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Components

Why Optical Metrology is Replacing Tactile Measurement for Complex Component Validation Source

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Manufacturers validating complex components have long relied on tactile measurement, but a meaningful shift is underway as optical metrology earns its place alongside and, in many contexts, ahead of traditional methods.

The reasons are practical: non-contact measurement eliminates the risk of surface deformation, measurement speed improves dramatically, and the volume of usable surface data captured in a single pass far exceeds what point-based probing can deliver.

A coordinate measuring machine, or CMM, builds its dimensional picture one contact point at a time. That approach works well for straightforward geometries, but it struggles when components are fragile, organically shaped, or subject to tight validation cycles where throughput matters. [Read more…] about Why Optical Metrology is Replacing Tactile Measurement for Complex Component Validation Source

Festo introduces two-finger pneumatic gripper for cobot applications

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Collaborative robots operate within strict payload and mounting constraints. Pneumatic gripper installations that rely on external valves, sensors, and wiring add weight, increase footprint, and complicate routing along compact cobot arms.

To address these constraints, Festo has introduced the HPPH two-finger pneumatic parallel gripper, a compact, lightweight design that integrates control, sensing, and collaborative safety functions directly into the gripper body.

By reducing external components, the HPPH preserves payload capacity and simplifies mounting and wiring on collaborative robot platforms. The HPPH is available through Festo and the Universal Robotics Marketplace. [Read more…] about Festo introduces two-finger pneumatic gripper for cobot applications

Machine Vision Systems Are Expanding the Need for Scalable Media Infrastructure

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Machine vision systems are becoming increasingly important across modern industrial environments. Factories, warehouses, logistics centers, robotics platforms, and automated production facilities now rely heavily on cameras, sensors, and AI-assisted visual analysis to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.

These systems help monitor production lines, inspect product quality, track inventory movement, support predictive maintenance, and improve workplace safety. As industrial automation continues expanding, organizations are generating far larger volumes of visual information than they did only a few years ago.

This rapid growth in visual data is creating new infrastructure challenges surrounding storage, organization, accessibility, and long-term media management. For many companies, scalable media infrastructure is becoming just as important as the automation systems generating the data itself. [Read more…] about Machine Vision Systems Are Expanding the Need for Scalable Media Infrastructure

Gecko Robotics tests Ouster’s next-generation color lidar to enhance AI-powered infrastructure inspections

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Ouster, a specialist in sensing and perception technologies for physical AI, has announced that Gecko Robotics, a provider of advanced robotics and AI-powered software, is leveraging Ouster’s new Rev8 digital lidar sensors to integrate novel data layers into its Cantilever operating platform.

Gecko Robotics currently utilizes Ouster’s digital lidar to navigate complex industrial environments and create high-fidelity digital twins of critical assets.

As Gecko continues to scale its Cantilever operating platform, Ouster’s new Rev8 sensor suite offers an opportunity to further enhance Gecko’s data capture and push the boundaries of its “detect and repair” missions. [Read more…] about Gecko Robotics tests Ouster’s next-generation color lidar to enhance AI-powered infrastructure inspections

CVPR 2026 to showcase next generation of embodied AI, robotics, and autonomous systems

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This year’s CVPR – Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition – will bring together more than 100 technology companies, AI developers, robotics firms, and autonomous systems specialists in Denver next month as the event highlights the latest advances in embodied AI, machine vision, robotics, and autonomous technologies.

Co-sponsored by IEEE Computer Society and the Computer Vision Foundation, the conference will run from June 3-7 at the Colorado Convention Center, with the exhibition floor open June 5-7. [Read more…] about CVPR 2026 to showcase next generation of embodied AI, robotics, and autonomous systems

Schaeffler partners with Vietnamese humanoid robot manufacturer VinDynamics

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Schaeffler and VinDynamics, part of Vietnam’s Vingroup conglomerate, have agreed on a strategic partnership for humanoid robotics. The partnership centers on the development and supply of planetary gearboxes. These are central components of actuators that function as muscles and joints and enable humanoid robots to move.

Under the partnership, the two companies will also jointly collect robot- and application-related data. They will use this data to help improve actuator design and performance and pave the way for future services, such as predictive maintenance.

For Schaeffler, the partnership is the first arrangement of its kind with a humanoid robot manufacturer in the Asia/Pacific region. It complements the company’s existing network of partnerships with leading manufacturers in Europe, China and the US and strengthens its global position in the human robotics ecosystem. [Read more…] about Schaeffler partners with Vietnamese humanoid robot manufacturer VinDynamics

How Computer Vision Libraries Are Used in Real Life

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If you stop and think about it for a second, it’s kind of wild how much the world has changed. Not long ago, computers were terrible at understanding images. Show them a photo, and all they saw was a grid of numbers. No meaning, no context – just data.

Now? That same machine can look at a video feed and tell you what’s happening in real time. It can pick out faces, track movement, read text, and even flag unusual behavior. And the interesting part is, most of this isn’t happening in some futuristic lab. It’s already woven into everyday systems.

A big reason behind that shift is the rise of tools like the computer vision library. These aren’t just technical add-ons. They’re what make it possible to turn raw visuals into something useful without building everything from scratch. [Read more…] about How Computer Vision Libraries Are Used in Real Life

How Much Does it Cost to Replace Brakes?

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Replacing your brakes is a vital part of vehicle maintenance, but costs vary based on vehicle type, driving habits, and worn components. Many drivers start researching prices after noticing squeaking, grinding, or reduced stopping power.

Knowing what affects brake pricing helps you avoid surprises and make smarter decisions. If you’re comparing options for brake repair Houston, understanding average costs and service quality can save time and money. Choosing a trusted professional keeps your braking system safe, responsive, and reliable. [Read more…] about How Much Does it Cost to Replace Brakes?

5 Best Servo Drives for Factory Automation Systems

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A servo drive converts electrical commands into precise mechanical motion, influencing the speed, position and torque of every motor it powers. This capability makes it one of the most significant components of any production line.

When a drive falls short, the effects manifest instantly in positioning errors, lost cycles and unplanned downtime. Five solutions stand out for engineers designing factory automation systems. [Read more…] about 5 Best Servo Drives for Factory Automation Systems

Festo unveils new adaptive gripper for ‘faster, gentler and more hygienic picking’

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Festo has introduced the HPSX Universal Adaptive Gripper, a pneumatic soft gripper engineered to improve speed, hygiene and flexibility in demanding food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications.

Combining robust design, food-safe materials and adaptive silicone fingers, the HPSX directly addresses long-standing automation challenges where rapid, precise and gentle product handling is essential.

Peter Potters, product manager at Festo, says: “In developing the HPSX, we refined the gripper’s shape, dimensions and internal geometry to maximise gripping force while minimising air volume. [Read more…] about Festo unveils new adaptive gripper for ‘faster, gentler and more hygienic picking’