Our modern word “robot” comes from the play “Rossum’s Universal Robots” by Karel Capek, from approximately 1920. The word appeared as “robota” from the Czech word loosely translated…
Lost motion in precision gear systems
The mechanical side of the “lost motion” problem has many complexities. To some extent mechanical systems have very defined properties which are easy to characterize. The performance of…
Debates on Lost Motion
From time to time we get into discussions on accuracy in motion systems. These discussions usually end up in two general camps; higher accuracy based on the notion…
Play and Progress
Psychologists are fascinated by the subject of play. Play is one of those complex behaviors is difficult to define and understand. Is it a complex activity in human…
“Man on the Moon” – thoughts about engineering projects
Sometimes the hardest part of project engineering and new product development is to put down in words what the requirements are. Specifications alone will not necessarily convey functionality…
The Future of Additive Manufacturing
The buzz of additive manufacturing continues to make headlines. Additive manufacturing permits the fabrication of complex plastic and metal parts by starting with powdered materials. There are no…
Toys: Big Mechatronic Challenges in Small Packages
By Steve Meyer, Contributing Editor Will your kids be begging you for this amazing robot in 2014? Sometimes, a designer’s main mechatronic challenge is to make something that…
Time and Control
The movement to smaller intervals of time has dramatic implications in the field of control. Processing power and dramatic reductions in cost are making the future of the…
Time and Control
Salvador Dali had a unique perspective of time. Not sure if I understood his message, or if anyone else did for that matter. Nevertheless, time has an all-important…
National Instruments – NI Week 2013
National Instruments annual get together is just recently over. It was awesome, as always. Lots of new demonstrations of the technology, lots of new technology to talk about….
Electric Designs Go for a Win
by Steve Meyer, Contributing Editor Mechatronic challenges come in all shapes and sizes. In the field of motorcycle racing, electric superbikes represent a whole new set of challenges…
Electric Cars Part 2
Can electric cars break out of the niche product segment? The big question has been answered; “Can it be done?” Yes electric cars are feasible in the 21st…
Volt versus Tesla
Lots of press about the amazing Tesla story, which is still emerging. Even General Motors is sitting up and taking notice. In the first quarter of 2013,…
Old Things Made New
Sometimes old things are made new. New inventions replace old ways of doing things. The horse, for example, as a way of performing work, has been replaced in…
Solar tracking: More complicated than it seems
Solar Tracking is an interesting mechatronics challenge. It is particularly interesting because on one hand it appears very simple, keep the solar panel oriented perpendicular to the sun…
Semicon 2013
In the world of mechatronics, the largest market segment for application of mechatronic components is the semiconductor industry. The 2013 Semicon show is an important industry gathering for…
4th of July 2013
Abraham Lincoln, as a young lawyer, gave public speeches to small groups as part of the political discourse of the day. These speeches were frequently reproduced the next…
Power Dense Motors & Controls
In the history of the electric motor, progress has been very slow. It has been over 100 years since the day of the dynamo and early installations of…
The Promise of Wind Power
Electric Power generated by the wind is a really great idea. It may be more romantic than practical. The energy density of wind is very low, so converting…
The Future of Work
The future of work is in doubt. All you have to do is check the unemployment figures. Well, you need to really check the unemployment figures because the…
Work
We are makers of machines. It is one of the many defining characteristics of mankind. My guess is that we create machines primary out of a desire to…
How to Convert Print-unit Systems into Gearless Systems
Dr. Razvan Panaitescu, SE&A AMD PM MS , B&L Machine Design Converting print unit systems to gearless systems may be a new concept in the printing industry, but…
Which Industrial Revolution is This?
There has been some press recently around the announced 4th Industrial Revolution currently under way. From what I have read so far, this has been general marketing hype…
Power Delivery and the Grid 2.0
The energy infrastructure of the United States is aging. Since the beginning of the 1900′s and Edison’s light bulb delivering reliable power has been a major industry. One…
Jobless Recovery?
A lot of commentary about jobless recovery recently. It brings to mind many comments from politicians campaging for election. They are going to bring jobs back to America….