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New micro motor controller elevates precision, speed, and torque management

maxon, a leader in DC motor and drive solutions, has unveiled its latest innovation: the ESCON 2 controller. This advanced speed and current controller, designed for micro motors, significantly enhances control precision. The ESCON 2, suitable for brushed and brushless DC motors up to 1,800 W continuous duty, is engineered for seamless OEM integration into customer systems. Enhanced control features include field-oriented control (FOC), acceleration, and velocity feed-forward capabilities. Supports 4-quadrant operation. Lots more features. Available from Electromate.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Next-gen motor for pump and fan applications

The next evolution of the award-winning Aircore EC motor from Infinitum is a high-efficiency system designed to power commercial and industrial applications such as HVAC fans, pumps, and data centers with less energy consumption, reduced emissions, and reduced waste. It features an integrated variable frequency drive and delivers upward of 93% system efficiency, as well as class-leading power and torque density in a low-footprint package that is 20% lighter than the previous version. Four sizes available.
Learn more.

Deep learning-based part detection for machine tending cobots: Universal Robots at IMTS

Universal Robots, the pioneer of collaborative robotics, is set to unveil a new AI-powered machine tending solution at IMTS, enabling faster batch changeovers by eliminating the need for fixtures. Additionally, the company will showcase advanced cobot applications for welding, finishing, part feeding, and laser marking. Lots of useful tech here.
Read the full article.

Why air bearings are used to test satellites

The number of active satellites in space keeps growing, with more than 10,000 active satellites orbiting our planet. Commercial and academic institutions developing these satellites continuously work on improved test systems and methodologies to fully validate their hardware before launch. Learn why PI's 3-DOF spherical air bearing systems are an important part of this process.
Read the full article.

8 key advantages of torque motors for advanced applications

Electric torque motors drive loads at low speed without additional mechanical transmission systems like gearboxes or speed reducers. They are known for smooth operation with less vibration and backlash. Learn the key benefits that make them a solid choice for many applications.
View this informative Parker blog.

Gear motors with QR codes for product info

NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS gear motors now come with a QR code sticker on the unit enabling users to access information almost instantly such as product specs, documentation, and service requests via mobile device. The codes can be scanned using a photo app or QR code app and will bring the user to NORD's digital service webpage, which includes a Documentation Center, Spare Parts Shop, customer portal, and more. QR code stickers are now in use at NORD USA's four facilities in Waunakee, WI; Corona, CA; Charlotte, NC; and McKinney, TX.
Learn more.

LM guide actuator with right/left ball screw for symmetrical movement

THK's innovative Type KR-RL Actuator features a driving element that uses right/left threads and enables symmetrical movements with a single motor. Two drive systems are combined into a single package, resulting in a compact overall design. This electric actuator outperforms pneumatic versions by offering precise force control, speed control, a longer life, and energy savings. Applications include gripping, measuring, and positioning for robot hands, screw-tightening machines, cutting equipment, and dispensers.
Learn more.

High-power-density outer-rotor brushless motor

Allied Motion Technologies has released the new KinetiMax High Power Density (HPD) motor series. This outer-rotor brushless motor is designed for high-torque, low-cogging applications like robotics, AGVs, and handheld power tools. With an efficiency rating of over 85% and a high power-to-weight ratio, it's an ideal motor choice for any application where weight and battery life are critical. Available in six frame sizes, with three stack lengths per size and three windings per stack length.
Learn more.

Universal Robots: Seamless integration with Siemens PLCs

Cobot leader Universal Robots has integrated the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) into its software. UR is proud to be among the first cobot vendors to offer this functionality, which is a new standard for robotics manufacturers that aims to create a single interface between PLCs and robots. It will ensure customers a frictionless integration with Siemens Programmable Logic Controllers, since Siemens is the first -- and currently only -- PLC Vendor supporting SRCI in the automation market.
Learn more.

Multi-axis motion control chipset

The Magellan^® MC58000 and MC55000 Motion Control ICs from Performance Motion Devices provide all the advanced motion control required by sophisticated high-precision medical, scientific, automation, industrial, and robotic applications. Available in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-axis versions, these programmable devices control brushless DC, DC brush, and step motors and deliver user-selectable profiling modes including S-curve, trapezoidal, velocity contouring, and electronic gearing. High-performance FOC provides high-accuracy, ultra-low noise motor operation.
Learn more.

Wheel drive boosts material handling operations

IDEC Corp.'s new ez-Wheel Assist Wheel Drive (AWD) EW1A Series provides electrical motion assistance for industrial manual material handling equipment. With the help of an EW1A, workers can easily and safely move heavy loads, increasing productivity and efficiency. The modular, all-in-one wheel, gearbox, drive, battery, and control solution is easily integrated into new or existing equipment. Supports a vertical working load up to 400 kg and can transfer loads up to 1,000 kg.
Learn more.

Tech Tip: Have you considered a frameless motor?

With no housing, bearings, or other components beyond the stator and rotor, a frameless motor delivers the most compact, torque-dense motion possible. Instead of its own housing, the motor can be embedded directly within the mechanical design of the machine. Instead of its own bearings, it can use the machine's existing shaft and bearings. Learn from Kollmorgen why a frameless servo motor can be an ideal choice for compact, higher-level assemblies and how to integrate one into your design.
Read this informative Kollmorgen blog.

DURApulse GS30 AC Drives from AutomationDirect

Automation-Direct has added new high-performance DURApulse GS30 drives that support several control modes including sensorless vector control, closed-loop flux vector control, and torque control in a compact package. The GS30 series expands the DURApulse family by adding internal tension control loop expanded parameter sets for greater versatility, as well as optional EtherCAT and single- or dual-port EtherNet/IP communication cards. GS30 drives support up to four independent induction motor parameter sets or control of a single AC permanent magnet motor. Sizes up to 3 hp for a 230-VAC single-phase input, 50 hp for a 230-VAC three-phase input, and 100 hp for a 460-VAC three-phase input. This series offers PID control, built-in PLC functionality, and STO capability typically found with more expensive high-performance AC drives.
Learn more.

Power steering systems for warehouse and autonomous vehicles

Allied Motion has introduced the electric power steering (EPS) series for steer-by-wire warehouse vehicles, autonomous AGVs, and similar material transport vehicles. This compact system includes a fully integrated motor, gearbox, controller, and optional output pinion. It is available in three frame sizes and 16 models to cover virtually any electric steering requirement in applications from small pallet lifters to AGVs/AGCs to multi-ton reach trucks. An optional, patent-pending feature, Turning Wheel Absolute Position Control, allows the controller to know the turning wheel position without external sensors.
Learn more.

New brushless motors maximize power density

Allied Motion Technologies has introduced the KinetiMax 95 High Power Drive (HPD), an outer-rotor brushless motor. This frameless motor is designed to maximize power density for its volume with a nominal output torque of 2 Nm at 2,300 RPM, resulting in 480 W of continuous output power. At only 37 mm axial length, this compact stator-rotor set is an ideal solution for applications such as material handling systems, AGVs, mobile robots, handheld power tools, and more.
Learn more.

Autonomous vehicles are traveling the wrong road to safety, says computer science engineer

The current method of programming autonomous vehicles may not be safe, according to Aviral Shrivastava, a computer science associate professor in Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

"Google, Uber, and others in the field are using humans to teach cars how to drive themselves," explained Shrivastava. "And that's the problem. They are learning from human drivers, all of whom are fallible, and the autonomous cars are in turn mirroring our unsafe driving behaviors."

Arizona State University Associate Professor Aviral Shrivastava's research involves developing technologies used in autonomous vehicle programming. [Credit: Photo by Ken Fagan/ASU Now]

 

 

 

 

Shrivastava is known on campus for his embedded computing course, which challenges students to engineer a self-navigating, obstacle-avoiding toy race car complete with GPS, a laser surveying system (LIDAR), an inertial measurement unit to calculate distances, and other sensing tools used in full-scale autonomous vehicles.

"The autonomous car industry is trying to walk a line between a human-like driving experience and guaranteed safety. At the moment, the familiarity of human-like driving is the norm and puts safety at risk," Shrivastava said.

A fatal accident involving a self-driving Uber vehicle and a pedestrian in March in Tempe, AZ, caused Uber to suspend its driverless operations in Arizona. Gov. Doug Ducey suspended Uber's tests of self-driving cars on Arizona roads, according to The Arizona Republic.

The video captured by the vehicle just before the March 18 accident illustrates the pedestrian was crossing the road, outside of a pedestrian walkway, in the dark. Lights from the car, streetlights, and ambient lighting failed to illuminate the pedestrian.

"Since the Uber car could not detect anything in the dark area, it did what a human driver might have done -- proceeded as though there was no one in the road. When the car's lights brought the woman suddenly into view, the car was travelling too fast to stop," Shrivastava said.

Shrivastava asserts that an autonomous vehicle should travel only at the speed at which it can stop before its range of vision ends -- the vehicle should be traveling slowly enough that it can instantly stop if an obstruction suddenly comes into view.

"When encountering a situation like that on Mill Avenue, a safety-focused vehicle's computer would assume there is an obstacle in the unlighted area and proceed accordingly, unlike humans who often assume that the path ahead is clear," he said.

Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir said, "I suspect, preliminarily, it appears that the Uber would likely not be at fault in this accident," concluding that regardless of whether the vehicle was driven by a human or autonomously, "it's very clear it would have been difficult to avoid this collision in any kind of mode based on how she came from the shadows right into the roadway."

However, expectations for a human driver and autonomous cars are very different, said Shrivastava.

"If a human driver causes an accident, it is unfortunate but normal," he said. "If an autonomous car causes an accident on the other hand, it is unacceptable, and it can shut down the whole autonomous car industry."

"As long as human behaviors are the foundation of automated driving technology, safety will continue to be an issue," Shrivastava added. "The priority for autonomous cars should be safety, rather than a human-like driving experience."

Shrivastava's research, funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation, focuses on cyber-physical systems designs -- mechanisms like autonomous vehicles in which a computer controls a physical system -- that guarantee the behavior of the systems.

"For example, we look at how can we build a car in which there is a guarantee that if an obstacle is detected, brakes will be applied within one millisecond," explained Shrivasta.

Recently, Shrivastava developed an algorithm for autonomous cars that promises to more than double the throughput of traffic intersections, "which are really the most important bottleneck in city traffic," he said. While the system will work only on roads that are fully autonomous, "the communications and calculations we've developed will enable autonomous cars to zip through intersections at full speed or with just a minor slow-down."

Source: Arizona State University

Published April 2018

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