How Innovators Overcome Smart Factory Challenges
Brad Done for Manufacturing.net: Smart factories are the manifestation of what's being called the Fourth Industrial Revolution — a concept that's been in the conceptual-buzz phase for years.
While the last revolution saw the widespread digitization of manufacturing technology, allowing information to be produced, replicated and shared on an unprecedented scale, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, could take manufacturing to a place verging on self-awareness.
What does this look like? Smart components will interact directly with other devices — independent of human micromanagement and oversight. It means our technologies will be capable of building and interpreting a more nuanced understanding of the manufacturing environment. People and machines will have access to real-time virtual representations of all manufacturing functions.
It's a vision that's fast becoming a reality. Experts have expounded on the challenges, but this hasn't prevented early-adopters from making significant headways. Full Article...
EtherCAT Controllers Modernize Production Lines with C/C++ & IEC 61131-3 Support
NEXCOM EtherCAT controller NET series supports C/C++ and IEC-61131-3 languages to simplify the development of advanced motion control applications. Featuring programming flexibility, the NET series enables machine builders and automation control engineers to fully leverage its powerful PC architecture and function libraries by using a programming language that best serves the control purpose.
Renesas Electronics Reveals RX24T Group of 32-Bit MCUs Targeted to Motor Control for Improved Energy Efficiency in Industrial Equipment, Office Equipment, and Household Appliances
Various Motor Control Development Support Tools for the RX24T and RX23T Available
Quintus Supplies High-Pressure Fluid Cell Press for Gardner Aerospace's Airbus A350 Program
Titanium forming requirement drives high-pressure investment
Percepio Announces a Cooperation with KINGSTAR for RTX64
Percepio AB, the Swedish developer of RTOS visualization tools, today announced a cooperation with KINGSTAR, makers of RTX64, the leading Windows-based real time operating system. A new Tracealyzer version for KINGSTAR RTX64 will be bundled with the RTX64 SDK and provided free of charge for KINGSTAR customers, including the full suite of Percepio Tracealyzer visualizations and analyses.
Innovative And Compact Automation System Helps Lens Coating Company Put Others In The Shade
Thanks to advanced automation technology from Beckhoff Automation, Shyre Ltd., a new company based in an enterprise centre in Shropshire, UK, is set to take on the giants of the worlds optical market, thanks to a machine and process it has developed that uses dip coating to achieve the photochromic effect seen in top-end personal eyewear.
This Factory Robot Learns a New Job Overnight
MIT Technology Review: Fanuc’s robot uses a technique known as deep reinforcement learning to train itself, over time, how to learn a new task. It tries picking up objects while capturing video footage of the process. Each time it succeeds or fails, it remembers how the object looked, knowledge that is used to refine a deep learning model, or a large neural network, that controls its action. Deep learning has proved to be a powerful approach in pattern recognition over the past few years.
“After eight hours or so it gets to 90 percent accuracy or above, which is almost the same as if an expert were to program it,” explains Shohei Hido, chief research officer at Preferred Networks, a Tokyo-based company specializing in machine learning. “It works overnight; the next morning it is tuned.”... ( full story )
Dorner's New Universal Drive Simplifies Motor and Mounting Package Options for 2200 Series Conveyors
This new drive technology, developed by Electric Torque Machines (ETM), along with Dorner's unique mount package is designed to integrate universally across the 2200 Series end drive conveyor line. An advantage the Universal Drive brings to operators is the ability to save time by reducing SKUs and stocked service items into one manageable part number.
Highly Dynamic XY Linear Motor Scanning Stage, Introduced by PI
The L-731 magnetic linear drive ensures high velocity and acceleration.
Snappii Offers 4 Customizable Manufacturing Apps at No Cost
Now every manufacturer can afford to use Mobile Apps to save time and increase productivity.
BinMaster & Device Solutions Announce Strategic Alliance and Launch of Cloud-Based Remote Monitoring IIoT Solutions
automates sensor data collection, dissemination and reporting
for delivery, agriculture and other industries
2016: Six Trends Affecting Safety In The Workplace
Safety is a complex topic, but these six factors are helping to not only increase workplace safety this year but also efficiency, quality and employee well-being.
AIA Launches Startup Competition
AIA, the worlds largest trade association for advancing vision and imaging, announced today the call for companies looking to participate in its startup competition at The Vision Show.
Mouser Electronics and Grant Imahara Interview Infineon's Adam White about the Future of Energy Management and Storage
Global distributor Mouser Electronics teams up with Infineon and celebrity engineer Grant Imahara to present an exciting video spotlight interview on power management. To learn more, visit www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation.
Global Manufacturers to Gather in Chicago for Inaugural Manufacturing ISV Cloud Summit 2016
Manufacturing executives to showcase how global companies run mission-critical processes in the cloud
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Automation & IIoT - Featured Product
PI USA - Steering light beams: Pros and cons of different methods
Optical system designers utilize tried-and-true technology like galvo scanners, voice coil-driven steering mirrors, kinematic mirror mounts, and gimbal mounts. This article describes strengths and limitations of these technologies and looks at other light steering methods.
