We've long been fixated on using our bodies to control devices and software, from video game joysticks to iris-scanning security tools. You may only recently have gotten the hang of your voice-activated speaker, but now it's time for the next frontier: controlling devices with your mind.
Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the most discussed and anticipated technologies in recent years. With increasing advancements in hardware and software, VR is moving closer to becoming a mainstream technology. This blog post looks at the current state of VR, its future potential, and some challenges that need to be addressed for it to reach its full potential.
Most people would say that in order to be a successful leader, you must have years of experience and intimate knowledge of the business world. However, modern leaders don't need to fit that mold. They can be anyone – from CEOs to first-time entrepreneurs – as long as they possess the right skill set and mindset. If you're looking to become a successful leader in today's rapidly changing world, here are seven books that will help set you on the right path.
As countries continue to vaccinate people against COVID-19 and provide booster vaccinations to achieve herd immunity, it has become clear that economic recovery will take longer than most people probably expected and, in some cases, much longer. One obvious cause of the delay was the discovery of the Delta variant, and now the Omicron variant.
Recent research published by several different scientific teams suggests that there is hope for dealing with our problem of plastic waste. More than 300 million tons of plastic waste is generated each year and the issue of "micro-plastics" permeating the oceans is a growing concern.
Motors and Controllers' roles in advancing and increasing areas of operation are vast. In this infographic, you will find the top five advantages that motors with controllers can have on your company ranging from saving time to saving money.
The evolution of the human species is accelerating at a pace never before seen in history. We have gone from being hunter-gatherers to farmers, to factory workers, and now we are on our way to becoming cyborgs by connecting not just our anatomy directly with our machines, but our minds.
Innovation in drone (a/k/a/ unmanned aerial vehicle or “UAV”) technology has occurred at a rapid pace in the last 5 years. Cheaper and faster delivery has been one major catalyst for the heightened interest, especially among customer-centric, internet-based companies. Amazon made its first drone delivery in 2016 and other companies are getting in the game. According to research from Intelligent Automation, customers can expect 620,000 drone shipments by 2022. Package deliveries are not the only use for UAVs, by any means. Drones are in use currently in fire-fighting to reduce the risk to human firefighters, in remote surgical centers to transport supplies, and in medicine to meet an immediate need. Some healthcare providers are even experimenting with drone transport of human tissue. UAVs are of keen interest to the military as well. The U.S. Navy, for example, presently deploys drone submarines. Here, we take a look at some current and potential future applications for UAVs and the intelligent automation technology behind this ever-expanding field.
Collaborative robots (“cobots”) is the fastest growing segment in industrial automation. Cobots interact with humans in a shared workspace, whereas traditional robots function in relative isolation from human contact. Cobot operation generally incorporates various safety features like lightweight construction materials, rounded edges, limited speed and force, and sensors and software to ensure safe operation. A variety of cobot applications have emerged to improve operational efficiency, reduce on-the-job accidents and injuries, and lower operating costs. These include applications in home healthcare, warehouse maintenance, space exploration, pick and place (including material handling, packaging, and palletizing), bomb disposal, and even food preparation. Additional factors driving growth has been steadily decreasing prices and ease of implementation. Many cobots cost less than $45, 000 and, with advances in edge computing, integration costs are minimal because little or no programming may be required. In this article, we take a closer look at some of these amazing cobot applications.
As most people who keep up with the news know, the COVID19 pandemic has caused shortages in everything from cash to manufacturing supplies. Understandably, as the infection rate increased, the global focus was on finding a vaccine and securing medical supplies and equipment to save lives and slow the spread of the virus. Many manufacturers who had the capabilities switched some or all of their production to life-sustaining commodities like ventilators and face masks, which were in immediate demand. Soon it became abundantly clear that many of these critical items had been outsourced to other countries, resulting in” centers of production” abroad that have attracted many companies in the U.S. and elsewhere to reduce costs. Since the timing of economic recovery varies from country to country based on containment of the virus, vaccinations, and other factors, the ramp-up period to restart production can be significant for some manufacturers, and the resulting delays are impeding other businesses down the supply chain.