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Machine learning helps researchers design less costly optical sensors

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Finding practical solutions to detect proteins, cancer biomarkers, viruses and other small objects has been a key challenge for researchers worldwide for decades. These solutions hold promise for saving lives through more timely diagnosis and treatment of serious infections and diseases.

Now a UCLA team’s new research shows how such detections might be done for a fraction of the cost by using “smart” mobile devices designed by machine learning.

One method to detect small objects and related biomarkers is called plasmonic sensing, which involves shining light onto metal nanostructures to amplify the local electric field. The interaction between this amplified electric field and the molecule of interest can be measured, revealing important information about molecular concentration and kinetics. [Read more…] about Machine learning helps researchers design less costly optical sensors

Redesigning the gear: A closer look at Harmonic Drive’s new WavePlus technology

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harmonic drive Waveplus

Graham Mackrell, managing director of precision gearing expert Harmonic Drive UK, explains WavePlus technology, an innovative development in strain wave gearing

Sometimes, you only need one small innovation to make something revolutionary.

Sliced bread, for example, simply took a stroke of inspiration for Otto Rohwedder to combine automatic bread wrapping equipment with cutting functionality.

The strain wave gear has been the pinnacle of precision gearing since the technology was first developed in 1957 by renowned inventor and founder of Harmonic Drive, Walton Musser.

Consisting of just three crucial components – the wave generator, flexspline and the circular spline – and ensuring zero backlash as well as a high gear reduction ratio, strain wave gears have long been the standard for critical applications.  [Read more…] about Redesigning the gear: A closer look at Harmonic Drive’s new WavePlus technology

uShip raises $25 million to fund logistics automation plan

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uship

uShip, the online shipping marketplace and freight automation software provider, has closed a $25 million Series D round led by DB Schenker, one of the world’s largest logistics companies and an existing uShip partner.

DB Schenker’s funding comes on the heels of unprecedented investment in logistics and supply chain technology.

Since 2015, top pure-play logistics corporations have made 26 investments and/or acquisitions – totalling 13 each year – while logistics tech startups were on pace to raise $5 billion through over 300 deals in 2016, according to CB Insights.  [Read more…] about uShip raises $25 million to fund logistics automation plan

Self-awareness is the key to career survival as jobs get automated, says business psychologist

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self-aware book

Automation is about to do away with millions of jobs. A business psychologist claims he has at least some of the answers 

The good news is that the job you hate is about to be automated. The bad news is that you’re about to be out of work.

“Jobs that cannot be automated are on a very short list,” says Robert Pasick, PhD, an executive coach and organizational psychologist who also teaches at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. “If you are afraid to leave the job you hate, it may be about to leave you.”

Journalists fear computers that are already writing news stories. Truck drivers fear self-driving trucks, already carrying freight in controlled experiments. Accounting, lawyering, health care, package delivery, even Uber driver jobs are on the verge of automation.  [Read more…] about Self-awareness is the key to career survival as jobs get automated, says business psychologist

Elsevier launches new journal about systems and control

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New journal to be jointly published with the International Federation of Automatic Control

Elsevier, a provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and solutions, and the International Federation of Automatic Control have launched a new joint publication, IFAC Journal of Systems and Control.

The journal will publish research papers on generalizable, extensible and transferable innovations across all aspects of the field of control and automation.

The journal’s remit broadly reflects the areas of interest of IFAC’s Technical Board and dovetails with the other IFAC journals in seeking new areas of application and investigation for systems and control.  [Read more…] about Elsevier launches new journal about systems and control

Healthcare’s digital revolution: Technologies transforming medicine

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Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of obsolete parts supplier, EU Automation discusses technologies that are revolutionising healthcare in the 21st century

Doctor Crawford W. Long conducted the first surgical operation under anaesthetic in 1841 in Jefferson, Georgia.

In 1841, general anaesthetic had not yet been invented, so Dr Long used diethyl ether, a chemical most commonly used to start internal combustion engines, in its place.

The surgeon pressed an ether-soaked towel to the patient’s face to put him to sleep before removing a tumour from his neck. He billed the patient two dollars for the whole procedure.  [Read more…] about Healthcare’s digital revolution: Technologies transforming medicine

IoT ‘transforming’ industrial robotics market, says report

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industrial robots

Sharmila Annaswamy, industrial automation and process control research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, provides an exclusive insight of the impact of industrial robots on manufacturing and how the IoT is changing everything 

During the last decade, the advent of robotics has phenomenally transformed the industrial sector in terms of manufacturing capability.

They are traditionally used to carry out tasks that are complex, repetitive or hazardous to enhance productivity, quality and reduce operational costs for the manufacturers.

However, the industrial robotics market is going through a phase of transformation driven by Industrial Internet of Things.

But the challenges in integrating and programming them restrain their widespread application across verticals. [Read more…] about IoT ‘transforming’ industrial robotics market, says report

Rough seas: Resistors for severe environments

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Container ship New Orleans

Resistor liquid cooling boosts 3.3kV medium voltage loads, and slashes resistor footprint in industrial and marine applications, as David Atkins, projects director at Cressall Resistors explains

In motor driven applications like cranes, lifts, hoists and conveyors, air cooled resistors are common, but in medium voltage, high power applications liquid cooling wins out.

A medium voltage drive running off a 3.3kV supply to turn a 500kW motor will put a severe heating load on the application’s power transistors – hence the need for water cooling.

The new EV2 advanced water cooled modular resistor range for low and medium voltage applications is especially designed to function in severe environments, like the ones marine systems have to function in.

This patented design encapsulates and completely separates the resistor elements from the coolant.  [Read more…] about Rough seas: Resistors for severe environments

Product testing: There’s a collaborative industrial robot for that

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universal robots product testing system
Product testing system using a collaborative robot from Universal Robots

How do you make sure that a product can handle the wear and tear of an expected life cycle and that all safety and quality standards are met?

You test it. Over and over again.

Nothing is more repetitive than product testing – lending itself to one of the “3D jobs” that robots excel at: dirty, dangerous… and dull.

Increasingly, collaborative robots – or cobots – are now being used for product testing. This type of automation is maximizing the testing environment, improving employee productivity and happiness, benefiting the bottom line while allowing companies to bring products to market much faster than ever before.  [Read more…] about Product testing: There’s a collaborative industrial robot for that