“There’s only one thing to do: Learn all we can.”
– Dorothy Vaughan, “Hidden Figures”
1. A New Bot Has Joined the Chat
At MODEX 2024, Schneider Electric introduced two new collaborative robots, Lexium RL3 and RL12 (with RL18 to follow later). “Whoop-de-do, Steve! Another cobot arm. What’s the big deal?” Well, there’s something interesting going on here! Actually, two things: 1) Schneider has published positional accuracy ranges, which is uncommon from robot arm companies – and certainly not common for cobots (unless you’re FANUC). And 2) Full pricing transparency. You don’t have to call anybody! It’s right there. Quite the flex!
2. Versatile Robotics Control
R2 Labs launched RAC (ROS 2-native autonomy control), an industry-agnostic controller built on the Arduino Pro Portenta Machine Control. It simplifies development, supports multi-axis motion control, and ensures reliability. R2 Labs values Arduino's open-source flexibility, which enables quick integration of industrial-grade features. R2’s team emphasizes their commitment to user-friendly solutions for robotics, focusing on versatility and application growth.
3. Advances in Multi-Material AM
A small school in New England I’m sure nobody’s ever heard of recently used a modified 3D printer to create powerful, compact solenoids in a single step, enhancing electronic device accessibility. The $4,000 printer produces smaller, more efficient solenoids, potentially democratizing the technology globally and aiding space missions. Other 3D printing advances include soft magnetic cores and a multi-material printer for flexible, wearable electronics.
4. Everybody Works Better in Denim
Blair Christie, CEO of Denim, is revolutionizing work for frontline employees with a mobile solution. Denim targets industries like manufacturing and hospitality, connecting engagement to real business outcomes. Blair advises founders to hire slowly and emphasizes the need for a compelling employee value proposition. She envisions productivity gains from the frontline workforce and aims to scale Denim while creating a robust employee behavior data platform.
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