Whilst the latest electronic components continue to push the boundaries of performance, there are many that now see Moore's Law reaching its ultimate limits. Electronic devices continue to achieve increasing levels of ubiquity, but for this to continue, electronics need new form factors in order to integrate seamlessly into our surroundings.

RFID is booming - it now accounts for the largest number of silicon Integrated Circuits (ICs) made of one particular type. But in addition to over 20% growth over the next few years, there is much more to come. According to IDTechEx, RFID is moving beyond wireless identification alone to wireless sensing of parameters such as temperature, humidity and much more.

The conductive ink industry is still in search of the next big thing. Adverse competitive pressures in core volume markets has led most suppliers to seek new opportunities. The prevalent strategy is now to have as broad a product portfolio as possible, seeding multiple nascent markets, garnering as much customer feedback as possible and establishing value networks early on.

Advancements in robotics are moving at a very fast pace, spearing ahead the expected proliferation of robots in new and existing applications. Deploying sensors in robotics allows for the creation of robots that can ‘see’ and ‘feel’, in a biomimetic way, just like humans do.

The new report from IDTechEx Research, Energy Independent Electric Vehicles Land, Water, Air 2017-2037, reveals how energy independent Electric Vehicles (EIV) such as solar racers were a curiosity five years ago, too weak to lead to anything generally useful. Then a solar boat and plane went round the world and a solar plane is now being prepared that will rise from earth to 24,386km (80,000ft) on sunshine alone. 

A report providing a comprehensive view on market data; market and technology appraisal and case studies, on the complete picture for printed, flexible and organic electronics has been published, additionally giving detailed ten year forecasts by device type. The market is analysed by territory, printed vs. non-printed, rigid vs. flexible, inorganic vs. organic, cost of materials vs. process cost and much more.

A new report has been announced by IDTechEx Research, entitled Industrial and Commercial Electric Vehicles on Land 2017-2027. Today the industrial and commercial sector represents 60% of the value of the whole electric vehicle market, and it is set to grow 4.5 times in the next decade.

Silicon Valley in California spawns the awesome giants that hold the future in their hands but they cannot solve their traffic problem. Airbus Helicopters from Europe has the Vahana project, creating an autonomous flying vehicle platform for individual passenger and cargo transport, mimicking car sharing, with flight tests in 2017. Reliable sense-and-avoid technology is still needed. Airbus predicts global demand of millions, meaning low costs. ...

In 2016, Li-ion Batteries (LIB) celebrated their silver jubilee, i.e. they have been on the market, virtually unchanged, for the last 25 years. Dr Lorenzo Grande, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx discusses.

Energy harvesting is off-grid production of electricity where it is needed using ambient energy such as wind, tide and waves or just vibration. At power levels of watts to megawatts it is a great success. Examples are the bicycle dynamo, small wind turbine and regenerative braking in vehicles - even conventional ones - nowadays. See the IDTechEx Research report, Mild Hybrid 48V Vehicles 2016-2031.

According to IDTechEx, lithium-ion batteries will dominate the automotive scene over the coming ten years and possibly the coming 15 years. During that time we shall see peak lead acid battery the biggest nail in its coffin being when electric vehicles more widely abandon them and even those conventional vehicles modified to stay legal under impending carbon dioxide laws abandon them, relying totally on lithium-ion units.

Recent IDTechEx Research analysis has shown that the conductive ink business was on the cusp of rapid and comprehensive change. According to Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Research Director at IDTechEx, changing business dynamics has forced many suppliers to change strategy, focusing on  emerging and nascent applications in the hope that some will grow in the future to compensate for the commoditization and/or decline in core markets.

Electric vehicles have gone from curiosity to being a frequent news item and, if you live in Norway or the Netherlands, something you see often. However, that is nothing compared to EVs shaking the foundations of society over the coming decade from robot agriculture and delivery to almost free travel in sunny countries and almost eliminating air pollution even in mining. The IDTechEx Research overview report, “Electric Vehicles Change ...

IDTechEx Research has announced the availability of a new report, Triboelectric Energy Harvesting (TENG) 2017-2027, which explains energy harvesting, and specifically triboelectricity and the devices resulting, relating it to other forms of electrostatic and other energy harvesting methods to reveal lessons from the real world.

  It has been announced by IDTechEx Research that Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh will be a keynote speaker at the Display Innovation Taiwan Conference 2016.

As detailed in the IDTechEx report, Mild Hybrid 48V Vehicles 2016-2031, this option will become a huge business from 2017 as Ford, Hyundai, Bentley, Volkswagen, Audi, Geely and many others adopt them as the most cost-effective way of meeting 2025 and 2030 carbon dioxide emissions regulations while sharply improving economy - even improving performance in some respects. By Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman, IDTechEx.

Tesla is an eye-catching company active in clean energy applications - not only pure electric cars, but also home battery systems. With its launch of the Powerwall on 30th April, 2015, and every progress update on its Gigafactory’s building, Tesla has continue to fuel interest in home battery systems. By Dr Xiaoxi He, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx.

Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman, IDTechEx, was interviewed yesterday (27th July 2016) by BBC Television World News in a live programme transmitted worldwide. The subject was the opening of the Tesla battery Gigafactory billed as the world's largest factory building. There had been talk in the press of this giving Tesla global battery dominance and even leading to ten times global battery output and the BBC sought reveal the true situation.

IDTechEx Research has been following and analysing the conductive inks and pastes market for many years. It finds that this $1.3bn market (based on silver prices around mid-January 2016) is subject to major change with long-lasting consequences on the business models of many large incumbent suppliers. By Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Research Director, IDTechEx.

The market value for residential, commercial & industrial and utility-scale battery systems will reach $6bn in 2026, as analysed in IDTechEx’s report Stationary Batteries for Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Utilities 2016-2026: Market, Opportunities, Players. By Dr Xiaoxi He, Technology Analyst, IDTechEx.