While driving in autonomous mode, a Google self-driving car struck a public transit bus in California on Valentine’s Day. The Google self-driving car was trying to get around some sandbags on a street when its left front hit the bus’ right side. Nobody was injured.
Where Do the Candidates Stand on Robotics?
Between the sound bites, the presidential candidates have said little so far about their stances on robotics and automation.
General Dynamics Buys UUV Maker Bluefin Robotics
The global fleet of naval robotics is growing, as General Dynamics Mission Systems acquires Bluefin Robotics.
Control System Language
Programming control systems is a complex matter. Some of the complexity is the history behind it, some is hardware related and some is the interdependency of hardware and software. Control system hardware has migrated from mechanical to electrical, and from electrical to electronic, or digital. Mechanical systems relied on changing gears and pulleys, adjusting hard […]
Tertill Weeding Robot Wants to be the Roomba of Gardens
Franklin Robotics joins the Robotics Trends Show to discuss its Tertill weeding robot, a solar-powered, autonomous weed killer.
MagnaShear hazardous duty brakes are Class I and Class II, Div 2 Certified
New MagnaShear hazardous duty brakes from Force Control Industries, which employ oil shear technology to provide longer service life with virtually no maintenance or adjustment, now meet Class I and Class II Div 2 specifications (Div 1 in process with approval forthcoming). With spring set torque ratings from 3 to 900 foot-pounds available, MagnaShear motor […]
Workholding setup for secondary sperations from SideWinder Vise
The Kurt SideWinder vise provides vertical workholding without interfering with an existing host vise or the spindle. SideWinder vise expands the capabilities of 6 or 8 inch vises by adding vertical clamping above and behind the host vise and provides easy spindle access for secondary or final machining operations. SideWinder mounts to any vise with […]
Denmark’s largest robot manufacturer delivers 91% growth in revenue
It created quite a stir when American Teradyne paid more than USD 285 million for all the shares in the Odense-based company Universal Robots in the spring of 2015. The price of the company with 150 employees in Denmark reflected the expectations of significant growth rates in the robot industry; particularly, in the new market […]
1.3 million industrial robots expected by 2018
The automation of the fourth industrial revolution is accelerating: By 2018, around 1.3 million industrial robots will be entering service in factories around the world. In the high-revenue automotive sector, global investments in industrial robots increased by a record-breaking 43% (2013-2014) within one year. Viewed on a cross-sector basis, the international market value for robotic […]
Universal Code Reader reads all common 1-D and 2-D codes
The MAC335 Universal Code Reader from Pepperl+Fuchs is compact, economical, and easy-to-mount and configure. The stationary barcode imager reads the most common 1-D and 2-D code symbologies without having to change settings. Its 1.3 megapixel resolution enables it to accurately and reliably read small and large codes at distances ranging from 20 to 300 mm […]
Micro Drones Will Have Their Own FAA Rules
The FAA’s Micro UAS ARC will determine which drones are safe to fly over crowds through a performance-based standard. The committee will weigh human injury thresholds, hazard and risk assessment methodologies and acceptable levels of risk for those not involved in the operation.
New camera system aids in automatic machine setup monitoring
In order to automatically monitor the setup situation and machining result with Heidenhain’s flagship TNC 640 mill-turn control, the VS 101 camera system has been introduced. The TNC 640 is Heidenhain’s versatile contouring control, especially well-suited for HSC and 5-axis machining on machines up to 18 axes. The new VS 101 camera system now enables the […]
Next Gen ATLAS Robot from Boston Dynamics is Incredible
Boston Dynamics’ next generation ATLAS robot is tether-free, designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings, and has incredible balance.
WPI Makes Firefighting Robot Nimble for the Navy
Although last year’s DARPA Robotics Challenge demonstrated the limitations of humanoid robots, researchers are working hard to overcome them.
5 Robots Seeking Your Crowdfunding Support
A roundup of the hottest robotics projects currently raising money on Indiegogo and Kickstarter.
Universal Robots Hails First ISO Cobot Spec
Esben Ostergaard, CTO of UR, likens the ongoing International Organization for Standardization safety effort as similar to that for cars.
DJI Drone Insurance Available for Phantom, Inspire Models
DJI now offers drone insurance. The DJI Care Protection Plan covers damage to Phantom and Inspire drones that were caused from operator error or other mishaps for up to a year.
Tesla Autopilot Fails to Brake When Approaching Stopped Car
A YouTube video shows a Tesla Model S driving in Autopilot fail to brake as it approaches a stopped car at a red light. The human driver had to take over and slam on the brakes after deciding Autopilot wasn’t going to brake in time.
Control Hardware, Software and Language
Control system hardware is a very diverse business. Siemens, ABB, Eaton, Rockwell and a universe of suppliers make up a marketplace of approximately $200 billion. At the supplier level the definition of control is pretty much anything from medium voltage switchgear, transformers, insulators and everything needed from the electric utility supply down to a 5 […]
Fastec Imaging’s IL5 high-speed industrial camera
Fastec Imaging’s IL5 high-speed industrial camera can record the action on production lines moving at high-speed for analysis or troubleshooting using slow motion replay. With recording speeds of over 630 frames per second at HD 1,080p resolution and over 3,200 fps at VGA resolution (faster frame rates can be obtained at smaller resolutions), the Fastec IL5 […]
Dot-Peen marking system integrated to an automated ABB module
ABB Robotics is a Robotics Company that supplies industrial robots, modular automation solutions, and related services. The company has delivered more than 250,000 robots worldwide, of which more than 40,000 are for applications related to the machine-tool industry. ABB’s robots, solutions, and services help manufacturers improve productivity, product quality, and worker’s safety. Innovation is its […]
9 cool robot displays you missed at MD&M West this year
At this month’s MD&M West (which also featured plenty of automation, packaging, and other technologies), the robots were really on display. We captured short (20-30 second) videos of the most interesting ones for you to see. Check them all out! [Click on the numbers below the social media logos to advance to the other pages.] […]