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From Smart Shoes to Wearable Tech: How Technology is Changing Running Gear

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Running has been around as long as there have been humans. But in the last decade, the use of technology has revolutionized the way we train, track, and monitor our progress as runners.

There are now various tools and devices available that can help us improve our running, avoid injuries, and stay motivated.

From smart shoes to wearable tech, here’s how technology is changing our approach to this age-old activity. [Read more…] about From Smart Shoes to Wearable Tech: How Technology is Changing Running Gear

How the MIT mini cheetah learns to run

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By Rachel Gordon, MIT CSAIL

CSAIL scientists came up with a learning pipeline for the four-legged robot that learns to run entirely by trial and error in simulation (see video below)

It’s been roughly 23 years since one of the first robotic animals trotted on the scene, defying classical notions of our cuddly four-legged friends.

Since then, a barrage of the walking, dancing, and door-opening machines have commanded their presence, a sleek mixture of batteries, sensors, metal, and motors. [Read more…] about How the MIT mini cheetah learns to run

Interview: Formic aims to change the way you integrate robotics and automation into your facility

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Formic Technologies is a new type of company which, itself, is the result of the huge changes that are occurring in the robotics and automation market, what with all sorts of new robots and technologies emerging, none of which is cheap to buy, and creating an increasing amount of complexity when it comes to implementing them in an integrated system at, say, a factory. 

In simple terms, you can hire robots – for example, Universal Robots collaborative robots – and other automation technologies from Formic. But it’s more than that. You can also have Formic design the implementation, and handle the integration, for which the startup company has many established partners.

And possibly Formic’s unique selling point is its promise to link its income from its customers to those customers’ success with the automation systems Formic installs. In other words, it’s a kind of like a robotics-as-a-service company which you can pay as you go according to a sliding scale – or “Easy to start, easy to scale”, as Formic likes to put it. [Read more…] about Interview: Formic aims to change the way you integrate robotics and automation into your facility

Tips for looking after your car during lockdown

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While we may all be getting used to this new normal that lockdown living has brought, if you’re one of the estimated six million to be furloughed during this pandemic you might be having to keep a closer eye on your finances than usual.

If the thought of receiving an unexpected mechanic’s bill because your car has been sitting idle for weeks fills you with dread, there are some things you can do to keep your car in good running order for when lockdown measures are lifted. [Read more…] about Tips for looking after your car during lockdown

Swiss Productions installs two OB7 cobots to operate their CNC mill machines

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Swiss Productions says it has gained a competitive advantage by implementing two Productive Robotics OB7 collaborative robots on their CNC mills to eliminate idle spindle time and maximize production. (See video below.)

From a family owned company that started in a 750 square foot facility and five screw machines, Swiss Productions has grown to what it is today – a high quality, precision, and reliable screw machine shop producing over 2 million parts per month to customers worldwide in the medical, electronics, aerospace, and government industries.

Located in Ventura, California, Swiss Productions today has over 50 screw machines and 30 secondary machines and produces components ranging in size from 2.5 inches in diameter down to syringe tips measuring .019 inches in diameter. [Read more…] about Swiss Productions installs two OB7 cobots to operate their CNC mill machines

NXP launches GHz microcontroller

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NXP Semiconductors has launched the i.MX RT1170 range of crossover MCUs that that it says will open the GHz microcontroller era.

The chipmaker says the new chip “combines unprecedented performance, reliability, and high levels of integration to propel industrial, IoT and automotive applications”.

The NXP i.MX RT1170 family reinforces NXP’s commitment to advance edge computing with its EdgeVerse portfolio of solutions and marks a technology breakthrough with MCUs that run up to 1GHz while maintaining low-power efficiency. [Read more…] about NXP launches GHz microcontroller

BlueBotics says 1,750 AGVs worldwide now use its Ant navigation system

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Just over a year after supplying its 1,000th ANT navigation unit to Swiss customer Cleanfix, BlueBotics says it has now surpassed 1,750 ANT-driven AGVs in operation.

ANT stands for “Autonomous Navigation Technology” and is a hardware-plus-software solution offered by BlueBotics in a variety of configurations.

Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics, says: “As we close in on 2,000 vehicles running around the world, we find ourselves considering how we achieved this success. [Read more…] about BlueBotics says 1,750 AGVs worldwide now use its Ant navigation system

PC running slow? Speed up your computer by cleaning it with CCleaner

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By William Downhill, MoltenSoft

Every computer gets there at some point. Everything is running slower, the fans are turning at ten thousand rpm, and every so often the screen just freezes arbitrarily, even if there isn’t anything running.

Regular users immediately think “I must have a virus!”

But that’s not always right. Often times, the only thing making your computer run like a turtle through a vat of cold honey is just that your computer needs to be cleaned up. [Read more…] about PC running slow? Speed up your computer by cleaning it with CCleaner

How do DC/DC converters work in hybrid and electric cars?

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Within every electric vehicle is a battery that outputs a certain voltage.

Given that this voltage might not be appropriate for the various devices being driven, we need to install another device along the signal path.

This device is known as a DC/DC converter, and without it, the modern electric car wouldn’t be possible. [Read more…] about How do DC/DC converters work in hybrid and electric cars?

NXP and Microsoft demonstrate edge-to-cloud machine learning solution for predictive maintenance

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NXP Semiconductors has agreed a collaboration with Microsoft to bring artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities for anomaly detection to Azure internet of things users.

By combining complementary strengths – NXP’s offline machine learning capability and embedded processing with Microsoft’s cloud expertise – the two companies jointly demonstrates a new Anomaly Detection Solution for Azure IoT at Microsoft Build in Seattle recently.

The solution consists of a small form factor, low power system-on-module powered by NXP’s i.MX RT106C Crossover Processors, a full suite of sensors, and an associated Anomaly Detection Toolbox.

[Read more…] about NXP and Microsoft demonstrate edge-to-cloud machine learning solution for predictive maintenance