Alternative Energy technology is something we have to consider carefully in the context of the real cost of energy. Certainly we can use less as part of the solution. But we can use less without changing our living conditions to the point that we freeze in the winter, broil in the summer and read by […]
Telepresence going mainstream
Feature article in BusinessWeek Magazine entitled “I’ll have my robots talk to your robots.” Article compares Vgo’s $6,000 telepresence robots to Cisco’s $300,000 telepresence suites and suggests that mobility isn’t a gimmick but qualitatively changes what a remote user can do. It is also humanizing and enables effective stand-ins for people. Vgo telepresence robot used…
Re-Manufacturing the USA
For about 20 years that I can remember most candidates for the Presidency of the United States have disrespected manufacturing. Most people who are running for the office of President don’t have manufacturing in their background. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that after years of manufacturing being attacked from a political standpont that we […]
IBM’s Watson Easily Wins Jeopardy!
Day 3 results: Watson wins handily over Jeopardy!’s two most successful champions – Ken Jennins and Brad Rutter. The real test will be applying – commercializing – Watson’s underlying analytics for language processing and data management for different industries. On IBM’s Watson website, healthcare, finance, customer services and handling ambiguity are explored. AI already being…
Wind Power – Progress, Slowly
Converting the energy from wind to electricity is a huge mechatronic challenge. Lots of backyard inventors are trying their hands at it. At the end of the day, it will come down to what works economically. The issue is that you have to convert the kinetic energy of the wind, which is very low depending […]
2011 Engelberger Robotics Award Announced
Dr. Henrik Christensen won for Education. Currently the KUKA Chair of Robotics at Georgia Tech, Christensen also is the driving force behind America’s Roadmap for US Robotics. Åke Lindqvist won for Leadership. Recently retired after 37 years with ABB Robotics in Sweden and North America, he has also served as President of the Intl. Federation…
Agriculture Automation is Progressing Slowly
This week’s World Ag Expo in Tulare, California was a massive agricultural trade show. With an expected 100,000 visitors (of which 13% were foreign), 1,600 exhibitors and 60+ acres (2.6 million sq ft) of exhibition space. Massive! Outdoors, indoors, trams to cover the distances and food stalls of every type, mostly with BBQ smoke stoking…
Agricultural automation progressing… slowly
World Ag Expo, held February 8-10 in Tulare, California, was massive in size but low key for new technologies. Cost is the driver and also the criteria. Seed, sprays and labor costs are increasing thereby requiring productivity automation to lower costs and remain competitive. More …. Show covered 60 acres, had 100,000 visitors and 1,600…
Energy Saving and Industry
Energy conservation is a popular subject. And a lot of commentary has been offered about the importance of energy conservation in the industrial community. I agree. But the desire for energy conservation needs to be tempered with real cost benefit analysis. Which sometimes gets passed up. Almost all variable frequency drives are sold on the […]
My Keepon Bot to be Available for Xmas 2011 at $40
Beatbots and Wow! Stuff are partnering to convert Beatbot’s Keepon robot into a robotic toy that sells for $40 and will be available for the 2011 Christmas gift season. “A percentage of the profit from each My Keepon toy will go towards subsidizing BeatBots’ research-grade robots to therapists and researchers,” said Wow! Stuff head of…