Pres. Obama didn’t use the word “robotics” or make reference to the robotics industry in his State of the Union speech. Many think the omission dealt a death blow to an American owned and led robotics industry. New book’s title suggests the importance: “The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream” – and it’s…
Alabama Robot Center Opens
Alabama’s recently opened Robotics Technology Park is a serious $73 million three-pronged endeavor to provide (1) an industry training program where technicians will be trained to work on robotic machinery; (2) a test facility for NASA and the US Army for research and testing of leading edge robotics for defense and space exploration; and (3)…
Motion Paradox
Mechatronics is a field made up of paradoxes. It can be inclusive of so many different technologies that its hard to define what it is and what it isn’t. Primarily mechanical in nature, as the name suggests, it is incredibly ironic that there are no actual sensors for some of the major physical properties of […]
Reduce the Deficit and Invest in Targeted Innovation
I was disappointed with the section of President Obama’s 2011 State of the Union speech regarding investing in selected new technologies for future growth. I had hoped he would use the word “robotics” and include the necessity for an American robotics industry in his speech and it is unfortunate that he did neither. That he…
Kinect boon to Robotics
Viable $100 replacement using cameras and depth-perception software for $5,000 laser range finders presently used to guide robots. iRobot’s AVA concept robot using Kinect-like software and drivers; WillowGarage’s PR2 and ROS ran a contest to “do something cool, funny, or useful.”See video of 1st place winner.
10 Billion Downloads from Apple App Store
Apple App Store phenomena continues beyond iPhones, iPads and iPods with apps for all Apple products. App Store concept being introduced to robotics – because it’s the right way to customize to user needs.
Magnets and Mechatronics
The world supply of magnets is a hot topic. The Chinese bought General Motors’ Magnaquench company some years ago and have on their soil one of the largest developed mines of rare earth elements in the world. According to some analysts, China controls 95% of the supply of Neodymium magnets in the entire world. Pretty […]
There’s a robot in your future
2011 will offer exciting developments of manufacturing robots but also point out the weaknesses apparent in U.S. robotics. Read “Manufacturing with Robots: prospects and Problems Ahead“. Predictions for 2011-2020: Predictors include Bill Gates, Samsung, the government of South Korea, Toyota, Ray Kurzweil, CMU’s Hans Moravec and the Robotics Industry Association. The Intl. Fed. of Robotics…
Robots and smart devices at CES 2011
Speed, 3D, 4G, TV everywhere – oh and robots too. What Can You Do With AVA (iRobot’s New Concept Robot)?. New media – with all it’s rough edges – clearly seen at CES.
Future Innovation
Innovate, or else. It is an imperative. Its a major topic. New books are published exploring the process of innovation, the psychology of innovation. Some question whether innovation can be taught. Nonsense. Its about the hard work of good design. Hard work that American middle managers are often unwilling or unable to do. As a […]
Japan to invest $3 billion to deep-sea mine for gold, silver and rare metals
Japanese government to develop a mining system, using the world’s first deep-sea mining robot to do the excavation, to mine gold, silver and rare metals in Japanese territorial waters, which will then be transported to a support ship on the surface via a pipe.
Speed; 3D; 4G; TV everywhere – oh, and robots too
Collage of robot consumer products shown at CES 2011 ROBOTS AND SMART DEVICES AT CES 2011 – LAS VEGAS Robotics Trends, a division of EH Publishing, an events, e-media and technology publishing company covering the electronics, construction and robotics industries, sponsored what CES called a “Robotics Tech Zone” focused on robotic consumer products. Unfortunately, there…
Change Everywhere
Change is everywhere. The rate of change in technology is astounding. Part of that change is also how the cost of technology is changing, because that impacts the rate of adoption of technology. As cell phones, pad and tablet computers, and net books continue to drive down the price of interconnection, how does it change […]
New Media – with all it’s rough edges – clearly seen at CES 2011
Guess which one is me taking notes I spent three days at CES listening, checking, talking and walking. My focus was robotics and the showing was meager. There were few consumer robotic products at the show. A full list of those can be seen in “Speed, 3D, 4G, TV Everywhere – Oh… And Robots Too.“…
What Can You Do With AVA (iRobot’s new concept robot seen at CES 2011)?
Las Vegas, January, 2011 iRobot had a booth at CES 2011 in Las Vegas to show their upgraded line of robotic vacuum cleaners and a few other consumer products. In addition to iRobot, there were other booths showing Korean and Chinese versions of robot floor-cleaning devices. Ava, iRobot’s telepresenceconcept mobility device But this little gem…
PID and Motion
PID control has been with us for a long time. Proportional, Integral and Derivative relationships are applied to the control of a variable whose setpoint is to be controlled. Complex relationships can be created, and they have been, that create powerful control solutions that are at the heart of many major industries. At the heart […]
Manufacturing With Robots: Prospects and Problems Ahead
2011 is a pivotal year for industrial and service robots. In fact, we may see the marriage of industrial with service robots to be used as assistants in manufacturing. The recent launches in Europe of pi4-robotics’ workerbot and Japan’s Motoman’s two-armed headless robot, and the anticipated 2011 launch in the U.S. of Heartland Robotics’ factory…