Siemens

Siemens introduced the world this week to the first serial hybrid electric aircraft at the 2011 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France.

The DA36 E-Star, a two-seater composite glider, was a partnership project among Siemens, aircraft manufacturer Diamond Aircraft Industries, and aerospace giant EADS. The plane is based on Diamond Aircraft's HK36 Super Dimona.

Similar to General Motors' Chevy Volt drive train, the DA36 E-Star uses a serial hybrid electric drive train in which a main engine is powered alternately by a gasoline-powered generator and batteries.

A 70-kilowatt Siemens engine runs the aircraft's propeller. That engine is powered alternately between a small Wankel combustion engine made by Austro Engine that runs on gasoline and acts as a generator, and EADS batteries. Additional EADS batteries are used during takeoff and ascent.

While it's in early development, Siemens claims its drive train can be scaled up for use on a large passenger plane, and under further development hopes to create a drive train that can save 25 percent in fuel consumption.

Of course, even more so than with electric cars, battery weight is still an issue. The plane's range is limited by the number of batteries and the amount of fuel it can carry.… Read more

Industrial giant Siemens is investing in smart-grid start-up Tendril and the two will market Tendril's home energy system to utilities.

The companies announced today that Siemens Venture Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Tendril and will offer Tendril's products initially in the U.S. and Canada.

Siemens is one of the largest suppliers of power distribution equipment to utilities and commercial building management systems, but it lacks consumer-facing products.

Tendril makes software and in-home gadgets for consumers to monitor and manage home energy. A number of utilities are using Tendril's gear as part of smart-grid trials. … Read more

Two researchers say they canceled a talk at a security conference today on how to attack critical infrastructure systems, after U.S. cybersecurity and Siemens representatives asked them not to discuss their work publicly.

"We were asked very nicely if we could refrain from providing that information at this time," Dillon Beresford, an independent security researcher and a security analyst at NSS Labs, told CNET today. "I decided on my own that it would be in the best interest of security...to not release the information."

Beresford said he and independent researcher Brian Meixell planned on … Read more

Motorola and Huawei Technologies have patched up their legal differences in disputes over the potential sharing of trade secrets.

The companies announced today that they've entered into an agreement to settle all litigation in two separate legal matters, pending certain conditions.

China-based Huawei has agreed to withdraw its lawsuit against Motorola and Nokia Siemens Networks. The suit, filed in January, sought to block Motorola's sale of its wireless equipment business to Nokia Siemens on the grounds that Motorola could reveal certain Huawei trade secrets to Nokia Siemens.

Siemens is unveiling a suite of new products at the American Academy of Audiology 2011 conference in Chicago this week, including what it claims is the world's first fully waterproof (and dustproof, and shock-resistant) digital hearing aid.

Called Aquaris, the aid's housing is made of one solid piece, so the only opening is to the battery compartment, which is fitted with a membrane designed to let air in but keep water out.

Siemens lists a whole range of activities that have until now been difficult for those wearing hearing aids that can be ruined by not just water but sweat and dust: sailing, swimming, kayaking, golfing, gardening, cycling, and jogging.

Because the device can be fully submerged in water up to 3 feet deep for 30 minutes (rendering it more than merely water-resistant), shallow snorkeling should be added to the list. Whether we will ever be able to scuba dive with hearing aids remains to be seen.

Aquaris also features a non-slip, textured surface that holds the Aquaris behind the ear; a "sport clip" to further secure the device during intense activities; and a water-resistant Aquapac for added protection.

Siemens has yet to release pricing or availability details.… Read more

Motorola's plan to sell its wireless network business to Nokia Siemens Networks has been put on hold by Chinese antitrust officials.

Under the $1.2 billion deal announced last summer, Nokia Siemens Networks will acquire the unit from Motorola Solutions. But approval of the acquisition is hitting a snag in China, where antitrust regulators have extended their review period by 60 days, Motorola said today.

Antitrust approval is needed in each market affected by the deal, according to Bloomberg, and all other approvals were received by the end of last year.

When the deal was first announced last July, … Read more

Huawei has won a court order that prevents Motorola Solutions from revealing trade secrets as the latter looks to sell its wireless equipment business to Nokia Siemens Networks.

Filing a lawsuit against Motorola late last month, the Chinese telecom equipment provider claims that Motorola could potentially share trade secrets with Nokia Siemens in the $1.2 billion deal that would transfer both Motorola technology and employees.

Motorola has for years been selling Huawei's wireless equipment, so its employees are well versed in Huawei's products and technology. Huawei considers Nokia Siemens a competitor. As a result, Huawei argues that … Read more

Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies won the first round of a legal battle against Motorola this week.

An Illinois federal district court granted the Chinese manufacturer a temporary restraining order that prevents Motorola Solutions from disclosing confidential information about Huawei's technology to Nokia Siemens Networks, which has announced plans to buy Motorola's wireless networks business.

Motorola announced in July 2010 that it plans to sell its entire wireless infrastructure business to Nokia Siemens in a deal that is worth about $1.2 billion.

Huawei announced Monday that it is suing Motorola in U.S. District Court in … Read more

Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei is suing Motorola, claiming the American company will illegally transfer its trade secrets in the proposed sale of its wireless business unit to Nokia Siemens.

Huawei filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Illinois. The company seeks to stop Motorola employees and information associated with Motorola's UMTS and GSM equipment businesses from being transferred to Nokia Siemens Networks. Motorola announced in July 2010 that it plans to sell its entire wireless infrastructure business, which includes products it sells for 3G wireless networks, in a deal that is worth about $1.2 … Read more