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
3060
30
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Kistler Instrument Corp. (Amherst, NY) offers the Type 8640A miniature, single-axis, IEPE PiezoBeam® accelerometer for the multi-channel modal and structural analysis of small or thin-walled structures and components....
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Magnetic Ring Encoder
ASM Sensors (Elmhurst, IL) offers the PMIR7 series POSIROT® incremental en coder magnet rings in three sizes for different shaft sizes. They yield up to 184,320 pulses per revolution in conjunction with the quadrature encoder read head. The encoder system consists of a magnetoresistive read head, PMIS4, and a dual-channel...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The MS-2500 stage from Applied Scientific Instrumentation (Eugene, OR) provides 100 mm of Yaxis travel and 250 mm of X-axis travel, and works on existing inverted microscopes. Custom configurations are available, including front-loading...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Servo2Go (Greenville, DE) has introduced the Applied Motion Products HT24 NEMA 24 frame series of hybrid stepper motors for applications where additional power is required, but changing to a size 34 motor is not possible....
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The 1410 Series DC miniature diaphragm pump from Thomas Division (Sheboygan, WI) measures 3.3 × 1.2 × 2.1" and is designed for medical and other applications requiring high performance in a compact package. The pump features...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
PI L.P. (Auburn, MA) has introduced the E-709 digital piezo nanopositioning controller that features fifth order polynomial digital linearization, two notch filters for piezo operation at high frequencies, and...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
RB Series Generation II linear profile guide rail brakes from Nexen Group (Vadnais Heights, MN) are designed for stopping and holding in e-stop and power-off situations. Each rail brake clamps directly onto the center of the guide...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
XMOS (Sunnyvale, CA) has released a motor control platform that contains XCore® processors, an XMOS motor control hardware board with support for dual axis motor control and communication, and a suite of control,...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
A pocket-sized, vision-guided motion controller from Precise Automation (San Jose, CA) is based on a distributed network architecture that allows the device to be located at the point of use. Along with standard...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The IDM680 Intelligent Servo Drive from Technosoft (Canton, MI) comes equipped with a CANopen, or EtherCAT communication interface, and combines motion controller, drive, and PLC functionality in one unit....
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
A series of food and beverage sensor products from AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA) includes AC and DC proximity, photoelectric sensors and quick-disconnect sensor cables. Compliant with the IP69K standard, the sensors...
Feature Image
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Strain System for the Motion Base Shuttle Mission Simulator
The Motion Base Shuttle Mission Simulator (MBSMS) Strain System is an innovative engineering tool used to monitor the stresses applied to the MBSMS motion platform tilt pivot frames during motion simulations in real time. The Strain System comprises hardware and software produced by...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Pyrotechnic Actuator for Retracting Tubes Between MSL Subsystems
An apparatus, denoted the “retractuator” (a contraction of “retracting actuator”), was designed to help ensure clean separation between the cruise stage and the entry-vehicle subsystem of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The retractuator or an equivalent mechanism is...
Articles: Imaging
As recent events in Haiti and Argentina have highlighted, many urban buildings in seismically active regions worldwide are in need of reinforcement to resist earthquake damage. One challenge...
Feature Image
INSIDER Product: Robotics, Automation & Control
Advanced Motion Controls (Camarillo, CA) offers the AZ and AZB series servo drives for use under normal industrial conditions, as well as the AZX series for use in extended environments. The PCB-mount embedded, plug-in servo drive...
Feature Image
INSIDER Product: Communications
Pepperl+Fuchs (Twinsburg, OH) introduces the EVM58 Ethernet IP Encoders available in single or multi-turn configurations. The rotary encoders provide absolute machine position or velocity feedback to the system controller...
Feature Image
INSIDER Product: Motion Control
Colson Caster Corp. (Jonesboro, AK) has announced the 4 Series stainless steel bearing that withstands corrosive exposures and is completely sealed to keep grease and other debris out for jam-free operations. The...
Feature Image
INSIDER Product: Robotics, Automation & Control
Exlar (Chanhassen, MN) offers the EL100 explosion-proof linear actuators, rated for Class I, Div 1, Groups B, C, D and T3 hazardous environments. The EL Series linear actuators integrate a planetary roller screw mechanism with...
Feature Image
Articles: Motion Control
In dozens of industries and in millions of applications around the world, dangerous chemicals are transferred from their original shipping containers...
Feature Image
Application Briefs: Test & Measurement
A unique cavitating pump dynamics test facility has been developed at Concepts NREC (CN, White River Junction, VT) in cooperation with engineers at NASA Marshall Space...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
National Instruments (Austin, TX) has announced the AKD servo drives and AKM servo motors for deploying custom motion applications to any NI real-time controller supporting NI EtherCAT technology. The motors are...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
MICOS USA (Irvine, CA) offers a multiphase piezo nanopositioner that reduces stick-slip signature for nanopositioning applications. The motor uses at least two piezos and friction elements that move in unison, but slip at...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The Model 475 series diaphragm valves from Tridak, a Dymax Co. (Torrington, CT), are used with low- to medium-viscosity fluids. The internal design prevents fluid contact with the actuating components, making them suitable for...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
US Digital (Vancouver, WA) offers the QSB (Quadrature to USB) encoder interface adapter that interfaces standard quadrature encoder signals into a PC USB port for encoder verification. Single-ended or differential...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Novotechnik (Southborough, MA) has introduced the TX2 series of position sensors with stroke lengths up to 300 mm. The sensors are sealed to IP67 specifications, and feature an 18-mm-diameter housing size. The sensors provide...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
PIHER North America (Libertyville, IL) offers the PS15 rotary position sensor in a 15-mm package. It is surface-mountable for detecting changes in angle and position, and converting them to a voltage output. It can be...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The HR 1120 electronic handwheel from Heidenhain Corp. (Schaumburg, IL) is used in machine automation systems where changing formats or positioning objects with numerous axes is necessary. It is suitable for both portable...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions (Hollis, NH) offers the Kerk® Micro Series lead screw assemblies. Standard configurations include 2-mm-diameter screws with leads ranging from 0.3 mm to 2 mm revolution, and a variety of nut...
Feature Image
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The Thomas 1210 Series diaphragm liquid DC pump from Thomas Division (Sheboygan, WI) features the REFLEX valve design that provides a bubble-free liquid flow for fuel cell and diagnostic applications. Available in 12V and 24V DC...
Feature Image

Videos