Industries
Introducing your new customs inspector
Being a customs officer is a tough job, with the responsibility of knowing who is entering and leaving the country. Customs personnel also have to ensure that nothing sinister or banned enters the country. Customs laws differ from country to country with regards to fruits, seeds and the export of animals. In addition, the global population is rising and more people are travelling than ever before, making the job of a customs officer increasi...
Automotive switch enables high operating force
Japanese electronic components manufacturer ALPS Electric has developed the SKTQ series TACT Switch, which began mass production in December 2017. Today's automobile cabins are quieter than ever, as sounds like the noise of the engine running and the vehicle moving along the road have been reduced due to increasingly airtight chassis and the emergence of hybrid and electric vehicle technologies.
How to create a cost effective 270° robotic swivel arm
By watching this week’s video, you will see the benefits of using the ‘triflex swivel arm’ from motion plastics specialist igus.
A look back over this year's automation market records
According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the North American automation market set new records through the first nine months of 2017. Results found records set in the areas of robotics, machine vision, motion control, and motor technology.
Pet wearable highlights a trend for fair weather walkies
Weather patterns have a marked influence on the amount of walkies a dog gets, according to pet technology company Pitpatpet, makers of the dog activity monitor ‘PitPat’. Pitpatpet has released findings from its growing number of dog owning app users that show on average (per day) their dogs exercise 30 seconds less for every millimetre of rainfall and on really inclement days, 20mm of rain resulted in ten minutes less exercise.
Aerospace subcontractor expands machining centre
A seventh 5-axis machining centre has been installed at Preston-based, tier-2 aerospace subcontractor, TGM, primarily to cope with increasing volumes of Airbus A350 work. Two years ago, each month the firm was delivering four port and starboard aircraft wing sets comprising 20 parts each, whereas today 10 sets per month are required and the number will climb further over the next two years.
New breed of drones fly into the UK market
Drone technology and service provider, uVue, has taken delivery of what is believed to be the world’s first ever production hydrogen drone - the MMC Hydrone 1550. This drone will enable a new era for drone technology services to begin in the UK.
More accurate cancer detection makes use of nanoparticles
Using light-emitting nanoparticles, Rutgers University-New Brunswick scientists have invented a highly effective method to detect tiny tumours and track their spread, potentially leading to earlier cancer detection and more precise treatment. The technology could improve patient cure rates and survival times.
New app designed to control industrial robotic operations
With the aim of creating a more intuitive, easier and faster way to control industrial robots, Comau has released an Android application to perform 'Pick and Place' operations in a completely new way, named PickAPP.
Paving the way for hardware neural networks
Researchers have shown how to write any magnetic pattern desired onto nanowires, which could help computers mimic how the brain processes information. Much current computer hardware, such as hard drives, use magnetic memory devices. These rely on magnetic states – the direction microscopic magnets are pointing – to encode and read information.