News

How our HMIs contribute to passenger safety on passenger vehicles and buses

Every day, thousands of passengers – including many children – travel on school buses and other passenger vehicles. In the event of an accident or fire, the vehicle must be evacuated quickly and safely. Aware of this challenge, AGUILA, based in the Basque country in France, has developed a turnkey solution integrating APEM safety switches and switch guards , designed to meet the new requirements of the European regulation UNECE R107 10 series , which will come into force in 2026.

What is haptic feedback in industrial joysticks and switches?

Haptic feedback is transforming the way operators interact with ruggedized control systems. By introducing tactile sensations—such as vibrations, resistance, or mechanical pulses—into joysticks and switches, it adds a new way for machines to communicate with users. Whether it is a subtle vibration confirming a command or a force cue warning against unsafe motion, haptic technology improves awareness, enhances control accuracy, and increases operator confidence. This is especially valuable in demanding environments like off-road vehicles, defense platforms, and heavy machinery, where visual or audio feedback may be limited.

What are the differences between SPST, SPDT, DPST, and DPDT switches?

When designing control systems or electrical circuits, choosing the right type of switch is important. Whether you’re working on industrial machinery, automation systems, or specialized equipment, SPST, SPDT, DPST, and DPDT switches each offer unique advantages depending on the complexity of your project.

Industrial remote control and teleoperation technology for connected vehicles

From agriculture to defense, industrial vehicles are increasingly operated remotely through advanced remote-control systems. These technologies, combining wireless control systems, radio remote control, and teleoperation technology, enable operators to supervise machines from a safe distance while maintaining full precision and responsiveness. In AGV, UGV, UAV and other connected vehicle applications, industrial remote-control interfaces such as joysticks, remote controllers with receivers, and HMI remote panels are redefining how humans interact with automated equipment.

COTS: Commercial off the shelf HMIs in harsh defense operations

Modern defense operations demand high reliability and rapid availability HMIs. Every piece of equipment, from communication systems to vehicle control panels, must perform flawlessly in harsh conditions. APEM COTS HMIs are specifically designed to operate in extreme conditions, shock, vibration, dust, water, and temperature variations, ensuring mission success and system longevity. Rather than developing custom systems from the ground up, defense integrators increasingly rely on COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) products , proven, available, and compliant with the strictest performance standards. When it comes to rugged HMIs (human machine interfaces) , APEM’s COTS range delivers an ideal combination of durability, functionality, and speed to deployment.

Control made simple, even in the toughest conditions with Hand Controller (HC series)

As autonomous systems become more common in industrial operations, the need for reliable manual control hasn’t gone away, especially when working in unpredictable or extreme environments where equipment must perform under pressure, dust, water, vibration, cold, or heat. The HC Series was engineered with one goal: to put safe, precise, and intuitive command in the operator’s hand, no matter the conditions.

Synapse: APEM’s adaptive programmable joystick concept redefines vehicle control

In the field of vehicle control- ergonomics, precision and safety are essential. Construction machinery, agricultural equipment, and material-handling vehicles all place increasing demands on human-machine interfaces (HMIs), while striving to streamline cabin design. At the same time, operators increasingly expect HMIs to be more intuitive and easy to use, reducing the learning curve and enhancing comfort during operation. With its Synapse programmable joystick concept , APEM introduces a groundbreaking and field-tested innovation: a real-time adaptive joystick that sets a new benchmark in vehicle control. Thanks to haptic feedback and enhanced feel, operators can build greater trust in the machine, improve efficiency, and extend machinery lifetime.

CANbus keypad: simplifying complex control in emergency vehicles

Emergency and rescue vehicles operate in unpredictable, high-pressure environments. That’s why choosing and operating a control must be instinctive, extremely fast, and leave no room for error. Whether it’s a police car, firefighting apparatus, ambulance, or off-road rescue unit, all require a control panel capable of managing critical systems and centralizing numerous, and often complex, functions. We have the perfect solution. Discover all the details in this use case.

Atex certification essential for safety in explosive environments

Flammable gases, airborne dust, hazardous vapors in many industries: the risk of explosion is ever present. A single spark can be enough to cause a disaster. To prevent such incidents, Europe has implemented a strict standard: ATEX certification. Learn about ATEX.

What is secret until lit in HMIs?

Secret Until Lit technology brings greater clarity and safety to HMIs by displaying information only when needed, minimizing distractions and errors. Commonly used in military, medical, and industrial environments, this technology is reshaping interface design. Discover how it works and where it makes the biggest difference.

7 reasons to consider PCB-mounted E-stop switches

In today’s industrial and commercial environments, machines and automated systems are designed to improve efficiency, productivity, and precision, but they also carry risks. To mitigate these risks, Emergency-stop (E-stop) buttons are designed to quickly stop machine operations in case of an emergency. However, as systems evolve and technology advances, the integration of these E-stops into complex systems has also advanced. One such advancement is the use of a printed circuit board (PCB) to connect the emergency stop button to the overall system. This article will explore the benefits of integrating an emergency stop button with a PCB and why this design approach is gaining interest.

Multifunctional CANbus keypads for streamlined vehicle and machinery control – PK range

This trio of high-performance CANbus keyboards—PKI, PKD, and PKR—bring compact design, high configurability, and reliable tactile feedback into one seamless solution, redefining how operators interact with their machine environments.