Strength in flexibility My grandpa used to tell me how important it was to be flexible in life. “That which yields is not always weak,” he’d say, adding that it took him too long to learn this lesson. It’s been years since he’s passed but I think he failed to give himself enough credit. He…
September 2020 Issue: Lessons in manufacturing, adhesives, digitalization, and more
Why diversity matters in business Lasting businesses endure disruptive changes. This phrase is from an old business and economics college textbook. Our class assignment at the time was to define and solve potentially disruptive changes that could affect a company. This year would’ve certainly made that list, given the ongoing pandemic. Although our instructor preferred…
July 2020 Issue: The design, materials, and stories behind the fastener industry.
Open for business A local business down the street from me has a large sign out front that says: “Nothing’s for sure that’s for sure…but we’re reopening June 15.” However, the date has been crossed out and underneath it states, “likely sometime in July.” As businesses begin reopening, there are undoubtedly mixed feelings including skepticism…
April 2020 Issue: Fastening Technology
Finding strength in community We’re in challenging times. Social distancing has become a way of life. Events and conferences are banned, borders are shut down, and several workplaces have temporarily closed or must work remotely. Companies deemed essential have implemented new safety precautions and limited staff. It’s a struggle that’s impacted nearly everyone worldwide and,…
Siemens To Showcase Industry 4.0 Innovations At Digital Industry USA, Sept. 11-12, 2019
Register with code SIEMENS19 for a Free Expo Hall Pass or $50 off a Full Conference Pass Hannover Fairs USA and Deutsche Messe, the organizers of the world’s largest manufacturing show HANNOVER MESSE and its North American edition, HANNOVER MESSE USA, have announced that Siemens, a global leader in the fields of industrial automation and…
Top 10 ROS-based robotics companies in 2019
Not only is the Robot Operating System the standard for research, but it is also increasingly the foundation for commercial robots. Here are 10 ROS-based companies, plus some honorable mentions.
Electronic skin could give robots an exceptional sense of touch
Robots and prosthetic devices may soon have a sense of touch equivalent to, or better than, the human skin with the Asynchronous Coded Electronic Skin (ACES), an artificial nervous system developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The new electronic skin system has ultra-high responsiveness and robustness to damage, and can be…
XoSoft exoskeleton gives users quasi-passive actuation
A lot of people have lower limb mobility impairments, but there are few wearable technologies to enable them to walk normally while performing tasks of daily living. XoSoft, a European funded project, has brought together partners from all over Europe to develop a flexible, lightweight and resource-efficient soft exoskeleton prototype. Frail elderly, incomplete spinal cord…
Automated system from MIT generates robotic actuators for novel tasks
When designing actuators involves too many variables for humans to test by hand, this system can step in.
Artificial muscles based on MIT fibers could make robots more responsive
New MIT system of contracting fibers could be a boon for biomedical devices and robotics.