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Michigan awards $260,000 in grants to mobility technology companies

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The state of Michigan has announced that three companies will receive $260,000 in total funding through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) to test and deploy mobility projects across the state.

With these grants, Michigan will enable new mobility solutions that help address challenges related to school bus emissions, decaying mobility infrastructure and last-mile deliveries, all while reducing on-road miles, emissions, traffic, accidents and noise.

Lt Governor Garlin Gilchrist II says: “Shaping the next generation of mobility solutions means developing more than just automobiles. It means future-proofing our roads and bridges, as well as ensuring that our alternate and last-mile mobility solutions can support the areas where we live, work, visit and play. [Read more…] about Michigan awards $260,000 in grants to mobility technology companies

CNC Machining: Your Guide to Understanding the Types

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CNC machining is an important process in the manufacturing industry that involves using computers to control automated cutting and milling machines, which carve out parts from large blocks of raw materials like metal, wood, and plastic.

In this article, we’ll discuss CNC precision machining, how it works, and its advantages over other machining methods, such as hand or machine tools. We’ll also cover some advanced uses of CNC machines that aren’t always obvious to first-time users.

Let’s get started. [Read more…] about CNC Machining: Your Guide to Understanding the Types

Fraunhofer Research uses Nvidia simulation technologies to design ‘futuristic autonomous mobile robots’

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Fraunhofer Research is using Nvidia simulation technologies to design futuristic autonomous mobile robots that significantly advance the state of the art in autonomous mobile robots.

The Germany-based research group’s O3dyn platform is intended for the creation and testing of autonomous mobile robots for manufacturing. [Read more…] about Fraunhofer Research uses Nvidia simulation technologies to design ‘futuristic autonomous mobile robots’

Third Wave Automation raises $40 million in new investment

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Third Wave Automation has closed its Series B financing, a $40 million round led by Norwest Venture Partners with participation from prior investors Innovation Endeavors and Eclipse, along with Toyota Ventures.

Third Wave is a startup company which says it has achieved a “breakthrough in machine learning, computer vision and robotic material manipulation”.

The additional funds will accelerate growth and commercialization efforts. As a part of the changes, Matt Howard, general partner at Norwest Venture Partners, will join Third Wave’s board of directors.

Howard says: “I’ve been tracking Arshan and the team at Third Wave for some time and have been consistently impressed. [Read more…] about Third Wave Automation raises $40 million in new investment

Gas Turbine and Energy Production: How Sensing Technology Works

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Why Natural Gas Is A Key Contributor to the Energy Industry


Natural gas has a number of benefits over alternative sources of power. Nuclear power is carbon-free, but it is incredibly expensive due to engineering controls in place to ensure its safety. The United States is a domestic producer of natural gas, whereas oil often comes from countries that hate us.

That natural gas is relatively cheap is a side benefit. Natural gas use produces less greenhouse gas than coal or oil, explaining why a number of oil and coal plants have been converted to natural gas. While wind and solar power is being built at a rapid pace, it is unreliable due to weather.

Furthermore, wind and solar tend to be at their low point when power demand is highest, whether it is a freezing winter night or late on a summer evening. The solution is building more natural gas power plants to meet consumer needs, even when it is a backup for renewable energy. [Read more…] about Gas Turbine and Energy Production: How Sensing Technology Works

Delivery vehicles moving to electric ecosystem

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The unlikely convergence of a global pandemic and electric vehicle technology is driving delivery fleets to adopt electric vehicles at ever increasing rates.

The coronavirus pandemic has reportedly caused a huge spike in package delivery. According to CNBC.com, UPS for instance, delivered up to 21.1 million packages a day in the second quarter of 2020, a nearly 23 percent jump in average daily US volume from a year earlier.

Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020, published by BloombergNEF, states that there are over 500,000 e-buses and almost 400,000 electric delivery vans and trucks on the road globally. [Read more…] about Delivery vehicles moving to electric ecosystem

Brainy alien hunter obsessed with finding life on Mars

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A brainy alien-hunter is apparently obsessed with finding life on Mars. The Purdue scientist is playing a critical role in the 2020 NASA Mars rover mission.

Briony Horgan (main picture), associate professor of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, is working to determine whether we are alone in the universe or if life once existed on other planets such as Mars.

When the NASA Mars rover Perseverance launches in the next few weeks, it will travel to Jezero Crater, which preserves evidence of a time when rivers flowed on Mars. [Read more…] about Brainy alien hunter obsessed with finding life on Mars

Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers

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Sometimes described as “the workhorse of industrial automation”, a programmable logic controller, or PLC, is a computing device that is specially designed for use in an industrial operation.

A PLC can take many shapes and sizes, but in most instances it does not look like a conventional desktop computer like the ones you find in offices or in homes – a PLC has no display screen, no hard drive, and no keyboard.

PLCs started out in the automotive manufacturing trade, although they can now be found in almost all sectors, where they tend to replace relays.

Relays are devices that essentially turn machines on and off, and are said to be time-consuming and complex to use compared to PLCs. Relays also require more operational downtime when they need to be reconfigured. PLCs are estimated by one research company to reduce downtime from 20 percent to about 4 percent. [Read more…] about Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers

AMP Robotics and Ryohshin partner on automation for construction recycling

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AMP Robotics, a pioneer in artificial intelligence and robotics for the recycling industry, and waste management technology company Ryohshin are to make and sell AI-driven industrial robotics for material recovery in the Japanese construction and demolition market.

The companies also announced the commercial launch of a high-performance construction and demolition robotic systems now available in Japan.

Ryohshin and AMP have co-developed a robotic system using the AMP Neuron AI platform to guide high-performance robots that recognise, sort, pick and process construction and demolition debris for recycling. The two robotic systems are called “AI-Benkei” and “AI-Musashi”.

[Read more…] about AMP Robotics and Ryohshin partner on automation for construction recycling

UPS to test new electric vehicle

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UPS is collaborating with Thor Trucks, Inc. to develop and test a fully-electric class 6 delivery truck in Los Angeles, Calif. The truck is expected to be ready for deployment later this year.

UPS continues to work with a range of companies to test and deploy promising alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

The Thor electric delivery truck will have a driving range of approximately 100 miles powered by a Thor-designed and built battery that will be lightweight, durable and allow long-range driving distances.

[Read more…] about UPS to test new electric vehicle