In an interview, Dunstan Power, Director at ByteSnap covers the company’s latest product design – a King’s Award winner – and describes ByteSnap’s initiatives to aid customers meet the challenges of component obsolescence. He also speaks about why negative comments about EVs, and EV charging is misguided and identifies the hot markets in today’s electronics industry.
ByteSnap designed an intrinsically safe, multi-pipe monitoring device for Inductosense, used in chemical plants to measure pipe thickness and prevent corrosion-related failures. The project required overcoming significant technical challenges, such as wide temperature ranges and battery life improvements, resulting in a major redesign and a new handheld reader with enhanced features.
Power then describes other products and services showcased, including access control systems, robotics, IoT devices, and EV charging solutions. He emphasises ByteSnap’s recent focus on services that help customers accelerate time-to-market and manage intellectual property (IP) more effectively.
The conversation shifts to the critical issue of component obsolescence, a growing challenge due to increased integration and bespoke parts in modern electronics. Power recounts his presentation at the Engineering Design Show, where he outlined strategies for minimising the risk and impact of obsolescence. He explains that ByteSnap is launching OMAS (Obsolescence Management as a Service), which monitors customers’ bills of materials, filters out irrelevant component lifecycle updates, and provides actionable recommendations. This proactive approach helps clients avoid last-minute crises and maintain market presence, especially when dealing with semiconductors and microcontrollers, which can have significant software dependencies.
Dunstan introduces SnapPro IQ, a Cloud-based tool for IP protection and remote manufacturing management. This system integrates licensing controls into hardware, ensuring that contract manufacturers cannot exceed authorised production quantities. It also provides factory test monitoring and detailed record-keeping, aiding in quality control and traceability. SnapPro IQ is already in use by an EV charger company, demonstrating its practical value.
The discussion moves to FPGA trends, where Power notes a resurgence in demand, particularly for video and IP streaming applications. ByteSnap now works with a range of FPGAs, from low-cost models to sophisticated, high-performance devices, often for video processing and camera integration. While AI and communications markets are prominent, ByteSnap’s main FPGA work centres on video solutions.
Market insights reveal ByteSnap’s strong presence in industrial, security, military, healthcare, and automotive sectors. Power highlights the steady demand in access control and industrial markets, especially in the UK, and discusses the evolution of EV charging. ByteSnap’s spinout, Versinetic, provides circuit boards and design services for EV chargers, addressing both technical and regulatory challenges, particularly for on-street charging infrastructure.
The conversation concludes with lighter topics, including Power’s recently published mountaineering psychological thriller, which has received critical acclaim.
Power emphasises ByteSnap’s collaborative approach, helping clients refine their ideas and requirements, and their high success rate in bringing products to market. He notes that while customer specifications vary in detail, ByteSnap often assists in developing robust requirements and de-risking projects before full-scale development.
To watch more from the show, visit our YouTube channel.
