Embedded technology gives companies a competitive advantage.

Saskatchewan companies and companies around the world are always looking for new ways to design and deliver products and services that exceed customer expectations and give them that sometimes elusive "competitive edge." Embedded technology may be the answer. Embedded technology can be found in all types of products and manifests itself in many ways--from building cars with micro-processor controlled anti-lock brakes to combining plastic with wood waste to fabricate weather-proof planks for backyard decks. By taking advantage of embedded technology, product designers can often cut their development time and reduce materials and manufacturing costs, while enhancing product function, differentiation and performance.

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Intelligent systems (IS) is one example of embedded technologies that can give Saskatchewan companies the edge in today's very competitive global marketplace. Intelligent systems problem solve on their own--they can rationalize, interpret, and learn from previous experience, based on initial instructions. The future of product development in this area is focused on smart devices--where intelligent systems are embedded in devices used in a variety of places, including our homes and offices, and in manufacturing and industrial environments. Companies are now, more than ever, including embedded intelligent systems in new products and services at the design and development stage. IS development is becoming more affordable and companies recognize that including it in new products will gain them a competitive advantage.

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Intelligent systems can adapt to new environments and situations, reducing 'after-the-fact' development time. Because of their self-learning capability, IS can also allow for the use of low-cost sensors and control circuitry which would otherwise be impossible if traditional control methods were used.

Interest in embedded intelligent systems is growing in Saskatchewan. A product currently under development that will utilize embedded technologies is the Rock Motion Detector. This device, for use in underground mines as a safety enhancement, will tell the miner when rock is safe and when it is in danger of falling. With embedded intelligence, the Rock Motion Detector will be able to adapt to different types of mining environments and may even have applications above ground for determining the structural integrity of bridges or parking garages.

Another area where embedded technology can be found is in plastics development. By including advanced polymers in new product design, manufacturers can expand and enhance the types of plastic products that can be molded, usually resulting in a more cost-effective, higher-quality part. These new plastics and additives are broadening the uses of plastic parts, making them stronger, more versatile, and often more cost-effective. For example, GE Plastic has a new amorphous polycarbonate copolymer that uses sunlight to protect itself from UV damage. Called Lexan SLX, it can provide a paint-free, decorative finish without pigments or other additives that lasts for 10 years or more. UV exposure causes plastic to break down resulting in premature discoloration, wear, and breakage. Lexan SLX has been developed to address these shortcomings. When Lexan SLX resin is first exposed to sunlight, UV rays pass freely through the material causing a chemical transformation that allows the material to continue to absorb almost all UV and near-UV radiation--without undermining product integrity. The material can also be produced as a thin film, which can be laminated to other plastic components on construction and recreational vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, and automotive accessories--extending their life.

Many new products are now under development around the world using embedded technologies. They are powerful tools for improving system performance and problem solving. These technologies can help Saskatchewan companies achieve the results required to compete successfully, both here at home and around the world. Still, there remains no substitute for creative thinking and the sound application of engineering knowledge, which is how embedded technologies were developed in the first place.

Craig Murray is the Vice-President of the Manufacturing/Value-Added Processing Division at the Saskatchewan Research Council.