by Dot Cannon
The good news first: Sensors Converge is just about to happen, in San Jose!
Monday, June 27th through Wednesday, June 29th, this “convergence” of design and tech innovation returns to McEnery Convention Center.
The not-so-terrific news has absolutely nothing to do with this fantastic conference. We can’t be there physically this year. (Which should certainly not dim anyone’s conference experience,, but we’re disappointed!)
We’ve been covering Sensors, the precursor to Sensors Converge, since the conference came to Long Beach in 2015. Now in its 37th year, Sensors is the largest annual event dedicated to sensors, connectivity and the Internet of Things.
For a non-engineer like yours truly, the show is a learning experience–and an exciting look at the future. A healthy dose of the “wow” factor is always present when their speakers and exhibitors give updates on current trends in the automotive field, education, robotics and much more.
Some previous highlights
From our experience, here are some highlights of previous years. You won’t want to miss the 2022 edition if you’re onsite!
2022 marks the fourth year of this in-depth look at sensors technology in the autonomous-vehicle area.
Hosted by Marvell Technology Associate Vice President Willard Tu, this is a day of short talks and panel discussions happening Monday. June 27th. Experts from all over the world. give short presentations on emerging technologies for autonomous vehicles.
This year’s sessions include “Major-Market Autonomy: What Sensors Will We Need and Why?”, along with “LIDAR: Sensing the World at the Speed of LIght”, and an afternoon session on “Autoware: The Art of Open Source Reimagines Intelligent Vehicles”.
A personal favorite from Autonomous Technologies Conferences of the past? A 2019 presentation by Dr. Faroog Ibrahim of CalmCar.
Besides monitoring circumstances outside the vehicle, Dr. Ibrahim discussed his company’s driver-monitoring system. He told the audience that this camera system warns drivers who are beginning to fall asleep by measuring factors including abnormal posture and detecting yawns!
Preconference symposia.
2022 Sensors Converge will also include three separate preconference symposia on Monday, June 27th.
This year’s trio includes a track on “Wearables, IOT and Other High-Volume Applications for Printed, Flexible, Stretchable and E-Fabric”, hosted by Roger Grace, of Roger Grace Associates.
Concurrently, PowerRox Chair Brian Zahnstecher will host a symposium on “Sensors Converge with Energy Harvesting to Enable Ultra-Low Power IOT Deployments.”
Meanwhile, the MEMS and Sensors Industry group will host “Sensorizing with MEMS: the Latest in Products, Design and Manufacturing.” (MEMS, if you’re unfamiliar with the term as we were initially, is an acronym for “micro-electrical mechanical systems”. No wonder it’s abbreviated!)
- Keynote sessions
This year’s Sensons Converge will feature two keynote presentations, midmorning on Tuesday, June 28th.
Actor, filmmaker and environmentalist Adrian Grenier begins his keynote presentation on “Technology and Sustainability: Working Together for a Better Future” just after 11.
In addition to his credentials as an actor and filmmaker, Adrian is an Environment Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. He is also the founder of Lonely Whale. a foundation which encourages scientists, organizations. policy makers and documentaries to work together towards ocean conservation.
Immediately following Adrian is MIT Media Research Lab Specialist Dr. Kate Darling, with her keynote, “The Future of Human-Robot Interaction”.
As a leading expert in robot ethics, Dr. Darling is the caretaker of several domestic robots. Her “charges” according to Sensors Converge’s website, include Pleos Yochai, Peter and Mr. Spaghetti. Her keynote will explore the ways we relate to robotic technology and to one another as human beings–complete with an interaction with one of her own domestic robots.
Then, at 11:00 on Wednesday, the 29th, a keynote panel takes the stage, for their presentation: “Ripple Effect: – Unlocking New Applications and Innovations for Radar Through Industry Standardization”.
The panel will consist of five participants: Blumio Co-Founder and CEO Catherine Liao; Nick Colella, of Ford Motor Company; Brandon Barbello, from Google; Raj Khattoi,, from Infineon Technologies; and Kerri Haresign, from the Consumer Technology Association.
And please note…
Now, we’ve noticed a slight change from previous Sensors events we’ve covered. Since the 2022 keynote presentations start at 11 each morning, as opposed to just after 9 am in the past, there will be some conference sessions and workshops prior to the keynotes. Here’s the link to the full schedule.
If you don’t want to miss a minute, you might like to be at McEnery Convention Center at 8:00 am on the 28th and 29th. Networking breakfasts start off both days of Sensors Converge, and conference sessions begin at 9, both mornings.
Meanwhile, the Expo Floor is set to open at 10 am on the 29th.
Now, what about the sessions?
While Sensors Converge features far more workshops, sessions and events than we can list, the WISE program (Women in Sensors and Electronics) is a personal favorite. For this year’s conference, WISE hosts both an opening address by Sheryl Ehrman, Don Beall Dean of San Jose State University’s Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering on the 28th, and a panel on “Women in Sensors and Electronic Engineering” on the 29th. Here’s the link for more information.
Tuesday’s sessions, meanwhile, include presentations on autonomous agriculture and wearables, while the smart-home and smart-city discussions on Wednesday look especially interesting.
And Tuesday afternoon, the “Best of Sensors Awards” happen at 4:00. These are followed by the announcement of competition winners for Infineon’s “Build AI For the IoT” Design Contest.
Have fun and be safe if you go. Here’s the link to Sensors Converge’s updated safety requirements.
And just in case you’re isolating as we are? Here’s some good news: Sensors Converge Virtual happens July 18-20th. It’s global, and free, livestreaming. Here’s the registration link
See you there.