Archives April 2026

Business Wire India

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba”) has started to ship engineering samples of “TB9M030FG,” the latest addition to its “SmartMCD™”^[1] series of motor control devices. The new device integrates a microcontroller (MCU) and a motor driver, and incorporates sensorless control technology for low‑speed operation of three‑phase brushless DC motors. TB9M030FG is suitable for sensorless control of the three‑phase brushless DC motors used in automotive applications, such as electric water pumps, electric oil pumps, electric fans, and electric blowers.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415255043/en/

 

 

 

As the electrification of automotive systems such as water pumps, oil pumps, and fans continues, automobile makers want more compact, more efficient and quieter motors. Alongside this, with increasing numbers of electronic controlled units (ECUs)^[2] installed in vehicles, lowering component counts and minimizing board space have become increasingly important, and are driving growing demand for highly integrated devices that combine an MCU and a motor‑control gate driver.

 

Sensorless control of three‑phase brushless DC motors presents the challenge of accurate detection of rotor position at low-speeds, creating strong demand for high‑performance sensorless field oriented control (FOC)^[3] technology that delivers stable control from zero speed^[4].

 

 

TB9M030FG integrates an Arm^® Cortex^®‑M0 core-based MCU, flash memory, a gate driver that controls and drives N‑channel power MOSFETs for three‑phase brushless DC motor operation, a local interconnect network (LIN)^[5] transceiver, and a power system that can operate at automotive battery levels—all in a small 9×9mm (typ.) QFP48 package. This integration contributes to ECU miniaturization and lower component counts.

 

 

The new MCD also incorporates Toshiba’s proprietary vector engine hardware, which reduces CPU workload and software program size in FOC motor‑control applications. Toshiba’s sensorless control technology developed for low‑speed operation enables position‑sensorless FOC control from zero speed through low speeds when used with salient‑pole motors^[6]. This approach eliminates the noise generated by the standard high-frequency signal injection method^[7], caused by harmonic injection, and also leads to quieter motor operation.

 

 

TB9M030FG complies with the automotive electronics qualification standard AEC‑Q100^[8] (Grade 0).

 

 

The characteristics of the TB9M030FG contribute to the miniaturization of automotive systems and lower component counts while enabling more advanced and sophisticated motor-control, and making it suitable for a wide range of automotive motor applications.

 

 

Toshiba will continue to expand the lineup of its SmartMCD™ series by incorporating the functions required for automotive systems, thereby contributing to the miniaturization of automotive systems and lower component counts.

 

 

Notes:
[1]	Smart MCD: A series of automotive motor control drivers (MCDs) developed by Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation that integrate a motor driver and a microcontroller into a single device.
[2]	Electronic control unit (ECU): A general term for electronic control units installed in automotive systems.
[3]	Field oriented control (FOC): A typical method of vector control (A control method that independently controls motor torque and magnetic flux as orthogonal components) that uses the motor’s rotating reference frame (dq coordinate system) to independently control the magnetic flux component (d‑axis) and the torque component (q‑axis).
[4]	Zero speed: a state in which the motor is electrically energized and actively controlled, while the rotational speed is zero.
[5]	Local interconnect network (LIN): One of the serial communication protocols primarily used for communication between electronic control units (ECUs) in automobiles.
[6]	Salient‑pole motor: A three‑phase brushless DC motor whose rotor has magnetic anisotropy, resulting in a difference between the d‑axis and q‑axis inductances (Ld ≠ Lq), and which can generate reluctance torque due to differences in magnetic reluctance within the motor.
[7]	High-frequency signal injection method: A sensorless control method in which a high-frequency voltage (or current) signal is superimposed on and injected into the fundamental waveform used to drive the motor to detect the rotor position.
[8]	AEC-Q100: An automotive electronics qualification standard established by the Automotive Electronics Council, covering the reliability and quality of automotive electronic components, particularly integrated circuits (ICs).

 

Applications

 

Automotive equipment

 

 

• Electric water pumps
• Electric oil pumps
• Electric fans
• Electric blowers, etc.

 

 

Features

 

• Sensorless control gate driver IC for three-phase brushless DC motors (built-in charge pump circuit)
• 32-bit MCU (Arm^® Cortex^®‑M0) with 40 MHz operating frequency (built-in low‑speed and high‑speed oscillators)
• Built-in memory with ECC^[9]
  Code flash: 64KBytes; ROM: 12KBytes; RAM: 4KBytes
• Built‑in vector engine (VE) for FOC control and programmable motor driver (PMD)^[10]
• Built-in 1-shunt resistor current sense amplifier^[11], 12-bit A/D converter, and 10-bit A/D converter
• Enables position‑sensorless FOC control from zero speed through the low‑speed operating range when used with salient‑pole motors

 

 

 

Notes:
[9]	Built-in error correction code (ECC) function supports 1-bit error correction (SEC) and 2-bit error detection (DED).
[10]	Programmable motor driver: A motor-control hardware module that generates pulse width modulation (PWM), controls current conduction and detects faults in hardware, thereby reducing the processing load required for motor-control.
[11]	1-shunt resistor current sense amplifier: The motor current is estimated indirectly using a current‑sensing shunt resistor and a current‑sense amplifier.

 

Main Specifications
Part number			TB9M030FG
Supported motors			Three-phase brushless DC motor
Main functions			1-shunt resistor current sense amplifier,   Hardware for sensorless FOC control and square‑wave control hardware (VE, PMD, ENC[12])   LIN physical layer: 1 channel (responder only)
Communication method			Selectable LIN communication / PWM communication[13], UART, SPI
Main error detections			Under voltage detection (Vcc (generated 5V)),   Over voltage detection (Vdd (generated 1.5V)),   Thermal shutdown, Overcurrent detection,   Open/short fault detection of external power MOSFETs, etc.
Absolute maximum ratings	Power supply voltage Vbat (V)		-0.3 to +40
Operating ranges	Power supply voltage Vbat (V)		6 to 18
	Operating temperature Topr (°C)		Ta=-40 to +150
			Tj=-40 to +175
Package	Name		P-HTQFP48-0707-0.50-002
	Size (mm)	Typ.	9.0×9.0
Reliability			AEC-Q100 (Grade 0) qualified
Mass production			January 2027 (scheduled)

Notes:
[12]	Encoder input circuit (ENC): A circuit that receives signals from an encoder to detect the motor’s operating status, including position, speed, and direction of rotation.
[13]	PWM communication: A communication method in which the duty cycle (pulse width) of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal is used as the primary information for communication between modules.

 

Follow the link below for more on the new product.
TB9M030FG

 

Follow the link below for more on Toshiba’s automotive motor drivers.
Analog Devices

 

 

* Arm and Cortex are registered trademarks of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the US and/or elsewhere.
* SmartMCD™ is a trademark of Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation.
* Other company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

 

 

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

 

 

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD products.

 

 

Its 17,000 employees around the world share a determination to maximize product value, and to promote close collaboration with customers in the co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

 

 

Find out more at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415255043/en/

 

Business Wire India

Numeros Motors, a rapidly growing Indian electric vehicle manufacturer, today announced its partnership with Jones Elite Logistics to supply 100 Diplos electric two-wheelers. This collaboration supports the logistics company’s ambitious ‘Go Green Initiative’ and lays the foundation for a wider fleet conversion aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Both companies share a deep commitment to clean mobility. A strong advocate for green logistics, Jones Elite is building more eco-friendly supply chains. Numeros Motors is proud to support this vision with practical, purpose-built EV two-wheelers engineered for India’s roads, climate, and last-mile delivery demands where reliability and uptime are non-negotiable.

“Our partnership with Jones Elite Logistics is more than a fleet transaction. It delivers real value today. At Numeros Motors, we understand that safety, reliability, and durability are non-negotiable. Our two-wheelers increase earnings for fleet operators and riders, enabling significantly higher income per vehicle with minimal downtime. Together, we are building a more efficient and profitable logistics industry while contributing to a cleaner, greener future,” said Mr. Ramkumar S, Vice-President (Sales), Numeros Motors.

Central to this partnership is Numeros’ flagship Diplos platform. Known for its robust performance and low maintenance requirements, the Numeros Diplos features swappable battery technology that keeps vehicles on the road longer and superior operational efficiency. For Jones Elite, this translates directly into lower operating costs, higher rider productivity, and a measurable reduction in emissions per delivery.

Mr. Stephen Arthur, Director, and Mr. Sunny Ranjan, CEO of Jones Elite Logistics, expressed their enthusiasm about the partnership. “This collaboration with Numeros Motors is a testament to our dedication to innovation and sustainability. Transitioning to electric vehicles not only aligns with our environmental goals but also enhances operational efficiency, reflecting our commitment to excellence in every aspect of our business,” they said.

 

Business Wire India

 

• Next phase of PIF strategy sets out roadmap to 2030, as PIF continues to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia
• Strategy focuses on maximizing financial returns, strengthening investment efficiency and increasing private sector participation
• Investments will be structured into three portfolios: Vision Portfolio, Strategic Portfolio and Financial Portfolio
• Vision Portfolio will catalyze development of six ecosystems within the local economy

 

The Board of Directors ofPIF, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PIF, has approved PIF’s 2026-2030 strategy, which is a continuation of PIF’s long-term strategy. The strategy will focus on delivering competitive domestic ecosystems to connect sectors, unlock the full potential of strategic assets, maximize long-term returns, and continue to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia and further enhance the quality of life of its citizens.

 

The 2026-2030 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact, raising the efficiency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence. In addition, PIF will further enable the role of the private sector as an effective partner for sustainable economic development.

 

 

Under the 2026-2030 strategy, PIF has structured its investments into three portfolios. The Vision Portfolio aims to leverage synergies across strategic sectors, maximize value for PIF portfolio companies, and continue to drive the growth of the local economy. It will contribute to national priorities through the delivery of six competitive domestic ecosystems and by further integrating PIF’s investments. The Vision Portfolio will unlock new opportunities for the domestic private sector as an investor, partner and supplier, to further enable its role as an effective partner for sustainable economic development, while also attracting global partners and investors.

 

 

The six ecosystems include: Tourism, Travel & Entertainment; Urban Development & Livability; Advanced Manufacturing & Innovation; Industrials & Logistics; Clean Energy, Water & Renewables Infrastructure; and NEOM.

 

 

The Strategic Portfolio will actively manage key strategic assets to maximize financial returns and the economic impact of PIF’s companies, while supporting their efforts to attract capital and become global champions. Through the Strategic Portfolio, PIF will also continue to invest in opportunities arising from long-term global trends.

 

 

The Financial Portfolio will focus on delivering sustainable financial returns to further strengthen PIF’s financial position and continue to grow national wealth for future generations. It will manage PIF’s direct and indirect investments in global markets to maximize returns, while building a more diversified and resilient portfolio. It will further strengthen strategic international partnerships to help attract capital and increase access to global investment opportunities.

 

 

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, said: “PIF’s strategy continues to deliver results as we grow domestically and internationally. In less than a decade, we have launched unprecedented projects, including giga-projects and major real estate developments, in addition to unique investments in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, gaming and esports, and renewable energy. PIF also grew assets under management six-fold and attracted global partners and capital to take part in Saudi Arabia’s transformation. PIF will continue to support Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by delivering competitive domestic ecosystems, investing in national champions that have the potential to scale globally, and forming global economic partnerships, building on what has been achieved under PIF’s 2021-2025 strategy.

 

 

“The 2026-2030 strategy is a natural next step in PIF’s growth journey. It offers our partners more opportunities to invest in high-quality assets and ecosystems, alongside PIF. In the next five years, we will continue to build on our great achievements and strengthen our global leadership to deliver success for PIF and Saudi Arabia.”

 

 

PIF will continue to invest with agility in both local and international markets and maintain its ability to respond to emerging opportunities that benefit the local economy and impact an ever-shifting global economy. It will maintain a disciplined focus on value realization, sustainable returns, enhanced capital efficiency and the highest institutional standards, as it drives innovation and advanced utilization of data and artificial intelligence.

 

 

PIF’s 2026-2030 strategy provides a clear strategic direction for the coming decades. It also strengthens PIF’s position as a local and global investor, with a diversified and resilient portfolio that contributes to Saudi Arabia’s long-term economic prosperity. PIF’s unique mandate will remain the same: to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia and generate sustainable financial returns.

 

 

The strategy builds on the substantial progress and achievements delivered by PIF under its previous strategies, including:

 

 

• Grown assets under management from $150 billion in 2015 to more than $900 billion
• Achieved an annualized total shareholder return of over 7% since 2017
• Invested more than $199 billion in new projects in Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2025
• Contributed more than $243 billion to real non-oil GDP from 2021 to 2024, equivalent to around 10% of Saudi Arabia’s total non-oil GDP in 2024
• Spent together with its portfolio companies more than $157 billion with the local private sector from 2021 to 2024
• Expanded PIF’s global presence in priority markets with subsidiary company offices in North America, Europe and Asia to deepen PIF’s ties in international markets and continue to invest in sectors, industries and companies shaping the future of the global economy
• One of the few sovereign wealth funds with strong credit ratings from each of the world’s top three rating agencies. Moody’s rated PIF Aa3 with a stable outlook, while Fitch rated PIF A+, also with a stable outlook

 

This material is distributed by Teneo Strategy LLC on behalf of the PIF. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415432832/en/

 

Business Wire India

Skild AI today announced the acquisition of Zebra Technologies’ Robotics Automation business, including its Symmetry Fulfillment orchestration platform.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415518240/en/

 

 

The Skild Brain — the industry’s first omnibodied AI software designed to operate without prior knowledge of a robot’s exact body form — can control any robot, across any task, in any warehouse environment. With Zebra’s battle-tested Symmetry orchestration platform, it now has the infrastructure to deploy and orchestrate entire fleets of Skild Brain-powered robots at enterprise scale.

 

 

From Fragmented Automation to Orchestrated Intelligence: Warehouse robots today are programmed task-by-task, locked to specific hardware. Change the robot, and you’re largely starting from scratch. The Skild Brain was built to break that dependency — generalizing across humanoids, mobile robots, and industrial arms without retraining. Symmetry, already proven in some of the world’s most demanding logistics environments, coordinates those robots in real time alongside frontline workers. Every new deployment feeds the Skild Brain’s data flywheel, making it smarter across every environment it operates in.

 

 

Together, they form something that hasn’t existed before: one intelligent layer that can run an entire warehouse, regardless of what robots are in it.

 

 

Turning Existing Warehouses Into Symphonies of Autonomy: Logistics operators no longer need to engineer their warehouse around their robots and deal with several partners — each providing one fragment of the automated solution. Skild AI’s acquisition of Zebra’s Robotics Automation business will create the first organization that can provide a full end-to-end automation solution for warehouses: humanoids for pick-place, robotic dogs for inspection, robotic arms for packing, AMRs for material movement and an orchestration layer to control them all.

 

 

Skild AI grew from zero to approximately $30M in revenue in just a few months in 2025 and is now positioned to scale enterprise deployments at a pace that was not previously possible. Skild AI will build end-to-end solutions for warehouses, accelerating the pace of deployments at a rate unheard of in the current AI robotics industry.

 

 

In their words:

 

 

“Warehouse automation remains deeply fragmented today, with classical approaches falling short in most real-world scenarios — a fundamental barrier to achieving true operational efficiency. Tearing down and rebuilding warehouses to suit pre-programmed robots is simply not a viable economic solution. By combining Zebra’s human-robot orchestration platform with Skild AI’s omnibodied brain, we are set to transform what end-to-end automation looks like in warehouses that exist today. Zebra’s orchestration layer brings humans into the fold alongside Skild AI’s vision of ‘any robot, any task, one brain’ — turning warehouses into living symphonies of human and machine autonomy.” — Deepak Pathak, CEO, Skild AI

 

 

“Lack of automated grasping and complex manipulation continues to slow down warehouses. The Skild Brain in conjunction with the Zebra’s tried and tested person-to-goods solution will turn warehouses into hubs of hyper-efficiency.” —Abhinav Gupta, President, Skild AI

 

 

About Skild AI : Founded in 2023, Skild AI builds a general-purpose foundation model for robotics. Backed by SoftBank Group, NVIDIA Ventures, Macquarie Capital (entities administered by Macquarie Capital), Jeff Bezos, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed, Coatue, Felicis, and others, the company is valued at over $14 billion. Offices in Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Bengaluru.

 

 

Follow some of Skild AI’s latest news on LinkedIn, X.com, Facebook and YouTube.

 

 

Follow Zebra on its Blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415518240/en/

 

Business Wire India

Hyuga Hirano (United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and collaborative graduate student at the National Museum of Nature and Science (President: Makoto Manabe)); Takashi Kikuchi (Application Laboratories, Global Product Unit, Rigaku Corporation, a group company of Rigaku Holdings); Futa Sakakibara (Technical Advisor, R&D Support Division, Asterism G.K.); Yoshinori Murai (Senior curator, Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science); and colleagues have successfully determined the structures of more than ten phenolic glycosides from a tiny sample of an alpine plant flower by developing a trace analysis method. This achievement is particularly significant because alpine plants are typically small and difficult to collect due to legal, ethical, and environmental considerations, resulting in extremely limited sample availability. Determining the structures of numerous chemical components from such a small sample represents a pioneering research accomplishment.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415694539/en/

 

 

 

The method developed by the research team can be applied not only to the analysis of plant chemical constituents, but also to the exploration of underutilized resources across a wide range of fields, including physics, agriculture, and pharmaceutical sciences.

 

The research results were published online on February 22, 2026, in the online Journal of Molecular Structure. Related studies employing similar techniques have also been published in Biochemical Systematics and Ecology.

 

 

Research Summary:

 

 

• A method of isolating and crystallizing trace chemical components was established.
• Structural analysis of crystallized components was successfully achieved using analytical techniques such as single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED).
• Using this approach, structural determination of phenolic compounds was successfully conducted in alpine plants for which research samples are difficult to obtain, revealing a diverse range of phenolic compounds present in the flowers of Diapensia lapponica.
• During the development of this method, related studies also led to the discovery of components associated with chemical adaptive mechanisms and phylogenetic characteristics in plants.

 

1. Background and Results

 

Alpine plants are distributed throughout Japan’s alpine and subalpine zones. To withstand the environmental stresses characteristic of alpine environments, such as intense ultraviolet radiation and low temperatures, these plants adapt by synthesizing and accumulating chemical compounds known as phenolic compounds. Many phenolic compounds are also recognized as potential natural resources. As alpine plants remain less well studied than lowland plants, further research in this field is particularly anticipated. At the same time, the harsh environments in which alpine plants grow result in small plant size. In addition, their distribution is restricted to high-altitude regions, making them relatively rare. Even in academic research, legal, permitting, and ethical considerations require that plant collection be strictly limited to minimize human disturbance to alpine ecosystems. Consequently, the amount of sample material available for structural analysis is extremely limited.

 

 

The research team had been developing a method for analyzing the components of trace samples. In this study, using a very small sample of flowers of the alpine plant Diapensia lapponica, the team isolated and purified individual components using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and determined their molecular weights by quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS). The team then developed a method to optimize the crystallization of each component.

 

 

By applying analytical techniques such as single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED), which enable structural determination from crystals approximately one hundredth the size required by conventional methods, the team successfully determined the structures of trace components from extremely small samples. The results demonstrated that D. lapponica, which thrives in harsh alpine environments, contains flavonoids and other phenolic compounds, including quercetin glycosides. These compounds have attracted attention in recent years as functional ingredients with potential health benefits.

 

 

In related research published in Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, the research team also succeeded in isolating and determining the structures of numerous components from the leaves of the same plant, discovering compounds that contribute to ultraviolet protection and antioxidant activity. The study further revealed that the accumulation of some components differs geographically, from the Chubu region of Honshu to Hokkaido. The present study represents an advancement of these earlier findings.

 

 

2. Notes

 

 

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC): An analytical technique that separates and detects components based on differences in their interactions with a mobile phase (solvent) and a stationary phase (column). The preparative HPLC system shown in Figure 2 was used to isolate each component.

 

 

Quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS): A mass spectrometry technique that combines quadrupole and time-of-flight analyzers to achieve high mass accuracy, resolution, and sensitivity. The LC-QTOF-MS system shown in Figure 2 integrates HPLC with QTOF-MS.

 

 

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD): A method in which sample crystals are irradiated with an X-ray beam, and the resulting diffraction pattern is used to directly determine the three-dimensional molecular structure.

 

 

Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED): A structural analysis technique that uses an electron beam instead of X-rays, enabling structure determination from much smaller, submicrometer-sized crystals.

 

 

3. Future Directions

 

 

In developing the analytical method described here, the research team used samples from the pincushion plant, an alpine species with a relatively wide geographical distribution. The team is currently applying this method to the analysis of rarer plant species, including species endemic to Japan and endangered species.

 

 

This approach is expected to facilitate the identification of trace components in plants that have previously been difficult to analyze, as well as the exploration of novel and underutilized biological resources. Furthermore, the method has broad applicability across diverse fields, including physics, agricultural science, and pharmaceutical sciences, and is expected to serve as an important source of foundational information for both basic and applied research.

 

 

4. Presented Papers

 

 

Title: Sustainable micro-scale identification of phenolic glycosides in alpine flower through single-crystal structure analysis
Authors: Hyuga Hirano, Takashi Kikuchi, Futa Sakakibara, Yoshinori Murai
Publication: Journal of Molecular Structure, 145740 (online February 22, 2026)

 

 

Related paper
Title: Phenolic compound diversity reflecting phylogeographic structure of Diapensia lapponica subsp. obovata (Diapensiaceae) populations in Japan
Authors: Hyuga Hirano, Toshiyo Kato, Keiichi Noguchi, Hisahiro Kai, Takuro Ito, Takashi Kikuchi, Futa Sakakibara, Yoshinori Murai
Publication: Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 125: 105168 (online November 20, 2025; scheduled for print release in April 2026)

 

 

This research was supported by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP23K05503 and JP24KJ1011, and “Integrated Research on Extreme Environments” of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415694539/en/