Connectivity & communications | Engineers' Insight

The future of the Internet of Things means billions of devices must communicate with servers on the internet, and with each other. Security and connectivity will be paramount. Explore our resources to stay up to date with security and connectivity trends and technology.

What does miniaturisation mean for connector selection?

By Paul Jones - February 9, 2022

As electronic systems become smaller, they also require more component parts in increasingly space-constrained environments to meet extra expectations on functionality. Here Paul Jones explores what they means for connector selection across markets.

How will connectivity enable next generation autonomous vehicles?

By Sascha Spillner - December 6, 2021

It’s clear that the car of the future is autonomous, but what does that autonomy look like, and how will connector technologies play a role in enabling it?

A low angle photo of high rise office buildings

How shifting to modular machine design enables Industry 4.0 strategies

By Paul Jones - September 22, 2021

As more and more factory and warehouse operations adopt Industry 4.0, large machinery is moving away from centralised control models to more modular machine designs. So what challenges are machine designers facing, and how can they overcome them?

Bourns-The-Evolution-Of-Connectivity-For-Bbuilding-Automation-EN-Banner

The evolution of connectivity for building automation

By Martin Keenan - September 20, 2021

Buildings are evolving rapidly as developers try to maximise their returns, users’ expectations change, and climate-change mitigation becomes urgent. Building automation systems are being updated to address these concerns.

How technology is enabling in-home healthcare and monitoring

By Alessandro Mastellari - March 1, 2021

Here, Alessandro Mastellari discusses the challenges of deploying remote healthcare, and the electronics systems that can support it.

The evolution of cellular networks

By Martin Keenan - April 29, 2020

Since the first 5G services were launched in the USA by Verizon and AT&T, 5G networks have been rolled out in a further 17 countries with South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States leading the charge and China catching up fast.

The future is 5G

By Adam Chidley - April 29, 2020

'The explosive growth of the IoT shows no signs of abating, with Gartner forecasting 20.8 billion connected “things” by 2020, and IHS Markit predicting that this number will rise to 125 billion by 2030.'

A photo of various antennas laid out on a white background

4 keys to selecting antennas for small IoT devices

November 19, 2019

Wireless connectivity is a critical enabler for many IoT applications. While a wireless module can simplify the RF subsystem design, a working system requires careful selection of an antenna as well.

And so electronica 2018 is over. In our final post, we look back on the best bits of day three.

From humanoids to holograms and humanity projects - How Avnet showcased the future at electronica

November 16, 2018

And so electronica 2018 is over. In our final post, we look back on the best bits of day three.

Another day at electronica 2018 has passed and it was arguably even busier than the first. A constant stream of customers and suppliers kept the atmosphere on the Avnet Abacus stand buzzing, and our schedule was packed full of great speakers and demo

electronica 2018 day two highlights

November 15, 2018

Another day at electronica 2018 has passed and it was arguably even busier than the first. A constant stream of customers and suppliers kept the atmosphere on the Avnet Abacus stand buzzing, and our schedule was packed full of great speakers and demo

On a crisp morning at Messe Munich there was an excited buzz around the exhibition centre as electronica 2018 opened its doors. Read what happened on day one.

electronica 2018 day one highlights

November 13, 2018

On a crisp morning at Messe Munich there was an excited buzz around the exhibition centre as electronica 2018 opened its doors. Read what happened on day one.

The new era of home security won’t just be an alarm that rings when a lock is picked or a window broken. With the rise of new technology comes the added need to protect a home’s hardware and its software.

Security and surveillance: Two sides of the coin in smart homes

By Martin Keenan - July 9, 2018

The new era of home security won’t just be an alarm that rings when a lock is picked or a window broken. With the rise of new technology comes the added need to protect a home’s hardware and its software.

You've selected your wireless protocol, and you're ready to start designing. But should you take the modular route or build a discrete solution?

Wireless modules point the way for IoT connectivity

By Martin Keenan - June 26, 2018

You've selected your wireless protocol, and you're ready to start designing. But should you take the modular route or build a discrete solution?

Wireless technology is endemic in modern society; broadly speaking we rely on cellular technology to stay connected when we’re travelling, and probably WiFi when we’re not.

Choosing the right wireless technology for your IoT end-device

By Adam Chidley - May 4, 2018

Wireless communications will connect the IoT, but it’s not quite as straightforward as adding a Wi-Fi access point to your home broadband. Avnet Abacus’ Adam Chidley takes a look at low power WANs and why they will be essential in connecting thin

The role of the battery in product design has become increasingly important. In fact, you could say it has provoked a change in design methodology, albeit with a bit of help from legislative bodies.

Optimising battery designs with supercapacitors

By Tim Parker - April 30, 2018

The role of the battery in product design has become increasingly important. In fact, you could say it has provoked a change in design methodology, albeit with a bit of help from legislative bodies.

Just how smart can a smart home get? Tomorrow’s home is a true a brainiac, making decisions for you before you even think to tell it to.

From enabled to proactive: The evolution of home automation

March 29, 2018

Just how smart can a smart home get? Tomorrow’s home is a true a brainiac, making decisions for you before you even think to tell it to.

Do you know where your product has been and where it is going right now? This is the challenge that many manufacturers and logistics companies face in the management of their supply chains, but how can RFID technology solve it?

Enabling smart tracking for the supply chain and Industry 4.0 with RFID

By Adam Chidley - September 27, 2017

Do you know where your product has been and where it is going right now? This is the challenge that many manufacturers and logistics companies face in the management of their supply chains, but how can RFID technology solve it?

Thanks to the emergence of the internet of things (IoT), almost all of today’s electronic device designs will have to integrate some form of wireless connectivity or other. The easiest, quickest and cheapest way to do this is with wireless modules.

State-of-the-art wireless modules save time, space and money

By Martin Keenan - September 12, 2017

Thanks to the emergence of the internet of things (IoT), almost all of today’s electronic device designs will have to integrate some form of wireless connectivity or other. The easiest, quickest and cheapest way to do this is with wireless modules.

In an increasingly connected world, performance demands on antennas are greater than ever. These increased performance demands also have to be balanced with cost, and of course, the limits imposed by the laws of physics, which make antenna design a t

Customising and optimising antennas with materials science and manufacturing techniques

By Martin Keenan - July 14, 2017

In an increasingly connected world, performance demands on antennas are greater than ever. These increased performance demands also have to be balanced with cost, and of course, the limits imposed by the laws of physics, which make antenna design a t

Specialised enclosures and switches are required for electronics’ survival in the great outdoors, writes Jerry Moss, Avnet Abacus.

Weather, corrosion and vandals: Protecting outdoor electronics

By Jerry Moss - June 30, 2017

Specialised enclosures and switches are required for electronics’ survival in the great outdoors, writes Jerry Moss, Avnet Abacus.

Chip-to-chip at the speed of light

By Marco Enge - March 31, 2017

As data centres and data farms continue to expand and grow, better solutions are required for system architectures that allow faster communication and more efficient operation.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of wireless modules for smartphones, including supplying some of the very biggest names in the market, Murata knows a thing or two about wireless technologies, and also about manufacturing modules.

Designing for LoRaWAN - Murata wireless modules

By Martin Keenan - December 1, 2016

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of wireless modules for smartphones, including supplying some of the very biggest names in the market, Murata knows a thing or two about wireless technologies, and also about manufacturing modules.

Bluetooth Beacons and NFC (Near Field Communication) are often mentioned in the same breath, but in terms of technology and applications, they are not really that similar.

NFC vs. Bluetooth beacons: More different than similar

By Martin Keenan - August 12, 2016

Bluetooth Beacons and NFC (Near Field Communication) are often mentioned in the same breath, but in terms of technology and applications, they are not really that similar.

Selecting the right cable and/or connector assembly for a fibre optic installation need not be complex, but it is important to understand the requirements of the environment and the application.

Selecting fibre optic cables

By Marco Enge - July 12, 2016

Selecting the right cable and/or connector assembly for a fibre optic installation need not be complex, but it is important to understand the requirements of the environment and the application.

Battery charging without cables can add convenience, durability and safety to a number of different applications.

A quick introduction to wireless charging

By Alan Jermyn - November 20, 2015

Battery charging without cables can add convenience, durability and safety to a number of different applications.

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications has undergone phenomenal growth in recent years and connectivity is becoming increasingly reliant upon wireless networks.

Latest developments in antennas for M2M communications

By Marco Enge - April 30, 2015

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications has undergone phenomenal growth in recent years and connectivity is becoming increasingly reliant upon wireless networks.

First 1 Last Results Per Page: 30 60 90 All

Complementary Content

${loading}