Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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Dow launches new electromagnetic interference shielding technologies

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Dow returns to The Battery Show Europe this year to showcase its broad and growing portfolio of conductive silicone technologies with the launch of DowSil EC-6601 Electrically Conductive Adhesive.

This next-generation material is engineered for reliable performance and electromagnetic compatibility in various transportation, communications and consumer electronics applications.

It combines strong shielding against electromagnetic interference across a wide range of frequencies with durable mechanical and conductive properties over time.

[Read more…] about Dow launches new electromagnetic interference shielding technologies

KEB adds new safety features to drive products

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KEB has added functional safety modules to the latest generation of the company’s drive products.

When paired with a Safety PLC, which is also available from KEB America, KEB Functional Safety Drives provide a cost-effective control and automation solution with standardized safety features, says the company.

New generation drives from KEB, like the S6 Servo Drive, feature SIL3 Safe-Torque-Off as standard.  [Read more…] about KEB adds new safety features to drive products

Calian’s systems engineering division wins contract from DCT Delta

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Calian’s systems engineering division has been awarded a contract by DCT Delta.

Under the contract, Calian will design and develop a cable network DocSis 3.0/3.1 Remote PHY hardware module for DCT Delta’s family of industry-leading hybrid fiber coax-based fibre node products.

While the contract is not financially material to Calian, it represents a key win in the evolution of its communication products business.  [Read more…] about Calian’s systems engineering division wins contract from DCT Delta

Smartphones have created a whole new world of opportunities, says Hillcrest Labs boss

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Even for Apple, selling 60 million units of anything would be a big deal. For most small and medium sized companies, just six units might be the start of a wonderful voyage in the world of enterprise. 

For Hillcrest Labs, the journey started more than a decade ago, and over that time, the company has reached the milestone of having sold 60 million units.

Having started out selling software, the company moved into bundling that software into chips, which have become more elaborate over time and found an increasing number of applications.

In an exclusive interview with Robotics and Automation News, Chad Lucien, senior vice president of business development at Hillcrest Labs, tells the company’s story.  [Read more…] about Smartphones have created a whole new world of opportunities, says Hillcrest Labs boss

Neousys launches ARM-based IoT gateway

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neousys igt-20

Neousys Technology has launched an industrial grade ARM-based gateway, which it calls IGT-20.

The company says unlike System on Module (SoM) that’s commonly provided as a barebone component, IGT-20 is based on AM3352 from Texas Instrument’s Sitara AM335x family and will be shipped as a ready system pre-installed with Debian.

The industrial nature of IGT-20 means it is in compliance with common industrial certifications such as CE/FCC, shock and vibration.  [Read more…] about Neousys launches ARM-based IoT gateway

Hillcrest Labs launches ‘industrial grade sensor for consumer products’

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FSM300 Module vs Quarter_NEW_ExtraLarge crop

Hillcrest Labs has a new sensor system which the company says is “four times better” than competitor solutions.

Hillcrest says its new FSM300 delivers industrial-grade sensor fusion accuracy at prices suitable for consumer products with “four times greater accuracy versus competitor solutions in some tests”.

The FSM300 is what’s called a attitude and heading reference system, which is a sensor system, and an inertial measurement unit, which like a gyroscope.  [Read more…] about Hillcrest Labs launches ‘industrial grade sensor for consumer products’

Pepperl+Fuchs launches high-end surge protection system

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Pepperl M-LB-5000 surge protection

Diagnostics and modularity with an installation width of just 6.2 mm: These features are combined in the new M-LB-5000 surge protection system from Pepperl+Fuchs.

By offering these features, the single-channel modules support increased plant availability and optimize total operating costs.M-LB-5000 surge protection system: protection modules with diagnostics and traffic-light display as well as a separate control interface

The patented diagnostics of the M-LB-5000 with its intuitive and easy-to-read traffic-light display minimizes testing costs in accordance with EN 62305-3 and allows condition monitoring.  [Read more…] about Pepperl+Fuchs launches high-end surge protection system

Igus launches ‘extremely compact rotation module’ for tight spaces

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igus compact rotational module

System guides energy, data and media safely, without interruption for rotational movements up to 360 degrees, says company

Motion plastics specialist igus has developed an extremely compact rotation module, which revolves around its own axis, even in confined spaces.

As with all rotary energy chain systems from igus, the module can be used to guide different types of media – power, signals, data, fibre-optic, pneumatic or fluids – in parallel without interruption.

Inside the module, cables and hoses are routed together without interruption, thus eliminating the need for expensive and complex rotary unions.  [Read more…] about Igus launches ‘extremely compact rotation module’ for tight spaces

The wheel robot: intelligent modular actuator concept

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wheeled robot 1

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Wheel robots

The wheel robots are for the larger part derived from the Mars rovers, which have actuators integrated into the wheels to help with the movement on the rugged grounds in space. This is made possible with the help of 12 volt linear actuators.

There is some elemental aspects of robotics that are involved in the setup. For there to be synchronous movement on a ground that is not evenly leveled, there is need for each of the units to have its own local control unit.

The local control units are then connected to the central control unit to make sure that they all are moving in the same direction, despite the fact that the wheels they control are experiencing variance in travel and elevation.  [Read more…] about The wheel robot: intelligent modular actuator concept

National Instruments upgrades software for semiconductor testing

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national instruments

National Instruments has released its TestStand Semiconductor Module, which provides test system engineers with the software tools to develop, deploy and maintain optimized semiconductor test systems.

With the TestStand Semiconductor Module, NI says engineers can now program lab characterization systems using the same programming paradigm they deploy on the factory floor with the Semiconductor Test System (STS), “reducing the time required to correlate measurements”.

Built on TestStand industry standard test management software, which is used by 10,000+ developers worldwide, the TestStand Semiconductor Module also empowers customers to build their own rack-and-stack systems for semiconductor production test using the capability of PXI and TestStand outside of the conventional “test head” architecture of the STS.  [Read more…] about National Instruments upgrades software for semiconductor testing