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We rarely give much thought to the numerous parts that go into the various goods we use on a daily basis, such as cars and home appliances. For modern life to be practical and convenient, a massive ecosystem of parts and components is required. Comprehending this complex network brings to light the enormous effort and knowledge of industrial designers and engineers, who put in many hours to make sure everything functions properly.

The Structure of Everyday Products

Think about a coffee maker: the rocker switch, foamer head, adapter, waste drawer for coffee grounds, and heating element are only a few of its forty-five parts. With 125 components, including springs, motors, valves, nozzles, and thermostats, a dryer is even more intricate. With almost 30,000 parts, including switches, alternators, hubs and bearings, brackets, and sensors, cars represent the peak of complexity.

Every one of these components is essential to the products performance and operation. Not only is it difficult for engineers to develop these components, but it can also be difficult to locate, pick, and source them.

Difficulties for Engineers in Sourcing Components

Engineers have multiple approaches at their disposal for acquiring components, each with pros and cons of its own. These include:

The Expense and Duration of Sourcing Components

A fascinating study shows that 45% of design engineers look up component data for more than 60 minutes per day. This translates to a maximum of 625 hours and a substantial financial outlay of up to $70,000 per engineer every year. The requirement for a more simplified solution is highlighted by the inefficiencies in the current procedure.

Presenting New Technologies

This problem can be solved by new technologies, which provide a powerful, effective, and all-inclusive component search engine. In the event that an engineer requires a particular component, such as a pipe adapter, new tech may offer numerous advantageous attributes:

Efficient Component Searchs Effects

Engineers can cut down on the amount of time spent searching and choosing parts by utilizing a strong tool. Engineers may concentrate more on design and innovation and save money by using this efficiency instead of wasting time on the tedious task of sourcing components.

In Summary

Finding precise, timely, and pertinent data regarding the components they require presents several issues for engineers. Even though they are diverse, traditional approaches frequently lack comprehensiveness and efficiency. New technologies may present a viable substitute by offering an extensive, current, and user-friendly database of parts. This lowers expenses and saves time, but it also

improves the entire process of design, empowering engineers to produce better, more dependable products. Tools that simplify and improve design workflows will be more and more important in promoting innovation and productivity in product development as technology advances worldwide.

Have you read? Richest Countries In Europe In 2024. Most Attractive Countries To Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Hedge Fund Investors. Revealed: Highest-paid news media executive in the United Kingdom. Countries Leading the Way on Climate Change. Worlds Best Countries For Adventure Tourism.

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What Executives Should Know About Component Search in Engineering - CEOWORLD magazine

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Stout students present industry prototypes as part of engineering projects - Leader-Telegram

Roboticists at Yale Universitys Faboratory have introduced a new, but unlikely capability for soft robots self-amputation and reattachment of limbs.

While certain animals have demonstrated the benefit of shedding their tails to escape predators and form living bridges, this is the first time soft robots have taken a page out of their book.

Interesting Engineering in the past, reported about lizard-inspired structures that mimic autonomy and help buildings from catastrophic collapses.

The research team demonstrated the capabilities of their new soft quadruped robots in a series of videos. In one instance, a robot managed to escape a trap by severing its own limb, showcasing a reversible joint system heated by an electric current. The limb can later be reattached.

At the center of this innovation is a new material, a bicontinuous thermoplastic foam (BTF) that supports a sticky polymer, typically solid, but can be easily melted. This combination allows the joints to be melted, separated, and reattached without losing structural integrity.

In addition to self-amputation, these robots can merge with one another to overcome obstacles. In another of the teams videos, a single crawler robot stands unable to cross a gap between tables.

Three robots then fuse together using their heated joints, to form a larger, more capable unit that can now overcome the gap.

Traditional modular robotics have relied on mechanical connections and magnets, which are inherently rigid, reports Futuro Prossimo. The new combination of the BTF and sticky polymer allows for a flexible, yet strong, connection. Remarkably, this connection is durable and can withstand multiple cycles of detachment and reattachment, and opens up new possibilities for soft robotics.

The researchers at Yale University propose that these techniques could lead to robots capable of radical shape-shifting through changes in mass via autotomy and interfusion. While still in the early stages, this technology could revolutionize how robots interact not just with the environment, but also with each other.

Shape-shifting robots have, for long, been teased as a revolutionary step in robotics. Earlier this year, another team of researchers revealed a genius method to manipulate the molecular properties of liquid crystals through light exposure. According to the team, their method would allow for programmable tools that adapt to stimuli.

If I wanted to make an arbitrary three-dimensional shape, like an arm or a gripper, I would have to align the liquid crystals so that when it is subject to a stimulus, this material restructures spontaneously into those shapes, explained Serra, an associate professor at the University of Southern Denmark.

As roboticists continue to refine these systems, the vision of shape-shifting robots is becoming increasingly tangible. This leap in robotic technology is bringing us closer to a world where robots can seamlessly integrate into unpredictable and unfamiliar environments.

The teams findings, Self-Amputating and Interfusing Machines, were published in the journal Advanced Materials.

NEWSLETTER

Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.

Amal Jos Chacko Amal writes code on a typical business day and dreams of clicking pictures of cool buildings and reading a book curled by the fire. He loves anything tech, consumer electronics, photography, cars, chess, football, and F1.

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With lizard-like self-amputation, Yale robot detaches arms and fuses at will - Interesting Engineering

Helicopters draw a lot of attention with their almost magical ability to hover, fly in any direction and operate without runways. They also help save many lives, often dramatically, with their extensive use in all-weather military missions, ambulance duties and search-and-rescue roles.

When things go wrong, dramatic images and news stories about helicopter accidents grab the publics attention. This is especially true when high-profile celebrities or government officials are involved.

However, modern rotorcraft are safe. Each year, the U.S. commercial helicopter industry flies about 3 million flight hours. There were 0.77 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours on average from 2018 to 2022. In comparison, general aviation, which refers to small fixed-wing aircraft and not jetliners, averaged 0.88 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours over the same period.

As an aeronautical engineer who specializes in rotorcraft and the director of a national vertical lift center of excellence, I have observed academic, government and industry efforts to improve helicopter safety. A lot of technology and training have gone into making helicopters safe.

Rotary-wing aircraft were first developed over a century ago. The first that went into mass production was the autogiro, developed in 1923 by Juan de la Cierva in Spain. The pinwheel-like nature of the main lifting rotor avoided the dangers of stalling, which wrecked so many fixed-wing aircraft during that era. Stalling is when the angle of an airplanes wings relative to the airflow is too great, causing the plane to lose lift.

Within 15 years, the first true helicopters with powered rotors capable of hovering, low-speed flight and safe descent in the event of engine failure were in the air in both Europe and the United States. Large-scale military and commercial production began just a few years later during the World War II.

Todays helicopter operations are anchored on three main principles: comprehensive vehicle design, testing and manufacturing; well-trained flight crews; and thorough maintenance practices. Advanced technology plays a vital role in each of these pillars of helicopter safety.

Helicopter safety begins with the fundamental capability of large-diameter rotors that can auto-rotate in the event of engine failure. With the engine off, the rotors spin freely, slowing the helicopters decent and allowing parachute-like controlled landing. Reliable powertrains engines, gear boxes and driveshafts long-lived blades and low-vibration airframes have also paved the way for safer flights.

Additionally, advanced autopilot and computer-controlled or assisted flight controls, terrain-avoidance radar and rotor blade deicing systems that enable all-weather flight have become common on modern helicopters. Decades of basic and applied research conducted in university, government and industry laboratories has yielded many advanced technologies. Todays helicopters typically have radar- and lidar-based collision avoidance systems, comprehensive digital terrain mapping databases and adaptive controls that help the pilot feel differences depending on flight conditions and aircraft characteristics such as payload.

Rotorcraft do require specialized pilot training to master. Pilots often train on fixed-wing aircraft before transitioning to rotary-wing vehicles, much as you might learn to ride a bicycle before taking on a unicycle. Pilots spend many additional hours or even years of flight instruction to earn a helicopter license.

Rotorcraft inherently feature more moving parts than fixed-wing aircraft, which makes careful design of bearings, gearboxes, shock absorbers, lubrication systems and other mechanical components critical. As with pilots, helicopter mechanics need additional training hours and skill sets.

Indeed, for some complex military and rescue missions, mechanics fly along as integral members of the flight crew. These flight mechanics closely monitor critical systems using onboard temperature, vibration, noise and metal chip sensors, and can even troubleshoot and repair many mechanical, electrical and digital issues that arise.

Advanced sensors and computer software make maintaining helicopters quicker and more thorough. Additionally, advanced design and manufacturing methods for rugged composite materials and specialized flexible polymers have dramatically improved the durability of dynamic components such as blades and rotors.

Even with all the advanced design, training and technology in place, accidents happen. The vast majority involve a complex chain of events. Pilot or mechanic error, typically associated with unusual circumstances, is a primary cause of many crashes.

Bad weather often contributes. Many essential flight operations such as search and rescue, firefighting and military transport necessarily occur in sandy, snowy, smoky or stormy environments. These edge of the envelope conditions raise the risk factor, despite the best technology and training doctrines. Even the intense and realistic training exercises for these missions can be inherently more dangerous than standard flight.

New technologies continue to improve flight safety under these difficult conditions. These include more effective, reliable and lower power rotor blade deicing or anti-icing systems; improved weather forecasting models; and even onboard ice-cloud detection systems. Researchers are developing artificial intelligence-enabled expert systems that help pilots decide when and if its safe to fly.

I expect advanced technologies to enable reliability and safety statistics to continue to improve, and operating costs to drop, as thousands of aerospace engineers around the world bring life-saving, time-saving and security-enhancing improvements to these remarkable vehicles.

Excerpt from:

Flying in helicopters is safer than you might think an aerospace engineer explains the technology and training that make it so - The Conversation

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have unveiled an innovative, open-source system dubbed Open-TeleVision.

While modern developments have provided researchers with large-scale real-robot data, actuation and perception remain a challenge, reports The Robot Report.

Actuation involves controlling the robots joints to mimic operator movement. Traditional technology prevents operators from gaining a clear view of the task space. This is a huge limitation in situations where the task is detailed and calls for intuitive views.

The Open-TeleVision system aims to solve these problems by providing operators with a stereoscopic view of the robots surroundings while mirroring their own arm and hand movements. The teleoperation system offers a more intuitive way to control robots from afar.

While companies such as Boston Dynamics have showcased autonomous robots more impressive than ever, these systems still struggle to adapt and solve problems creatively areas where human intelligence thrives.

At the heart of Open-TeleVision is a VR-based interface that streams the operators hand, head, and wrist movements to a server. This server then translates these human poses into robot joint positions which control the machine. A single active stereo RGB camera mounted to the robots head ensures constant sync with the operators head movements.

The system creates an immersive experience as if the operators mind is transmitted to a robot embodiment, the researchers told VentureBeat.

Our intuition and years of real-world experience have blessed us with the ability to adapt to new and unfamiliar situations. Using our creativity to solve problems adds another benefit.

The research team believes that such a human-centered approach to robotics could prove to be invaluable. This is especially the case in scenarios that require nuance or ethical decision-making.

Open-TeleVision could transform a wide range of industries and scenarios. Imagine human-controlled robots navigating dangerous environments while first responders remain safe, responding to disasters. Additionally, skilled surgeons would be able to perform delicate procedures from anywhere in the world, potentially saving more human lives.

According to VentureBeat, the system could benefits even extend beyond the Earths atmosphere. Space missions would be free from communication delays that have long plagued missions if astronauts on Earth could control robots on distant planets.

The research team demonstrated the Open-TeleVision systems prowess over long distances by having an MIT-based team member control a robot located at UCSD. More tests were performed using two humanoid robots: a Unitree H1, and a Fourier GR1, reports The Robot Report.

Despite all its promise, several obstacles remain to be ironed out. The research team stressed the importance of further development, particularly in ensuring high-bandwidth connections. This would tackle issues like latency in long-distance communications.

Additionally, the team is also exploring blending their human-control system with AI assistance. They believe that a hybrid system would offer the best of both worlds human decision-making supplemented by AIs quick processing capabilities.

The teams findings were published in the pre-print archive, arXiv.

NEWSLETTER

Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.

Amal Jos Chacko Amal writes code on a typical business day and dreams of clicking pictures of cool buildings and reading a book curled by the fire. He loves anything tech, consumer electronics, photography, cars, chess, football, and F1.

More here:

Open-TeleVision: Tech boosts robotic control, integrates human intuition with VR - Interesting Engineering