Why being able to 3-D print glass objects is such a big deal
By Dominic Basulto for the Washington Post: Researchers at MIT have just unveiled the ability to 3-D-print beautiful glass objects. While humanity has been forming, blowing and molding glass objects for more than 4,500 years, this is the first time that a 3-D printer has been used to process glass from a molten state to an annealed product.
Obviously, there are some purely aesthetic applications here, as in the potential for epic blown glass art. Think museum-worthy glass objects worthy of Dale Chihuly. In fact, the MIT team — a collaborative team of researchers that includes the MIT Media Lab’s Mediated Matter group, the MIT Glass Lab and MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department — plan to display a few of their beautiful objects at an upcoming exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in 2016.
But the applications go beyond just beautiful new designs that might be created via 3-D printers one day. As the MIT research team points out in a forthcoming paper for the journal 3-D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, “As designers learn to utilize this new freedom in glass manufacturing it is expected that a whole range of novel applications will be discovered.” That’s the real future potential of glass 3-D printing — the ability to create objects and applications that do not exist today. Cont'd...
New Automation Technician Program at George Brown College
The purpose of this program is to help graduates prepare for career opportunities in a variety of positions in field including automation, process control, PLCs, robotics, packaging, power generation, mining, machine design, and building automated systems, maintenance, transportation, systems integration, component testing, technical sales, quality control and a host of other fields.
194 Chinese Robot Companies
The robotics industry is booming in China. Companies are deploying thousands of robots in all types of factories, particularly in the auto industry. Chinese companies that manufacture robots and their components are also growing. This article will focus on the 107 makers of those robots.
Intelligrated Software announces enhancements to key warehouse execution system software module
Enhanced Route Manager offers simplified configuration and scalability, improved user experience and expanded support for IT platforms
Commercial UAV Expo Adds Exhibit Space Following Initial Sell-Out
Drone Professionals will find 130+ Booths of UAS Solutions at SPAR Point Groups Inaugural Event in Las Vegas
Battery Backup Power, Inc. Makes Loyola University's 3D Printer Lab "Resilient"
Battery Backup Power, Inc. specialized uninterruptible power supplies for 3D printers provide power conditioning and emergency backup power to Loyola University's multiple LulzBot TAZ 5 3D printers.
Midwest Prototyping Named to Inc. 5000 List for 4th Consecutive Year
Adds Two Additional Printing Technologies to In-House Services
Kickstarter - Chinese 3D Printer Maker Zhuhai CTC Electronic Cancels Formaker Project on Kickstarter
The company hits a bump in its overseas crowdfunding journey
Arrow Electronics Announces Availability of Intrinsyc's Open-Q 410 System on Module
"Its a strong addition to Arrows portfolio."
Game Changer for Wire Harness Manufacturers: Panduit Quick-Build Harness Board System
Up to 65% Cost Savings over Conventional Plywood, Nail Layout, and Board Builds
ReWalk Robotics' Founder Dr. Amit Goffer to Retire
Dr. Goffer Leaves Lasting Legacy With Visionary Invention That Enables Individuals With Lower Limb Paralysis to Walk Again
Here comes the drone backlash
Mike Elgan for Computer World: Consumer drone technology is barely taking off, and already a harsh public backlash is growing.
Your typical garden variety consumer drone is lightweight, battery operated, has four propellers and is controlled by a smartphone. Most have cameras and beam back live video, which can be recorded for posterity. Some have high-quality HD cameras on them, and from that high vantage point can take stunning photos and videos.
Drones are fun. They're exciting. They're accessible. But increasingly, they're becoming unacceptable.
I'm sensing a growing backlash, a kind of social media pitchfork mob against drones and drone fans. It's only a matter of time, and not much time, before it will be politically incorrect to express any kind of enthusiasm for drones in polite company. I fear that many are about to embark on an "everybody knows drones are bad" mentality that will suppress the nascent industry and spoil this innovative and exhilarating technology.
Here's what's driving the coming backlash: Cont'd...
Autonomous Drifting
From AMREL:
You know how the stuntmen make fast cars drift in action movies? Have you ever wanted to make a remote-controlled toy car drift like that? Of course you have. If there ever were awards for endeavors that sound silly, but is actually technically interesting, then the folks at MIT’s Aerospace Controls Lab would surely be nominated.
Unmanned systems are rarely fully autonomous. Instead, researchers are pursuing “sliding” autonomy, i.e. an operator retains control, while some behaviors are made autonomous. Aerospace Controls Lab decided to teach a remote-control toy car how to autonomously drift.
They started by running their learning algorithm through simulations. Information from these simulations was transferred to performance modifiers. When the car was run through its drifting actions in reality, the algorithm was constantly modified. The result is a car that can maintain drifting in a full circle even when salt is added to the floor, or another vehicle interferes with it.
iRobot receives $4 million order for the U.S. Navy
"iRobot is pleased to provide these state-of-the-art robots to the U.S. Navy as they will help to address a wide variety of missions"
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. Included on Inc. Magazine's Prestigious Inc. 5000 List
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. Ranks No. 1716 on the 2015 Inc. 5000 with Three-Year Sales Growth of 237%, No. 19 Top Engineering Company
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Robotics and Automation - Featured Company
OnLogic
A global industrial PC manufacturer and solution provider focused on hardware for the IoT edge, OnLogic designs highly-configurable computers engineered for reliability. Their systems operate in the harshest environments and power innovation in the evolving Internet of Things. Founded in 2003 as Logic Supply, the company has served more than 70,000 customers. OnLogic has offices in the US, Netherlands, Taiwan and Malaysia.
