Motion Control/​Automation

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.

Stories

40,51
0
2850
30
Products: Motion Control
International Rectifier (El Segundo, CA) has introduced a family of 600V insulatedgate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) for motor drive applications operating below 10 kHz, including compressors for refrigerators and...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Kollmorgen (Radford, VA) offers the AKD PDMM that combines a multi-axis motion controller, IEC61131-3 soft PLC, EtherCAT® master, and AKD® servo drive in a single, compact package. The system is suited for...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
ERD electric cylinders from Tolomatic (Hamel, MN) are available with a reverseparallel motor mount that makes a more compact package. The motor is mounted in parallel with the actuator instead of inline, which reduces the...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Mini-MAG precision linear positioning stages from Dover (Boxborough, MA) are available with a complete controls package. Users can combine a Mini-MAG linear motor stage with a board-level, single-axis servo drive for...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
BEI Kimco Magnetics (Vista, CA) has introduced the Model LA100-93-000A high force linear actuator with a peak force of 500 pounds. It features a continuous force of 292 pounds with 2" total stroke. Other features include...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Crouzet, a brand of Custom Sensors & Technologies (San Diego, CA), has introduced the DCmind Brush range of direct-current brush motors. The motors, even under full load, offer a range of gearboxes and accessories. The new motors...
Feature Image
Application Briefs: Motion Control
PI Ceramic monolithic piezo actuators (PICMA) were put to use in the Chemistry and Mineralogy instrument (CheMin) on the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Curiosity. CheMin is an Xray...
Feature Image
Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
Axial pumps with cam-driven commutation units — so-called PWK pumps — emerged as a result of a research project conducted in the Department of Hydraulics and Pneumatics at...
Feature Image
Application Briefs: Motion Control
Manufacturers often need to test their products to verify that they meet customer specifications, and provide the data that verifies specification compliance. This is particularly true...
Feature Image
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Actuators are critical to all the robotic and manipulation mechanisms that are used in current and future NASA missions, and are also needed for many other industrial, aeronautical, and space...
Feature Image
Briefs: Motion Control
Ultra-Compact Motor Controller
This invention is an electronically commutated brushless motor controller that incorporates Hall-array sensing in a small, 42-gram package that provides 4096 absolute counts per motor revolution position sensing. The unit is the size of a miniature hockey puck, and is a 44-pin male connector that provides many I/O...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The MESA 7I77 card set from Mesa Electronics (Richmond, CA) is a FPGA-based, 6-axis analog control system for CNC, industrial automation retrofits, and OEM systems. Six axes of analog outputs and encoder inputs are...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
The 118Z Series pressure/vacuum oil-less diaphragm pump from Thomas Division (Sheboygan, WI) provides a low-vibration design that utilizes a lightweight nylon housing and end cap that limit the pump’s weight to 4.4 pounds. It...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Applimotion (Loomis, CA) has introduced new models of the UTS slotless frameless direct drive motors in sizes from 12 mm to 300 mm diameter. The motors feature zero cogging and sinusoidal torque curves. With large...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
SPEED 2012 software from CDadapco (Melville, NY) consists of five machine programs: PC-BDC (Brushless PM Motors), PC-IMD (Induction Motors), PCDCM (DC Brush Motors), PC-WFC (DC and AC Wound Field Motors), and...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
The Drives & Motion Division of Yaskawa America (Waukegan, IL) has released the P1000 variable speed drive that provides control for variable-torque loads through 500. Configuration tools include a multi-language LCD...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Bauer Gear Motor, an Altra Industrial Motion Company (South Beloit, IL), offers a range of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). The motors employ a rotor design that integrates embedded permanent magnets made from the...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Aerotech (Pittsburgh, PA) offers the MPS-GR series rotary stages available in two sizes: the MPS50GR and MPS75GR. They incorporate wormgear drive and bearing components for repeatable positioning, and are available with DC servo...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Baumer (Southington, CT) offers the MA20 measuring wheel encoder for flexible position and speed feedback for conveyor systems. The two-in-one device combines a high-resolution optical incremental encoder and a precise...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
PI (Physik Instrumente) LP (Auburn, MA) offers PI miCos precision linear stages. More than 20 product families are available, including miniature translation stages and positioning ranges of 40-mm to high load, and linear...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
MICO (North Mankato, MN) offers hydraulic-over-air relay valves designed to convert hydraulic modulated input pressure to a proportional output air pressure. The relay valves are suited for various on- and off-highway...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Silicon Designs (Kirkland, WA) has introduced the model 2276 accelerometer with four-wire threaded removable connector. It offers continuous operation to +125°C (+250°F) when used with an 8-32V power supply. It is designed...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Koford Engineering (Winchester, OH) offers the S24V30A sensorless motor driver with 37 kHz pwm frequency for use with standalone, digital, or analog operation. The drive has no minimum inductance and will operate...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Amacoil (Aston, PA) has introduced a linear bearing slide load carrier to enhance the load carrying efficiency of Uhing traverse drives and to prevent them from slipping. The load carrier protects the rolling ring bearings from...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Myostat Motion Control (Newmarket, ON, Canada) offers the HY series Hyphoid right angle gearboxes. Suitable for input torques between 76 N-CM and 357 N-CM, the gearboxes offer a high gear ratio in a small footprint. They are available...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Metallized Carbon Corp. (Ossining NY) offers custom vanes, rotors, and end plates for use in rotary vane pumps pumping both liquids and gases. The carbongraphite components provide lubrication in most environments,...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The Micropulse® Generation 7 linear position transducer line from Balluff (Florence, KY) includes models with SSI Synchronous Serial Interface. Micropulse SSI-output transducers interface with control systems from...
Feature Image
Products: Motion Control
Accuride (Santa Fe Springs, CA) has released the Model 3357, a slide that offers 1" over-travel and a latch disconnect. It carries medium-duty loads up to 150 pounds, and provides full access to storage drawers and trays in industrial...
Feature Image
News: Medical
Exoskeletal Device Advances Study of Mobility in Spinal Cord Injury
Kessler Foundation has released preliminary research findings from its clinical study of the wearable robotic exoskeletal device, Ekso, made by Ekso Bionics. Ekso has been undergoing clinical investigation in patients with spinal cord injury at Kessler since October 2011, when the...

Videos