Featured Image

AMT Tech Report: Issue #306

Bots still get the side eye. Spot is a furry. Who's got 'next? Metrology = efficiency. AM in automotive.
May 10, 2024

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry


1. Spot Is a Furry

Is there an uncanny valley effect for animals? The versatility of a Spot robo-dog with a robotic arm is pretty high up there, but I need to see it working daily. Until then, I think the best thing I am going to get is a Spot in a dog costume. I do have a level of appreciation for the wackiness of Spot videos, but man, this must have been an interesting conversation at Boston Dynamics. (I’m still on the fence about quadruped AMRs in the manufacturing space, though.)

Read more here.


2. Bots Still Get the Side Eye

Speaking of uncanny valley horrors. I am also skeptical about bipedal AMRs, aka humanoid bots, which seem to value agility and flexibility over rigidity and stability. This trade-off seems to be moving in a positive direction, though. Some big names are pushing advanced neural networks, fleet learning, high precision, and improved battery life. One piece of advice: Stay out of the uncanny valley if you truly want adoption.

Read more here.


3. Who's Got 'Next?

The landscape of additive changes fast. Between new tech and use cases, getting the market edge by utilizing additive can be challenging – but rewarding. So, seeing, touching, and talking about these technologies is incredibly valuable to gain confidence in your implementation strategy. Check out Formnext Chicago 2025, a new trade show that will showcase the entire additive value chain, from design to materials to inspection – produced by the organizers of the world’s largest trade fair. You won’t be disappointed.

Read more here.


4. Metrology = Efficiency

While metrology is still seen as a roadblock in manufacturing, the tides are turning as new technology allows for more integrated approaches, adding value and improving processes. Completing this change and maximizing the potential in the new tech requires a paradigm shift. Keep an open mind and database to store all this sweet, valuable info.

Read more here.


5. AM in Automotive

Different sectors are harnessing the value of additive at various paces. Automotive is making strides with both polymer and metal additive. By the way, I am talking about end-use products, not just prototyping and tooling. As with most new technologies, you will see the applications applied to race cars first. Don’t worry: Trickle-down economics actually works from race cars to commercial vehicles

Read more here.

To get the latest tech developments delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to the weekly Tech Report here.

To access Tech Trends, log in to or register for an MTInsight account at https://www.mtinsight.org/ 

PicturePicture
Author
Benjamin Moses
Senior Director, Technology
Recent technology News
Startups can reveal where an industry is headed and what areas hold the most promise. Two key directions were highlighted in the recent Formnext Start-up Challenge: additive manufacturing in health care and leveraging AM for highly targeted applications.
What could the future of additive manufacturing look like? It promises to be efficient, local, automated, and immediate. In fact, it could look exactly like the jaw-dropping convergent manufacturing platform featured in AMT’s ETC at IMTS 2024.
New technologies don’t appear with the speed and certainty of throwing a switch. They grow, evolve, and then seem to emerge.
Why you need a testbed. ORNL went chasing rabbits. A Japanese boardroom thriller. The modular lathe at home. The Tesla lidar mystery.
Check and MFG. Micron's coming to Manassas. Start them while they're young. 3D scanning a physical original... Diamonds (batteries) are (almost) forever.
Similar News
undefined
Intelligence
By AMT | Apr 02, 2025

This issue explores the return of investor interest in AM, the latest updates from Washington, a new autonomous land speed record, USMTO results, and more.

6 min
undefined
Technology
By Benjamin Moses | Mar 24, 2025

Episode 133: Elissa dives straight in with 3D printing 4D materials. The team voices their loathing of daylight savings. Steve wonders how it’s 2025 and hot dogs are still not the appropriate length with respect to the buns.

24 min
undefined
Technology
By Stephen LaMarca | Mar 28, 2025

The drape. The cream rises to the top. ML in photovoltaics. Toy production coming back stateside? Dashboard wine.

6 min