Year: 2019

Over the past five decades, the advantages of the Taiwan printed circuit board (PCB) industry lay in its complete and centralized supply chain, quality control, and the cross Strait relations. The industry has held 30% market share of the global PCB markets since 2010. Thanks to the rapid development of high-end mobile phones in recent years, the 2017 industrial value of overall PCB industrial supply chain at both sides of the Strait surpassed $30 billion, creating a historical level high. The PCB industry is one of the most competitive industries in Taiwan, while Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) equipment is vital to improving production capacity of PCBs and the yield rate of products. AOI equipment can be placed in the middle of production lines to inspect semifinished products without affecting production capacity. As a result, AOI equipment is an important investment in the PCB manufacturing process with a comparatively high proportion- about 15% of the total investment amount. Difficulties and challenges AOI is an automated visual inspection that scans the surface of a PCB to acquire a clear image. Then depending on computer image processing technology, AOI equipment can check if defects such as short circuits, excessive or insufficient copper, open circuits, nicks, burrs, copper slags, missing components, and deflections exist. As a variety of surface defects exist, the inspection is more difficult compared with that of general electronic components. Currently, AOI inspection is confronted with a phenomenon of overkill. Due to the extremely high yield rate requirement of PCBs, the design parameters of AOI equipment is very strict. As a result, overkill occurs in AOI due to the over sensitiveness of equipment. According to statistics, the overkill rate is as high as 70%, which means 70% of semi-finished goods are qualified. Due to a high overkill rate, a second manual screening must occur to differentiate between real defects and false-positives before they return to the product line. G4 Technology’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Defect Inspection System G4 Technology Co., Ltd in Taiwan has been committed to providing imaging solutions for machine vision and AOI as well as services for enterprises’ successful application of machine vision technology. The company has strictly controlled quality in manufacturing not only to improve the yield rate of products and production efficiency, but also to effectively reduce inspection costs. Recently, G4 Technology launched their AI defect inspection system demo. This system can capture images using an Allied Vision Manta G-032C industrial camera, a Fuji film high resolution lens, and SUALAB’s SuaKIT AI visual inspection software with the latest deep learning algorithm to inspect, detect, mark, and classify PCB defects in real-time. The deep learning technology released by SUALAB utilizes an artificial neural network to analyze PCB images. Compared with traditional visual technology, this defect inspection system can analyze complex images, significantly improve image interpretation skill and accuracy of automatic visual inspection, and conduct automatic classification of defects. The required image data in the initial stage of deep learning algorithm varies with different complexity of images. Generally, 50 to 100 images are needed, which means this system can easily handle customer-specific defect standards. Manta Camera helps in PCB inspection accuracy and stability The Manta G-032C camera equipped in the G4 Technology AI defect inspection system, is a high-quality industrial camera with 656×492 resolution (0.3 megapixels). Its 80 frames per second is enough to meet normal demand. Generally, a model of corresponding neural network is established after 15 minutes. After which, 80 images per second can be collected and processed in real-time on a production line. “When we selected the Manta camera for this PCB inspection demo, we mainly considered the high-speed requirement of the environment for real-time inspection, which required us to transfer images quickly with comparatively small-sized images. This type of camera has a comparatively high frame rate to meet the requirement of inspection speed,” said Ken Chou, the General Manager of G4 Technology, “In addition, Allied Vision cameras are the best match with the AI inspection algorithm due to its German quality and stability. Actually, according to different applications, almost all Allied Vision camera series can be regarded as ideal choices for PCB inspection. For example, if customers have high requirement on inspected image quality, an Allied Vision high resolution camera series such as Prosilica GT can be utilized.” The Manta is Allied Vision’s most versatile GigE vision camera series. Numerous modular options, including angled head and board level versions, facilitate the camera integration in almost any application. The advanced feature set of the Manta, including multi-camera synchronization, user’s instruction and Ethernet trigger function, simplifies the setup of multi-camera applications and enables to reduce the overall cabling efforts and costs.    

Recently a Delta MP5000 portable barrier stopped a stolen Ford Edge crossover SUV at the North Gate of the Naval Air Station – Corpus Christi. The trespasser had driven across the base to escape but crashed into the Delta unit and erupted into flames. The driver was shot and killed. “The charred SUV was seen in Navy photographs on top of the MP5000,” related Greg Hamm, Delta Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “One photo shows the front of the SUV suspended in the air. Parts of the vehicle are on the ground.” Delta’s totally self-contained MP5000 mobile deployable vehicle crash barriers carry a K8 rating (M40 ASTM rating), stopping 7.5 ton (6400 Kg) vehicles traveling 40mph (64kph). They tow into position to control vehicle access within 15 minutes. No excavation or sub-surface preparation is required. Once positioned, the mobile barricades will unpack themselves by using hydraulics to raise and lower the barriers off their wheels. DC-powered pumps will then raise or lower the barriers. Once the event is over, procedures are reversed and the barriers are towed away. Last year, six of the Associated Press (AP) top-10 football schools stayed one step ahead of terrorists and errant drivers on their campuses by identifying vulnerable areas and securing them within minutes with Delta MP5000 temporary, portable barriers. In many situations such as at the air base, the temporary barriers provide more flexibilities than a permanent solution. Delta always keeps an inventory of the MP5000s for purchase and quick delivery at their manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif. In many cases, they are needed for events that come up quickly such as politician or celebrity visits and other unexpected incidents.  

When lifeguard rescue gear had gone missing a few times, and five motors were stolen from another lifeguard club in the region, Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services knew it was time to step up its security. Hamilton-based global technology company Gallagher was happy to get involved, donating an award-winning security system to protect the club’s vital equipment and manage access to different parts of the clubrooms. Andrew Cochrane, Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services Asset Director has been with the club for 24 years. “We are a charity that relies on volunteer support, donations and fundraising efforts for all of our rescue equipment, vehicles and supplies, so any loss is hard to recover from,” said Andrew, “The equipment is not only worth a lot of money, it’s crucial to saving lives. Losing any of it hinders our ability to perform rescues and respond to other emergencies in the wider region.” Between Labour weekend and Easter the club provides volunteer weekend patrols from 10am-5pm. During the busy summer season from mid-December to the end of January regional lifeguards are there every day to keep beachgoers safe and respond to emergencies. The club also has a 24/7 emergency call out squad. Over 15,000 people pass through the building in a year, including school and community groups who use it as a venue. Lifeguards will now be issued with access wristbands to wear while they’re on patrol. Simply swiping the wristband at an access reader will unlock the door. When the day is done, the last one out can set the alarms with a simple exit button at the door. Gallagher’s Mobile Client gives club managers the flexibility to lock and unlock the doors from anywhere, and check in if an alarm is triggered. Steve Cooke, Gallagher Sales Manager, Central North Island said, “It was clear to see how Gallagher could help. Parts of the clubrooms need to be open to the public, but access to the accommodation, office and storage areas needs to be tightly controlled. We installed around $10,000 worth of security equipment to enable all the doors to be managed appropriately. That’s just a small recognition of the enormous value the lifeguards provide to the community.” Gallagher also supports Whangamata Surf Lifesaving, Raglan Coastguard and Waihi Coastguard – among up to 100 other community initiatives across New Zealand each year. “As a security business, keeping people safe is at the heart of what we do; as a result, we’re committed to helping community organisations and causes who share that value,” says Mark Junge, Global General Manager of Gallagher’s security division, “Donating this security system creates a safe and secure environment for staff, volunteers, and other people using the clubrooms – like school groups. It gives lifeguards peace of mind that their people, equipment and vehicles are safe and ready to use when an emergency occurs.”  

The transportation industry is unique in that it plays a role in both the minutiae of our everyday lives and the big picture of the economy’s overall well being. From one’s daily commute by public transit to the movement of goods across countries, the transportation market is extraordinarily crucial to cities around the world and therefore must be functioning at a high level at all times. Providing uninterrupted and efficient transportation service depends heavily on the safety and security of these entities. Due to the high volume of people frequenting transit stations and the importance of the items on ships and ferries, the transportation sector is one that faces significant and complex threats that evolve as the industry advances. The transportation market is heavily regulated to combat these risks and facilitate safe environments, with the implementation of video surveillance a key component of meeting guidelines. Though any kind of surveillance camera provides transportation operators numerous advantages, many are turning to omnidirectional surveillance technology for added benefits. Both 180- and 360-degree cameras enable security personnel to obtain a complete view of transportation entities such as a bus, airport, cruise ship or train station, providing a comprehensive picture with no blind spots. This then leads to various benefits such as: Elevated situational awareness Through the ability to monitor activity across an entire scene, transportation security officials can establish a proactive approach to identifying potential threats before they turn into an incident. Enhanced investigations When an emergency occurs on a method of transportation, an immediate response is necessary to mitigate the risk, restore operations and limit further damage. Omnidirectional surveillance technology provides in-depth intelligence and insight that enables security officials to obtain pertinent details and track suspicious individuals. Improved business operations Innovative surveillance technology can deliver advantages outside of security as well, through the use of high-level analytics for features such as people counting or traffic flow analysis. Optimal mounting options Compact and discreet 180- and 360-degree surveillance cameras are ideal for the transportation industry, where devices must often fit into narrow spaces while still capturing thorough and high-quality imagery. Transportation hubs around the world are looking to omnidirectional surveillance to experience these advantages, and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is a perfect example. SRT installed 360-degree cameras in each of its stations in areas that required wider view recording. SRT was able to increase its situational awareness in regard to threats and incidents, providing officials the views they need to decrease risks, identify potential problem areas and aid police in criminal investigations. Across the globe, public transportation agencies must contend with a number of vulnerabilities and threats on a near daily basis, which is quite simply unacceptable when it comes to the impact that this industry has on the world. The use of omnidirectional surveillance technology can help reduce the severity and frequency of these incidents, leading to a safer transportation process for all.  

Electoral commissions have the delicate task of maintaining reliable and correct electoral registers as part of the execution of the election. To help ensure secure and accurate voter verification before issuing ballot slips, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Philippines has appointed Gemalto, a Thales company, and Nextix as technology partners to develop, deploy and support the Biometric voter verification system for the 2019 Philippines national and local elections. The aim is to automate the verification of voters through the use of their biometrics information. Addressing this need, Gemalto will provide over 30,000 biometric tablets to enable rapid identification and authentication of voters in the designated precincts across the Philippines. With the tablets that feature Gemalto’s Voter Verification System, authorities will be able to reduce fraud by verifying voters’ identity via their fingerprints. This will also help cut waiting times for the voters and authorities tremendously. COMELEC will use the Gemalto solution to verify the identity of voters. This was put to a test at the first time during the mock elections held on 19th Jan 2019, in preparation for the actual polls in May 2019. Instead of manually checking the COMELEC’s voters list, members of the Board of Election Inspectors used the Voter Registration Verification Tablet, a system that removes the need for voters to present their identification card. Thanks to the tablet the electoral board will identify the voter’s with his fingerprint to determine if the voter is registered and whether the individual belongs to the certain precinct. If the individual is a registered voter, the tablet will validate the registration and he will receive the necessary ballot. Fingerprints serve as a key to avoid duplication. The aim is to ensure that citizens are not able to use several identities to vote multiple times. The voter verification system implements a quality control to verify that the data has been captured and verified correctly. Authorities are also able to track voting activity and participation rate via logs and audit reports. These steps will ensure the best possible level of security for elections to take place. “Secure, reliable and comprehensive enrollment and ID verification are the foundations of citizen registration, voting processes and border controls,” said Dir. James Jimenez, “With Gemalto’s voter verification system, we are able to streamline not only the verification but moving ahead, our registration processes bring greater convenience to citizens, guaranteeing the quality and confidentiality of data captured. We are excited to deploy this solution – a first for the Philippines government.” “In today’s environment, authorities face numerous challenges. Biometrics serve as the primary data that establishes an individual’s identity is accurately collected and verified. We are proud that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chose Gemalto biometric solution to verify the identity of voters. It is an honor to help COMELEC transform the agility and efficiency of the voters’ verification and registration processes,” said Tan Teck Lee, Asia President, Identity & Biometric Solutions, Thales.  

School safety and campus security are at the epicenter of today’s conversations. Although reports show a decrease in school crimes in the last two decades, school administrators, parents, faculty and communities are remaining vigilant and taking an active stance in determining how to best protect students and staff and create safe campus environments. Aside from active shooting threats, schools must also take into consideration how to find ways to protect students from other incidents such as theft, assault and even bullying. But how has school safety evolved throughout the years to meet the security needs of today? Not long ago, school security was defined by chains on exterior doors, fences to help keep children within a playground, hall passes for students wandering outside of classrooms and emergency phones in strategic locations on college campuses. With the media attention surrounding active shooter incidents in schools, all eyes are on campus security officials and the tools they are currently using to keep students safe. One security resource that has seen significant improvement is the campus lockdown solution. In the past, when a school or campus was placed on lockdown, key personnel were appointed to manually lock doors with a master key, which was not the most efficient method in a crisis situation. This cumbersome technique put administrators in harm’s way and took critical time to execute. New technologies Fortunately, new technologies have been developed to increase effectiveness and protect faculty in the event of an emergency. An example of this type of solution is Vanderbilt’s Security Management System (SMS). By partnering with Allegion and utilizing Von Duprin Remote Undogging (RU) and Remote Monitoring (RM), K-12 and university facilities are able to utilize an electronic override of mechanical dogging during emergency facility lock-downs. The integration allows campus security officials and administrators to remotely monitor and lock down perimeter doors with the touch of a button during emergencies, enabling faster response times and increased safety. Another key resource that has helped improve campus safety is video surveillance and video management systems (VMS). Video data is not only crucial for school administrators during investigations, but it can also deter theft and vandalism, as well as act as a resource during school security breaches. Remote access Today’s VMS solutions allow administrators remote access to video clips for further management and investigation. In addition, by integrating with Vanderbilt’s Security Management Systems (SMS), access control, digital video and alarm monitoring can be controlled from a single platform, improving efficiencies and communications between technologies. Campuses are complex in design and each face unique challenges when implementing solutions to protect students while also enabling access to facilities for visitors. As campus security needs continue to evolve, the solutions designed to keep students, faculty and staff safe will also increasingly shift to accommodate those needs.