Energy Equivalence or Not
Among the many issues facing us today is the cost of personal transportation. To a large extent, modern American manufacturing was built largely on making cars and all the steel, carpet, glass and all the other products that are required in a car. Interestingly, the electronics sector of our economy, far bigger than automotive, has increased it's contribution to the modern automobile, but that's another topic. There is a lot of material being published about our use of cars and our dependence on foreign oil. Oil and Gas companies made the decision some years ago that it was cheaper to send ...
Top 10 Mechatronic Challenges
I recently wrote on the mechatronic challenge of wind power. Converting wind into mechanical power that can be harnessed for man's use has been going on since the 9th Century according to Persian historians. Certainly wind powered grinding of grains has been around in Europe for several centuries and, lest we forget, wind power pumping of water in the United States. So there is some irony to the cultural "buzz" about wind power at home and abroad, as if the technology were entirely new. There's a lot of history, we're just updating the technology to produce energy in the age ...
Mechatronics on the Trail of Global Warming
By Donna Sandfox Omron Electronic Components, LLC A new highly portable mechatronic system to measure harmful pollutant relies significantly on a MEMS flow sensor Figure 1. Stationary Aethalometers are used throughout the world, but have been too heavy to be truly portable until now. Carbon dioxide is well known as a major contributor to global warming, and there are many ways to detect and measure it. But it is not the only culprit. Scientist have found that the second most significant contributor is soot, or black carbon. Not only does black carbon contribute to environmental degradation, but these tiny particles also cut short the ...
Controllers Help Astronomers Peer into the Universe
In mechatronics applications control is most often paired with motion. The following motion control system works with other components to deliver the required movement precision to research the Universe. Photo by: Laura Hatch lauriehatch.com Astronomers working for University of California Observatories (UCO) are creating the first comprehensive survey and map of the distant universe. Called the Deep Extragalactic Evolutionary Probe (DEEP), the team uses twin 10-m W.M. Keck Telescopes located in Hawaii, the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton in California, and the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The telescopes collect the light that stars and faint galaxies emitted more than 14 billion years ...
Wind Energy and Mechatronics
By Steve Meyer, CEO/Senior Consultant Solid Tech Inc. What would you put on a “Top Ten” list of the toughest mechatronic applications of all time? The electric car, plug-in or hybrid is certainly on the list. One application that needs to be on the list is the Wind Turbine. It is a mechatronic challenge because it combines the aerodynamics of rotor design, the mechanics of a gear reduction system, the electromagnetics of an electric generator and the power electronics system for output power conditioning and synchronization to the utility grid system, all of which is designed in the range of 1000 to 4000 hp. Each ...
Commentary
Electric Vehicles and Electric Motors
A friend of mine finally got delivery of a Tesla Roadster. This prompted discussion...
Energy Equivalence or Not
Among the many issues facing us today is the cost of personal transportation. To...
Top 10 Mechatronic Challenges
I recently wrote on the mechatronic challenge of wind power. Converting wind into...
Read More Posts From This CategoryDesign
Electric Vehicles and Electric Motors
A friend of mine finally got delivery of a Tesla Roadster. This prompted discussion...
Zuken Implements Mechatronics Design Strategy and Launches New 3D Modeling Solution
Munich, Germany and Westford, MA, USA – Zuken has made another step to strengthen...
Supporting Mechatronics across Design Lines
By Ralph Raiola, Editor Electronic Products When it comes to mechatronics design,...
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Control, Motors and EfficiencyI was talking with some friends about control technology and made the observation...
New EPSON RS3 Robot
Rosemont, IL — EPSON Robots introduces the new EPSON RS3 Robot, featuring all...
EnergyEveryone has an opinion about Energy Policy. Just ask. They’ll tell you! ...
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Energy Stimulus Debate
As “We the People” wait for Congress to do something to stimulate the...
Robotic Kits for “Do-It-Yourself” Packaging System Design
Modular programming and articulating arm kits let you design your own robotic-based...
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At the recent Semicon show the big buzz was about the emerging Solar Energy industry....
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Stäubli Robotics Announces Next Generation Ultra-Fast SCARA Robot Series
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New EPSON RS3 Robot
Rosemont, IL — EPSON Robots introduces the new EPSON RS3 Robot, featuring all...
Mechatronics and Ignorance
By Richard Comerford, Editor Electronic Products I wish I had a dollar for each time...
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Top Ten Challenges – Energy StorageThinking about the top challenges we face in mechatronoics there is one that’s...
Electric Vehicles and Electric Motors
A friend of mine finally got delivery of a Tesla Roadster. This prompted discussion...
Top 10 Mechatronic Challenges
I recently wrote on the mechatronic challenge of wind power. Converting wind into...
Read More Posts From This CategoryMotion Control
Animatics Corp. Publishes New Motion Systems Catalog
Animatics Corporation has published a new 145 page catalog on their expanded line...
Electric Vehicles and Electric Motors
A friend of mine finally got delivery of a Tesla Roadster. This prompted discussion...
Super Size my Motor?There is an interesting problem with applying electric motors that is a constant...
Read More Posts From This CategoryElectronics
Top Ten Challenges – Energy StorageThinking about the top challenges we face in mechatronoics there is one that’s...
7″ High Resolution Widescreens from Maple Systems
Maple Systems’ Silver Series Graphic OITs include a 7 inch, 800×480 widescreen...
Mechatronics on the Trail of Global Warming
By Donna Sandfox Omron Electronic Components, LLC A new highly portable mechatronic...
Read More Posts From This Category