Innovators unplugged: an interview with the three CELUS co-founders
We recently announced an exciting collaboration with CELUS, a company pioneering AI-driven automation to empower engineers to design PCBs faster and more efficiently. The co-founders of CELUS were able to join us on the show floor at Electronica, so we asked them to sit down with us and shed some light on their mission, vision, and overall excitement about collaborating with Siemens.
Enhanced efficiency and streamlined process
First, we spoke with André Alcalde, VP of Strategic Development at CELUS. He started by discussing the traditional PCB design process, where engineers would start with schematics using Siemens tools, but then manually search the internet for components and topologies. This time-consuming process is now simplified through the CELUS Design Platform. Engineers can define their requirements, and the platform automatically searches for suitable solutions, significantly reducing project timeline and effort.
Leveling the playing field
Smaller businesses and independent engineers often lack the support that larger companies receive from component manufacturers, distributors, and field application engineers. With the CELUS Design Platform, these engineers gain access to a comprehensive functional block library and AI that provides similar support, enabling them to select components and circuits more efficiently.
The sheer number of components and their possible combinations make it challenging for engineers to find the optimum solution. The CELUS Design Platform utilizes AI algorithms to navigate millions or billions of possibilities and identify the best combination that meets the desired performance and pricing requirements. This technology enables engineers to achieve optimal designs within the project’s time constraints.
The CELUS Design Platform focuses on tailoring solutions to meet the specific requirements of each project. By defining their project needs, engineers receive recommendations based on their unique design goals. This personalized approach ensures engineers can explore new solutions without investing excessive time in internet research and documentation reading.
Fulfilling the engineer’s journey
“I actually went through exactly the pains of having to spend a lot of time to find the specific components for my design,” said André Alcalde, “I saw that this is a very time-consuming process. So, when we started CELUS, the idea was to really bring more efficiency to each of those processes. So, I feel today, very happy to be able to offer this tool to all engineers out there so that they can be more efficient in this design process as well.”
Innovation and accessibility
CELUS strives to bring innovation to the design process and make their platform accessible to every engineer. By creating an account on the CELUS website, engineers can explore and experience the value it brings firsthand. The company’s commitment to technology ensures continuous improvement and development in the years to come.
Seamless integration between CELUS and Siemens EDA
Next, we spoke with Alexander Pohl, Co-founder and CTO of CELUS, who discussed the seamless integration between CELUS and Siemens EDA, emphasizing how this collaboration saves engineers time and enhances convenience. By allowing users to start designs on the CELUS Design Platform and seamlessly transition to Siemens tools, the partnership addresses critical challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) under tight deadlines with limited resources.
Alex highlighted how CELUS acts as a “digital support engineer” or “virtual colleague,” guiding engineers through the early stages of design and accelerating their progress. The platform leverages AI to manage vast amounts of data, streamlining tedious tasks like sifting through datasheets and enabling engineers to focus on creativity and innovation. CELUS is built to support engineers, not replace them, empowering users to achieve their PCB design goals efficiently while maintaining control over their projects.
The platform’s ability to process natural language reflects its mission to act as an intuitive assistant, bridging the gap between human interaction and technical design. By embracing agility, prioritizing efficiency, and integrating with industry-proven tools from Siemens EDA, CELUS ensures engineers can dedicate their energy to innovation and problem-solving rather than repetitive processes.
Alex concluded by expressing the satisfaction of witnessing CELUS help engineers achieve their goals, underscoring the importance of collaboration and support in making engineering more accessible and impactful. The partnership with Siemens reinforces CELUS’ mission to empower engineers and foster innovation at every stage of the design process.
Born out of frustration
We also spoke with Tobias Pohl, co-founder and CEO of CELUS, who explained how the company was born out of frustration during his work on an electric car prototype. While software development for the project was seamless, hardware design was time-consuming and manual, requiring extensive reading of datasheets and step-by-step engineering. This contrast inspired CELUS, where they aimed to streamline electronic design by leveraging high-level abstraction and automation, similar to software development.
Tobias highlighted CELUS’ ability to transform weeks or months of hardware design into hours, thanks to its AI-powered platform. Engineers can input design requirements, and CELUS provides component recommendations and schematic designs quickly, making it particularly beneficial for smaller teams or less experienced engineers.
The platform simplifies workflows by integrating traditionally disjointed tools, enabling faster iterations and empowering users to explore solutions they might not have considered. It reduces the burden of navigating complex data and allows engineers to focus on the creative aspects of design rather than tedious details.
The power of working together
Our collaboration bridges the gap between component selection and board layout. This integrated approach is especially valuable for resource-constrained teams, developing engineers, or software developers transitioning into hardware design.
“When it actually comes to building the real board at the end, that is where Siemens is super strong,” said Tobias Pohl, “So, this collaboration just always made sense. We basically decided to really build that into a fully integrated product and give the most complete offering to the engineers out there.”
“I think the main advantage, especially for the engineers, lies in that seamless integration between Siemens and CELUS,” said Alexander Pohl. “This new collaboration allows engineers to start their journey on the CELUS platform and just with the touch of a button, move over to the Siemens EDA side. And that just is awesome because it saves more time, it makes it more convenient for the engineers and that’s what we all ultimately want.”
The partnership between CELUS and Siemens brings a revolution to the design process, offering engineers a powerful platform that optimizes efficiency, streamlines component selection, and enables exploration of new possibilities. Smaller businesses and independent engineers can now access the support and resources previously limited to larger companies. With AI algorithms and tailored solutions, engineers can achieve optimal designs without sacrificing time or quality. This partnership marks a significant milestone in empowering engineers and propelling electronics innovation forward.
Watch some of the interviews!
