Drawbacks like temperature dependence and magnetic fields have limited the use of inductive encoders to all but relatively large motors — until now. This new eddy-current inductive encoder, developed for micromotors, is the world's smallest at 6 mm, yet is robust and accurate, and delivers 64 pulses at up to 120,000 rpm.

One route to improving encoder reliability is simplification: these shaftless encoders present true non-contact sensing technology, eliminating the shafts, bearings, and seals that can affect performance. The encoders use magnetic coupling technology, incorporating a target magnet bolt or collar fixed to the rotating shaft requiring position or speed sensing.

Where room is scarce, your components get squashed. That has you searching for components that can put out big performance from little packages. This rotary table design can play, operated by a 2-phase stepper motor with a 20:1 ratio. In spite of its size, it can handle up to 10 kg load.

The challenge: synchronize movement of two 7,500 lb platens in the world's largest thermoforming machine, for molding and trimming yogurt cups. Setting the servomotors as master and slave was attempted, but the master took on a disproportional share of the load. The solution: a controller featuring a gantry mode, which controlled two axes and balanced the workload.

Sometimes, you just want added functionality without affecting a whole system. This motion control card allows downloading motion programs for onboard execution without requiring a host PC. It aids planning distributed motion systems while still allowing designers to tap a variety of motion profiles, including S-curve, trapezoidal, velocity contouring, and electronic gearing.

Because they're so much better at math, precision control of motor torque and acceleration, 32- and 64-bit microcontrollers roll on, winning their way into designer's hearts. Texas Instruments is in the game now, offering this floating point 32-bit controller, with 300-MHz core, 516 KB of on-chip RAM, and 65-picosecond resolution pulse-width modulation.

Popularity of integrated motors continues, with engineers opting for their simplicity and improved reliability. This integrated motor-driver combination expands the flexibility with an optional internal magnetic encoder. Protected inside the metal housing, the encoder is less prone to mechanical damage and electrical noise interference — improvements without increasing the unit's overall size.

A tiny competitor is stepping up as an alternative to leadscrew actuators, offering advantages of steady-state and self-locking ability. These piezo ceramic linear motor actuators generate motion directly through expansion/contraction cycles, without requiring gears or screws to transform rotational motion. Promoted as able to achieve 1 kg push, speeds to 10 mm/s, and very long travel ranges.

Historic unemployment figures force us to reflect on how to hold our jobs. Bow to the boss and every other power broker in the org? Stick to tasks that get you recognition and elbow your way to new opportunities? These tips, from the author of "Nice Guys Can Get the Corner Office," may help you choose career-wise actions.

One widely recognizable wonder of the modern world of motion is the Segway, the personal transport vehicle that uses body movement of its riders for propulsion. This article examines the role that conductive plastic angular position sensors play in balancing and accelerating the second generation of the sophisticated people mover, besides delivering longevity (50 million cycles) and low current consumption (<1mA).

More on Mars or Move On?

Motion control and robotics were big gainers in the five years since rovers hit the red planet. If the Obama space plans move forward and bigger NASA spending holds, should money go to continuing Mars projects or to exploring other parts of the solar system?