Thinking about the top challenges we face in mechatronics there is one that’s connected and not really obvious. It’s energy storage. Our tendency is think in terms of batteries because that’s the form of energy storage that we are most familiar with. Cell phones, laptop computers and many other portable gadgets of the Internet Age […]
7″ High Resolution Widescreens from Maple Systems
Maple Systems’ Silver Series Graphic OITs include a 7 inch, 800×480 widescreen version. The HMI5070TH is raising the bar with its high definition screen. Compared to the 5.6″ and 5.7″ displays, the 7″ has the same panel cutout, 35 percent more screen area and 5 times the number of pixels-a sharper display with more room […]
Animatics Corp. Publishes New Motion Systems Catalog
Animatics Corporation has published a new 145 page catalog on their expanded line of Motion Systems Products and Peripherals. This comprehensive catalog includes eight product segments fully detailing SmartMotor™ specifications, FieldBus Protocols, Brake Options, Connectivity, Peripherals, Power Supplies, Gear Heads, and Software. Included is an expanded, dynamic fold out selection chart comparing all the different […]
Control, Motors and Efficiency
I was talking with some friends about control technology and made the observation that over the last decade the progress in the control field has been really amazing. Particularly, the processor technology that is available for controlling electric motors is operating 1000 times faster than the control platforms of a decade ago. We look at […]
Idea Contest for Affordable Robots
As PR for ICAR 2009 which met in Munich in June, participants submitted plans and costs for household and assistant robots. PDFs of submitted ideas can be viewed here.
Stäubli Robotics Announces Next Generation Robot Series
Stäubli Robotics announces the introduction of the new TS series of high speed SCARA robots. This next generation robotic line features 100% Stäubli design and engineering, and are among the fastest commercially available SCARA robots in the industry. Stäubli’s high performance benchmarks of speed, rigidity and precision are exemplified by this series which includes the […]
iRex 2009 (Nov 25-28, Tokyo)
Largest robotics trade show in the world bringing together new technology and products related to robots and the robotics industry Please contact me if you are planning to go (I am)
New EPSON RS3 Robot
Rosemont, IL — EPSON Robots introduces the new EPSON RS3 Robot, featuring all the benefits of a typical SCARA plus more. The unique new design of the EPSON RS3 clearly puts it ahead of other robots in its class with superior cycle times and larger work envelope access thus opening up new application possibilities. “Unique […]
Energy
Everyone has an opinion about Energy Policy. Just ask. They’ll tell you! And I am glad for the fact that there is a lot of discussion taking place. We need good dialog and good information. We might be a little lacking on the information side. Nuclear power for generating electricity is not a popular topic, […]
Electric Vehicles and Electric Motors
A friend of mine finally got delivery of a Tesla Roadster. This prompted discussion of the drive train and the fact that Tesla has had to go from two speed transmissions which were failing to a transmissionless drive train. The ultimate mechatronic challenge, the electric car, is also a challenger in terms of the precise […]
Four Views about the Future of Robotics
Juan Enriquez, of Synthetic Genomics fame, tells of how he sees the next big thing: as a new you An interesting, in-depth conversation with a senior automation engineer about the future of robotics Microsoft’s Tandy Trower predicts the next killer robotics app Watch Ray Kurzweil’s TED Talk showing the exponential and steady progression toward the…