The “Work Statement” for a mechatronic system is a very complex undertaking. From the theory standpoint there is no single systematic explanation that can serve as a guideline to assist us in creating a high quality work statement. This is a major problem because the work statement is the most critical means of understanding the […]
10,000 robots to be used on new iPhone 6
MacRumors has done a roundup of iPhone 6 rumors and reported that the new phone will come in two models: 4.7” and 5.5” and be released starting this September. The new phone will be faster (1), lighter, and thinner than the iPhone 5S. Other features may include image stabilization for the camera, support for the faster…
The Next Wave
Control system technology in the manufacturing arena has been driving a lot of technology over the last few decades. That shouldn’t be a big surprise, the worldwide revenue of the top control suppliers is about $200 billion. Not small scale. The number comprises suppliers of process control, programmable control, industrial computer suppliers and major […]
JIBO: a game changing social robot
JIBO, a 2013 Boston start-up, launched an IndieGoGo campaign last week and is off to a rousing start, lots of favorable press, and it has raised more than $1.4 million over their $100,000 goal. JIBO is a home device with a small screen that conveys emotions but is also used for social services, story-telling and other…
Robots for entertainment – Part II
Entertainment users of robots include movie studios (e.g., “Gravity”), entertainers (e.g., Blue Man Group), rides (Disney Epcot Center), resorts (Wynn) and bartenders (Bicardi and Coca Cola). KUKA has provided a colorful and informative infographic to showcase their use of robots and robot partners in the entertainment business. (It also shows healthcare and other uses of KUKA…
China International Robot Show (CIROS) a BIG hit
CIROS, the China International Robot Show held last week in Shanghai had record crowds, record numbers of exhibitors, 168,000 sq ft of exhibition space, and exuded confidence in a thriving up-and-coming Chinese robotics industry. Many global robot makers took part in the show including Comau, Staubli, Yaskawa and Kawasaki but domestic companies such as Shanghai…
History of Work – Part 2
Work is something we would generally like to delegate. That’s what we did with animals, we got them to help us increase our abilities in the agricultural arena. Horses and mules were used to turn grinding mills and help with irrigation according to a variety of mechanical solutions over the centuries. More sophisticated mechanical systems […]
3 Exoskeleton Companies Go Public
First came Ekso Bionics with an alternative public offering that netted $30.3 million; then Cyberdyne let its stock be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange; and last week the WSJ reported that ReWalk Robotics had filed an IPO and planned to raise $57.5 million. A recent Wintergreen research report said that the rehabilitation robot market will…
Will agricultural robots arrive in time to keep fruit and vegetable costs down?
77% of all agricultural workers in the U.S. are foreign born and about half of those are undocumented (1). These low-wage workers have helped keep American food prices reasonable – especially for growing, harvesting and processing fruits and vegetables. Legal migrant farm labor is getting hard to find, wages are rising, and the workers less reliable.…
History of Work
Work? Not a big fan, personally. I prefer to think about it carefully and for a long time before I get too involved. My musings on work took on some interesting directions as I contemplated the history of work during this July 4th weekend. Hopefully this results in a some interesting mechatronic observations. The first major […]
2013 Robotics Funding Up 32% From 2012
UPDATED 7-3-14: Once again Google-X Labs' roboticist entrepreneur Travis Deyle has released his compilation of robotics-related venture funding for 2013. The results show a 32% increase over 2012 and $250.7 million for 19 start-ups. From Travis' blog: Robotics companies raised at least $250.7 million in 2013, which compares very favorably to the $190 Million from 2012. Also of…
Top 10 take-aways from AUTOMATICA 2014
When you see a slick robot – say for instance the new Aldebaran Pepper robot – you can easily be distracted by the design, the gestures, the interaction, the cuteness. But AUTOMATICA reminds you that there's a whole lot of “stuff” going on inside that robot. #1 Robots and robotics are fascinatingly complex Whether humanoid, industrial or…