CES 2026 runs Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas and it’s always interesting to see what products vendors plan to show off in sensors and related electronics categories.
The focus of the Vegas mega-event is obviously consumer electronics, but that hasn’t prevented the annual appearance of big tractors and industrial machines—and in recent years, multitudes of EVs and other vehicles among the many thousands of products and services on display.
One executive told Fierce his company’s focus this time around will include at-home healthcare applications, putting less emphasis on EV sensor components shown in past years, partly because the Trump administration signed legislation to drop federal EV tax credits and the apparent reduced focus on EVs generally.
“It’s important to be at CES,” said Gregg Rouse, president of North and South America for Japan-based AKM, with offices in San Jose, CA. “Because of stagnation in automotive innovation, this year we’ll focus on the particular market of aging tech and pet tech. There are still lots of little guys working on it and while it’s really early, we know this market is going to happen.”
Rouse said CES has always included attendees from small companies who send application engineers to the event that want to see how AKM products meet their needs. Those introductions have proved beneficial to AKM, he added.
TDK all-in at CES
Another Japan-based company, TDK, is taking a different approach at CES, showing off a range of applications for physical AI technologies, including AI-powered smart glasses and XR. Hands-on demos will allow attendees to wear AI glasses that capture the exhibit hall and deliver generative-AI insights. A full-body haptic glove experience for AR/VR will also be shown.
In June, TDK announced the purchase of SoftEye, a San Diego, CA, company focused on a comprehensive system using custom chips and sensors for use in smart glasses. The focus is on a human machine interface for interactions with AI through eye movement.
Automotive applications at TDK’s booth will showcase EMI filters, custom DC link capacitors for traction inverters and more alongside DC-DC converters and power supplies.
AKM’s AgeTech and PetTech with mmwave
AKM is showcasing at CES 2026 real-world applications of sensing technology for AgeTech and PetTech based on millimeter-wave radar and energy-harvesting that are privacy-based for monitoring health and safety without cameras or wearables. The company expects to show applications for fall detection, pet health monitoring and a battery free smart diaper.
One in four American 65 years and older have a fall each year--a leading cause of injury and death, according to the US CDC. Many falls occur in bathrooms, but elderly residents often take off their wearable devices there, while camera-based monitoring in bathrooms raises privacy worries, Rouse noted.
AKM’s approach is wall-mounted millimeter wave radar at 60 GHz in a module with an antenna that can see through steam. “Quite a few companies make a smartwatch for the elderly but they might take it off in the bathroom and this approach is the missing piece” of what is needed. The AK5816AIM module with its millimeter-wave radar sensor provides 10 seconds of detection so if a person stops moving for a moment, it won’t react too fast. The sensor is tracking object breathing, not just motion. The module is also connected to building Wi-Fi to provide a network for alerts.
AKM is also showing a prototype of a swallow detection device with millimeter wave for early detection of aspiration of food that can lead to pneumonia. The sensor is incorporated into a chair which listens as a person eats. It operates over about 3 meters.
Also at CES, AKM will show a smart diaper shown a year ago which generates a tiny voltage using urine as an electrolyte and conductive materials for electrodes made with printable inks in diaper material. An ultra-low-power DC/DC converter boosts the generated voltage and powers AKM’s Low Energy transmitter.
AKM will additionally unveil two PetTech technologies, including a cage monitoring system for vet clinics, also using millimeter-wave radar to monitor the breathing and heart rate of dogs and cats. A smart pet collar will also show when fever or excessive heat is detected.