Positioning Equipment

Intelligent Robots Pick, Prune in the Peach Orchard

An intelligent robot being uses A.I. and sophisticated navigation to find good peaches and remove them from trees.

Moving Platform for 3D Printing Reduces Waste and Costs

A low-cost, dynamically controlled surface for 3D printers reduces waste and saves time.

Centimeter-Long Snail Robot Powered with Light

The soft robot harvests energy from a laser beam and can crawl on horizontal surfaces and climb vertical walls and an upside-down glass ceiling.

2021 Motion Control Product Directory

Explore manufacturers and products in over 25 motion-design categories.

Making High-Duty-Cycle Industrial Automation Affordable

A new generation of long-life electric linear actuators has emerged to give designers more flexibility.

NanoGear Molecular Gear

Oscillatory and rotational motions of different parts are combined to pave the way to developing super-miniaturized mechanical devices.

New Products: August 2021 Motion Design

Linear motion bearings, magnetic angle encoders, isolation valves, and more.

Connections for Control: Communications Interfaces for Position and Motion Sensors

Learn about widely used communications technologies for motion control.

Products of Tomorrow: August 2021

A new COVID test, a "ChromoUpdate," and NASA's brake rotor.

Servo Motion Improves Robot Operations

Servo motion control delivers powerful, fast, and precise movement onboard robots and for associated equipment.

GPS-Enhanced Onboard Navigation System (GEONS)

The open-architecture flight software package provides solutions for onboard orbit determination.

Linear Bearings: What You Need to Know

Learn the distinct forms that linear bearings take, and where the bearings are being used today.

Options Abound When Selecting a Sensor for Motor Feedback

Designers who must sense motor position, speed, or acceleration have a lot of choices, including resolvers, optical encoders, and Hall-effect devices.

Automated X-Ray Inspection

Faster inline CT inspections makes it possible to inspect far greater numbers of circuit boards.

New Products: June 2021 Motion Design

Encoders, quick disconnects, automation systems, and more.

New Products: June 2021 Sensor Technology

High-precision medical sensors, battery-cell mappers, signal conditioners, and more.

RFID-Based Rotary Position Sensor

Innovators have developed an RFID-based system for sensing the angular position of rotating systems. The RFID-Based Rotary Position Sensor can be used as a position/orientation sensor or implemented in a...

Accelerometer and Gyroscope Designs Based on Carbon Nanotube Tape

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center developed designs for two micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) motion and position sensors: a single-axis accelerometer and a gyroscope....

Hinge Design Helps Quadrotors Climb

The new hinge is the key to get loadbearing, large quadrotors to climb a few dozen feet in seconds.

Cord Tension Measurement Device

Potential applications include parachutes, hot air balloons, weather balloons, blimps, sails, and parasails.

Lightweight Crane Technology for the Moon

A prototype version could be demonstrated on a large cargo lunar lander.

New Products: April 2021 Motion Design

Servo drives, magnetic angle sensors, draw wires, and more.

Smarter Pneumatic Valves Enhance Automation Systems

Pneumatic technologies such as control valves continue to evolve, incorporating sensors, industrial network interfaces, wireless technology, and more.

New Products: March 2021 Sensor Technology

Rain detectors, beacons, flow meters, and more.

Ultra-Thin and Highly Sensitive Strain Sensors

A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has taken a first step towards improving the safety and precision of industrial robotic arms by developing a new range of...

New Products: February 2021 Motion Design

Industrial robots, motor disconnect switches, position sensors, and more.

Online Tools Reduce Time and Expense in Selecting, Configuring, and Ordering Motion Control Components

New online tools — coupled with online libraries of pre-selected and tested component specifications — simplify machine design.

Locking Side Pull Hoist Ring

The integrated tool eliminates the need for manual operators or additional custom fixtures.