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Historical textiles in focus: IDS provides technology to preserve priceless artefacts

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New approaches to investigate damage due to environmental fluctuation on textile artefacts by image processing

Preventive conservation plays an important role in the preservation of art and cultural assets. In order to preserve their condition for as long as possible, it is essential to slow down ageing processes and evaluate factors that alter materials.

To do this, it is necessary to grasp and have an holistic understanding of the artefact. Cultural heritage science and engineering methods for understanding material behaviour require an interdisciplinary approach.

Textiles are among the most sensitive art and cultural heritage objects. In the course of their production and handling, their presentation and storage, they are often exposed to influences that can have a damaging effect. [Read more…] about Historical textiles in focus: IDS provides technology to preserve priceless artefacts

Improving industrial mobile robots with multiScan 3D LiDAR

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SICK’s newest multiScan100 family uses time of flight (TOF) measurement to create a 3D perception of its surroundings. To begin, SICK is launching the multiScan136, with a planned launch in the future for more products in the multiScan product family.  [Read more…] about Improving industrial mobile robots with multiScan 3D LiDAR

ACEINNA launches ‘high performance’ inertial measurement unit for autonomous vehicles robots, and ADAS

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ACEINNA has announced the general availability of the IMU330RA high performance inertial measurement unit (IMU).

ACEINNA’s new IMU330RA is an easy-to-integrate, high-performance 6-DOF inertial sensor packaged in a ruggedized, sealed over-molded plastic housing at IP69K level.

The IMU330RA features a redundant 3-Axis Accelerometer and 3-Axis Rate Gyroscope sensors for excellent accuracy and reliability.

The module supports both 1000Base-T1 Automotive Ethernet and CAN-FD interfaces and provides up to 1000Hz update rate with low latency. [Read more…] about ACEINNA launches ‘high performance’ inertial measurement unit for autonomous vehicles robots, and ADAS

Visteon and Steradian partner to develop autonomous car functions

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Visteon, a technology company serving the mobility industry, and Steradian Semiconductors, an India-based high-tech imaging radar specialist, will collaborate on efforts to produce enhanced advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for the global automotive market.

As part of a joint development agreement, Steradian will provide Visteon with access to its advanced 4D image radar sensor hardware and perception software technology.

Imaging radars are integral to Level 2+ autonomous driving technology because they enable safety application development, AI-based perception algorithms, and sensor fusion. [Read more…] about Visteon and Steradian partner to develop autonomous car functions

Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform

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Foxconn, one of the world’s largest contract manufacturers and Apple’s main iPhone maker, is planning to build autonomous cars and will use Nvidia chip technology to do so.

Nvidia and Hon Hai Technology Group – Foxconn’s domestic name – have agreed a strategic partnership to develop automated and autonomous vehicle platforms.

As part of the agreement, Foxconn will be a tier-one manufacturer, producing electronic control units (ECUs) based on Nvidia Drive Orin for the global automotive market. [Read more…] about Foxconn plans to build autonomous vehicles on Nvidia computing platform

Boston Dynamics joins Persistent Systems mobile telecommunications ecosystem

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Persistent Systems, a provider of mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology, says that mobile robotics company Boston Dynamics has joined its Relay Ecosystem.

The Ecosystem is an industry alliance of unmanned system and sensor producers all using the Wave Relay MANET as their preferred network for command-and-control and communications.

As part of its agreement with Boston Dynamics, Persistent will supply the MANET devices used on robots sold to defense, public safety, law enforcement and US federal government customers. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics joins Persistent Systems mobile telecommunications ecosystem

SICK launches new photoelectric sensor

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SICK has unveiled its new Roller Sensor Bar (RSB) as an addition to its extensive portfolio of photoelectric sensors. This sensor provides the logistics and production markets a reliable solution to accommodate the ever-increasing variety of packaging shapes and sizes, and that provides a quick and easy installation experience.

Traditional sensors are mounted above the side frame and require installers to align and teach the sensor to a reflector at the end consumer, leading to high costs.

SICK offers the RSB as a solution to high installation costs and packaging variations to help logistics and production processes run more smoothly and efficiently. [Read more…] about SICK launches new photoelectric sensor

Clearpath Robotics launches outdoor autonomy software

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Clearpath Robotics, a manufacturer of mobile robotics platforms for research and development, today launched OutdoorNav – an autonomous navigation software platform designed for vehicle developers, OEMs, and robotics researchers.

Compatible with Clearpath’s outdoor mobile platforms as well as third-party industrial vehicles, OutdoorNav provides reliable GPS-based navigation for faster, more efficient autonomous vehicle development.

Bryan Webb, president of Clearpath Robotics, says: “Robotics product development can often be a difficult, sometimes harrowing experience. [Read more…] about Clearpath Robotics launches outdoor autonomy software

Mercedes-Benz claims its ‘Drive Pilot’ is world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology

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Mercedes-Benz says its Drive Pilot automated driver assistance system has become the world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology. The company adds that it backs redundancy for safe conditionally automated driving.

When it comes to conditionally automated driving (SAE Level 3), safety and reliability are the top priorities for Mercedes-Benz. Drive Pilot is therefore based on a system architecture that enables safe control of all situations that could potentially arise.

To this end, braking, steering, power supply and some parts of the sensor system are designed with physical and functional redundancy. By adopting this safety‑focused approach to system design, Mercedes-Benz is setting completely new benchmarks in automated driving. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz claims its ‘Drive Pilot’ is world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology

Soft assistive robotic wearables get a boost from rapid design tool

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Scientists created a new design and fabrication tool for soft pneumatic actuators with integrated sensing, which can power personalized healthcare, smart homes, and gaming.

Soft, pneumatic actuators might not be a phrase that comes up in daily conversations, but more likely than not you might have benefited from their utility. The devices use compressed air to power motion, and with sensing capabilities, they’ve proven to be a critical backbone in a variety of applications such as assistive wearables, robotics, and rehabilitative technologies.

But there’s a bit of a bottleneck in creating the little dynamic devices that have advantages like high response rates and power to input ratios. They require a manual design and fabrication pipeline, which translates to a lot of trial and error cycles to actually test and see whether the designs will work. [Read more…] about Soft assistive robotic wearables get a boost from rapid design tool