLEDs the next big (small) thing?

By Philip Ling - March 31, 2022

Technical article

MicroLED is an exciting display technology, one that has attracted billions of R&D dollars in recent years. The technology is not ready for mass adoption yet, as the industry has to solve many challenges.

Behind the Datasheet: Vision systems

By Philip Ling - March 22, 2022

Technical article

Embedded vision is the new must-have feature. Size, resolution and performance are all important, but what else do engineers need to consider after finding the right image sensor for their application? Take a closer look behind the datasheet.

Avnet Insights Report: Deconstructing the Chip Shortage

Can you design your way out of a chip shortage?

By Philip Ling - March 21, 2022

Technical article

Several workarounds exist when integrated devices go end-of-life. One workaround is to emulate the part using a programmable device such as a microcontroller, CPLD or FPGA. Is this still an option during a chip shortage?

Workarounds for the current chip shortage

By Philip Ling - March 17, 2022

Technical article

Every vertical market is feeling the impact of the chip shortage. How we deal with it now may leave a legacy. Design engineers are adept at visualizing the requirement and developing a solution, but OEMs need to look at the bigger picture.

How streaming HD video from space enables future missions

By Philip Ling - March 2, 2022

Technical article

As the recent James Webb Space Telescope launch demonstrated, there is no doubt that streaming HD video from space is going to be hugely popular with the public and even more important for the engineers responsible for future missions.

A comparison of vision sensing technologies in autonomous systems

By Philip Ling - February 15, 2022

Technical article

Electronic sensors provide autonomous systems with essential information. The type of sensor used determines how this information is captured and how useful it is. This data-driven approach brings with it some tough design decisions.

A manufacturing production line operating with autonomous robots

Can edge controllers bring balance to the Industrial IoT?

By Philip Ling - January 19, 2022

Technical article

Putting more real-time intelligence at the heart of industrial automation is creating a new breed of control technology. Connectivity and control must go hand in hand in the Industrial IoT, but it requires the best of both worlds.

What does single pair Ethernet bring to the IIoT?

By Philip Ling - January 19, 2022

Technical article

Single pair Ethernet, or SPE, can legitimately be described as a “disruptive technology.” Avnet spoke with George Zimmerman, who chaired the IEEE 802.3cg 10 Mb/s Single Pair Ethernet Task Force, to find out why.

An engineer is standing at a desk, using a computer. His hands are on a keyboard and a mouse, and he looks intently at the screen.

How no-code design could accelerate Industrial IoT development

By Philip Ling - January 14, 2022

Technical article

Developing large numbers of new and diverse devices for an Industrial IoT solution can challenge your engineering resources. Using a no-code approach to development can reduce the size and complexity of that challenge.

Behind the datasheet: HW-RTOS

By Philip Ling - January 12, 2022

Technical article

Using hardware accelerators is nothing new, but what about an accelerator to improve the way your operating system handles data communications?

How to get to market with machine learning

By Philip Ling - January 12, 2022

Technical article

Some may think of machine learning as the supporting act for AI, but in the industrial sector it is the main attraction. We spoke with Avnet Silica’s Michaël Uyttersprot, manager, system solutions, AI/ML and Vision, EMEA, to find out more.

robotic arm using a laptop in a manufacturing environment

Three future Industrial IoT trends manufacturers should think about now

By Philip Ling - January 11, 2022

Technical article

AI may be the headline act, but a greater impact on manufacturing will come from the trends enabled by AI. OEMs can expect to feel the impact in three areas.

Data security in the IIoT is only going one way

By Philip Ling - December 20, 2021

Technical article

Data diodes are older than the internet and only allow information to flow in one direction. They enforce security at the hardware level, but do they still have a place in a world where everything relies on two-way communications?

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