Robotic Systems News

Robots that manufacture semiconductors and electronics are benefiting from their own work. As chips become smaller and more powerful, so do the robots that make them. Delta-style robots provide high speed and six-axis articulation while SCARA robot arms are ideal for efficient component transfers and clean room requirements. In this circle of increasing efficiency and productivity, the robots become faster, stronger, more precise, and able take on an ever-increasing array of functions. How have your robots evolved over time?

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The Cyclone Pad from SMC Corporation of America is capable of non-contact workpiece holding. This is ideal when working with materials that can be easily marked. The Cyclone Pad is also ideal for holding porous materials and very thin workpieces. The XT661 series is available in five sizes.

Allied Motion offers frameless and housed brushless torque motors for integration into robotics systems of all types. Sizes and torques range from 19.3 to 792 mm diameter and from 0.007 to 2020 Nm continuous stall torque. Contact us for application assistance.

Moving an object from one place to another may seem simple, but there are many machine options for picking and placing. From the least expensive cam-driven pick-and-place units to delta-style robots equipped with machine vision, this comprehensive Assembly Automation article explains how to choose a pick-and-place system and the pros and cons of each of them.

Robots can improve TIG welding productivity by as much as 300%. The automated systems are adaptive, able to perform a low-current start on thin materials and increase the current automatically for thicker materials. Robotic vision systems also assist in meeting stringent quality requirements. In this article, find out how to determine if your company would benefit from robotic TIG welding.

Developing a team of "fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world champion team in soccer" is the driving goal of the Robocup competition. That will take some serious programming — first, the robot must find an object moving towards it, then redirect that object toward a target. The software that does this applies to soccer, space exploration, and everything in between. Watch bipeds play, or watch amazing ball handling.

At a ½ g and as thin as a fingernail, this robot with 512 ft is truly a microbot. The rows of feet move 20 to 30 times each second. The tiny robot has no preferred direction of travel; it is able to walk forward, backward, and sideways. Professor Karl böhringer at the University of Washington would like to "dump these microrobots from a plane and have them go off and run for days and just do what they've been told." Imagine the stories the bots will tell!

Empowering engineers with configurable components.

MISUMI'S new single-axis robot RS series actuators, offers rugged construction to increase product life and allow units to be used in harsh industrial environments. All models offer constant load capacity regardless of speed. Download or request our complimentary catalogs and view our extensive line of configurable components…

E-Hub NDI (Engineering Hub) comprises a suite of modular packages that enable new and experienced users to use simulation and add functionality as their needs, experience and understanding advances.

Zippswitch Products manufactures several safety sensors for robotic safeguarding. Zippswitch Safety Mats, Safety Bumpers, Safety Edges, Machine Stop Switches, and Control Relays provide high-quality, durable safety solutions. All sensors are UL508 certified and CE compliant. Reduce downtime and increase productivity for robotic applications with safety sensors from Zippswitch Products.

Clear Automation designed and built this robotic system to build stacks of "CowPots — The Pot You Plant". The CowPot plantable flower pot is formed in an injection mold machine and dried in an oven. Racks of dried pots are delivered to this workcell and are queued on a conveyor.

With its temperature, salinity, and water quality optical sensors, the UBC-Gavia autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) explores the cold depths of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. The AUV, developed by scientists at the University of British Columbia, is giving researchers a look under the ice, in waters that have been previously unexplored. For more images, video, and updates on the research, visit the university's Antarctica 2010 Web site.

Sometimes simple is better. A versatile gripper, comprised of balloons and ground coffee, can pick up a variety of objects, including raw eggs and coins. The balloon filled with coffee grounds molds itself to an object. When the air is sucked out of the balloon, the grip solidifies around the object. Releasing the object is as simple as letting air back into the balloon.

Trends in safety include using smarter safety processors. This reduces cabinet size and number, which makes troubleshooting simpler and reduces power consumption. Another safety trend involves vision-based safety sensors to ease the human-machine collaboration. Other trends and safety advice from the experts are in this Automation World article.

If performing a risk assessment sounds like strange magic, this Control Engineering article is for you. Find AINSI, ISO, and EN standards to help you determine severity of harm. Learn how to assess the probability of failure. Conduct a quantitative risk assessment, and avoid the Henry Ford syndrome: "If you don't break a few axles once in a while, you're making them too strong."

Investigate our industry-leading TechnoMod Gantry, a multi-axis motion platform complete with controls, cabling, software, and enclosure (fully assembled).

Learn about our new Voyager VB1 Belt Actuator comes with a 20 mm steel profiled rail and 50 mm wide belt for large loads and accelerations. Available in single stage or in an XY table setup.

PSI Repair Services, Inc. provides robot repair services to meet your specific needs. Robot repairs require the expertise of virtually all PSI service areas. Robots may be comprised of combinations of any or all of the following: mechanical assemblies, hydraulics, electrical components, ballscrews, servo motors, encoders, wiring harnesses, and circuit boards.

Fully accredited Robotics Technician Certificate prepares you to install, repair, and operate industrial robots. Includes Robologix, a robot simulator for programming experience in a virtual manufacturing environment. Request more info.

Take advantage of both Automate 2011 and the 42^nd International Symposium on Robotics March 21-24, 2011 in Chicago, IL. You can attend tutorials, sessions, and Certified Vision Professional Programs. You can even obtain your Certified Vision Professional rating. Topics include machine vision, robotics fundamentals, and robotics system integration. Keynotes include The Development of Robonaut 2 and a presentation by Tom Ridge, First Secretary of Homeland Security.

A laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley is experimenting with all kinds of human-machine interfaces, from the most recent development called eLEGS™, which help people with mobility disorders, to robotic exoskeletons that enable soldiers to carry loads up to 220 lbs in all types of terrain. Part of that load will be the 2-hp internal combustion engine that powers the hydraulics. The hydraulics work the exoskeleton, which follows the movements of the wearer. The soldier demonstrating the contraption looks a bit like the Terminator.

How Connected Are You?

Are you wirelessly tethered to your work? Is that a good thing or does blurring the work/life boundaries get in the way?