January 2020

n TECHNOLOGY p Realtime Robotics , the inventor of responsive motion planning for industrial robots and autonomous vehicles, is working with Mitsubishi Electric to develop a system that pairs its smart motion planning technology with Mitsubishi’s industrial and collaborative robots. Realtime’s technology will allow the robots to work safely in dynamic, unstructured environments and to evaluate millions of alternative motion paths to avoid collisions and choose the optimal route before making a move – all within milliseconds. The result is predicted to be gains in productivity and efficiency. p US-based Real Time Automation is providing device manufacturers with CIP Security in its EtherNet/IP Adapter Source Code Stack. CIP Security was designed by the ODVA to prevent external threats and to protect controllers and devices on CIP (Common Industrial Protocol) networks from malicious communications. Real Time Automation’s EtherNet/IP Adapter Source Code Stack supports the CIP Security standard and will allow manufacturers to provide secure devices to their customers. p The edge computing specialist Adlink Technology has joined forces with Intel and AmazonWeb Services (AWS) to simplify artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge for machine vision applications. Their integrated technology offers an Amazon Sagemaker-built machine learning model optimised by, and deployed with, Intel’s Distribution of OpenVino toolkit, Adlink’s Edge software suite, and certification on AWS Greengrass. Adlink’s AI at the Edge technology closes the loop on machine learning model-building, allowing users to focus on developing applications without needing advanced knowledge of data science and machine-learning models. p Soft Robotics has formed a strategic partnership with Fanuc to accelerate the adoption of soft robotic systems into automation markets worldwide. Users of Fanuc robots will be able to program and implement Soft Robotics’mGrip modular gripper technology and to use robots effectively and safely in the unstructured environments of consumer goods manufacturing, food processing and packaging, and e-commerce supply chain automation. TWO JAPANESE COMPANIES – the stepper motor manufacturer MinebeaMitsumi and the semiconductor specialist Renesas Electronics – have collaborated to develop a new type of resolver-based stepping motor that, they say, will allow precision motor control even in harsh environments, and will expand the uses for stepper motors. The motors are aimed at applications such as robotics, office and medical equipment, that need compact motors with precision controls, and resistance to environmental influences such as heat, dust and vibration. The developers claim that the new motors will develop up to three times more torque than existing products and can carry heavy loads without step-out. The high torque levels will, in turn, allow smaller motors to be used. They offer a resolution of 200,000 P/R, allowing precision positioning to be achieved. Other characteristics of the new motor and controls include low power consumption and the ability to drive at broadband and ultra-low speeds. The motors are resistant to electromagnetic noise, and built-in filters allow them to detect positions reliably with a signal-to- noise ratios of 1:2 (where noise levels are twice the signal levels). The motor’s cost/performance characteristics are described as “superlative”. The development is based on a new resolver-to-digital converter (RDC) developed by Renesas that supports MinebeaMitsumi’s new motors. Renesas has also developed driver software for controlling the RDC with a 32-bit RX microcontroller. To help application developers, a resolver-based stepping motor control kit has been announced which includes development tools, a 42mm-square motor with resolver, and an evaluation board incorporating the RDC. MinebeaMitsumi has a track record of producing resolver sensors for automotive applications. It says that the new development will allow resolver- based stepper motors to be used in consumer and industrial equipment applications for the first time. Katsutoshi Suzuki, who is in charge of electronics engineering at MinebeaMitsumi, hopes that the development “will allow us to acquire new markets”. In robots or AGV (automated guided vehicle) development, for example, the motors will help to achieve precision motion even in harsh environments such as warehouses or outdoors, while cutting costs and allowing equipment to be reduced in size by using smaller motors. MinebeaMitsumi plans to start shipping samples of its new resolver- based stepping motors this month with mass production starting in April. Renesas' resolver-based stepping motor control kit will also be available this month. www.minebeamitsumi.com Resolver-based stepper motors ‘will open up new applications’ MinebeaMitsumi's resolver-based stepper motors incorporate resolver-to-digital chips and microcontrollers developed by Renesas