DESIGN WORLD APRIL 2022

www.designworldonline.com

April 2022

inside: MOTION CONTROL: Part 1 of 2: Electric actuators

as an alternative to hydraulic cylinders p.

170

LINEAR MOTION:

A refresher on lead screws p.

178

THE ROBOT REPORT: RBR50 Innovation Awards

p. 71

A look at AI

and advanced simulation in software page 32

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Can you help us recognize excellence?

We’re always looking to engage with our readers, and we have a few ways that you can play a role in future projects — things that are fun and may even look pretty nice on your resume!

First off is our annual Women in Engineering special print issue. We’re working toward our fi h WiE in October, and our editorial staff is accepting nominations of female engineers who work at Original Equipment Manufacturing firms (our readers!) and are doing inspiring work. Our profiles of these women acknowledge the work they do in industrial automation in industries such as aerospace, off-highway, semiconductor, and machine tools. The print issue showcases female engineers making a difference in their careers and encourages young women to pursue career opportunities in engineering. Qualified candidates will have an engineering degree, such as a BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical, electrical, physics, or a similar field. Send your candidate’s name and contact information to Leslie Langnau, llangnau@ wtwhmedia.com. Nominations will close on June 1, and you’re more than welcome to nominate yourself.

Our LEAP Awards program, which recognizes the best new products in the engineered components space, is always on the lookout for impartial judges who have spent 20+ years in an engineering career and are familiar with product design. The categories are Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Connectivity, Embedded Computing, Fastener Technology, Hydraulics, Industrial Automation, Mechanical, Motion Control, Pneumatics, Power Electronics, So ware, Switches & Sensors, and Test & Measurement. If you’re interested in serving as a judge, please email me at the address below

by May 15th, with your resume and a little about why you’d like to serve as a judge.

And lastly, we also need judges for our sister publication’s program, the esteemed R&D 100 Awards, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2022.

This highly competitive competition is focused on innovative new products and services, and I’m always on the lookout for judges who have experience in research and development and a background in science and/or engineering.

Again, please drop me an email at the address below by May 15th, with your resume and background on why you think you would be an informed, impartial judge for this competition.

Thank you in advance for giving back to the industry you love! DW Paul J. Heney - VP, Editorial Director pheney@wtwhmedia.com

Te c h n i c a l S u p p o r t

(408) 460-1345

On Twitter @wtwh_paulheney

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April 2022

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DESIGN WORLD

4/7/22 11:28 AM

Flexibility to Meet Your Needs Steel, Stainless Steel, and Aluminum Shafting cut to length and optimized for use with LEE Linear bearings.

LEE Linear has the ability to manufacture custom shafting to required standards in a short amount of time, eliminating downtime and increasing profits for our customers.

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Teschler on Topic The real reason for hiring engineers Ask most people about the role of engineers in the economy and you’ll get back answers that mention technology research and new ideas embodied in patents. That’s certainly the image you could come away with if you examined some of the undergrad courses at the leading engineering schools. For example, at Stanford University, engineering undergrads can take a course called Principled Entrepreneurial Decisions.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund program claims to provide tailored entrepreneurship education. And the University of Michigan College of Engineering has a Center for Entrepreneurship.

Yet in actuality, most engineers aren’t entrepreneurs, have nothing to do with corporate laboratories, and have never filed for a single patent.

Nevertheless, a lot of them do find ways to develop new products and invent new processes.

Until recently, the truth about what engineers really do was not much more than tribal knowledge among technologists. But the question for the general public remains: If most engineers aren’t Thomas Edison-style innovators, why do companies hire them? That’s the kind of puzzle economists like to look into. Thus recently, economists from the National Bureau of Economic

Research explored stereotypes about engineering work by collecting data about firms having a lot of engineers on their payroll.

The picture that emerges from the NBER study is that engineers mainly bring a steady rise in productivity rather than Bell Labs-type innovations to their employers. The NBER researchers looked specifically at manufacturing firms because manufacturing industries provide employment for a disproportionate concentration of scientists and engineers: Manufacturers employ 20% of all scientists and engineers in the industrial workforce and over 60% of all R&D scientists and engineers outside academia.

Moreover, it turns out that the more scientists and engineers a manufacturer employs, the higher the likelihood its productivity will exceed that of competitors. Researchers admit they’re not sure exactly why this is so but speculate it’s because engineers spend considerable effort getting their employers to implement and adopt new technologies.

In addition, NBER researchers found that workers tend to earn more money when they work at manufacturers having a workforce containing a high proportion of scientists and engineers. Researchers also said engineers’ best strategy for boosting their paycheck was to get a

job where the workforce contained a high proportion of engineers, rather than staying at a firm that was increasing the engineering ranks of its own workforce. Nevertheless, researchers found that wherever scientists and engineers work, they earn 15% more than other employees at the firm on average.

Researchers also found a possible explanation for why scientists and engineers sometimes feel their managers don’t appreciate them: A workforce comprised of proportionally more scientists and engineers had a much greater positive impact on productivity than on company earnings. For many of today’s short-termfocused company managements, earnings today trump productivity improvements that lead to better performance down the line.

Reading between the lines, the NBER data show it’s likely company managements may not fully appreciate what their own engineering workforce does for the bottom line. That’s something to keep in mind next time you get into a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately conversation with your bosses. DW

Leland Teschler • Executive Editor lteschler@wtwhmedia.com On Twitter @ DW_LeeTeschler

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DESIGN WORLD

4/7/22 11:29 AM

M I C R O H Y D R AU L I C S.

MACRO

CAPABILITIES. REDUCING THE SIZE AND WEIGHT

O F F L U I D C O NTROL .

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Fortunately, you’ve got a real solution. The Lee Company.

For more than 70 years, we’ve been engineering stateof-the-art microhydraulic components with diameters as small as 0.10 in. and weighing as little as 0.1g, but able to withstand pressures up to 8,000 psi.

And because every one of our designs originates out of an application need, and is scrutinized with 100% testing and inspection, we’re found in just about every mission-critical fluid control challenge you could imagine – from miles above the earth in satellite positioning systems, to miles below in downhole drilling. Plus many applications in between.

If you require precise fluid control, and absolute reliability, go with the experts.

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Green Engineering

Hannover Messe 2022 partner country Portugal goes coal-free • VP, Editorial Director

| Adobestock.com

Paul J. Heney

Portugal has become the fourth country in Europe to eliminate coal in electricity production. Its remaining coal plant, Pego, closed 10 days ahead of schedule. The country’s decision to accelerate the coal phase-out is a consequence of its national energy and global climate plan, which highlights renewables and aligns with European carbon neutral targets. The move follows in the footsteps of Belgium (2016) and Austria and Sweden (2020) — and comes nine years before Portugal’s targeted end of the use of fossil fuel by 2030.

“Portugal is the perfect example of how once a country commits to quitting coal, the pace of the phase-out inevitably accelerates. The benefits of transitioning to renewables are so great, once started, it only makes sense to get out of coal as fast as possible,” said Kathrin Gutmann, campaign director at environmental non-governmental organization Europe Beyond Coal.

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Portugal has no coal, oil, or gas production and has invested in green energy in recent decades. The country’s shi away om coal began when it signed a phaseout declaration at COP23 (2017) in Bonn, Germany, and the plant closure happened five years ahead of the original schedule.

Coal’s dire economics and public desire for climate action drive faster and faster phase-outs across Europe, with momentum continuing to build — 21 countries are either coal- ee or in possession of the coal phaseout plan. The challenge now is to ensure utilities do not replace coal with fossil gas or unsustainable biomass.

According to Europe Beyond Coal, five additional European countries are expected to stop using coal by 2025: France (2022), Slovakia (2023), the U.K. (2024), Ireland (2025), and Italy (2025).

The European Coal Plant Countdown tallies all coal plants in the European Union, the U.K., Turkey, and the Western Balkan countries that (since January 2016) have retired or announced plans to retire plants by 2030. In addition, it lists all active new coal projects. It considers projects — not based on units or gigawatts — and seeks to veri decommissioning before including a plant.

Portugal’s economic growth strategy emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation to reinforce its position as one of Europe’s great innovation hubs and top investment destinations.

Partner Country Portugal at Hannover Messe 2022, scheduled for May and June, will feature a central pavilion as well as three thematic pavilions in the Engineered Parts & Solutions, Energy Solutions, and Digital Ecosystems sectors. Each area features dozens of companies om Portugal with the most advanced technologies and processes.

Decision-makers at the fair will discover diverse opportunities to cooperate with innovative Portuguese companies and invest in Portuguese industry. DW Hannover Messe www.hannovermesse.de

DESIGN WORLD

Green.Engineering 4-22_Vs2.LL.indd 11

April 2022

BODINE DELIVERS The right gearmotors for your application.

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info@bodine-electric.com • 773.478.3515 (USA)

4/7/22 12:38 PM

Contents 4 • 2022

•

vol 17 no 4

•

designworldonline.com

| AdobeStock.com

A Supplement to Design World - April 2022 www.therobotreport.com

RBR50_COVER_FINAL.indd 71

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71-145

170 _MOTION CONTROL

184 _3D CAD

Part 1 of 2: Electric actuators as an alternative to hydraulic cylinders

How the Pandemic changed CAD

Here we compare these two linear motion technologies — and hint at a common sizing error when converting to electric actuation.

Engineers and managers describe how they pivoted quickly to remote CAD, enduring business loss for some, and decided to keep their new work styles in place.

188 _CABLES & CONNECTIVITY Making reliable connections in solar and wastewater

E-chains and cables from igus help power the world’s largest water treatment plant in one of many sun-sourced projects.

Design equipment faster, smarter, and under budget with TiPS from leading suppliers.

Aerospace COVER_FINAL_4-22_Vs2.indd 47

| AdobeStock.com

| istockphoto.com

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47-70

Engineering April 2022

A supplement of Design World

The importance

of testing concrete anchors COVER_FE 4-22_FINAL.indd 147

4/7/22 1:00 PM

147-168

178 _LINEAR MOTION Lead screws: a refresher

Lead screws are one of the most common types of screw-based actuators. Here’s a review of some lead screw basics.

ON THE COVER

GOLD REGIONAL AWARD

asbpe.org

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www.designworldonline.com

Software is increasingly adding capabilities such as AI and machine learning for design engineers | Courtesy of SIemens Digital Industries Software to use.

DESIGN WORLD

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4. 22 • contents departments 04

Insights

06

Teschler on Topic

10

Green Engineering

16

Design For Industry

24

Design Notes

32

CAE Solutions

37

3DP-AM

42

Internet of Things

192

Ad Index

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April 2022

DESIGN WORLD

4/12/22 9:42 AM

DESIGN WORLD

Follow the whole team on twitter @DesignWorld

EDITORIAL

VP, Editorial Director Paul J. Heney pheney@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_paulheney Senior Contributing Editor Leslie Langnau llangnau@wtwhmedia.com @dw_3dprinting Executive Editor Leland Teschler lteschler@wtwhmedia.com @dw_leeteschler Executive Editor Lisa Eitel leitel@wtwhmedia.com @dw_lisaeitel Senior Editor Miles Budimir mbudimir@wtwhmedia.com @dw_motion Senior Editor Mary Gannon mgannon@wtwhmedia.com @dw_marygannon Managing Editor Mike Santora msantora@wtwhmedia.com @dw_mikesantora CREATIVE SERVICES

VP, Creative Services Mark Rook mrook@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_graphics Art Director Matthew Claney mclaney@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_designer Senior Graphic Designer Allison Washko awashko@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_allison Graphic Designer Mariel Evans mevans@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_mariel

VIDEO SERVICES

WEB DEV / DIGITAL OPERATIONS

Web Development Manager B. David Miyares dmiyares@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_webdave Senior Digital Media Manager Patrick Curran pcurran@wtwhmedia.com @wtwhseopatrick Front End Developer Melissa Annand mannand@wtwhmedia.com Software Engineer David Bozentka dbozentka@wtwhmedia.com DIGITAL MARKETING

VP, Digital Marketing Virginia Goulding vgoulding@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_virginia Digital Marketing Manager Taylor Meade tmeade@wtwhmedia.com @WTWH_Taylor Digital Marketing Coordinator Jill Bresnahan jbresnahan@wtwhmedia.com @WTWH_Jill Webinar Coordinator Halle Kirsh hkirsh@wtwhmedia.com Webinar Coordinator Kim Dorsey kdorsey@wtwhmedia.com

EVENTS

Events Manager Jen Osborne jkolasky@wtwhmedia.com @wtwh_jen Event Marketing Specialist Olivia Zemanek ozemanek@wtwhmedia.com

Director, Audience Development Bruce Sprague bsprague@wtwhmedia.com

WTWH Media, LLC 1111 Superior Ave. 26th Floor Cleveland, OH 44114 Ph: 888.543.2447

Video Manager Bradley Voyten bvoyten@wtwhmedia.com @bv10wtwh Videographer Garrett McCafferty gmccafferty@wtwhmedia.com PRODUCTION SERVICES

Customer Service Manager Stephanie Hulett shulett@wtwhmedia.com Customer Service Representative Tracy Powers tpowers@wtwhmedia.com Customer Service Representative JoAnn Martin jmartin@wtwhmedia.com Customer Service Representative Renee Massey-Linston renee@wtwhmedia.com

Digital Production Manager Reggie Hall rhall@wtwhmedia.com Digital Production Specialist Nicole Johnson njohnson@wtwhmedia.com Digital Design Manager Samantha King sking@wtwhmedia.com Marketing Graphic Designer Hannah Bragg hbragg@wtwhmedia.com Digital Production Specialist Elise Ondak eondak@wtwhmedia.com FINANCE

Controller Brian Korsberg bkorsberg@wtwhmedia.com Accounts Receivable Specialist Jamila Milton jmilton@wtwhmedia.com

2011 - 2020

2013 - 2017, 2021 2014 - 2016

2014 Winner

Medical Design & OUTSOURCING DESIGN WORLD

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April 2022

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Design for Industry Conveying

Drive with condition-based monitoring

The VLT AutomationDrive FC 302 is for variable speed control of all asynchronous motors and permanent magnet motors. It helps save energy, increase flexibility, reduce costs related to spare parts and servicing, and optimize process control on any production line including rotary tables, packaging and labelling machines, conveyors and palletizers.

The drive is equipped with condition-based monitoring, allowing you to use your drive as a sensor to monitor the condition of your motor and application, detect early issues, and find solutions before they impact your bottom line. It can also monitor system activity such as motor stator winding conditions, mechanical vibration and load envelope monitoring without subscription fees. The functions are embedded in the drive, enabling condition-based monitoring without a connection to the cloud or a PLC, or you can connect securely to the cloud solution of your choice. DW

Danfoss | www.danfossdrives.com 16

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DESIGN WORLD

4/13/22 9:50 AM

FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH MAY 14–18, 2022

NAHAD is a collaborative network of more than 400 distributors and manufacturers cultivating growth and dialogue in the hose and accessories industry.

For 37 years, NAHAD members have gathered to share insights, learn from business experts, and forge connections.

Join us this May for the 38th Annual Convention and discover the benefits of NAHAD membership.

WWW.NAHAD.ORG/CONVENTION NAHAD 4-22_DW.indd 17

4/7/22 11:19 AM

F O K C SI ?

S G N I R SP

COIL

Design for Industry Medical

Miniature metric linear voice coil motor

We were too.

That’s why we invented the wave spring.

• Optimize Application Space & Weight • Industry-Specialized Design Support • Large Selection from Stock • Easy to Customize

Crest-to-Crest® Wave Springs

Request Free Samples at 847-719-5900 or smalley.com DFI_4-22_Vs4.LL.indd 18

Surgical instruments with haptic devices o en need small motors to provide the power. The LVCM-013-00802M Linear Voice Coil motor, also known as a moving coil motor, is 12.7 mm (0.500-in.) in diameter. The stroke length is 3.175 mm (0.125-in.) and the length at mid-stroke is 12.7 mm (0.50-in.) long. However, this miniature voice coil motor has a high force-to-size ratio with a continuous force of 0.86 N (3.1 oz) and a peak force of 2.73 N (9.8 oz).

This clean brushless DC linear servo motor features high acceleration/deceleration and low inertia, making it suitable for: Haptic feedback in medical/surgical instruments, vibration damping, work holding and clamping, laser machining and drilling, assembly, sorting, packaging, sampling, scanning, laser beam steering and filtering, wafer handling, and pharmaceutical applications.

When operated as a DC servo motor in a closed servo loop using a position sensor the miniature linear servo motor offers high accuracy and repeatability.

It has a M3x0.5 threaded mounting hole in the housing and M3x0.5 threaded mounting hole in the coil end for easy integration into new and existing applications. A complete plug-and-play system and servo controller is also available. DW

Moticont moticont.com/voice-coil-motor

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Medical

Rod-style electric actuator meets hygienic standards

Cleanliness is paramount in many medical industries. The RSH electric hygienic rod-style actuator delivers clean, continuous control to automation machinery. They are designed to help improve repeatability, enhance quality, reduce contamination potential and increase flexibility of hygienic machine designs, particularly for the food, beverage, medical, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

The actuator is clean-in-place (CIP) compatible, allowing open machine designs, and rated IP69K to withstand high-pressure washdown. The ontface sealing O-ring ensures a hygienic design om head to toe. The polished all-316 stainless-steel, smooth exterior resists corrosion and eliminates the need for protective shielding, which simplifies and lowers the cost of machine design.

Options include a variety of stainless-steel motors om several manufacturers for a complete all stainless hygienic package.

The RSH offers forces up to 7,943 lbf (35 kN), speeds up to 20 in./sec (498 mm/sec) and stroke lengths up to 48 in. (1,200 mm). It is available in both ball screw and roller screw options. While ball screws are an economical option with medium life and force capabilities, roller screws provide higher force capability, increased life and improved accuracy. DW

Tolomatic | www.electromate.com

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DESIGN WORLD

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April 2022

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4/7/22 2:08 PM

Design for Industry O f f- h i g h w a y

Brakes deliver efficient and positive position control

W to b d e

Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGV) for agricultural applications are being developed at a record pace. The labor-saving potential employing these vehicles is huge. These vehicles provide opportunity for automating many agricultural functions including seeding, fertilizing, weeding and harvesting operations.

An important key to the successful use of this AGV technology is efficient and positive positioning control of the AGV vehicle and its robotic arm. To achieve this control, the BXH Brake model om Miki Pulley is designed for the control needed in the agriculture environment. The crop conditions, terrain and environmental conditions including weather factors such as temperature, moisture, humidity and wind have a strong impact on AGV function.

These AGVs are load carriers with robot arms that travel across fields and throughout greenhouses without an onboard operator or

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driver. Their movement is directed by a combination of so ware and sensorbased guidance systems. As a mobile robot, they follow markers or wires in the field and greenhouse floor or use vision or lasers for guided movement. Because they are unattended and long-term operation is required, power for their uninterrupted operation is important.

The AGV must have emergency braking capability as well as a default brake to hold position when not in motion. The BXH brake is a power-off engaged brake that will hold the AGV in place for predetermined periods while the robot arm, also controlled by a second BXH brake, performs planting, fertilizing, harvesting and loading operations.

When the AGV must navigate a field or greenhouse, for example, the brake is

energized which disengages the rotor disc and allows ee rotation of the AGV drive wheels. The BXH Brake controls the robot arm in a similar manner. The BXH brake uses 24 VDC for a split second to overcome compression spring inertia to open the brake, then consumes only 7 VDC by using the BEM power control module. This saves battery power and minimizes the number of battery recharging operations needed to keep the AGV system in continuous operation.

to 2.36 -lb (0.06 Nm to 3.20 Nm) • Ambient operating temperature 14°F – 104°F (-10°C to 40°C) DW

Miki Pulley Brakes www.mikipulley-us.com

The BXH brake design is available in five sizes and provides one-third power consumption and heat generation in onehalf the overall size thickness. Specifications are: • Maximum RPM: 6000 • Static iction torque range: 0.044 -lb

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Design for Industry O f f- h i g h w a y

Drive system offers compact power in one package

The Hägglunds Fusion drive system is an entire hydraulic direct drive unit. It can be mounted on the torque arm, for an overall smaller footprint in a range of applications, including mining and materials handling.

Components of the drive system include the hydraulic motor and pumps to the cabinet that houses them.

The streamlined design suits equipment in lower power ranges, such as apron feeders, belt feeders, belt conveyors and infeed conveyors, with their many starts, stops and reversals. Installation is easy. DW Hägglunds www.boschrexroth-us.com/hagglunds

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4/7/22 2:10 PM

POWER TRANSMISSION

RETAINING DEVICES &

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Twin pillow block linear rail

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maintenance & assembly tools BEARLOK

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These composite bearings can be submerged, washed down with water, high pressure steam, or chemicals, and can operate in harsh, abrasive, and contaminated environments.

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Design Notes

Touchless technology takes

elevator call buttons to new “highs” Edited by Mike Santora • Managing Editor

Shown here is a commercial elevator application for the HoverTap.

Vancouver-based NZ Technologies — a designer and manufacturer of human-machine interfaces (HMIs) primarily for the medical market — recently entered into a Manufacturing Collaboration Agreement with Dupar Controls to produce a modern take on elevator call buttons and panels. The latter is a maker of elevator and keypad components.

Together, the companies are manufacturing a no-touch HMI and control product called the HoverTap Li to replace traditional elevator call buttons and panels — making the elevator experience more hygienic. The NZ Technologies engineering team will provide the core hardware. Dupar Controls will market the product to its extensive customer base.

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How HoverTap technology works HoverTap has two main components — capacitive sensor hardware (panel or LCD screen) and a controller loaded with programming that incorporates an AI algorithm. Together, the hardware and so ware allow accurate real-time 3D detection of users’ fingertips without any latency associated with other touchless screens. The so ware interprets these positions as command inputs.

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Here, we see an uninstalled HoverTap commercial HMI cabin elevator switch control.

Again, the HoverTap touchless technology for the elevator system comes in two offerings:

• HoverTap Li — the sensor panel is installed above a lit LCD touchscreen in the elevator car operating panel (COP), displaying virtual buttons to allow touchless taps in the air for destination floor selection.

• HoverTap Swipe — the sensor panel is installed behind pressure-contact control buttons to allow contactless control with simple gestures like swipes or taps in the air to call the elevator.

Designed with easy integration in mind, both HoverTap Li , and Swipe have a picture- ame form-factor that fits over a surface to enable touchless interactions.

Flush panel mounting supports maintenance, aesthetics, and code compliance. The product solely relies on preloaded so ware and no cumbersome installation of apps. Also, there are no camera sensors in the product,

The HoverTap combines a capacitive touchscreen with programming that leverages AI for touch-free elevator controls. HoverTap technology can turn various high-touch public surfaces (including ATMs and kiosks) into touchless and intuitive user interfaces.

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eliminating privacy concerns and bypassing various common hindrances to vision-based sensing problems, including ambient light fluctuations and obstructions.

The inspiration behind HoverTap is the TIPSO AirPad — a product developed to give surgeons contactless equipment controls in operating rooms during surgery.

The HoverTap technology was first installed for commercial use at the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Now the technology is also employed in other

www.designworldonline.com

buildings in Greater Vancouver to ensure a safe and healthy return-towork environment for employees and visitors. Future HoverTap installations are targeted to educational institutes, airports, railway stations, medical buildings, and commercial offices — and the hospitality and hotel industry in their efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and maximize facility cleanliness and convenience. DW

NZ Technologies nztech.ca

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Design Notes

Position monitoring in free fall Edited by Mike Santora Managing Editor

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Heavy machinery in specialist civil engineering requires that precise components perform reliably. The absolute rotary encoder WV58MR om SIKO GmbH, manufacturer of sensors and positioning systems, is part of the safety concept for the pile drivers om Stump-Franki Spezialtie au GmbH. They are attached to three winches to detect the positions of the respective elements attached to them.

Franki manufactures its own pile drivers, which are used to construct foundation piles. The piles are used to divert loads of a structure into deeper layers. “We have our own mechanical engineering department to develop, design, assemble, and commission. We then use the equipment that suits us,” explained Stefan Hemmerle, Head of Mechanical Engineering at Stump-Franki. Especially with the pile drivers, self-construction was the best option: Until the 1960s, the pile drivers could still be purchased in Belgium.

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Subsequently, Franki Germany began to manufacture its own machines, like the Franki rams and Atlas devices, starting in 2000. “For us, this is a clear competitive advantage to build these machines according to our ideas, so that we can also use our own processes to the advantage of our customers,” said Hemmerle.

The Franki pile driver has four winches installed at the top — including three SIKO rotary encoders for position monitoring. In the ont area is the so-called leader, a ame to which the pile or driving pipe made of steel is attached, which is open at the top and bottom. A plug of concrete and gravel is filled into the driving pipe (1), and with the

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The pile drivers can be used flexibly and are transported to the respective construction site with special transporters. | ©Stump-Franki Spezialtiefbau GmbH

pulley. Therefore, this rotary encoder has an end-position point beyond which the winch must not rotate. The pipe pulling winch is the most sensitive area of the system; despite the hard blows into the driving pipe.

The rotary encoders are integrated into an automatic control system, which permanently queries the positions and thus also controls the tracking of the cable.

pile driver, a solid block of steel, the plug is compacted with small blows (2). The pile driver is a ee-fall system. Once the plug is firmly wedged in the pipe by the blows, the drop height increases, and the driving pipe is brought to the final depth in the load-bearing subsoil. Then the plug is impacted with the pile driver (3). The so-called “Franki foot” is formed, acting as a dowel. A er the foot has been fabricated, the reinforcement cage is adjusted, and plastic concrete is refilled (4) so that a continuous pile is formed.

A er the concrete has hardened and the pile head (5) has been capped, the pile is ready to receive the load.

reinforcement cage is li ed in place.

Three of the four winches are monitored with a rotary encoder om SIKO so that it is clear where the pile driver, the auxiliary li , and the bucket are located.

The auxiliary rope is a safety design to ensure that the pile driver shuts off before a hook passes through a rope

Production of the Franki pile by driving. | ©Stump-Franki Spezialtiefbau GmbH

Monitoring of the four winches The four winches have different tasks during the driving process: A winch is used to pull the driving pipe, a second is used to drive the pile driver, a bucket for filling with concrete and gravel is attached to the third, and finally there is an auxiliary winch by which a

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Rotary encoders with safety performance level PLd “What is most important to us is the precision of the position detection and the redundancy as a safety function of the rotary encoder,” said Hemmerle.

“As a multi-turn encoder, it can detect up to 4,096 revolutions of the winch in absolute terms. In addition, we have

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Design Notes

The Franki rams in action: With enormous weight, the free-fall hammer falls into the driving pipe to compact concrete and gravel to the stable foot of the foundation pile. The SIKO rotary encoder WV58MR monitors, among other things, the positions of the winches.

also integrated a gear ratio so that we receive an enormous number of signals that enable us to detect the position permanently.” Because failures of individual components can have | ©Stump-Franki Spezialtiefbau GmbH serious effects in such an application with heavy equipment, the safety function of the rotary encoder with safety class PLd is decisive. It is entirely redundant with two separate sensor circuits and thus ensures safe handling.

Additionally, it is an absolute encoder, which recognizes its position precisely even in the de-energized state and does not require reference travel.

In this case, the integration into the controller takes place via a CANopen safety interface. “What is also important for our application is the absolute robustness. The rotary encoders must be able to withstand the loads — and they do.” The magnetic measuring principle of the rotary encoders, which is ideally suited for use in harsh environments, also meets this requirement.

Foundation piles in case of poor soil and heavy load The driving of foundation piles is necessary in the case of poor soil quality and particularly heavy structures. “The advantage of our Franki pile system is that it is a full displacement pile system. As a result, we have no excavated soil and do not have to dispose of anything,” explained Hemmerle. “With the impacted foot, we can adapt to any soil. If it is not possible to drive particularly deep, we can simply impact the foot a little larger and compact it more strongly, thus giving the structure the necessary stability.” DW

SIKO www.siko-global.com As an absolute encoder with redundant position detection, the WV58MR has been specially developed for challenging measuring tasks in mobile machines. | ©SIKO Gmbh

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Design Notes

Robot solution for automating the

lettuce harvest

Edited by Mike Santora • Managing Editor

Lettuce is a valuable crop in Europe and the USA. But labor shortages make it difficult to harvest this valuable field vegetable, as sourcing sufficient seasonal labor to meet harvesting commitments is one of the sector’s biggest challenges. Moreover, with wage inflation rising faster than producer prices, margins are tight. In England, agricultural technology and machinery experts are working with IDS Imaging Development Systems to develop a robotic solution to automate lettuce harvesting. The team is working on a project funded

by Innovate UK. It includes experts om the Grimme agricultural machinery factory, the Agri-EPI Centre (Edinburgh UK), Harper Adams University (Newport UK), the Centre for Machine Vision at the University of the West of England (Bristol), and two of the UK’s largest salad producers, G’s Fresh and PDM Produce.

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Machine vision and AI are used to determine a precise intersection point on the stem.

Within the project, existing leek harvesting machinery is adapted to li the lettuce clear om the ground and grip it in between pinch belts. The lettuce’s outer, or “wrapper,” leaves will be mechanically removed to expose the stem. Machine vision and artificial intelligence are then used to identi a precise cut point on the stem to neatly separate the head of lettuce.

“The cutting process of an iceberg is the most technically complicated step in the process to automate, according to teammates DESIGN WORLD

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Angled NEMA Cords

Made in om G subsidiary Salad Harvesting Services Ltd.,” explained IDS Product Sales Specialist Rob Webb. “The prototype harvesting robot being built incorporates a GigE Vision camera om the uEye FA family. It is particularly robust and is therefore ideally suited to demanding environments. “As this is an outdoor application, a housing with IP65/67 protection is required here,” Webb pointed out.

The choice fell on the GV-5280FAC-HQ model with the compact 2/3-in. global shutter CMOS sensor IMX264 om Sony.

“The sensor was chosen mainly because of its versatility. We don’t need full resolution for AI processing, so sensitivity can be increased by binning.

The larger sensor format means that wide-angle optics are not needed either,” Webb summarized the requirements. In the application, the CMOS sensor shows

The prototype harvesting robot being built incorporates a GigE Vision camera from the uEye FA family.

It is particularly robust and is therefore ideally suited to demanding environments.

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excellent image quality, light sensitivity, and high dynamic range. It delivers almost noise- ee, high-contrast 5 MP images in 5:4 format at 22 fps — even in applications with fluctuating light conditions.

The extensive range of accessories, such as lens tubes and trailing cables, is just as tough as the camera housing and the screwable connectors (8-pin M12 connector with X-coding and 8-pin Binder connector). Another advantage: camera-internal functions such as pixel pre-processing, LUT, or gamma reduce the required computing power to a minimum.

The prototype of the robotic mower will be used for field trials in England towards the end of the 2021 season.

“We are delighted to be involved in the project and look forward to seeing the results. We are convinced of its potential to automate and increase the efficiency of the lettuce harvest, not only in terms of compensating for the lack of seasonal workers,” affirmed Jan Hartmann, Managing Director of IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH. The challenges facing the agricultural sector are indeed complex. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), agricultural productivity will have to increase by almost 50% by 2050 compared to 2012 due to the dramatic increase in population. Such a yield expectation means an enormous challenge for the agricultural industry, which is still in its infancy in terms of digitalization compared to other sectors and is already under high pressure to innovate given climatic changes and labor shortages.

The agriculture of the future is based on networked devices and automation.

Cameras are an important building block, and artificial intelligence is a central technology here. Smart applications such as harvesting robots can make a significant contribution to this. DW

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CAE Solutions

What’s new in the latest release of NX so ware The latest release of its industry leading NX so ware is part of the Xcelerator portfolio of so ware and services. This release leverages technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced simulation capabilities to help users innovate more quickly. It has woven topology optimization design, through to component generation, additive manufacturing, and final machining by leveraging convergent modeling and automated model-based definition authoring for PMI generation together with task-based collaboration.

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Highlights of the new release of NX software include: The new NX Topology Optimizer helps to create parts based purely on functional and design space requirements, for fully editable convergent bodies that would be almost impossible to design and engineer manually. Inevitable design changes can be quickly made, optimizations and any downstream features updated automatically – saving time, effort and maximizing reuse of intelligence design and engineering data.

The Design Space Explorer combines design space exploration with generative engineering to help designers automatically optimize a design against multiple objectives. Design engineers define the optimization problem with all parameters, constraints, and objectives in place and NX uses Simcenter HEEDS software to conduct multi-objective parameter optimization, providing the designer an immediate set of viable design alternatives to consider that would have otherwise required a simulation specialist.

Increased Artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) in the Selection Prediction and Select Similar commands uses shape recognition to quickly identify geometrically similar components, while the NX Voice Command Assist allows the user to invoke commands, navigate multi-level menus and operations as well as teach the system words or phrases to carry out common tasks. Ask NX “Have we done something like this before?”

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and it will carry out a Shape Search using Siemens’ Geolus technology.

Lattice structures within NX can be optimized using Siemens’ Simcenter 3D simulation to derive the optimal lattice structure in a singular environment eliminating the multiple design analysis steps required traditionally. Elsewhere, Part Orientation Optimization brings www.designworldonline.com

nesting of parts (and their associated supports) within a machine build area along with integrated cloud-based orientation optimization processes to find the optimal build orientation for reduced thermal distortion. DW

Siemens Digital Industries Software siemens.com/software April 2022

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CAE Solutions

Cadence and Dassault Systèmes partner to transform electronic systems development Products and services are increasingly interconnected and intelligent, enabling consumers, citizens and patients to unlock more personalized, engaging experiences that improve quality of life. Companies must rapidly develop electronic systems that are safe, high quality and right the first time.

Mastering electronic system complexity and cost/time-tomarket pressures requires collaborative innovation that unites electronics, mechanics and additional functions across the value chain.

To this end, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Dassault Systèmes announced a strategic partnership to provide to multiple vertical markets, including high tech, transportation and mobility, industrial equipment, aerospace and defense, and healthcare, with integrated, next-generation solutions for the development of high-performance electronic systems.

The two companies have combined Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform with the Cadence Allegro platform in a joint solution for designers to master the multidiscipline modeling, simulation and optimization of complex, connected electronic systems.

The collaborative virtual twin experiences integrate capabilities for electronic and mechanical product lifecycle management, business process analytics and multidiscipline electronic systems development, engineering and traceability.

This holistic virtual model provides a real-time view of electrical and mechanical simulation, manufacturing and supply chain execution for the product lifecycle, improving decision-making and accelerating innovation, through “whatif” studies. DW

Dassault Systèmes | www.3ds.com

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PTC and MassRobotics announce a new collaboration that will see PTC provide ee licenses of Onshape, its cloud-native product development platform, to MassRobotics and its resident startups. With Onshape, MassRobotics’ community of future-minded startups can leverage the latest in cloud product design so ware for robotics development.

With simultaneous collaboration and integrated data management, Onshape enables engineers to innovate without concern of design stalls, crashes or losses. Robotic startups can use Onshape to accelerate their design processes and increase speed to market, giving them a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced economy.

With Onshape, multiple MassRobotics engineers can work on their complex assemblies at the same time, allowing an entire team to instantly see edits or changes, no matter who makes them or when.

The robotics market continues to grow rapidly, with spending predicted to exceed $240 billion by 2023, according to IDC. Onshape is used for design and development by commercial robotics companies, reinforcing the value that it can bring to the MassRobotics community. DW

PTC www.ptc.com

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CAE Solutions

Exchange of large data volumes between 3D, CAD and VR systems

The current version of the universal converter 3D_Evolution 4.5 supports the latest JT format 10.5. The tool was specially developed for exchanging large amounts of data between the various 3D, CAD and VR systems and enables detailed CAD models to be simplified.

For data conversion, especially in the automotive, aerospace and plant engineering sectors, it is necessary to convert assemblies of several gigabytes in size into another system format. This is now also possible for the latest JT 10.5 data format. The actual so ware version 3D_Evolution 4.5 SP1 hereby supports the new STT technology to quickly load a 3D preview of the entire JT model and reload sub-assemblies in the exact XT format. This gives the user an overview for selecting and converting the desired perimeters in the shortest possible time.

The new version of the conversion so ware also supports the 3D dimension information (PMI) of JT 10.5, where the 3D dimensions mark the associated reference geometry such as holes and tolerance information on the model and allows the user a better overview.

The 3D_Evolution converter has interfaces to all common systems and formats such as Catia, Creo, Nx, Solidworks, Inventor, and STEP as well as to the visualization formats Fbx, Gltf and Obj. Functions for quality analysis and data correction ensure data quality when exchanging data between the most diverse 3D systems.

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The so ware’s optional Simplifier module automatically creates an outer shell of complex models and effectively reduces the data volumes of large assemblies and complex models. This enables fast, problem- ee further processing in 3D systems. By generating the envelope geometry, the know-how is protected at the same time. DW

CoreTechnologie www.coretechnologie.com/ products/3d-evolution

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Stat stacks show the growth in additive manufacturing

In the thirty plus years since the founding of the 3D printing industry, countless printing technologies have been invented, patented, and commercialized - om fused filament fabrication to digital light processing, selective laser melting to binder jetting, material jetting to sheet lamination, and every unique printing technology in between. With every new technology, the additive manufacturing market has grown its ability to expand into new applications, end-users, and industries.

This industry continues to innovate.

A recent innovation highlighted by IDTechEx in a recent report1 is bound metal extrusion (BME, also known as DESIGN WORLD

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metal-polymer filament extrusion). The report claims it is one of the fastestgrowing innovations today.

BME is a take on classic thermoplastic filament extrusion. It involves loading metal powder into a thermoplastic filament, which acts as a temporary binder for the metal powder. This metalpolymer filament is extruded into a part, a er which the green part undergoes debinding in a furnace to remove residual polymer and sintered in a furnace to fully densi the part.

A version of BME is that introduced about four years ago by Desktop Metal.

Since then, other companies have launched their own iterations on BME, www.designworldonline.com

including Markforged, BASF, BCN3D, 3DGence, and FuseLab. BME has brought interest to the overall printing method of using polymer filament or resins as binders to print metals or ceramics; this growing category includes BME as well as ceramic and metal vat photopolymerization companies like 3D Ceram, Incus, Admatec, and Lithoz.

Another innovation is set to come om Xerox. The company is preparing to debut its ElemX 3D printer, which uses the company’s proprietary magnetohydrodynamic deposition to print molten metals like aluminum.

And American start-up Evolve Additive Solutions recently delivered its first printer April 2022

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using Selective Thermoplastic Electrophotographic Process (STEP), a technology-based more on 2D laser printing than any existing 3D printing process.

Carbon earlier announced findings om a survey2 it conducted with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The survey of practicing engineers involved in the design or development of plastic parts found that 88% of respondents now use 3D printing/ additive manufacturing in some way. And the technology, previously best known for its use in creating prototypes, is increasingly being used for the production of finished parts. 40% of respondents said they now use additive manufacturing to produce products.

The report says that the technology has secured footholds broadly across industries and that its growing adoption is based on three categories of attributes: its speed, flexibility in timing and design, and cost-efficiency.

In various ways, digitally-driven product development is making major inroads into industries and manufacturing processes long dominated by two older methods that are less flexible and tend to be more capital intensive: milling and injection molding.

Key findings om the report include: • For the development of polymer products, 3D printing is used more o en than either injection molding or milling.

• 3D printing is still the most o en used process for prototyping.

• Engineers within the life sciences and industrial machinery sectors reported the highest levels of familiarity with 3D printing.

• Use of and familiarity with 3D printing is heavily influenced by age and company size — the younger the engineer and the larger the company, the greater the embrace of 3D.

Millions of Springs

MakerBot also recently released a report, the “2022 State of 3D printing.” According to the report, 3D printing is demonstrating its value to enhance product development.

77% of the global survey respondents invested in 3D printing technology in 2021, driven by its ability to: • Improve R&D (67%) • Accelerate short-run manufacturing (45%) • Reduce dependencies on external suppliers (39%) • Streamline operation Of the 77% of the respondents, 84% plan to continue making hardware and materials investments in 2022 to increase their capabilities.

www.DiamondWire.com 1-800-424-0500

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Nearly 60% of all respondents plan to increase their use in 2022, while 69% plan to also invest this year, with 13% planning to make purchases of $10,000 or more. Some of the increase in uses include: • Exploring new applications, om tooling to enduse part production (81%) • Testing new and different materials (42%) • Expanding the use of different 3D printing technologies (22%) • Expanding to mass production (9%) In addition to prototyping and printing complex geometries, respondents said they plan to use 3D printing to: • Improve their R&D projects (57%) • Reduce dependencies on external suppliers (35%) • Enable large scale manufacturing (8%) However, respondents would still like the technology to improve in the following areas: • Better print quality (83%) • Increased printing speeds (65%) • Larger build volume (52%) Respondents were also questioned on what they would like to see with 3D printing in the next 3-5 years: • 3D printing to play a bigger role in the supply chain (44%)

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• Better sustainability and recyclability efforts for 3D printing equipment and materials (38%) • Increased use to localize manufacturing (32%) FDM/FFF continues to be the most widely used 3D printing technology at 93%, with VAT polymerization at 32% and powder bed fusion at 15%.

Prototyping and modeling remain the top two applications for 3D printing. But respondents indicate an increase in its use for R&D, tooling, and replacement parts. Roughly 5% of respondents said that they use 3D printing for mass production now. As 3D printing vendors improve their systems, that number could increase within the next few years.

Thermoplastics continue to be the number one 3D printing material used in projects, likely due to the lower cost of 3D printing plastics compared to other materials like resins or metals.

According to respondents, print accuracy, ease of use, and build volume were the top three most important features they look for in a 3D printer.

Respondents also stated that they consider the diverse range of materials www.designworldonline.com

(53%) and faster 3D printing speeds (47%) in their purchase decisions. The range of 3D printers on the market today have allowed users to be more selective about their decisions.

And Essentium also recently released a report indicating growing confidence in additive technology. Almost all (96%) manufacturing executives Essentium surveyed agree the industry could save billions in production costs once the technology matures, up om 88% in 2018.

The research also revealed a growing number of manufacturers believe that 3D printing at scale can increase revenues, with 56% agreeing that AM will lead to a significant increase in revenue, up om 37% in 2020.

The study showed 3D printing technology is empowering designers to invent new ways to fabricate parts at multiple points in the production line, including manufacturing tools, jigs, fixtures, fit tests, and end-use parts. The majority (97%) of survey respondents reported that 3D printing allows their designers to be more creative.

Continuous innovation is required to realize the full potential of industrial 3D printing at scale. Designers and engineering prioritize improved design and management of platforms (40%), operations teams want better so ware (35%), and procurement and finance want to see enhanced workforce development (32%). In addition, while all reported that their 3D printing vendors must be part of an open ecosystem, 74% said it was very important. DW Resources: 3D Printing Hardware 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook” “Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing Adoption om Prototype to Production”

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Internet of Things

Eliminate complex IP management in industrial networks Network administrators are required to configure multiple machines in modern factories, a process that is both error-prone and tedious. By using the NAT-102, administrators can easily duplicate the system configuration of one NAT-enabled device onto other NAT devices.

The NAT-102 Series of 2-port industrial-grade Network Address Translation (NAT) devices simpli the IP configuration of machines. The device provides essential NAT functionality, easing the adaptation of machines to specific network scenarios without complicated, costly, and time-consuming configurations. Secure boot and trusted access functions help protect the internal network om unauthorized access by outside hosts.

The system configuration, including firewall rules and certificates, only needs to be set up for the one device and then backed up to a flash drive for uploading identical settings to every device on the line.

Port-based Auto Learning Lock automatically acquires the IP and MAC address of the locally connected devices and binds them to a whitelist, making management of access control more secure and device replacements much more efficient.

Rugged hardware is needed for any network device being deployed in harsh industrial environments to prevent damage om electrical disturbances, vibration, and impact. The NAT-102 Series meets those requirements with a robust yet compact metal housing, and features models built to operate reliably in extreme temperatures of -40 up to 75°C. The NAT-102 is rated for safe installation in ATEX and Class I, Division 2 locations, and EN 50121-4 for railway applications. It is also NEMA TS2 compliant, which is a standard for traffic control assemblies, such as traffic lights, emergency road condition signs, and walk signs.

Versatile and scalable, the NAT-102 features two RJ4510/100BaseT(X) Ethernet ports that can be set for port access, transmission speed, flow control, and port type. In addition, administrators can set up Virtual LANs on the NAT-102 to increase network efficiency by dividing the LAN into logical segments, as opposed to physical segments, such as departmental, hierarchical and usage groups. DW Moxa www.moxa.com

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Easy IoT implementation Difficult, complex and timeconsuming integrations are o en major challenges impacting the success of IoT projects. IoT Accelerator Connect addresses these challenges. The IoT Accelerator delivers a reliable and secure cellular IoT platform that makes it easy for communications service providers (CSPs) and enterprises to scale their IoT business across tens of millions of devices. IoT Accelerator Connect brings plug-and-play access to cellular IoT connectivity.

For enterprises: IoT Accelerator Connect delivers a uni ing layer of packaged services to minimize complexity.

Developers get instant access to connectivity best suited to their specific use case, coverage, and service level needs, as well as access to automated bootstrapping of both devices and data destinations. Within minutes, developers can use tools to scale - om one device to millions of devices seamlessly.

Devices can be connected at any time, including end-to-end device onboarding, with a cellular IoT-ready module instantly connecting the subscription to the customer’s network of choice. In addition, the solution makes it easier to connect devices to public cloud endpoints.

IoT Accelerator Connect advances digital transformation throughout the IoT ecosystem. Ericsson channel partners can onboard more enterprises with greater ease and grow their business.

Module vendors can offer automatic connection of new powered-on devices called bootstrapping and hyperscale cloud providers can provide instant connections.

IoT Accelerator Connect includes the following integrated services:

• Easier for enterprises to automatically bootstrap and securely connect cellular devices to public cloud IoT endpoints such as Amazon Web Services and Azure.

• Quickly adopt cellular IoT connectivity by simpli ing the deployment of IoT devices with pre-integrated eSIMs in the module, automatically localized to a CSP partner’s network.

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• IoT Accelerator Developer Portal supports enterprise developers to build IoT applications on IoT Accelerator with the help of tutorials, tools and code samples, complementing the official documentation supplied by Ericsson.

Multiple cord angles allow connectivity options for the tightest of spaces, keeping bend radius at a minimum. Manufactured in and shipped from the U.S.A—same day shipping is available on in-stock products. No minimum order requirements.

• IoT Accelerator Embedded Connect enables any solution provider to easily embed cellular connectivity into their solutions.

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Internet of Things

Developer kit for the industrial edge

The NVIDIA Jetson developer kit — MIC-710AILDVA1 helps meet the needs of AI developers. This compact developer kit includes flexible I/O, varied peripherals, and accommodation for board support packages (BSP).

Accordingly, MIC-710AIL-DVA1 delivers excellent flexibility and a er so ware development, enabling users to convert the kit to an edge system using Advantech industrial design services.

This kit leverages the NVIDIA Jetson Nano, a compact (116 x 82 x 30 mm) solution suited to edge AI applications.

It provides multiple I/O — including HDMI, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Micro USB, RS-232, and a SIM card port; and various peripherals that enable I/O module customization through the MiniPCIe interface. These modules include 4G/LTE/WiFi/5G communication modules, CANBus controllers, and/or PoE modules for IP cameras.

Users can boot om external devices like eMMC, Micro SD, and/or NVMe using secondary BSP development without encountering issues related to NVIDIA Jetson Nano’s limited on-board storage.

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MIC-710AIL is a compact, fanless industrial AI system based on NVIDIA Jetson Nano. It supports wide operating temperatures that enable operation outdoors or in harsh industrial environments. In addition, this solution boasts CCC, CE, and FCC certification as well as longevity support. The corresponding industrial system design service also applies to the MIC-710AIL-DVA1 developer kit. DW

Advantech www.advantech.com

www.designworldonline.com

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Flexible electronics for IoT applications Recently, imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, KU Leuven, and PragmatIC Semiconductor, a world leader in flexible electronics, present the fastest 8-bit microprocessor in 0.8 µm metal-oxide flexible technology capable of running real-time complex assembly code. The microprocessor was implemented with a digital design flow that allowed the creation of a new standard cell library for metaloxide thin-film technologies — relevant for designing a broad range of loT applications.

The robust thin-film technology offered by imec’s foundry partner PragmatIC Semiconductor was key to integrate the approximately ~16,000 metal-oxide thinfilm transistors on a 24.9 mm² flexible chip.

Flexible electronics based on thin-film transistor technology is preferred over Si CMOS-based electronics for applications requiring low-cost, thin, flexible, and conformable devices. The technology already made inroads in, for example, health-patch sensors and RFID labels, and as a driver for flat panel displays. The missing piece is a flexible microprocessor to perform more complex signal processing calculations — as such adding compute functionality to a broad range of IoT applications.

Imec designed a flexible 8-bit microprocessor in 0.8 µm indium-galliumzinc-oxide (IGZO)-transistor technology, able to perform complex computations.

Kris Myny, Principal Scientist at imec: “Our flexible microprocessor shows excellent characteristics for IoT applications, DESIGN WORLD

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including high speed (71.4 kHz max operating speed), low power consumption (11.6 mW when running at 10 kHz, 134.9 mW at max operating speed), and high transistor integration density (~16,000 transistors with 0,8 µm gate length in a 24.9 mm² chip).”

With the new microprocessor, imec addressed major challenges related to the design of unipolar systems. Kris Myny: “Metal-oxide thin-film transistors based on IGZO are inherently n-type. This results in circuits with a higher (static) power consumption compared to complementary technologies. To address this, we created our own design flow starting from the opensource file of the MOS6502 microprocessor.

We engineered the number of cells and logic gates to obtain an optimal design in terms of area, power, and speed – using pseudoCMOS as our logic family. This design flow allowed us to create a new standard cell library for metal-oxide thin-film technology that can be used to innovate applications based on metal-oxide thin-film technology.”

To fabricate the flexible microprocessor, imec teamed up with foundry partner PragmatIC, whose FlexIC Foundry offers rapid prototyping and high-yield volume manufacturing of flexible integrated circuits.

This research was performed in the framework of the ERC starting grant FLICs under grant agreement No 716426 under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. DW

Imec www.imec-int.com

www.designworldonline.com

April 2022

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Figure 1. Detailed measurements of how the elevation of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have changed over a 16-year timeframe. | All images courtesy

NASA

ICESat-2 Spacecraft relies on negative-stiffness vibration isolation for testing

By Steve Varma • Operations Manager • Minus K Technology

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NASA’s Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), which

lifted off three years ago, has generated a comprehensive portrait of the complexities of ice sheet change and insights into the future of Greenland and Antarctica. The ICESat-2 measurements, when compared to the measurements taken by the original ICESat from 2003 to 2009, showed that in Antarctica the ice sheet is getting thicker in parts of the continent’s interior, likely as a result of increased snowfall. But the massive loss of ice from the continent’s margins (due to ocean warming) far outweighs any small gains in the interior.

“The new analysis reveals the ice sheets’ response to changes in climate with unprecedented detail, revealing clues as to why and how the ice sheets are reacting the way they are,” said Alex Gardner, a glaciologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

This is one of the first times that researchers have used laser altimetry to measure loss of the floating ice shelves around Antarctica simultaneously with loss of the continent’s ice sheet. The researchers found ice shelves are losing mass in West Antarctica, where many of the continent’s fastest-moving glaciers are located. Patterns of thinning over the ice shelves in West Antarctica show that Thwaites and Crosson ice shelves have thinned the most, an average of about 16-ft and 10-ft of ice per year, respectively.

Measuring by space lasers ICESat-2 spacecraft serves as a power and pointing platform for the mission’s single instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System, or ATLAS. It is a space-based LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), which measures

distances by illuminating a target with a laser and analyzing the reflected light. ATLAS measures the travel time of laser photons from the satellite to Earth and back; computer programs use the travel time from multiple pulses to determine elevation.

“ATLAS required us to develop new technologies to get the measurements needed by scientists to advance the research,” said Doug McLennan, ICESat-2 Project Manager.

“That meant we had to engineer a satellite instrument that not only will collect incredibly precise data, but also will collect more than 250 times as many height measurements as its predecessor.”

As it circles Earth from pole to pole, ICESat-2 will measure ice heights along the same path in the polar regions four times a year, providing seasonal and annual monitoring of ice elevation changes. Beyond the poles, ICESat-2 will also measure the height of ocean and land surfaces, including forests.

As ICESat-2 orbits, ATLAS generates six green laser beams arranged in three pairs to

Figure 2. Artist rendering of ICESat-2 in space.

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Aerospace/Defense

Figure 3. Isolation structure in the thermal vacuum chamber.

Figure 4. Diagram of ICESat-2 in the thermal vacuum chamber.

better determine the surface’s slope and provide more ground coverage. Each beam pair is 2.1 miles apart across the beam track, and each beam in a pair is separated by 1.6 miles along the beam track.

The laser array is rotated 2° from the satellite’s ground track so that a beam pair track is separated by about 300 ft. ATLAS emits visible laser pulses at 532 nm wavelength. Though powerful, the laser is not hot enough to melt ice from its vantage point some 300 miles above the Earth.

The laser pulse rate combined with satellite speed results in ATLAS taking an elevation measurement every 28-in., akin to taking 130 images of a single football field. Measurements are taken every 2.3-ft along the satellite’s ground path.

The laser fires at a rate of 10,000 times a second. Each pulse sends out about 200 trillion photons, almost all of which are dispersed or deflected as the pulse travels to Earth’s surface and bounces back to the satellite. About a dozen photons from each pulse return to the instrument and are collected with a 2.6-ft beryllium telescope.

The instrument’s filters ensure that only photons with a wavelength of 532 nm are counted, and computer programs further identify photons likely to have come from the laser.

Ensuring ATLAS can last ATLAS went through an initial round of testing in the spring and summer of 2016 at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as it was being assembled. The testing team jolted it on a vibration table, blasted it with sound to simulate a noisy rocket launch, then put it in a vacuum chamber to test it in both extreme heat and extreme cold temperatures.

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While ICESat-2 is in orbit, it goes from basking in the heat of the sun to freezing in Earth’s shadow every 90 minutes. So before launching the satellite into the harsh environment of space, Goddard engineers wanted to make sure that the laser instrument worked consistently day and night, whatever the temperature.

The vacuum chamber was configured with four vacuumcompatible 800CM-1CV negativestiffness vibration isolators to support the ATLAS instrument for the thermal vacuum testing. “The Minus K isolators’ primary use was inside the thermal chambers which did not have as stable of a mounting surface as we would have liked,” said Brian Simpson, mechanical lead for ATLAS testing. “The isolators were critical in cancelling out jitter introduced into our system by the facility.”

The ICESat-2 team worked around the clock to test ATLAS in a temperature-controlled vacuum chamber at Goddard, ensuring that its interconnected components worked together and functioned as expected.

“When we did these tests, we wanted to confirm that in the worst-case conditions on orbit, both hot and cold, with no air, you still get the expected performance that you want from the instrument,” said Melody Djam, system engineer at Goddard.

“It’s an extreme test.”

For the test, engineers calculated how hot the instrument will get on orbit either in full sun or in Earth’s shadow — then went 5° C beyond that to cover all bases in a “survival” test. With liquid nitrogen and heaters, the thermal vacuum then cycled four times between 55° C and -25° C. At each of those maximum or minimum temperatures, test engineers sent laser signals through a specially designed fiber optic cable that simulates laser light bouncing off Earth and returning to the spacecraft.

The science team had designed different scenarios that reflect light in different ways — a glacier in summer, DESIGN WORLD

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Aerospace/Defense for example, results in different photon returns than a forest in fall or an ocean under cloudy skies. And the instrument also must tell the difference between laser photons that it needs to count, and the static of background photons from natural sunlight. Plus, this must be done under the different temperatures that could cause materials to expand or contract.

Specifically-designed ground support equipment, or test fiber optics and lasers simulated all these scenarios, testing not only how the ATLAS detectors and electronics perform, but how the computer programs that will receive the data on Earth interpreted those returns.

“Because our integration and testing process is so long and involved, and because there are so many electronic interfaces, we really wanted to get most of those electronics together in the thermal vacuum tests to see how they all behaved,” said Cathy Richardson, ATLAS instrument project manager at Goddard.

“Problems that we might find during testing, we wouldn’t have otherwise found for another year. It’s a significant risk mitigator for us.”

“We really needed to see how everything plays off each other,” Richardson said. “What you care about is the flight hardware working together.”

And the avionics system performed well, she said, returning data that correlated with what the scientists expected to see.

Mapping subglacial lakes ICESat-2 has allowed scientists to precisely map subglacial lakes. The satellite measures the height of the ice surface, which, despite its enormous thickness, rises or falls as lakes fill or empty under the ice sheet.

Hydrology systems under the Antarctic ice sheet have been a mystery for decades. Scientists have hypothesized subglacial water exchange in Antarctica results from a combination of factors, including fluctuations in the pressure exerted by the massive weight of the ice above, the friction between the bed of the ice sheet and the rocks beneath, and heat coming up from the Earth below

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that is insulated by the thickness of the ice. That is a stark contrast from the Greenland ice sheet, where lakes at the bed of the ice fill with meltwater that has drained through cracks and holes on the surface.

Precise measurements of basal meltwater are crucial if scientists want to gain a better understanding of Antarctica’s subglacial plumbing system, and how all that freshwater might alter the speed of the ice sheet above or the circulation of the ocean into which it ultimately flows.

In 2007, Helen Amanda Fricker made a breakthrough that helped update classical understanding of subglacial lakes in Antarctica. Using data from the original ICESat, Fricker found for the first time that under Antarctica’s fast flowing ice streams, an entire network of lakes connect with one another, filling and draining actively over time. Before, these lakes were thought to hold meltwater statically, without filling and draining.

Recently, Fricker and another team of scientists explored this connection between freshwater and the Southern Ocean — but this time by looking at lakes near the surface of an ice shelf, a large slab of ice that floats on the ocean as an extension of the ice sheet. Their study reported that a large, ice-covered lake collapsed abruptly in 2019 after a crack or fracture opened from the lake floor to the base of Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica.

With data from ICESat-2, the team analyzed the rugged change on the landscape of the ice shelf. The event left a doline, or sinkhole, a dramatic depression of about four square miles (about 10 square kilometers), or more than three times the size of New York City’s Central Park. The crack funneled nearly 200 billion gallons of freshwater from the surface of the ice shelf into the ocean below within three days.

During the summer, thousands of turquoise meltwater lakes adorn the bright white surface of Antarctica’s ice

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shelves. But this abrupt event occurred in the middle of the winter, when scientists expect water on the surface of the ice shelf to be completely frozen. Because ICESat-2 orbits Earth with exactly repeating ground tracks, its laser beams can show the dramatic change in the terrain before and after the lake drained, even during the darkness of polar winter.

Meltwater lakes and streams on Antarctica’s ice shelves are common during the warmer months. And because scientists expect these meltwater lakes to be more common as air temperatures warm, the risk of hydrofracturing could also increase in coming decades. Still, the team concluded it is too early to determine whether warming in Antarctica’s climate caused the demise of the observed lake on Amery Ice Shelf.

Witnessing the formation of a doline with altimetry data was a rare opportunity, but it is also the type of event glaciologists need to analyze in order to study all of the ice dynamics that are relevant in models of Antarctica.

“We have learned so much about ice sheet dynamic processes from satellite altimetry, it is vital that we plan for the next generation of altimeter satellites to continue this record,” Fricker said.

The new study provides critical insight for spotting new subglacial lakes from space, as well as for assessing how this hidden plumbing system influences the speed at which ice slips into the Southern Ocean, adding freshwater that may alter its circulation and ecosystems. This has allowed scientists to improve their maps of these hidden lake systems under the West Antarctic ice sheet, as well as discovering two more of these active subglacial lakes AD .

Minus K Technology Inc. minusk.com

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Aerospace/Defense

TriStar,

a misunderstood failure of design

| AdobeStock.com

By Charles Tschaggeny • Tschaggeny Design

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JET airplane and exited the world of commercial aircraft for good. For Lockheed, its latest passenger jet had been heralded as a technological marvel but was, in fact, a business disaster.

The TriStar is a fascinating story that clearly illustrates fundamental concepts about product development and the importance of focused innovation. It reveals how Lockheed lost sight of the principal objectives of an industrydefining tender and how leaders allowed their own goals to cloud the basic needs of their customer. Lockheed focused on impressing the entire aircraft industry with their technical wonder, but in doing so, its leaders failed to consider the market’s direction — ironically, the problem the tender was designed to address.

Until the early 1960s, Lockheed had been one of the world’s prominent passenger plane manufacturers. Aircraft such as the Constellation and the L-188 were well-liked by passengers and airlines. Technically, they were cutting-edge and led the aircraft industry into new directions. However, while Lockheed was seen to be successful in commercial aviation, it was the other side of the business — military projects — which provided its most reliable source of income.

The late 1950s witnessed Lockheed release a succession of pioneering military aircraft, including the C-130 and the Galaxy. Add to these secret projects such as the iconic Blackbird SR-71, the U2 spy plane, and the Starfighter, and it’s easy to understand why the military facet of Lockheed’s business demanded most of the company’s time, resources, and finances. So much so that, in fact, in 1961, Lockheed decided to withdraw from the commercial passenger market.

This decision, however, proved to be shortsighted.

Throughout the 1960s, the landscape of the commercial aviation industry had transformed entirely, and towards the end of the decade, enormous opportunities for aircraft manufacturers started to appear. The ongoing spacerace and the advent of the Jet Age in the late 1950s saw an emphasis on

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speed and technology. Initially, this was a glamourous period for aviation, and traveling by jet was the privilege of the few, but as costs began to lower, air travel became more mainstream. By the late 1960s, the whole industry had transformed.

Airlines now prioritized efficiency and cost over glamour. They had started to move more people on shorter routes.

The industry now desired an aircraft that could carry more passengers even further, and with less fuel. Airplane manufacturers were eager to meet this demand and vied to develop and supply such aircraft. Obligingly, Lockheed threw their hat back in the ring and announced a return to the commercial aviation business.

It was American Airlines (AA) in the mid-60s that had foreseen the future need for a wide-body, medium-to-long-range airplane that could transport large numbers of passengers. This would have to be an aircraft capable of flying internationally but still use AA’s existing airport infrastructure.

AA approached Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed about designing a plane to meet their requirements.

Boeing was immediately out of the picture. AA needed an aircraft that could carry more passengers than the 737, but

April 2022

| AdobeStock.com

In 1984, Lockheed ceased production of the L1011 TriStar

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which at that time, only permitted twin-engine aircraft to fly no further than 60 minutes from the nearest available airfield. These regulations made a twin-engine transatlantic route uneconomical and practically impossible. In addition, the threeengine design achieved a higher takeoff performance, which allowed the plane to use existing runways.

So, while the two aircraft concepts appeared similar at first sight, the truth was the opposite. The development paths of both manufacturers could not have been more different from one another.

Douglas was very constrained by budget and was highly costsensitive, and accordingly, its design approach was very conservative. The company simply leveraged the design of its existing DC-8 to save time and

| AdobeStock.com

it needed to be smaller and more fuel-efficient than the 747. Boeing didn’t have a solution for this, and with resources focused on developing future variants of the 737 and 747, they turned down the opportunity.

Douglas and Lockheed accepted the tender, and in doing so, the DC-10 and the TriStar projects were born.

The DC-10 and the TriStar were configured similarly — not a surprise since they were responses to the same tender. They were both widebody aircraft that could hold more passengers than the 737 but fewer than the 747.

Interestingly, both companies submitted a three-engine design. AA would have ideally preferred a twinengine solution but understood the limitations of current-day jet-engines, in addition to the ETOPS regulations,

cost. In essence, the new DC-10, in many ways, was merely enlarged and modernized DC-8 technology.

Alternatively, Lockheed believed its competitive advantage lay in using the most advanced technology of the day. For many, the result was magnificent. The TriStar was undoubtedly the most advanced commercial airplane of its day. The seemingly endless list of advanced technology the TriStar employed is

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staggering. Innovations that would set the industry’s standard for many decades to come. Some cutting-edge technologies used on the TriStar such as autopilot, direct lift control, and the actual manufacturing processes were transformative. The aircraft was powered by three technically brilliant jet engines, developed from scratch

by Rolls-Royce to Lockheed’s lofty requirements.

Along with the advanced technology, the TriStar was a comfortable place for passengers, with its wide seats and large, tranquil open cabin. In addition, it featured new amenities such as an entertainment system, a portable water system, and even lounges.

However, developing these advanced technologies was highly complicated and time-consuming, significantly delaying the entire project. In particular, the development of the RB211 engines caused RollsRoyce such severe financial problems that it resulted in the re-structure and financing of the whole company.

Eventually, after Rolls-Royce had resolved these monumental issues, the entire TriStar project was certified 18 months behind schedule.

By this time, the DC-10 had already commenced service.

Development delays had stalled TriStar sales for almost two years, and unsurprisingly AA could wait no longer and went with the DC-10.

That wasn’t the end of the TriStar.

Although dogged with issues in the development and first production schedules, once finally launched, it went on to gain an excellent reputation for its reliability, the economy of operation, and low noise emissions and, in time, became a favorite for passengers.

However, it was expensive, and ultimately Lockheed struggled to sell the TriStar. In 1984, the company stopped production after only selling 249 planes; 500 had been needed to break even. The TriStar program had DESIGN WORLD

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almost bankrupted Lockheed and caused it to again exit the commercial aircraft business and focus solely on military aircraft.

An alternative perspective The TriStar’s development and ultimate demise are fascinating and have been retold many times since.

It’s a tale that can teach different things and act as a warning to be cautious in relationships with suppliers. Many others highlight the innovative advantage of taking the more straightforward route to the win. Most would agree there are undoubtedly aspects of truth in all of these and, indeed, lessons to be learned.

First is a typical view, and a common mistake in most industries — that there can only ever be one winner. The thought, in this case, is that the airline industry could not support two planes competing for the same market. The general conclusion is that the DC-10 killed off the TriStar.

The aircraft designed to meet the same tender simply beat Lockheed to the prize. One company beat another to win the tender.

However, there is a problem here: all these lessons stem draw their conclusions based on the same question. How did the DC-10 win the tender and kill off the TriStar? Is this even the right question? Possibly, it only represents a short-term view and doesn’t examine the broader picture.

Once production had begun, the life stories of the DC-10 and the TriStar were remarkably similar. Both aircraft were produced until the mid-80s.

The cheaper DC-10 sold 386 units, while the technically superior and more expensive Tristar sold 250. There was no outright winner when you compare it to other successful aircraft.

In contrast, the Boeing 747 and 737 have been in production for more than 50 years and have sold 1,600 and 11,000 units, respectively. That’s winning.

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Taking this into account, we can flip the perspective and ask a far more insightful question. What led to the failure of both the Tristar and the DC-10?

For the answer, we need not limit ourselves to the U.S. but look further afield to Europe. An innovative plane from a new manufacturer, Airbus, entered the market after these two planes and eventually killed them both off. This plane was the twin-engine A300.

Airbus was either lucky or very calculated, depending on whom you talk to. The company understood that the outdated ETOPS regulations were created for a previous generation of aircraft and predicted that the reliability and performance of modern jet engines had to be recognized and the regulations updated accordingly.

It gambled that ever-improving jetengine technology, together with an exemplary performance record for the A300 for non-transatlantic flights, would lead to ETOPS certification.

Airbus was right.

In 1977, the Airbus A300 became the first twin-engine aircraft to be ETOPS-compliant and certified for transatlantic flights. And that was it really for both TriStar and the DC10. With three planes going after the same market segment, airlines went with the less expensive plane to operate and purchase. The TriStar was too expensive and the DC-10 had safety issues. Airbus may have been fortunate or remarkably smart to have the regulations to go their way. Still, the A300 was an innovative and compelling aircraft that could not be ignored — even by the Americancentric U.S. airlines of the time.

What can we learn from TriStar?

When we examine the troubled origins of TriStar and its development, there are three high-level takeaways that we can learn concerning product development and the innovation process. www.designworldonline.com

Designs are perishable.

Sooner or later, the job you are doing will be done better by someone else with a new perspective or approach. Even if these conflict with existing perceptions or taboos, a better methodology will always prevail.

1

Focus – don’t get distracted. At the time of AA’s tender, it and the other airlines were rapidly expanding. They needed an economical people-mover available in a reasonably short time frame.

Literally, they required the development of an off-the-shelf flying bus.

Lockheed took it on itself to undertake a research and development project and delivered a technological marvel that was neither cheaper (purchase price or operational price) nor available quicker than the competition. Specifically, AA had asked manufacturers to do a development project and quickly deliver a solution to fit their immediate requirements. It wasn’t looking for a R&D project.

This is an important distinction.

Since we commonly refer to R&D as the same activity, people tend to believe they are the same activity, but of course, they’re not — the output of research is knowledge. The output of development is a product. Research feeds into development, but research does not result in a product unless the development cycle is complete.

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Aerospace/Defense a splash with the TriStar. Lockheed’s focus was not to provide an aircraft that would perform its job well. The company wanted to showcase its technical capabilities, and the best way to do this was to add every possible new technology to the plane. If that technology didn’t yet exist, Lockheed would invent it. And it did so at great cost, resulting in a TriStar only slightly cheaper than the much larger 747 and significantly more expensive than the DC-10.

The problem for Lockheed was that while all this technology packed into the TriStar was truly impressive, it didn’t help the TriStar differentiate itself from the competition. Range, passenger capacity, and fuel efficiency were practically the same as the DC-10.

Technology had added significant costs to the plane and delayed its release. While the aircraft was incredibly advanced, none of this technical brilliance made a substantial difference to an airline’s bottom line. The airline would have accepted and purchased a plane that was initially more expensive if it would have benefited from cheaper operating costs. However, since both aircraft were tri-engine designs, they had nearly identical operating expenses.

Lesson: Be sure to review the exact customer requirements — focus on getting your product to do the required job. Be careful to not get too creative and add features for the sake of features.

Focus on the target and don’t look beyond the mark. Remember, research and development are separate steps in the product development process. Don’t get caught up in making unnecessary research and development loops in your product development cycle, creating features that were never requested — and which your customer may not want to pay extra for.

2

Suppliers – you’re dependent on them. Lockheed’s desire to supply cutting-edge technology led them to choose Rolls Royce to develop a completely new motor for the

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TriStar. The RB211 engine Rolls Royce developed was indeed pioneering, producing more thrust and yet was smaller than other motors of the time.

However, the development needed to achieve such advanced innovation was extremely difficult, costly, and time-consuming. So much so, in fact, that the development of this motor forced Rolls Royce into receivership.

Already, it was too late for Lockheed to change motors or suppliers because the TriStar had been practically designed around these motors, and Lockheed was too advanced in development to contemplate a redesign. While Lockheed had faced other lesser problems during development, uncertainly, Rolls-Royce’s financial woes were a substantial factor in the two-year delay in bringing TriStar into production.

If Rolls-Royce couldn’t finish the development of the engine, then Lockheed wouldn’t have a plane. This implication for Lockheed was gigantic and, realistically, would have found itself in a similar financial position to Rolls-Royce. Fortunately, both the U.S. and British governments were able to step in provide the security, guarantees, and, in the case of RollsRoyce, the funding to keep the project rolling.

Highlighting Rolls-Royce’s developmental fails and misdirected focus, it was then discovered that the prototype engines were not as reliable as desired. It was so focused on meeting performance requirements and finishing the design that RollsRoyce had sacrificed reliability — which, in the aircraft industry, is paramount.

Furthermore, the ongoing issues had delayed the development of vital, more powerful engine variants required for heavy cargo transportation. Exasperating AA executives further, these were also necessary for some of their existing airports with stringent accessibility and take-off criteria. By this time,

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the DC-10, itself a year later than expected, had already been in service for seven months and given Douglas a considerable market advantage.

Lesson: You go to suppliers for their expertise and capabilities, but their problems can quickly become your problems and affect your business. Even the best suppliers can and will have issues.

3

Innovation — keeping ahead of the curve. At the same time, AA identified the need for a wide-body, medium-to-long-range aircraft. On the other side of the Atlantic, Air France had arrived at the same conclusion. Air France’s tender led to the founding of a new airplane manufacturer, Airbus, and its twinengine A300. The concept would have the range and capacity of the TriStar and DC-10, but with only two engines, consuming 20-30% less fuel.

The two American airplane manufacturers probably didn’t feel overly threatened by this. The nonETOPS compliant A300 couldn’t operate the lucrative transatlantic flights with only two engines. And since Boeing had nothing similar in the pipeline, they only focused on each other as the competition. In addition, with the American-centric airlines and airplane manufacturers of the 1960s, the idea that a U.S. airline would buy anything but an American-made aircraft was unthinkable.

But Airbus had a plan; its management and strategists had studied the ETOPS regulations.

These regulations had been drawn up to govern aircraft from a different generation. Early jet engines and propeller aircraft from the 1960s didn’t have the reliability, durability, or power to cross the Atlantic confidently; Hence, the regulations limited the range of any two-engine aircraft to within an hour of the nearest airport.

They never conceived that a large airliner could maintain a safe altitude with only a single working engine.

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Airbus realized that it was only a matter of time before the reliability and performance of jet engines would get to a point where a twoengine passenger plane would force a change to the regulations and achieve ETOPS certification. Airbus also understood that in the short term, it would need to focus on shorter routes that did not need ETOPS. These were the less-lucrative markets that AA was not going after with its tender. Airbus could achieve sales and at the same time prove the airworthiness and reliability of the A300. Air France took delivery of the first A300 in May 1974.

Airbus had shrewdly calculated to intersect the trajectory of the regulations. The company was convinced that the combination of an impeccable safety record and reliable engines over the next few years would bring about a change to regulations by forcing ETOPS to recognize the safety and achievable range of twoengine jet aircraft. It took three years, but in 1977 the company succeeded in this.

Like Lockheed, Airbus viewed technology as the key differentiator.

However, Airbus did not incorporate technology for technologies’ sake.

It only included technologies that would increase the aircrafts’ safety, operational capacity, and profitability.

As a result of this approach, the A300 was reasonably priced, fuel-efficient, and adaptable. Unlike Lockheed, Airbus did not develop a new engine for the A300. It simply used an existing, proven engine.

When the A300 came on the market in 1974, it was a safe, versatile plane that was more efficient than any medium-to-long-range wide-body airplane. Innovative technologies were integral to the high performance and safety standards, making it the first ETOPS-compliant twin-engine aircraft. A safe and reliable aircraft with only two engines was something the airline industry had craved since AA first released their tender. With its ETOPS certification, the A300 could

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now directly compete against the TriStar and the DC-10 for transatlantic use.

Eastern Airlines, impressed with the A300’s fuel economy and adaptability, became its first U.S. customer, going on to order 34 aircraft in total. This was a double blow for both Lockheed and American aviation. Firstly, Eastern Airlines had previously ordered the TriStar. Now TriStar was losing orders. Secondly, before Eastern Airlines’ order, an American airline purchasing a foreignmade aircraft was unthinkable. Times had changed.

This purchase opened the door for the A300. Increasing amounts of orders from both U.S. and other global airlines heralded the beginning of the end for the TriStar and the DC-10, eventually pushing the triengine competition out of the market altogether.

Lesson: Designs are perishable.

Sooner or later, the job you are doing will be done better by someone else with a new perspective or approach.

Even if these conflict with existing perceptions or taboos, a better methodology will always prevail. AD

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Aerospace/Defense

Specifying MCUs

for satellites and spacecraft

By Jeff Shepard

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Figure 2: Space-qualified radiation-tolerant Ethernet transceivers and embedded MCUs are available based on widely deployed COTS and EP devices. | Microchip

There is not a single group of standards but a continuum of qualification criteria for the components and systems used in satellites and spacecraft (Figure 1). With the growth of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites where the environment is less demanding and where some satellites are expected to be replaced regularly with upgraded designs, the use of fully space-qualified components is often not necessary or cost-effective.

Enhanced Product (EP) devices can provide higher quality and reliability than standard commercial off-theshelf (COTS) components in those applications. These EP devices are typically plastic-encapsulated, compared with fully space-rated devices’ more rugged and more expensive hermetic packaging. Designers must understand the (physical and business) environment where the satellite will operate and specify components accordingly. Overspecification will be costly, but under specification can result in low reliability and shortened lifetimes.

EP devices can be certified to Government Electronics and Information Technology Association (GEIA)-STD-0002-1 for Aerospace Qualified Electronic Component (AQEC). They can also meet the qualification and processing requirements of MIL-PRF 38535 for QML Class N (non-hermetic) components.

Several things can be involved in converting a COTS device into an EP device: • COTS devices are often produced in multiple facilities; the related EP devices may all be produced in a single facility with a controlled process flow and the same test and material sets, reducing device variability.

• COTS devices typically are specified for operation from 0°C to 70°C or -40° to 85°C. EP devices operate from -55°C to 125°C. In addition, EP devices may experience temperature cycling from -65°C to 150°C for 500 cycles during qualification.

• EP devices typically use gold bond wires, while COTS devices have less expensive and less reliable copper bond wires.

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• Depending on the packaging design, EP devices use tin-silver-copper solder or nickel-palladium-gold for improved reliability compared with COTs and AEC Q100 components.

• Highly accelerated stress testing (HAST) to evaluate moisture sensitivity and capability for long-term storage for EP devices can last 250 hours compared with 196 hours for AEC Q100 and 96 hours for COTS devices.

Sometimes EP devices are not rugged enough for the needs of a specific application, and to use devices fully qualified to MIL-STD-883 is overkill. That’s when the use of EP+ (also called Space EP) devices can be beneficial. Moving from EP devices to EP+ devices incurs a significantly higher cost, but not as high as fully-space rated devices.

EP+ devices undergo more comprehensive parametric testing at temperature extremes, more comprehensive lot testing, including wafer lot acceptance using MIL-PRF-38535 QML when required, and various levels of radiation tolerance testing.

Rad tolerant vs. hard MCUs Radiation-tolerant (rad-tolerant) EP+ components are specified as reliable up to some limit below 100-kilo radiation (krad) absorbed doses, while radiation-hard (radhard) components are tested to much higher levels. One rad is defined as a dose of 100 ergs of energy per gram of the given material. Internationally, the rad has been replaced by the gray (Gy), equal to 100 rads, in the International System of Units (SI), only the U.S. still refers to rads of radiation.

Radiation tolerant components are appropriate for lower altitude systems that

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Aerospace/Defense

Figure 1: Over specifying MCUs and other components for satellites and spacecraft can be costly, underspecification can be tragic. | Analog Devices

will receive lower doses of radiation.

This also helps satisfy the drive for lower-cost military and aerospace systems. Rad-tolerant devices are used in cost-sensitive designs such as CubeSats and satellites that are expected to be replaced every five years with upgraded designs.

Like most semiconductor devices, MCUs are susceptible to radiation damage. Rad-tolerant and rad-hard MCUs are often based on their nonhardened counterparts, with design and manufacturing changes that reduce susceptibility to radiation damage (Figure 2). Rad-hard devices are tested to so-called resultanteffects tests such as total ionizing dose (TID), enhanced low dose rate

effects (ELDRS), neutron and proton displacement damage, and single event effects (SEEs).

There are a variety of forms of radiation, from fairly innocuous alpha particles to high-energy gamma rays and neutrons (Figure 3). Socalled galactic cosmic rays consist of electrons, protons, and neutrons that originate outside the solar system.

Solar radiation occurs in a broad spectrum from visible light to the ionizing radiation released during solar flares such as x-rays and gamma rays. The Van Allen radiation belt is a zone of energetic charged particles, most of which originate from the solar wind, captured by and held by the Earth’s magnetosphere. Rad-

Figure 3: types of radiation.

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|Tempo Automation

www.designworldonline.com

hard MCUs and other electronics have extremely low failure rates even after years of operation in harsh radioactive environments.

Making chips rad-hard Rad-hard chips are often fabricated on insulating substrates such as siliconon-insulator (SOI) and silicon-onsapphire (SOS). Compared with COTS devices that can handle between 50 and 100 Gy (5 and 10 krad in the U.S.), SOI and SOS chips can survive 1000 to 3000 Gy (100 to 300 krad). SOI processes eliminate latch-up events but are not guaranteed to improve TID and SEE hardness. A shielding layer of depleted boron can be added to improve rad hardness. But that is usually not enough, and system design changes are needed.

For example, error correcting code (ECC) memory includes redundant bits to check for corrupted data. Radiation can damage memory content even when the memory is inactive. ECC memory designs include a circuit that continuously sweeps the RAM, reads out the data, checks the redundant bits for errors, and then writes back any corrections. Various forms of redundancy are common in rad-hard systems.

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Aerospace/Defense can be replaced with three bits and “voting” logic for each bit to determine its result continuously.

This increases the size of the system but results in “fail-safe” operation.

Whether or not a single-bit failure is caused by radiation, the voting logic will continue to produce correct results.

At a higher level, voting can be extended to multiple MCUs. Redundant MCUs can be implemented with three separate circuit boards that independently compute a result and compare answers. Any board that does not produce a matching result will recalculate. If a specific board consistently has non-matching results, it will be shut down to save system resources.

General criteria for space qualification Space qualification extends beyond radiation hardening and includes extreme temperature operation.

Even getting into orbit is fraught with dangers in the form of very high levels of acoustic noise, vibrations, and acceleration forces during launch.

Some of the main space-grade certifications include: • MIL-STD-883 sets uniform methods, controls, and procedures for testing microelectronic devices • MIL-PRF-38534 for hybrid microcircuits Figure 4: It’s not just individual components such as MCUs subjected to stress testing. The fully assembled James Webb Space Telescope is being prepared for transport to nearby acoustic and sine-vibration testing facilities in this picture. | NASA

• MIL-PRF-38535 for single die microcircuits such as MCUs • AS9100 is the standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry.

• JESD22 establishes the physical, electrical, mechanical, and environmental conditions and a series of uniform methods and procedures for evaluating the reliability of packaged solid-state devices.

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Those are just the main certifications; there are many more, some regionally promogulated, including:

One thing all of these standards have in common is extensive testing requirements. Examples include:

• ESCC 9000 European standard for ceramic, hermetically sealed microcircuits for space applications.

• Burn-in is performed at the extreme thermal, electrical, and environmental operating specifications of components over a period of time.

• QML-V A quality standard for hermetically sealed microcircuits.

• QML-Q DLA class for hermetically sealed devices for military aeronautic applications.

• QML-Y DLA class for nonhermetic ceramic devices for space applications.

• NASA Levels A NASA quality standard for Plastic Encapsulated Microcircuits (PEM).

• ECSS Class A class standard from the European Cooperation for Space Standardization.

• Non-Destructive Bond Pull, for example, as defined in MIL-STD-883, is performed to identify faulty wire bonds without affecting any acceptable wire bonds.

• Temperature Cycling specifications include MIL-STD-202, Method 107, Thermal Shock; MIL-STD-810, Method 503, Temperature Shock; MILSTD-883, Method 1010, Temperature Cycling and; JESD22-A104D, Temperature Cycling.

• Mechanical Shock and Vibration tests simulate the application

of sudden force or abrupt change in motion, such as occur during a rocket launch.

Constant Acceleration testing can use a centrifuge to identity mechanical and structural weaknesses not necessarily detected in mechanical shock and vibration testing. MIL883 acceleration testing specifically applies to microelectronic devices.

Electrodynamic shakers can also be used for dynamic load testing and rocket launch simulations.

System Testing and James Webb – putting it all together The James Webb telescope is a recent example of the extended systems testing required to prove flight worthiness. NASA worked with its international partners to match Webb’s testing environment precisely

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to what would be experienced both on launch day and when operating in orbit. For example, the compete flight hardware had to pass a simulated launch environment performed in two stages for “acoustic” and “sine-vibration” testing (Figure 4).

In the first test, the flight hardware was exposed to sound pressure levels above 140 decibels, with a spectrum tuned to the specific signature of the Ariane 5 rocket it would ride to space. During the tests, nearly 600 individual channels of motion data were carefully observed and recorded. Typical acoustic and vibration tests measure about 100 channels of data, but the unusually complex size and shape of the observatory required more measurements.

Next, Webb was taken to a second facility where it was placed on a purpose-built shaker table capable of precise vertical and horizontal acceleration. The initial acoustic testing simulated the high-frequency launch dynamics, and the vibration testing on the shaker table covered the lower frequencies.

Summary Specifying MCUs for satellites and spacecraft is a complex process. There’s a continuum of qualification standards beyond COTS, including EP, EP+, and MIL-STD-883, before arriving at full space-rated MCUs. In addition, designers need to consider if radiation-tolerant performance is adequate or if a fully rad-hard device is required.

Depending on the necessary level of performance, there is a wide range of qualification testing for components and full systems before they can be launched into space. AD

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The Lee Company 2 Pettipaug Road P.O. Box 424 Westbrook, CT 06498 inquiry@theleeco.com www.theleeco.com Tel: 860-399-6281

EE Classroom on Silicon Carbide

Silicon Carbide (SiC) has made its mark in bringing faster, a smaller, and more reliable components than its fellow semiconductors to market. While SiC components have been around for a couple of decades, there is still a lot to learn and a lot to consider when choosing the most suitable WBG semiconductor for your device.

LET US HELP with tutorials, from looking at how WBG semis stack up in power conversion efficiency to an overview of SiC FETs and MOSFETs.

Check out our EE Classroom to learn more:

www.eeworldonline.com/silicon-carbide-classroom Aerospace Tips 4-22_Vs1.indd 70

4/7/22 4:58 PM

| AdobeStock.com

A Supplement to Design World - April 2022 www.therobotreport.com

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•• •• •• •• •• • • • • •• The Robot Report

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Welcome

to the 2022 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards

What do a universal operating system, mobile robot interoperability standard, sorting robot, and robotaxi have in common? Well, if you are reading this paragraph, you can probably guess “robotics,” and you would not be wrong.

But the similarities do not end there, and they are more pointed and correlated. All the examples are representative of winners of the 2022 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards (RBR50).

For more than a decade, Robotics Business Review has produced the RBR50, which recognizes and celebrates forward thinking companies from across the globe and the original, impactful solutions they have created. Widely recognized throughout the world as a leading indicator of robotics innovation leadership, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards are also a critical indicator of robotics sector growth.

For the robotics sector, the role, importance, and impact of innovation has never been greater. Moreover, it is the confluence of multiple, diverse innovation determinants technological, business, and market – that act to accelerate robotics sector growth overall.

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The 2022 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards reflect that diversity of innovation, and celebrates robotics innovation in all its forms including: • Business and Management Innovation - Business and management initiatives or practices that enhance a company’s commercial standing, fosters robotics sector growth or improves society.

• Technology, Products and Services Innovation – New commercial solutions that have the potential to positvely impact markets or the whole robotics sector.

• Application and Market Innovation – Industry specific, newly developed applications that deliver value, provide entry to new markets, or improve performance over existing approaches (i.e. improve productivity, increase quality, reduce cost, etc.).

The editors in WTWH Media’s Robotics Group enjoyed the challenge of evaluating and selecting the 2022 RBR50 awards winners, and learned much during the process. We hope you share that enthusiasm, and the 2022 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards also acts to increase your understanding of the global robotics sector. In that small way, the RBR50 will have done its part to drive the robotics sector forward. RR

www.therobotreport.com

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RBR50 Introduction

Inside the RBR50 A closer look at notable innovators and where this year’s winners are from.

Steve Crowe Editorial Director The Robot Report

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Thanks to self-charging capabilities and upgraded hardware and software to its Spot quadruped, Boston Dynamics made the RBR50 list for the third consecutive year. | Credit: Boston Dynamics

Each year, the RBR50 receives more nominations than can fit in the annual list. This year, the final selection reflects more rigorous judging criteria, current technological and business trends in robotics, and the world.

Since companies of different sizes build robots for widely differing applications, it is difficult to compare them directly. Add to that regional clusters, universities and research institutions, and new business models, and it becomes clear the best way to analyze robotics leadership is to see what categories and industries they fit into.

Notable Winners An emphasis on innovation led to 36 RBR50 winners being recognized for their introduction of new products, services and technologies. This included both hardware and software for autonomous systems. Eleven companies were honored for application and market innovations, while three were honored for their business and management prowess.

Notable market innovators include Cruise, the autonomous driving subsidiary of General Motors. Cruise opened its Level 4 robotaxi service to a limited portion of the public in San Francisco on Feb. 1 2022. There are no human safety drivers inside these robotaxis. This is the first driverless robotaxi service to launch in a major US city. Over time, the service should expand its geofence and running time to gather important crucial operational data to continue to improve its already exceptional performance.

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RBR50 Introduction

The Dronut X1 from Cleo Robotics is the first professional-grade, birotor ducted-fan drone – a drone without exposed rotor blades. | Credit: Cleo Robotics

MassRobotics, the non-profit organization serving as the innovation hub for robotics, won for the development and release of the MassRobotics Interoperability Standard.

The primary goal of the standard is to enable autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from different vendors to integrate and work together seamlessly to support safe and efficient operations in factories, warehouses, distribution, and fulfillment centers. Interoperability of AMRs has been an important topic the last few years, and MassRobotics has been at the forefront of recent efforts.

Louisville, Ky.-based CRG Automation built a robotic system to help decommission a stockpile of 70,000 M55 chemical missiles at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.

Where the Innovators are From While the majority of RBR50 winners are based in the US (37), 10 other countries were represented, including: China (2), Denmark, France, Germany (2), Israel (2), Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland.

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The M55 missiles are filled with VX and sarin nerve agents. The system combines traditional industrial robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, and custom pick-and-place robots to make the work safer and more efficient, processing more than 25 missiles per hour. The system is on track to complete the project by a Department of Defense (DOD) deadline of 2023.

Similar to the 2020 and 2021 lists, only one company was recognized for social good. The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute’s RoboticsCareer.org initiative is a collaboration between the industry, government and academia. It brings together resources from competing companies to make them more accessible, and highlights programs that address diversity, equity and inclusion in robotics.

A startup from California to keep an eye on is Pharm Robotics, which is developing the Sureshot robotic cow inoculator. When cows exit the milking barn, they are scanned by an RFID and camera ID reader that determines if the cows need immunizations. If a cow does, it will be held in place with a two-part bumper restraint, and scanned by another RFID that determines what inoculation the cow needs, and a robotic arm injects the cow. After the injection, the bumper restraints release the cow. Not only is Sureshot a unique solution, it automates the entire inoculation process and enables farmers to focus on other tasks while ensuring the health of the herd.

By the numbers:

9

Repeat honorees from 2021

15 US states represented 37 Organizations from the US 13 Organizations from outside the US 11

Countries of origin

36 Technology, Services & Research

There are 9 repeat winners from the 2021 list, including: Boston Dynamics, GreyOrange, ModalAI, NASA JPL, Ready Robotics, Seoul Robotics, Smith & Nephew, ULC Technologies and Verizon. This is the sixth time in seven years GreyOrange has won an RBR50 Award.

Last year’s most innovative winner, NASA JPL, returns to the 2022 list with a continuation of its historic Mars 2020 Mission. The Perseverance Rover put its sampling and caching system to work on September 1, 2021, eight months into its exploration of Mars. It successfully cored its first rocks thanks to improved manipulation skills. But, perhaps more importantly, it brings NASA a step closer to their long-term goal of bringing those rock samples back to Earth for further study.

Within the US, organizations from 15 states were included on this year’s list, with 14 winners coming from California.

Massachusetts had the second-most winners on the 2022 RBR50 list.

Investment in RBR50 innovators Several RBR50 winners raised funding to continue R&D or to scale commercial products. Similar to 2021, the most interesting financial move came from the Softbank Vision Fund. When Cruise launched its robotaxi service in San Francisco, Softbank was supposed to invest an additional $1.35 billion, on top of the original $900 million it invested in cruise in 2018.

GM stepped in to acquire Softbank’s stake in Cruise and committed to investing an extra $1.35 billion to replace the SoftBank funding. It is unclear why Softbank reversed course with Cruise, but there is speculation it was no longer interested in an

By innovation class:

11

Application & Markets

3

Business & Management

www.therobotreport.com

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/6/22 4:38 PM

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RBR50 Introduction investment that won’t yield returns anytime soon; after-all, Softbank has struggled recently with debt and several investments that have soured.

There is other speculation that GM acquired the stake as a pre-emptive move to take Cruise public in the near future.

Berkshire Grey also made a major financial move in 2021, going public via a deal with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company.

Berkshire Grey started trading on the NASDAQ on July 22, 2021. Berkshire Grey, a developer of integrated artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, was founded in 2013

by CEO Tom Wagner, who is also the former CTO of iRobot. RR

Foxglove Studio provides data visualization and debugging tools to ease robotics development challenges. | Credit: Foxglove

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RBR50 CHART

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Company

Innovation

Innovation Type

Innovation Subclass

3M

Finesse-It Robotic Paint Repair System detects and fixes paint defects on automobiles coming off of an assembly line

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

ACEINNA

INS401 sensor provides precise autonomous vehicle positioning at low cost

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Aeva

Aeries II LiDAR perceives objects at a distance and measures instant velocity, increasing autonomous vehicle safety and performance

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Apellix

Tethered drone offers faster, safer method to cleaning and maintaining protective coating on elevated water towers

Application & Market

Utilities

ARM Institute

Career website brings together industry, government and academia to improve diversity, equality and inclusion in robotics

Business & Management

Social Good

Avular

Avular Essentials serve as building blocks for engineers to more quickly prototype and build autonomous mobile robots

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Berkshire Grey

Robotic Shuttle Put Wall handles surging e-commerce demand and mitigates labor shortages without disruption to ongoing operations

Application & Market

Logistics

Boston Dynamics

Spot Enterprise quadruped opened up to more real-world applications via self-charging capabilities, upgraded hardware and more

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

cellumation

cv.DEPAL sorts objects onto three conveyor lines, eliminating need for additional depalletizing lines for many applications

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Cleo Robotics

Dronut X1 features innovative thrust-vectoring technology, making the drone applicable to new markets and applications

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Corvus Robotics

Fully autonomous inventory drone doesn’t require extra fiducials or barcode label to navigate around a facility

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

CRG Automation

Built a robotic system to decommission 70,000 chemical missiles, making the process safer and more efficient

Application & Market

Defense

Cruise

GM-backed company first to launch a L4 robotaxi service open to public in a major U.S. city

Application & Market

Transportation

Dorabot

Deployed first-ever sorting robot at FedEx's Chinese facilities to process higher volumes of e-commerce shipments

Application & Market

Logistics

FlexQube

FlexQube launches eQart navigator, a non-load carrying autonomous mobile robot that docks with motorized platforms

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

ForwardX Robotics

Deployment of autonomous mobile robots and 5G enables flexibility in environment wrought with Wi-Fi blind spots

Application & Market

Manufacturing

Foxglove

Foxglove Studio provides data visualization and debugging tools to ease robotics development challenges

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

GrayMatter Robotics

Scan&Sand’s flexibility and easy implementation make it stand out from typical robotic sanders

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

April 2022

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THE ROBOT REPORT

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RBR50 CHART

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Company

Innovation

Innovation Type

Innovation Subclass

GreyOrange/Tompkins Robotics

By integrating Tompkins’ tSort and GreyOrange’s Ranger Goods-to-Person system, a worker can simultaneously fill hundreds of orders from one picking station

Application & Market

Logistics

GUSS Automation

Mini GUSS enables farmers and orchard spraying Technology, Services & Research businesses to lower overhead costs and increase precision, efficiency, and safety

Product Introduction

Hai Robotics

Autonomous case handling robots offer significant space utilization and high goods handling without major infrastructure changes

Application & Market

Logistics

ifm efector

O3R democratizes robotic perception to increase efficiency of a system, leading to better ROI for companies

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Indoor Robotics

Tando drone combines advantages of innovative technology and human mobility to provide round-the-clock security

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Indy Autonomous Challenge

Racing competition pushed forward the boundaries of autonomous vehicle speed and control

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

InsightTRAC

InsightTRAC Rover is a unique solution to help almond growers solve a winter sanitation problem

Application & Market

Agriculture

InvenSense

TDK RoboKit1 offers solid technical basis for prototyping and development that simplifies robotics engineering and reduces time to market

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

John Deere

Ready for large-scale production, the new 8R autonomous tractor raises the bar for agriculture autonomy

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Labrador Systems

New class of robots - autonomous mobile robots for the home - help those with mobility issues be more independent

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Libiao Robotics

New 3D t-sort robot can climb racks and triple sortation rate within the same working space

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

MassRobotics

MassRobotics Interoperability Standard enables autonomous mobile robots from multiple vendors to integrate and work together

Business & Management

Market Engagement

ModalAI

VOXL CAM Perception Engine is functionally impressive, offering drone developers options for ongoing innovation

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

NASA JPL

Coring first rocks key part of Perseverance’s mission, bringing NASA closer to long-term goal of returning samples to Earth

Application & Market

Aerospace

NVIDIA

Omniverse Replicator addresses machine learning data challenges with a powerful set of simulation technologies

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

OnRobot

WebLytics one of first software tools to provide real-time, application-focused data across major robot brands

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Outsight

Augmented LiDAR Box simplifies and speeds 3D LiDAR sensing applications

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Pharm Robotics

Sureshot automates inoculations of cows, allow- Technology, Services & Research ing farmers to focus on other tasks while keeping the herd healthy

Product Introduction

April 2022

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www.therobotreport.com

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/11/22 2:31 PM

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RBR50 CHART

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Company

Innovation

Innovation Type

Innovation Subclass

Ready Robotics

Forge/OS 5 universal operating system eases programming challenges of major robotics brands

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

R-Go Robotics

Perception Engine runs on low power, low cost compute infrastructure, enabling deployment of consumer-grade mobile robots

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Savioke

Relay+ delivery robot features new mechanical elevator interface to simplify deployment and increase product acceptance

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Seoul Robotics

Level 5 Control Tower takes a groundbreaking approach to achieving autonomy through infrastructure

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Smith+Nephew

Research center strengthens Pittsburgh robotics cluster and bolsters surgical robotics R&D and commercialization efforts

Business & Management

Market Engagement

Swiss-Mile

ETH Zurich spin-off extends capabilities of mobile robots by deploying hybrid system with both legs and wheels

Technology, Services & Research

Applied Research

Tangram Vision

Suite of tools simplifies development of perception-powered robots and enables more reliable real-world operation

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

TerraClear

The 'Roomba of rocks' automates dull, dirty, dangerous task of removing large rocks from arable fields

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

Toposens

Ultrasonic echolocation sensor offers advantages of 1D ultrasonic sensors, but provides greater sensing coverage for 3D perception

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

ULC Technologies

Robotic Underground Survey System autonomously maps underground infrastructure before digging operations start

Application & Market

Utilities

Verizon Robotics Business Technology

Focused on 5G communication and edge computing, Verizon’s new business unit will drive the robotics sector forward

Technology, Services & Research

Services Introduction

Virginia Tech

New FAA-approved testing methods open the doors for more companies to get their drones in the sky

Technology, Services & Research

Applied Research

Vissavi.tech

Viveka 3D stereovision solution is a ROS-based, modular, cloud-connected platform for image capture, processing and analysis

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

XACT Robotics

ACE Xtend protects surgeons from harmful exposure to radiation and pathogens during procedures

Technology, Services & Research

Product Introduction

April 2022

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www.therobotreport.com

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/11/22 10:25 AM

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

3M Finesse-It Robotic Paint Repair System Fixes Paint Defects on Assembly Line Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

3M USA https://www.3m.com/ 1902 10,000+ Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: 3M’s Finesse-It Robotic Paint Repair System is able to identi defects using its advanced vision system and repair them accurately. The robotics system uses 3M’s abrasive products to sand and polish vehicle’s imperfections on the automotive assembly line.

The robotic system was made jointly with Ford Motor Co. It eliminates the need to have a person manually search for and repair imperfections on a vehicle.

Analysis:

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The Finesse-It Robotic Paint Repair System fills a unique hole in the robotic marketplace.

There are not many robots like it, and none that are as precise as 3M’s system, despite the fact that nearly every car that comes off the assembly line needs some sanding and polishing. This is one of the most intensive manual operations on the assembly line, and 3M’s system completely automates the process.

Automating this crucial part of the assembly line ensures that every car is finished off with consistent quality. No matter the color of the paint or type of car, the Finesse-It system ensures each one is finished accurately and quickly, while also reducing costs of operations. RR – Brianna Wessling

www.therobotreport.com

THE ROBOT REPORT

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

ACEINNA’s INS401 Enables Precise Autonomous Vehicle Positioning at Low Cost Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

ACEINNA USA www.aceinna.com 2017 20+ Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In January 2022, ACEINNA announced the INS401, a low cost, turnkey Inertial Navigation System (INS) and GNSS/RTK solution for automotive positioning and localization in SAE Level 2 to Level 5 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The small, compact INS401 incorporates a high performance, multi-band RTK/GNSS receiver (GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, and BeiDou satellite systems), and triple redundant inertial sensors. The INS401 is certified to Automotive Safety Integrity Level B (ASIL-B) according to the ISO 26262 standard for the functional safety of road vehicles.

Analysis: INS sensors, including the INS401, are unlike sensors for perception, object recognition and obstacle avoidance such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar, in that they are extremely resistant to harsh environmental conditions such as rain, snow, dust etc. The INS401, however, has the added advantage of a low price point compared to other INS sensing solutions (below $500).

The combination of triple redundant inertial sensors, GNSS satellite navigation information, and RTK support, allows the INS401 to provide better than 10cm accuracy.

It also allows the device to perform in GNSS challenged urban environments or during

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GNSS outages by filling in gaps between GNSS updates and supporting dead-reckoning for short durations.

For automotive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, positioning solutions must be highly accurate, robust in the extreme, and work under challenging environmental conditions. They must also be as compact as possible and have a mass market price point. The ACEINNA INS401, which is part of ACEINNA’s new product portfolio of turnkey enabling technologies for developers ADAS solutions for autonomous vehicles, checks all the boxes. RR – Dan Kara

www.therobotreport.com

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Aeva’s Aeries II 4D LiDAR Provides Camera-Level Resolution and Velocity Measurements Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Aeva USA www.aeva.ai 2017 101-500 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In February 2022, sensing systems provider Aeva announced the Aeries II, a compact, FrequencyModulated Continuous Wave LiDAR (FMCW) “4D LiDAR” sensor designed for the automotive and trucking industries. The Aeries LiDAR-on-Chip design locates all key sensor constituents - transmitters, receivers and optics - onto a silicon photonics chip and housed in a ruggedized, compact module.

The Aeries II can deliver high-resolution images with up to 1000 lines per ame with no motion blur om data captured in real time. In addition to the 3D position of points captured doing operation, the Aeries II sensor also measures the instantaneous velocity for each pixel, allowing vehicles to both recognize where objects are, but also how fast they are moving, at distances up to 500 meters.

Analysis: As a rule, FMCW LiDARs such as the Aeries II have greater operational ranges compared to traditional time-of-flight LiDARs, and reduced risk of interference from extraneous sources such as other LiDAR systems, the light from passing vehicles, and other ambient lighting fluctuations. According to Aeva, the Aeries II can detect vehicles 500 meters away and pedestrians at approximately 350 meters away, and the system software can compensate for adverse conditions. But the Aeries II differs from other LiDAR systems in a

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more substantial way.

Aeva’s Aeries II LiDAR solution differs from traditional LiDAR systems in that it can both perceive objects at a distance (their range) and measure their instant velocity (doppler velocity measurements). That is, it can differentiate between static and moving objects such as oncoming vehicles. This ability, together with the Aeries II ‘s high resolution and operational robustness, increases the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles using the system. RR – Dan Kara

THE ROBOT REPORT

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APPLICATION & MARKET INNOVATION — Utilities

Apellix Drone Offers Safer Method for Maintaining Water Towers Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Apellix USA www.apellix.com 2014 1-10 Application & Market Innovation Utilities

Description: Working with a regional industrial and commercial cleaning company, Apellix used a tethered Opus X8 SW (so wash) drone to clean an elevated water tower in Wooster, Ohio and replace workers at height. Connecting the drone and tethers to a truck-mounted system for power and materials, the system was able to spray 8 GPM of a Sodium Hypochlorite mix and rinse water at pressures of 3,000 PSI at the base, which were just over 1,000 PSI at the cleaning nozzle tip at 136 feet.

The Apellix Opus X8 SW tethered drone was hooked up to a fully outfitted and rigged selfcontained so wash pickup truck with skid-mounted equipment. On the truck were the materials reservoirs, compressors, power generators and other equipment.

Analysis: Having human workers at height is an inherent risk. Allowing workers to remain on the ground operating a drone that is doing the work at elevation is a safer approach for these types of projects. Besides being safer, this human-machine tandem completed the job in less than one day, meaning it can also be done faster and at a lower cost than traditional methods of cleaning coated surfaces to improve their aesthetics and prolong the life of the protective coatings.

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Maintaining water towers, which often are a source of clean water for homes and business, is vital to community health. The US EPA has regulations on the cleanliness of the exterior shells of clean water sources for communities. This cleaning process is estimated to have extended the life of the coating on this particular water tower by 3-5 years. RR - Steve Crowe

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BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT INNOVATION — Social Good

ARM Institute’s RoboticsCareer.org Demystifies Careers in Robotics Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

ARM Institute USA www.arminstitute.org | www.roboticscareer.org 2017 50 Business & Management Innovation Social Good

Description: The ARM Institute’s ee resource RoboticsCareer.org connects those seeking an education with careers in robotics manufacturing. The site demystifies three standard robotics career pathways: robotics technician, robotics specialist and robotics integrator.

Anyone om high school students to incumbent workers looking to upskill can be connected with education opportunities in their area. The website was developed with ARM Institute’s 300+ member organization consortium.

Analysis: ARM Institute’s resource is more than just a simple job posting site. It was created to make robotics careers more accessible by making resources organized and easy to find. Whether someone is looking to upskill their workforce, or begin a career in robotics, RoboticsCareer.org will be able to point them in the right direction. It lays out the exact skills needed for the three standard positions it focuses on.

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The website is a collaboration between the industry, government and academia. It brings together resources from competing companies to make them more accessible, and highlights programs that address diversity, equity and inclusion in robotics. RR – Brianna Wessling

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 7:54 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Production Introduction

Avular Essentials Accelerate Mobile Robot Development Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Avular Netherlands avular.com 2014 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Production Introduction

Description: In December 2021, Avular introduced Essentials as building blocks for engineers to quickly prototype and build autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The solution includes functional blocks that are all integration ready and supported by so ware, including Avular Celebra so ware or the open-source Robot Operating System (ROS).

Analysis: Essentials are a logical product for robotics platform developer Avular. The company made a name for itself by developing both a complete flying drone platform and an AMR platform.

Essentials productizes the necessary real-time computing components for building a mobile robot of almost any size. The units are available in three different industrial form factors.

The Exploration version is the least expensive, and designed for prototyping new systems. The Industrial version is production ready, waterproof (IP65) and includes industrial connectors. The Rugged version is production

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ready and the most expensive version. It’s designed for the most demanding outdoor mobile robotic platforms, costing twice as much as the Exploration version. Robot builders will still need to design, spec and source the motors, gear train and motor amplifiers for their robot.

Avular also develops the real-time operating system Cerebra, and Cerebra can be easily deployed onto any of the Essentials units to configure, control and program your robotic application. Essentials are also compatible with the ROS so ware for developers that prefer an open-source development platform. RR - Mike Oitzman

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APPLICATION & MARKET — Logistics

Berkshire Grey Robotic Put Wall Increases Order Sortation up to 300% Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Berkshire Grey USA www.berkshiregrey.com 2013 110-500 Application & Market Logistics

Description: Berkshire Grey launched the Robotic Shuttle Put Wall with Identification (RSPWI) in September 2021 to meet surging e-commerce demands and mitigate labor shortages. The solution can integrate with existing fulfillment processes without disruption to ongoing operations.

Analysis: Berkshire Grey has established itself as one of the leaders in fulfillment operations, offering a variety of automated inventory handling and sortation solutions to meet any distribution center or fulfillment warehouse requirements regardless of size.

The RSPWI is unique because it can accommodate up to nearly 100% of typical SKU assortments, including challenging items like so polybags and cylinders/tubes, such as those used for make-up, for a variety of industries including apparel, footwear, beauty, and general merchandise.

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The solution helps improve productivity and increase customer order sortation throughput by up to 300% with a unique order sortation footprint that takes up just a little more floor space footprint than a typical manual put wall.

Berkshire designed the RSPWI to integrate with existing fulfillment processes to minimize disruptions to ongoing operations. It can be configured to provide sort locations for up to 240 orders to be processed at the same time in a single robotic put wall as opposed to the industry average of 80 orders for a manual put wall. RR - Mike Oitzman

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 7:55 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Spot Enterprise Brings the Quadruped to New Places Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Boston Dynamics USA www.bostondynamics.com 1992 101-500 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Spot Enterprise prepares Boston Dynamics’ quadruped robot for long, remote deployments.

Spot’s upgrade includes self-charging capabilities via a docking station, upgraded hardware for improved safety and post mission data download.

With Scout, Boston Dynamics’ web-based remote operations so ware, users can control Spot remotely. Scout enables the quadruped to respond to incidents at remote or unmanned facilities. Spot’s arm, an RBR50 winner last year, can operate semi-autonomously or through telemanipulation.

Analysis: Boston Dynamics does not have a lot of competition when it comes to commercialized quadruped robots, but that does not mean they will stop pushing to improve Spot. With Spot Enterprise, Boston Dynamics opens up the door for realworld applications with Spot. Self-charging capabilities means Spot is able to act without much human intervention and with more flexibility.

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With Scout, users are able to control Spot anywhere they have access to their network.

This expands Spot’s commercial applications, and makes it so that Spot can go anywhere a human can. Spot’s software comes with a simple user interface so that teleoperated or autonomous applications are easy to set up.

RR – Brianna Wessling

April 2022

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH INNOVATION — Product Introduction

cellumation’s Compact, Modular cv.DEPAL Simplifies and Improves Depalletizing Systems Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

cellumation Germany www.cellumation.com 2017 51-100 Technology, Services & Research Innovation Product Introduction

Description: In 2021, cellumation, the producer of celluveyor (cellular conveyor) material flow systems used in manufacturing and logistics environments, released the celluveyor DEPAL (cv.DEPAL) system, a delayering (layer separation) system for automated depalletizing applications. The system consists of a flat array of hexagonal robot cells, each with three wheels, that can move multiple flat based objects simultaneously and independently in all directions. A 3D vision system recognizes and monitors moving objects, providing real-time position data. The system corrects any deviations automatically.

Analysis: The use of layered pallets of goods and material for transportation is indispensable for many industries. Robotic palletizers and depalletizers efficiently automate labor- and time-intensive tasks, increasing the speed and accuracy of operations, while reducing damage to goods. Depalletization typically requires the delayering of goods (of same or different types), the process of breaking the layers into separate items for further processing.

Delayering automation solutions are provided by a number of suppliers, but they often require a large surface area, and

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can only move separated objects through a single exit point. cellumation’s novel cv.DEPAL solution can sort objects onto three different conveyor lines, eliminating the need additional depalletizing lines for many applications. Moreover, delayering does not require prior knowledge of the composition of the layers. Due to the hexagonal shape of the individual cells in the cv.DEPAL offering, system configuration and maintenance is greatly simplified, and the area required much reduced compared to traditional layer separation solutions. RR – Dan Kara

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 7:56 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Cleo Robotics’ Thrust Vectoring Tech Powers Innovative Drone Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Cleo Robotics USA www.cleorobotics.com/ 2016 1-10 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Cleo Robotics released Dronut X1, a stable and highly maneuverable ducted bi-rotor drone. Its patented thrust vectoring technology has made the hyper-efficient ducted fan design stable in flight. The drone uses counter-rotating propellers that are on top of each other surrounded by an enclosure, which allows the drone to bounce off objects.

The Dronut X1’s shell is made out of carbon fiber, and the drone weighs 15 oz and measures 5.5 inches in diameter. It has a flight time of just 12 minutes and sells for $9,800.

The Dronut X1 is designed to be used for unmanned inspection of GPS-denied environments such as tanks, pressure vessels, crawl spaces and more. It can also be used by law enforcement involved in high-risk situations or as a flying surveillance camera for facility security.

Analysis: The Dronut X1 is the first professional-grade, bi-rotor ducted-fan drone – a drone without exposed rotor blades. Offering a drone that sells for under $10,000, the MassRobotics resident has attracted several major customers in the industrial and commercial space, a major oil and gas company and the US Army.

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Historically, drones have been limited to operating in open fields away from humans.

According to ABI Research, at press time, indoor drones comprised no more than 2% of the overall market. Cleo’s unique design could start to increase that percentage and open up drones to new markets and applications. RR – Steve Crowe

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Corvus Robotics Makes Drone Inventory Management Flexible with Corvus One Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Corvus Robotics USA https://www.corvus-robotics.com 2017 50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Corvus One is Corvus Robotics’ fully autonomous drone for inventory management. The drone doesn’t require any extra fiducials or barcode labels to make its way around a facility. It’s able to tie SKUs to slots in 3D space to keep track of inventory levels.

The drone is able to scan 200-400 pallet positions in just one hour, and can operate without wifi so manufacturers don’t need to worry about dead zones.

Analysis: Inventory management drones and robots are not unique, but Corvus One stands out for its flexibility. Being able to operate without wifi means companies do not have to spend extra money making sure every inch of their facility is covered.

Corvus also removes the need for extra fiducials or barcode labels, making them easier to implement and can adjust quickly

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to inventory changes. Corvus One’s level 4 autonomy means it does not require much human intervention. In fact, the drone can operate for weeks without a human ever being involved. Companies can start doing inventory counts up to 100 times more often than they are now with Corvus Robotics’ drones.

RR – Brianna Wessling

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APPLICATION & MARKET — Defense

CRG Automation Uses Robotics to Decommission Chemical Missiles Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

CRG Automation USA crgautomation.com 2000 11-50 Application & Market Defense

Description: CRG Automation built a robotic system to help decommission a stockpile of 70,000 M55 chemical missiles at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky. The M55 missiles are filled with VX and sarin nerve agents.

The system combines traditional industrial robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, and custom pick-and-place robots to make the work safer and more efficient, processing more than 25 missiles per hour.

Some of the major improvements to the process increased safety by identi ing and handling leaking rockets, as well as reducing in-person maintenance requirements, lowering the risk of injury. A er an 18-month design and approval process, the system has been running and is on track to complete the project by a Department of Defense (DOD) deadline of 2023.

Analysis: The new automated decommissioning process of chemical weapons is not only more efficient, but it requires less in-person maintenance and, thus, removes human workers from potential harm. When you can take a person out of handling a chemical weapon, you have increased safety by magnitudes.

This project also has major social and political implications worldwide. Under the

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Chemical Weapons Convention international treaty, the United States must destroy chemical weapons such as the M55 rocket by 2023. With the new automated destruction process now in full swing, the US is on track to meet its international treaty deadlines and dispose of these weapons properly. RR – Steve Crowe

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 7:58 AM

APPLICATIONS & MARKETS — Transportation

Cruise First to Launch L4 Robotaxi Service in Major US City Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Cruise USA www.getcruise.com 2013 500+ Applications & Markets Transportation

Description: Cruise, the autonomous driving subsidiary of General Motors, opened up its Level 4 robotaxis to a limited portion of the public in San Francisco on Feb. 1 2022. There are no human safety drivers inside these robotaxis. For now, the rides are ee and those who join the waitlist don’t have to sign a non-disclosure agreement before using the service.

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is allowing Cruise to operate its robotaxis around certain parts of San Francisco between 11 PM and 5 AM at a maximum speed of 30 MPH.

Analysis: Cruise’s robotaxi service is only open to a small number of people in a small section of San Francisco, but this is the first driverless robotaxi service to launch in a major U.S. city. Over time, the service should expand its operating area and timeslot to gather important crucial operational data to continue to improve its already exceptional performance.

Waymo’s robotaxi service has been active since October 2020 in suburban Phoenix, where the driving environment is far friendlier than San Francisco.

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This milestone also triggered the release of another $1.35 billion in funding for Cruise.

Cruise is betting its model of tackling more complicated cities first will let it scale to other markets more quickly than its competitors. RR - Steve Crowe

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APPLICATION AND MARKET INNOVATION — Supply Chain/Logistics

Dorabot Helps FedEx Sort Higher Volume of e-commerce Shipments Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Dorabot USA www.dorabot.com 2014 51-100 Application and Market Innovation Supply Chain/Logistics

Description: Dorabot deployed its sorting robot, DoraSorter, at a FedEx Express shipment sorting center in Guangzhou, China. DoraSorter features an industrial robot arm, a custom designed drawershaped end-of-arm tool, and a rack system containing up to 100 parcel destination bins.

DoraSorter has a 40-square-meter reach and a maximum payload of 10 kg. It’s equipped with a barcode reader to scan packages and determine their destination. At its peak performance, DoraSorter can process 1,000 items per hour.

Analysis: DoraSorter was the first sorting robot FedEx deployed at its Chinese facilities. The robot’s high accuracy and ability to process 1,000 items per hour increases efficiency and allows FedEx to withstand huge volumes during surges and peak seasons.

DoraSorter is configurable, allowing it to be deployed and applied for various scenarios. Using customized sort-tolocations, such as bags, totes, put walls and gaylords, the system is data integrated

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and handles complex parcel sorting tasks.

For FedEx, the end result is increased productivity and reduced labor costs.

This is another move by FedEx to automate sorting tasks in its network.

In August 2021, FedEx Ground deployed Berkshire Grey’s Robotic Product Sortation and Identification systems at its station in Queens, New York. The system sorts thousands of small packages that arrive daily in bulk. RR – Steve Crowe

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 8:00 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

FlexQube Launches eQart Navigator, a Non Load Carrying AMR That Docks With Motorized Platforms Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

FlexQube Sweden www.flexqube.com 2010 51-100 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: FlexQube established its reputation by developing an infinitely configurable cart structure for material handling applications. The new eQart Navigator enables the autonomous movement of powered FlexQube carts throughout the factory.

Analysis: The FlexQube cart structure is employed by manufacturers around the globe to create custom material handling carts that can be custom built for any material handling task. Initially developed for manual cart operations, FlexQube introduced the eQart as an autonomous powered option for turning a manual cart into an autonomous, powered one.

However, each eQart needs to be occasionally recharged and a cart might stand still in a queue for hours at a time while waiting for its next task.

The eQart Navigator is a new concept that packages the autonomous motion

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intelligence into a separate “tractor-like” device that can attach to an eQart platform, power the onboard motors and sensors, and move the eQart platform to its next process step. The eQart Navigator can then detach the eQart and leave it while it goes on its next mission. eQart Navigator uses intelligence by Bluebotics to run all of the obstacle avoidance and navigation processes. This solution is novel because the eQart Navigator powers the motors onboard each eQart while driving the eQart between pickup and drop-off locations. This improves the efficiency of the entire material handling process. RR – Mike Oitzman

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90%

faster gripper change SWS Quick-change System

3°

Up to maximum deflection

TCU Tolerance Compensation Unit

NEW: Up to higher gripping force

50%

© 2021 SCHUNK Intec, Inc

PGN-plus-P Universal Gripper

Everything for your Articulating Arm Robot More than 3,000 components for handling and assembly.

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4/7/22 7:36 AM

APPLICATIONS & MARKETS — Manufacturing

ForwardX and TCL Implement the First 5G AMR Deployment Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

ForwardX Robotics China en.forwardx.com 2016 101-500 Applications & Markets Manufacturing

Description: ForwardX’s deployment at TCL’s Huizhou factory involves dozens of ForwardX’s Max 300 Li autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) connected and communicating with a 5G network.

ForwardX’s AMRs are being used to move materials across the facility.

ForwardX’s AMRs offer 360º obstacle detection and avoidance, making it ideal for busy facilities.

The 5G connectivity connects to the AMRs wherever they are in the facility, regardless of blindspots in wifi coverage.

Analysis: ForwardX’s deployment marks one of the first 5G AMR deployments. 5G makes AMRs more flexible, especially in environments that are wrought with wifi blind spots. The company faced a challenge when implementing at TCL’s factory and operations center. Not only is it the central point of TCL’s global supply chain and manufacturing, it also has the second largest production capacity in the world.

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The companies decided to use 5G as part of TCL’s 5G+ Smart Factory Initiative. Since implementing the AMRs, the factory has seen improved productivity, less labor dependency and quicker inventory turnover. Additionally, ForwardX’s robots offered TCL the guarantee of safety the company needed to put robots on the floor of such a busy factory. RR - Brianna Wessling

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Foxglove’s Studio and Data Platform Make Robotics Development Easier and Faster Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Foxglove USA https://foxglove.dev/ 2021 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Foxglove Studio is an integrated development environment that provides data inspection and debugging for robotics. It can connect directly to a ROS 1 stack through the native ROS connection.

The studio includes a suite of visualization tools organized into modules to help developers understand their data. The Foxglove Data Platform perfectly complements the studio, allowing roboticists to store, stream and explore their data. The petabytes of data the platform can handle is indexed to be easily accessible.

Analysis: A spinout from Cruise, Foxglove was founded to fill a gap in off-the-shelf tooling for robotics development. While working at Cruise, Foxglove co-founders Adrian Macniel and Roman Shtylman learned how crucial a fully integrated robotics development platform was. It can be timely and costly for robotics companies to develop their own platform, but Foxglove eliminates the need for that.

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While the founders began working with visualization for autonomous vehicles, Foxglove Studio works for a variety of robots.

The company examined the most repetitive parts of robotics development to optimize workflows. The program is customizable, allowing users to pick which modules best fit their workflow. It’s also open sourced, allowing roboticists to build their own panels into the app. RR - Brianna Wessling

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/11/22 11:40 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

GrayMatter Scan&Sand a Flexible Robotic Sanding Solution Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

GrayMatter Robotics USA www.graymatter-robotics.com 2020 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: GrayMatter’s Scan&Sand is a uniquely flexible robotic sander. Scan&Sand can adjust to different object shapes and sizes in just minutes. Typical robotic sanders are used only in mass production, where a sander works on hundreds of pieces of the exact same size and shape. Scan&Sand is able to adjust to objects with complex geometry precisely and quickly.

Everytime the robotic system encounters a part, it treats it like a brand new one.

Analysis: Scan&Sand’s quick adjustment times and flexibility are what make it stand out from other robotic sanders. Operators do not need to know how to code to program the robot, and can learn how to program it in just a few hours.

Scan&Sand can work with a variety of products ranging from 1 m to 12 m. The robot can handle parts of different materials like

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composites, metals, solid surfaces, acrylics, plastics, wood and stone. Additionally, the robot can be deployed on existing shop floors without drastically changing infrastructure.

Altogether, Scan&Sand’s exceptional flexibility and easy implementation make it surpass typical robotic sanders. RR - Brianna Wessling

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APPLICATION & MARKET — Logistics

GreyOrange and Tompkins Robotics Offer “Zero Walk” Fulfillment Solution Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

GreyOrange Robotics and Tompkins Robotics USA www.greyorange.com and www.tompkinsrobotics.com 2011; 1975 101-500 Application & Market Logistics

Description: In April 2021, the two companies announced a combined solution that starts by using a GreyOrange Ranger goods-to-person (G2P) robot to bring racks of inventory to a stationary human worker. The worker then picks items and places them onto a Tompkins t-Sort robot, which sorts items into bins with other items from the same order. The human picker remains in one place throughout the process, thus making it a “zero walk” solution.

Analysis: The solution is unique in its implementation as it leverages the best elements of both companies’ solutions. The GreyOrange Ranger G2P mobile robots are designed to queue, pick up and move inventory shelves. A Ranger mobile robot will present a human picker with the correct SKU for a specific customer order. Guided by the GreyOrange GreyMatter warehouse orchestration software, the picker will pull the correct SKU count from the Ranger mounted inventory shelf and place

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the item(s) onto a waiting Tompkins t-Sort robot. This where the t-Sort does its job of moving the product to a waiting order bin.

The tabletop structure for the Tompkins t-Sort system can be sized to service any number of customer order bin locations.

Tompkins can be configured for multilevel operation, effectively doubling throughput.

Likewise, the GreyMatter Ranger fleet can be sized to support the inventory storage and retrieval requirements. RR - Mike Oitzman

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 8:27 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

GUSS Launches Mini GUSS Sprayer for Vineyards and High-Density Orchards Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

GUSS Automation USA gussag.com/ 2017 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Mini GUSS is a smaller version of its predecessor, GUSS. The newer autonomous mobile robot is designed specifically for the spraying needs of vineyards and high-density orchards where the larger GUSS is too big to operate.

Analysis: The original GUSS has been notable for its precision and efficiency. GUSS enabled a single operator to manage up to eight units operating in an orchard.

Mini GUSS is smaller than GUSS, and it is refined in every detail, building on five years of real field experience with GUSS. Mini GUSS has a narrower girth and shorter stance, which allows it to operate within the tight row spacing of vineyards and many orchard crops. It doesn’t replace GUSS, and now GUSS Automation has expanded the market opportunities for its autonomous sprayer solutions.

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The solutions allow farmers, growers and orchard spraying businesses the ability to lower labor and overhead costs as well as increase precision, efficiency, safety, and profitability with this autonomous machine.

Mini GUSS is 6-feet wide, 5-foot 4-inches tall and 20-feet long. It has a 400-gallon tank and a 3.8-liter Cummins diesel engine to tackle the most strenuous terrain. GUSS Automation offers two tower options for Mini GUSS: a vineyard tower for two row applications and an apple tower for highdensity trellised orchards. RR - Mike Oitzman

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APPLICATION & MARKET — Logistics

Hai Robotics’ ACRs Significantly Improve Goods-to-Person Picking Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Hai Robotics China www.hairobotics.com 2015 500+ Application & Market Logistics

Description: Hai Robotics’ autonomous case handling robot (ACR) Haipick can pick and place totes or cartons on storage shelves up to 5-7 meters high using a telescopic li . The robots can carry up to eight loads to continuously feed goods-to-person picking stations. The robots use QR code navigation to move throughout their environment.

The ACR robots are currently being used in a variety of industries, including 3PL, e-commerce, apparel, retail, electronics, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and more.

Founded in 2016 with headquarters in Shenzhen, China, Hai Robotics has set up five subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the U.S. and the Netherlands, serving customers om more than 30 countries and regions.

Analysis: The Haipick ACR system is a poor man’s automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). It offers significant space utilization and high goods handling precision and efficiency without all the infrastructure changes required to install a typical ASRS. Hai Robotics is a high-growth startup that already has 300-plus customers worldwide that have experienced

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improvement in operating efficiency, storage density, time to deploy, speed, and accuracy. The technology has also enabled warehouse owners to address labor shortage issues. And with $200 million in new investment capital, Hai Robotics can continue to scale around the world. RR – Steve Crowe

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

ifm efector O3R Democratizes Robotic Perception Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

ifm efector USA www.ifm.com/us/en 1969 500+ Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: The O3R platform consists of compact camera heads (VGA cameras and time-of-flight sensors) and a vision processing unit (VPU) with NVIDIA Jetson TX2 for the evaluation of the data. Up to six camera heads can be connected to the Linux-based device, including sensors om other companies.

The so ware architecture on the VPU is Open Source (Linux + Docker), allowing the customer full access to the CPU/GPU with the ability to deploy their preferred so ware platform.

The camera heads are about the size of the Intel RealSense D Series cameras, but with full industrial specifications rated for shock, vibration, and dust. As different Use Cases require different visibilities, heads are available with both low (38K) and high (VGA) depth resolutions and both narrow (60x45°) and wide (105x78°) opening angles to increase flexibility.

Analysis: The O3R design democratizes robotic perception to increase the overall efficiency of a robotic system, leading to better ROI calculations for SME companies. For under $2,000, the O3R is an affordable industrial perception stack. Combined with ifm’s 15 years of 3D camera experience and supply chain excellence, the O3R could help the robotics industry reduce the TCO for robotic perception use cases.

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Adding better environmental awareness through perception will lead to more efficient robots. A more efficient robot performs missions at a faster rate, leading to smaller fleets required to accomplish the desired business goals. Smaller fleets reduce capital investment and require less maintenance over the lifecycle of the fleet. RR - Steve Crowe

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4/7/22 8:33 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Indoor Robotics’ Tando a Scalable Security Solution Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Indoor Robotics Israel https://www.indoor-robotics.com/ 2018 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Production Introduction

Description: Indoor Robotics’ Tando offers a fully autonomous indoor drone fleet for security and inspection.

Its system involves the Tando drone, which maps and navigates indoor environments and collects visual and thermal data. Tando can charge itself with its docking Tile, a ceiling mounted docking and charging station.

Analysis: There are lots of advantages Tando has over a human security guard. Tando is able to work around the clock, constantly monitoring visually and with thermal sensors. Drones are good at repetitive tasks, like monitoring and patrolling. Tando is able to identify dangers or leaks and alert a human monitor who can verify it remotely.

Tando is also easy to scale. Its mapping capabilities mean that going from one drone to an entire fleet for large

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buildings is simple. The drones operate fully autonomously and can follow set patrols schedules. Overall, Tando is a smart security solution that ensures constant and persistent monitoring. RR - Brianna Wessling

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Indy Autonomous Challenge Pushed Boundaries of Autonomous Vehicle Speed and Control Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Indy Autonomous Challenge U.S.A. www.indyautonomouschallenge.com 2019 1-10 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: This autonomous vehicle (AV) racing competition setup a $1M prize and developed new class of autonomous Indy race cars as the test bed for the development of advanced autonomous driving algorithms. The competition featured engineering teams om over 20 international universities.

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is a collaboration between The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Energy Systems Network (ESN), and an advanced energy technology initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP).

Analysis: The challenge was conceptualized in a similar paradigm to the DARPA Grand Challenge that took place 15 years ago, offroad, in the desert southwest. DARPA gave birth to a new generation of AV industry leaders, and the IAC is now on record as its successor and a viable incubator for a new generation of AV leaders and innovators.

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The IAC organized two race events, the first competition at Indy Motor Speedway in October, 2021 and a second competition at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in January 2022.

At the IMS event, a new IMS track lap record for AV’s was set at 135-plus MPH. At the Las Vegas event, a new autonomous passing speed record was set at 175-plus MPH. RR - Mike Oitzman

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 10:17 AM

APPLICATION & MARKET — Agriculture

InsightTRAC Automates Time-Intensive Sanitation Problem for Almond Growers Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

InsightTRAC USA www.insighttrac.com 2019 2-10 Application & Market Agriculture

Description: Almond growers struggle to remove navel orangeworm-infested nuts, also known as mummies, each year during winter sanitation. InsightTRAC has innovated the removal of mummies om almond trees using an autonomous mobile robot with a vision-guided pellet gun to shoot the mummies om the tree.

Analysis: The InsightTRAC Rover is a unique solution designed specifically to help almond growers solve a winter sanitation problem.

Until the creation of the InsightTRAC Rover, the mummy removal process required the growers to re-shake the almond trees during a wet period after the end of the harvest, or knock the individual almond mummies from the trees by hand (a laborintensive solution).

The InsightTRAC Rover is an autonomous mobile robot with a top mounted, vision-guided pellet gun. The

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rover moves through the orchard, identifies mummies on the tree’s branches, and then targets and removes the mummies by hitting them with biodegradable pellets.

The solution also gathers data about every tree and makes this information available to the orchard owner.

The company plans to start with deployments in Australia in summer 2022, then move to California for the winter of 2023. These two regions are the primary market for the initial go-to-market of the solution. RR - Mike Oitzman

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DRIVING THE ARTIFICIAL PERCEPTION REVOLUTION IN MOBILE ROBOTICS

RGO ROBOTICS’ AI-POWERED PERCEPTION ENGINE™ PROVIDES MOBILE MACHINES WITH HUMAN-LEVEL VISUAL PERCEPTION, ENABLING THEM TO SEE, UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE AUTONOMOUSLY IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS.

SCENE UNDERSTANDING

OBJECT RECOGNITION

OBSTACLE DETECTION & FREE SPACE

MAPPING

LOCALIZATION

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4/7/22 10:14 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

InvenSense’s TDK RoboKit1, a Solid Development Platform, Joins SmartRobotics Solutions Set Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

InvenSense USA https://invensense.tdk.com 2003 500+ Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In January 2022, TDK Corporation subsidiary InvenSense announced the TDK RoboKit1, a development platform and reference design for robotics systems. The TDK RoboKit1 board, powered by an ARM Cortex-M7 processor, incorporates a number of sensors, including a 6-axis IMU, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetometer, digital I²S microphones, a temperature sensor, and ultrasonic Time of Flight (ToF) sensors. Also included with the TDK RoboKit1 are so ware libraries, as well as ROS 1- and ROS 2- compliant drivers.

Analysis: As a robust, highly functional development platform, the TDK RoboKit1 provides robotics developers with a solid technical basis for prototyping and development that simplifies robotics engineering and reduces time to market. But more importantly, the TDK RoboKit1 is just the latest addition to TDK’s SmartRobotics product family and solution set. The SmartRobotics ‘platform’ also includes a number of boards, SoCs and reference designs developed by partner Qualcomm Robotics, and other TDK technologies.

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With the release of the TDK RoboKit1, InvenSense, and its $13B multinational parent company TDK, is making a statement regarding the business opportunities presented by the burgeoning robotics sector, and that its intentions for providing critical enabling technologies for robotics developers extend beyond a single development board.

Taken together, the TDK RoboKit1 and SmartRobotics suite demonstrates that a company with boatloads of technical wherewithal, deep pockets, and similarly equipped partners, is clearly intent on producing a solutions ecosystem for robotics development going forward. RR – Dan Kara

April 2022

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH INNOVATION — Product Introduction

John Deere Launches 8R Autonomous Tractor Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

John Deere USA www.deere.com 1837 50,000+ Technology, Services & Research Innovation Product Introduction

Description: In January 2022, Johne Deere launched the new John Deere 8R autonomous tractor. This tractor is ready for large-scale production and will begin shipping to farmers in 2022. John Deere raised the bar for a new level of agriculture autonomy om one of the most trusted and recognizable brands worldwide.

Analysis: The concept of tractor autonomy received a huge validation with the launch of the John Deere 8R autonomous tractor. Farmers trust the John Deere brand, and the standard 8R tractor is a well-loved, established and familiar farming platform.

The autonomous tractor uses six pairs of stereo cameras, which enables 360-degree obstacle detection and the calculation of distance for things seen in the cameras.

Obstacle avoidance, navigation and localization is achieved by fusing information seen in the cameras together with information from other sensors, including GPS.

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The autonomous tractor continuously checks its position relative to a geofence, ensuring it is operating where it is supposed to, and with accuracy of +/- 1 inch.

At its heart, the John Deere 8R tractor leverages the autonomous guidance technology that John Deere acquired from Blue River Technology. This platform more than four years of development and testing behind it. The autonomous package is a dealer installed option and can be retrofitted on any 8R tractor from model year 2020 or later. RR – Mike Oitzman

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4/7/22 8:45 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Labrador Systems Creates New Class of Home Robots Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Labrador Systems USA www.labradorsystems.com 2017 1-10 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Labrador Systems unveiled at CES 2022 its Retriever and Caddie mobile robots for home use. The target users are those with mobility issues, including the elderly and people with disabilities. The robots are designed to carry items around users’ homes.

Both robots have a maximum payload capacity of 25 lbs and can autonomously navigate through a home. The Retriever robot also has the ability to adjust its height and “retrieve” special trays, which can hold up to 10 lbs, off countertops and tables. The entry-level Caddie robot operates at a fixed height of 30 inches and can’t retrieve items.

Analysis: Labrador’s assistive robots are tackling important problems - enabling individuals to be more independent and reducing strain on caregivers. An increasing percentage of the population is above the ages of 65 and 85, and there’s a decreasing percentage of individuals below 65 to support them.

To empower its customers, Labrador has developed seemingly simple robots that are affordable and help solve major challenges.

That is not an easy task in robotics, and it is even harder when building robots for the home.

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Labrador also created a new class of robots: autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for the home. Prior to this, AMRs with this level of functionality were confined to warehouses and other commercial environments. Labrador has many challenges ahead as it continues to commercialize its technology, but Caddie and Retriever are two of the more exciting and useful home robots we have seen in years. RR - Steve Crowe

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Libiao 3D t-sort Maximizes Sortation Applications Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Libiao Robotics China www.libiaorobot.com/cn/home 2016 101-500 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Libiao Robotics’ new 3D t-sort consists of sorting robots running in 3D mode, shelf-type pack box collection grids, plane sorting robots, sorting robot operating platform, and Libiao control so ware system in the background. The entire system can expand original sorting grids om hundreds to thousands and tens of thousands, with the sorting efficiency of each single-layer module reaching 3,000 picks per hour.

Analysis:

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The 3D t-sort system builds off of Libiao’s first-generation sortation robots, which it sells around the world with well-respected partners Körber, Tompkins Robotics, and Toyota Material Handling. The space-saving system features a modular design with flexible expandability, which can be deployed in a quick and staged manner.

Libiao claimed 350 robots operating continuously for 24 hours can process up to 400,000 parcels. It said the sorting efficiency of the 3D t-sort is 2-3 times higher than that of manual sorting. RR – Steve Crowe

www.therobotreport.com

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4/7/22 8:48 AM

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT — Market Engagement

MassRobotics Releases First Version of Mobile Robotics Interoperability Standard Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

MassRobotics USA www.massrobotics.org 2015 1-10 Business & Management Market Engagement

Description: The new standards initiative enables autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) om multiple vendors to integrate and work together seamlessly to support safe and efficient operations in factories, warehouses, distribution, and fulfillment centers.

Analysis: One of the core missions of MassRobotics is to enable collaboration and cooperation between robotics companies, while helping them grow and scale. MassRobotics sponsored the AMR interoperability standards group and facilitated the development of the new standard.

The standard was issued in 2021 after months of discussion, research, debate and collaboration, with the first public demonstration of the standard at the FedEx DART Lab in October 2021.

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The primary goal of the standard is to enable AMRs from different vendors to operate within the same workspace and share information seamlessly between the fleet management solutions in a nonproprietary fashion. This information is also available to customers to enable unified AMR tracking and reporting on dashboards, including the location of all AMRs within a facility. RR - Mike Oitzman

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

ModalAI’s VOXL CAM Perception Engine Functionally Impressive, Provides Developers with Options for Ongoing Innovation Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

ModalAI USA https://modalai.com 2018 1-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In November 2021, ModalAI, a Qualcomm spin out, released the VOXL CAM perception engine, a credit card sized, pluggable, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that provides robotics systems, drones and IoT devices with GPS-denied navigation, indoor and outdoor depth mapping, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), object detection and avoidance, Unmanned Aircra Systems (UAS) flight control and cellular connectivity. The VOXL CAM incorporates Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 chipset and ModalAI’s Flight Core, a PX4 drone flight controller.

Analysis: The functional capacities of ModalAI’s VOXL CAM solution are impressive powerful compute, imaging and navigation - particularly given its small size. The base VOXL CAM weighs just 57.5 grams, 87 grams with the flight controller and modem installed. To emphasize the point, ModalAI released a second product with the VOXL Cam, namely the Seeker, a microdevelopment drone capable of both indoor and outdoor autonomous navigation.

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ModalAI’s VOXL CAM and Seeker drone, along with the company’s VOXL Flight computing platform and controller for drones (released in 2020), provides developers of drone-based solutions with a range of powerful technical enablers for drone (and robotics) applications, many of which are sure to be for indoor operations. This range of solutions provides engineers with many design and development options, a necessary requirement for ongoing innovation. RR – Dan Kara

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

NVIDIA Omniverse Replicator Improves Synthetic Data Generation Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

NVIDIA USA www.nvidia.com 1993 13,000+ Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In November 2021, NVIDIA announced the NVIDIA Omniverse Replicator data generation engine that produces synthetic data for training deep neural networks based on physical simulations in photorealistic, physically-accurate virtual environments. NVIDIA also introduced two replicator applications for generating simulated data. The first, NVIDIA DRIVE Sim, is a virtual world for accommodating autonomous vehicles digital twins. The second application, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, supports virtual robotic manipulators. NVIDIA representatives expect third-party developers to build additional domain-specific data-generation engines using the Omniverse Replicator engine.

Analysis: Machine learning is a powerful enabler when developing software for a range of autonomous systems, including robots, drones and autonomous vehicles. Unfortunately, the process of collecting, labeling and managing the large datasets used for machine learning model training is costly, laborious and can be error prone, with the resulting data often incomplete or inappropriate for the application at hand. The use of simulated data addresses these challenges, but low-quality simulations often result in physical systems performing poorly in the real world.

With the Omniverse Replicator, and the DRIVE Sim and Isaac Sim introductions, NVIDIA is addressing the machine learning

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data challenge. As its name suggests, the Omniverse Replicator is powered by NVIDIA Omniverse platform, a powerful, well featured set of simulation technologies, including GPU-accelerated PhysX 5 physics engine, real-time path tracing for high levels of photorealism, and a material definition language for rendering physical objects. The Omniverse Replicator, coupled with developer access to the DRIVE Sim and Isaac Sim virtual worlds (and the potential for additional virtual environments), all undergirded with and supported by NVIDIA’s increasingly expansive support technologies for robotics development, are critical enablers for robotics development going forward. RR – Dan Kara

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4/7/22 8:54 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

OnRobot WebLytics Captures Real-Time Performance Data for Robotic Workcells Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

OnRobot Denmark www.onrobot.com 2015 101-500 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In November 2021, OnRobot released its first so ware product. WebLytics is a production monitoring, device diagnostics, and data analytics tool to simultaneously monitor multiple robotics applications. WebLytics is compatible with all leading collaborative and lightweight industrial robot arms.

WebLytics can identi trends in a robotic cell in real-time such as patterns, peaks and disturbances in productivity. The so ware uses the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) standard to measure the percentage of manufacturing time that is productive.

WebLytics can be deployed on a shop floor’s local network or added to a virtual network that connects to the robot cell.

Analysis: WebLytics is one of the first software tools to provide real-time, application-focused data for collaborative applications across major robot brands. WebLytics transforms equipment data into visualized device and application-level intelligence. This can improve productivity, eliminate manual data collection, and reduce costly downtime and overall cost of ownership.

WebLytics is not just a powerful tool for end users, it also creates new revenue opportunities for system integrators by

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providing the software required to offer customers data-backed custom service agreements and engineering services for cell optimization.

OnRobot has long said its goal is to become the one-stop shop for collaborative automation. By diversifying its product portfolio with its first software offering, to accompany its array of accessories, grippers, sensors and tool changers, that goal is becoming more of a reality. RR - Steve Crowe

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Outsight’s Augmented LiDAR Box Simplifies and Speeds 3D LiDAR Sensing Applications Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Outsight France www.outsight.ai 2019 51-100 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In May 2021, Outsight announced the launch of its Augmented LiDAR Box (ALB), a feature rich, pre-processor for 3D LiDARs. The ALB, which is LiDAR agnostic – LiDAR suppliers Velodyne, Robosense, Ouster, Hesai and others are strategic partners – acts as a hardware-based abstraction layer that converts raw (and proprietary) 3D LiDAR input into a standardized open data format (Outsight’s Open SErialization format). The ALB also supports multi-LiDAR data fusion, and boasts of a number of features and functions for common sensing and perception applications.

Analysis: LiDAR is a critical enabling technology for sensing and perception in systems as wide ranging as mobile robots, articulated robots and self-driving vehicles. Unfortunately, developing applications using raw 3D LiDAR data is difficult and time-consuming, especially given the many different, proprietary LiDAR solutions on the market and the proprietary LiDAR data formats and protocols they utilize. Even experienced engineering teams are challenged when LiDAR data processing must be done in real-

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time, which is the case in the majority of applications.

The difficulty of integrating LiDAR sensing into applications limits robotics experimentation, increases costs, and extends time to market. Outsight’s Augmented LiDAR Box simplifies the integration of LiDAR solutions and reduces the complexity of utilizing the raw 3D LiDAR data they produce, as well as the processed, and often fused, information from one or more LiDAR systems.

RR – Dan Kara

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4/7/22 9:18 AM

APPLICATION & MARKET — Aerospace

Perseverance Rover Cores First Rock on Mars Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

NASA/JPL USA https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ 1936 500+ Application & Market Aerospace

Description: Perseverance put its sampling and caching system to work on September 1, 2021, eight months into its exploration of Mars. The system uses a rotary-percussive drill and a hollow coring bit, with a sample tube sitting inside. The drill and bit sit at the end of its robotic arm, which it uses to extract samples. Perseverance then transferred the tube to its interior, measured and imaged the core, sealed the container and stored it.

Analysis: Perseverance’s first successful coring was a crucial step in its already historic mission.

The samples the rover takes from Mars will eventually be sent back to Earth to be studied, but acquiring them is anything but simple.

NASA scientists spent days pouring over data from Perseverance’s previous attempt at coring a rock. Unlike the Curiosity Rover, Perseverance collects intact samples of rocks,

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which can give more insight into how areas on Mars were formed than rocks sitting on the surface. Perseverance’s improved manipulation skills make picking the unaltered rocks possible.

Successfully coring rocks is a key part of Perseverance’s mission, and brings NASA a step closer to the long-term goal of bringing those samples back to Earth. RR - Brianna Wessling

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TECHNOLOGY & SERVICES — Product Introduction

Pharm Robotics’ Sureshot Automates Every Step of the Cow Inoculation Process Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Pharm Robotics U.S.A. https://www.pharmrobotics.net/ 2019 1-10 Technology & Services Product Introduction

Description: Pharm Robotics’ Sureshot is a robotic cow inoculator that starts when cows exit the milking barn and scanned by an RFID and camera ID reader that determines if the cows need immunizations.

Next, a cow will be held in place with a two-part bumper restraint, and scanned by another RFID that determines what inoculation the cow needs, and a robotic arm injects the cow. A er the injection, the bumper restraints release the cow.

Analysis: Pharm Robotics’ certainly isn’t the only company looking to solve problems in agriculture with robotics, but it stands apart from others in its application. Additionally, Pharm Robotics makes it so that farmers do not have to intervene in any part of the inoculation process.

Immunizations are given to the cows in precise doses measured by peristaltic

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pumps and sensors. Every inoculation is automatically recorded in Pharm’s dairy management software and linked to the cow via its RFID tag. Farmers are able to access the records from their computer, and are notified if anything goes wrong. In all, Sureshot gives farmers more time to do other important tasks while ensuring the health of the herd. RR - Brianna Wessling

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Ready Robotics Forge/OS 5 Eases Programming Challenges Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Ready Robotics USA www.ready-robotics.com 2015 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In May 2021, Ready Robotics released Forge/OS 5, a universal operating system compatible with hundreds of robots om leading brands ABB, Epson, Fanuc, Kawasaki, Staubli, Universal Robots, Yaskawa and more. Forge/OS 5 unites all the hardware in a workcell under a single programming platform, making automation accessible to any operator no matter their experience.

To reduce programming complexity for customers who use multiple brands of robots and peripherals, Forge/OS 5 abstracts brand-specific robot programming languages into a no-code programming app. The system uses blocks of code organized into flow charts depending on the application at hand.

Analysis: A 2019 study by McKinsey found 41% of organizations trying to scale with robotics cited a lack of a common programming interface as a major challenge to success.

Forge/OS 5 is a step towards resolving that problem as it eliminates fragmentation.

Instead of staffing up with engineers to program in OEM-specific programming languages, organizations can leverage operators to program and maintain robots across brands using Forge/OS.

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Forge/OS’ visual programming platform reduces programming time, deployment time, and enables anyone to control robots. It empowers people and reduces the friction of using robots, making them more accessible to more companies to accelerate adoption. RR – Steve Crowe

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4/7/22 9:28 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

R-Go Robotics Perception Engine Helps AMRs Perceive the World Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

R-Go Robotics Israel/United States www.r-gorobotics.com 2018 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In 2021, R-Go Robotics pioneered an artificial perception technology that enables mobile robots to understand complex surroundings and operate autonomously. The Perception Engine is comprised of patent-pending computer vision and AI technology, which runs on ultra-low-cost, low-power hardware.

Analysis: R-Go Robotics’ Perception Engine enables mobile robots to detect obstacles, recognize people and other machines in complex environments. The solution uses visionbased perception, but combines the visual information with other sensor data to build a robust understanding of the world around it.

The solution can run on low-power, ultralow cost compute infrastructure, enabling the deployment for low-cost, consumergrade mobile products. The company built

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a reference hardware design and offers the hardware for evaluation and low-volume production. For higher-volume applications, manufacturers can license the reference design and source the boards or components from their preferred vendors. The reference design supports multiple communication protocols, including CAN bus, Ethernet, EtherCAT, UART, and SPI. The API can be accessed via a C++ or ROS wrapper. RR – Mike Oitzman

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Savioke Relay+ Features New Mechanical Elevator Interface and Knocks Down a Major Hurdle to Product Acceptance Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Savioke USA www.savioke.com 2015 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In December 2021, Savioke released the Relay+ with a new mechanically actuated elevator button pusher that eliminates the need to communicate electronically with the elevator control unit. Savioke is positioning this feature as “quick install” capability, as the robot uses a vision camera to identify the call buttons and floor buttons and then position the robot to manually push the buttons, just like a human would.

Analysis: The original Savioke Relay was designed to operate in hotels to deliver sundry items from the front desk to guest rooms. The company is one of the first to deploy its solutions solely in a robots as a service (RaaS) business model.

Savioke quickly learned that each hotel had an elevator from a different elevator vendor, and depending on the vintage of the elevator and the breadth of local laws, that it was difficult to gain automatic control over the operation of a public elevator. The result was that many customer installations slipped

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months behind schedule while permits were attained and inspections were passed.

As a result, the Relay+ was engineered to use a mechanical actuator along with vision guidance and AI to quickly learn the configuration of any buildings physical elevator controls (i.e. the buttons used by humans). This process can be completed in as little as four hours, after which, the Relay+ is able to successfully make deliveries from the front desk to any room in the facility. RR – Mike Oitzman

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 9:32 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Seoul Robotics Takes Groundbreaking Approach to Autonomy Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Seoul Robotics Korea www. seoulrobotics.org 2017 51-100 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: During the 2022 CES event, Seoul Robotics announced the Level 5 Control Tower (LV5 CTRL TWR), a mesh network of sensors and smart so ware that autonomously guides vehicles simultaneously at manufacturing facilities using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2X) communications and/or 5G without having to incorporate sensors into the vehicles. LV5 CTRL TWR uses Seoul Robotics’s SENSR AI-powered, 3D perception so ware, working with collections of fixed LiDAR sensors (traffic lights, buildings, light poles, overhangs etc.), as well as 5G, allowing vehicles to guide themselves to parking lots following their manufacture.

Analysis: The logistics of moving finished vehicles is one of the least automated processes at automotive manufacturing plants. The manual transportation of vehicles is time consuming and costly, and runs the risk of product and facility damage, along with worker injury. Working in inclement weather poses additional difficulties.

While the cost of implementing the Seoul Robotics LV5 CTRL TWR solution is not insignificant, the ROI is immediately obvious, easily calculated, and substantial. Seoul Robotics have indicated that their Level 5

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Control Tower ‘solution is resonating with other automotive OEMS following the positive results of a well-publicized BMW LV5 CTRL TWR installation in Munich.

Seoul Robotics’ representatives also believe that their LV5 CTRL TWR solution can be applied in other industries including truck manufacturing, car rental sites and more. But perhaps more importantly, the company’s “autonomy through infrastructure” approach will encourage other forward-looking companies to apply the technique in areas unimagined thus far. RR – Dan Kara

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4/7/22 9:33 AM

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BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT — Market Engagement

Smith+Nephew’s Turns to Pittsburgh for Surgical Robotics R&D Center Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Smith+Nephew UK www.smith-nephew.com 2016 10,000+ Business and Management Market Engagement

Description: In October 2021, London-based Smith+Nephew, a $5B multinational medical equipment and technology supplier, opened a new 65,000-square-foot robotics research and development center in Pittsburgh, PA’s Robotics Row. Work at the facility will focus on the development and testing of surgical robotics platforms used for hip and knee replacements. The new center will host approximately 200 employees in a wide range of research and technical roles, including electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, so ware engineers, and cybersecurity experts.

Analysis: With the opening of the new robotics research center, Smith+Nephew is expanding its presence in Pittsburgh. In 2016, the company acquired Carnegie Mellon University spinoff and Pittsburgh-based Blue Belt Technologies, the developer of the Navio surgical system for knee replacement, for $275 million. According to Smith+Nephew, the number of local Smith+Nephew employees has more than tripled since the acquisition (over 180 local full-time workers).

The Blue Belt subsidiary alone made Pittsburgh the obvious choice for the location of the new research center. But that was not the only decision criteria. Smith+Nephew officials have indicated that three cities were

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in the running for the new facility.

Pittsburgh has a well-deserved reputation as an international robotics cluster. It is home to world-class robotics research universities – Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh - and many commercial robotics companies. The reinvigorated and dynamic Pittsburgh Robotics Network is one of the world’s leading robotics clusters.

Smith+Nephew’s new robotics research center further solidifies the Pittsburgh area’s international robotics standing, but more importantly will bolster surgical robotics R&D and speed commercialization efforts. RR – Dan Kara

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Primary or Applied Research

Swiss-Mile’s Hybrid Mobility Benefits Quadruped Robots Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Swiss Mile Switzerland www.swiss-mile.com 2021 1-10 Technology, Services & Research Primary or Applied Research

Description: Swiss-Mile, a spin-off of ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab, is commercializing robots that have both legs and wheels to perform a variety of tasks, including mapping, inspection, disaster relief, and logistics in urban environments. The robot is based on ETH’s ANYmal quadruped and can travel at speeds up to 13.87 MPH (22.32 kilometers per hour) with a payload capacity up to 110 lb (50 kg).

The hybrid robot uses a combination of GPS, LiDAR, and cameras to autonomously navigate city streets and avoid obstacles. According to Swiss-Mile, the robots have a two-hour runtime per battery charge.

Analysis: Swiss-Mile is extending the capabilities of mobile robots by deploying a hybrid mobility platform that can overcome challenging obstacles like stairs and enable seamless navigation in indoor and outdoor environments. Being able to use both wheels and legs helps robots efficiently adapt to different situations, trading the ability to traverse rough terrain for speed, and likely outperforming wheeled mobile delivery robots or quadrupeds.

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This is not the first time we have seen a robot with both legs and wheels, but it could be one of the first hybrid systems to be commercialized. Boston Dynamics’ Handle robot initially had both, but that system evolved into Stretch, which uses only wheels.

Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics, has said a wheel-leg hybrid robotics system could go anywhere in the world as it offers “the best of both worlds.” RR – Steve Crowe

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4/7/22 9:37 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Tangram Vision Simplifies Perceptionpowered Robotics Development Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Tangram Vision USA www.tangramvision.com 2020 1-10 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: The Tangram Vision Platform (TVP) is a suite of tools to streamline adding and maintaining sensors for robots and autonomous vehicles. TVP includes a number of sub-modules to manage many of the most complicated yet essential perception tasks.

TVCal, Tangram Vision’s flagship calibration suite, is designed to simultaneously calibrate any number of sensors of the most commonly used modalities. TVMux, Tangram Vision’s sensor multiplexer module, makes sensors stream immediately when plugged in, listens for failures to attempt automatic restarts, and maintains total system stability should a sensor stop working.

And Hub is a perception-specific database that makes sensors and sensor data savable, organizable and searchable.

Analysis: The TVP makes it simpler to develop perception-powered robots, while also letting those platforms operate more reliably when faced with real-world challenges.

Robots and AVs rely on perception sensors to let them understand and interact with the world around them. Yet the sensors that are meant to enable these autonomous platforms frequently hold them back. This is largely due to a reliance on open-source perception tools from robotics’ hobbyist past

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and a lack of interoperability between sensor manufacturers and sensor types.

This house-of-cards approach results in perception performance that becomes particularly stressed when a platform starts to scale. The Tangram Vision Platform replaces this with an enterprise-grade system to bring scalability and reliability to the perception systems that are becoming ubiquitous as more robots and AVs are deployed worldwide. RR – Steve Crowe

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

TerraClear Creating ‘Roomba’ of Rock Picking Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

TerraClear USA www.terraclear.com 2017 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: TerraClear’s rock picker, which attaches to skid steers and compact loaders, can collect up to 400 rocks per hour, picking rocks weighing up to 300 pounds without any manual labor.

First, the system uses a drone to map a field and determine the size and location of every rock that needs to be picked. That information is mapped and the most efficient path for picking up the rocks is plotted. The picker follows the path on the map and with the push of a button picks up each rock.

TerraClear is working to integrate artificial intelligence and computer vision with tractor guidance systems to fully automate the entire rock picking process.

Analysis: Robots are ideal for tasks that are dull, dirty, and dangerous. Thus, rock picking is a perfect application for robotics. These large, heavy rocks not only break the backs of those picking them up, but they can also damage expensive precision farming machinery that is in common use by farmers for planting, irrigating and harvesting.

TerraClear founder Brent Frei grew up on a farm in Idaho, meaning he has

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firsthand knowledge of the problem to guide development of the product. There are 400plus million arable acres worldwide that have been waiting for a cost-effective and productive solution to removing rocks. The system TerraClear is developing has a vast opportunity and can reduce the labor and time needed to prep fields for planting. RR – Steve Crowe

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 9:41 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Toposens Launches ECHO ONE DK Ultrasonic Echolocation Sensor for Object Detection in 3D Space Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Toposens Germany www.toposens.com 2015 11-50 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In October 2021, Munich, Germany-based Toposens GmbH released the ECHO ONE DK, a low power, ultrasonic echolocation sensor and development kit for 3D collision avoidance. The ECHO ONE DK, which features a IP67 protection rating, provides for 3D object detection in an ultrashort operating range om 20cm up to 3m. It offers a wide field-of-view of up to 180° in ultrashort range and up to 110° at 3m. The ECHO ONE DK also ships with the Toposens Sensor Library (C++), ROS Implementation Package, and cross-platform Toposens 3D Visualizer.

Analysis: Ultrasonic sensors, which use pulsed, highfrequency sound waves and time-of-flight measurements to determine distances to objects, have the advantage over other sensing systems in that they can detect objects regardless of the makeup of their surfaces and in challenging conditions (weather, reflections etc.). As such, conventional 1D ultrasonic sensors possess many qualities that make them suitable for close-range object detection and avoidance.

However, 1D ultrasonic sensors have a limited field of view and cannot detect objects in 3D space.

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Toposens’ ECHO ONE DK solution offers the advantages of traditional 1D ultrasonic sensors (robustness, reliability, light tolerance etc.), but provides for greater sensing coverage, supplying rich and reliable data for 3D perception. This makes the ECHO ONE DK extremely well-suited as a sensing solution for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and other types of robotic systems where perception in 3D space is necessary for safe and efficient operation. RR – Dan Kara

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APPLICATION & MARKET INNOVATION — Utilities

ULC Technologies Automates Underground Infrastructure Mapping Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

ULC Technologies USA ulctechnologies.com 2001 101-500 Application & Market Innovation Utilities

Description: The most common cause of underground infrastructure damage is not knowing where the infrastructure is located. The increased use of plastic pipes also reduces the reliability of existing underground scanning devices. The Robotic Underground Survey System (RUSS) employs the latest Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) sensors to autonomously map underground infrastructure before the start of a digging operation.

Analysis:

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In 2019, the Common Ground Alliance DIRT Report estimated that the annual societal costs of damages to buried utilities in the U.S. is approximately $30 billion.

RUSS is a semi-autonomous system that assists utility crews in locating and surveying underground infrastructure and by creating accurate maps of buried pipelines and cables.

The robot employs a dual antenna Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with multiple degrees-of-freedom to adjust antenna polarization angles and initiate multiple scanning modes.

This allows for improved performance compared to conventional manual scanning that employs a human operator pushing a single antenna mounted in a cart.

Precise positioning of the dual antenna system is performed autonomously to provide finer resolution scans than a manual scan.

The base unit navigates along a predetermined path and avoids collisions leveraging several sensors that include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, ultrasonic and LiDAR. RR – Mike Oitzman

www.therobotreport.com

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 9:45 AM

Technology, Services & Research — Services Introduction

Verizon Forms Robotics Business Technology Business Unit Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Verizon USA www.verizon.com 2000 500+ Technology, Services & Research Services Introduction

Description: In August 2021, Verizon’s New Business Incubation group announced the formation of a new business unit – Robotics Business Technology (RBT). According to Verizon officials, the new group combines Verizon’s Skyward, a drone management subsidiary, and incubed IT, a developer of so ware for autonomous mobile robots, which is also owned by Verizon. An additional engineering team focused on robot control using 5G Ultra-Wideband rounded out the group.

Analysis: It is important that the RBT is focused on 5G communication and edge computing, specifically the development of software for unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and mobile robots. Compared with earlier generations of mobile network technology, 5G provides for greater levels of raw speed and security, as well as lower latency and higher capacity.

As such, 5G (coupled with edge computing) provides for capabilities that were largely impossible prior to the advent of 5G such as mixed vehicle communications between fleets of drones or mobile robots, and offloading compute to cloud-based services.

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The real significance of the RBT unit’s formation, however, is not just the group’s intentions and objectives, but the ability to deliver on those aims and meet its goals.

Other companies can launch dedicated robotics- or 5G-focused business units (or both), but Verizon is not just another company. Verizon is a multinational with massive resources at its disposable, and equally massive 5G and edge computing expertise, that combined can contribute significantly in ways that will drive the global robotics sector forward. RR – Dan Kara

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Primary or Applied Research

Virginia Tech’s FAA Approved Methods Open Doors for Drone Companies Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Virginia Tech USA https://vt.edu/ 1872 13,000 Technology, Services & Research Primary or Applied Research

Description: Virginia Tech’s newly FAA-approved testing methods open the doors for many companies to get their drones in the sky. The university’s testing methods take into consideration drones that are designed with intentional structural weaknesses.

The FAA’s criteria for drone flight over people is based on the amount of kinetic energy it transfers upon impact. It doesn’t take into account drones designed to crack or break upon impact, which lessens the amount of energy transferred.

Analysis: Safety regulations are one of the biggest hurdles the drone industry is facing. In December 2020, the FAA updated its rules for drone flight, allowing drones that met certain conditions to fly over people. Under the new ruling, a drone’s speed and weight, as well as if it has exposed propellers, are the main deciding factors in whether the drone can fly over people.

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Virginia Tech’s methods take into consideration how drones actually act in the real world by adjusting for drones that are designed to break on impact. With Virginia Tech’s testing, more drones can be designed to meet the FAA’s standards. This makes them able to fly in more places and brings us a step closer to wider drone adoption in the U.S. RR – Brianna Wessling

THE ROBOT REPORT

4/7/22 9:46 AM

TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

Viveka 3D Stereovision Solution Born of Necessity Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

Vissavi.tech Poland https://vissavi.tech/ 1986 500+ Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: Vissavi.tech’s Viveka 3D stereovision solution is a ROS-based, modular, cloud-connected platform for image capture, processing and analysis. Initially developed for through-hole assembly of electronic components on PCB boards, the Viveka 3D system delivers high levels of measurement accuracy (<0.03 mm), and can acquire images, process them, and then transfer the data to robotics systems in less than 300 milliseconds.

Central to the Viveka 3D system is the THT Check Component module for detecting the position of electrical component leads, the first vision module designed for Vissavi.tech engineers. The company has indicated that additional vision-based measurement modules for electronics manufacturing operations such as PCB hole detection, component edge detection, and shape detection, are under development.

Analysis: The Viveka 3D system was developed following a survey of existing commercial solutions were evaluated for a complex electronics component assembly process at a customer site (inserting components into a PCB board). All were found to be lacking. As a result, Vissavi.tech decided to develop their own solution for component insertion.

Prior to the development of the Viveka3D solution, the cycle time for robots inserting components into PCBs was greater than that of manual methods, and even then the accuracy was suboptimal. Not so after the

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Viveka 3D system was implemented.

Using images from two cameras, Vissavi. tech’s software builds a spatial model of the leads of electronic components in which deviations in their position can be tracked with great exactness. Robots utilize this detailed information to insert electronic components into PCBs quickly and with a high level of accuracy (yield of 99.8%). For Vissavi. tech engineers, the Viveka 3D stereovision solution attests to the truth of the old adage “necessity is the mother of invention” - and opportunity. RR – Dan Kara

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TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES & RESEARCH — Product Introduction

XACT Robotics’s ACE Xtend Protects Surgeons and Others Organization Name: Country: Website: Year Founded: Number of Employees: Innovation Class: Innovation Subclass:

XACT Robotics USA https://xactrobotics.com 2013 51-100 Technology, Services & Research Product Introduction

Description: In October 2021, XACT Robotics introduced ACE Xtend, a remote control add-on solution that allows the company’s XACT ACE Robotic System for image-guided percutaneous procedures (ex. biopsies, ablations and site-specific drug delivery) to be operated om a control room at a distance.

Analysis: XACT Robotics’s XACT ACE Robotic System has proven to be highly effective for robotically assisted percutaneous procedures. The system allows for CT-guided, hands free, robotic insertion and instrument steering, dexterously and exactingly positioning instruments within the body. According to XACT Robotics, the ACE system is the only product that can steer an instrument through a non-linear trajectory.

The advanced capabilities of the XACT Robotics’s solution underscores why the use of robotics assisted surgical systems continues to increase steadily in number and the types of procedures they support.

In addition, investment funding for surgical

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robotics firms remains high and shows no signs of abatement. As expected, new systems and supporting technologies come to market with regularity.

XACT Robotics’s ACE Xtend solution is such a type of supporting technology. ACE Xtend protects surgeons and others from harmful exposure to radiation and pathogens during procedures, while reducing physical strain on the system’s operator. That is a good thing, which will also generate additional opportunities for using XACT’s ACE Robotic System, as well as remove one more adoption barrier for robotics assisted surgical solutions overall. RR – Dan Kara

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Small installation space?

Don’t compromise on performance Generally speaking, electric motors are not “lone wolves” but for most applications need to be combined with gearheads for speed reduction as well as encoders.

To ensure that the components are perfectly matched to each other and to minimise installation requirements, it is recommended to obtain the individual components as a complete solution from a single source. Even in cases where installation space is extremely tight and where high-torque drives are required which, owing to the installation situation, need to be as short as possible, there is a practice-oriented solution that is especially suitable for applications in robotics, prosthetic joints, laboratory automation, pumps, medical technology or aircraft cabin equipment.

FAULHABER MICROMO www.faulhaber.com 14881 Evergreen Ave Clearwater, FL 33762 USA

Drive Systems evolved (faulhaber.com)

800-807-9166

GAM provides a full range of zero-backlash robotic flange gearboxes GAM’s extensive product offering includes three different zero-backlash gearboxes: Strain Wave (harmonic), Cycloidal, and the revolutionary Zero-Backlash Planetary.

• GPL zero-backlash planetary gearbox features a unique design ensuring backlash of ≤ 0.1 arcmin for the life of the gearbox. The GPL provides vibrationfree motion and high positional accuracy for precise smooth path control and repeatability with a life of 20,000 hours.

• GCL cycloidal gearbox provides precise point-to-point motion and high impact resistance of 5x nominal torque with the option of an integral pre-stage.

• GSL strain wave gearbox uses harmonic-type gearing for high accuracy and drops in for popular competitor gearboxes.

With three options, GAM can provide the zero-backlash robotic flange gearbox for your precision application.

www.therobotreport.com

GAM Enterprises, Inc. 801 E Business Center Drive Mount Prospect, IL 60056 888.GAM.7117 | 847.649.2500 www.gamweb.com info@gamweb.com

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Robotics Robotics

Harmonic Drive Servo Grade AMR Propulsion Drive Trains The drive wheels on Autonomous Mobile Robot platforms benefit from the inherent characteristics of harmonic planetary technology; primarily, smoothness of travel, backdrivability, and an efficiency curve that does not degrade over time.

The integral cross roller bearing construction contributes to an excellent balance of torque density, stiffness, and radial load support in a compact and reliable package. Available in dozens of standard reduction ratios, these low backlash drive trains include motor adaptation as required.

42 Dunham Ridge Beverly, MA 01915 United States www.harmonicdrive.net

Harmonic Drive is a registered trademark of Harmonic Drive Systems

Motorizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Unmanned vehicles require reliable components and, above all, energyefficient drives that ensure the longest possible uptime. maxon DC motors meet these requirements without difficulty. Unmanned aerial vehicles enable dangerous missions, such as flying in disaster areas. maxon engineers transfer their knowledge from custom projects to other projects, whether actuators in passenger planes or stabilizers in unmanned aircraft.

• Observation: Inspection, agriculture, mapping and delivery drones.

• Payload mechanisms: control surface actuators, electro-optics, gimbal and load drives, winch and load mechanisms.

• Drive systems consisting of an optimized combination of motor, controller and propeller for multirotor, fixed-wing and VTOL aircraft. maxon’s new UAV propulsion drive system is safe, efficient and ready for take-off. maxon actively supports UAV manufacturers with their ambitious designs, up to certification. Our UAV product portfolio offers matched combinations of motors, ESCs and propellers, for optimized propulsion systems providing maximum efficiency and reliability. Hence, operational safety and flight time are maximized, and costs of ownership dramatically cut down. maxon is continuously enhancing its portfolio to offer customers an extensive range of solutions. Reach out to us to get your ideas off the ground!

Visit uav.maxongroup.com for more maxon solutions.

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maxon precision motors, inc.

125 Dever Drive Taunton, MA 02780 Phone: 508.677.0520 www.maxongroup.us info.us@maxongroup.com

www.therobotreport.com

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Robotics

Maximize Robot ROI with Efficient Re-Deployment

Robots are flexible and adaptable. Quickly re-tasking robots for job variety can be challenging.

Some common solutions: Changing workpieces – Quick-change gripper fingers and gripper changeouts are easily automated for workpiece variety or changing workpiece characteristics during manufacturing.

Flexible machine table fixtures – Robots are widely identified for their ability to handle workpieces. They also excel at automatically replacing fixtures and other peripheral tooling.

Automating multiple tasks – Use the robot to accomplish a secondary task. Instead of remaining idle during machining, the robot can automatically deburr workpieces.

Adjustable custom tooling – Use dove tails and adjustable mountings in EOATs to expand tools for changing conditions or reach requirements.

Many standard solutions are available - make the most of your investment with automation expert support today!

SCHUNK: 211 Kitty Hawk Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560 919-572-2705 info@us.schunk.com

It’s not a web page, it’s an industry information site So much happens between issues of R&D World that even another issue would not be enough to keep up. That’s why it makes sense to visit rdworldonline.com and stay on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.

It’s updated regularly with relevant technical information and other significant news for the design engineering community.

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DESIGN WORLD ONLINE EVENTS AND WEBINARS Check out the DESIGN WORLD WEBINAR SERIES where manufacturers share atheir experiences and expertise to help design engineers better understand technology, product related issues and challenges.

WEBINAR SERIES

FOR UPCOMING AND ON-DEMAND WEBINARS, GO TO: www.designworldonline.com/design-world-online-events-and-webinars

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Engineering April 2022

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Companies that care

According to the Global Sustainability Study 2021, 85% of respondents indicated that they shifted their purchasing behavior toward greater sustainability in the past five years, with more than one-third willing to pay more for environmentally friendly options. This shift to “greener” products even rose during the pandemic.

Although there’s room in most sectors for leaner manufacturing (with extra credit to those companies that buy and make in America), the fastener industry has advantages. Stainless steel is one of the most used materials in manufacturing fasteners with a strong attribute: it is nearly 100% recyclable.

Stainless steel also has an attractive scrap value because of elements, such as nickel and or alloys, often included in its composition.

And given its high resistance to corrosion, a well-chosen and properly installed fastener can last decades. In fact, studies show that the total cost of stainless steel can be 30 to 40% lower than other materials when factoring in repair and replacement costs.

However, there is one caveat. To make steel, iron has to be mined, a process that typically results in the deposition of waste materials that are far from environmentally friendly. This means it’s extremely important to buy stainless-steel fasteners from companies that showcase strong environmental ethics.

For example, several years ago global fastening solutions provider Penn Engineering switched to lead-free materials for the manufacture of its entire cataloged product line of steel fasteners. Fastener manufacturer,

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BUMAX, currently sources about 80% of its stainless steel from recycled raw materials.

And full-service distributor, General Fasteners Company, is committed to a sustainable supply base and is a member of CDP (formerly, the Carbon Disclosure Project).

CDP is a not-for-profit that provides a global disclosure system for companies and regions to manage their environmental impacts. It currently holds the largest global collection of self-reported climate change, water, and forest-risk data, with the goal of driving companies to more sustainable conduct.

Of course, stainless steel is not the only material for fasteners. There are plastics, aluminum, various alloys, and chemical fasteners. Fortunately, there are now several successful options for better sustainability, specific to adhesives and sealants (read more in the article on page 150).

The key, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is to do your due diligence, work collaboratively with external stakeholders, and focus on the long-term results. (Visit tinyurl.com/ EcoEPA for more tips).

Thanks for doing your part and enjoy the read! FE

www.fastenerengineering.com

| AdobeStock.com

Sustainability is on the rise — especially the demand for it. More than ever, companies are asked to show rather than tell, providing evidence of sustainable actions and a reduced carbon footprint. Regulatory standards are also increasing, often requiring businesses to disclose metrics such as emissions.

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will advance to meet F a s t e n i n g

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J o i n i n g

A Climate of Change The demand for more sustainable adhesives and sealants Michelle Froese • Editor

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Consumers’ environmental concerns and increasing regulations are fueling demand for more sustainable adhesive options.

As the push toward sustainability continues,

demands for greater accountability and long-term environmental commitments have targeted most, if not all, manufacturing industries. The chemical sector is no stranger to these pressures or expectations. Fortunately, many in the adhesives and sealants market consider sustainable strategies and stricter regulations a necessity — and have for some time.

In 2011, for example, Together for Sustainability (TfS) launched as a chemical company initiative to assess, audit, and improve sustainability practices within global supply chains. It partnered with EcoVadis to provide these assessments via scorecards. The EcoVadis methodology covers 21 criteria across four themes: the environment,

sustainable procurement, ethics, as well as labor and human rights.

Several chemical companies are also conducting product testing to measure carbon properties. For instance, Ingevity Corporation recently asked consulting firm Environmental Resources Management to determine the carbon-negative properties of the pine-based raw materials found in Ingevity’s WestRez 5101 tackifier adhesive. WestRez 5101 is suitable for packaging, tapes, labels, and construction adhesive applications.

The result: it completely offset the volume of greenhouse-gas emissions produced during

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F a s t e n i n g

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J o i n i n g Henke’s bio-based Technomelt Supra ECO product lines are the first high-melt solutions that capture CO2 emissions.

Simulating sustainability Engineers often struggle to obtain accurate engineering data on tapes and adhesives to effectively run simulations — this results in excess material waste and additional prototyping cycles, which hinders sustainability efforts.

In response to this challenge, 3M and Ansys have collaborated to create an industry material modeling training program that teaches engineers how to employ simulations with tape and structural adhesives to optimize adhesive and joint design, decrease waste, and improve production efficiency.

“Engineers can significantly reduce costly material waste and help power teamwide environmental sustainability by mastering a rapid and robust solution that helps determine the optimum adhesive and joint design for bonding applications,” shared Shane Emswiler, senior VP at Ansys.

The Ansys Learning Hub courses are taught by 3M research scientists, with live and virtual workshops offered here: tinyurl.com/BondingCourse

Ansys Learning Hub courses, which are taught by 3M research scientists, support engineers in developing less wasteful and more sustainable designs using tapes and adhesives.

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manufacturing, generating a carbon footprint 12% lower than petroleumbased alternatives.

This is good news, but progress takes time. Several adhesives in use today still use fuel-based raw materials and plastics, which are harmful to the environment. Developing products that offer acceptable application and cure times, ensure reliable bonds over time, and meet toxicity and flammability requirements is challenging to say the least.

This is particularly true while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, such as limiting volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs are substances often used in manufacturing adhesives and sealants, which are emitted as gases that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone with the potential to cause adverse health effects.

The low VOC adhesive market is comprised of adhesives that offer little to no off-gassing — meaning it is possible to make better choices and successfully innovate. In fact, this is what much of the adhesives industry is continually working on: innovation.

According to a report from The Freedonia Group, adhesive and sealant manufacturers, globally, are increasingly focusing on producing products that reduce their carbon footprint and that of their end-users. And as demands increase for more sustainable products, so will the R&D that brings formulas that are naturally derived and include recyclable materials. Fortunately, there are a few ways adhesives can be manufactured in a way that’s healthier for the environment.

Make them biodegradable Pre-pandemic, Boston University (BU) researchers developed an adhesive formula that naturally degrades after use.

To be labeled biodegradable, adhesives must be made from natural substances that are formulated to break down into carbon dioxide (CO2), water, or other natural gases through bacteria and other micro-organisms. The main

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Recyclable packaging Adhesive manufacturer, Henkel, has developed a software tool, EasyD4R, which determines the recyclability of new packaging. It evaluates packaging based on its composition and the individual weight proportions of the respective components, including the recyclability of the materials, closures, labels, colors, and so on.

EasyD4R is available publicly. Download the recyclability evaluation tool for free at tinyurl.com/EasyD4R.

ingredient in the formula created by the BU team is CO2.

According to an article on the BU website: “This polymeric adhesive system, composed of environmentally benign building blocks, implements carbon-dioxide sequestration techniques, poses minimal environmental hazards, exhibits varied peel strengths from scotch tape to hotmelt wood-glue, and adheres to metal, glass, wood, and Teflon surfaces.” (Read more at tinyurl.com/BioAdhesives) Although CO2 is typically considered a pollutant in large volumes, in this case the adhesive material repurposes carbon dioxide that would otherwise go into the atmosphere. The formula can be adapted for several industrial and

medical applications, meaning it’s safe to use on skin.

There is a significant need for more biodegradable options for medical use (such as wound care), finds a study by ResearchAndMarkets. In such cases, pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) that decompose naturally, are ideal. PSAs adhere with the application of pressure, requiring no solvent or heat for activation.

Currently, cyanoacrylate adhesive is commonly used as a tissue sealant, but it’s non-biodegradable and can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.

Medical tapes are also often manufactured using solvent-based polymers. When the solvent evaporates, the polymers harden into an adhesive — but the byproducts are burned,

creating unnecessary pollutants. Global conglomerate, 3M, has a Medical Solutions Division that’s long been committed to developing tapes and dressings that are manufactured without the use of solvents.

Instead, they use hot-melt or water-based adhesives with zero solvent bioproducts.

For the labeling and packaging industry, biodegradable options are advancing more quickly. Water-based BioTAK S100 is one example of a completely biodegradable and compostable adhesive, developed by Sustainable Adhesive Products B.V. The BioTAK formula is also approved for direct food contact, such as the small labels found on produce.

Use bio-based materials Rather than relying on conventional

By relying on a certified, mass-balanced polyurethane raw material for its reactive hot-melt adhesives, H.B. Fuller is reducing CO2 emissions and conserving fossilbased raw materials.

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fossil-based raw materials, bio-based adhesives and sealants use, at least in part, renewable materials. These typically include starch, cellulose, proteins (such as casein), vegetable oils, lignin, or natural resins.

Global adhesives provider, H.B. Fuller, recently announced that it has been working with one of the world’s largest polymer suppliers, Covestro, to deliver an adhesive with a reduced climate impact for the automotive, textiles, woodworking, and composites industries.

“We believe that any way CO2 emissions can be reduced should be embraced, no matter how small, because many small steps can add up to a strong economy of scale and a giant leap forward for the adhesives industry,” shared Iñaki Sigler, H.B. Fuller’s global product manager for the Woodworking and Composites division, in a recent statement.

According to H.B. Fuller — which has completed the EcoVadis assessment every year since 2015 — the new ingredient is a bio-attributed raw material that will replace a proportion of fossil-based raw materials. The massbalanced polyurethane material will be used in a reactive hot-melt adhesive and is ISCC-PLUS certified, which is a sustainability certification program for bio-based and recycled raw materials.

By gradually converting its production to alternative raw materials, Covestro aims to replace fossil materials and make its value chains more sustainable.

“We see this new, strategic product development as an investment in all our futures and a commitment to a more sustainable world,” said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, head of Coatings and Adhesives at Covestro.

Today, it’s not uncommon for the hot-melt formulas used to incorporate a target of about 50% bio-based raw material, at least in the packaging industry. The problem with surpassing this percentage has typically been production concerns, such as slower

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Late last year, global chemical company Henkel released a hot-melt solution that captures CO2 emissions.

Technomelt Supra ECO is the first carbon-negative, hot-melt made with a high portion of bio-based material. In fact, Henkel’s scientists were able to develop a formula that exceeded more than 80% of bio-based raw material input without losing performance.

“As we had a very close look at the values we can deliver, we found out that our solutions are not only able to reduce CO2 output during procurement and production but, furthermore, bind CO2 if you look at the overall balance for the global warming potential in 100 years,” said Sergio Mattos, head of Product Development, North America at Henkel. “We were very happy when we saw the results of the calculations — a negative cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint is the best possible outcome.”

Henkel’s manufacturing plants and processes are certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification, which ensures traceability of bio-based material throughout the supply chain and assures its sustainable sourcing.

Choose compostable or repulpable As the demand for compostable packaging is increasing, so is the need to switch to compostable labels and the adhesives that bond these labels.

Compostable adhesives can be considered a sub-set of the biodegradable options. However, they’re eventually broken down as compost and work in a wasteremediation system. Ideally, these formulas leave no harmful residue or waste behind once fully composted — and result in compost that can later be used to enhance or fertilize soil.

In the U.S., the Biodegradable Products Institute is responsible for officially certifying a product as compostable. To be certified, at least 90% of the adhesive must decompose

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after 90 days into CO2 and water vapor.

The remaining portion of the adhesive must not impair the quality of the compost soil.

Materials science and manufacturing company, Avery Dennison, offers a biodegradable portfolio with S9500, a compostable range with “facestock and adhesive combinations that can be reintroduced into nature.” The S9500 adhesive was awarded the OK Compost certificate and is recognized as biodegradable and compostable.

Another Avery Dennison product from its Label and Packaging Materials division is TrueCut All-Temp Adhesive Technology, AT2550, which was purpose-built for paper facestocks in shipping, warehouse, and logistics applications. Significantly, AT2550 is also repulpable, meeting the testing criteria of the Tag and Label Manufacturing Industry (TLMI) Recycling Compatible Adhesive LRP-2 Lab Test Protocol, which confirms an adhesive is fully recycled at a label’s end-life.

Repulpable adhesives completely dissolve in water during paper repulping operations without leaving a contaminating residue behind. They’re by far one of the most sustainable glue options.

Clearly, it is possible to develop and manufacture more sustainable adhesives and sealants that support climate-change efforts. But this requires modification of existing products and advanced ideas, technologies, and protocols.

Fortunately, many in the industry have already taken steps to ensure such practices are becoming commonplace. FE

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ELECTROLOC

TM

LOW HALOGEN, PRE-APPLIED THREADLOCKER Powerful, epoxy-based, microencapsulated threadlocking for electronic components

Electroloc is a high-strength, microencapsulated epoxy threadlocker designed for use in systems requiring a halogen content of under 500ppm. By utilizing extra-small microcaps, Electroloc exhibits minimal material extrusion on electronic fasteners during installation, providing a clean environment and consistent torque values. Electroloc arrives at your factory dry to the touch and ready for immediate assembly.

Industrial

Aerospace

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Consumer Technologies

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The importance of testing concrete anchors

James J. Hahn • Product Manager • US Anchor Division Brighton-Best International The damage from earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and wind forces to various structures has led to

increasingly stringent building codes to ensure safety.

There’s a process to identify weaknesses in structures and attachments after these events occur to assess their ability to meet established standards. This also extends to various types of anchoring products.

The types of anchors used for construction and industrial applications are segmented into light, medium, and heavy-duty categories. Adhesive anchors offer an alternative, non-mechanical option for forming attachments in concrete and masonry base materials, and typically for anchoring threaded inserts.

• Light-duty – Leads, lags, machine screws, single/double expansions, drive types, wallboards, plastic nylon types, and toggle bolts.

• Medium-duty – Concrete screws and sleeve anchors.

• Heavy-duty – Wedge type, larger diameter concrete screws, and drop-in types.

• Adhesive anchors – Epoxy and polyester products used in conjunction with B7 studs or other threaded inserts.

Meeting the codes Building codes were established to assess the ability of products to meet or exceed standards. These codes are reviewed and updated continuously. Medium and heavy-duty mechanical anchors, and adhesive anchors, are typically (and ideally) tested to meet these code approvals.

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Anchor torque-testing set-up. A fastener’s torque values are typically determined by the manufacturer to ensure the correct clamping force of the anchor is achieved during installation.

Who establishes these codes?

Concrete fastener criteria fall under ASTM codes and the concrete criteria are under the American Concrete Institute or ACI codes.

ASTM is an international standards organization, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, which develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for various materials and products. ACI sets forth proper methods of designing and constructing buildings of reinforced concrete.

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These codes are reviewed by esteemed members of the engineering community who are members of key committees. Their assessment of changes to existing codes is accomplished by consent after thorough review. In many cases, product testing criteria are reviewed and updated based on new findings and recommendations.

Code agencies National code agencies have also evolved to establish evaluation and approval processes. Some of these www.fastenerengineering.com

agencies are regional and others are national.

There is continuous dialog and coordination among international code agencies to update testing criteria, which is handed down from the code committees as guidelines for testing.

There are two main domestic agencies: 1. International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), a premier product certification program for North America 2. Miami Dade County for code compliance and ordinances April 2022

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An overview of a testing lab.

Testing protocol The following are critical and established requirements in the testing protocol for anchors used in construction and industrial applications.

• Concrete slabs must be poured to a specific psi (pounds per square inch).

Additionally, they must be pre-tested and part of the final testing report.

• A statement of work (S.O.W) must be communicated to the code agencies and client before testing.

• The lead P.E. must oversee all aspects of the testing protocol.

• The concrete composition must meet the stated criteria in the S.O.W. declaration.

• All product samples to be tested should be independently selected by the testing lab at the manufacturer’s warehouse and shipped directly to the lab.

• The testing equipment used must be calibrated prior to testing.

• All photos of the testing processes and results must be properly documented. The

testing equipment should also be connected to a laptop computer to graph results.

• The carbide drill bits must be measured before and after each drilled hole.

• Testing results may indicate concrete breakout or steel failure.

• The testing lab should communicate regularly with the manufacturer, updating

them on the ongoing process and results. At times, additional testing or redesign of the product is required.

• Completed test reports should be sent back to the evaluation agencies. The

assigned evaluation engineer or examiner then arranges for an internal peer review before the final disposition and publication.

• Once approved, the report is published with a specific expiration date.

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These agencies have, gradually, adopted similar processes and requirements. As a result of hurricanes and the presence of salt air and water, Miami Dade County requires corrosion testing as part of its approval process. Wind considerations are also another area of concern and part of their evaluation process.

The ICC-ES emphasizes applications affected by seismic events and, particularly, in the western United States.

New code requirements include tiedowns for residential and commercial buildings for structures including concrete slabs, roof connections, and others.

Cracked and uncracked concrete evaluation is also now an established testing criterion to meet anchor codes.

This testing process is extremely sophisticated, and costly, with only a handful of testing labs capable of completing these tests.

In addition to mechanical anchor testing, epoxy and certain adhesive products must meet the requirements of the code agencies.

Testing labs Testing entities must meet the strict requirements and be sanctioned by the evaluation and approval agencies, which includes periodical inspections.

These labs are considered third-party entities and must have “an arm’s length” relationship with the manufacturers of the products that are undergoing testing.

The testing labs are headed up by professional engineers (P.E.) who oversee the actual testing protocol and coordinate all activities with the code agencies. Typically, the code agencies assign a lead engineer who works with the testing labs P.E.’s until the final evaluation is completed and the approval published.

Types of testing There are several types of tests, depending on the anchor and its intended use. The tests help verify the structural strength of the anchoring DESIGN WORLD

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A tensile and shear test determines the lateral strength capacity of the anchor.

system or base material. Certain tests require lab work and others can be done onsite at the job.

• Site-specific – This is testing done

at a job site instead of at a testing lab.

Typically, anchors are specifically tested to the contractor’s onsite, concrete conditions.

Pull-out – Also known as tension characteristics, this test extricates an anchor upwards and out of the hole in the concrete.

Shear – This is a lateral test of the steel body’s strength.

Edge and spacing – anchors are tested at both minimum and critical distances.

Embedments – Anchors are tested at various hole depths to include minimum and normal embedment requirements.

integrity and reliability of anchors and the application.

These often include:

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• A bi-annual inspection that’s

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• Secondary testing – There are additional non-critical tests to round out the overall testing program.

There are also manufacturing or factory requirements, designed to ensure the overall

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completed by the ICC-ES, with annual inspections by Miami Dade County.

A Quality Manual, which is required and updated for review by inspectors.

Equipment and best practices that are reviewed on site.

The traceability of raw materials used in manufacturing must be verified.

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Creep testing measures the alteration of this material after it has undergone extreme stress.

Additional requirements Anchor packaging serves as an important indication of the anchor type, including its specs and instructions for installation — which are a must. The testing approval number and logo must be affixed on all anchor packaging.

Approvals and logos can be included in the spec sheets and marketing materials with some limitations.

Clearly, the testing of anchoring products offers considerable benefits. For the end-user, it’s an indication of a quality engineered product with testing results that support or exceed expectations. For distributors, it lets them sell and market an approved anchoring product with confidence.

Lastly, for a manufacturer, it’s a reward for their commitment to quality including the costs and time that was involved in the product development. Without such approvals, a product is considered generic with zero testing values to support the performance of a non-tested anchor product. FE

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FASTENERFAIRUSA.COM

FOR

THE INDUSTRY

IN THE OF MANUFACTURING Join us in Detroit, MI! Fastener Fair USA is the only exhibition in the U.S. dedicated to the full supply chain–distributors, mechanical and design engineers, purchasers, wholesalers and OEMs. From automotive to aerospace, construction to HVAC, furniture to appliances, fastener professionals from every segment of the market find the latest products they need at Fastener Fair USA.

Learn more at: fastenerfairusa2022.com/FastenerEngineering May 17: Pre-Show Conference May 18 & 19: Exhibit Hall

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It’s back!

Fastener Fair USA is heading to Detroit

Michelle Froese • Editor About six months after its last U.S. event, Fastener Fair USA is ready to return

— this time, to Detroit Michigan, at Huntington Place from May 17th to 19th. In November, Fastener Fair successfully celebrated its first show in two years and is set to welcome the fastener industry once again, and for good reason.

“Our show has always been held in the spring, somewhere in the Midwest or Eastern part of the country,” shares Bob Chiricosta, event director with RX Global, an international B2B trade exhibition organizer. “After repeated postpostponements because of the pandemic, our goal is to return to normalcy, our original schedule, and to reunite the fastener community again.”

Given the restrictions and event limitations over the last couple of years, the fastener industry is likely more than ready for more in-person opportunities to reconnect and share what’s new.

Fastener Fair USA has been one of North America’s fastest-growing trade shows and conference events for the fastener industry. It is currently the only local exhibition dedicated to the full supply chain, which includes mechanical and design engineers, purchasers, wholesalers, distributors, and OEMs.

Fastener Fair USA is back in full swing with its next event on May 17th to 19th at Huntington Place (formerly, the Cobo Center/TCF Center) in Detroit, Michigan. See you soon!

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Show visitors can expect a comprehensive display of product innovations and demonstrations, technical sessions, and opportunities to connect with peers and industry experts. They can also start planning for next year’s event, which is set for Music City, Nashville in May 2023!

“We also know from experience that when we go to Detroit, we attract a somewhat different group of attendees,” says Chiricosta. “For example, we see far more design and automotive engineers at the event than elsewhere. And it’s typically not only people buying fasteners for today. It’s also the engineers who are contemplating and designing the fasteners for vehicles that we’ll see on the market in five years from now.”

This makes sense considering Michigan is one of the largest manufacturing hubs and home to 96 of

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the top 100 automotive suppliers to North America.

“This is one advantage to switching cities for each event. You’ll see different people and we think this is important to ensure each part of the fastener supply chain has the chance to visit,” he says.

This year’s conferences will take place on Tuesday, May 17th, with the exhibition hall open on Wednesday, May 18th and Thursday, May 19th.

Chiricosta says to expect a curated show floor with leading technical and strategic education sessions, a variety

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Fastener Fair USA covers all areas of the fastener industry, providing insight into key industry trends and information about the latest developments.

of exhibitors (covering automotive, aerospace, construction, furniture, appliances, HVAC, and others), as well as plenty of networking opportunities.

One such opportunity is through the unique Speed Networking Program, which proved a success at the Fastener Fair Mexico event in 2019. How it works: exhibitors and attendees are personally

matched before the show and provided with a meeting time to connect in person at the Speed Networking lounge during the Detroit event.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” he says. “Participants will receive pre-set meetings using our advanced appointment-setting technology and have the chance to connect with 10

Fastening 101: Pre-conference training Don’t miss the Fastener Training Institute’s Fastening 101: Understanding threaded fasteners and the industry that produces them, a one-day class that’s a must for anyone in the fastener industry.

“Training is not just for the inexperienced, it strengthens self-esteem, allows individuals to plan ahead in their career paths, and reinforces corporate loyalty,” says Jo Morris, director of marketing with the Fastener Training Institute.

Fastening 101 covers fastener engineering basics, including product and design fundamentals. Attendees will learn about different market segments where threaded fasteners are used and the cost differences between them. The class also delves into fastener engineering, including information on torque, stress, tightening strategies, bolt strength, tension control, and several other elements.

“Take advantage of every opportunity to learn,” adds Morris. “As Albert Einstein said: ‘Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.’”

Interested in attending? Register at fastenerfairusa.com.

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to 15 exhibitors during the session.”

(Interested in participating? Reach out to MJ McGrath, RX Global marketing director at mj.mcgrath@rxglobal.com.)

Attendees will also not want to miss the Opening Night Networking Party on May 18th, starting at 5:15 p.m.

“It’s at GM Center, General Motor’s world headquarters,” says Chiricosta.

“It should be a fun night of fully catered food and drink, surrounded by some of GM’s latest vehicles. It’s the perfect time to network with the industry…and just enjoy the evening.

We’re really looking forward to it.”

Overall, Fastener Fair visitors and participants can expect to find the latest insights and products with several chances to connect with others in the industry. Thanks to the gradual easing of pandemic-related

restrictions, Chiricosta expects it to be one of the best Fairs to date.

“From our perspective, the industry is busier now than ever. After months of delays ad supply-chain issues, it’s starting to move in full force again with ongoing demands and new innovations,” he says.

“We’re excited to see everyone in Detroit.”

And mark your calendar for next year: Fastener Fair 2023 is hitting Nashville, currently set for May 16th and 17th, 2023.

“We continually send out surveys and poll people in the industry to learn their presences and expectations,” he says.

“Nashville has repeatedly come up as one of the top two locations where participants would like to see the show…so, we’re listening!”

To keep up with the latest news and to register for Fastener Fair USA, visit fastenerfairusa.com. FE

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Connect and discuss this and other engineering design issues with thousands of professionals online

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Selecting the Optimal Washer Flat: Generally used for load disbursement Tab/Lock: Designed to effectively lock an assembly into place Finishing: Often found on consumer products Wave: For obtaining loads when the load is static or the working range is small Belleville: Delivers the highest load capacity of all the spring washers Fender: Distributes a load evenly across a large surface area Shim Stacks: Ideal for simple AND complex applications

Boker’s Inc. 3104 Snelling Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406-1937 Phone: 612-729-9365 TOLL-FREE: 800-927-4377 (in the US & Canada)

bokers.com

Structural Adhesives for Specialty Trucks & Trailers Many truck and trailer manufacturers are making the switch to adhesives instead of traditional welding and fastening. Lowering fuel cost, wind drag, and weight has become an important component in manufacturing specialty vehicles. Results have shown that structural adhesive bonds are often stronger and more reliable. Parker LORD® offers a variety of acrylic, epoxy, and urethane structural adhesives. With help from an industry expert, Ellsworth Adhesives can assist you with product selection and implementing a new production process.

Make a Switch to Adhesives

Ellsworth Adhesives Ellsworth.com (877) 454-9224

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NBK Suggests and Supplies Solutions with Specialty Screws NBK’s history and craftsmanship date back to 1560 when the company first began. Our predecessors were proud to offer their advanced knowledge, state-of-the-art technology and using this today, we have developed various products.

One of NBK’s strengths in the high-tech sector is our Specialty Screws such as vacuum application screws, anti-galling screws, specialty metal screws such as Inconel and Hastelloy, and more.

Furthermore, NBK deals with unique functional screws like low-profile screws, small head diameter screws, captive screws, miniature screws (less than M2), ball transfer screws, ball plungers, clamping screws, and more. We are proud to support our customer’s projects with NBK’s Specialty Screws and their unlimited matching applications. We also offer customized screws!

NBK America LLC 307 East Church Road, Suite 7 King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 484-685-7500 https://www.nbk1560.com/en-US/

A family-owned business since 1955, ND Industries specializes in the development of innovative materials and processes which increase the safety and reliability of fastener assemblies.

Headquartered outside Detroit, Michigan, ND serves a global market with divisions across the continental US, facilities in Taiwan, and licensees around the world. ND’s core business revolves around the application of a wide variety of custom formulated materials onto fasteners and assemblies to aid in functions such as locking, sealing, masking, lubricating, and noise and vibration damping. ND also manufactures a line of bottled adhesive and sealant products under the Vibra-Tite brand name for MRO and retail use.

ND Industries, Inc. www.ndindustries.com info@ndindustries.com

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Pivot Point, Inc. The SLIC Pin™ from Pivot Point is a pin and cotter all-in-one. An excellent alternative to installing e-clips and secondary cotters, the patented SLIC Pin features a spring-loaded plunger which acts as an automatic cotter pin. SLIC installs faster and more consistently than two-piece combinations – increasing productivity, cutting labor costs, and reducing risk of mis-installation and accidental disengagement.

Simply depress the plunger with your finger or a tool in order to remove the pin. Use our “removable” style plunger if removing through small gaps. SLIC Pins can be made in virtually any material and finish. Millions of SLIC Pins are installed every year across all industries. Contact Pivot Point for free samples and information.

Pivot Point, Inc. www.pivotpins.com PO Box 488 Hustisford, WI 53034 761 Industrial Lane Hustisford, WI 53034 800-222-2231

Fastener Engineering This area has long been one of the most read and sought after by our engineering audience! From screws to bolts and adhesives to springs, these critical but often overlooked components are the key to every successful design.

FastenerEngineering.com will serve readers in the mechanical design engineering space, providing news, product developments, application stories, technical how-to articles, and analysis of engineering trends. This site will focus on key issues facing the engineering markets around fastener technology, along with technical background on selected components.

Engineering September 2019

A supplement of Design World

covering nuts, bolts, rivets, screws, u-clips, eye bolts, washers and more.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: • Special print section in select issues of Design World • Fastener Engineering monthly newsletter

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5G TECHNOLOGY WORLD Delivers the Latest 5G Technology Trends

5G Technology World is EEWorldOnline’s newest site covering 5G technology, systems, infrastructure, and wireless design and development.

Get caught up on critical 5G information, check out the following articles on 5GTechnologyWorld.com: Massive MIMO performance testing: Emulate the channel Performing MIMO testing using real-world conditions is critical for successful 5G deployments. www.5gtechnologyworld.com/massive-mimoperformance-testing-emulate-the-channel

5G is hot, keep your components and systems cool 5G’s antennas and the devices that drive them generate more heat than their LTE predecessors. That creates new cooling problems for wireless devices and systems. www.5gtechnologyworld.com/5g-is-hot-keep-yourcomponents-and-systems-cool

5G moves into production, causes test issues 5G Technology World talks with Teradyne’s Jeorge Hurtarte, who explains components and over-the-air production test of 5G components. www.5gtechnologyworld.com/5g-moves-intoproduction-causes-test-issues

IEEE 1588 adds timing performance while reducing cost and risk GPS and GNSS have been the standards for network timing, but they have security issues. A Master clock and IEEE 1588 reduces the risk and lowers installation costs. www.5gtechnologyworld.com/ieee-1588-adds-timingperformance-while-reducing-cost-and-risk

For additional content, go to: www.5gtechnologyworld.com

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Electric actuators as an alternative to

Part 1 of 2:

hydraulic cylinders

Here we compare these two linear-motion technologies — and hint at a common sizing error when converting to electric actuation.

Ryan Klemetson • Business Development Manager | Tolomatic, Inc.

April 2022

life, but they’re not as efficient as electric systems. Electric systems also provide precise position, velocity, and speed control with more efficient operation. They operate in a closed-loop environment for easy data collection, and they are virtually maintenance free.

In fact, as electric rod-style actuators become capable of delivering forces comparable to those of high-end hydraulics, they’ll become increasingly viable replacements for hydraulic systems in many applications. Evaluating capabilities and limitations and aligning them with system goals and objectives help determine the best choice for the application. www.designworldonline.com

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few important tips for conversion ensure a successful transition from a hydraulic to electric-driven application.

First some background: For decades, hydraulic cylinders have been the only viable technology for high-force applications. Hydraulics are rugged and relatively simple to deploy — plus provide a lower cost per unit of force. No wonder hydraulic cylinders have been the de facto choice for powering just about any heavy object that must be moved in a straight line, DESIGN WORLD

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whether fast or slow, up, or down … including metal presses, conveyor belts, cranes, saws, and many others.

Electric rod actuators (sometimes called electric cylinders) are the newest motion technology to offer an alternative to hydraulics. Electric actuators are comparatively more flexible, precise, and reliable with everincreasing greater force capabilities.

Understanding the advantages of electric systems over hydraulics will help determine the best choice for an application. In addition, understanding a www.designworldonline.com

Hydraulics: A legacy technology with some drawbacks Operators know how to keep their hydraulic machines up and running. Still, there are challenges and drawbacks.

With hydraulics, it’s not a matter of if but when hydraulic systems will leak or break. Cleanup is messy and time consuming. Production parts or product may must be scrapped out.

Hydraulics also need a comparatively large footprint for the compressor as well as regular maintenance and manual changeover. Plus, hydraulics are noisy, April 2022

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Hydraulic cylinders have been an industry workhorse for decades, suitable for powering heavy objects.

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Sluggish cold-weather performance Maintenance of many components

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Servo-hydraulic systems need additional components More advanced servo-hydraulic systems can precisely control position, velocity, and force, but they need additional components — a servo controller, an electrohydraulic servo valve, and a position feedback device such as a linear transducer — which adds significant complexity, footprint, and cost to a hydraulic system. These components control the pressure and

HYDRAULIC CYLINDER DRAWBACKS

SAFE

Electric actuators, coupled with a servo drive and motor system, allow infinite control over position … and accuracy and repeatability far exceed those of hydraulic systems.

Standard hydraulics excel in end-toend position applications, but midstroke positioning with these cylinders is more complicated — and necessitate a control valve and operator assistance.

Mid-stroke positioning is open loop and requires an operator to decide which position is acceptable. What’s more, speed control is monitored through a control valve and again requires an operator to dial in the acceptable speed

production environments in which oil quality and viscosity fluctuate with temperature. Therefore, obtaining the target performance level necessitates constant operator intervention.

Hydraulics can degrade machinery performance.

S)

Electric actuators for improved motion control The main reason engineers select an electric actuator system over a hydraulic cylinder system is the flexibility of its motion control capabilities: • Position control — to multiple positions with accuracy • Velocity control • Control of acceleration and deceleration • Precise control of output force • Sophisticated on-the-fly control of all these motion variables.

for an application … though reaching an exact speed setting is often difficult.

Once the speed setting is adjusted, the pressure force output needed from a hydraulic cylinder is regulated through the pressure valve. Again, this typically requires an operator to dial in the target force. What’s more, a hydraulic cylinder’s repeatability of position, speed, and force are degraded by worn seals, leaks, pressure drops, and pump-induced spikes along with other maintenance-related factors.

It’s difficult to get day-to-day or month-to-month (much less year-toyear) repeatable performance for

AK

can be susceptible to temperature fluctuations, don’t have accurate multi-position capabilities, and operate open loop — which complicates data collection for use by machine controls.

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SU

Lost production and lower part yield Long machine changeover times

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flow into the hydraulic cylinder, similar to how a servo drive controls current to a servomotor. Hydraulics also have even more advanced controllers, which allow multiple axes to be coordinated together. However, this is rare in hydraulics system implementation, and these controllers add extreme complexity and cost to the overall system. In addition, they can be quite sensitive and need regimented maintenance to ensure target performance.

More advanced servohydraulic systems can precisely control position, velocity, and force, but they need additional components — a servo controller, an electrohydraulic servo valve, and a position feedback device such as a linear transducer — which adds significant complexity, footprint, and cost to a hydraulic system.

Servo-grade velocity control is accurate There are even more benefits to electric actuators when they’re combined with servo control systems. Servo controllers capable of commanding multiple axes are readily available off-the-shelf DESIGN WORLD

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C o n t r o l

It’s not a matter of if but when hydraulic systems will leak or break. | Courtesy Tolomatic

components. Controllers and electric actuators can be easily (and cost effectively) coordinated in complex multi-axis configurations. Velocity of one or multiple electric actuators is precisely and continually controlled — and can easily blend from one speed to another without stopping or overrunning target positions.

In addition, servo control of acceleration and deceleration prevents electric actuators from banging into hard stops or jolting into action.

This in turn eliminates stress on machine-frame elements and the need to overengineer structures to withstand shock loads. All movements will be smooth to let electric actuators impart smooth motion to mission-critical processes where machine

vibrations are unacceptable or could otherwise limit process speed.

With servo systems, actuator output force is controlled via current into the servomotor. Because servo controllers have precise control over current, almost all electric actuators provide accurate and repeatable control of force output at the work point.

Another important feature of electric actuators is their ability to provide programmable control of all motion-profile variables. As a result, the only operator interaction needed is the u-front design time to build target performance variables into a PLC or other controller’s programming environment. Once set, the operation repeats from day-to-day, monthto-month and year-to-year. Human machine interface or HMI screens on pieces of equipment can display (and allow adjustment of) position, velocity, force, and acceleration and deceleration at any time for maximum machine flexibility.

Force capabilities of electric actuators Due to their high operating pressures, hydraulic cylinder systems produce extremely high forces. Typical pressures range from 1,800 to 3,000 psi (124.1 to 206.8 bar). In some high-pressure hydraulic systems, pressure ratings up to 5,000 psi (344.7 bar) are used, further emphasizing the power density of

Electric rod actuators such as this Tolomatic RSA cylinder are more flexible, precise, and reliable than hydraulic cylinders — with ever-increasing force capabilities than can in some cases rival those of hydraulics.

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hydraulics. Because hydraulic cylinders operate on the Force = Pressure x Area fluid-power principle, the high pressures allow smaller cylinders to reach very large forces. For example, 3-in. and 5-in. bore cylinders at 2,200 psi could reach approximately 15,000 lbf (66,723.3 kN) and 43,000 lbf (191,273.5kN) respectively. However, hydraulic cylinders aren’t usually used to their full output force capability.

Instead, they’re typically oversized to improve control.

As we’ll explore in Part 2 of this series, oversizing can complicate estimations of an axis’ required force when switching to electric actuation … and careful calculations can avoid this issue. DW

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HYDRAULIC CYLINDER ELECTRIC ACTUATOR

Hydraulic cylinders require far more periphery components than electric actuators. | Courtesy Tolomatic

All article images from Tolomatic Inc. | tolomatic.com

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Lead screws:

a refresher Edited by Miles Budimir Senior Editor

| istockphoto.com

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Lead screws are one of the most common types of screw-based actuators. Here’s a review of some lead screw basics.

Screw-based drivetrains are among the most common types

of electromechanical linear actuators. They convert rotary motion from a motor into linear motion via a number of different methods, including by rotating a nut as is the case with lead screws.

In power transmission applications, there are two primary types of screw drives: those that use recirculating balls or rollers, for applications that require high rigidity, excellent positioning accuracy, and high duty cycles; and those that rely on sliding contact, for applications that require corrosion-resistance, self-locking operation, and customizable nut designs.

The second category — screw drives with sliding contact between the nut and the screw shaft — are referred to as lead screws, Acme screws, or trapezoidal screws. And although these names are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to different screw geometries and dimensions.

Here’s a breakdown of the different types of sliding contact screws and what the terms lead screw, Acme screw, and trapezoidal screw really mean.

Lead screws The most commonly used of the three terms, lead screw simply refers to a type of power screw that relies on sliding motion between the nut and the screw shaft. There are two variations of lead screws: those with square thread forms and those with trapezoidal thread forms.

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Lead screws

screws from each other and play a role in determining their performance characteristics.

Power Screws

Sliding Contact

Rolling Contact

(lead screws)

(Ball and roller screws)

Balls carry the load

Trapezoidal Threads

Square Threads

29° Thread Angle (Acme screws)

(Ball screws)

Threaded Rollers carry the load (Roller screws)

30° Thread Angle (Trapezoidal screws

Lead screw designs for power transmission almost exclusively use trapezoidal threads, which are easier to manufacture and have higher load capacities than screws with square threads. Trapezoidal threads, however, do have higher friction, and therefore, lower efficiency than square thread forms.

Acme screws As previously mentioned, lead screws for power transmission use trapezoidal thread forms. But the trapezoidal thread design can have a thread angle of either 29° or 30°, meaning there are two versions of trapezoidal lead screws.

The first version — referred to as an Acme screw — has a 29° thread angle and is manufactured in inch dimensions.

Acme screw sizes are typically specified by the screw shaft diameter and the threads per inch, or TPI.

Trapezoidal screws Trapezoidal screws are also lead screws that use a trapezoidal thread form, but trapezoidal screws have a thread angle of 30° and are manufactured in metric dimensions. The size of a trapezoidal screw is designated by the screw shaft diameter and the pitch of the screw threads. Trapezoidal screws are sometimes referred to as metric lead screws or metric Acme screws.

Examining screws from three different angles The thread design of a power transmission screw—whether a lead screw or a ball screw—plays a critical role in the screw’s function. Aside from the basic thread form (acme, trapezoidal, etc.), the three main aspects of the thread geometry—helix angle, lead angle, and thread angle— help to distinguish different types of

Trapezoidal screws

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The equations for the tangent of the lead angle and the lead angle are:

(π -Ld (

β = arctan

m

L tan β = π - d m where: β = lead angle L = screw lead (mm) dm = root diameter of screw (mm)

29° or 30 °

p/2

Square threads

Lead angle The efficiency of a screw is mainly influenced by three factors: friction, lead, and lead angle. For lead screws, the high friction produced by sliding contact between the screw and the nut means that friction is the most significant contributor to efficiency.

Conversely, since ball screws use rolling elements with minimal friction, their efficiency is primarily dependent on lead angle.

The helical nature of a screw thread can be compared to an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, like a rotary wedge.

Lead angle is the angle between the helix of the thread and a line perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Recall from trigonometry that the tangent of an angle equals the side opposite the angle divided by the side adjacent to the angle. So the tangent of the lead angle, β, equals the lead of the screw divided by the circumference of the screw.

p/2

Trapezoidal threads

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Lead screws can have either square or trapezoidal threads, as the illustration shows. In both cases, the thread height (p/2) is half of the pitch (p).

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DznWrldSlideGuideNB3a_.pdf

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The sample chart to the right shows the relationship between lead angle and screw efficiency, for both ball screws and lead (sliding) screws, for different coefficients of friction (μ). As the chart shows, ball screw efficiency begins to reach its maximum at a lead angle of 10 degrees.

For ball screws, the lead angle also influences the preload torque of the screw assembly, which is used in drive torque calculations.

The equation for preload torque is:

Tp = √0.05 tan β +

Fp + L 2π

x 10-3

where: Tp = torque due to preload (Nm) Fp = preload (N) L = screw lead (mm) Helix angle The terms lead angle and helix angle are often used interchangeably, but the helix angle is the angle between the helix of the thread and a line parallel to (rather than perpendicular to) the axis of rotation. Looking again at the depiction of lead and helix angles shows that they are complementary; their sum must equal 90 degrees.

Because the helix angle is the angle opposite the lead angle, its equation is given as:

tan α =

(π - dm (

L

α = arctan

(π -Ld ( m

Helix angle is generally used to describe gear teeth, whereas lead angle is used when referring to screw geometry.

Thread angle Another geometric specification of screws is thread angle, or simply, the angle between threads.

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Thread angle is a common characterization of lead screws, with acme screws having a thread angle of 29° and trapezoidal screws having a 30° thread angle. Ball screws, on the other hand, use a radial raceway that conforms to the rolling ball elements, so they are typically characterized by their raceway geometry—Gothic arch or circular arc.

The efficiency of an acme screw depends on several factors including the lead of the screw, the nut material (which can be plastic, brass, or bronze), and the amount and type of lubrication used. Lead screw efficiencies are usually lower than either ball or roller screws and can range from 20 up to as much as 80 percent.

Still, technical improvements in lead screw designs have meant screws that are increasingly competitive with other types of drive screws, including ball screws. For instance, lead screws can offer shorter lead times and better performance, all at a lower cost than other screw technologies. Some leadscrew manufacturers offer a range of anti-backlash options, superior accuracy on long lengths, as well as efficiencies over 80 percent, with no need for grease where TFE coatings are used.

Terminology Pitch — the distance between adjacent threads on the screw shaft.

Threads per inch (TPI) — the

number of threads that can be counted in one inch of the screw.

Pitch and TPI are the inverse of one another.

Lead — typically used in ball screw nomenclature — is the linear distance traveled per revolution.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Connect and discuss this and other engineering design issues with thousands of professionals online

DW

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ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS In this Design Guide, the editors of Design World detail the most common relay types and variations as well best practices for sizing, selection, and installation. Then we explain the various subtypes of terminal blocks — and what’s more common on the market today. designworldonline.com/ electrical-connectionsdesign-guide

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How the

Pandemic

changed CAD Engineers and managers describe how they pivoted quickly to remote CAD, enduring business loss for some, and decided to keep their new work styles in place.

Jean Thilmany • Senior CAD Editor

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In early March, with mask mandates being dropped by

governments and schools across the United States, and COVID-19 numbers dropping, engineering organizations could step back to assess how their CAD operations changed during the pandemic.

Some say the pandemic has forever changed the way they will work. Others talk about how they needed to get back into the office as soon as possible. All of them talk about how they quickly adapted in March 2020, when it became clear the COVID-19 crisis meant physical distancing and potentially moving work off-site.

Here, we look at what they’ve learned: the highs, the lows, and what they say helped them move swiftly to CAD-work from home.

After a short adjustment period, Joseph Rausch found he liked working from home, despite his early qualms. Rausch is a mechanical engineer at John Deere in Moline, Ill. He returned to the office late last year, though he continued to work remotely sporadically as the Omicron variant spread.

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Engineers at Prairie Machine, which makes mining equipment, were used to talking face-toface with their manufacturing counterparts. The pandemic put a quick end to that, as engineers moved to remote CAD design. | Prairie Machine

“Setting up a home office was a challenge in the beginning, so was figuring out how to get a team talking about a design change,” he said.

“I had to raise my home internet bandwidth as high as possible,” Rausch says. “Then, I used a laptop at home, so I had to connect that to an external monitor to see large images. And of course, in March 2020, most places sold out of those monitors really fast.”

His pitfalls mirrored those of other engineers and designers who had never before worked in a home office, said Curt Moreno, IT manager at KSA Engineers, a civil engineering firm in Sugar Land, Texas. He spoke at Autodesk University held in online November and, fittingly, fully remote.

Challenges: the early days Moreno’s office was “not prepared” for the number of people having poor and slow home internet connections. They DESIGN WORLD

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needed to upgrade fast, as Rausch did.

Moreno received a lot of calls in those first days of home-office setup. He spent his days troubleshooting issues with engineers who were logging into their CAD applications from home for the first time.

“They needed a surprising amount of information about how the magic box works,” Moreno said frankly.

“If someone goes home and hooks up their VPN and the internet is 0.1 megabit, that’s not enough,” he added.

“So, in many cases, they’ve had their powerful desktop sitting in their office and we give them a secondary, less powerful machine that lets them transport into that powerful machine from home, and then they didn’t have enough bandwidth to do it.”

“Our biggest strategy was to keep people productive was minimizing the problems with bad internet connections.” www.designworldonline.com

CAD managers and CAD users had to “step out of their comfort zone” when it became clear they’d be working off-site, said R.K. McSwain, customer service manager at LJA Engineering, a civil engineering firm in Houston. He also spoke at Autodesk University.

For instance, CAD managers swiftly put a standard operating procedure in place to digitally align and link all the remote offices. They needed to ensure they could meet CAD standards on the home computers and that engineers and designers could access data quickly.

“We had a lot of last-minute requests,” McSwain added. “We had people on our staff meet someone’s parents or friends to deliver equipment because that employee couldn’t meet us. We’ve done things outside the box like that.

“We stepped back to look at the human side of this too,” he added. “Yes, we needed to get work done, but there is a human side to this whole pandemic.”

Engineers at Prairie Machine, which manufactures mining equipment, needed a quick way to communicate with manufacturers April 2022

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Tekna, a consultancy, had already designed and developed medical devices. When COVID-19 threatened to slow work, engineers developed the company’s own disinfection unit, AvaUV, for medical instructions and food production.

who still worked at the plant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

At the plant, engineers and manufacturers spoke back-and-forth, in person, all day long.

When the company moved its engineers to home off-site, the two sides of the factory had no way to communicate digitally and do it fast, said Mike Thomas, Prairie Machine’s technical service manager.

“It was a really quick turnaround to get (Microsoft) Teams in place,” he said.

“An agile mindset really helped for me and the IT team,” he added. “Here’s the problem and you don’t have months or weeks or even days to work on it. So just get going.”

When employees got past the learning curve, they were communicating regularly. And that, Thomas says, threw a wrench in the works when the company brought everyone back to headquarters in late 2021.

Not all the engineers and designers were happy to be back, as it turned out.

| Tekna

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“Some want in-person sit-down meetings, and some don’t, and balancing the culture between the two different sides of it is challenging right now,” he said.

Help from the cloud Some small engineering firms couldn’t open large files stored on their company’s enterprise servers. The connections just weren’t strong enough, McSwain says.

“If you’re a one-person firm, you’ve got drawings on a PC and you’re the only person working on them. But 100-people companies may have drawings on a server in the same building; and it expands from there,” he added.

IT managers needed to connect remote office computers and servers “by a giant pipe, at least a 1-gig connection,” McSwain said.

Some engineering firms who used cloud-based CAD applications bypassed the server issue because their CAD data resided on “cloud servers,” which are large server farms maintained with ironclad security and scores of backups in place for power outages, fires, and other events.

Most engineers who designed and modeled with CAD software before March 2020 were likely already working in globally dispersed teams, many from one-person offices, said Meike Franssen, who founded designairspace, which gives engineering companies the capability to run any CAD system in the cloud.

CAD applications are now available both as software-as-a-service (SAAS) model and as direct in-the-cloud software for the past several years.

However, CAD has always been slower than other large, graphic-intense and complex applications to pivot to new platforms, she said.

The cloud solution gave engineers a way to remotely access and work collaboratively on designs. Other types of engineering software, like collaborative platforms, also exist fully in the cloud, she added.

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Quick-shift in product development Some engineering companies saw increased business during the pandemic, mainly because of their line of work.

They, too, had to make sure engineers could work together even though they were far apart.

For Tekna, work dropped off quickly in the early days of the pandemic. The product design and development firm found that many of its larger clients had paused manufacturing — and thus design and development — during the pandemic.

The firm pivoted to do something it had never done before: develop its own product, said Mike Nellenbach, vice president of product innovation.

“We saw the need created by the pandemic to disinfect common handheld items — like handheld tools, phones, and tablets — as well as larger items, such as laptops used in schools.”

Tekna’s answer, its AvaUV disinfection unit, comes in three sizes and can disinfect in as fast as 30 seconds. The device uses an ultraviolet C (UVC) wavelength of 254 nanometers, the peak wavelength for germicidal effects, Nellenbbach said. UVC prevents microorganisms from replicating and spreading by destroying nucleic acids of pathogen DNA and RNA, he added.

The catch was: the unit needed to be fast-tracked because it answered a need for quick disinfecting techniques in hospitals, food producers, and schools, Nellenbach said.

Although the AvaUV design team worked remotely on product development, it cut the typical product development cycle in half, from around two years to eight-to-ten months, said Brendan Fike, a Tekna product developer and mechanical engineer.

Team members saved time by sharing screens, using a Microsoft Teams video app, and calling up CAD models rather than making physical prototypes for design reviews, Fike said.

The company designed the product with SolidWorks CAD software.

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The team put its CAD software to work “using section views and crosssectioning the model to identify and resolve design issues,” Fike noted. “This was actually more revealing than using a prototype because we could cut through and see inside the design.”

To their surprise, changing out physical modeling for CAD modeling made development easier.

The Tekna team isn’t alone in relying more heavily on CAD over the past two years than it ever had before.

Many engineering firms won’t want to go back to doing things “the old way” and plan to move toward “digitization,” predicts Brian Thompson, sectional manager at PTC, which sells Creo and Onshape CAD software.

He defines digitization as bringing all manufacturing processes online and making sure they work in harmony.

This, of course, includes design and development.

“Manufacturers have seen the power and the value of doing more digitally and, in product development, COVID brought that message home quickly,” Thompson said.

And indeed, analysis firm Mordor Intelligence expects the digital market to increase by 19% from 2022 to 2026 amid competition to cut development and manufacturing cycles.

As the past two years have shown us, no one can predict the future. But CAD managers and product developers, caught off guard by an abrupt switch in the way employees worked, were able to get back up to full speed quickly.

That kind of flexibility and the capability to be open to new ideas had engineers using CAD on their home computers seemingly overnight and manufacturers shifting on a dime.

While they, like everyone else, hope COVID-19 gives us a long-term break, they’re now confident they can react quickly in the face of the next big challenge that comes their way.

DW

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Making reliable connections in

solarand wastewater E-chains and cables from igus help power the world’s largest water treatment plant in one of many sun-sourced projects

Thomas Renner • igus Inc.

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E

nergy chains have been included in a vast range of applications. From lengthy projects at ports and terminals to smaller units installed in manufacturing and even automotive applications, engineers have discovered their durability and reliability — and the range of travel lengths and sizes, beginning at a height of just five millimeters — are terrific cable management solutions.

One recent application with an e-chain is drawing worldwide attention. The scope of the project, the industry in which it is being used, and the power sourcing all make the project extraordinary.

The project centers on a wastewater treatment plant in Egypt. The plant uses solar energy in a “sludge dryer” that dramatically reduces costs for sewage disposal and benefits the environment. Similar plants designed by HUBER have been developed in the United States. www.designworldonline.com

DESIGN WORLD

4/11/22 9:43 AM

A solar powered trash compactor developed by a company in Finland, Finbin, can hold 1,200 liters of litter and ensures that waste is compressed to a ratio of 6:1. all images courtesy of igus

The concept to use solar energy is noteworthy, and so is the size of the plant. The system serves the Bahr El-Baqar drainage canal in Egypt, which is considered one of the most polluted tributaries in the world. The plant holds three Guinness World records. With a capacity of five million cubic meters per day, the system lays claim to being the world’s largest water treatment facility, the largest sludge treatment plant, and the largest singleoperator ozone generating plant.

At the heart of the system are 128 energy chains manufactured by igus, the Germany-based manufacturer of motion plastics. The company runs its U.S. operations out of Providence, R.I. The e-chains are self-lubricating, but their durability, easy installation and maintenance were important factors for HUBER in the design of the system.

“Energy chains are the best solution for cable guidance on long travels,’’ said André Großer, HUBER SE Product Manager. “It requires little room, protects the cable and is easy to install and maintain.”

How it works The treatment plant in Egypt processes wet, thin sludge into dry granulate. The process results in a number of advantages, primarily reducing the sludge volume by 75%.

While using solar energy in wastewater applications is not new, the size and scope of the project in Bahr El-Baqar is remarkable. The system includes 128 sludge turners and can accept approximately 490,000 tons of sludge per year. The system, which had a total order volume of more than $700 million, is constructed on more than 39 acres.

The HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE units work in greenhouses. The turner travels on rails and repeatedly rearranges the sludge on the ground. During the movement, sludge is dried by solar energy. At the end of the drying lane, the sludge turner picks up the dry granules in the tool that repositions the sludge during its forward movement. The dry material is relocated to a recess in the ground, then collected

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and transported to a container.

The system takes a solid mixture that is 78% moisture and water and 22% dry solids and converts it to 75% dry solids. Evaporation reduces the amount of wet tons that need to be hauled offsite to 1,405 tons per year.

A much smaller plant, but similar in design, helps manage wastewater in Sanford, Florida. The treatment plant has a capacity of 8.5 million gallons per day. “We had a very basic dewatering system where we were getting about 16% solids,’’ said Anne Nelson, the lead plant operator at the Sanford plant. “With the HUBER system we get about 75% solids, and it’s very dry. The 16% that we got from the other system was not as dry, kind of like a gelatin mold. The solids from the HUBER system are not quite soil, but it’s very dry, it reduces the number of trucks we have to send out and is more easily used.”

Reliance on energy chains The HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE units include igus energy chains that use the company’s chainflex cables, which provide reliable data transfer and energy supply. The e-chains in the application in Egypt travel approximately 100 m, while the Sanford system e-chain is 128 m or nearly 140 yards, about 1.5 football fields.

The cables feature three individual cores and a CFPE cable, all with a TPE outer jacket, to ensure connection to the cable. Data exchange is with an igus CFBUS cable with a PUR outer jacket and those cables are designed specifically for use in energy chains. They also include an abrasion-resistant outer jacket and special interior stranding.

Engineers considered festoons but found the energy chains to be a better solution. “The problem with festoons is that the cables are always moving,” Großer said. “The movement puts stress on the strands and necessitates more maintenance than is the case with energy chains.

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The festoon also hangs in the air, causing obstruction, and its trolley takes up valuable space.”

To expedite installation and save shipping costs, igus manufactured pre-assembled “readychains.” The chains include all of the proper cabling already in place, which reduces the number of suppliers and makes on-site installation easier. To reduce delivery costs, the fully equipped energy chains were placed on a drum and loaded into the container.

“This allowed us to save space and reduce shipment costs, and that was significant in a project of this size,’’ said Michael Offner of igus.

HUBER has developed an innovative wastewater treatment system that uses solar power to reduce sludge disposal costs and protects the environment.

The HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE units work in greenhouses, and the turner travels on rails and repeatedly rearranges the sludge on the ground. During the movement, the sludge is dried by solar energy. The system takes a solid mixture that is 78% moisture and water and 22% dry solids and converts it to 75% dry solids.

An important component of the HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE units are e-chains manufactured by igus. The e-chains include the company’s chainflex cables, which provide reliable data transfer and energy supply for the sludge turners.

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Run with the sun The wastewater treatment plants are among the innovative applications in which engineers are using igus products that rely on renewable energy. Products, and projects, of all shapes and sizes include solar technology and igus components.

A new industrial revolution — one that uses renewable energy — is now evolving at a more rapid rate. There is a new frontier for mechanical engineers to develop products with solar energy, and many of them are embracing it.

“We’re going to see products using solar energy continue to increase,’’ said igus’ Richard Won, the company’s Industry Manager for Renewable Energy.

“The United States, especially, has huge potential. There are a lot of big companies in the U.S. doing business all over the world and they are figuring out different ways to use solar power.”

Another innovative use that includes igus components includes a single-axis solar tracking solution for large photovoltaic systems. The ZIMMERMANN PV-Steel group from Germany has been developing, planning, and supplying substructures for worldwide solar projects since 2009. This includes the ZIM Track System.

The solar trackers move according to the sun’s path and can thus increase the energy yield by more than 30% compared to static solutions. The combination of steel and plastic provides the tracker with a particularly robust, durable and functional design, which guarantees extremely low maintenance.

Unique pedestal bearings connect the profiles of the PV system. An adjustable bearing consists of two half-shells made of plastic from igus - i.e. a housing connected to the metal frame and an inner part mounted inside. The igus parts are made of lubricant-free and UV-resistant high-performance plastic that are extremely robust even when exposed to high temperatures or dirt. The upper part is a metal bracket manufactured by ZIMMERMANN. The division into a lower and an upper part allows for easy assembly and disassembly.

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Despite its low overall weight, this solution is suitable for storing heavy loads of up to 1.5 tons. Due to the overall structural design, the rows of solar panels in the ZIM Track System can be up to 96 m long. The ZIMMERMANN PV trackers are located in Europe, Australia and South America, among other countries.

More solar applications with cables Several teams of college students have discovered igus’ chainflex cables perform well in their solar powered vehicles.

At the University of Bochum in Germany, students have been developing solar powered vehicles for 18 years. In a race across the Australian desert, students created a “SolarBuggy” to cover a distance of 223 miles.

The team installed chainflex cables that were used to connect the motor controllers to the electric cables. The combination of low weight, diameter, and maximum mechanical durability were critical to the project.

“The cables are shielded, provide dc and ac voltage, and have a high electromagnetic resistance to external influences,’’ according to Kay Bollerhof of the Bochum team. “As they are very tough, they are ideally suited to thermal and mechanical stress in Australia.”

Students at the University of Minnesota also include chainflex cables in their solar vehicles. Students launched the school’s Solar Vehicle Project in 1990, and three years later designed their first solar car. Since then, the team has built 13 vehicles in total, and has raced in 30 solar challenges on three continents. This year’s team finished second in a competition in August in a race from Independence, Missouri to Las Vegas that covered nearly 1,000 miles.

The vehicle is a four-seater that is “one of the most ambitious cars we’ve made in a while,’’ said Shane Spangler, one of the team’s members. “The igus components were used in some cabling for the solar panels and highDESIGN WORLD

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Students at an engineering school in Poland designed a solar-powered boat that included lubrication-free and seawater-resistant bearings from igus.

voltage BUS cables. The chainflex is very flexible and can get into very tight spaces.” igus offers a wide range of cables for data, bus, motor, servo, robot and others. The cables provide multiple benefits, including durability, light weight, and safety.

Expanding solar innovation The past decade has seen a greater sense of urgency in addressing climate change and mechanical engineers have gotten the message. The world wants more products that rely on renewable energy, and escape from the overreliance on environment unfriendly fossil fuels.

More products and more innovation are coming. Such products that feature igus products include a solar surface cleaner, swimming pool cover, solar boiler and robotic vehicle, among others. Whether it is UV-resistant bearings, cables or heavy duty energy chains, igus is helping engineers find solutions to usher in new products that rely on solar power and renewable energy.

“There is no limit on what can be achieved through the use of solar energy,’’ Won said. “There are a lot of great innovations in the pipeline.

Lubrication-free products that are resistant to dirt and dust, lightweight, durable and extensively tested are tremendously beneficial to any project that is looking to implement solar power.”

The HUBER sludge turners with the igus energy chains are just one of these innovations. More innovative products are undoubtedly on the short-term www.designworldonline.com

horizon, and the world is finally ready to accept them.

“As a company that is working in the environment, we are always looking for solutions,’’ said Großer, the product manager at HUBER. “We not only want to make water clean, but we also want to reduce our reliance on electric energy. We are developing the process and we are on the right track. In any project, we are concerned about the environmental impact and look for the best practices to protect our environment.” DW

igus Inc. | Igus.com

A solar tracker developed by ZIMMERMAN PV-Steel group in Germany moves according to the sun’s path, and can increase the energy yield by more than 30%.

The solar tracker includes unique pedestal bearings from igus that connect the profiles of the PV system along with a metal bracket manufactured by ZIMMERMANN. April 2022

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Ad Index Allied Moulded Products ............................................................................ 21 AllMotion ........................................................................................................... 4 Altech Corporation ....................................................................................8,9 Automation Direct ....................................................................... IFC, Insert Bird Precision ................................................................................................39 Bodine Electric Company ........................................................................... 11 Canfield Connector ....................................................................................187 Clippard .......................................................................................................... BC Components Corporation .......................................................................176 Del-tron ..........................................................................................................173 Diamond Wire Spring .................................................................................39 Digi-Key Electronics ..................................................................................... 13 ebm-papst .........................................................................................................1 FESTO .............................................................................................................175 Interpower ................................................................................................. 31,43 Keystone Electronics Corp ................................................................. 3,177 Lee Linear (PBC) ............................................................................................. 5 Miki Pulley ....................................................................................................... 14 NAHAD ............................................................................................................. 17 NB Corporation ............................................................................................181 OKW Enclosures, Inc. .................................................................................45 Penn United ..................................................................................................38 Permco .......................................................................................................... IBC ROLEC Enclosures, Inc. .............................................................................. 15 Smalley Steel Ring .......................................................................................18 Smart Products ............................................................................................35 Society of Mechanical Engineers ..........................................................40 Sorbothane ...................................................................................................29 Spectrum Instrumentation ......................................................................34 The Lee Company ..........................................................................................7 Trim-Lok ........................................................................................................... 19 Whittet-Higgins ............................................................................................ 23 Zero-Max, Inc. ..................................................................................................2

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The Robot Report 6 River Systems ............................................... 120 FAULHABER MICROMO ....................................81 ForwardX Robotics Inc ................................... 96 GAM ....................................................................... 85 Harmonic Drive ...................................................77 IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH ..........................................108 maxon ....................................................................79

Renishaw ..........................................................78 R-Go Robotics ............................................... 114 Standard Robots Co. Ltd ........................ 126 SCHUNK ......................................................... 102 THK America Inc ............................................83 University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering ........................ 132

Aerospace & Defense Tips Supplement Able Electropolishing ........................................51 Cadence .............................................................. 65 CS Hyde Company ........................................... 59 J.W. Winco, Inc. .................................................. 66 Stock Drive Products/ Sterling Instrument .................................... 66

New England Wire & Tubing Technologies ............................................63 The Lee Company ........................................53

Fastener Engineering Supplement Boker’s, Inc. ........................................................148 Ellsworth Adhesives .......................................159 Fastener Fair USA ........................................... 161

NBK America LLC ........................................ 160 ND Industries ................................................155 Pivot Point Inc. .............................................165

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