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In another era, fiber interfaces demonstrated by FPGA vendors at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) were a big deal. In the late 1990s, the appropriate physical-layer fiber for 10G Ethernet and Sonet was considered critical, and shows like ECOC and Optical Fibers in Communications (OFC) were must-attend affairs. Then the optical and Internet recession of 2001 hit.
In the succeeding decade, Sonet all but vanished, to be replaced by the Optical Transport Network. Optical OEMs fell by the wayside. Ethernet at 10 Gbits/sec experienced a slow rollout, which meant 40G and 100G Ethernet remained laboratory curiosities. And the OFC and ECOC shows lost a lot of luster, despite the service-provider and enterprise die-hards who still wanted to see new optical activity at switch and component levels.
The Optical Internetworking Forum, which absorbed Network Processing Forum seven years ago, never gave up the faith. It pioneered many physical-interface and packet standards that were critical for the continued development of the all-packet optical network.
Xilinx and OIF came together at the recent ECOC to demonstrate a working 100G OTN link, using four 25-Gbit channels carried by a CFP2 module designed by Finisar Inc. Many vendors have worked with 100G links using the original 10-channel CFP, but a four-channel CFP2 may prove optimal, with a reasonable power budget.
Xilinx's Virtex-7 H580T FPGA uses GTZ transceivers operating at 28.05 Gbits/sec (25G plus overhead), linking to a Finisar module running at 27.95 Gbits/sec per channel. The interoperability demo shows the compliance with OIF's CEI-28G-VSR standard, at both physical and data-link layers.
This is hardly the end of the line for Xilinx. The company revealed, at the time of its 3D process technology announcement two years ago, that it was working on a MAC for 400G Ethernet operation. Two years later, there are few system or board-level players even experimenting with 400G Ethernet yet.
Xilinx, and OIF by association, consequently find themselves in a position similar to Altera Corp with its work with on-chip optical subassemblies. The idea of placing a TOSA or ROSA inside an FPGA package could be revolutionary — if customers had the guts to design that way.
Links operating at 40G and 100G for both Ethernet and OTN are now commonplace. Markets may ramp slowly, the way they did for 10G Ethernet, but many datacenters need this speed today. It's too bad more designers aren't paying close attention to the OIF work at the optical trade shows. Sure there are tough decisions to be made between four channels of 25G and 10 channels of 10G to implement 100G links, but this should imply a market of system diversity, not one of OEM inaction.
Editor's note: This blog was originally posted to EDN.
>>The idea of placing a TOSA or ROSA inside an FPGA package could be revolutionary — if customers had the guts to design that way<<
Xilinx has been working on different ideas and i think it's very important now considering the shifting of communications towards a unified one – vehicle infotainment, mobile devices and others in particular.
I found your article fascinating. I never imaginged there would be so many antennae in a car but it is obvious once you think about it. How many discrete antennae are in the new multi modules and how many discrete transceivers or is it possible to have one set that does all frequencies (I doubt it is possible)?
Flyingscot,
You would be surprised to know how much design manufacting is changing, along with components, and materials. Some days ago I was at the Design Museum in London, (I am writing an article about it for EBN) where there is an exhibition on new manufacturing techniques, and their applications in different industries.
Multiple antennas in a car follows the need of increasing connectivity between the car, and everything else, making the car a capsule of tranportation that is not any more isolated from the rest of our life.
-Susan
Will they soon amalgamate few of antennas and get rid few of them?
Will all automaker will follow some industry/ieee standard to reduce cost of antenna for end user?
>>Will all automaker will follow some industry/ieee standard to reduce cost of antenna for end user?<<
I am not sure about your question. But emerging opportunities in automotive industry would spur supply chain so also, drive competition within OEMs.
Wale,
We are about to see an Insane Amount of Automation Globally in the Auto space.
Do watch this Video on how the Tesla Car is Manufactured in America(produced by Wired).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_lfxPI5ObM
I am very sure this will spur Tremendous amounts of Innovation in the Supply Chain.
Question,is will this Innovation be beneficial(or not) for the World today?
Unfortunately I really don't have the right answers today.
At a time when Unemployment is Extremely-Extremely High Globally maybe we are not making the Right choices here.
>>At a time when Unemployment is Extremely-Extremely High Globally maybe we are not making the Right choices here<<
In your own opinion what do you think of the convergence of communications of vehicle, physical systems and mobile devices? Are they by any means disrupting other fields by contributing to unemployment? Surely supply chain is going to be the biggest beneficiary?
>>I am very sure this will spur Tremendous amounts of Innovation in the Supply Chain<<
No doubt about it, i can categorically say that this's currently happening in my place.
@Flyingscot,
I believe with time that would be a possibility.
Wale,
Not at all surprising.
All these various new technologies get melded together in ways which one can't even fathom/Imagine today.
That's just the way it is.
I am sure we will continue to be amazed by what all can happen every single day through these convergences.
FLYINGSCOT,
Perhaps for car environment, i think it is ok to have multiple transceivers instead of trying to compress all the functions into 1. This is because the space constraint is not as stringent as the mobile environment.
Wale,
The very fact that this will lead to Driver-less Cars itself should be a very worrying sign.
Maybe not a big issue in America/Europe but in most of Asia and Africa a lot of people make their Living by working as Chaffeurs/Drivers.
Can you imagine what will happen if they Don't have work thanks to this innovation?
Frightening.
Really frightening.
I believe , there is a lot of scope here to reduce the number of antennas. Can a common career system be developed which will be able to carry all the required signals in a multiplexed manner or may be a packet switched network which can have all the required signals in digitized formats?
This surely is a challenge for innovators in automotive electronics
Interesting article Pallab. I am confident as everyone should be that the designers of the vehicle will work a way out for fitting these multiple antennas without affecting the look of the car. However, my concern is that the more communicaton technologies are increasing in the cars, the risk of accidents is increasing as the attention of the drivers is diverting.
Prabharkar, good idea. I am sure this will be in consideration by the manufacturers providing communications equipment to the vehicle manufacturers. It is way better solution than finding out ways to fit 20 antennas in a way that none interfere with each others' signals.
t.alex
“i think it is ok to have multiple transceivers instead of trying to compress all the functions into 1. This is because the space constraint is not as stringent as the mobile environment.”
As we have now inserted quad-core processors in smartphones of 6 inches, we will find a way to accomodate all the transceivers in a compact manner. However, I will disagree with you as I think that car manufacturers will try to find a solution to fit all into 1 so as to resolve the space constraint even if it is not a big problem.
WaqasAltaf,
yes that can be a good point.. What can be the advantage of fitting all transceivers into 1?
This is definitely exciting! At the moment, people are have been designing with 10G into the latest products. And with the never ending hunger for data of internet and mobile applications, 100G is the way to go.
Pallab, now the new generation cars are equipped with lots of communication system and satellite guidance system. So the need of human-driver intervention is very less. What happens if the signals get collapsed at different frequency?
“The very fact that this will lead to Driver-less Cars itself should be a very worrying sign.”
Ashish, Google already started innovation with driver less cars. I think the car navigation is controlled through GPS and satellite system. I think such drivers less cars are suitable only for countries have good, straight roads.
I think Google's strategy is working well for now and by the time driverless vehicles gain full commercialization worldwide, somehow would instigate improvement in some of the places with bad roads.
Wale,
But are you sure that this strategy will benefit Society as a Whole?
I am not so sure.
There's growing in uncertainty in minds of people but yet demand for vehicles equipped with communication and nagivation systems would still be there.
“I think Google's strategy is working well for now and by the time driverless vehicles gain full commercialization worldwide, somehow would instigate improvement in some of the places with bad roads.”
Wale, I think Google had tested the vehicle on ideal test condition. Before commercialization, they have to test it at different scenarios like highly traffic roads with S and C curves having zig- zag roads.
“But are you sure that this strategy will benefit Society as a Whole? I am not so sure.”
Ashish, the primary observation is most of the drivers will loose their job.
t.alex, if those transceivers are visible, the look of the car will get affected. If the transceivers are fitted all into 1, this won't be a problem. Designers will prefer a compact solution in my opinion.
Jacob,
Yes That was my Primary fear too.
Problem is we are not Generating Sufficent Jobs today to make up for the Catastrophic Losses that will be inflicted on Society if we Its a automate Cars fully.
Its a Recipe for Social Disaster.
Wale,
I am not at all Surprised,As Long as Capital Remains so cheap compared to labor thanks to Artifical Liquidity pumped in by Global Central Bankers,this will always be the case.
Do check these articles out to get a sense of the way Things are about to change(and not always for the Better).
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-02/rio-replacing-train-drivers-paid-like-u-s-surgeons.html
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324144304578624221804774116
Frightening for Sure!
'Problem is we are not Generating Sufficent Jobs today to make up for the Catastrophic Losses that will be inflicted on Society if we Its a automate Cars fully. Its a Recipe for Social Disaster.'
Ashish, it can be in reverse too. We had seen similar situation, while deploying computer and automation in industries and factories. But that in turn creates more job opportunities.
“Do check these articles out to get a sense of the way Things are about to change(and not always for the Better). Frightening for Sure!”
Ashish, thanks for the links. Frightening or not?
Jacob,
I disagree(Strongly).
I am seeing that first hand in the Auto Industry(as well as in Core Manufacturing).
So many companies which previously manufactured in the US till the 1980s then offshored to China are now coming back Slowly-Slowly to America (because of Lower Energy and Wage costs in America).
Unfortunately the Number of Jobs generated are just a Fraction of what they were in the 1980s.
Thanks primarily to Automation.
You can't dispute that Huge Numbers of Blue Collar Jobs have vanished in America thanks to Automation.
Most of those Americans are now on Food Stamps.
Jacob,
As someone who has seen the effects First-Hand,I fal in the Category who is Very Scared.
Sorry for being so pessimistic.But We have to learn to draw the Line on Automation somewhere (as long as Our Populations are Growing).
Once they start declining then its Okay to go in for No-Holds barred Automation,
“As someone who has seen the effects First-Hand,I fal in the Category who is Very Scared. Sorry for being so pessimistic.But We have to learn to draw the Line on Automation somewhere (as long as Our Populations are Growing).”
Asish, when technology grows no such worries or concerns. When laptops are introduced, similar concerns are there, finally what happened; it had created more job opportunities
“Unfortunately the Number of Jobs generated are just a Fraction of what they were in the 1980s. Thanks primarily to Automation. You can't dispute that Huge Numbers of Blue Collar Jobs have vanished in America thanks to Automation.”
Ashish, am not getting why you are against technology?
Jacob,
As I said previously My Viewpoints will scare a lot of Lot of Techies.But its true.
You can see a lot of Blue Collar Jobs vanish Globally thanks to Automation and Technology has'nt exactly brought those jobs back.
In America and France things like the Obamacare Act and Minimum wage Rules just make things worse.
“In America and France things like the Obamacare Act and Minimum wage Rules just make things worse.”
How so?
“You can see a lot of Blue Collar Jobs vanish Globally thanks to Automation and Technology has'nt exactly brought those jobs back.”
Ashish, I personally feel that there won't be any cause of worry because new job openings may be created across different domains, for supporting automation technology.
Jacob,
I beg to differ(strongly).
Anyways Time will tell who is right and who is'nt.
We have reached a Threshold when Automation stops generating the kind of Replacement Jobs needed to make up for those lost by Automation.
pocharle,
I won't say I am an expert at this issue;but what Has Happened thanks to Obamacare is that more and more employers have no Interest in Hiring Full-time Employees(just temps).
Especially if they need to Hire more than 30 Employees today.
The Burden of Health Insurance has been so Onerous for Employers that they might as well either Close Shop/Switch to temps/Outsource.
All the Latest Employment Surveys in America point out this fact very clearly(including the latest one out today).
As for the Minimum Wage issue,All you need to do is compare the Unemployment Rates in France (which has one of the Highest Minimum Wages in the World)and Germany(which has NO Minimum Wage).
France has Record Unemployment today while Germans are Struggling to Find Qualified People to fill Adequate positions.
Mike Shedlock and Peter Tenerbaum cover this area very nicely(and in Great Depth).
Do read up on this issue(if you are interested).
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.ae/2013/10/rent-price-controls-mandatory-rental.html
http://www.acting-man.com/?p=26687
And Foolish Policies by the Politicians are just making things Worse-Much Worse.
The French Agriculture Minister(they are all a Bunch of Jokers);had this to say-
Jacob,
Looking at the current Pace of technological Change;its changing to fast for Most Labor to adapt this is why I am for Limiting the Pace of Change.
The Best way to do this is to Kill the Fake Liquidity (via Quantiative Easing) that is sloshing through Global markets currently.Automatically Capital(including Automation Technology) will become more expensive compared to labor.
Definitely looking to follow up on this. I have heard so many different viewpoints on the topic that it's good to hear what others think/have to say about it.
Thanks for the links.
“Anyways Time will tell who is right and who is'nt.”
Asish, fine. Wait and see
“The Best way to do this is to Kill the Fake Liquidity (via Quantiative Easing) that is sloshing through Global markets currently. Automatically Capital(including Automation Technology) will become more expensive compared to labor.”
Ashish, it's totally wrong concept.
Jacob,
Please explain why this is a Wrong Concept?
I am All Ears!
You have to figure out an Effective way to Encourage Savings,Thrift and Hard-work.
The Current Central banking regime does'nt allow that.
Jacob,
Yes Definitely will wait and see.
In the Mean-time I recommend you read up on Austrian Business Cycle Theory particulary this-
Banks expand credit well beyond their own assets and by the funds of their clients, often supported or encouraged by the setting of low interest rates by a central bank. This additional credit flow into the economy from increased borrowing for capital projects stimulates economic activity. Projects which would not have been started before, seem now profitable, creating malinvestment. They increase demand for production materials and for labor and their prices rise, which, in turn, leads to an increase in prices of consumption goods. If the banks would stop the extension of credit, the boom would be rapidly over. To prevent the sudden halt of this boom (and the resulting collapse of prices), the banks must create more and more credit, and the prices will rise even more.
But this expansion of credit cannot continue forever. There is no additional capital or labor; there is only more money (and debt). The means of production and labor which have been diverted to the new enterprises have to be taken away from others. Society is not sufficiently rich to permit the creation of new enterprises without taking away from others. As long as the expansion of credit is continued this will not be noticed, but it can't be pushed indefinitely. The inflation and the boom can last only as long as the public thinks that the prices will stop rising in the near future. When the public becomes aware, that there the inflation will not end, and that prices will continue to rise, panic sets in. Eventually, people may give up the currency and rush to exchange money for goods, buying things they have no use for, just in order to get rid of the money (the so-called “flight into real values.”)[3]
http://mises.org/freemarket_detail.aspx?control=46
http://wiki.mises.org/wiki/Austrian_Business_Cycle_Theory
ENJOY!
pocharle,
Definitely!
Its most important to have an open viewpoint to appreciate and Understand the Goings on Around us.
“Please explain why this is a Wrong Concept?”
Ashish, the main concept of automation is to reduce human interaction and work force. Sometimes the initial investments may be more but long run it have some cost effective factors.
ashish, thanks for the articile. Its a market scenario, where money power goes up and down, based on purchase power
Jacob,
We have'nt had a Market-based Sceanario for Money for a long-long time now(Especially since 2008 but even before ever since The US Government moved off the Gold Standard in 1971).
I don't want to go into the Detailed History of the Gold Standard and the impact of how its removal except to say that The Gap between the Rich and the Poor has increased like anything and especially since 2008.
Recommend you watch these Great Videos to get and idea of the Mess ,America(and by extension the World is in today).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-14SllPPLxY
http://cluborlov.blogspot.ae/2013/10/the-sixth-stage-of-collapse.html
http://www.alt-market.com/articles/1785-america-held-hostage-on-the-edge-of-constant-crisis
Ron Paul (the Former Presidential Candidate) says it exactly as it is
http://the-free-foundation.org/tst10-21-2013.html
Governments are Enormously Wasteful,and Routinely Make Wrong Decisions.Look at the Track Record of Previous TARP Spending like Solyandra,ENER1,A123 Systems,etc,etc[All Renewable Energy Companies which went Bankrupt or the Big Banks like JPMorgan,Bank of America,Citigroup,etc which would have gone Bankrupt in 2008 if it were'nt for the Quantitative Easing Policies of the Federal Reserve]
Giving them the more Power (via the Current Fiat Money system is extremely Foolish).
The Solution?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngtushlwjvo
Today the World's Only Real Hope is that the Chinese decide to Ditch the US Dollar and Let their Yuan become Fully Convertible (via SDRs if neccessary) or the American People Finally Wake up and Throw out these Thieves in the Federal Reserve and Congress.
Jacob,
That may be so.
But should'nt we leave it to the Free Market to decide that(in the abscence of any Direct/Indirect Subsidies from the Government)?
This is what is happening today thanks to the Negative Interest Rate Regime Globally.
The Primary Criteria(as Far as Governments go is to Ensure that as many people who want a Job today can have it.I fail to see that Happening thanks to the Current Regime as well as Full Throttle moves towards 100% Automation.
Ashish, thanks for the details. It seems like you are a financial/market analysis.
“The Primary Criteria(as Far as Governments go is to Ensure that as many people who want a Job today can have it.I fail to see that Happening thanks to the Current Regime as well as Full Throttle moves towards 100% Automation.”
Ashish, many times I feel that there are enough job opportunities are in and around area, but qualified or skilled peoples are very less. Only thing is job seekers has to be tune to the market requirements.
Jacob,
Yes I am passionate about Technology as well as Finance.
I am extremely Lucky to be able to work Professionally in both Areas seperately.
Jacob,
That maybe so in your Specialised Fields of High-Tech.
But otherwise a lot of people (especially those who have General Degrees in Arts,History,Pschyology,English,etc) are Unemployed today.
I am talking about this only after looking at all the Latest Unemployment Numbers Globally.
Sure,we need to ensure Our KIds get retrained to fit into areas where there is More Demand but for that you can't simply automate everything.
That will spell Social Disaster in the Long-term.
Yes I am passionate about Technology as well as Finance. I am extremely Lucky to be able to work Professionally in both Areas separately.'
Ashish, congrats and all the best.
” But otherwise a lot of people (especially those who have General Degrees in Arts,History,Pschyology,English,etc) are Unemployed today.”
Ashish, for hem also there are lots of job opportunities available, but they have to be groomed according to the requirement.
Jacob,
Yes that's True.
There is a need for a lot of Re-training required.
Question is are these Young people upto it?
Or are they more interested in Only finding something in their specific Area ,Failing which they are ready to go on the Dole Queue?[So common in Europe and US today].
Jacob,
Thanks!
Much Appreciated!
“There is a need for a lot of Re-training required. Question is are these Young people upto it? Or are they more interested in Only finding something in their specific Area ,Failing which they are ready to go on the Dole Queue?[So common in Europe and US today].”
Ashish, the problem is their mindset. They don't want to groom themselves for the market requirements. Instead of that, they always looks for the job matching with their skills and interest.
Welcome, Ashish
Jacob,
Unfortunately that mindset is all pervasive amongst the Young and Unemployed in Europe today.
Really,Really sad.
Jacob,
You will like this
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-roads-black-boxes-20131027,0,6090226.story
Every single Car has the Potential to be tracked Aggressively today.
Thanks Ashish. Good articile
“Unfortunately that mindset is all pervasive amongst the Young and Unemployed in Europe today. Really,Really sad.”
You are right Ashish. I think such things are because of their high expectations.
Jacob,
It is more in the issue of excessive Welfarismand Legal Theft(Excessively High Taxes).
Why should anyone work when you get Unemployment Insurance,Free Healthcare as well as Free Food and Subsidized Housing(in return for Sky High Taxes)?
It makes no practicaly sense .
Unless that Welfare State collapses(and its very much on the Verge today),none of those folks are going to have any incentive to work today.
Jacob,
Yes its a good Article.
It tells you in which direction the world of Technology is going today especially in refernec e to Cars.
“It tells you in which direction the world of Technology is going today especially in refernec e to Cars.”
Ashish, it's an indication to future direction too.
'Why should anyone work when you get Unemployment Insurance,Free Healthcare as well as Free Food and Subsidized Housing(in return for Sky High Taxes)?'
Asish, feel of security.
I agree with your opinion. imgrum