Motion Control

A researcher at Arizona State University has discovered how to control multiple robotic drones using the human brain. A controller wears a skull cap outfitted with 128 electrodes wired to a computer. The device records electrical brain activity. If the controller moves a hand or thinks of something,...

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart developed a motion system that is compliant and can be integrated in robots thanks to its space-saving design. The device consists of a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA), which is a membrane made of hyperelastic...

Researchers have devised a novel way to help keep a driverless vehicle under control as it maneuvers at the edge of its handling limits. The new technology is being tested by racing, sliding, and jumping one-fifth-scale, fully autonomous auto-rally cars at the equivalent of 90 mph. The...

An often asked question from industrial machine builders or integrators is how they can effectively design or implement the conversion of a machine with servo technology to meet performance expectations. This is a specialized task filled with layers of complexity that can prove...

Motion control is essential for the digitization and automation of high-tech equipment, but bearings remain basic to frictionless movement. Bearing Engineers, a bearing distributor, recently changed its name to Motion Solutions (Aliso Viejo, CA) to better reflect their evolution...

The RoadRunner SoftStep R213S microstepping motor drive from Testra Corp. (Tempe, AZ) features an onboard processor that treats the input steps as small vector moves, and chains them together with 250 or 256 microsteps per regular motor step with controlled accelerations. Dual chopper stabilized current comparators and...

ALM Positioners (Rock Island, IL) released the Model MHL1P 10,000-pound-capacity single-column positioner that features 68.5" vertical travel in 35 seconds; a pendant-controlled, 4-HP, column-mounted hydraulic unit for lifting and lowering; solenoid- controlled safety pawls; 360-degree CW or CCW rotation; a rotator with 267,200...

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions (Waterbury, CT) introduced the WGS Wide Guide Screw linear slide that utilizes a screw-driven carriage. Length and speed are not limited by critical screw speed, allowing high RPM, linear speed, and long stroke lengths. The slide offers stroke options of 6, 12, and 18" in three leads (0.1, 0.5, and...

Novotechnik U.S. (Southborough, MA) introduced the RSX-7900 Series angle sensors that provide up to IP69K ingress protection and ISO13849 PL-d safety compliance in a non-contacting design. The sensors are available in six standard measuring ranges with angles from 0 to 60, to 0 to 360 degrees with unrestricted rotation. Resolution...

Aerotech (Pittsburgh, PA) offers the HEX500-350HL high-load, six-degree-of-freedom hexapod for applications in sensor testing and high-force device manipulation. It is actuated with six struts that are built with preloaded bearings, ball screws, and drive components, and is driven by AC brushless, slotless servomotors that are directly...

The Model BM-T tilt Switch from BinMaster (Lincoln, NE) is a level indicator used for point level detection of heavy materials in bins, tanks, or silos, or over a conveyor belt or open pile. It is suspended vertically over a control point using a wire rope, chain, or flexible hanger. As the material level rises, the switch tips...

Mitsubishi Electric Automation (Vernon Hills, IL) introduced the iQ-R Series machine control system that incorporates sequence, motion, safety, process, and C language control into one platform. The control platform is designed for applications requiring integrated motion and safety control, tight synchronization between...

Tactile handles forklifts, industrial trucks, and motorized carts are being developed that employ pressure sensors to detect the direction in which a user is pushing or pulling the cart. Workers can get a cart moving in the right direction with very little effort using the pressure...

A collaborative robot is essentially an industrial robot with additional safety capabilities. These safety features include:

Safety-rated monitored stop (zero speed limiting) Speed and separation monitoring (limiting) Hand-guiding Power and force limiting (PFL)

Deep-sea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) present motion control design engineers with some difficult challenges. Applications may include ROV propulsion, position thrusters, dive vanes, rudders, or robotic arms. Some problems are common to all of them.

Nippon Pulse America (Radford, VA) released the SL083 scaleless linear motor with a built-in linear encoder for positioning applications that would benefit from the repeatability, reliability, and robustness of a linear motor, with up to 5 μm in resolution. The motor consists of a tubular stainless steel shaft and a non-contact...

The Ndrive QLe digital, panel-mount nanopositioning piezo drives from Aerotech (Pittsburgh, PA) are designed for use with the Aerotech Automation 3200 (A3200) motion controller. The drives enable coordinated motion between piezo stages and servo axes at higher rates than other controller/drive products. Featuring a...

Celera Motion (Bedford, MA) introduced the MicroE Veratus™ Series encoders incorporating VeraPath™ technology. All interpolation, automatic gain control (AGC), and signal processing is performed in the sensor head that measures 35 × 13.5 × 10 mm. Interpolation in the sensor head provides resolution from 5 μm to 20 nm for linear...

Crouzet Motors (Vista, CA) introduced brushless DC motors with CANopen® technology. The new communications protocol allows design engineers to connect multiple brushless motors to the various components in a system. The CANopen interface permits connection of up to 127 brushless DC motors with a single, shielded, two-wire...

The Micro Series ZBM anti-backlash lead screw assembly from Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions (Waterbury, CT) can be customized to specific applications that require unique geometry and custom materials such as Kerkite® composite polymers. The anti-backlash nut utilizes a special nut thread system that, when combined with a...

Macro Sensors (Pennsauken, NJ) offers the BBP Series air extended, spring-loaded LVDT position sensors to measure range of motion in pneumatic cylinders. The 3/8 "-diameter, pencil-type gaging probes measure the position of a target surface. They feature a probe that moves out and makes measurements only near the very end of the...

Automation Direct (Cumming, GA) offers SureMotion drive couplings in four styles: jaw/spider, double loop, Oldham, and beam-style servo. The jaw/spider coupling is a clamp-style coupling with 14- to 65-mm aluminum hubs, and bore diameters ranging from 3 /16" to 32 mm. Double loop coupling hubs are made of series 300 stainless...

ABB (Auburn Hills, MI) introduced the IRBT 2005 flexible, compact, modular, medium track motion platform for robots and transfer applications. It is designed to accommodate rapid product changes in applications that require an extended working range and high degrees of speed and accuracy. It is available with up to two...

The Hydraulic Unibody (HUB) Series rotary actuator from Parker Hannifin Corp. (Cleveland, OH) is built with a hard-coat anodized housing and hardened alloy steel pinion and racks for applications exposed to harsh weather extremes. The rack-and-pinion gear design minimizes hydraulic power unit (HPU) size. The one-piece housing...

NORD Gear Corporation USA (Waunakee, WI) introduced the SK135E/SK175E soft start drives designed for use in a distributed control system. They can be mounted directly on the motor or near the motor. The starters regulate the three major functions of a motor starter and control them in order to protect equipment. Basic features...

maxon motor (Fall River, MA) offers ECX high-speed brushless micro motors in diameters of 8, 16, and 19 mm achieving speeds of up to 120,000 rpm. They are available with different power stages and in standard or sterilizable versions (up to 2,000 autoclave cycles).

For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/61060-306

EC Fans & Drives, a division of Epec Engineered Technologies (New Bedford, MA), announced EConomy and EXRi50 electronically commutated motors. The EConomy features a slim profile that enables use in applications where space restrictions are a concern. It is a single-speed, single-direction, entry-level EC...

Novotechnik, U.S. (Southborough, MA) introduced the RSC3200 angle sensors that feature shaft connectivity options and provide absolute rotary position measurement. Analog outputs are 0.25 to 4.75V or 0.5 to 4.5V. Built-in coupling accepts D-Shaft with shaft customization available. The non-contacting sensors are fully redundant,...

Portescap (West Chester, PA) introduced the Athlonix™ 22DCP brush DC motors available in a 22-mm diameter. They feature a coreless design with a self-supporting coil and magnetic circuit, and are available in two configurations: precious metal commutation, and graphite commutation with Alnico magnet inside. An REE (Restriction...

The Servo Cylinder from Ultra Motion (Cutchogue, NY) is a compact brushless DC linear actuator with Phase Index™ absolute position feedback. The integrated Phase Index sensor is digital, high-resolution, and non-contacting with a wide operating temperature range, and is resistant to a range of harsh environmental conditions....