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42 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2025 reducing the time and labor required in the process. While traditional autorouters depend heavily on setup and user expertise, modern AI-based tools leverage machine learning to streamline and optimize routing while pre- serving signal integrity. As AI integration progresses, PCB design- ers will have more opportunities to enhance workflow, reduce repetitive tasks, and focus on innovation, ultimately transforming PCB design into a more intuitive, intelligent, and seamless experience. Key Points • History shows a prevalent skepticism among PCB designers, many of whom pre- fer interactive routing. • Modern autorouters depend significantly on configuration and setup, utilizing Bool- ean algorithms. is means their effective- ness is directly tied to the skill of the per- son configuring them. • With the advent of reinforcement machine learning, AI can be trained on an extensive library of professional PCB layouts, allow- ing it to bypass traditional setup processes. • Allegro X AI adheres to constraints related to wire lengths, signal integrity, and power distribution. • Zuken has also introduced AI technology known as AIPR (Autonomous Intelligent Place and Route). • Siemens has made significant advance- ments with the introduction of Process Prediction, a key component of their Mod- ern UX Solution. DESIGN007 Resources • Beyond Design: Integrating AI into the PCB Design Flow, by Barry Olney and Charles Pfeil • Cadence, Zuken, Siemens EDA, DeepPCB, Flux Copilot and KiCAD literature Barry Olney is managing director of In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd (iCD), Australia, a PCB design service bureau that specializes in board-level simulation. The company developed the iCD Design Integrity software incorporating the iCD Stackup, PDN, and CPW Planner. The software can be downloaded at www.icd.com.au. To read past columns, click here. QUT researchers have identified a new material which could be used as a flexible semiconductor in wearable devices. In a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Communication, the researchers used "vacancy engi- neering" to enhance the ability of an AgCu(Te, Se, S) semiconductor, which is an alloy made up of silver, cop- per, tellurium, selenium and sulphur, to convert body heat into electricity. Vacancy engineering is the study and manipulation of empty spaces, or "vacancies," in a crystal where atoms are missing, to influence the material's properties, such as improving its mechanical properties or optimising its electrical conductivity, or thermal properties. Alongside first author Nanhai Li, the QUT research- ers contributing to the study include Dr Xiao-Lei Shi, Siqi Liu, Tian-Yi Cao, Min Zhang, Wan-Yu Lyu, Wei-Di Liu, Dongchen Qi and Professor Zhi-Gang Chen, all from the ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality, the QUT School of Chemistry and Physics, and the QUT Centre for Materi- als Science. Professor Chen said the demand for flexible ther- moelectric devices was growing significantly and QUT researchers were at the forefront of research in this area. "The key to advancing flexible thermoelectric tech- nology is to examine wide-ranging possibilities," Pro- fessor Chen said. "The type of semiconductor used in this research is a rare inorganic material that has striking potential for flexible thermoelectric performance. How- ever, the underlying physics and chemistry mechanisms for enhancing its performance while maintaining excep- tional plasticity remained largely unexplored until now." (Source: QUT) Crystal Clear Design for High-performance Flexible Thermoelectric Semiconductor