CGConnect is transforming robotic vehicles across air, land and sea into a connected autonomous fleet

By Stephanie Qiu, Public Relations and Communications Manager

Cloud Ground Control, developed by Advanced Navigation, has announced the launch of its cellular micro-modem CGConnect. Using 4G/5G networks, CGConnect links any uncrewed vehicle to Cloud Ground Control’s cloud-based drone fleet management platform, enabling live-streaming, command and control from a web browser.

Cloud Ground Control is a SaaS platform that supports multi-user and multi-vehicle operations, making it ideal for robotic enterprises with a myriad of robotic fleets for emergency, security, construction, asset inspection, agriculture and environmental purposes.

Fast track into the cloud with CGConnect
“Enterprises who rely on drones and robotics for business operation often own a diverse range of uncrewed vehicles that may not be compatible with one another. CGConnect is designed to solve this pain point by linking them to the Cloud Ground Control platform, regardless of manufacturer or model, turning them into a holistic, connected fleet,” said Michal Weiss, Head of Product at Cloud Ground Control.

Plug and play connectivity
Using CGConnect, remote users gain instant access to Cloud Ground Control’s rich features, including real-time telemetry, cloud storage, video and payload data, all from a web browser simultaneously. Weighing only 55 grams with similar sizing to a credit card, CGConnect is easily integrated into any product design, offering the following benefits:

• Open platform – The flexible and customisable open platform operates on the MAVLink standard. This multiplies potential product applications and enables diverse autonomous vehicles and payloads to operate as a coordinated fleet.
• Robotic agnostic – Works flexibly with open-sourced libraries and is agnostic to the type of technology and vehicle enterprises may wish to use.
• White labelled: Available as a white label product, allowing users to rebrand the user interface in seconds to complement business branding and coding requirements.
• High-grade security – Utilises military-grade encryption and authentication to safeguard data and IP from vulnerabilities and security breaches, helping users meet compliance obligations.
• Simple and accessible – Revolutionises multi-drone operation by making it simple, cost effective and accessible to users of every skill grade.
• AI modelling – The platform runs AI algorithms in the cloud, relaying real-time camera feed data to the end user to support versatile missions, such as object detection, tracking and thermal imaging.
• Edge AI – CGConnect supports edge AI to perform intensive object identification and classification directly on the vehicle for dynamic missions.

Unlock new markets

Integrating CGConnect into a vehicle’s design expands the product’s functionality and applications while saving development time. This allows manufacturers to fine-tune the product’s competitive advantage, expanding the robot’s potential and ultimately unlocking access to new markets.

Cloud Ground Control helped Clean Earth Rovers transform its Rover AVPros into an autonomous connected fleet. By integrating CGConnect, Clean Earth Rovers were able to provide customers with real-time situational awareness, allowing for enlightened decisions and greatly accelerating recovery efforts in ocean health. Discover the integration here.

For more information, visit www.cloudgroundcontrol.com/CGConnect

Sponsored content by Advanced Navigation

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Examining the history, and future, of connected cars

A vehicle’s check engine light turning on is many car owners’ worst nightmare. Without specific knowledge about the inner workings of the vehicle, it’s unlikely you’d know what is actually wrong with it based solely on the check engine light. It could be a quick and easy fix, or a significant component failure that could end up costing thousands of dollars.

But what if your car could tell you exactly what the issue is instead of relying on something so vague? Thankfully the internet of things has made this, among other exciting developments, a reality. Read on to learn how IoT-enabled “connected cars” are revolutionizing the automotive industry.

The origin of connected cars

While the term connected car is often used nowadays to describe vehicles utilizing IoT technology, that’s far from where the term first gained traction. In 1996, GM and Ford introduced their OnStar and RESCU services respectively. These services primarily served as an emergency response tool, putting customers in contact with a call center in the case of a crash, breakdown, theft, or other similar emergency. By utilizing GPS tracking built into the vehicle, call center operators could quickly and easily send help to the drivers location even if the driver didn’t know where they were.

These were the first connected cars, and as the years went by both GM and Ford expanded the features offered by their services. Remote diagnostics, navigation assistance, Wi-Fi hotspots and more were all eventually incorporated in connected cars. These advancements became a launchpad for full IoT integration, connecting vehicles to nearly every IoT-enabled device imaginable. Smartphones are one of the most well-known examples of this, being able to connect to a car to control music, remotely lock, unlock, and start the car, and more.

Predictive maintenance for connected cars

Now, let’s circle back to the hypothetical check engine light scenario. Without IoT connectivity for your vehicle, knowing the exact cause of the problem likely isn’t an easy task. However, the IoT enables predictive maintenance across the entire vehicle, informing the driver of specific components that are deteriorating before they fail. Guesswork is taken out of vehicle maintenance entirely, making consumers’ lives easier and keeping them on the road longer. No more frustrating trips to a mechanic, unsure if you’re being given the runaround or ripped off.

Even beyond engine problems, connected cars can alert drivers to more routine maintenance needs. Air filter replacement, transmission fluid service, tire rotation and brake servicing are all examples of maintenance that drivers aren’t necessarily reminded of without a connected car. Knowing when exactly to conduct maintenance helps keep the vehicle running longer, and is a cheaper alternative to replacing components after they’ve failed due to lack of maintenance.

Managing fleets of connected cars

With the IoT, managing large fleets of transport vehicles is easier, safer, and more efficient. Predictive maintenance can be used in the same exact way as previously discussed, informing operators of potential component deterioration before it fails, which in the case of these large transport vehicles can cause catastrophic damage. Beyond that, cargo and driver safety can be improved during operation through integrated vision systems. Blind spots can be monitored to reduce accident risk, and AI can even be integrated to detect other vehicles outside of just blind spots and alert the driver if an accident is imminent. The video used for this detection system can also be saved and used later on, whether for training purposes or in cases of an accident or litigation (Source: Intel).

Communication between drivers of the fleet can also be improved with the IoT. 5G or Wi-Fi modules can be installed in the vehicles, giving drivers the means to quickly communicate with each other with minimal latency (Source: Intel). Fleet managers can also keep track of where each vehicle in the fleet is, the status of both the vehicle and cargo, and provide instructions to drivers if rerouting is necessary.

Connected cars made autonomous

There’s one final application of IoT for connected cars to discuss, and it’s arguably the most exciting for the majority of consumers. Semi-autonomous and fully-autonomous vehicles have been a high-profile topic for years, with Tesla being one of the highest-profile proponents of the technology. Tesla “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) vehicles utilize eight cameras installed around the front, back and sides of the vehicle to achieve a full 360° view of the surrounding environment. These cameras, along with other sensors and a neural network built into the vehicle, form the basis of the FSD technology. The neural network is the most important aspect here though. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, has stated that the neural network in Tesla vehicles “will learn over time”, primarily using data collected from other Tesla cars/drivers. This process is made possible with the IoT, connecting sensors to the cloud so all of the data gathered can be compiled and used to improve the self-driving features of the vehicle.

Conclusion

There’s no shortage of applications that connected cars make possible. Not only can drivers’ lives be made easier thanks to predictive maintenance, larger corporations can better manage fleets of vehicles, or develop solutions to complex problems like autonomous driving.

For questions about IoT-enabled plain bearings, linear bearings and slides for automotive manufacturing, contact a drytech® smart plastics expert. For IoT-enabled cables and cable carriers, contact an e-chain® smart plastics expert.

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Robotic arms are among the most popular – given their wide range of use cases across multiple industries. For instance, they have helped warehousing companies to automate tedious, complex, or dangerous mission-critical tasks like picking up, sorting, and selecting items or components. In other industrial settings, robotic arms are utilized for material handling, machine tending, heavy lifting, etc. Robotic arms also play an important role in the smart farming industry as they can navigate rugged environments while picking/placing individual crops.

What are the ideal camera features for robotic arm devices?

Without a reliable camera solution, the robotic arm won’t be able to detect, identify, and locate objects. Even a single error or deviance can render the task useless. Robotic arms also get the intelligence from embedded vision technology – thereby being equipped to react and make decisions. Therefore, an effective camera solution helps gather all relevant information about their surroundings by capturing, processing, and analyzing imaging data in real-time.

Key camera features:

HDR
If robotic arms are a part of outdoor robots (e.g., farming robots), it is pertinent to reproduce the scene in contrasting lighting conditions accurately. Hence, the camera solution must be HDR-enabled to bring out the details in the brightest and darkest areas of the same scene.

Global shutter vs. Global reset mode
Often, robotic arms are required to capture images of high-speed moving objects. In that case, one of the key questions is whether to choose the rolling shutter, the global reset or the global shutter mode. The decision is based on factors such as the speed of the motion, the type of lighting conditions, etc. Going with the global shutter camera may seem like an easy decision in most cases. However, it’s important to know that the rolling shutter with the global reset mode (global reset release) can satisfy a majority of the needs.

High resolution
The higher resolution, the better the robotic arm-enabled device would be at capturing smaller objects. So, for instance, with a 4K resolution, it can capture even the smallest details of an object’s image. It will also become possible to zoom in on a Region of Interest (ROI) without compromising image quality.

Large pixel size
A large pixel size makes capturing images in low-light conditions easy as it aids in absorbing a higher number of photons. It can be a crucial feature of robotic arms that operate in outdoor environments. The larger the pixel size, the wider the Field of View coverage, the more effective the zooming, and the higher the resolution.

Flexible cabling
Many robotic systems must be empowered to handle long-distance data transmission without compromising on the delivery speed or accuracy of imaging. So, the camera solution must come with interfaces such as USB 3.0 or GSML 2 to transmit data up to a distance of 3 meters.

Other key camera features:

• High sensitivity
• High Signal to Noise Ratio
• Auto-exposure and white balance 
• Superior depth measurement (to capture and analyze 3D coordinates)

How e-con Systems equips robotic arms with vision power

e-con Systems, with close to two decades of experience, has enabled several robotic arm devices with vision power. We have customized aspects, such as form factor, temperature tolerance, ISP tuning, lens calibration, and more.

• External trigger support to synchronize external sensors like IMU, LiDAR, GPS, etc., with multi-streaming support (up to 8 cameras) for 360-degree awareness, mapping, and navigation.
• Pixel-level processing to run heavy computer vision algorithms – edge AI processing platforms like NVidia edge AI processors. 
• GMSL2 interface to transfer image data up to a distance of 15 meters.
• Multiple exposures in a single frame for bringing out sharp details in high-contrast lighting conditions.

Recently, e-con Systems partnered with a leading Korea-based manufacturer of sealant and visual inspection equipment to integrate their robotic arm product with the right camera solution. The camera had to be placed on a moving robotic arm, which meant that motion blur could pose a big problem. Also, given that it was a multi-camera setup, the system should be able to capture images synchronously.

Our solution comprised a custom-designed synchronous setup of six e-CAM55_CUMI0521_MOD modules connected to the NVIDIA Jetson board over a MIPI interface. We used GMSL coaxial cables between the host and cameras to support long-distance cabling. 

Highlights

• Support for various image quality controls
• Perfect synchronization and low latency on the image pipeline 
• Algorithms to instantly process high-quality images in memory
• Reliable performance in harsh environments and unpredictable lighting conditions
• Low exposure time to eliminate any chance of motion blur

In the end, the client could enjoy a high level of automation with lowered risk exposure, huge cost savings, and improved staff productivity.

Final thoughts

There are no off-the-shelf cameras that can fulfil every expectation of every robotic arm’s use case. So, the ability to customize based on unique needs should be a top priority. If you are looking for an expert to guide you through the process and help build a great robotic arm product, please write to us at camerasolutions@e-consystems.com.

Sponsored content by e-con Systems

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3D depth cameras play a significant role in enabling autonomous navigation in robots, tractors, forklifts, etc. DepthVista (e-con Systems’ 3D time of flight camera) comes with the ability to deliver both depth and RGB data in a single frame – making it possible to do obstacle detection and object recognition simultaneously. Learn the key features and target applications of DepthVista, and the top 6 reasons why it could be the perfect depth camera for your embedded vision application.

In recent years, depth sensing technologies have emerged as a popular technique to aid robots, tractors, remote patient monitoring systems, etc., with autonomous navigation and object detection. In the design of a 3D depth sensing camera, the accuracy of depth measurement is one of the most critical requirements. In addition, the ability to provide color (RGB) information for performing object recognition can be a game changer. With these in mind, e-con Systems – a leading embedded camera manufacturer and solutions provider – has designed a 3D time of flight camera called DepthVista.

This article discusses in detail the features and benefits of using DepthVista in embedded vision applications that rely on depth.

DepthVista – High Resolution 3D ToF Camera

DepthVista is a 3D depth camera based on the Time of Flight (ToF) technology. It is an RGBD camera housing the below camera modules:

• ToF depth camera with a depth sensor and dedicated depth processor for depth measurement.
• RGB camera with the AR0234CS global shutter CMOS sensor from onsemi^TM and a dedicated high performance Image Signal Processor (ISP) for object recognition.

DepthVista offers both depth information and RGB data in one frame. Its depth sensor streams a resolution of 640 x 480 @ 30 FPS and the color global shutter sensor streams HD and FHD @30 FPS.

The following figure shows the front view of DepthVista mounted on a tripod:

Figure 1: Front view of e-con’s DepthVista mounted on a tripod

Top 6 reasons why you should consider DepthVista for your depth-based embedded vision application

Better 3D precision
With the high resolution depth sensing ability, DepthVista achieves precise 3D depth measurement in addition to offering high quality RGB images. The calibration of the 850nm high performance VCSEL diodes with sensor timing results in more 3D detail. Also, the calibration is perfectly carried out by merging the RGB frame with the depth data to enable object recognition using a single frame.

Compatibility with UVC standards
DepthVista is UVC compliant and will work with the standard drivers available with Windows and the Linux OS.

Low light performance
DepthVista uses a VCSEL of wavelength 850nm (in the NIR spectrum) which is safer for human eyes. It does not require ambient illumination for optimal performance and hence operates in low light or even in absolute darkness.

Computational load reduction
The new-age time of flight camera from e-con Systems provides ready-to-use depth data from the camera itself – thereby reducing the computational load on the host.

Multiple operational modes and scalable depth ranges
As mentioned before, DepthVista has the ability to deliver both depth and RGB data for obstacle detection and object recognition. Further, it comes with two operational modes – the far mode and the near mode. The depth ranges for these two modes are as follows:

• Far Mode: 1000 mm to 6500 mm
• Near Mode: 200 mm to 1200 mm

You can switch between the two modes based on your application requirements.

In addition to this, DepthVista supports nine data modes which are explained below:

Figure 2: DepthVista data modes

Compact design
DepthVista is a compact depth camera as it is equipped with integral illumination next to the lens.

DepthVista – Best fit camera for AMRs

AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) such as warehouse robots, service robots, cleaning robots, and companion robots can effectively and efficiently perform navigation, path planning, obstacle detection, and object recognition using DepthVista. Also, the two operational modes make it suitable for a wide variety of use cases such as people detection (with the far mode) and quality inspection or volume measurement (with near mode).

Other targeted applications

• Robotic arms
• Autonomous guided vehicles
• People counting in Retail Analytics
• 3D Facial recognition based anti-spoofing devices
• Remote patient monitoring

To know more about the features and benefits of the product, please visit the DepthVista product page. Alternatively, you can get a quick overview of the product by watching the below video: 

To get all the queries related to the product answered, please visit the FAQ page.

The upcoming DepthVista models

1. DepthVista_MIPI_IRD – Compact sized ToF depth camera with MIPI interface. This camera board supports the NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin/Xavier development kit.
2. DepthVista_USB_IRD – Compact sized and UVC compatible 3D ToF camera.

These models use VCSEL laser diodes that can operate in NIR range of either 850nm or 940nm for both indoor and outdoor environments as two product variants.

If you are interested in integrating embedded vision cameras into your products, kindly write to e-con Systems at camerasolutions@e-consystems.com. You could also visit the Camera Selector to get a complete view of e-con Systems’ camera portfolio.

Sponsored content by e-con Systems

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Shutter artifacts are one of the most common challenges faced in rolling shutter cameras while capturing fast-moving objects. A global shutter camera is recommended to address this issue. In this article, learn everything about e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD – a FHD color global shutter camera module from e-con Systems perfect for robots, smart traffic systems, drones, etc. You will get a complete understanding of its features, benefits, differentiators, and key target applications.

Some key camera features like high image quality, high frame rate and long range support continue to be crucial features for many embedded vision applications. Their use cases range from smart surveillance, smart traffic and robotic vision to surround view, factory automation, and more.

However, when it comes to capturing images of high-speed moving objects at high quality and with sharp color details, there tend to be serious complications. It’s due to the appearance of rolling shutter artifacts in the image output.

In this blog post, you’ll discover how e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD – a FHD Global Shutter color camera module developed by e-con Systems – can empower you to overcome these challenges expertly.

But first, let us closely understand the features, benefits and targeted applications of the e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD camera module.

e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD – Full HD AR0234 Global Shutter Camera Module

e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD is a Full HD (FHD) Global Shutter MIPI color camera module – based on the 1/2.6″ AR0234 CMOS image sensor from onsemi with a 3-µm pixel size. However, before diving into the benefits of this cutting-edge solution, let’s first check out this camera module’s front and rear views.

Figure 1: Front and Rear views of e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD Camera Module

Top benefits of e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD Color Camera Module

High frame rate
If the target objects are moving or rotating at high speed, capturing them with a general camera module will result in motion blur. A high frame rate camera with a low exposure time will be an ideal choice to eliminate motion blur. The e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD camera module can capture images at a high frame rate of up to 120 fps. In addition, it can stream uncompressed HD at 120 fps, FHD at 65 fps, and 2.3 MP at 60 fps.

Let’s look at the maximum frame rates – as supported in e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD.

Table 1: Maximum Frame Rate Supported

Global shutter type
Rolling shutter artifact is another unfortunate phenomenon that occurs when the target object moves too fast for the camera to capture properly. In such a case, an embedded camera with a high frame rate may not suffice. Instead, a global shutter camera is recommended.

As discussed before, the e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD camera module is based on the 1/2.6″ AR0234 CMOS image sensor. This allows rolling shutter artifact-free images of moving objects and a reduction in frame-to-frame distortion.

This sample image shows the difference between the output without and with the global shutter feature.

Figure 2: Output Image without and with Global Shutter feature

FHD
The higher the resolution — the more details can be extracted from the target image. So, with the e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD camera module, your application can capture high-quality images at 120 fps.

Wide range of lens support
e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD is a pluggable camera module – provided with an S-mount lens holder. This standard S-mount lens holder (M12P0.5) can accommodate a wide range of lenses. Accordingly, you can choose a lens of your choice that best suits your application.

More Compatible Platform with variety of interface support
e-con Systems offers the MIPI, USB, GMSL/GMSL2 and FPD-Link III versions of the e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD camera module. Given below are all such variants of the camera supporting various platforms.

• See3CAM_24CUG – AR0234CS Full HD Color Global Shutter USB Camera
• e-CAM24_CUNX – Color Global shutter Camera for NVIDIA® Jetson Xavier NX / TX2 NX / Nano
• e-CAM20_CURB – AR0234 Global Shutter Color Camera for Raspberry Pi 4
• NileCAM25 – Full HD GMSL2 Global Shutter color camera with 15m cable support for NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Xavier and Connect Tech’s Rogue platform based on Jetson AGX Xavier, Rudi AGX platform based on Jetson AGX Xavier, and Rudi NX platform based on Jetson Xavier NX
• NeduCAM25 – Full HD Global Shutter FPD-Link III Camera Module for Texas Instruments SK-TDA4VM
• e-CAM20_CURZ – AR0234 Global Shutter Camera for Renesas® RZ/V2L
• e-CAM25_CUXVR – Six Synchronized Global Shutter Cameras for Jetson AGX Xavier
• e-CAM21_CUiMX8 – AR0234 Global Shutter Camera for MX8 Processors
• e‑CAM25_CUNX – Multiple 4-lane Global Shutter camera solution for Jetson Xavier NX FLOYD carrier board

You can also click the below image to check out the full portfolio of e-con systems’ global shutter cameras.

For any help in integrating cameras into your products, please get in touch with e-con Systems at sales@e-consystems.com. To check out the complete portfolio of cameras from e-con Systems, please visit the Camera Selector.

e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD customization
With more than 19 years of experience in delivering embedded vision solutions, e-con Systems’ experts can help you with customizing the camera module to fit your unique application needs. Given below are some of the types of customizations we can do:

• PCB form-factor customization for any connector, shape and orientation
• Lens holder customization for C/CS mount
• Driver development for any OS
• Interfacing with any application processor such as Freescale i.MX8, NVIDIA Jetson TX2/ AGX Xavier and so on.

For other customization requirements, you can reach out to: camerasolutions@e-consystems.com.

Targeted applications
e-CAM217_CUMI0234_MOD camera module can be used in a wide variety of embedded vision applications – owing to its outstanding performance with respect to high frame rate, FHD and global shutter. These include:

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
• Automotive ADAS
• Robotic Vision
• Drones
• Factory automation
• Gesture recognition
• Traffic monitoring
• Barcode scanning

Sponsored content by e-con Systems

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Simulations offer the environment needed to accelerate development and testing time by up to 90 percent. Learn how Wind River’s Senior Solution Architect, James Hui, designs Simics to help organizations and global teams scale at the speeds today’s landscape demands.

Register below to download this white paper.

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How autonomous mobile robots are driving warehouse productivity

By Sonia Jose, Senior Product Manager, Honeywell Robotics

The growing convenience of online ordering, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a massive increase in e-commerce demand. As distribution centers (DCs) face this new level of operational complexity and increased labor scarcity, warehouse automation has become essential to the survival of any DC operation.

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are emerging as a cost-effective solution that requires minimal information technology (IT) or infrastructural changes for DCs looking to automate. Advances in AMRs have allowed them to overcome traditional barriers to automation in DCs and complex manufacturing operations. Thanks to innovations in vision, mapping and safety, mobile robots are now able to “share the road” with humans and vehicles, navigate new routes, or respond to order changes. No tape, markers or wires are needed for navigation, and the robots require only a short set-up period to learn their surroundings.

Mobile robots are no longer the technology of the future. Today, DCs are utilizing AMRs to ease labor burdens, improve productivity and safety, reduce errors, and lower operational costs in a variety of scenarios, including:

• Pallet conveyance
• Picking and cart transport
• Automated machine tending

These applications are just the beginning of the possibilities of mobile robotics. AMR technology can be tailored to specific challenges to optimize your unique workflows. And with advanced simulation and emulation tools, operators can calculate highly accurate throughput and performance estimates before beginning site integration.

Download our white paper to learn how autonomous mobile robots can optimize your operation’s workflows.

Sponsored content by Honeywell Robotics

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Market forces and new technologies give automated distribution centers the edge

By Eric Harty, VP Robotic Solutions Offering, Honeywell Robotics

Distribution and fulfillment centers have been battling to meet the growing demands of e-commerce for quite some time. Those demands were already accelerating at a rate of 25%, but the COVID-19 pandemic has seen consumer e-commerce sales grow an additional 50%. Currently, 80% of distribution centers (DCs) operate with a manual workforce and have a very limited labor pool to choose from. To maximize operational efficiency within this “new normal,” DCs will need to consider integrating robotic warehouse solutions to make up for the labor shortage and increase productivity.

While DCs have been operating with labor shortages for some time, the current e-commerce climate under the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the immediate need to utilize robotic solutions to overcome the limitations of using manual labor. Warehouses that fulfill e-commerce orders are known for seeing a lot of change and managing a variety of SKUs. Although robots are known to operate in repetitive and highly structured conditions, DCs can rely on robotic solutions to integrate data science for quick decision-making, increase productivity, and take charge of monotonous tasks so that manual labor can be better allocated elsewhere in the warehouse.

Automating responsibilities in the warehouse allows for robots to handle physically demanding tasks, while manual labor can be utilized for more advanced and fulfilling warehouse needs. This helps to combat the high turnover rates seen by DCs among lower-level tasks. Another benefit to adopting robotic solutions in your warehouse is quelling the rising cost of manual labor. This means that you will see a financial ROI much quicker than before.

Read our white paper to learn how you can implement the latest technology in DC automation.

Sponsored content by Honeywell Robotics

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Advances in Technology Are Finally Enabling DC Automation

By Eric Harty, VP Robotic Solutions Offering, Honeywell Robotics

The use of robotics has come a long way from when robots were first introduced as an aid in the workforce. Today’s robots can accomplish complex and repetitive tasks with more precision than ever. With the growing shortage of skilled laborers, robotic software and artificial intelligence offer a solution to common problems plaguing many distribution centers (DCs): remaining competitive and keeping up with the growing needs of the e-commerce market.

Multiple advancements for robotic solutions have focused on making DC productivity more efficient. Mobile robots now come with sensors that help r map out and navigate their surroundings. Mobile robots can also perform lengthy shifts thanks to advancements in battery technologies. In addition, simulation tactics allow robots to be tested before ever touching the DC’s floor. This is helpful in determining where a robot would be most effective from the beginning of its use.

Whether loading, handling items or depalletizing, robots are created with these needs in mind, proving to be helpful additions to the workforce.

Learn more about robotic solutions in the warehouse by reading our white paper.

Sponsored content by Honeywell Robotics

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In the design of a self-balancing two-wheeled robotic vehicle, accurate high-speed measurement of angular rotation is a key requirement. Furthermore, the minimization of component weight and size is an equally vital consideration. Engineering students at Tokyo Denki University found the answer in the RM08 rotary magnetic encoder, from Renishaw’s associate company, RLS.

Background

Dedicated to the teaching of science and technology, Tokyo Denki University was established in 1907 by two young engineers, Seiichi Hirota and Shinkichi Ogimoto. Their founding principle was to promote engineering education as a basis for national economic development.

Working in the University’s Robotics and Mechatronics Department, Jun Ishikawa is a pioneering researcher in several technological fields including robot control system development. He challenged his engineering students to create a two-wheeled, self-balancing robotic vehicle. For this project, his students chose the RM08 rotary magnetic position feedback encoder from RLS, a Renishaw associate company.

Challenges

Ishikawa challenged his university students to solve a classic control theory problem – the inverted pendulum. The basis for the well-known Segway personal transporter, the inverted pendulum has its center of mass located above the pivot point.

Unlike a suspended pendulum, which will naturally return to a stable equilibrium position after being displaced, the inverted pendulum is inherently unstable. Imagine holding a pool cue or a broom handle upright on the palm of your hand – it would tend to fall over without continuous adjustments to the position of your hand. A shorter inverted pendulum accelerates away from the vertical position faster than a longer one, requiring more frequent position adjustments and presenting a more challenging control problem – balancing a pen on your hand is trickier than balancing a pool cue.

One solution to the problem, as implemented by Segway, is to mount the pivot point on a wheeled platform. This type of vehicle takes inertial inputs from an IMU (inertial measurement unit) which comprises two sensors: an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

In this case, both vertical-axis and horizontal-axis accelerometers are used to determine the angular acceleration due to gravity. By constantly monitoring the tilt angle and angular velocity of the pendulum, a PD (proportional derivative) control system can be used to drive the wheels forwards or backwards to maintain balance.

Adopting a similar approach in their own control system, Ishikawa’s students needed to design and integrate what was effectively a three-part solution, comprising tilt-angle sensing, control logic and motor drive circuitry. When designing PCBs for this control application, small size and low weight is crucial for integration within the handlebars. PCB architectures have been optimized to ensure that all the required functionality is delivered in the smallest package size.

Solution

The PCB control board sits at the top of the pendulum, inside the handlebars, and carries all the electronic circuitry required, including a solid-state gyroscope, microcontroller, DC motor drive and power management components.

In the wheeled platform, at the bottom, there are two axles: a horizontal axle linking the wheels and a vertical axle driven by a compact DC motor. Simple bevel gearing at the intersection between the axles enables the motor to drive the wheels in either direction.

For effective control, the system must maintain orientation within a small range of angles that are nearly vertical. If the vehicle tilts by more than 30 degrees in either direction, stability might be lost. To maintain balance, the wheels must be driven continuously with carefully calculated acceleration and speed.

To achieve the required level of motion control performance, the students needed a high-resolution position encoder to enable monitoring and regulation of the motor output. It also had to be small and light enough to be accommodated within the vehicle’s slim vertical structure.

After much consideration, the solution came in the shape of the RM08 rotary magnetic encoder from RLS, a Renishaw associate company. This non-contact, frictionless rotary magnetic encoder weighs just 2 g, including cabling, and features an aluminum sensor housing measuring 8 mm in diameter with a thickness of only 3 mm.

The students designed a narrow nylon collar, to act as a mechanical linkage between the motor shaft and the magnetic actuator of the RM08 encoder, which added less than 0.5 g to the assembly. The RM08 encoder produces a 12-bit resolution output (4,096 steps per revolution), is suitable for high-speed operation up to 30,000 rpm and delivers an accuracy of ±0.3 º.

Results

By using the RM08 high-speed rotary magnetic encoder to measure angular rotation at 12-bit resolution, the Tokyo Denki University students were able to design a motion control scheme for a two-wheeled robotic vehicle capable of self-balancing and staying upright.

The RM08 encoder is IP68-rated and designed for integration into a wide range of high-reliability, high-volume OEM applications.

Importantly, the rotary magnetic encoder also addressed the vehicle’s demanding physical design constraints. Being a highly compact and lightweight component, it helped the students overcome both space and load-carrying limitations.

The success of this project has given the students the confidence to explore other advanced robotics projects.

For more information visit, www.renishaw.com/denki

About Renishaw:

UK-based Renishaw is a world leading engineering technologies company, supplying products used for applications as diverse as jet engine and wind turbine manufacture, through to dentistry and brain surgery. It has over 4,500 employees located in the 37 countries where it has wholly owned subsidiary operations.

Throughout its history Renishaw has made a significant commitment to research and development, with historically between 13 and 18% of annual sales invested in R&D and engineering. The majority of this R&D and manufacturing of the Company’s products is carried out in the UK.

The Company’s success has been recognised with numerous international awards, including eighteen Queen’s Awards recognising achievements in technology, export, and innovation.

Further information at www.renishaw.com

Sponsored content by Renishaw

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By Eric Harty, VP Robotic Solutions Offering, Honeywell Robotics

Robotics in the logistics industry have seen a remarkable transition in just a few short years. They’ve evolved from expensive tools limited to repetitive tasks to become cost-effective, autonomous co-workers capable of responding to constantly changing environments and workflows. Now distribution centers (DCs) are making a new discovery: as effective as individual robots are proving to be, they’re even better when they work together.

Watch this free webinar to explore the proven benefits of robotics designed specifically for warehouse operations, from autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to smart flexible depalletizers. We’ll also share the benefits that result when multiple robotics technologies are combined in seamlessly integrated solutions.

Sponsored content by Honeywell Robotics

The post Webinar: Enabling Workflows With Integrated Robotics Solutions appeared first on The Robot Report.

Developing a new product or optimizing an existing product no longer means just providing a version that performs better than the last one. To be successful, designers and manufacturers must now deliver improved performance, increased efficiency, and smaller footprint. By working with a partner who has expertise in both electromechanical components and systems, you can ensure your system is optimized to meet – and exceed – these expectations.

One of the biggest challenges when designing an electromechanical system is to meet the oftentimes competing objectives of maximizing performance and minimizing footprint. And on top of these requirements, more and more types of devices are being designed to operate on battery power, so efficiency also becomes increasingly important.

But these design goals – high performance, high efficiency, and small footprint – don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Manufacturers of all kinds of components – from motors and actuators to sensors and electronics – have been developing products to meet these specific requirements for several years. The key is to work with a partner who has experience not only manufacturing individual components, but also integrating these components into complete electromechanical systems. Manufacturers who possess both the technology expertise and integration experience, such as Delta Line, can propose creative solutions that help you meet – and even exceed – your design and performance goals.

Case Study: Wheel drives present unique challenges for electromechanical systems

Take, for example, our wheel drives for AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). Because wheel drives – sometimes referred to as wheel hub drives – are battery powered, they need to be as efficient as possible, not only for energy-saving purposes, but also because recharging an autonomous system takes valuable time and costs money. But at the same time, the wheels that drive AGVs and AMRs must be able to operate at high speeds and produce sufficient torque to carry the specified payload while meeting the required acceleration and move profile. And when an electromechanical system is truly integrated, or embedded, into the final product, these challenges become even more complex. Constraints such as footprint and battery size become more rigid, and there are fewer design options that satisfy these requirements…

More about Delta Line

Delta Line is a global motion solution provider with product options ranging from individual motor, actuator and gearbox offerings to fully customized motion systems up to 1kW. Our extensive portfolio includes brushed ironless and brushless DC motors, stepper motors, linear actuators, gearboxes, encoders, and intelligent drives. Delta Line’s unique corporate structure with global headquarter in Switzerland and a regional office in Denver, CO, combines several co-owned brands with manufacturing facilities on three continents, offering an optimal combination of production flexibility and personalized service, with direct, constant access to our expert commercial and technical engineering teams.

Delta Line defines its success by the success of its customers’ projects. Design, manufacturing, and service work in synergy to generate the right solution for each engineering challenge.

For more information visit: www.delta-line.com

Or contact us: infous@delta-line.com – +1 303-256-6212

Sponsored content by Delta Line

The post How to best choose your AGV’s Wheel Drive provider appeared first on The Robot Report.

How Automation is Tackling One of the Toughest Distribution Center (DC) Jobs

By Eric Harty, VP Robotic Solutions Offering, Honeywell Robotics

The number and variety of products available to e-commerce consumers have expanded dramatically. With this change comes an increasing number of goods received by retailers and e-commerce operations in an ever-expanding variety of pallet load patterns. Even when a company receives multiple pallets of the same SKU, stacking patterns can vary from pallet to pallet. The processes of breaking down these pallets and placing their contents into storage or a warehouse automation system are common operational bottlenecks.

Until recently, depalletizing has been particularly challenging for warehouse robots to handle. While humans can easily deal with unstructured and ever-changing tasks like unloading a random assortment of items, robotic programming has taken a while to catch up. However, traditional challenges can now be overcome, thanks to major improvements in three key technologies:

1. Advances in vision and perception
2. Development of sophisticated machine learning
3. Innovation in gripping technology

Together, these breakthroughs have enabled the development of a smart flexible depalletizer: a fully automated solution capable of meeting or exceeding the throughput of manual operations. Download the white paper, which highlights the significant benefits smart flexible depalletizers have to offer modern distribution centers (DCs) and other fulfillment operations, and explore the increasingly attractive business case for implementing these solutions.

Sponsored content by Honeywell Robotics

The post Overcome manual depalletizing challenges without sacrificing productivity appeared first on The Robot Report.

On The Move Podcast Series

By Jarrett S Tilton, Director Global Marketing, Honeywell

If there’s one trend that will be hot in 2022, it’s a growing need for automated solutions in the logistics industry. There are several reasons why: labor challenges, unprecedented e-commerce demand, plus significant advances in the technologies that drive robotic solutions.

Distribution centers (DCs) have to deal with several growing challenges, all at the same time. There are hundreds of thousands of unfilled jobs within warehouses right now. The most current statistics indicate that the warehouse industry now employs over 50 percent more workers than it did five years ago. And 13.6 percent of that growth was in the last year alone. But it’s still not enough. The warehouse and transportation industries had a record 490,000 openings in July.

Every automation technology that a DC utilizes helps to offset these challenges. The idea isn’t to replace workers. But if you can move an employee from an injury-prone job like unloading pallets to doing quality checks, picking orders, sorting inventory, delivering completed orders, and so on, you can use the workers you have more efficiently to increase fulfillment accuracy and get customers their orders faster.

Listen to the full podcast to discover what other strategies and technologies can help DCs to combat the challenges they are currently facing.

Sponsored content by Honeywell Robotics

The post How can robotic solutions set your DC apart in 2022? appeared first on The Robot Report.