Robotics & Automation News

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voltage

Schneider Electric invests €40 million in new smart factory in Hungary

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Schneider Electric, a provider of digital transformation of energy management and industrial automation, has broken ground on its new smart factory in Dunavesce, Hungary.

With a planned investment of €40 million, the new site will span 25,000 sq m and have a headcount of 500 employees.

The 36th smart factory in Europe, this will be the 22nd engeneering-to-order factory in the region, producing primary and secondary switchgears, low voltage cabinets and components, and state-of-the-art SF6-free AirSeT medium voltage switchgear range, all made-to-order to individual customers’ specifications. [Read more…] about Schneider Electric invests €40 million in new smart factory in Hungary

Best MPPT or PWM solar controller for the camper

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PWM and MPPT charge controllers are both devices widely used to charge batteries using energy produced by solar panels on campers and boats and, of course, in fixed installations.

The PWM controller is a switch connecting the solar panels to your service battery. This device can substantially reduce the voltage of the meetings until it reaches that of the battery bank.

The MPPT controller, on the other hand, is more sophisticated (and more expensive): it regulates its input voltage to harvest the maximum possible power from the solar panels. [Read more…] about Best MPPT or PWM solar controller for the camper

Transelec strengthens its electrical system with PcVue SCADA

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Transelec, one of Chile’s leading suppliers of high-voltage systems, says it has strengthened its electrical system and improved the robustness of its operations.

PcVue SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) platform has been selected to control Alto Jahuel substation, the largest one of Chile National Electric System.

With almost 10,000 kilometers of lines and more than 60 substations, from the Arica y Parinacota Region to the Los Lagos Region, Transelec is the main supplier of high voltage systems in Chile. [Read more…] about Transelec strengthens its electrical system with PcVue SCADA

JTEKT subsidiary Koyo acquires Canadian assets of KSR International

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Acquisition ‘strengthens JTEKT’s global ECU development capabilities’, says company

Koyo Canada, a subsidiary of automotive technology company JTEKT, has acquired the assets of a Halifax, Nova Scotia research and development facility previously owned by KSR International, a Canadian company.

The acquisition strengthens JTEKT global engine control unit (ECU) development for vehicle steering and driveline products, and will set the foundation for further expansion of its global electrification capabilities and plans.

The new KCI Halifax R&D facility allows JTEKT to more efficiently respond to the expanding demands of autonomous driving support, steer-by-wire and high voltage systems. [Read more…] about JTEKT subsidiary Koyo acquires Canadian assets of KSR International

Omron launches 237 new factory automation control devices

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Omron has launched the sixth wave of its factory automation control devices built on a common design platform for further innovation in control panel building.

The new products include 237 models in six categories low voltage switch gear: J7KC, J7TC, J7MC, J7KCA and J7KCR series low voltage switching gears (LVSG), S8V-CP series DC electronic circuit protectors, and PTF-XX-PU socket for LY relays with Push-In Plus technology.

With its Value Design products, Omron’s goal is to provide a complete solution to panel builders, while saving space and reducing the workload and total cost of ownership. [Read more…] about Omron launches 237 new factory automation control devices

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?

Kollmorgen expands its AKM servo motor series

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Kollmorgen Motor AKM1

Kollmorgen says its new servo motor has energy efficiency, durability, power density, overload capability, and – crucially – is extra low voltage.

The new AKM DC servo motor low voltage with its 48-volt design was originally intended as a customer-specific solution for special areas of use.

Kollmorgen, a specialist in servo-drive technology and motion control will now offer this as a standard add-on to the AKM series, and thus as a new series product.  [Read more…] about Kollmorgen expands its AKM servo motor series

Rough seas: Resistors for severe environments

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Container ship New Orleans

Resistor liquid cooling boosts 3.3kV medium voltage loads, and slashes resistor footprint in industrial and marine applications, as David Atkins, projects director at Cressall Resistors explains

In motor driven applications like cranes, lifts, hoists and conveyors, air cooled resistors are common, but in medium voltage, high power applications liquid cooling wins out.

A medium voltage drive running off a 3.3kV supply to turn a 500kW motor will put a severe heating load on the application’s power transistors – hence the need for water cooling.

The new EV2 advanced water cooled modular resistor range for low and medium voltage applications is especially designed to function in severe environments, like the ones marine systems have to function in.

This patented design encapsulates and completely separates the resistor elements from the coolant.  [Read more…] about Rough seas: Resistors for severe environments

Energy expert Idec joins Copa-Data partner community

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wind turbines

Idec Technical Services, a specialist in the design and installation of high voltage protection and control systems integration, has joined the Copa-Data Partner Community, a worldwide network of certified specialists in Copa-Data’s software, zenon.

As a new member of the Copa-Data Partner Community, Idec will have access to a range of knowledge exchange initiatives provided by Copa-Data with the aim of improving the ergonomics and productivity of partners’ automation projects.  [Read more…] about Energy expert Idec joins Copa-Data partner community

Renesas launches new microcontrollers for automotive applications

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renesas

Renesas has launched six new microcontrollers targeted toward expanded adoption in high-current load switch applications such as motor and heater control circuits. 

The new intelligent power devices (IPDs) are particularly designed for automotive motor and heater control applications. The devices provide an “extremely reliable, high-performance solution compared with mechanical relays that switch the current flow on and off in electronic control units (ECUs)”, says Renesas.

An IPD is a power IC device that integrates in a single package control circuits that implement protection functions and self-diagnostic functions, in addition to power MosFet (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) switching element(s). The IPDs are compact, lightweight, power efficient, and not subject to the contact wear and tear that affects mechanical relays, enabling highly reliable systems with self-protection functions, says Renesas.

Previously, most ECUs used relays as the switching elements in their drive circuits, with the average automobile using around 100 relays. The transition from mechanical relays to semiconductor switching began in applications like lighting control, and the trend is expanding to other automotive systems, such as motor and heater control, driving demand for highly reliable and high-performance semiconductor switching devices.  [Read more…] about Renesas launches new microcontrollers for automotive applications