RoboticsTomorrow.com Articles, Stories and Products

Makr Shakr

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:55:50 -0700

GOOGLE I/O 2013
The Moscone Center, San Francisco

Makr Shakr is a new robotic bartending system that allows users to create, in real-time, personalized cocktail recipes through a smart phone application and transform them into crowd-sourced drink combinations. The cocktail creation is assembled by three robotic arms, whose movements - visualized on a large display positioned behind the bar - mimic the actions of a bartender, from the shaking of a martini to the thin slicing of a lemon garnish. The system explores the new dynamics of social creation and consumption - ‘design, make and enjoy’ - and in just the time needed to prepare a new cocktail.

Unmanned Systems Markets: What People Are Saying

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:34:48 -0700

Nobody is sure how much the DoD will decrease spending on unmanned systems, but the fear of such cuts has spurred developers to accelerate the transition to civilian applications.

Is That Robot Thinking?

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:34:08 -0700

Presently, most robots are programmed to perform definite tasks and they perform them with absolute precision, but when precise movements are replaced with thoughtful movements, the robot will need to learn how to perform a task and then proceed. The robot will no longer be the precise machine that it was, but one that is prone to errors as we humans are.

Interview with Mitch Rosenberg, Rethink Robotics

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:33:47 -0700

This year, Rethink Robotics will offer a Software Development Kit that enables customers and third parties to develop unique task applications. As a result, Baxter will be more than just a robot, it will be a platform for third-party capability development—much like mobile phones and PCs are today.

Multi-application Robot Arm Is ‘Child’s Play’ To Program

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:33:03 -0700

“Teaching the robot is child’s play, both Julian and I taught ourselves within a day,” Steve Blease continued. “The teach mode is ideal for establishing the basic approach and then it’s just a question of fine-tuning for final positioning.”

MoveIt! Software Framework for Motion Planning in ROS

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:20:01 -0700

From ROS.org:

Willow Garage is proud to announce the initial release of MoveIt! : new software targeted at allowing you to build advanced applications integrating motion planning, kinematics, collision checking with grasping, manipulation, navigation, perception, and control. MoveIt! is robot agnostic software that can be quickly set up with your robot if a URDF representation of the robot is available. The MoveIt! Setup Assistant lets you configure MoveIt! for any robot, allowing you to visualize and interact with the robot model quickly.

MoveIt! can incorporate both actual sensor data and simulated models to build an environment representation. Sensor information (3D) can be automatically integrated realtime in the representation of the world that MoveIt! maintains. CAD models can also be imported in the same world representation if desired. Collision-free motion planning, execution and monitoring are core capabilities that MoveIt! provides for any robot. MoveIt! updates its representation of the environment on the fly, enabling reactive motion planning and execution, which is essential for applications in human-robot collaborative environments.

MoveIt! interfaces with controllers through a standard ROS interface, allowing for ease of inter-operability, i.e. the ability to use the same higher-level software with a variety of robots without needing to change code. MoveIt! is architected to be flexible, using a plugin architecture to allow users to integrate their own custom components while still providing out-of-the-box functionality using default implementations. Furthermore, the ROS communication and configuration layer of MoveIt! is separated from core computational components such as motion planning or collision checking, the latter components being provided separately as C++ libraries.

Available here.

RIO (Raspberry IO) Card

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:31:12 -0700

Roboteq, Inc launched a kickstarter project named RIO (for Raspberry IO) and aimed at creating an intelligent I/O card that stacks over the $35 Raspberry PI Linux Single Board computer.

Power for the PI from any DC source
RIO includes a 3A DC/DC converter that may be connected to a 10V to 40V DC supply, and generates the 5V needed by the PI and the RIO cards.

21 I/O lines to Connect Just About Anything
RIO provides a total of 8 digital outputs rated up to 1A and 30V max, which may also be used as digital inputs.

The card includes 13 inputs, each of which can be configured as a digital input, 0-5V analog input with 12-bit resolution, or as a timer input. In the timer mode, the inputs can capture pulse width, frequency, quadrature encoder counts, or duty cycle. Most of the input pins can also be configured as PWM outputs for driving RC servos, or dimmable lights.

Serial Connectivity and CAN Networking
Two serial ports are present on the card. One is fully RS232 compliant with programmable baud rate up to 115200 bits/s for connection to motor controllers, scanners, PC or any other RS232 device. The second is RS485 compatible, enabling, among other things, DMX512 connectivity to light show equipement. Optionally, a 3rd serial port uses TTL levels for direct interface to non-buffered, non-inverted USARTs as these found on most microcontrollers, like the Arduino.

A CAN bus interface is also present on the Rio card for connecting to CAN-compatible device, on a low cost twisted pair network at speeds up to 1Mbit/s.

Full Kickstarter details here.

DARPA's Low Cost Hand Hardware

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:58:08 -0700

The ARM-H track of DARPA's Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program focuses on development of robust, low-cost and dexterous robotic hand hardware. DARPA funded performers to design and build hand mechanisms that could replace the claw-like hands currently used on robots with hands incorporating 3-4 fingers and useable palms. The teams successfully produced hands that can be manufactured for as little as $3,000 per unit (in batches of 1,000 or more), down from the $50,000 cost of current technology. The new hands also incorporate sufficient dexterity to enable manipulation of objects in their fingers when controlled by a skilled operator.

RoboBees

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:56:28 -0700

Demonstration of the first controlled flight of an insect-sized robot is the culmination of more than a decade's work, led by researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. Half the size of a paperclip, weighing less than a tenth of a gram, the robot was inspired by the biology of a fly, with submillimeter-scale anatomy and two wafer-thin wings that flap almost invisibly, 120 times per second.

Applying Motion-capture Data From Animals To Quadruped Robots

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:25:29 -0700

IEEE Spectrum has a short article about how the Italian Institute of Technology and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology are using motion-capture from horses walking, trotting, etc and transferring it to the locomotion of their quadruped robots.

REIKU Drossbach - pre-Engineered Robotic Cable Management Systems

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:24:36 -0700

Almost 85% of Robotics Downtime can be directly attributed to cable or hose failures. For over 40 years REIKU has been recognized as the Global Leader in Hi Tech Cable Protection Systems. The cost of production downtime and the eventual replacement of failed cables and hoses can be dramatically reduced or even eliminated with REIKU Robotic Cable Management System Solutions. REIKU works closely with all of the major Robot manufacturers developing "customer oriented system solutions".

Interview With FAMU-FSU College of Engineering: RASC-AL Competition

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:33:42 -0700

In this exciting competition, undergraduate and graduate students are invited to create a multi-disciplinary team to build a planetary rover prototype and demonstrate its capabilities to perform a series of competitive tasks in field tests at the NASA Johnson Space Center’s Rock Yard in June 2013.

Interview With University Of Nebraska: RASC-AL Competition

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:33:22 -0700

Interview With University of Utah, "RoboUtes": RASC-AL Competition

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:33:07 -0700

Interview With West Virginia University: RASC-AL Competition

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:32:54 -0700

Interview With Worcester Polytechnic Insitute, "Team Oryx": RASC-AL Competition

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:32:37 -0700

$45 BeagleBone Black Announced

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:35:07 -0700

Latest generation BeagleBone is up for sale today!

Inexpensive Tactile Sensors for Robotic Hands

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:21:35 -0700

TakkTile's technology leverages MEMS barometers to deliver 1-gram sensitivity for a fraction of the cost of existing systems, in a package durable enough it can survive being hit with a baseball bat. From original research paper:

A new approach to the construction of tactile array sensors based on barometric pressure sensor chips and standard printed circuit boards. The chips include tightly integrated instrumentation amplifiers, analog to digital converters, pressure and temperature sensors, and control circuitry that provides excellent signal quality over standard digital bus interfaces. The resulting array electronics can be easily encapsulated with soft polymers to provide robust and compliant grasping surfaces for specific hand designs. The use of standard commercial-off-the-shelf technologies means that only basic electrical and mechanical skills are required to build effective tactile sensors for new applications.

For $299 the TakkTile Starter Kit includes two TakkStrips cast in rubber and a Arduino Micro.

Pleora Technologies – Simplifying camera connectivity using standards

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:46:13 -0700

An alternative to traditional frame grabbers, Pleora's iPORT™ PT1000-CL IP engines enable high-throughput, ultra-reliable, real-time Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) connections between base-configuration Camera Link® cameras and PCs, using the popular GigE Vision® and GenICam™ standards. iPORT PT1000-CL IP engines use GigE ports built into most laptops, desktops, and small-form-factor PCs; overcome the distance limitations of Camera Link; and provide for distribution of video to multiple computers simultaneously using off-the-shelf hardware.

The First Level of Super Mario Bros. is Easy with Lexicographic Orderings and Time Travel.

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:17:46 -0700

After that it gets a little tricky.

Festo's BionicOpter Mechanical Dragonfly

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:11:16 -0700

The mechanics of dragonfly flight are unique: dragonflies can manoeuvre in all directions, glide without having to beat their wings and hover in the air.

Food Processing Without The Human Touch

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:11:01 -0700

Robotic sensory technology is now able to act in the same manner that a person does, adapting to the food manufacturing environment and utilizing vast amounts of information to give us some of the safest food in the world.

The Unmanned Systems Industry

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:10:44 -0700

Overall the unmanned systems industry is healthy and growing, even in this fiscal climate. Commercial applications of unmanned systems in mining, agriculture, and health care continues to grow, as the robustness and maturity of unmanned systems increases.

Danish Robot Reduces Cost, Optimizes Production At Precision Engineering Company

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:10:30 -0700

Rising wages and the intricate management of the labour force have created a challenging work environment for a Singapore-based company, Sky Engineering. For a long time, this precision engineering company tried to reduce their production costs. They finally succeeded with the implementation of Universal Robots in one of their CNC machines. The UR robot was easy to integrate and the company now has the luxury of having one man tending to two CNC machines at any one time — something previously impossible to achieve when all tasks relied heavily on manual labour.

Case Study: Marathon Special Products; Plastic Deflashing Automation System

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:09:59 -0700

The system keeps up with their presses, provides a consistent finish, and alleviates their operators even from having to select the right part program.

HoverFly Cameras To Cover Upcoming Golf Events

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:43:05 -0700

The Golf Channel is apparently testing the use of radio controlled HoverFly cameras to cover upcoming golf events. From the captured video below i'm not sure they with be using them for actual championship play and instead just for secondary or stock shots because the copters are pretty dang loud.

National Robotics Week Meetup In New York Tomorrow

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:48:25 -0700

Honeybee Robotics, Huge, and the NYC Economic Development Corporation are organizing a National Robotics Week meetup in New York on April 9.

Researchers, developers and enthusiasts are gathering for an evening of presentations, live demonstrations and inspired discussion. The theme: New Frontiers in Robotics: Extending the possible. It's a chance to learn about -- and see firsthand -- how machines built and used in New York City are transcending simple automation, instead enhancing new capabilities and enabling discoveries.

What: Presentations and demonstrations of leading robotics R&D from New York City
Where: HUGE, Inc -- 45 Main St, Suite 220, Brooklyn
When: Tuesday, April 9, 7-10pm
Why: To learn, to share, to show off some cool homegrown robots

The program is listed at http://nycroboticsweek.com/. RSVP required.

Wind Turbine Inspection Robots

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:14:37 -0700

Helical Robotics, HR-MP20 Magnetic Platform Lifting Vehicle

Lightweight and portable design for easy deployment, use, and transport.
Mecanum wheel drive system offers best in class maneuverability.
Magnetic adhesion system does not contact the work surface.

Kirobo Tested In Zero-gravity

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:28:55 -0700

Kirobo, a communication robot that will be sent to the International Space Station in summer 2013 as part of a JAXA proposal is tested in a zero-gravity environment:

Festo's BionicOpter

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:31:55 -0700

The mechanics of dragonfly flight are unique: dragonflies can manoeuvre in all directions, glide without having to beat their wings and hover in the air. Their ability to move their two pairs of wings independently enables them to slow down and turn abruptly, to accelerate swiftly and even to fly backwards.

With the BionicOpter, Festo has applied these highly complex characteristics to an ultra-lightweight flying object at a technical level. For the first time, there is a model that can master more flight conditions than a helicopter, plane and glider combined. In addition to controlling the flapping frequency and the twisting of the individual wings, each of the four wings features an amplitude controller. This means that the direction of thrust and the intensity of thrust for all four wings can be adjusted individually, thus enabling the remote-controlled dragonfly to move in almost any orientation in space. The intelligent kinematics correct any vibrations during flight and ensure flight stability both indoors and outdoors.

West Virginia University's Entry to 2013 RASC-AL Competition

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:29:50 -0700

RASC-AL Exploration Robo-Ops Competition (i.e., Robo-Ops) is an engineering competition sponsored by NASA and organized by the National Institute of Aerospace. In this exciting competition, undergraduate and graduate students are invited to create a multi-disciplinary team to build a planetary rover prototype and demonstrate its capabilities to perform a series of competitive tasks in field tests at the NASA Johnson Space Center’s Rock Yard in June 2013.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Entry to 2013 RASC-AL Competition

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:29:38 -0700

New Robot Lends Precision And Reliability To The Production Of Hearing Aids

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:29:22 -0700

Hearing device manufacturer Oticon needed a more flexible robot to handle the tiny hearing device components in its production. The company found the ideal solution in the six-axis robot from Danish company Universal Robots.

Extending USB 3.0 Over Fiber For Machine Vision Applications

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:29:07 -0700

ExtremeUSB technology based extenders for USB 3.0 are fiber based and certified with USB3 Vision cameras, thus offering systems integrators a reliable solution when vision applications need to be extended beyond 3 meters.

Aerospace Automation

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:27:42 -0700

Even though robots are known as repeatable and not precise, many tools can be used to obtain robust and precise results such as force feedback components, vision systems, laser sensors, probing, active compliance, adaptive machining, closed-loop machining, Leica calibration, etc.

A New Class of Rogowski Coil Split-core Current Transducers

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:27:25 -0700

Until now Rogowski coils have delivered at best a 2% positioning error. With this improvement, the error due to the positioning of the conductor is specified at a maximum of 0.65% of the measured value for a 15mm diameter conductor irrespective of where it is positioned, even if it is adjacent to the coil clasp.

FAMU/FSU College of Engineering’s Entry to 2013 RASC-AL Competition

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:25:12 -0700

The RoboUtes' Entry to 2013 RASC-AL Competition

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:24:57 -0700

University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Entry to 2013 RASC-AL Competition

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:24:00 -0700

Salamandra Robotica 2

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:26:37 -0700

Salamandra robotica II walking and swimming outdoors and performing the transition from swimming to walking indoors.

Bebionic3 Myoelectric Hand In Action

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:08:21 -0700

The new bebionic3 myoelectric hand, which is made from aluminium and alloy knuckles, moves like a real human limb by responding to Nigel's muscle twitches. Incredibly, the robotic arm is so sensitive it means the father-of-one can touch type on a computer keyboard, peel vegetables, and even dress himself for the first time in six years.

Patti Engineering - Automation Systems Integration

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:31:10 -0700

Patti Engineering knows system integration. Our technical expertise in electrical control and information systems combines to provide you with the right solution for your automation needs, asset/energy management, product distribution, production information, and complex control applications. Our niche is that we embrace our customers' problems, where other companies have walked away. Therefore, we have built systems, machinery and equipment for clients that are the world's "onlys." Founded in 1991, our information and control systems are used for retail distribution, manufacturing plants, water/theme parks, libraries, law enforcement, military, municipalities, waste water, food industry, ice arenas and college/universities.

Low Cost Hobbyists FPGA Kickstarter

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:35:46 -0700

If you have been thinking of dipping your toe into the world of FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) but always thought they were too expensive for hobbyist then you might want to check out the 'Mojo FPGA' on Kickstarter.

The Mojo is designed to make digital design easy and cost effective for anyone who is just getting started. FPGAs do not retain their configuration when the power is lost, so they must be reconfigured every time the board is turned on. Typically, a PROM is used to load the configuration file (also known as bit file) into the FPGA automatically. The problem with that is you generally need a fairly expensive programmer to program the PROMs. The Mojo features a basic serial port (similar to an Arduino) that can be used to program a new bit file into on-board flash memory. When the board is powered on, a microcontroller reads the flash memory and configures the FPGA automatically. All that is required is a low-cost USB to serial converter.

The original Kickstarter goal was 7,000 but they blew through that goal and are currently at 70,000. If you pledge $65 dollars you get a fully assembled board.

Case Study: Robot for tool production company with 10 employees

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:22:51 -0700

The acquisition cost for the entire system including imaging will have paid itself off in only 10 months with single shifts. If the robot is used for 2 shifts, it will actually have paid itself off in only seven months.

Robotics In Law Enforcement

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:22:33 -0700

Soon, the police won’t have to draw their guns. They will be able to just push buttons and move joysticks to capture the bad guys.

Case Study: Kawasaki Robotics Upgrade Project Proves Successful

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:22:19 -0700

The Kawasaki Robotics project on the existing robotics paint system consisted of upgrading two Kawasaki robots and replacing four Kobelco robots with new Kawasaki robots.

Measurable Energy Savings in Die Casting Automation

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:21:58 -0700

Experience shows that it is not the robots that are the biggest energy consumers, but the entire peripheral equipment.

Universal Robots - Collaborative Robot Solutions

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:38:12 -0700

Universal Robots has reinvented industrial robotics with the lightweight and flexible UR 5 and UR10 robot arms. The Danish-designed robots automate production in all industries – even in SMBs that regard automation as prohibitively expensive, cumbersome, and difficult to integrate. The robot arms require no safety shielding, can work alongside personnel, and are easily moved around the production site to complete even the most detailed tasks. Programming is intuitive, eliminating the need for skilled programmers; simply grab the robot arm to show it the desired movement, or use the simple touch screen. The robots are sold in over 40 countries worldwide.

MMP DC Gearmotors - Robust, Reliable & Lightning-Fast Delivery!

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 07:54:09 -0700

MMP,Inc. a Minnesota USA Corporation offers a wide variety of “Robust & Reliable” Planetary and Right Angled DC Gearmotors, Motor Speed Controls, Servo Amplifiers, DC Linear Actuators, and AC to DC 320W or 450W Power Supplies, most of which are available from Stock. Contact us with your requirements and we'll promptly provide a quote. Gearmotors ranging from 42mm diameter, up to 105mm diameter (up to 2 HP) can often be built from Stock Materials and shipped within 24 Hours. Quotes for OEM Quantities readily available. For rapid response Email sales@midwestmotion.com or call 952-955-2626 8AM to 5 PM CDT M-F.

The Kinetic Sculptures Of Bjorn Schulke

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:40:07 -0800

The Pratt Institutes' Manhattan Gallery is currently running an art exhibit entitled "KINESTHETICS: ART IMITATING LIFE". The show runs till the end of April and features cool drones created by artists is Bjorn Schulke. His personal website also has some really cool works from previous exhibits.

BigDog Throwing In Slow Motion

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:35:12 -0800

New video of Boston Dynamics' BigDog, equipped with a 5th limb, demonstrating how fair it can throw a 35 lbs cinder block. Youtube vidoes of BigDog are always interesting if for no other reason than for the comments provided by "the teens":

Cloud Manufacturing

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:31:02 -0800

As the automation industry begins its reach into the cloud, manufacturing communities will not only improve productivity, they will begin to reclaim the prominence the industry once claimed in the economy.

Survey of Control System Integrators

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:30:49 -0800

Nearly all automation vendors rely on system integrator partners to take some percentage of their hardware and software products to market in the form of completely functional systems.

Curvilinear Motion Guides and Actuated Rotary Systems

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:30:34 -0800

Designing curvilinear guide or actuator systems can be more difficult than designing linear ones. However, installing such systems can improve payload transportation and handling simplicity and efficiency.

Top Gear: New Range Rover Vs Unmanned TerraMax

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:30:36 -0800

Last weeks episode of Top Gear had James May, in a Range Rover, battle the military cargo UGV "TerraMax" through various terrain at a Nevada test course. If you live in Britain you can watch the entire race here and if you live anywhere else you can watch this youtube clip and imagine an old British guy in a fancy car racing beside it.

Foxconn Stops Recruitment, Moves To Robots: Report

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:18:04 -0800

Foxconn, the manufacturer of Apple (AAPL) iPhones and Amazon (AMZN) Kindles in China, has stopped hiring workers at its key Zhengzhou and Shenzhen plants in what may be a shift toward robotic production, a Chinese news report said Wednesday.

CBN Daily, in a story picked up by other Chinese media, quoted insiders as saying that the recruitment freeze is being done to adjust the production line and prepare for "artificial intelligence production."

Taiwan-owned Foxconn's Henan Employment Center in central China is said to have a notice saying that due to production line adjustments, recruitment has been changed. The Zhengzhou plant, which is located in Henan province, also is said to have halted hiring since December and no large-scale recruitment is expected until June. The Shenzhen plant is situated north of Hong Kong in southern China.

A worker at the Henan Employment Center reportedly said the recruitment suspension might have something to do "with the diminished output of iPhone 5."

Reports since late last year have said that Foxconn has been gradually installing robots on its production lines in Zhengzhou and Shenzhen to improve production of Apple and other devices. Foxconn also has announced plans to install 10,000 robots on its factory lines that could replace up to 1 million workers over several years.

Russian Ostrich!

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:14:36 -0800

Inventables: The Hardware Store For Designers

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:00:37 -0800

Inventables has all kinds of interesting raw materials available for purchase in small quantities. Materials include:

Aluminum Foam
Conductive Velcro
Conductive Paint
Temperature-Sensitive Glass
etc.

Y Combinator Hardware Hackathon

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:58:16 -0800

From Upverter:

Y Combinator has seen a huge increase in the number of hardware startups they fund. And so in an effort to encourage the renaissance and throw some gas on the fire, we are hosting a hardware hackathon. The focus is on getting like-minded hardware hackers into the same space, sharing ideas, designing hardware and ultimately creating more hardware startups.

Want a taste of what goes on in a hardware hackathon? Read about Upverter's first ever hackathon in August 2012: Day 1,Day 2 and the wrap up. We also held a hardware hackathon at the Open Compute Summit just this past month.

If you’re hardware savvy and interested in starting a hardware startup, you should apply to come and hack with us!

Want to start a startup? Get funded by Y Combinator.

Wheâ€‹n
February 23rd, 2013, 10AM - 10PM

Wherâ€‹e
Y Combinator
320 Pioneer Way
Mountain View, CA 94041
map

You can apply here.

ABB and andyRobot Develop Standard RoboScreen Packs

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:06:44 -0800

Function packages feature five robot and screen size combinations, dedicated software and concert style mixing board for simplified control

Robot Launchpad

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:06:30 -0800

Persistence is at the heart of every successful robotics startup, and a lot of pivoting. So the faster you can move from prototyping into customer development, market research and investor meetings, the more likely you are to find a good product/market fit.

Automate and ProMat 2013: Crowds chose collaborative cage-free robots

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:06:11 -0800

Industrial Robots; Robot Arms; Cameras, Scanners and Vision Systems; Collaborative Cage-free Robots; Mobile Robots; Robot Operating Systems; Warehousing and Materials Handling; New Technologies, and Jobs

RASC-AL Exploration Robo-ops Competition

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:04:20 -0800

Robo-ops gives students an opportunity to engineer a solution to a future NASA mission and be a part of the NASA team. They get to compete and network with other students in their field and have fun while doing it all. NASA gets innovative ideas for its future missions and exposure to some brilliant talent that could soon be part of the NASA team. We all get smarter from this.

Wave Glider - Self Propelled ASV

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:04:03 -0800

Propulsion is provided by the conversion of wave energy to thrust. When the float rides a wave, spring-loaded wings on the propulsion unit pivot, but not too much, to mechanically convert that up-and-down motion into horizontal motion.

Cable Wire Protection Systems

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:03:38 -0800

Cable Wire Protection is often just an afterthought in robotic work cells. After the end-of-arm tooling is selected, the programming is done and safety mechanisms are installed, the last thought is usually the cabling.

Interviews from Automate 2013

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:03:02 -0800

We contacted several presenters from Automate 2013 in order to get a consensus of the conference as well as to give them the opportunity to pass on their experiences and impressions of the industry as a whole. Here are their responses.

Three-legged Robot Uses Exploding Body To Jump 30 Times Its Height

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:45:57 -0800

New Scientist:

George Whitesides from Harvard University and colleagues have created a three-legged robot lined with tubes filled with a mixture of methane and oxygen. When an electrical spark ignites the gases, the combustion reaction generates bursts of pressure that propel the robot aloft. "By actuating all three legs simultaneously, we caused the robot to jump more than 30 times its height," write the team. As the height of the jump was limited by the size of the experimental chamber, they think it could spring twice as high without the attached tubing.

Changes At Willow Garage

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:29:48 -0800

Yesterday IEEE Spectrum reported that Willow Garage might be closing its doors, with information coming from several current employees. Then late last night Steve Cousins, President and CEO, released an official statement on their website:

Willow Garage is changing

Willow Garage has decided to enter the world of commercial opportunities with an eye to becoming a self-sustaining company. This is an important change to our funding model.

The success of the PR2 personal robot and of ROS will continue. There are close to 50 PR2 robots in the world and Willow Garage support of the platform will not diminish. And of course, ROS, as an open source platform, will continue independent of our business model choices. In addition to Willow Garage, its supporters include the Open Source Robotics Foundation and all the other contributors in the ROS community (academic, industrial and individual) who have made it the platform of choice for Robotics.

The statement doesn't confirm IEEE Spectrum's story but it doesn't dismiss it either. The original Spectrum story can be found here.

RobotsLab Box

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:21:42 -0800

IEEE Spectrum article about RobotsLab new box of robots for making robots available in school systems:

Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle Being Used In Afghanistan

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:05:38 -0800

British troops in Afghanistan are the first to use state-of-the-art handheld nano surveillance helicopters.

The Black Hornet Nano Unmanned Air Vehicle measures around 4 inches by 1 inch (10cm x 2.5cm) and provides troops on the ground with vital situational awareness.

The Black Hornet is equipped with a tiny camera which gives troops reliable full-motion video and still images. Soldiers are using it to peer around corners or over walls and other obstacles to identify any hidden dangers and the images are displayed on a handheld terminal.

The Black Hornet weighs as little as 16 grams and has been developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway as part of a £20 million contract for 160 units with Marlborough Communications Ltd in Surrey.

North American Robotics Market Sets New Records in 2012

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:26:48 -0800

The North American robotics market has recorded its strongest year ever in 2012, according to new statistics from Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry's trade group.

A total of 22,598 robots valued at $1.48 billion were sold to companies in North America in 2012, beating the previous record of 19,337 robots sold in 2011. When sales by North American robot suppliers to companies outside North America are included, the totals are 25,557 robots valued at $1.66 billion.

Compared to 2011, North American orders were up 17% in units and 27% in dollars. "The Automotive industry has continued to be the strongest driver of the North American robotics market," said Alex Shikany, Director of Market Analysis for RIA. "Robots sold to automotive OEMs in North America jumped 47% over a then record-setting 2011, while robots sold to automotive component suppliers increased 21%," he noted.

Sales were also up in metalworking industries (+12%) and life sciences/pharmaceuticals (+3%). In terms of applications, increases were seen in assembly (+40%), spot welding (+37%), arc welding (+24%), coating & dispensing (+13%), and material handling (+3%).

The fourth quarter of 2012 was the strongest quarter ever recorded by RIA (the association began reporting data in 1984) in terms of units ordered, with 6,235 robots sold to North American companies. The fourth quarter was up nine percent in units and 21% in dollars over the same period in 2011.

Mining with Autonomous Vehicles

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:28:16 -0800

Mining practices have remained largely unchanged over the past 30 years. Accessible deposits are becoming harder to find with valuable deposits increasingly found only in remote areas of the world or in locations down hundreds of feet. These are expensive and dangerous to reach. Mining companies are going to have to deal with that and the best way is to automate the systems so that the human becomes the supervisor, rather than the direct worker.

What is a Kiosk Robot?

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:26:48 -0800

What would you do if you saw a robot approach you and start talking to you? How would you react if a robot looked sad when you walk away? Would you enjoy a robot rolling up to your table in a restaurant and showing you the menu?

Enabling Full Traceability of Parts and Production Processes

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:22:27 -0800

Continuous innovation and integration of new technologies are key factors for ASYS to meet their customer requirements for higher throughput, higher efficiencies and reduced manufacturing cost. ASYS integrated multiple code checks and verification using Microscan barcode scanners and imagers in their laser marking, handling, labeling and assembly machines.

How To Build A Bionic Man

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:02:10 -0800

On Febuary 7th Channel 4 in the UK will air the special "How To Build A Bionic Man".

From bionic arms and legs to artificial organs, science is beginning to catch up with science fiction in the race to replace body parts with man-made alternatives.

How to Build a Bionic Man follows psychologist Bertolt Meyer, who has a bionic hand himself, as he meets scientists working at the cutting edge of research to find out just how far this new technology can go.

Meanwhile, a team of roboticists create a complete 'bionic man' for the first time, using nearly $1 million-worth of state-of-the-art limbs and organs - the products of billions of dollars of research - borrowed from some of the world's leading laboratories and manufacturers.

Minuscule Reconfigurable Robot From MIT

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:00:21 -0800

The little device is called a milli-motein — a name melding its millimeter-sized components and a motorized design inspired by proteins, which naturally fold themselves into incredibly complex shapes. This minuscule robot may be a harbinger of future devices that could fold themselves up into almost any shape imaginable. The device was conceived by Neil Gershenfeld, head of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, visiting scientist Ara Knaian and graduate student Kenneth Cheung, and is described in a paper presented recently at the 2012 Intelligent Robots and Systems conference. Its key feature, Gershenfeld says: "It's effectively a one-dimensional robot that can be made in a continuous strip, without conventionally moving parts, and then folded into arbitrary shapes."

Fully Autonomous Hamburger Line

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:01:45 -0800

Momentum Machines is a Silicon Valley startup that is aims to build a fully automated gourmet quality burger production line. They plan to first open their own restaurant using the technology and then sell the hardware to others in the future. Here is their bullet points from the current alpha hardware:

Our alpha machine replaces all of the hamburger line cooks in a restaurant.It does everything employees can do except better:
It slices toppings like tomatoes and pickles only immediately before it places the slice onto your burger, giving you the freshest burger possible.
Our next revision will offer custom meat grinds for every single customer. Want a patty with 1/3 pork and 2/3 bison ground after you place your order? No problem.
Also, our next revision will use gourmet cooking techniques never before used in a fast food restaurant, giving the patty the perfect char but keeping in all the juices.
It’s more consistent, more sanitary, and can produce ~360 hamburgers per hour.

US Digital - E5 Optical Kit Encoder

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:14:21 -0800

Precise speed is critical for controlling autonomous robot movement in environments where collisions with other machines or humans are possible. US Digital encoders provide the ideal solution for robotic applications, as the small package size allows system designers to optimize their designs without giving up on performance. The E5 optical kit encoder easily mounts and dismounts to an existing shaft, providing digital feedback information. The E5 encoder is an improved replacement for HEDS-5500 series encoders and accommodates standard NEMA motor sizes 17-34. Features include 32-1250 cycles per revolution (CPR), A&B quadrature with optional index and latching 5 pin or 10 pin cable connectors. US Digital has best-in-industry lead times, with standard orders shipping with 1-2 business days.

Watch PBS NOVA Episode "Rise Of The Drones"

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:56:34 -0800

If you live in US you can stream last nights episode of the science show NOVA from the PBS webpage here.

Program Description:

Drones. These unmanned flying robots–some as large as jumbo jets, others as small as birds–do things straight out of science fiction. Much of what it takes to get these robotic airplanes to fly, sense, and kill has remained secret. But now, with rare access to drone engineers and those who fly them for the U.S. military, NOVA reveals the amazing technologies that make drones so powerful as we see how a remotely-piloted drone strike looks and feels from inside the command center. From cameras that can capture every detail of an entire city at a glance to swarming robots that can make decisions on their own to giant air frames that can stay aloft for days on end, drones are changing our relationship to war, surveillance, and each other. And it's just the beginning. Discover the cutting edge technologies that are propelling us toward a new chapter in aviation history as NOVA gets ready for "Rise of the Drones."

Adept's New Material Automation Robot

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:12:42 -0800

The Adept Lynx is an Autonomous Indoor Vehicle (AIV) available to developers for custom applications and payloads. The Lynx includes Adept’s proprietary self-navigation software ideal for use in crowded environments, tight hallways, and applications where a small automated vehicle is advantageous. Adept OEM partners and payload developers enjoy access to a reliable drive system, an on-board power supply, automated self-charging, and I/O for integrating payload hardware onto the mobile platform. The Adept Lynx is capable of transporting up to 60kg with a runtime of up to 19 hours a day.

Simplifies payload integration with a small mobile platform
Self-navigation software safely avoids people and obstacles
Reliable drive system optimized for self-navigation
Structural support of payloads up to 60kg on level surfaces
Navigates through the use of a digital map
Easy to deploy, no facilities modifications required
Manages power and self charging operations

Filling A Room With Single-line Drawing

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:30:25 -0800

A project by Mattias Jones:

Towards the end of 2012, as part of The Festival of the Mind in Sheffield, myself and a small team of technicians, coders and mathematicians developed a drawing system and put it to work. The robots drew one line pattern solutions, the shortest line possible, derived from theories on how bees fly from flower to flower. It ended up covering three walls and the floor of a twenty foot cube in one unbroken line.

CES Gets Robots All Wrong

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:52:13 -0800

We may have reached a tipping point where having a robot zone does everyone a disservice. Outside of a couple of very well known and popular robots, like Paro and Pleo, the robot zone was primarily filled with component company booths.

Case Study: Miltenyi Biotec, Cell Analyzers with 2D Barcode Readers

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:51:59 -0800

Autolabeling of samples and barcode detection of MACS Antibodies using the Quadrus MINI help streamline and optimize the workflow in laboratories. Handling is made extremely easy and this saves the researchers valuable time.

Swarm Of Pingpong-Ball-Sized Robots

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:19:23 -0800

CU-Boulder researchers are working to build a swarm of small robots that can work together to accomplish complex tasks. In the future, teams of intelligent robots could be deployed to tackle a number of challenging problems, from containing an oil spill to self-assembling into a piece of hardware after being launched into space. For now, the CU researchers, led by Assistant Professor Nikolaus Correll, have built a swarm of 20 robots, each about the size of a pingpong ball, in their lab.

OpenBeam

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:27:05 -0800

Started last year on Kickstarter and now available through their website, as well as several other distributors, OpenBeam is a T-Slot aluminum framing systems that uses standard M3 nuts and bolts.

Introduction:

T-Slot extruded aluminum framing systems have been in use throughout the manufacturing and automation industries for machine building, prototyping and robotics applications for the past 30 years. Unfortunately, all the vendors in this industry utilize a razor and blade business model; while the extrusions are priced low, they require the use of specialty nuts and plates, which can be priced as high as $3.00 per nut and $10.00 per joining plate.

Starter kits cost $80 and include:

4 pieces of 150mm long extrusion
4 pieces of 120mm long extrusion
4 pieces of 90mm long extrusion
4 pieces of 60mm long extrusion
4 pieces of 30mm long extrusion
8 pieces of T bracket
16 pieces of L bracket
100 pack of nuts, 100 pack of bolts and a 2mm hex key

New Lego Mindstorm EV3 With Linux-based OS

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:59:24 -0800

At CES Lego announced their new Mindstorm EV3 robotics platform. The big changes are the improved processor, USB 2.0 WiFi dongle, and the switch from a proprietary OS to an open-source Linux-based OS. Below is the promo video but for further in-depth info read the rundown at The NXT STEP Mindstorm Blog.

NASA Kicks Off 2013 First Robotics Season With Live Broadcast Jan. 5

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:30:37 -0800

NASA Television will broadcast the annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Kickoff event on Saturday, Jan. 5, starting at 10:30 a.m. EST from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The event also will be streamed live on NASA’s website.

As in past years, NASA plays a significant role by providing public access to robotics programs to encourage young people to investigate careers in the sciences and engineering. Through the NASA Robotics Alliance Project, the agency provides grants for almost 250 teams and sponsors four regional student competitions, including a FIRST regional competition in Washington that will be held March 28-30.

Each year, FIRST presents a new robotics competition scenario where each team receives an identical kit of parts and has six weeks to design and build a robot based on the team’s interpretation of the game scenario. Other than dimension and weight restrictions, the look and function of the robots is up to each individual team. This year more than 2,500 teams from 49 states, and 12 countries will participate.

Automate 2013

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:04:23 -0800

I want the attendees to understand that automation can help companies in every industry become stronger global competitors. This is true for companies of all sizes – automation isn’t just for large companies. Automation is more affordable and easier to implement than ever before, which is why we’re seeing fast growth in automation use around the world.

The Patent Grip Loosens

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:03:39 -0800

There has been a lot of gossip and more serious discussion within the healthcare devices industry about patents, their use in marketing strategy, their hindering product development, and their true value as intellectual property (IP).

Interview With Gard Van Antwerp Of Reis Robotics

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:03:19 -0800

A turnkey automation provider like Reis, with extensive experience in solar module manufacturing specifically, can help you derive the best configuration for your product and your business plan.

Evaluating Barcode Reading Technologies

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:01:27 -0800

Is a Laser Scanner or an Imager the Best Choice for Your Application?

Interview with Jay Liew of Double Robotics

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:00:30 -0800

The Double is "wheels for your iPad". Imagine having a Skype video conversation with your grandma who lives across the country--but with the additional ability for you to independently "walk" around her home, and go to the kitchen to see what's she's cooking for dinner.

Interview with Larry Sweet, Chief Technology Officer of Symbotic

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:00:13 -0800

A typical highly productive “selector” uses a voice pick system that directs the robot to a pick location, where he selects the case and solves the three-dimensional puzzle to build the pallet – at a rate of 150 cases per hour, driving over a mile in the process!

60 Minutes Segment On Brain Controlled Robotic Limbs

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:56:55 -0800

New AlphaDog Field Test Footage

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:44:30 -0800

For the past two weeks, in the woods of central Virginia around Fort Pickett, the Legged Squad Support System (LS3) four-legged robot has been showing off its capabilities during field testing. Working with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), researchers from DARPA’s LS3 program demonstrated new advances in the robot’s control, stability and maneuverability, including "Leader Follow" decision making, enhanced roll recovery, exact foot placement over rough terrain, the ability to maneuver in an urban environment, and verbal command capability.

Machines Imitate Life

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:57:37 -0800

In an increasingly virtual world, the ability to simulate touch provides powerful advantages, for example allowing an online shopper to “feel” a shirt fabric. Enter the discipline of haptics, which involves using robotics with sophisticated feedback and controls to simulate a tactile experience for the user.

Interview With Nena Street, The Global Robotics Innovation Park

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:57:22 -0800

Our vision is that GRIP will serve as the central hub of the Upper Midwest robotics industry. The robotics industry offers a compelling regional economic development opportunity for the Upper Midwest.

New Arduino Esplora With Built-in Onboard Sensors

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:32:06 -0800

The Arduino Esplora is a microcontroller board derived from the Arduino Leonardo. The Esplora differs from all preceding boards in that it provides a number of built-in, ready-to-use set of onboard sensors for interaction. The Esplora has onboard sound and light output interfaces. It alos has the potential to expand its capabilities with two Tinkerkit input and output connectors, and a socket for a color TFT LCD screen. Like the Leonardo board, the Esplora uses an Atmega32U4 AVR microcontroller with 16 MHz crystal oscillator and a micro USB connection capable of acting as a USB client device, like a mouse or a keyboard.

The Esplora has the following on-board inputs and outputs :

Analog joystick with central push-button two axis (X and Y) and a center pushbutton.
4 push-buttons laid out in a diamond pattern.
Linear potentiometer slider near the bottom of the board.
Microphone for getting the loudness (amplitude) of the surrounding environment.
Light sensor for getting the brightness.
Temperature sensor reads the ambient temperature
Three-axis accelerometer measures the board's relation to gravity on three axes (X, Y, and Z)
Buzzer can produce square-waves.
RGB led bright LED with Red Green and Blue elements for color mixing.
2 TinkerKit Inputs to connect the TinkerKit sensor modules with the 3-pin connectors.
2 TinkerKit Outputs to connect the TinkerKit actuator modules with the 3-pin connectors.
TFT display connector connector for an optional color LCD screen, SD card, or other devices that use the SPI protocol.

iRobot Co-founder's New Company And Product Unveiled

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:19:48 -0800

Helen Greiner left iRobot four years ago to start a new robotics company now called CyPhy Works. Their website has info on two of the robots they have been working on.

The Extreme Access System for Entry (EASE) (pictured above)is a small hovering robot designed for inspection and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) applications. EASE is intended for operating in close quarters, beyond line of sight, and in GPS denied areas; all of which are critical when performing search and rescue missions, building clearing, or civil infrastructure inspection.

The EASE system consists of a lightweight ground control station (GCS) and a micro Vertical Takeoff and Land (VTOL) air vehicle. It is not dependent on a GPS signal for operation, making it not only effective as a micro UAS in the traditional sense, but also enables it to fly indoors and in confined spaces as effectively as it does in open spaces. It has unmatched endurance due to our patented microfilament technology that enables the use of hot-swappable batteries, which power the entire system from the base station. The fishing-line thin microfilament provides directly connected communication between the GCS and the air vehicle, as well as power. Unlike all other RF controlled UASs, the microfilament makes the EASE impervious to jamming while the microfilament is unaffected by water, power lines, etc.

â€‹The Persistent Aerial Reconnaissance and Communications (PARC) system is designed to provide long term persistent stare capabilities and enable reliable long distance communications. PARC uses CyPhy Works' patented microfilament system to deliver extreme endurance, increased capabilities, and a smaller logistical footprint. PARC flies itself, so very little user training is required; and when operating the system the user can focus on the data that PARC produces, instead of the system itself.

The PARC system consists of a Ground Control Station (GCS) and a purpose built quadrotor VTOL air vehicle. The PARC vehicle carries a gyro-stabilized, gimbal mounted, EO/IR camera payload. In addition to the camera system, PARC has additional payload capacity for communications devices. If additional payload capacity is required, the camera payload can be removed. The PARC vehicle can operate at altitudes of up to 1,000 feet above ground level, or 11,000 feet density altitude. This high altitude capability enables long distance communications and extends visual reach.

Liquid Robotics' Marine Robot Completes 9,000 Mile Record Breaking Journey

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:26:47 -0800

Liquid Robotics today announced the first Pacific Crossing (PacX) Wave Glider, "Papa Mau", completed its 9,000 nautical mile (16,668 kilometers) scientific journey across the Pacific Ocean to set a new world record for the longest distance traveled by an autonomous vehicle. Throughout his journey, Papa Mau navigated along a prescribed route under autonomous control collecting and transmitting unprecedented amounts of high-resolution ocean data never before available over these vast distances or timeframes. The Company is providing open access to this data as part of its PacX Challenge, a global competition seeking new ocean applications and research using the PacX data set.