Robots are unlike any other mechatronic system. Robots are typically 5 to 6 axis platforms, which, while they may be made up of the same components as any other mechatronic systems, they are subject to very complex control requirements. The control of the robot has to take into account the weights and sizes of […]
Battered iRobot stock takes another hit
Although iRobot reported that its 3rd quarter profits rose 8% and the company saw revenue growth within its consumer products, the stocks dropped 19% as it warned that it’s revenue outlook had deteriorated 5% further than previously reported. Also announced was the closing of the Durham, NC facility – its maritime operation where iRobot produced…
NAO, WALL-E, PackBot and BigDog inducted into Robot Hall of Fame
Aldebaran Robotics‘ NAO humanoid robot won in the Education & Consumer category. WALL-E, the star of the 2008 Disney/Pixar movie of the same name, won in the Entertainment category. iRobot‘s PackBot robot won in the Industrial & Service category. Boston Dynamics‘ BigDog won the Research category. All were selected by popular vote to represent contemporary…
Coordinated Motion
An occasional topic of conversation in the control industry is understanding what is meant by coordinated motion. The topic is fairly ambiguous since we have many examples of complex pieces of machinery with high axis counts and which definitely give the impression of coordinated motion. The illusion of coordination is based on the fact that […]
FoxBots Being Deployed in China
Foxconn-built robot FoxBot. Source: TechWeb.com.cn Foxconn, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision (2317:TW), has begun deploying their own brand of industrial robots to their factory in Jincheng, Shanxi Province, China, according to various reports from China news sources. Shanxi Province is an area where Foxconn is partnering with local governments – spending $16…
First Sighting of FoxBots in China
Foxconn said they would be deploying 1 million robots in their factories in China. The first photographs of one of those appeared in Chinese news last week. 10,000 turquoise FoxBots have been installed in a factory in Jincheng, China. News sources estimate that Foxconn is behind schedule to meet their goal of 300,000 by the…
Scale Effect – Part 2
Other considerations of scale effect occur in control systems as well. When considering a control system problem, the bandwidth or scaling of the control parameters themselves are often a major issue. What happens when the velocity of a system needs to be controlled over a range 1000 to 1 or greater? This was the exact […]
eBee First Product From Parrot/senseFly Investment
In July, the Parrot Group partnered with senseFly, a Swiss start-up and spin-off from the Swiss EPFL, and invested $5.3 million to help senseFly grow. Their initial plan was to develop a high volume manufacturing capability and fund rapid growth and new product development. The eBee is the first such product from that venture. The…
New Commercial Aerial Drone Introduced
senseFly, a Swiss start-up, launched their new eBee aerial photography drone with funding from a recent equity investment by Parrot (of AR.Drone quadcopter fame). With it’s 3′ wingspan the eBee can fly for 45 minutes in up to 25 mph winds. Two kinds of software drive the eBee: one to create a flight path and…
Chinese Companies Cited by Congress as IP Threats
“I would find another vendor if you care about your intellectual property, if you care about your consumer’s privacy and you care about the national security of the United States of American,” said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers on CBS 60-Minutes regarding Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese telecommunications conglomerates. Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine did a…
Fast Food: Another Robotic Frontier
A machine that makes a 10.5″ pizza from scratch in 2.5 minutes is beginning to appear in malls, student unions and other public places in Europe. A cupcake ATM machine created long lines at a Beverly Hills cupcake store and will soon be showing up in Chicago and New York too. And robotic arms are…
Another Robotic Frontier: Fast Food
They can’t build the machines fast enough to satisfy the demand, particularly from Italian end-users. A1 Concepts Let’s Pizza machines are in Europe and soon will be coming to the US. The devices don’t just reheat frozen pizzas; they create an authentic 10.5″ pizza, made from scratch with fresh ingredients in less than 2-1/2 minutes.…
Scale Effect
The subtle effects of Scale Effect are sometimes missed. When you have to deal with measurement and processes at extreme ends of the scale, it gets very complicated. One manifestation is just size and weight of parts. Obviously, when things get big, there are consequences. A simple structural element that appears to be perfectly straight […]
Distribution Centers: An Emerging Robotics Frontier
Distribution centers (DCs) are massive warehouses that receive, inspect and store goods for later picking, packing and shipping to end-users, re-distributors or retail outlets. Products can be everything from books, pharmacy goods, clothing, office goods, food, drinks, shoes, produce, household items and pet supplies to diapers. And quantities can be one or two individual units…
Man-to-goods vs. Goods-to-man in Warehouse Automation
Kiva Systems’ innovative goods-to-man warehouse fulfillment methodology is impacting vendors servicing distribution centers. Read a profile of three approaches to transitioning from man-to-goods methods to newer practices involving automation and robotics. Three really interesting videos help clarify the complexity.