Multimodal robots that can fly and walk or crawl have been the basis of research for many years. In 2016, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP Laboratory reported the development of the Picobug with multimodal characteristics of climbing, jumping, and gliding, or even flying and swimming. With a research paper detailing many executed and […]
Robotics
What’s the difference between sensors used in underwater, flying, and creeping robots or drones? Pt 3.
The abilities of robots continue to advance with highly capable products performing a variety of tasks, looking almost humanlike as they speak, and even garnering appearances in movies. Perhaps less attractive but equally or even more useful, creeping or crawling robots bring drones down to earth and, in fact, inside the earth. Unlike the micro […]
What’s the difference between sensors used in underwater, flying, and creeping robots or drones? Pt 2.
While flying drones are common in military, consumer, and even commercial applications, there are a few intriguing, much smaller and less familiar flying drones in development. Called a micro air vehicle (MAV), or micro aerial vehicle, this class of very small flying drones have applications in agriculture, disaster relief, by both military and enterprise users, […]
3D image processing solution with AI, 2D cameras, and robotics
The manufacturing sector is currently facing a number of challenges. Technological change, pressing environmental issues, and globalization require a number of adjustments, such as investing in new technologies, conserving resources, and optimizing and securing supply chains. Globally operating companies have to face a changing environment and at the same time manage problems in supply chains. […]
What’s the difference between sensors used in underwater, flying, and creeping robots or drones? Pt 1.
Obviously, different design requirements exist depending on the targeted applications, but autonomous or remotely piloted drones also dictate different criteria. One of the more unique underwater applications involved undersea (in the ice) measurements in Antarctica. The intent of the expedition was to gather sufficient, highly accurate information to improve modeling of ice shelf melting and […]
What advanced sensing techniques are used in cobots?
Most robots incorporate a broad range of sensing technologies to better understand the operating environment and to fulfill their design purpose. These sensors provide information about position, size, orientation, velocity, distance, temperature, weight, force, and more. For collaborative robots or cobots that operate in a close proximity to and even interact with humans, additional sensing […]
How are sensors being used in new applications?
Sometimes learning about how sensing technology is used in an application that the reader is not that familiar with can provide inspiration for a new approach in an area that they are very familiar with. That is the intent of the applications that follow. Even if they are not used for inspiration, they make interesting […]
How have smart sensors changed within the last few years? Pt 1
When the IEEE and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) first addressed the need for a smart sensor standard in 1993, today’s dominant application for sensors – the smart phone – did not exist. At that time, automobiles were already successfully using a variety of sensors to meet government legislation for emissions control […]
Four “eyes” see better than two
Robots do monotonous workflows and less pleasant, repetitive tasks with brilliance. Combined with image processing, they become “seeing” and reliable supporters of humans. They are used in quality assurance to check components, help with the assembly and positioning of components, detect errors and deviations in production processes, and thus increase the efficiency of entire production […]
Tiny IR sensor modules feature modulated carrier output for code learning
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced three new miniaturized infrared (IR) sensor modules for remote control systems. Featuring modulated carrier output for code learning applications, the Vishay Semiconductors dual-lens TSMP95000 and single-lens TSMP96000 and TSMP98000 combine a wide supply voltage range from 2.0 V to 5.5 V with a low typical power consumption of 0.35 mA at 3.3 V. […]
