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Why a soccer kick bends the ball path: SOLIDWORKS simulation

With SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation, you can virtually test a ball's flight path and see the science behind its amazing trajectory. Visualize anything you want to test, including the physics that make a ball curve and dip, to optimize performance and reduce physical testing. See the SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation study setup and learn about the Magnus effect where a spinning object moving through a fluid curves away from its straight path. [Credit: Screenshot courtesy of SOLIDWORKS]
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Lightning-fast in-line verification, high-performance barcode reading

The Omron VHV5 Barcode Reader now combines high-performance barcode reading and calibrated ISO verification in one device. Replacing offline sample checks, it delivers 100% inline verification at production speeds up to 1,200 parts per minute. With flexible lighting, the VHV5 easily inspects labels and Direct Part Marks, even on challenging curved or irregular surfaces.
Learn more.

How to choose the right industrial Ethernet switch

Antaira Technologies breaks down 10 mission-critical capabilities separating industrial-grade switches from commercial compromises. Even if you aren't in IT engineering, you will find valuable networking knowledge in this guide to protect vital infrastructure.
Read the full article.

New CAM software cuts robotic machining deployment

At Automate (Booth #4476), RoboDK will showcase RoboDK CAM, which generates robotic machining programs directly from CAD files. Designed for easy deployment, it cuts setup time by up to 40%. Live demonstrations will show users how to create collision-free robot motion straight from CAD data, eliminating manual line-by-line coding.
Learn more about RoboDK CAM.

AI Tools You Can Use: What is OpenClaw? How do I get it and use it?

OpenClaw is trending big time right now, but what is it? The YouTubers over at Create a Pro Website run through the basics of what you need to know and how to implement it. Basically, OpenClaw is a next-gen 24/7 AI assistant that lives on your computer and can perform actions for you. You talk to it through a chat app. You can set it up to do real work such as alert you to important emails, answer emails for you, manage your calendar and travel, and so much more. There is a great intro video here and also a longer, very thorough step-by-step video to setting up OpenClaw.
View the OpenClaw intro video.
View the OpenClaw setup video.

New! 6-digit programmable display/controller

Bristol Instruments has released the OM 403UNI Series displays/ controllers, allowing users to monitor two or three simultaneous functions. Configured via OM Link software or front-panel buttons, they feature four- or six-digit displays with +/-0.05% of f.s. range accuracy. They function as numeric/bar-graph displays, controllers, data recorders, or accumulators. Additionally, they detect and alert users to error conditions like broken sensor wires.
Learn more.

Mini edge AI systems for vision, generative AI

As enterprises transition from PoC to real-world edge AI deployment, Aetina has launched its Mini Series Edge AI systems. Powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and NX modules, these compact, fanless systems deliver high-performance vision and generative AI inference. Engineered for demanding industrial environments, they offer flexible camera connectivity, space-saving designs, and long-term reliability to accelerate smart infrastructure.
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Thermal imaging on the quality control line

On a high-speed food and beverage line, what you can see is not always what is happening. Thermal imaging adds a different layer of control. Instead of relying on surface appearance, it measures heat distribution as seals are formed and products move through the line, providing continuous, 100% in-line inspection instead of just sampling.
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Built for the test bench, ready for the field

FUTEK's IDC150 Signal Conditioner packages high-performance signal conditioning in a rugged aluminum enclosure. Built for engineers needing accurate, synchronized data from strain gauge sensors, it fits prototyping and lab environments. The device connects seamlessly to existing setups and pairs with SENSIT software and Python APIs. It is ideal for compact, high-performance digital sensor evaluation.
Learn more.

Automotive lighting systems simplified, optimized

The new MLX81119 from Melexis is an 18-channel LIN RGB LED controller with an integrated DC/DC converter, designed to simplify and optimize automotive lighting systems. By generating the LED supply voltage locally on chip, this unit significantly reduces power dissipation, external components, and space requirements in increasingly dense vehicle applications such as door panels, dashboards, and charge-port lighting.
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How healthy is your machine? Moisture-in-Oil Sensor

iST's Moisture-in-Oil Sensor is a compact, digital RH/T module that accurately and continuously monitors the water content in oils and fuels. This sensor does not simply measure the absolute water content -- it measures the relative saturation level in % RH or water activity aw in %. This means you get a direct picture of the current oil quality and can react in time. Applications include: marine engines and gearboxes, commercial and rail vehicles, wind turbines and generators, drilling and paper machines, and more. Eval kit available.
Learn more.

World's first native color lidar sensors

Ouster Rev8 features the world's first patented native color lidar sensors. For the first time, a single lidar sensor can understand road signs, interpret brake lights, or simply capture the richness of planet Earth in survey-grade, colorized maps. Based on patented Ouster Silicon with embedded Fujifilm color science, the L4 chip boasts 42.9 GMACs of processing power, detection of up to 20 trillion photons per sec, and a 40-kHz measurement rate with picosecond timing precision. Sees up to 200 m.
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Real-world applications: 3D camera ensures precise aircraft cabin drilling

In modern aircraft production, precision is everything. In this application article, learn how an Ensenso 3D camera integrated into an automated process chain ensures accurate detection and alignment of drilling positions in aircraft cabin assembly using the CAD data of the aircraft frame.
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What are Onshape Custom Features?

Certified Onshape Professional Too Tall Toby explains how to supercharge your workflow using community-created tools. In this insightful tutorial, he dives into the world of FeatureScript -- the powerful coding language behind Onshape. Learn where to find new scripts and how to use them. Save time. Learn new skills, shortcuts, and maybe even better ways to do things. Incorporate Custom Features into your everyday work. Very useful.
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What can you do with touchless magnetic angle sensors?

Novotechnik has put together an informative video highlighting real-world applications for their RFC, RFE, and RSA Series touchless magnetic angle sensors. You may be surprised at the variety of off-highway, marine, material handling, and industrial uses. You'll learn how they work (using a Hall effect microprocessor to detect position) and their key advantages, including eliminated wear and tear on these non-mechanical components. We love when manufacturers provide such useful examples.
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A little bit shocking: Industry analyst puts Tesla battery Gigafactory in context

Dr. Peter Harrop, Chairman of analysts at IDTechEx, was interviewed on July 27 by BBC Television World News in a live program transmitted worldwide. The subject was the opening of the Tesla battery Gigafactory, which has been billed as the world's largest factory building. There had been talk in the press of this giving Tesla global battery dominance and even leading to 10 times global battery output, and the BBC sought reveal the true situation. [See "Inside Tesla's gigantic Gigafactory."]

As battery experts, IDTechEx praised the Tesla initiative but pointed out that even this giant factory is only part of a huge ramp up of lithium-ion battery production where the East Asians are in the driving seat. The Tesla cells are by Panasonic of Japan, which has invested $1.6 billion in the project in addition to expanding its own facilities.

Tesla is copying the $13 billion Chinese company called BYD in making a range of electric vehicles, batteries, and solar cells, but BYD has its own battery cell technology. BYD is likely to have similar battery production capacity to Tesla in 2020.

But Tesla intends to leapfrog its competitors. For example, while BYD is taking $1 billion orders for pure electric buses, Tesla is preparing its first, radically different bus for sale. However, when it comes to batteries, BYD satisfies its own demand and tries to get competitors in vehicle manufacturing to buy their batteries from it -- a tough thing to do. In contrast, IDTechEx believes that Tesla has limited interest in providing more than its own battery needs.

IDTechEx agreed with the BBC that the batteries are the main thing stopping most of us from buying pure electric vehicles, but to triple the range of affordable electric vehicles, as many desire, calls for more than the economy of scale provided by gigafactories.

In addition, the key materials in the battery are being changed by all the leading battery manufacturers -- notably, adding silicon into the anodes in a tricky way and chemistry such as different nickel manganese cobalt NMC for higher capacity cathodes. That will make them store more energy and save on overall vehicle cost.

Other changes will follow, such as non-flammable electrolytes. IDTechEx therefore made the point that this is a risk on a risk -- namely, performing a massive volume ramp up during radical change of what you make.

LGChem of Korea seems headed for 50-GW production capacity by 2020, which is probably more than anyone else in the race for economy of scale. However, the key production of those clever new active materials lies mainly in Belgium, Japan, and Korea, although some key patents are owned by U.S. organizations.

The Tesla Gigafactory is part of this bigger race to supply very different, large lithium-ion battery packs with their management electronics for everything from ships, buses, and trucks to solar-powered houses. IDTechEx believes there is even a possibility of shortages of large lithium-ion battery packs as these Titans of the electric industry prepare for battle.

For more IDTechEx research on energy storage, including the new reports "Batteries for Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Utility Applications 2016-2026" and "Lithium-ion Batteries 2016-2026," please see www.IDTechEx.com/research/ES.

Source: IDTechEx

Published August 2016

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