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US Senate to give green light to delivery robots on sidewalks

June 29, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The US Senate is poised to give the green light to the operation of delivery robots on American sidewalks after a bipartisan North Carolina bill was passed in the House in a “near unanimous vote”, according to News Observer.

Delivery robots are being tested in several states across the US in strict accordance with specific agreements with local authorities.

Delivery robots are also used on university campuses and large industrial areas where the land is owned or controlled by one company or organisation, bypassing the need to use public sidewalks. [Read more…] about US Senate to give green light to delivery robots on sidewalks

Mazak launches new laser processing machine for small and medium diameter tube

June 25, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Yamazaki Mazak is launching a new high-productivity laser processing machine specifically designed for the high-speed, large lot cutting of small and medium diameter tube.

The new FT-150 FIBER is a compact laser processing machine that benefits from an ergonomic design, with the operator area, loading station and unloading station all located on the same side.

Equipped with a 3.0kW fiber resonator, the FT-150 FIBER can process single workpieces up to 6,500mm in length and 150kg in weight, with a maximum tube diameter of 152.4mm. 8,000mm and 180kg options are also available. [Read more…] about Mazak launches new laser processing machine for small and medium diameter tube

The Future for Contactless Delivery

May 27, 2020 by Polly Leave a Comment

By D. A. Rupprecht

The future for contactless product delivery is already here, and a pandemic seems to already be moving this trend forward.

It just needs companies to implement and customers to accept the new delivery and tracking methods, along with other innovations, that will make this so.

When this happens, we may one day look back and quietly thank the lowly coronavirus for catapulting us into a brighter future. [Read more…] about The Future for Contactless Delivery

The Importance of Cybersecurity in the Modern Workforce: 3 Tips to Protect Your Company

April 23, 2020 by Polly Leave a Comment

Moving your small business online is a great way to build your business brand and help open up brand new avenues to market your product or service.

However, opening your business up online can also leave you open to cyber-attacks, which means that in addition to developing a website and strong digital marketing strategy, you need to think about developing a strong cybersecurity policy.

While a cyberattack is potentially harmful regardless of who is the victim, for a business it can be even more damaging and potentially deadly. [Read more…] about The Importance of Cybersecurity in the Modern Workforce: 3 Tips to Protect Your Company

Scientists develop ‘flexoskeletons’ that cost a dollar to 3D print

April 10, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new method that doesn’t require any special equipment and works in just minutes to create soft, flexible, 3D-printed robots. (See video below.)

The innovation comes from rethinking the way soft robots are built: instead of figuring out how to add soft materials to a rigid robot body, the UC San Diego researchers started with a soft body and added rigid features to key components.

The structures were inspired by insect exoskeletons, which have both soft and rigid parts – the researchers called their creations “flexoskeletons”. [Read more…] about Scientists develop ‘flexoskeletons’ that cost a dollar to 3D print

SICK launches new ultra-compact safety laser scanner nanoScan3

April 7, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

SICK is launching its newest ultra-compact safety laser scanner, nanoScan3. The company says the new product combines smart safety functions with excellent measurement data quality for accurate and reliable localization.

With an overall height of just over three inches, this space-saving sensor can be used wherever machines and vehicles require maximum performance, but have minimal mounting space.

This enables manufacturers to use small automated guided vehicles or mobile robots equipped with SICK’s leading-edge safety technology. [Read more…] about SICK launches new ultra-compact safety laser scanner nanoScan3

Which CRM is the Most Appropriate for Small Business?

March 12, 2020 by Polly Leave a Comment

In the era of total humanization of business, it is hard to ignore a significant development of the idea of a deep insight into customers’ problems.

The more owners and developers go rooted in this concept, the more sense it makes. It is impossible to build a prosperous business without understanding your current and prospective customers’ needs and building strong B2C relationships.

By the time business starts to give the valid resolutions to clients’ problems, it is transformed into a win-win deal for both parties. And the customer relationship management systems, or CRMs, can become a perfect tool in this struggle. [Read more…] about Which CRM is the Most Appropriate for Small Business?

Swiss scientist developing robot that ‘grips without touching’

January 24, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

A scientist at the Swiss university ETH Zurich is developing a robot that “grips without touching”.

The technology is based on sound waves, or “ultrasound waves”, to be more precise.

ETH pioneer fellow Marcel Schuck is responsible for the invention, and has a small version of the robot on his desk. [Read more…] about Swiss scientist developing robot that ‘grips without touching’

Automation Drives COGS Reduction for Small and Mid-sized Manufacturers

January 20, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

By Mike Franz, founder and creator of the WorkCenter from ManufacturingPower

Automated access to summary cost and margin information for each SKU delivers light SaaS “MRO/tail-spend” price transparency, returning a minimum 11-14 COGS (cost of goods sold) reduction to the bottom line.

Every manufacturer must pay attention to costs and competitors’ pricing. For better or worse, purchasing professionals are rewarded for capturing the lowest price; few have the time to scour the internet for ever RFQ to see if the bid offered is indeed competitive. Measuring value with price experiments is not realistic.

Full-time competitive pricing professionals could work 24/7 to generate statistically valid and accurate data. For the small and mid-sized manufacturer, the solution is to automate price comparison functionality. Until recently this was prohibitively expensive and often too complex. Automating costs and competitive prices can be achieved in a $5,000 per year SaaS solution. [Read more…] about Automation Drives COGS Reduction for Small and Mid-sized Manufacturers

Opinion: Disruption should bring passion into minds of investors

January 16, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

By Deblieck Tommy, Managing Director / Partner, Zora Robotics

It is absolutely stunning to see how being disruptive makes you barely bankable.

When you become an entrepreneur, you’re first convinced that difference is an asset, that heading for a direction that no one follows is one of the keys. You with me? [Read more…] about Opinion: Disruption should bring passion into minds of investors