SoftBank and Vayyar to Collaborate on future IoT

31 December, 2017

Softbank empower its IoT offering with two Israeli technologies: 3D Sensors from Vayyar Imaging and a multi-core vision processor from Inuitive

VAYYAR

SoftBank Corp. and Vayyar Imaging Ltd. will from Israel jointly announced today that they have agreed to collaborate in the IoT field. SoftBank will also be the channel priority partner for Vayyar’s products in the Japan market. Vayyar Imaging have invented a new RF-based 3D imaging sensor technology.

Major applications for Vayyar’s products include the detection of displacement and degradation in structures, analyzing people flow, identifying human postures and seeing through solid objects. By combining Vayyar’s products with SoftBank’s IoT platform, AI and big data capabilities, both companies believe they can provide state-of-the-art IoT solutions that are not possible with current conventional technologies.

Vayyar has developed 3D sensing technology base on RF principles. Its semiconductor chip can manage miniature Radar running through multiple small antennas (MIMO) that transmit and receive weak electromagnetic signals in 3.5GHz-10GHz frequencies. The information extracted from those signals can help to detect breast or other cancer masses, look through walls to detect structural foundations, and can track a person’s location and vital signs as they move through a Smart Home, and so on.

iot maket japan statista
IoT market in Japan ($B). Source: Statista

Vayyar Imaging was established in December 2011 by the chairman and CEO Raviv Melamed with VP Research and Development Miri Ratner and CTO,Naftali Chayat. Melamed previously held the role of VP and GM of the Mobile Wireless Group at Intel Corp. On December 15, it has closed a $45 million financing round co-led by Walden Riverwood and ITI. It brings total capital raised to $79 million USD. Vayyar will use the funds to expand into new industries and diversify its sensing product.

Earlier this month, SoftBank made a similar agreement with Inuitive Ltd. from Raanana, Israel, to develop an artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL) and advanced 3D sensing with computer vision capabilities for future IoT. This collaboration will leverage Inuitive’s vision processors and its AI framework with SoftBank’s IoT platforms. Devices such as IoT are becoming more intelligent with the proliferation of AI.

Block diagram of Inuitive NU4000 Processor
Block diagram of Inuitive NU4000 Processor

Implementing AI on the device enabling edge devices to provide human-like interaction while keeping consumer market price tag. Additional benefits of on-chip AI include real-time performance, privacy protection and longer operation time. “We look forward to the results of our collaboration with Inuitive to further accelerate new and exciting capabilities of on-chip AI for millions of devices”, said Hironobu Tamba, Vice President, Head of Smart IoT Division, SoftBank.

Inuitive’s  NU4000 is a multi-core vision processor that supports 3D Imaging, it enhances competitive advantages in the areas of Robots, Drones, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

More information: Vayyar Imagine, Inuitive

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Posted in: AI , IoT , News