Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Pirate Pete
Just wish to correct any impression you may have you speak for the majority of lth. Most of the useful contributors were driven from this board by the vitriol expressed by people disappointed by the out of court settlement. The one, HH, I challenged confessed to be inexperienced in the vagaries of jury trial. If Nanocos Board could see a successful commercial future coming if they could survive another 3 years they were right to manage out the risk of an adverse verdict by the jury ( they can be irrational, I have served three times).
My view. And I am not claiming to be a majority. Neither of us know.
From 7July 2024 all cars sold in EC countries are going to be required to have driver monitoring systems (dms). Similar regulations are coming in China and the US. Magma has developed a driving mirror with Seeing Machines dms software embedded in it: was shown at CES 2024 but pricing not available. DMS needs the sort of characteristics provided by the VD55G1 sensor: low power, suitable for tracking eye movements, capable of working in infra red. I do not know the link is there. But the delays in developing signing contracts with car manufacturers for dms have mirrored (apologies) the delays in developing Apples head sets.
https://etsc.eu/new-driver-monitoring-requirements-for-assisted-driving-two-steps-forward-one-step-back/
Nanonano
Do you suspect Nanocos materials may be in ST Micros VD55G1 sensor? If so Nanocos prospect of orders in the short term seem to depend on sales of that sensor, said to be going into mass production in March 2024.
From the link you provided at 22.49 on 29/1
The VD55G1 sensor will be found in devices such as AR/VR headsets, personal and industrial robots, drones, barcode readers, and equipment relying on biometrics and gestures, embedded vision, or scene recognition. The global shutter camera sensor will be especially useful in applications where near-IR sensing is important and scenes with movement requiring no shutter artifacts.
STMicro VD55G1 is sampling now, but it’s still at the “preview” stage and pricing is not available. We won’t have to wait that long before seeing it integrated into modules and products as mass production is scheduled to start in March 2024.
A new camera that may or may not be helpful for dms. Going into mass production in March 2024. Come across by me because of my interest in Nanoco which has a commercial relationship with ST Micro to supply quantum materials that are probably going into these cameras.
The VD55G1 sensor will be found in devices such as AR/VR headsets, personal and industrial robots, drones, barcode readers, and equipment relying on biometrics and gestures, embedded vision, or scene recognition. The global shutter camera sensor will be especially useful in applications where near-IR sensing is important and scenes with movement requiring no shutter artifacts. STMicro VD55G1 is sampling now, but it’s still at the “preview” stage and pricing is not available. We won’t have twait that long before seeing it integrated into modules and products as mass production is scheduled to start in March 2024.
https://www.cnx-software.com/2023/12/12/stmicro-vd55g1-small-low-power-global-shutter-i3c-camera-sensor-for-computer-vision/
DAZ
Most of the useful contributors were driven off by vitriol from those disappointed by the settlement. Any jury trial has an element of luck. As the Board, but not we, could see the current commercial opportunity coming they did the right thing (in my view) in ensuring the company could survive long enough to benefit from it. Well done them and BT. The benefits may still take a few years to appear. But once the 10-12p has been returned to shareholders and profitability is reached serious investors may begin to take an interest.
I have been invested for 15 years and have taken many of the opportunities to average down. I also got caught up on the hype of the settlement so felt some of the pain of others. But my feeling it was the hype on chat boards that was to blame led by some of those who turned most bitter after. While BT was negotiating with Samsung it was his job to talk the settlement up for the benefit of the company. My ire is saved for his predecessor who failed to protect Nanocos IP and shared too much of it with Samsung. Dows role has never been explored so I have no view on that ( Dow took a licence from Nanoco to produce their dots, built a production line next to Samsungs but never produced a thing). Nanoco later appeared close to commercial success with an unidentified client thought to be Apple. The client paid for the production facility Nanoco now has. But that product was cancelled for reasons nothing to do with Nanoco, we were told and I believe. So standing on the cusp of success I am naturally cautious like others here. But believe Daz423s synopsis to be a more accurate reflection of recentbevents than those blaming BT for their ( and my) misjudgement. The CEO is the person who runs the company. If you don't trust him sell and move on. Continuing to attack him is both unfair and undermines confidence in the company. If you are invested it would be in your own interestss not to discourage others from investing. I am holding long term for the dividends and eventusl buy out so don't much mind either way.
You cite the 28 March 2023 accurately. But earlier in the same RNS it said "Payments received as a lump sum in two equal tranches (March 2023 and February 2024)". All the other references are consistent. And consistent with 3 February.
The Design Team Leader looks a really good job and a good salary has rightly been offered. It demonstrates confidence that the product ST micro has developed can be applied to devices other than the one now reaching commercial production. I think that fantastic news.
Nanonano
You are clearly more technologically literate than me. So I am not going to differ with you on technical grounds. However the driver monitoring system will generally be embedded in the driving mirror. And my guess is that is a much less harsh environment than will be needed for sensors embedded on the outside of a vehicle. There is no reason why Nanoco should have considered sensors might be needed in driving mirrors. So my mind remains open. And it will be a massive market driven by legislative requirements coming in the EC from this year and the USA shortly after.
As eye monitoring likely involved may be using ST micros new chip
LG, Magna co-develop integrated module for infotainment, ADASToday 10:22
LG Electronics and Magna announced Thursday they have co-developed an integrated module for an in-vehicle infotainment system and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).
LG Electronics will showcase the module at the upcoming CES 2024.
The module integrates LG Electronics' in-vehicle infotainment system and Magna's ADAS technology on a single system on chip to manage various vehicle functions while using fewer electronic control units and taking up less packaging space.
In the electric vehicle era where more components need to be installed inside a car, space management is crucial and integrating two systems onto a single module can help in that sense,” said an LG Electronics spokesman.
The integrated module also cuts costs and energy consumption compared to having two separate systems, enabling data-heavy vehicle displays such as augmented reality screens that show real-time traffic information.
“We are extremely pleased with our progress on this future mobility technology,” said Eun Seok-hyun, president of LG's vehicle component solutions.
“LG and Magna’s joint efforts will help push the industry forward, facilitating the rapid adoption of crucial technologies that elevate driving safety and the on-road experience.”
LG Electronics expects the technology to be installed in vehicles from 2027.
LG Electronics and Magna's partnership goes back to 2021, when the two companies formed a joint venture called LG Magna e-Powertrain to co-develop electric powertrains.
The joint venture announced last year it would establish an EV parts factory in Hungary, adding to its three existing production facilities in Incheon, Nanjing in China, and Ramos Arizpe in Mexico.
Links to more tech details from the Nanoco chat pages. Nanoco produce the quantum dots and appear to supply them to STMicro. My guess is Magna would be interested. Delays in orders at SEE and Nanoco have been similarly protracted. Not proof of a link but suggestive.
https://www.cnx-software.com/2023/12/12/stmicro-vd55g1-small-low-power-global-shutter-i3c-camera-sensor-for-computer-vision/
https://www.vision-systems.com/cameras-accessories/image-sensors/article/14303051/stmicroelectronics-launching-new-global-shutter-sensor
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/stmicroelectronics-reveals-global-shutter-image-140000542.html
STMicro VD55G1 ,,, is advancing smart computer vision technology with its latest global-shutter image sensor. … high resolution … suitable for integration into devices such as smart glasses, AR/VR headsets, personal and industrial robotics, and smart-home equipment. … superior performance, small size, ultra-low power consumption, and optimized cost….
… the sensor supports event-like image streaming, making it well-suited for applications such as eye-tracking and motion estimation.
… innovative embedded features, including native background removal to reduce the processing workload for the host. It also features an 'always-on' 1mW autonomous mode, enabling continuous awareness even when the host device is powered off, thus conserving energy. The system activates when movement or scene changes are detected.
… volume production scheduled for March 2024.
It's a data input error by thevthurd party website you link to. The Ceres Power website gives a more reliable picture.
In the absence of news of further orders I would rather have the dividend. The market appears sceptical of Nanocos ability to win further business. However many shares Nanocos buys back once they stop buying the price would drift, or sink, to low levels. Shareholders would only benefit if they sold shares while the company was buying. Might as well pay a dividend.
If the price does drop to 6-8 p those who believe could use their dividends to top up. Personally I will be listening carefully to what the Board says about future prospects in the forthcoming trading update: last year we had one in the first few days of February.
I suspect the unexpected delay in announcing contracts has to do with SEE and or Magna taking a firm line on pricing. And/or technical delay in hardware development.
STMicro are producing a new chip that uses less power and operates in IR as well as normal light due to go into production in March 2024. Sounds suitabke for Magnas mirror. And its even odder Magna are not announcing deals fir their DMS mirrors yet. And much less likely they have misjudged the market. The following details are from cnx-software.com
Dimensions – 2.7 x 2.2 mm (smaller than VGA equivalents according to STMicro)
Temperature Range – -30°C to 85°C
The VD55G1 sensor will be found in devices such as AR/VR headsets, personal and industrial robots, drones, barcode readers, and equipment relying on biometrics and gestures, embedded vision, or scene recognition. The global shutter camera sensor will be especially useful in applications where near-IR sensing is important and scenes with movement requiring no shutter artifacts.
STMicro VD55G1 is sampling now, but it’s still at the “preview” stage and pricing is not available. We won’t have to wait that long before seeing it integrated into modules and products as mass production is scheduled to start in March 2024. Further information may be found on the product page and in the press release.
Vd55g1 looks promising. Passage below from CnX-software. Production expected March 2024.
Dimensions – 2.7 x 2.2 mm (smaller than VGA equivalents according to STMicro)
Temperature Range – -30°C to 85°C
The VD55G1 sensor will be found in devices such as AR/VR headsets, personal and industrial robots, drones, barcode readers, and equipment relying on biometrics and gestures, embedded vision, or scene recognition. The global shutter camera sensor will be especially useful in applications where near-IR sensing is important and scenes with movement requiring no shutter artifacts.
STMicro VD55G1 is sampling now, but it’s still at the “preview” stage and pricing is not available. We won’t have to wait that long before seeing it integrated into modules and products as mass production is scheduled to start in March 2024. Further information may be found on the product page and in the press release.