Electric motors are still one of the most difficult technologies to apply correctly. The problem is that electric motors are literally “the workhorse of industry”, and they are used in a wide range of applications. Each application, each statement of work that is being designed presents unique requirements. The problem is bounded by the mechanical […]
Google’s Secret Drone Delivery Program
The Atlantic revealed the inside story of Google's two-year secret X-labs drone-delivery project in a detailed story by Alexis Madrigal. Project Wing, as the drone-delivery venture is called, has already conducted test flights delivering small packages to rural areas of Australia. The article describes how the present form of drone came to be a tail sitter,…
The flixels are coming; the flixels are coming!
The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Walt Disney Company filed for 3 patents involving flying entertainment robots, a growing segment in the emerging service robotics industry. One of those patents involves a multi-drone system flying projection screens for nighttime displays, hence the Disney Imagineer word creation for “floating pixels, flixels.” Earlier we reported that Robotic Arts,…
Machine Control
During his Keynote speech at the 2014 NI Week, founder Jeff Kodosky posed some interesting challenges to our assumptions about programming languages. In his talk about the future of system design, he raised the problem of how computers think versus how humans think. Computers are binary. Therein lies the problem. From the early days of […]
Over 3,000 robotics-related companies, research facilities and ancillary businesses
The Robot Report's database of robotics-related companies, research facilities, schools, start-ups and ancillary businesses has grown to 3,000+ and is displayed free in our seven industry directories and global map. Carefully compiled and vetted since 2007, global in coverage, and regularly updated for status changes, acquisitions and mergers, these directories have steadily grown to reflect the…
Inroads in perception
Google's recent acquisition of Emu Messenger is just one of many items in recent news about improvements in perception and artificial intelligence (AI). Emu, not to be confused with the Australian ostrich-like bird nor the European Monetary Union, is a small Palo Alto start-up composed of some serious software talent with experience in machine learning,…
Manufacturing and the Nature of Time
When I first became involved in Programmable Controllers, one of the common questions was how to define when a PLC was needed. From a control standpoint, the common answer was that if you had 4 or more relays in the design of the control circuit, the PLC was likely a better choice. This is based […]
Automation is inevitable says CGP Grey in his new video
CGP Grey, a popular YouTube videographer, has released a new robotics-related video about the jobs issue: “Humans Need Not Apply” in which he shows why automation is inevitable. Over 2.3 million viewers have seen the video! One particularly thoughtful and compelling statement from the video: “Last decade stuff is getting better, cheaper and faster” and…
Looking at the Next Generation of Control
by Steve Meyer, Contributing Editor As multicore processor solutions become less expensive and easier to use, unique architectures provide important benefits for control system users. Industrial control systems emerged in the 1960s as automotive manufacturers applied relays to the control of machinery in the plant. In spite of the very primitive level of control, just […]
Hotel delivery robot debuts in Silicon Valley
Savioke, a start-up headed by ex-Willow Garage CEO Steve Cousins, has provided Aloft Hotels with a robotic butler. Aloft Cupertino is the first to use the new SaviOne delivery robot. Aloft Hotels are a boutique brand of Starwood Hotels that focus on techie features such as Apple TV in-room services and the needs of the ‘always on’ generation…
NI Week 2014
Things are still settling after 4 very intense days at National Instruments NI Week Conference. There is always a lot to see and, as always, I didn’t quite get to see everything I wanted to. Nevertheless, NI Week is an outstanding event in the world of engineering. There are many outstanding achievements to reference and […]
3D Robotics Acquires Sifteo
3D Robotics acquired Sifteo, the start-up which developed Sifteo Cubes and their associated game applications, for an undisclosed amount. Sifteo will help 3D Robotics expand their electronics capabilities for their UAV products as 3D Robotics continues to grow. Sifteo will also continue to provide support for their Sifteo Cubes clients. 3D Robotics and their DIY Drones…
Governmental Funding of Strategic Robotic Projects
Many governments have determined that robotics will play a significant role in contributing to their economy and have set up projects to fund bottlenecks to speed up the process. Japan, the EU, France, the UK, and to a lesser extent, the US are all doing this. Sebastian Cagnon, a French behavior architect at Aldebaran Robotics…
Evolving Control Systems
One of the byproducts of Moore’s Law is the ever increasing capability and declining cost of digital electronics. The semiconductor world is a scary place where chips are created with features smaller than the the wavelength of ultraviolet light. We used to refer to things that are complex as “rocket science”. Packing more feature on […]
Q1 and Q2 2014 robot sales best ever
Following the International Federation of Robotics' (IFR) announcement earlier this year that 2013 set an all-time robotics record, the North American Robotics Industries Association announced that 2nd quarter robot sales were the best ever and the 1st and 2nd quarters combined have set a new record. Since 2010 the robotics market in North America has…