Robotics and Automation - Articles, Stories & Interviews
Yale OpenHand Project
From Yale's OpenHand Project:
This project intends to establish a series of open-source hand designs, and through the contributions of the open-source user community, result in a large number of useful design modifications and
Automating Jobs: The Driverless Car Will Have Some Ugly Side Effects
During the ten years between 2020 and 2030, we’re going to have our first experience with human-free businesses where systems/software will be communicating/negotiating with each other and you’ll just be sitting on the sideline.
Stop Robot Abuse?
There is a word for this. Bullying.
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Prototyping with UberBlox
UberBlox is a new high-quality metal construction set and prototyping system for makers to build rigid structures and automated machines.
Robo.Op: Opening Industrial Robotics
From MADLAB.CC:
Robo.O
Robotics and Automation - Featured Story
Beating Super Hexagon With Computer Vision
Two great examples of using Computer Vision to beat Super Hexagon.
Super Hexagon is a really hard game. The goal of Super Hexagon is to control a small triangle which circles around a central hexagon (which occasionally collapses into a pentagon or square in the hexagon and hyper hexagon difficulty) attempting to avoid contact with incoming "walls".
First example from Valentin Trimaille's Super Hexagon bot:
Ray Casting Wall Detection
The point is that a bot for this game makes a really nice image processing project to start learning OpenCV: simple shapes but lots of human disturbing effects, fast-paced game meaning real-time is required, very simple controls: rotate CW or CCW... (full article)
Second example from Shaun LeBron's Super Hexagon Unwrapper:
This project is written in Python. It employs Computer Vision algorithms provided by SimpleCV to establish a reference frame in the image. Then it warps (or "unwraps") the image based on that reference frame, using OpenGL fragment shaders... (github code) (full explanation)
Robotics and Automation - News Headlines
THE RISE OF THE CHIEF ROBOTICS OFFICER
The answer to robotics in the corporate sphere, as well as the ultimate target for robotic industry vendors make its debuts at the third edition of RoboBusiness Europe, taking place in Milan (Italy) on April 27-30, 2015
Aitech Applies Three Decades of Reliable Computing to Industrial Marketplace
New product family starts with two VME SBCs using Intel and PowerPC
Toshiba Wins iF Design Award 2015 for Hydraulic Double-Arm Robot
Toshiba Group took two awards at iF Design Award 2015, the prestigious international competition that recognizes outstanding achievements in design. The Silmee Bar type paste-on wearable biological sensor received the Product Design Award, and the Hydraulic Double-Arm Robot won the Professional Concept Award.
Laser Scanning Drones: XactSense is First to Fly Velodyne's New Low-Cost LIDAR "Puck"
XactSense inc. has developed a new platform for low-altitude aerial mapping using the newly released Velodyne LIDAR VLP-16 "Puck". Drone LIDAR mapping for the masses is here.
AIMG Redesigns Another A3 Website, This Time for Motion Control Association (MCA)
Having developed and designed the Robotics.org (RIA), VisionOnline.org (AIA), and A3Automate.org websites, AIMG's launch of MotionControlOnline.org for MCA marks its successful completion of all 4 websites for the Association for Advancing Automation organizations.
Robotics and Automation - Featured Product
Bishop-wisecarver Group - Dualvee® Vacuum Wheels
DualVee® Vacuum Wheels, finalist for the Golden Mousetrap Awards, are linear guide bearings with precision ground 90-degree surfaces for linear and rotary motion applications in vacuum environments and testing chambers. Made of vacuum compatible AISI440C and 304 stainless steel and grease, these guide wheels are capable of ultra high vacuum down to 10-9 mbar. Mount on AISI303 DualVee® bushings and run on 90-degree AISI 420 track in single piece lengths up to 20 feet and available in two sizes with load capacities up to 1855N radially, and 440N axially, they are ideal for guided motion in challenging environments.
Vacuum Processing Applications:
-Thermal Testing
-Altitude Testing / Simulation
-Space Testing / Simulation
-Package Leak Testing
-Degassing - Prevent gas entrapment in curing compounds; epoxies, urethanes, resins, silicone rubber, castings.
-Filling - encapsulating and dosing processes, eliminate moisture, air bubbles
-Package Sealing
-Impregnating & Infusing - Wood, fiber, clay, powders, foams, food.
Target Applications Within Vacuum:
-Sliding equipment racks for loading/unloading
-Automated material handling / manipulation
-Loadlock and transfer systems
-Thin Film Deposition
-Chemical Vapor / Plasma Deposition
-Sputtering.
Robotics and Automation - Featured Company
Humanistic Robotics / HRI
Humanistic Robotics, Inc. (HRI) is an American company focused on making the world a safer place through engineering and design. The Company has core businesses in landmine and IED rollers, unmanned control systems for teleoperation and autonomous navigation, and engineered solutions for government agencies, NGOs and commercial clients. Humanistic Robotics has earned a reputation for bringing innovation through a uniquely user-centered approach, driven by engineering and design, with clients including the US Army and the United Nations.