Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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The Future of Solar Panel Cleaning: Robots vs Humans

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One of the advantages of solar systems is their minimal maintenance.

This is true, there are no moving parts in the panels that can fail due to friction, they do not wear out, so they can serve for a long time without loss of efficiency.

But often users notice that performance has started to drop. Some even call specialists, believing that something is wrong with the batteries. There’s something wrong with them, they are just dirty.

Solar systems need constant care. It is necessary to clean the surface of the panels at least 2 times a year – in spring and autumn, but it is better to do this more often. [Read more…] about The Future of Solar Panel Cleaning: Robots vs Humans

Why is My Radiator Not Working?

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As the temperature drops, failing radiators might become a significant problem. What should you do if your radiator is not working in the midst of winter to avoid a cold home?

Frequently, radiator issues are the consequence of a basic fault that is easily rectifiable. We’ve included some of the most common radiator concerns that may indicate they’re not functioning properly. [Read more…] about Why is My Radiator Not Working?

Electric Future: Siemens providing software platform to support nascent electric airplane market

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Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace has selected the Capital product lifecycle management suite from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software and services to support its design, development, and certification of zero emission electric aircraft.

Siemens’ Capital will provide electrical and electronic (E/E) system design and support as Heart Aerospace addresses the market and regulatory demands of escalating performance and commercial certification requirements.

As part of the extensive electrification in these aircraft, Heart Aerospace must address the complexity of the Electrical Wiring Interconnect System (EWIS) while also addressing electrical system compliance risk. [Read more…] about Electric Future: Siemens providing software platform to support nascent electric airplane market

US retailer Meijer to launch beach and water cleaning drones in the Great Lakes

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US Midwest retailer Meijer is launching its participation in the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Program with the use of two innovative technologies – the BeBot and Pixie Drone, partly based on the WasteShark produced by Ranmarine – to clean up Midwestern beaches and waterways in partnership with the Council of the Great Lakes Region. 

This initiative is supporting the single largest deployment of these types of eco-friendly and remote-controlled devices across multiple states in the Great Lakes, which encompass the largest surface freshwater system in the world.

Rick Keyes, Meijer president and CEO, says: “It is a privilege to live near the Great Lakes, which inherently comes with the responsibility to protect them. [Read more…] about US retailer Meijer to launch beach and water cleaning drones in the Great Lakes

Canadian innovator wins award for robot that does the dirtiest of industrial dirty work

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Nicolas Olmedo is on a mission to keep people safe by sending robots where no human should ever have to go: into the murky, muddy sludge of industrial mine tailing ponds and other hazardous terrains that need to be continually monitored.

His ground-breaking work to develop intelligent robots capable of traversing mud, snow, ice or rock using screw-shaped pontoons has earned Olmedo a prestigious award from Mitacs, a national innovation organization that fosters growth by solving business challenges with research solutions from academic institutions.

In recognition of his efforts to advance the robots through his company, Copperstone Technologies, Olmedo – one of three Copperstone co-founders who completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta – was presented the Mitacs Outstanding Entrepreneur Award on June 2 at a ceremony in Montreal, Canada. [Read more…] about Canadian innovator wins award for robot that does the dirtiest of industrial dirty work

Motion capture is guiding the next generation of extraterrestrial robots

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“How do we build robots that can optimally explore space?” is the core question behind Dr Frances Zhu’s research at the University of Hawai’i. One part of the answer is, “with motion capture”.

“It is my hope that my research contributes to the way extraterrestrial robots move and make decisions on other planets,” explains Zhu (main image), an assistant researcher and deputy director at the University’s Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology.

That research is in its early stages, but NASA has seen the value in it and awarded Zhu an EPSCoR grant by the name “Autonomous Rover Operations for Planetary Surface Exploration using Machine Learning Algorithms”. [Read more…] about Motion capture is guiding the next generation of extraterrestrial robots

Flame Cutting, Plasma Cutting, and Waterjet Cutting – Differences

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There are many options for metal cutting when you need it cut to size. Not all processes will work for every job and every type of metal. 

You may choose to use flame cutting or plasma cutting for your project. However, it is important that you understand the differences between these cutting methods. [Read more…] about Flame Cutting, Plasma Cutting, and Waterjet Cutting – Differences

Desolination: Unique energy and water project combines solar power and desalination

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A unique, €10 million “Desolination” project, involving 19 partners and 12 countries, aims to develop a “first-of-its-kind efficient coupling of concentrated solar power and desalination techniques”.

The Horizon 2020 Desolination project started in June, this year and will last 48 months until May 2025.

During this time, innovative technologies related to both concentrated solar power and desalination will be designed to improve the efficiency of existing concepts. [Read more…] about Desolination: Unique energy and water project combines solar power and desalination

MIT CSAIL’s robo-starfish enables closer study of aquatic life

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Scientists have invented a ‘robo-starfish’ which give us more insights into aquatic life, as Adam Conner-Simons, or MIT CSAIL, reports. (See video below.)

Biologists have long experienced the challenges of documenting ocean life, with many species of fish proving quite sensitive to the underwater movements of humans.

As a possible solution, computer scientists have been developing special marine robots that can stealthily move among their carbon-based counterparts. In 2018, for example, a team from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) fabricated a soft robotic fish that autonomously swam with real fish along the coral reefs of Fiji.

However, the complex dynamics of how water moves – and its ability to quickly ruin some perfectly good electronics systems – have made underwater robots especially difficult to develop compared to ones for air or land. [Read more…] about MIT CSAIL’s robo-starfish enables closer study of aquatic life

Continental develops ‘quieter’ conveyor belts for flood protection projects in Tokyo

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Continental has developed what it says are “quieter” conveyor belts for flood protection projects in Tokyo.

The company says its “Sicon” pouch conveyor belt transports bulk material safely and cleanly, with low noise and emissions, through residential districts of Japan’s capital.

The conveyor belt are being used in the construction of an underground catch basin for 150,000 cubic meters of water. [Read more…] about Continental develops ‘quieter’ conveyor belts for flood protection projects in Tokyo