Archive for Mei 2011

Robo-Roundup #15


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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3085792190_2ee10f861b.jpg
This week's roundup features robots that are powered by water to ones that guard you garden. I hope you enjoy!



1. Meet the bot that will protect your garden: http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=27841

2.This gecko robot is powered entirely by water: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/industrial-robots/geckoinspired-window-washing-robot-is-powered-entirely-by-water

3. Google teams up with iRobot to create apps for AVA robot: http://robotland.blogspot.com/2011/05/google-androidhome-and-cloud-robotic.html

Well that pretty much sums up this week's short Robo-Roundup. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below!

This little robot just keeps on tumbling


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http://cdn2.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/13-Aquapod.jpg
Today, most robots get around by using wheels and legs. However, this robot uses a pair of rods that rotate and this causes the robot to tumble around. What I mean by "tumble" is that flips itself over and over again and that's how it gains its mobility. This robot is called Aquapod and was designed at the University of Minnesota's Center for Distributed Robotics. Aquapod uses a pair of carbon fiber rods that are attached to servo motors that are programmed to rotate continuously. The robot is also waterproof, no wonder its called Aquapod, and it also is capable of controlling its buoyancy. An when its not tumbling in the water its usually tumbling around the beach. You can see this robot in action in the video below. Thanks for reading and please comment below!




-original source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/05/aquapod-robot/

Robot uses air to Stick to almost any Surface


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Most robots today are built for land, however the ones that can climb mainly use magnets. On the other hand, this new robot uses jets of air to create suction and stick to almost anything. The way it works is quite simple, the robot uses the priciple of Bernoulli. This principle states that when a liquid moves faster, it decreases the pressure. For this robot, air acts as the fluid, and when it releases air out from the sides, a vacuum starts to be made. The vacuum is actually strong enough to grab objects without the gripper touching the object at all. A university in New Zealand has created a supersonic Bernoulli gripper that is much stronger that a regular one. This allows the robot to stick to vertical surfaces and climb in any direction. You can see the robot in action in the video below. Thanks for reading and please comment!



-original source: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/industrial-robots/robot-uses-supersonic-jets-of-air-to-stick-to-almost-anything

















Evaluating Precision Machining Suppliers


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Finding the right precision machining company to manufacture your finished products can be a daunting task. Therefore, when evaluating manufacturers for precision CNC machining, screw machining, tooling, or any additional type of manufacturing, it is imperative to give weight to multiple criterion. With that in mind, there are a few do’s and don’ts to live by, or at least to make an honest effort to consider when making a final decision.

Do Not Focus on Pricing

Many companies give precedence to price, which is reasonable to a point. Price centricity is focused on the existing budget and how much cash you can outlay towards the transaction. The problem is that this method is based on one condition of sale, and not the grand scheme of the project. For example, by relying on price alone, many manufacturers have resorted to off shoring their production to countries in Asia, like China or Taiwan. The short answer why companies do so is because of the very low direct labor costs that keep total expenses down. Many companies find out later that moving overseas is far more costly than the original ticket price. Fellows Inc. is one great example of losing big by off shoring. The company shifted production to China through a joint venture with Shinri. There was a change of hands at Shinri that equated to a major shift in managerial philosophy, and Shinri attempted to take over complete control of Fellows’s Chinese operation. Shinri demanded price increases and full equitable control, which was a contractual violation of the joint venture terms, not to mention illegal. After Fellowes approached the Chinese government for help in resolving the matter, little help was offered. In short, Fellowes accrued $100 million dollars in sunk costs.

With international shipping costs and the lag in delivery time from China, companies must often order parts 6 months in advance of final assembly in the United States. Parts from Asia are ‘sometimes’ plagued with quality issues or product engineering issues because of the communication disconnect with controlling entities in the United States. When you receive a product that does not meet quality standards, you have lost 6 months of lead time and the initial cash investment. If you practice a JIT or demand pull system, or just want control of your product, then keeping to domestic suppliers is highly suggested. When you think about the price, think beyond the invoice – think about potential losses and the opportunity cost of not having the parts produced locally or at the quality standards that you need. Moreover, think about the under cutters that will try to gain your business.

Under cutters are generally new companies that are trying to make a name in the industry. They often resort to entrance based pricing strategy to both spark long term relationships with new customers and take clients away from other suppliers. Often times these companies respond to quote requests with dollar values that are too good to be true, sometimes even below their own costs which is just bad for business. This results in corner cutting during the manufacturing process, less than desirable customer service, and low quality machined parts. Not that a new company cannot offer you great service or a low price, but you should evaluate their standing in the industry and the quality measures that they have in place. The premise here is similar to looking at a firm’s credit history when deciding to do business with a supplier. We can research a company’s standing by evaluating their industry associations and quality process controls. I’ll start off by looking at a few reputable manufacturing associations and the benefits of being a member.

Do: Look at Manufacturing Associations

In order to evaluate a machining service provider you should always check their credibility in the marketplace. One method of doing so is to cross reference the company’s name with industry associations, and by reviewing their website. Often their associations are listed right on the home page or in the ‘about’ section. It also does not hurt to ask the companies what associations they are members of if you don’t immediately find them listed.

NAM

One noteworthy association is NAM or National Association of Manufacturers. The National Association of Manufacturers is the superlative US manufacturers association, which is also the nation’s largest industrial trade association. Their membership is comprised of over 11,000 members of varying company sizes and from all 50 U.S states. An association with NAM ensures that companies are actively participating in their industry. Additionally, NAM provides industry information that addresses the manufacturing problems that many manufacturers face. The premise here is that when you’re educated about your own process, you can ultimately improve it. This usually results in a healthier bottom line, and generally, the company may be able to compete more on price, which assumes a direct correlation between efficiency and price point.

PMPA

Another noteworthy association is the PMPA or Precision Machined Products Association. Unlike NAM who is far spread among many industries, the PMPA is focused more on precision machining, but don’t let that fool you. The PMPA is an international trade association that represents the precision machined products industry well. The association was originally founded as the National Screw Machine Products Association in 1933 but the name was later changed. Their strategic focus is evaluating the latest technology, assessing interests in government regulations, performance benchmarking, and evidence based data collection industry wide. Their member base of 2,654 consists mostly of manufacturers located in North America, but many of these firms are global and hold subsidiaries or export across borders. Many of their members provide precision CNC machining; turning and milling services, rotary transfer, and screw machine products. The majority of these companies have a diversified portfolio of industries served, such as automotive components, aerospace, heavy truck, oil, medical devices, appliances, construction equipment, and much more. Additionally, with green technologies such as wind turbines emerging and dotting the landscape, many companies have penetrated that market as well.

Other Associations

There are hundreds, even thousands of industry associations. It would be extremely difficult to list all of them here. Although NAM and PMPA are prominent, it is important to determine the specific industry your potential supplier is a part of, and to identify the respective associations that they should be a part of.

Do: Evaluate Quality Systems

One of the most heavily weighted criteria in the assessment suppliers should be the quality of the finished product. There are many quality systems that companies employ to ensure that you receive the highest quality machined parts. I’ll discuss the major practices here, but it is important to ask the suppliers about what they do to ensure a quality product.

Six Sigma and Beyond

If you believed Six Sigma was born from Toyota or the automotive industry in general, your assumption is false. Motorola, a well know telecommunications company, pioneered the practice all the way back in 1986. The objective of Six Sigma is to improve the quality of outputs by isolating defective parts and correcting the processes that creates them. This removes process variability which makes it easier for managers to target cost reduction and profit increasing opportunities. The term Six Sigma is derived from statistics. If you’re familiar with the bell shaped curve and standard deviation, then you should have a good grasp of what sigma represents. If not, I’d suggest doing a little additional reading or statistics homework to be enlightened. In short, a measurement in sigma (1-6) indicates the quality yield (the percentage of non-defective parts) of a manufacturing process. A process designated as being Six Sigma is one that has achieved a 99.99966% efficiency rating. This means that the process is expected to produce 99.99966% of parts without defects. Not unlike Lean manufacturing where a product team is deployed, there are usually teams of people that are designated to execute Six Sigma initiatives. These individuals are often referred to as black belts, green belts, and so on, where the degree of training and certification defines the belt type. There are many SPC (statistical process control) activities that a firm could engage in. Additionally, initiatives such as 5S and Lean manufacturing are now a common place. Be sure to ask each precision cnc machining shop, screw machine products manufacturer, or other type supplier what types of controls they use to ensure a quality product.

Two Robotinc arms Duel with Lightsabers


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Remember back in StarWars how the jedi and the sith used weapons called "lightsabers?" Cool isn't it, but what's even cooler is that two Motoman robotics arms used these lightsabers to duel each other. You can see both of these bots wage battle in the video above that was captured at the 2011 ICRA in Shanghai.


-original source: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/industrial-robots/jedi-vs-sith-in-robot-lightsaber-duel

Visit Instructables.com and InstructablesTV on YouTube


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http://blogs.ktk985.com/files/2010/07/Instructables-Logo1.jpg
Building robots and other things is so much fun, so how about learning how to do that. Thats where Instructables and InstructablesTV comes in handy. The website features millions of D.I.Y.'s aka "instructables." The youtube channel on the other hand features the people that work at Instructables inc. and their videos on D.I.Y. . So why not give it a try! Thanks for reading and click on the links for the website and youtube channel! Instructables.com: http://www.instructables.com/ InstructablesTV: http://www.youtube.com/user/InstructablesTV

Robo-Roundup #14


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http://botropolis.com/wp-content/uploads/Little_Ken.jpg
This roundup features dancing robots to robots that fold towels, and I hope you enjoy!


1. Watch the Nao bot dancing: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/nao-robots-dance-the-macarena

2. This robot can fold towels faster than you: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/artificial-intelligence/highspeed-robot-hands-fold-a-towel-in-04-second

3. New robots invent their own language: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/artificial-intelligence/lingodroid-robots-invent-their-own-spoken-language

4. Meet Singapore's most complex humanoid robot: http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=27644

So I hoped you enjoyed this weeks Robo-Roundup and be sure to comment and follow!

Take a Look at TreeBot, the New Robot Tree Climber


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Meet TreeBot, the first robot capable of climbing trees autonomously. TreeBot uses a pair of flexible linear actuators that connect a couple gripping claws to let the robot move up and around the tree like a worm or caterpillar. In the back part of the robot there is the back gripper which holds on to the tree while the front gripper (obviously located in the front) extends the robot's body forward, and thus letting the robot be capable of moving around all by itself. To see the TreeBot and its tree climbing action just click on the video above! Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below!


 -original source: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/artificial-intelligence/treebot-learns-to-autonomously-climb-trees


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Find out how we can produce your screw machine products!

http://ping.fm/R2HQE


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Find out about our CNC machining services!

http://ping.fm/YFxI0

Shop SimpleBotics


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Later on this summer we will unleash our SimpleBots for sale on our website and they will all be up for purchase! We plan on selling them with a price tag near 15-17 USD (batteries included), and for now we will only ship in the U.S.A. However our plans may vary from now to later on so keep checking out our blog for updates. Below is the what the order form will look like and we may start selling the bots before June, but all it all depends when I get a google checkout and paypal account.

Email:
Address:
State:

Products:
SimpleBot
SimpleBot (With HeatShrink)

Payment:
PayPal
Google Checkout

Additional info.:




Your personal information such as Email, address, and etc. will never be publicized in any way. We also pay for the shipping, and we ship using USPS priority mail.  

Cool Little Robot can Roll on Land and Fly in the air!


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Most of us already know what a Transformer is, and yes they seem a bit science fiction, but this robot makes it seem a bit more realistic. Researchers and Designers at the University of Minnesota have constructed a robot that can drive on land then completely transform to be able to fly in the air. The way it works is quite complicated; the robot has two independent motor systems and the mechanism that enables it to transform is a whopping $20,000. It may seem like a lot of cash now, but researchers are looking into making a more robust and better version of the robot, and then hopefully lowering the price tag if it ever goes on sale. Thanks for reading and be sure to comment!


-original source: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-software/little-rolling-robot-transforms-into-helicopter

Robo-Roundup #13


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http://www.hardwaresphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/nao-robots-dancing-shows.jpg
Sorry I have not been posting this week, and the reason is because every time I tried to sign in or post on Blogger it said, "Sorry Blogger is Unavailable Right Now." Aside from that, this week's Robo-Roundup has some really cool robots. Hope you enjoy!

1. New robot has the ability to sword fight: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/artificial-intelligence/awesomely-bad-ideas-teaching-a-robot-to-sword-fight

2. This robot is able to withstand hard hits by a baseball bat: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/researchers-smash-super-tough-robot-arm-with-bat

3. Check out this bots great mobility: http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=27676

4. Amazing new kung-fu robot competition, catch a glimpse at: http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=27676

5. This robot gripper is super adaptable: http://www.roboticstrends.com/design_development/article/adaptive_gripper_extends_robot_application_opportunities

Well that sums up this roundup, and make sure to read next week's too!

"Bilibot" a cool robot that looks like a Coca-Cola


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http://nexrobot.com/images/bilibot-now-available-for-purchase_hfabp_0.jpg
This year's latest robot platform, the Bilibot, invades the whole world because you can now order it online! It first started on MIT by experimenting on the new kinect sensors,Kinect may sound cool, but it's applications are way cooler, even roboticist replaced they're $5000 sensors with a $150 kinect! So what's the point about Bilibot? Bilibot is designed for robotics hobbyist,it means that it can be hacked and program, it even have it's own robotic arm. Bilibot consist of:
* a powerful computer
* an iRobot create
* a Kinect sensor
* mounting hardware to put it all together
* the ROS Robotic Operating system
So, what's with the Coca-Cola looks?


special thanks to: Keith Ferrer


Robo-Roundup #12


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Today's roundup features robots that spy on bad guys to robots that go against each other in Robo-Cup.
I hope you enjoy this weeks roundup!

1. Meet the new quadcopter that spies on bad guys from the sky's: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/military-robots/aeryon-scout-quadrotor-spies-on-bad-guys-from-above

2. Nao and DARwIn-OP versus each other in robot soccer, see it all at: http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=27630

3. Take a glance at this new open source robot: http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=27612

4. New humanoid robot gets ready to greet people at the Kennedy Space Center: http://robots.net/article/3167.html

5. UUV's locate plane flight recorder, check it out at: http://robots.net/article/3164.html

Well that about sums up this weeks Robo-Roundup, thanks for reading and be sure to read next weeks too!






    

State Of Steel Industry 2011


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Industry Week’s report on the AISI’s annual meeting in Colorado Springs is the Official report on AISI website.

Here are a few key highlights.

  • U.S. steel shipments will rise 14% in 2011 to approximately 90 million tons as the industry continues to rebound from the recession,  according to Nucor Chairman and CEO Daniel DiMicco
  • In March finished steel imports into the United States rose to their highest level since January 2009, said DiMicco, who also serves as AISI chairman.
  •  Demand from the commercial and residential construction industry remains weak and is not expected to reach pre-recession levels until 2012 at the earliest, said DiMicco.
  •  Increased demand from infrastructure construction projects has the potential create up to 3 million jobs over the next several years, said Mario Longhi, president and CEO of Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. and AISI director.
PMPA’s own Business Trends shows a recovery in progress. AISI reporting Steel Shipments up 14% and record imports confirm this- Steel is foundational to economic activity.
If you think steel prices are high now wait until  commercial and residential construction recovers in a year or so.

By: PMPA 

Amazing New Spy Bot Built to Spy on Pirates


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http://cdn.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/2011/1-tworobotstod.jpg
We already know about iRobot's "packbot," but now there's a new spy bot about to go into action. Meet the new Recon Scout Robot, and this bot isn't just your average spy bot because it comes with some very cool and new features. Unlike the iRobot's "packbot" this bot has magnetic wheels, and this enables it to climb up vertical metal surfaces such as ship and boat hulls. This spy bot is specifically designed for spying on pirates when they have already taken over and hijacked ships. It has a video camera built in so you can view live video feed on the ship and take a look at the type of hostage situation. All of these features sound pretty cool to me and you can check out the bot in the video below. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below!


http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/military-robots/new-recon-scout-throwbot-can-climb-ship-hulls-spy-on-pirates

Take a Look at the Tiniest Quadcopter


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http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/CrazyFlie-Barebones-Quadrocopter.jpg
This tiny quadcopter, CrazyFlie is basically a PCB, four motors, and some micro sized propellers. The robot measures at just 10 cm per side and it weighs only 20 grams. The CrazyFlie has no metal structure, but instead it uses its PCB for the main structure that houses the battery, motors, and circuits. Even though its tiny, it has a charging port, radio, multi-axis accelerometer, a couple of gyroscopes, and a small LiPO battery. The overall flight time is around four and a half minutes long, but to me that would be loads of fun. You can see it in flight in the video below. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below!








http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/diy/cutest-quadcopter-ever-sounds-like-a-swarm-of-angry-bees