Articles – Page 3

Beyond the Spherical Chicken: Rewriting Maxwell for Modern Machines

February 10, 2026

This is going to be a story in three parts. If we’re lucky, they’ll be related, but I’m not making any promises. Let’s start by discussing one of the things I know nothing about. Yes, I know this is a long (and ever-growing) list, but in this case, I’m thinking about the design and analysis of antennas and radar systems.

The closest I’ve ever come to designing an antenna was when I came into proud possession of a battered old black-and-white vacuum-tube and cathode-ray-tube (CRT) television, circa 1971, when I was about 14 … Read More → "Beyond the Spherical Chicken: Rewriting Maxwell for Modern Machines"

Chiplets Get Physical: The Days of Mix-and-Match Silicon Draw Nigh

by Max Maxfield

February 5, 2026

Things continue to gain traction in “chiplet space” (where no one can hear you scream). In fact, before I forget, Chiplet Summit 2026 takes place in just a couple of weeks as I pen these words. The organizers say this is the place to “see and be seen” if you are in any way dabbling your toes in the chiplet waters (I’m paraphrasing, of course).

Not surprisingly, one of the keynote presentations at the Chiplet Summit will be given by Cadence, which is doing some very interesting things on the chiplet … Read More → "Chiplets Get Physical: The Days of Mix-and-Match Silicon Draw Nigh"

Agentic AI Framework for Edge Applications

by Max Maxfield

February 3, 2026

As usual, things are moving so fast in AI space (where no one can hear you scream) that I no longer know whether I’m coming or going or doing something else entirely. For example, I’d barely managed to wrap my brain around perception AI when generative AI appeared on the scene, and I was only just getting to grips with generative AI when agentic AI popped up with a metaphorical fanfare of flügelhorns (which is much louder than one might expect for a figurative fanfare).

I think it’s fair to say that most … Read More → "Agentic AI Framework for Edge Applications"

This Is Going to Be the Best FPGA Conference in the USA Ever! (Said Max, Excitedly)

by Max Maxfield

January 29, 2026

Just in case it has escaped your attention, I want to make sure you are aware of the forthcoming FPGA Horizons US East Conference and Exhibition, which will take place April 29-30, 2026. If you want to learn more about this auspicious event, which costs a modest $200 for the entire 2-day extravaganza, then read on…

…but first, as an aside (I thought I’d better get this out of the way early on), Tom Swift is the main character in a long-running series of 100+ science fiction … Read More → "This Is Going to Be the Best FPGA Conference in the USA Ever! (Said Max, Excitedly)"

AI-Powered PCB Layout Tool Delivers a Working SBC

by Max Maxfield

January 27, 2026

I cannot believe how fast things are progressing in AI-powered Electronic Design Automation (EDA) space (where no one can hear you scream). AI-enabled EDA tools are popping up like mushrooms for a wide range of design, analysis, and verification tasks. One area that’s seen significant development—and attracted significant skepticism—is the use of AI to place and route printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Following each of my previous AI-powered PCB layout-related columns, I received a lot of pushback from layout designers in the trenches. The two main arguments I’ve heard are that (a) AI tools … Read More → "AI-Powered PCB Layout Tool Delivers a Working SBC"

Want to Invest in Humanoid Robots (Or Have Your Humanoid Robots Invested In)?

by Max Maxfield

January 22, 2026

As usual, I find (what I laughingly call) my mind to be well and truly boggled. When I was a young lad, AI-powered autonomous humanoid robots were the stuff of science fiction. Although I longed for them to become reality, I never really hoped to see them in my lifetime. Now, even though we’re still in the early era of humanoid robotics, these machines are already being deployed in real-world commercial and industrial settings such as warehouses, logistics facilities, and even select retail environments.

When I was a kid in the 1960s, the kinds of robots … Read More → "Want to Invest in Humanoid Robots (Or Have Your Humanoid Robots Invested In)?"

Making Materials Smart with Nanoscale Sensors

by Max Maxfield

January 20, 2026

Suppose you were creating a sensor intended to measure one phenomenon we’ll call A, and you spent years ensuring that its readings weren’t affected by another phenomenon we’ll call B. Now suppose you finally achieve your goal, only for your customers to tell you, “We love your A sensor… but we’d really like one that can measure B.”

Funnily enough, this is just what happened to the folks at a company I’m poised to pontificate about, but first…

As I’ve mentioned on occasion, my degree is in Control Engineering ( … Read More → "Making Materials Smart with Nanoscale Sensors"

How Optical Switches Can Cut AI Hyperscale Data Center Power by 40%

by Max Maxfield

January 15, 2026

I’m about to wax eloquent on a new generation of optical switches that are poised to revolutionize the communication capacity and performance of data centers—especially the AI and hyperscale flavors (ooh, tasty—and very real, as operators like Google have already proven)—while also cutting power by 40%, but first…

The phrase “It’s a funny old world, and no mistake” is an informal, colloquial British English expression used to comment on life’s unexpected, unusual, or contradictory events. I remember the ancient ones muttering this mantra to themselves when I was a lad. I wish … Read More → "How Optical Switches Can Cut AI Hyperscale Data Center Power by 40%"

Monetizing Stranded Megawatts in AI Data Centers

by Max Maxfield

January 13, 2026

I must admit that my head is “all over the place” today. I’m trying to juggle too many things at once, and the problem is that I can’t juggle. Well, that’s not strictly true. I can juggle 10 fine porcelain plates, but only for a very short period of time.

Speaking of porcelain (did you see what I just did there), my mum was born in 1930. She insists that her family wasn’t poor (“It’s just that we didn’t have a lot of money”). She also tells me they had only one cold-water … Read More → "Monetizing Stranded Megawatts in AI Data Centers"

Efficient Computer’s Efficient Computer is 100X More Energy Efficient than Other General-Purpose Processors

by Max Maxfield

January 8, 2026

I remember the heady days of the 1970s, when new and exciting 8-bit processor architectures were sprouting like metaphorical mushrooms. I’m sure that, like me, you are thinking of little beauties like the 8008 (1972), 8080 (1974), and 8085 (1976) from Intel, the 6800 (1974) from Motorola, the 6502 (1975) from MOS Technology, and the Z80 (1976) from Zilog.

However, there were many other contenders that deserve mention, such as the 8-bit PPS-8 (1974) from Rockwell International, which succeeded the 4-bit PPS-4 (1972). As an aside, Rockwell Automation, which spun off from Rockwell International in 1985, will forever be associated with its Read More → "Efficient Computer’s Efficient Computer is 100X More Energy Efficient than Other General-Purpose Processors"