It started as a project by two engineers who were close to retirement. Today, the modular inspection robots by Canadian company Inuktun are successfully in use all over the world – defying even the most adverse conditions.

Dynetics offers an extensive range of motion controller modules, worm gear motors, servo motor controllers, stepper motor drives and controllers – all suitable for complex mechatronic applications.

Yamaichi Electronics highlights three push-pull connectors for future-proof industrial applications. The three connectors are manufactured in Frankfurt/Oder.

Linux is one of the most widely used open source operating systems and is available in many different variants. This wide set of choices can make it confusing and challenging to determine the right version for a given use case. Wind River's article offers an introduction to Linux for the enterprise and Linux for embedded products.

The more compact the machine and plants, the greater the demand for small sensors. If these devices also involve short blind zones, they soon become the universal tool for restricted spaces. Turck has therefore added ten more miniature sensors to its RU ultrasonic sensor series. Twelve new types were added to the RU-Eco series with devices made from highly resistant liquid crystal polymer. This comprehensive portfolio enables the automation specialist to offer the right ultrasonic solution for...

Numerous companies are sceptical, hesitating to take the step to digitalization. As an industry pioneer in the area of I4.0 grippers and real-time simulation, Zimmer Group is ready to convert the few remaining doubters and naysayers. The company now offers their customers integrated solutions (“digitalZ”) that are tailored to the software platforms of the customers.

Panasonic Industry is well known for its extensive automation technology portfolio with industry-leading innovations and components. With this article, WA3000 Industrial Automation reports about Panasonic's core competencies in the areas of safety technology, energy management and efficiency.

IO-Link is considered key technology for implementing industry 4.0 and IIoT concepts. For this technology Weidmüller provides IO-Link master modules in IP20 and IP67 degree of protection. Plug-in connectors and pre-assembled cables for the bus connection as well as sensor/actuator cabling complete the product portfolio. The parametrisation and configuration of IO-Link devices can be performed with a web‑based configuration tool that contains an interface to the manufacturer‑independent...

Industry 4.0 – the smart, adaptive factory with short retooling times and decentralized control – aims to generate the most comprehensive data possible within a highly automated process in real-time and provide the most varied instances possible. This status information in the form of process data for control and monitoring of sequences and product data for traceability and quality verification form an objective basis for making decisions in order to take early measures for process optimization.

Is there any goalkeeper who even footballers of the World Cup class like Neymar and Messi fail against? Yes, there is one, and its name is RoboKeeper. The computer-controlled football robot was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML). A modified industrial PC of the Kontron KBox series serves as the hardware basis.

Siemens and Bentley Systems announced the introduction of PlantSight at the Bentley Conference Year in Infrastructure 2018. PlantSight is a digital solution to benefit customers through more efficient plant operations. It enables as-operated and up-to-date digital twins which synchronize with both physical reality and engineering data, creating a holistic digital context for consistently understood digital components across disparate data sources, for any operating plant.

With a maximum output power of 5 kW in a 1U-19-inch rack-mount housing, the first member of the new generation of TDK Lambda's successful laboratory power supply family GENESYS+™ sets new standards in the power supply market. The new series delivers the highest power density currently available on the market in a 1U-19-inch rack weighing less than 7.5 kg.

The new BML SL1 absolute measuring system from Balluff is the right choice wherever positions and end-of-travel need to be determined with high accuracy, fast and precisely over travel distances of up to 8 meters. Regardless of whether the task involves linear or rotary motion, distance or angle measurement, format changes, short or long distances.

Wireless-based identification using RFID is one of the key technologies for smart production processes suitable for Industry 4.0. Turck provides a powerful tool for this with its BL ident RFID solution. A new addition to the portfolio is a robust RFID module with protection class IP67, which makes the connection of factory automation to the IT world much easier due to an integrated OPC UA server.

Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) frequently adopt regulations aimed at optimizing solutions for patient care and life-saving systems to make medical devices safer. The article shows which solutions Wind River proposes to meet regulatory requirements with integrated safety & security features. The solutions can also be used for industrial automation applications.

Hybrid plug-in connectors save space and are easier to install. When they are designed and used correctly their EMC properties are just as good as dedicated cables. Circular connectors have already become established on the motors side. Weidmüller has developed the OMNIMATE® hybrid plug-in connector for single-cable interfaces on drives in the control cabinet. The article describes the technical background, and the considerations that went into the design.

The Zimmer Group has added a new pneumatic model range to its technology-leading 5000 series of premium grippers – in addition to the existing models with steel linear guides, versions with aluminum linear guides are now also available.

As global manufacturers face increasing competition, the need to optimize the efficiency, productivity, and quality levels within their discreet manufacturing facilities is becoming a matter of business survival. This article shows which solutions Wind River proposes.

At the Motek in Stuttgart, the international trade fair for automation in production and assembly, Dynetics (Hall 8, Booth 8236) presents an extensive range of ball screw drives, stepper motors, multi-axis motion controllers and controller ASICs for stepper and servo motors.

Weidmüller OMNIMATE® Power BUF 10.16 provides a safer and more efficient device connection for power electronics. The PUSH-IN connection technology and the wire-ready function speed up conductor connection.

With the new Servo Drive Product Finder, Panasonic offers a tool that makes it much easier for planners and users to find the right servo drive.

Industry 4.0 and smart factory concepts pose a number of challenges to production processes. Industrial monitors that are capable of displaying the extensive data of servers in a way that enables all parties to quickly grasp the most important information are a key element of stable production processes. Using Kontron as an example, we show the advantages of XXL monitors.

Precise GNSS/inertial systems using global navigation satellite systems such as GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou or Galileo form the basis for recording and evaluating the driving dynamics of motor vehicles and for the navigation of steering robots. GeneSys Elektronik has developed the full GNSS/Inertial System ADMA-Slim especially for applications with space or weight restrictions.

The concept of the seventh axis provides robot applications with an increased motion range. With the Seventh Axis system from the Actuator System Line Rollon offers a practical solution for this task.