Robots are being envisioned as solutions to lots of problems, from a lack of willing agricultural workers to increasing need for disaster response. But robots have some problems of their own. Along with their tendency to fall down, running out of energy is a top challenge for robots. They use a lot of energy, so… Read more »
Okay, you know where your particular servo is, but the truth is that servos are showing up in surprising places, including film studios. The company discussed in this video is German film studio The Marmalade. You know those commercials you see with a splash of beer spilling in golden loveliness into a crystalline glass? You… Read more »
A writer for IndustryWeek recently shared that he was getting some flack for using the term “blue collar.” Back in the day, men in offices wore white shirts with white collars, while hard-working laborers wore blue coveralls with blue collars. Upton Sinclair called management “white collar” in the 1930s, but the Wall Street Journal was… Read more »
Robots are integral to manufacturing. There’s a growing trend to let robots out of their cages, thanks to sensors that help cobots (coworking robots) recognize human beings and keep them safe from uncontrolled movements. Factory workers dress robots up in caps and vests, give them pet names, and appreciate their ability to take on physically… Read more »
Robert Downey Jr., aka Iron Man, says that robots and nanotechnology combined will be able to clean up the earth within a decade. His first step is to organize the Footprint Coalition, which is expected to launch within one year. You can sign up for a newsletter now. The next steps beyond that are not… Read more »
In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, hapless earthling Arthur Dent meets a vending machine that uses a very sophisticated method to determine the specific preferences of its customers, but still gives everyone a cup of something that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea. It checks the customer’s taste buds, metabolism, and neutral… Read more »
Rexroth’s plant in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, has developed a Factory of the Future exhibit you can tour to see how cutting-edge technologies in industrial automation can change your factory experience. Key concepts include the Industrial Internet of Things, smart machines, and open standards, areas in which Rexroth has long been a leader. Modular design, an… Read more »
Robot designers often look to animals for inspiration. Here are just a few of the creatures that have provided new ideas for automation: Octopus Wombat Kangaroo Lizard Flea Bioinspiration for robots is almost always about mobility, though. How does a kangaroo get such efficiency of energy as it bounds across the bush? How does an… Read more »
Automation is the norm in manufacturing, but it is increasingly turning up in other industries as well. One of the success stories for robots is retail. Retail is a field in which a lot of the work is dull and poorly paid, so it’s clearly ripe for robots. But one of the big factors for… Read more »
Amazon, FedEx, and the U.S. Post Office are all toying with self-driving vehicles and/or robot delivery. Why not put the two ideas together? That’s where Ford Motor Company’s new project is headed. Ford is planning to launch its own self-driving ride service in the next couple of years, and it sees package delivery as a… Read more »
