A Florida company designed a robotic crawler to navigate around the underwater portion of a ship and remove accumulated biofilm layers. As a battery operated, autonomous vehicle, component selection made up a highly critical part of the design and manufacturing process Toxic paint is used on the bottom of large ships to prevent biofilm growth, […]
Where No Man Can Go: Robot Surveys the Deep
The first scientific mission using Sentry, a robot capable of diving 5,000 m, or 3.1 miles, into the ocean, was successfully completed by scientists and engineers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of Washington (UW). The vehicle surveyed and helped locate several proposed deep-water sites for seafloor instruments that will be […]
Robotic Vehicle Assists Soldiers in Missions
The U.S. Army’s Autonomous Platform Demonstrator (APD) will assist soldiers in payload missions and keep them safe in the process. Developed by the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, (TARDEC), the APD is a 9.6-ton, six-wheeled, hybrid-electric robotic vehicle used by the Robotic Vehicle Control Architecture, or RVCA Army Technology Objective, also out of […]
Cimcorp Acquires North American RMT Robotics
Finland-based Cimcorp Oy (www.cimcorp.com), a leading supplier of automated material handling and picking solutions, has acquired RMT Robotics (www.rmtrobotics.com), a Canada-based manufacturer and integrator of innovative robotic material handling systems. The newly formed group offers case picking and advanced order fulfillment systems, robotic gantry technology and related software and controls as well as a line […]
Bionic Joint Modules for Humanoid Robots
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – igus® introduced an innovative robot joint module system at the Hanover Fair 2010. Previously, robot developers were forced to put together complex, custom solutions from numerous individual components. igus is currently looking for beta testers for this new product. The joints in the Robolink system are controlled by cable tension, in […]
Revolutionary Robotic Hand of the Future
The human hand is one of the body’s most complex structures. Researchers have made progress in the design of delicate grippers with fingers and thumbs. However, they are not yet available. Currently, only simple two or three-fingered grippers are used, and they accomplish only a limited range of tasks. Work is underway to develop more […]
PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide Design Helps Team Win FRC Innovation Award
Rockford, IL – The FRC (First Robotic Competition) is put on through FIRST and used to provide hands-on design/mechanical physics and engineering experience to high school students—along with valuable teamwork building and project management skills. This year, Team 2641 (a.k.a. the Vikings) of Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School decided to implement PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide linear […]
Motoman Inc. and Yaskawa Electric America, Inc. Combine to form Yaskawa America, Inc.
Motoman Inc. and Yaskawa Electric America, Inc. announced they will combine to form Yaskawa America, Inc. The Motoman Inc. operations, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, will form the Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America; the Yaskawa Electric America, Inc. operations, headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, will form the Drives & Motion Division. According to Yaskawa America, Inc. […]
Norgren Recognized for Contribution to 2010 Colorado FIRST Robotics Competition
Littleton, CO – Norgren announced it has been recognized as a ‘Gold’ level contributor to the FIRST Robotics Organization for its donation of pneumatic valves and regulators. The FIRST Colorado Regional competition took place at the University of Denver Ritchie Center Thursday, March 25, 2010, through Saturday, March 27, 2010. Since 2006 Norgren has contributed […]
Stevens Team Places 3rd in 2010 IEEE/NIST Mobile Microbiotics Challenge
A team from Stevens Institute of Technology consisting of undergraduate student Sean Lyttle, along with graduate students: Wuming Jing, Xi Chen, and Zhenbo Fo and lead by Professors David Cappelleri, Jan Nazalewicz, and Yong Shi from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, placed third in the Freestyle Competition of the IEEE/National Institute of Standards and Technology […]
Miniature 6-axis Robot Positions Precisely
Hexapods, or parallel kinematics positioning systems, can move masses of 50, 200 or even 1000 kg with micron accuracy such as that required in medical applications. These Hexapod systems are all built with six high-resolution electro-mechanical or piezoelectric actuators all acting on a common platform. It is the familiar flight simulator design, but considerably more […]
Macron T-Slot Sensor Kits
Croydon, PA – Macron Dynamics Inc. announces the addition of T-Slot Sensor Kits to the company’s line of actuator accessories. T-Slot sensors are designed for precise position detection in automation and robotics applications. T-Slot Inductive Proximity Sensor “Macron T-Slot Sensor Kits are the latest addition to our automation accessory product line,” said Craig Marshall, Executive […]
DELMIA Robotic Simulation and Offline Programming Help Company to Expand Fabrication Capability
Dassault Systèmes (DS) announced that its DELMIA Robotics simulation solution has been implemented by Dumur Industries with the company experiencing major gains in manufacturing efficiency. Dumur is a precision metal manufacturing specialist serving the ground vehicle defense market. Dumur Industries began its migration to robots in 2003, recently purchasing a 5-axis gantry-style laser robot, optimized […]
Bishop-Wisecarver Joins Forces with FIRST
Pittsburg, CA – Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation announced that for the fourth consecutive year it has joined forces with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, as a Silver Supplier of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC®). […]
Autodesk Names Dynamic Structures as Inventor of the Year for 2009
Members of the Autodesk manufacturing community chose the Canada-based provider of dynamic, complex structures as the 2009 Inventor of the Year by voting on the Autodesk Manufacturing Community website. Dynamic Structures—which designs all types of complex structures from ski jumps and bridges to astronomical observatories—was originally named Inventor of the Month in March 2009 for […]
EPSON Robots introduces New EPSON G1 Mini SCARA Robots
Carson, CA – EPSON Robots introduces the new EPSON G1 Mini SCARA Robots. Leading the industry with best in class cycle rates, precision assembly and motion range, EPSON G1 robots provide an ultra compact yet powerful solution for even the most demanding applications. G1 Mini SCARA robots are available in arm reaches of 175 or […]
New Library Offers Plethora of Functions
3D-Locate is software that addresses vision-guided robotics, assembly, and inspection. It offers three-dimensional position information that enables automation equipment to work with a wider variety of parts, including items that are stacked or tilted. 3D-Locate software is suited for applications such as logistics, robot-guided de-palleting, and precision assembly. The software is also suited for applications […]
Maxon Announces Strategic Collaboration with National Instruments
Maxon Precision Motors is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with National Instruments (Austin, TX). The initiative will look to highlight mutual areas of interest in the field of robotics. An informal relationship between the two companies was initiated as early as 2006, with the inclusion of NI LabVIEW VIs in Maxon’s EPOS family of […]
Robots Make the World’s Most Versatile Video Screen for Rock Concert
The programming involved in turning industrial robots into an integral part of a rock concert tour experience may bring a totally new thought pattern to the use of robots in advanced manufacturing applications in the future. The Bon Jovi concert experience, “The Circle Tour,” opened February 19th in Seattle’s Key Arena and has taken the […]
Professor’s Work on Computer-aided Arthroscopy Could Shed New Light on Hip Surgery
By its nature, arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that allows surgeons to repair or remove tissue from a joint with minimal disruption to other critical parts. The surgeon inserts instruments and a small camera through tiny portals or incisions, monitoring the instruments’ movements on a television screen. The procedure generally presents a lower risk of […]
Kollmorgen introduces MechaWare 4.0
Santa Barbara, CA – Kollmorgen introduces MechaWare™ 4.0 – the industry’s only mechatronic “toolkit” that empowers software and design engineers to work together to design, test and modify custom motion algorithms in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional methods. This new upgraded MechaWare version leverages MATLAB®/Simulink® from The Mathworks™ to identically model […]
Cognex offers 3D Vision Software
Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) announces 3D-Locate™, a library of 3D vision software tools that expands application possibilities in vision-guided robotics, assembly, and inspection. Cognex 3D-Locate delivers accurate, real-time, three-dimensional position information that enables automation equipment to work with a wider variety of parts, including items that are stacked or tilted. Using 3D-Locate can improve vision […]