Semiconductor startup PsiKick raised $16.5 million in Series B funding Wednesday to develop its battery-free systems. Osage University Partners led the round joined by existing backers such as New Enterprise Associates, the University of Michigan Investment in New Technologies Fund, as well as individual angel investors. Marc Singer, managing partner of Osage University Partners will join PsiKick’s board of directors as part of the investment. PsiKick has raised more than $22 million to date.

Four German winemakers are trialing a secure Internet of Things connectivity solution to track the environmental conditions to which their grapes are exposed while on the vine. The solution consists of MyOmega System Technologiessensors for measuring the humidity and temperature of air and soil, as well as a MyOmega gateway device to collect that data, Ericsson's cloud-based Device Connection Platform, and MyOmega's TracoVino app and hosted server. The deployment is using Telenor Connexion connectivity via a 3G cellular connection that enables the forwarding of data from the vineyard to a server. The solution is intended to help winemakers identify conditions at the vineyards and …

The internet was once described by International Telecommunications Union secretary general Dr. Pekka Tarjanne as "a haven for pornographers, terrorists and hackers." That was in 1995. Some things, it seems, never change. In fact, a scan of tech headlines today is like a time-warp into yesteryear. Encryption? Debates on limiting such protections were rife in the 1990s, and we’re still fighting about it today. Censorship? Foreign governments were trying to stifle the internet's rising tide, even in its earliest days, and such attempts haven’t gone away. AOL may not be much of an ISP these days, but we're still trying to get America online.

Two years ago, Kohl’s plucked a small crop of IT staffers from its Wisconsin base and planted them in Milpitas, California—smack dab in the middle of Silicon Valley. The group of engineers and designers was tasked with boosting online sales—which are growing but no longer broken out in earnings—and other projects, like process automation and revamping Kohls.com. In essence, they needed to think more like a tech startup than a retailer. Today, the department-store chain’s 50,000-square-foot digital hub, which has already grown to 200 employees from 30, is experimenting with everything from beacons and RFID tags to drones, robots, and …

Two months after Amazon announced a platform to connect appliances to the internet, Amazon Web Services’ Internet of Things is out of beta and available to customers. The platform – similar to offerings from Microsoft and IBM – can command smoke alarms and fitness trackers from computers. Moreover, it extends far beyond the home; it can monitor and manage critical infrastructure such as wastewater treatment facilities and wind turbines.

Robots in movies are usually clever, cute, and friendly. But for decades, real-life robots have been basically awkward, clumsy, and really not-so-smart hunks of metal. That’s drastically changed in the last two to three years, as both robot hardware and AI software have improved by leaps and bounds. This year, we’ve seen robots do all kinds of things that were previously the realm of sci-fi. Some are assisting us mere humans at all kinds of mundane tasks, such as making pancakes, folding laundry, forming new habits, and finding beer pong buddies. Others are extending human capabilities, especially in the area of prosthetics (seethis drummer who …

Twitter is tapping into the interest around drones and mobile video with a patent on an unmanned aerial device that takes photos and video, potentially opening an opportunity for markets to further connect with fans. A patent regarding the technology has been made pubic and speculation surrounding the device is abundant, with many believing the device with be controlled by tweeting at an account associated with the drone. If the technology does come to fruition, marketers will be able to fully connect with consumers, allowing brands to create a personal, image-centric experience for various purposes.

Swiss watchmaker Breitling is furthering its placement in the connected timepiece arena with the debut of the Exospace B55 Connected. Breitling is hailing the Exospace B55 as its most innovative crossover timepiece, having touchpoints of smartwatch technology and analog design to ensure user-friendliness. Keeping its roots, Breitling’s Exospace B55 Connected is developed, assembled and tested in Switzerland, a sign that may sway those still on the fence regarding Swiss-made horological electronics.

Between now and 2020, nearly fully autonomous cars will drive off from showrooms to auto stands across the world. Lars Reger, VP of research and development and new business for the automotive division of NXP, told CBR: "By 2020, the connected car will be an everyday reality. We will also see the roll out of V2V and V2I Communication networks, which transform the car into an intelligent transport system capable of communicating with its environment." CBR lists the top five smart cars already available to buy ahead of this Christmas.

In the Romanian city of Bucharest, a bus company is set to wrap up an eight-month pilot project in which Bluetooth beacons are being used to help visually impaired individuals navigate the bus system. At the same time, thousands of bus passengers in South Tyrol, Italy, are being invited to try a beacon-based service that provides real-time location information regarding buses for all riders, not just those with vision impairments. Both deployments are utilizing Onyx Beacon's Smart Public Transport Solution, which consists of beacon hardware, as well as a cloud-based content-management system (CMS) platform, to communicate with mobile devices via an app that runs …