🎛 Is There Life without the PLC? How to Build a Better Embedded Controller
While Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are an industry norm, demands for data, memory, and processing power are intensifying. Soon enough, the PLCs may no longer be the go-to industrial computer.
By embedded control architecture, we mean a controller that is located inside the machine that will be controlled. Such an embedded controller is almost always a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), but in theory, it could be something else.
By PLC-based control architecture, we mean PLCs mounted in a box located outside of the machine somewhere, connected to the machine by cables.
Comparing the remote PLC-based approach to a local embedded approach the benefits are:
▫️ Simplification of machine installation and operation
▫️ Improved motion performance and sensor data
▫️ Smaller, simpler controller
▫️ Simplified machine assembly
▫️ Lower per-unit cost
More information...
#articles #control #design
While Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are an industry norm, demands for data, memory, and processing power are intensifying. Soon enough, the PLCs may no longer be the go-to industrial computer.
By embedded control architecture, we mean a controller that is located inside the machine that will be controlled. Such an embedded controller is almost always a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), but in theory, it could be something else.
By PLC-based control architecture, we mean PLCs mounted in a box located outside of the machine somewhere, connected to the machine by cables.
Comparing the remote PLC-based approach to a local embedded approach the benefits are:
▫️ Simplification of machine installation and operation
▫️ Improved motion performance and sensor data
▫️ Smaller, simpler controller
▫️ Simplified machine assembly
▫️ Lower per-unit cost
More information...
#articles #control #design
📰 Developments in the field of flexible electronics: Samsung and Stanford Ease Manufacturing
This article will discuss two academic developments to see where this industry could be headed and what challenges lie ahead.
In a new paper from Stanford University, researchers propose a new method of manufacturing these flexible 2D electronics.
The technique consists of taking a non-flexible, solid block of silicon coated with glass and using chemical vapor deposition to grow MoS₂ one layer of atoms at a time until it reaches a three atom thickness. The end structure, including the polyimide, is just 5 microns thick, about 10x thinner than a human hair.
Additionally, this month, Samsung published a new paper in which they detail how they were able to create a new flexible wearable device, which states that it can be integrated into preexisting semiconductor processes. This innovation might help push the concept of flexible electronics closer towards mass production.
More information...
#news #electronics
This article will discuss two academic developments to see where this industry could be headed and what challenges lie ahead.
In a new paper from Stanford University, researchers propose a new method of manufacturing these flexible 2D electronics.
The technique consists of taking a non-flexible, solid block of silicon coated with glass and using chemical vapor deposition to grow MoS₂ one layer of atoms at a time until it reaches a three atom thickness. The end structure, including the polyimide, is just 5 microns thick, about 10x thinner than a human hair.
Additionally, this month, Samsung published a new paper in which they detail how they were able to create a new flexible wearable device, which states that it can be integrated into preexisting semiconductor processes. This innovation might help push the concept of flexible electronics closer towards mass production.
More information...
#news #electronics
📟 3dasd - open-source DIY room-scale 3D scanner
The goal is to make this as accessible as possible! However, at this point you need to have access to a 3D printer, do some very basic soldering and assemble a few cables (JST connectors).
This is not a production-grade scanner, it’s way too slow, loud and just not accurate enough for most real-world applications. It could be a great entry into the world of 3D scanning though.
A very-very rough estimate would be around 350 USD with the bulk of it being the LIDAR sensor.
More information:
Official website
Github page
#projects #3d_modeling
The goal is to make this as accessible as possible! However, at this point you need to have access to a 3D printer, do some very basic soldering and assemble a few cables (JST connectors).
This is not a production-grade scanner, it’s way too slow, loud and just not accurate enough for most real-world applications. It could be a great entry into the world of 3D scanning though.
A very-very rough estimate would be around 350 USD with the bulk of it being the LIDAR sensor.
More information:
Official website
Github page
#projects #3d_modeling
📊 Astonishing Robotics Industry Statistics You Should Know in 2021
Some of the statistics key points:
▫️ There were 12 million robotic units worldwide in 2020.
▫️ Global spending on military robotics will be $16.5 billion in 2025.
▫️ The robotics industry already employes about 150,000 people worldwide in engineering and assembly jobs.
▫️ The number of robotic units sold in 2020 rose to 465,000.
▫️ Between 2020 and 2022, there would be a 12% increase in shipments of robots worldwide.
▫️ Collaborative robots will constitute 34% of all robot sales by 2025.
▫️ 88% of businesses worldwide plan to adopt robotic automation into their infrastructure.
▫️ In 2020, North American businesses ordered 31,044 robotics.
If it is not already in your industry, chances that it would be sooner rather than later are very high. According to robotics industry statistics, the presence of robots in every industry brings about improved results and increased revenue.
More information...
#robots #articles #news
Some of the statistics key points:
▫️ There were 12 million robotic units worldwide in 2020.
▫️ Global spending on military robotics will be $16.5 billion in 2025.
▫️ The robotics industry already employes about 150,000 people worldwide in engineering and assembly jobs.
▫️ The number of robotic units sold in 2020 rose to 465,000.
▫️ Between 2020 and 2022, there would be a 12% increase in shipments of robots worldwide.
▫️ Collaborative robots will constitute 34% of all robot sales by 2025.
▫️ 88% of businesses worldwide plan to adopt robotic automation into their infrastructure.
▫️ In 2020, North American businesses ordered 31,044 robotics.
If it is not already in your industry, chances that it would be sooner rather than later are very high. According to robotics industry statistics, the presence of robots in every industry brings about improved results and increased revenue.
More information...
#robots #articles #news
🍅 FarmBot - open-source farming robot
FarmBot is an open source precision agriculture CNC farming project consisting of a Cartesian coordinate robot farming machine, software and documentation including a farming data repository. This interesting start-up focuses on bringing private automated farms to its clients. Robot uses machine learning algorithms for plants' analysis and takes actions depending on its results.
The FarmBot Genesis is able to plant over 30 different crops including potatoes, peas, squash, artichokes and chard in an area of 2.9 meters × 1.4 meters with a maximum plant height of 0.5 meters.
The Farmbot Genesis can perform almost all processes prior to harvesting including sowing, mechanical weed control and watering. It requires electricity, an internet connection and water supply which can be provided using off grid solutions including a water barrel to collect rain and a solar panel and battery to provide electricity.
More information...
#robots #machine_learning
FarmBot is an open source precision agriculture CNC farming project consisting of a Cartesian coordinate robot farming machine, software and documentation including a farming data repository. This interesting start-up focuses on bringing private automated farms to its clients. Robot uses machine learning algorithms for plants' analysis and takes actions depending on its results.
The FarmBot Genesis is able to plant over 30 different crops including potatoes, peas, squash, artichokes and chard in an area of 2.9 meters × 1.4 meters with a maximum plant height of 0.5 meters.
The Farmbot Genesis can perform almost all processes prior to harvesting including sowing, mechanical weed control and watering. It requires electricity, an internet connection and water supply which can be provided using off grid solutions including a water barrel to collect rain and a solar panel and battery to provide electricity.
More information...
#robots #machine_learning
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🧠 How to Integrate Artificial Intelligence into Your Workflow
MathWorks’ Johanna Pingel talks about how engineers can use artificial intelligence to optimize their workflows
In engineering terms, the concept of AI actually spans four steps within a workflow: data preparation, modeling, simulation and testing, and deployment.
The first step, data preparation, is arguably the most important. Often, when deep-learning models don’t work the way they’re expected to, engineers focus on the second stage—fine-tuning their model, tweaking its parameters, and implementing multiple training iterations.
They fail to realize that to be effective, AI models need to be trained on robust, accurate data. Preprocessing the data and ensuring it’s correctly labeled helps ensure the model will be capable of understanding the data.
More information...
#articles #artificial_intelligence
MathWorks’ Johanna Pingel talks about how engineers can use artificial intelligence to optimize their workflows
In engineering terms, the concept of AI actually spans four steps within a workflow: data preparation, modeling, simulation and testing, and deployment.
The first step, data preparation, is arguably the most important. Often, when deep-learning models don’t work the way they’re expected to, engineers focus on the second stage—fine-tuning their model, tweaking its parameters, and implementing multiple training iterations.
They fail to realize that to be effective, AI models need to be trained on robust, accurate data. Preprocessing the data and ensuring it’s correctly labeled helps ensure the model will be capable of understanding the data.
More information...
#articles #artificial_intelligence
📰 Intel CEO says chip shortage will hit bottom in late 2021
Intel Corp. Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger predicted the shortage of semiconductors that’s hurting industries from automotive to consumer electronics will bottom out in the second half of this year before starting to improve.
“I don’t expect the chip industry is back to a healthy supply-demand situation until ’23,” he said in an interview. “For a variety of industries, I think it’s still getting worse before it gets better.”
Longer term, the chip industry is positioned for a period of growth, Gelsinger predicted. Over the next decade, the increasing uses for chips — including 5G phone systems, electric vehicles and expanded artificial intelligence — will drive strong demand, he said.
More information...
#news
Intel Corp. Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger predicted the shortage of semiconductors that’s hurting industries from automotive to consumer electronics will bottom out in the second half of this year before starting to improve.
“I don’t expect the chip industry is back to a healthy supply-demand situation until ’23,” he said in an interview. “For a variety of industries, I think it’s still getting worse before it gets better.”
Longer term, the chip industry is positioned for a period of growth, Gelsinger predicted. Over the next decade, the increasing uses for chips — including 5G phone systems, electric vehicles and expanded artificial intelligence — will drive strong demand, he said.
More information...
#news
🫁 MakAir — open-source Covid-19 Ventilator
The world's first open-source ventilator tested on human patients. Mass-producible at a low cost (~2000€).
Makair ventilator is the world's first open-source ventilator tested with success on human patients with ongoing clinical trials in France.
This project provides all the parts required to build a good-enough ARDS ventilator from mass-produced components. We provide all the required mechanical parts, electronics designs & boards, and firmwares.
This ventilator can be 3D-printed and ran on an Arduino board, though we highly advise that you work with industrial processes as to mold medical-grade plastic parts and assemble the whole ventilator.
Features include:
▫️ Pressure controlled ventilation
▫️ Volume controlled ventilation
▫️ BiPap ventilation
▫️ 4 hours battery life
▫️ Medical-grade alarms
▫️ High flow turbine
▫️ Fault tolerant design
More information...
#projects #arduino
The world's first open-source ventilator tested on human patients. Mass-producible at a low cost (~2000€).
Makair ventilator is the world's first open-source ventilator tested with success on human patients with ongoing clinical trials in France.
This project provides all the parts required to build a good-enough ARDS ventilator from mass-produced components. We provide all the required mechanical parts, electronics designs & boards, and firmwares.
This ventilator can be 3D-printed and ran on an Arduino board, though we highly advise that you work with industrial processes as to mold medical-grade plastic parts and assemble the whole ventilator.
Features include:
▫️ Pressure controlled ventilation
▫️ Volume controlled ventilation
▫️ BiPap ventilation
▫️ 4 hours battery life
▫️ Medical-grade alarms
▫️ High flow turbine
▫️ Fault tolerant design
More information...
#projects #arduino
🔑 Adafruit Trinkey QT2040
A USB Key with the power of RP2040
Adafruit have taken Raspberry Pi’s RP2040, the same SoC found in the Raspberry Pi Pico, and placed it into something different. A USB key shaped device with no GPIO and limited connectivity. Trinkey QT2040 is designed for plug and play use and can be connected to any computer running any operating system.
Trinkey QT2040 is compatible with C / C++ and MicroPython, but to get the best from this board we really need to use CircuitPython. With CircuitPython we have an easy to use dialect of Python 3, a large selection of libraries ensuring we can pick up and connect a Stemma QT / Qwiic board and start hacking. CircuitPython is the ideal way to experience Trinkey QT2040.
The USB form factor means that Trinkey QT2040 can be connected to a computer which requires quick access to a hardware hacking platform. Need to hack some I2C components, Trinkey QT2040 will enable you to plug in and hack.
More information...
#articles #hardware #boards
A USB Key with the power of RP2040
Adafruit have taken Raspberry Pi’s RP2040, the same SoC found in the Raspberry Pi Pico, and placed it into something different. A USB key shaped device with no GPIO and limited connectivity. Trinkey QT2040 is designed for plug and play use and can be connected to any computer running any operating system.
Trinkey QT2040 is compatible with C / C++ and MicroPython, but to get the best from this board we really need to use CircuitPython. With CircuitPython we have an easy to use dialect of Python 3, a large selection of libraries ensuring we can pick up and connect a Stemma QT / Qwiic board and start hacking. CircuitPython is the ideal way to experience Trinkey QT2040.
The USB form factor means that Trinkey QT2040 can be connected to a computer which requires quick access to a hardware hacking platform. Need to hack some I2C components, Trinkey QT2040 will enable you to plug in and hack.
More information...
#articles #hardware #boards
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