Interviewee: Hari Ram J,Business Development Manager, Pico Technology
Kindly introduce Pico Technology to our readers.
Pico Technology is a UK-based pioneer in PC-based Test & Measurement solutions, known globally for transforming how oscilloscopes, data loggers, and RF tools are used in modern engineering. Founded in 1991 in a small Cambridge office, the company began with a simple but disruptive vision: oscilloscopes don’t need a built-in screen — the PC can serve as the display, processor, and analysis engine.
This philosophy led to the development of lightweight, high-performance USB oscilloscopes that match and often exceed traditional benchtop instruments. When we entered the Indian market, the initial challenge was to shift the mindset of engineers who were accustomed to large, standalone instruments. However, the advantages of unmatched portability, the freedom to use any size of high-resolution monitor, and powerful PC-based analysis quickly gained traction among R&D labs, universities, and embedded design teams.
India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing and R&D ecosystem made it a natural fit for our solutions. We built a structured presence with distribution partners, technical support, and localized customer engagement. Today, Pico products are used widely across India — from EV startups and Tier-1 automotive companies to defense labs, semiconductor research centres, and top academic institutions. India remains one of our fastest-growing markets.
Looking ahead, the industry will be shaped by integration and intelligence. Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and logic analyzers will increasingly merge into unified, software-driven platforms. AI and Machine Learning will play a critical role by detecting anomalies, interpreting waveforms, speeding up compliance checks, and reducing analysis time. As designs become more compact and interconnected, portable, software-centric, and intelligent instruments will dominate the next era of T&M.
Pico instruments separate high-performance acquisition hardware from the software interface, delivering several unique advantages over benchtop tools:
- Superior Visualization: Engineers can use large PC monitors—often 24 inches or more—for multi-channel viewing and long captures.
- Deep Memory: Leveraging the PC’s processing resources enables extremely deep captures, far beyond traditional oscilloscopes.
- Powerful, Evolving Software: PicoScope software is updated frequently and free for life. Each update adds new capabilities, giving users ongoing value.
- Seamless Connectivity: Data is already on the PC, simplifying reporting, sharing, automation, and cloud workflows.
This architecture future-proofs the user’s investment and enhances productivity.
The Pico Sampling Scope represents a major step into ultra-high-speed measurement. With bandwidths up to 33 GHz and picosecond-level resolution, it brings capabilities traditionally limited to very high-cost instruments into an accessible form factor.
As digital systems move into multi-gigabit speeds, even small timing errors matter. The Sampling Scope uses equivalent-time sampling to reconstruct fast repetitive signals with exceptional accuracy.
Key Applications
- High-Speed Serial Data: Ideal for eye diagrams, jitter analysis, and compliance testing for PCIe, USB, and Ethernet.
- Optical Networking: Enables evaluation of ultra-fast optical waveforms for fiber systems beyond 25 Gb/s.
- TDR Measurements: Detects impedance issues in cables, connectors, and high-speed PCBs for signal integrity analysis.
The global electronics and R&D ecosystem — particularly in India and Asia — is entering a rapid growth phase driven by supply-chain diversification, the PLI schemes, and investments into semiconductor and display FABs. India is moving from a software-centric model to full-stack product development and advanced manufacturing, demanding more sophisticated R&D labs.
Pico will play a key role in this evolution:
- Higher ROI: Customers pay only for the acquisition hardware, not for redundant processors or displays. Combined with free software upgrades, maintenance savings, and reduced training time, Pico delivers exceptional long-term ROI.
- Faster Time-to-Market: With instant data availability on the PC and continuous software enhancements, engineers can test new standards faster and reduce development cycles.
- Empowering High-Quality R&D: Pico delivers world-class performance at accessible pricing, enabling startups, SMEs, and educational institutions to undertake advanced R&D.
- Automotive Leadership: With India emerging as a global EV hub, Pico’s automotive diagnostic tools will be essential for working with networks like CAN, LIN, FlexRay, and EV power electronics.
- Supporting Education: Pico tools equip students and universities with modern, PC-based learning environments that mirror real-world engineering workflows.
Innovation is central to Pico’s identity. Our roadmap focuses on performance, intelligence, and application-specific solutions:
- Higher bandwidth and more channels for advanced mixed-signal and multi-lane serial designs.
- Smarter PicoScope software with AI-assisted measurements, automated compliance testing, and improved automation APIs.
- Expanded automotive solutions for EV battery testing, insulation diagnostics, and advanced in-vehicle networks.
- New high-speed acquisition platforms capable of handling future ultra-high-speed interfaces.
Our mission remains clear: to deliver powerful, flexible, high-value Test & Measurement tools to every engineer, researcher, and scientist — from students to senior R&D professionals.We invite the readers of All About Electronics to rethink what’s possible on their lab bench and discover the big-scope performance Pico delivers in a compact, intelligent package.
