October 2024 Newsletter

October 2024 Updates for Design Engineers 

Read the latest semiconductor and electronics news and updates. 

In this edition:

1. McKinsey Electronics at Electronica 2024: Expanding Horizons in Africa, Turkey and the Middle East.

2. Ushering in Lifelike AI-Driven Digital Humans: NVIDIA ACE Debuts at GITEX 2024.

3. ASML Shares Drop 16%, Erasing $53B in Value.

4. NI Latest Product Announcements.

McKinsey Electronics at Electronica 2024: Expanding Horizons in Africa, Turkey and the Middle East 

McKinsey Electronics is gearing up for Electronica 2024, the global electronics event in Munich from November 12 until 15. Visitors to our booth (Hall C5, Booth 141) can expect a comprehensive showcase of solutions that address the dynamic needs of the semiconductor and electronics markets across Africa, Turkey and the Middle East.

The focus of McKinsey Electronics at the event will revolve around strategic expansion into emerging markets. By providing tailored engineering solutions and local support teams in the region, we demonstrate that we are more than just box movers; we are a vital strategic partner, assisting manufacturers in scaling operations effectively.

Attendees at the event will also be able to explore how we can assist in accelerating market entry and optimizing operations to meet regional demands. This event serves as a launchpad for partnerships in sectors ranging from telecom infrastructure to consumer electronics across these high-potential regions.

Expand to Africa, Turkey and the Middle East with McKinsey Electronics.

Visit our booth at electronica 2024, Hall C5, Booth 141. 

Ushering Lifelike AI-Driven Digital Humans: NVIDIA ACE Debuts at GITEX 2024

At GITEX 2024, NVIDIA introduced its Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) to the MENA region, marking a significant advancement in digital avatar technology. ACE enables lifelike characters to engage in real-time, natural language interactions, opening new possibilities across gaming, customer service, healthcare and more.

ACE is a suite of microservices that integrates generative AI technologies, such as NVIDIA NeMo™ for advanced natural language understanding and Audio2Face to synchronize speech with realistic facial expressions. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it offers seamless integration with modern development workflows, giving developers the tools to create dynamic, interactive characters tailored to specific applications.

At GITEX, ACE impressed audiences with its ability to power real-time, interactive experiences. By leveraging NVIDIA’s Riva automatic speech recognition and NeMo’s generative AI, ACE-enabled avatars engage users in fluid, responsive conversations, enhancing immersion in everything from gaming to virtual customer support.

In gaming, developers are using ACE to enhance non-playable characters (NPCs), adding responsive dialogue and dynamic behavior for richer narratives and interactive gameplay. Beyond gaming, ACE is being applied to develop interactive digital agents in industries like e-commerce and healthcare, demonstrating its versatility and impact.

The debut of NVIDIA ACE at GITEX 2024 in Dubai highlights the growing role of AI-powered avatars in transforming industries across the region. From more immersive gaming experiences to personalized virtual assistants, NVIDIA's ACE sets a new standard for digital interaction and will likely drive further innovations in digital human development as adoption expands.

 ASML Shares Drop 16%, Erasing $53B in Value

On October 15, 2024, ASML, the leading manufacturer of semiconductor equipment, experienced a sharp 16% drop in its stock price following the accidental early release of its Q3 earnings report. This decline erased approximately $53 billion in market value within a single day, marking one of the steepest losses in the company's history.

The Q3 report, which exceeded revenue expectations with $8.12 billion in net sales, was overshadowed by a lowered sales forecast for 2025. ASML now projects revenues between $32.48 billion and $37.89 billion for 2025, a downward adjustment from the previous upper estimate of $43.31 billion. The company cited slower-than-anticipated recovery in key markets and cautious spending by semiconductor manufacturers as key factors behind the forecast revision.

The outlook reflects challenges in some parts of the logic segment, which covers processor-manufacturing tools and memory markets, despite continued demand for AI-related technologies such as high-bandwidth memory and DDR5. Investors responded negatively to these developments, given the importance of ASML’s advanced lithography tools in the broader semiconductor ecosystem which enables chipmakers to produce highly complex features with resolutions as low as 13 nanometers, facilitating the production of 7 nm, 5 nm and 3 nm nodes. The impact of this revenue forecast revision reverberated across the industry, affecting other chipmakers like KLA and Applied Materials, which also saw share price declines.

This downturn demonstrates how intertwined ASML's performance is with global semiconductor trends, including demand for AI chips and broader market uncertainties.

For more news, visit our Newsroom. 

NI Latest Product Announcements

As part of National Instruments - part of Emerson's ongoing commitment to innovation, the company is phasing out several models and introducing new replacements that will better meet the needs of test and measurement experts. Here’s a quick overview:

1. Product Updates:

mioDAQ

NI mioDAQ device can take 20-bit, ±10 V measurements and offer simultaneous sampling, ±10 V output channels, and a variety of digital I/O and counter/timer channels for high-performance, flexible test systems.

2. Product Replacements:

   ELVIS III is being replaced by the Digilent Analog Discovery Studio.

Effective replacement for ELVIS in circuits/electronics courses. Exploring expansion of the ADStudio product line to cover controls, mechatronics, etc.

• myDAQ will now be supported by the Digilent Analog Discovery 3.

Higher performance than myDAQ and adds logic analyzer and many other features.

• The roboRIO 1.0 is transitioning to the roboRIO 2.0.

More memory and other improvements.

• myRIO-1900 will be replaced by Digilent Raspberry Pi Hats or compactRIO/single-boardRIO product line.

Exploring more Raspberry Pi add-ons and better LabVIEW support to cover controls, mechatronics, etc. roboRIO 2.0 offers many of the capabilities as myRIO with a faster processor, more memory, and more I/O.

• myRIO-1950 will be replaced by Digilent Raspberry Pi Hats or compactRIO/single-boardRIO product line. (Digilent Nexys A7: FPGA Trainer Board).

Exploring more Raspberry Pi add-ons and better LabVIEW support to cover controls, mechatronics, etc.

For board-only applications (embedded) the sbRIO family of products are good options to consider.

Important Dates: 

• Last Time Buy Date: April 30, 2025

• Support and Repair Services: Available until July 30, 2027. After this date, repair services and support will no longer be guaranteed.

3. Enhanced LabVIEW for Academic Use AVL:

NI is offering a suite of benefits for academic institutions through LabVIEW for Academic Use AVL. The goal is to benefit from the added entitlements and price reduction.

Why migrate to LabVIEW for Academic Use AVL:

• Teaching & Research: Perfect for both teaching and research purposes, providing a robust platform for educational institutions. This includes comprehensive teaching materials and exercises that can be incorporated into curricula.

• Cost Savings: Reduced costs while accessing essential tools for academic research.

• Education Services Credits: Free credits based on seat count, usable for CLAD exams or Public Virtual Instructor-Led Training, aiding students in their transition to industry or further research.

• Pre-recorded Training: Access to pre-recorded courses to support educators and students alike.

This initiative is designed to support educators with valuable content and resources that facilitate a rich learning experience. The migration will also extend the capabilities of just one software with application software for data logging, analysis, automation and so much more. Some added benefits include access to on-demand training, dedicated training credits for instructors and certification, thus equipping students with a beginning-to-end experience of industrial test and measurement projects and roles.

Visit our website for more information about NI's latest products.