Explore the latest developments in motion control and automation. Discover innovative advances from NASA and major research labs in robotics, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, PID controller applications, motor drives and power transmissions.
Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute have designed a system that makes an off-the-shelf quadruped robot nimble enough to walk a narrow balance beam. Read on to learn more.
See the new products, including Amada Weld Tech's next-generation UB Series Linear DC Resistance Weld Controls; Igus' ReBelMove Pro modular, customizable autonomous mobile robot; Logic's Octopus, an overhead industrial picking robot; and more.
A study from the lab of L. Mahadevan combines mathematics, computer simulations, and experiments to show that in crowded environments, adding just the right amount of randomness, or “noise,” to how individuals move, can ease gridlock and dramatically improve efficiency. Read on to learn more.
A lollipop gripper is one demonstration of a new type of soft magnetic hydrogel developed by engineers at MIT and their collaborators at EPFL in Switzerland and the University of Cincinnati. The MIT team reports on a new method to print and fabricate the gel, which can be made into complex, magnetically activated three-dimensional structures. Read on to learn more.
Smart implants that not only stabilize a fracture but also monitor the healing process from day one — and deliver targeted support when required — are currently being developed at Saarland University by a team of engineers, medical researchers, and computer scientists. Read on to learn more about it.
For a variety of industries, helping hands are often hard to find, and it’s an issue that’s been consistent in recent years. Given this, many companies are considering transitioning to automation, including through the use of collaborative robots or cobots, for short. Read on to learn more about them.
At Purdue University, Sooyeon Jeong, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and robot communication and behavior expert, is working to make robots as friendly and helpful as possible in non-fictional settings. Her goal is to create robots that make the world a better place for humans. Read on to learn more.
Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
ABB Robotics is integrating NVIDIA Omniverse libraries into ABB Robotics’ RobotStudio® to help manufacturers deploy physical AI in real-world robotics applications. Read on to learn more.
Mathematical analysis of crowd density is notoriously complex because there are so many possible paths and interactions to consider. Read on to learn what a Harvard team did to get around this difficulty.
A cutting-edge technology with the potential to enable crewed Mars missions and robotic exploration across the solar system was recently tested at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Read on to learn more about it.
The Robotics Innovation Center, located at the Institute of Science Tokyo University, has established a laboratory at its Yushima campus where robots conduct medical experiments previously performed by human researchers, aiming to automate nearly the entire research process. Read on to learn more.
The University of Lincoln is addressing a significant barrier in agricultural robotics by designing fleets of robots capable of operating safely within complex farm environments. Ceres Agri-Tech has developed JABAS.AI, an AI-enabled autonomy platform that facilitates real-time robot navigation and coordination, even in areas with unreliable GPS and connectivity.
The “Bee-Nav” navigation strategy, inspired by honeybees, enables tiny robots to travel long distances and return home with only 42 kilobytes of neural memory. Read on to learn more.
A successful space mission requires not only reliable motion components, it also means partnering with a motion specialist that can ensure they work as planned on their mission. This...
A new type of spike diffuser recently developed by NASA Stennis Space Center is able to provide approximately double the pumping performance of second-throat diffusers via Pareto-efficient reduction of both core Mach number and flow deflection. Read on to learn more about it.
A team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory developed a magnetocaloric heat pump that matches current vapor-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance. Read on to learn more about it.
Scientists are striving to discover new semiconductor materials that could boost the efficiency of solar cells and other electronics. But the pace of innovation is bottlenecked by the speed at which researchers can manually measure important material properties. A fully autonomous robotic system developed by MIT researchers could speed things up. Read on to learn more.
A valve developed by NASA Stennis Space Center consists of a solid piston floating in a medium to control the flow stream. The piston is designed to be axially and radially balanced within the flow stream whether the valve is in the open or closed position. This valve has many unique features and design advantages over conventional valve concepts. Read on to learn more.
Why human expertise is driving the future of autonomy…how to implement predictive maintenance…automated pallet inspection separates good from bad. Read all about it in this compendium of...
In this compendium of articles from the editors of Tech Briefs and Aerospace & Defense Technology, learn how breakthroughs in materials science are enabling exciting new applications in defense...
The new heavyweight champions of robotics will be lighter, smaller, and disconnected from a power source. Read on to learn how researchers at Arizona State University are developing bioinspired robotic “muscles” to make this reality.
AI is rapidly becoming integral across society, with physical AI expanding unmanned and autonomous production capabilities. To advance its shipbuilding expertise, HII, a major U.S. military shipbuilder for over 135 years, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with GrayMatter Robotics to bring advanced AI initiatives into HII’s automation systems and workforce. Read on to learn more.
Researchers at Saarland University created AI-powered smart wheels that sense user intent to provide smoother acceleration, braking, and steering. The technology could make carts, beds, wheelchairs, and other wheeled systems easier and safer to use. Read on to learn more.
MIT researchers developed an AI system that prevents robot traffic jams in automated warehouses by dynamically prioritizing and rerouting robots. Simulations show the approach can increase throughput and facilitate robot-to-robot communication. Read on to learn more.
For advanced search-and-rescue, a team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) drew inspiration from bats to create palm-sized aerial robots. Read on to learn more.
To keep pace with rising delivery demand and sustainability goals, municipalities are beginning to reimagine the supply chain. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, aka drones, are emerging as one potential solution. Read on to learn more.
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