Archives for March 2, 2018

Hydro-Québec unveils LineRanger robot for checking live electric power lines

March 2, 2018 by Sam Francis

Hydro-Québec has launched what the company describes as “a new milestone in the development of power line inspection robots”. (See video below.)

The company has unveiled a functional prototype of its new robotic platform, the LineRanger, for the checking of overhead power lines.

The robot, developed by Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ) in Varennes, is a new technological solution for the inspection of conductor bundles on high-voltage transmission lines. [Read more…] about Hydro-Québec unveils LineRanger robot for checking live electric power lines

Hidden Reserves: Dispensing with death for debt’s sake

March 2, 2018 by David Edwards

Strictly speaking, Hidden Reserves is probably not an appropriate film to write about for us because it doesn’t include robots, but it’s such a good science-fiction film.

The central theme of the story is highly original, and we don’t want to give it away if you haven’t seen it, though that makes it very difficult to write about.

We suggest you watch it first before reading this, although we will minimise any spoilers. [Read more…] about Hidden Reserves: Dispensing with death for debt’s sake

Milacron to launch biggest Roboshot at NPE 2018

March 2, 2018 by Anna

Milacron Holdings Corp., an industrial technology company serving the plastics processing industry, will have a large booth packed with technology at NPE, May 7th to May 11th.

The Milacron booth will be filled with industry technologies, including the Milacron-Fanuc Roboshot 500 – the largest tonnage roboshot ever in the Americas, says the company.

For over 30 years Milacron has sold and serviced the Roboshot machine across the Americas and has sold over 5,600 FANUC machines over that time and now announces the The Milacron-Fanuc Roboshot 500.

New miniature laser sensor detects tiny objects and gaps

March 2, 2018 by Anna

The new O300 miniature laser sensors with IO-Link by Baumer are the specialists for the reliable detection of very small objects and gaps.

Thanks to a laser beam which focuses to within 0.1 mm and the high repeat accuracy of 0.1 mm, objects can be positioned with high precision and follow-up processes controlled exactly.

With a response time of less than 0.1 ms, the sensor detects closely spaced objects, thus allowing fast processes and high throughput rates.

New power management IC for automotive control units

March 2, 2018 by Anna

Allegro MicroSystems, LLC has launched a new power management IC that integrates a buck or buck/boost pre-regulator, four LDOs, and four floating gate drivers.

The pre-regulator uses a buck or buck/boost topology to efficiently convert automotive battery voltages into a tightly regulated intermediate voltage complete with control, diagnostics, and protections.

Allegro’s ARG82800 device is targeted at the automotive market with end applications to include electronic power steering (EPS), transmission control units (TCU), and advanced braking systems (ABS).