Positioning Equipment

Artificial Muscles Propel a Robotic Leg to Walk and Jump

Inventors and researchers have been developing robots for almost 70 years. To date, all the machines they have built have had one thing in common: they are powered by motors. Even...

A New Model Offers Robots Precise Pick-and-Place Solutions

Pick-and-place machines are a type of automated equipment used to place objects into structured, organized locations. These machines are used for a variety of applications — from...

Product Showcase

See the product showcase, which includes Bodine type 42R hypoid gearmotors; the Pyramid Connectable (“PC”) Twisted Belt; the IMI Norgren VR Valve Manifold; CENTRUM CSF40, a stainless steel encoder scale disc; KHK USA's gear for motion design; ABB Robotics' OmniCore, an intelligent automation platform that is faster, more precise, and more sustainable; and much more.

Method Rapidly Verifies That a Robot Will Avoid Collisions

Before a robot can grab dishes off a shelf to set the table, it must ensure its gripper and arm won’t crash into anything and potentially shatter the fine china. As part of its...

3D-Printed Mini-Actuators Can Move Small Soft Robots, Lock Them Into New Shapes

Researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated miniature soft hydraulic actuators that can be used to control the deformation and motion of...

New Technique Helps Robots Pack Objects into a Tight Space

Anyone who has ever tried to pack a family-sized amount of luggage into a sedan-sized trunk knows this is a hard problem. Robots struggle with dense packing tasks, too.

How Simple Component Improvements Can Revolutionize Plant Processes

Since its introduction, dozens of steel mills — ranging from hot to cold and bar to sheet — have recognized the benefits of incorporating INSTAclamp Lock Rings into their operations. Despite a redesign with a new material, the product is not restricted by which mill types it can operate within.

New Products

See the new products, including PI's custom air-bearing motion systems, Kollmorgen’s multi-axis servo systems, HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION's EnDat 3 encoder interface, Nexen Group's new line of Rotary Indexers, and more.

New Ferroelectric Material Could Give Robots Muscles

A new type of ferroelectric polymer that is exceptionally good at converting electrical energy into mechanical strain holds promise as a high-performance motion controller or...

2023 Guide to Motors

Motion Design’s 2023 Guide to Motors provides a comprehensive list of today’s top manufacturers in many technology fields.

New Transfer Process Moves 2D Materials from Growth Substrate to Device Substrate

Purdue University engineers have developed a patent-pending tool to make the manufacture of ultrathin semiconductors more consistent, controllable, and...

Achieving Automation Conveyor Positioning Accuracy

As manufacturing automation rapidly advances, conveyors are not only being used for transportation but also accurate material (or product) placement.

Automate 2023 Show Preview

Automate, to be held from May 22-25 in Detroit, MI, will provide attendees the latest in cutting-edge robotics, vision, artificial intelligence, motion control, and more.

New Products

See the new products for April 2023, including combustion valves, a linear motion system, an autonomous mobile robot, and more.

Mech Suit Gives Humans 50X Strength

The all-terrain walking mech’s aim is to give humans the size and strength of giants. It does just that — times 50.

Soft Robotic Wearable Restores Arm Function for People with ALS

Some 30,000 people in the U.S. are affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition that damages cells in...

A Drone to Protect Bats from Wind Turbines

A study has perhaps solved the wind-turbine issue of causing harm to bats.

Reverse Vortex Ring

This mechanism improves rotordynamic stability in turbomachinery.

Inductive Non-Contact Position Sensor

Potential uses include MEMS accelerometers, vibration monitoring, and other precision motion control applications.

Lightweight Crane Technology for the Moon

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

Products of Tomorrow

The products of tomorrow.

Computational System Streamlines the Design of Fluidic Devices

Combustion engines, propellors, and hydraulic pumps are examples of fluidic devices — instruments that utilize fluids to perform certain functions, such as generating power or...

Enhancing Design Efficiency in Linear Motion Automation

The integrated measuring system (IMS) has demonstrated notable cost savings and improved design efficiencies in linear motion automation applications.