robots – Advanced Circuits | PCB Manufacturing & PCB Assembly https://www.4pcb.com/blog Printed Circuit Boards and PCB Assembly Manufacturer Blog Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:57:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 It’s Possible Now: Tiny Factories That Run on Printed Circuit Boards! /blog/its-possible-now-tiny-factories-that-run-on-printed-circuit-boards/ Tue, 12 May 2015 14:23:40 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=910 Continue reading ]]> Just when you thought you’d heard of all the possible ways to use printed circuit boards, new ones emerge. First of all, what exactly are micro robots? They remind us of the organization you see from ants – only faster! Remember the ant farms from yesteryear? They were a remarkable way to watch the amazing coordination those creatures use to get things done. 

Mashable says microbots move like the plastic players on the old electric football games. OK, so microbots are tiny workers, but what can they do; specifically, how can they be used in manufacturing? One type of microbots was created by SRI International, and they do almost appear insect-like, but very much organized and able to perform coordinated tasks that mimic some of the work done by larger manufacturing robots. SRI International has developed these microbots that move using what’s called Diamagnetic Micro Manipulation (DM3). Basically magnets are used to direct the movements of these micro robots in a miniaturized factory environment. The ‘wow moment’ you get when you watch these robots is that they can be assigned to work together in a variety of ways:

https://www.sri.com/newsroom/video/micro-robots-for-smart-manufacturing

The tie-in with printed circuit boards is that these robots use the substrate of PCBs as their base, or factory floor. They can even move along flexible circuits, or vertically, straight up the side of a wall. Each microbot has its own assignment, and working in concert, they can accomplish tasks that seem almost impossible. Their coordinated movements can result in rapid construction; they can be directed to move individually up to 35 cm/s, with groups of micro robots performing thousands of moves per second. As depicted in the video, various robots can be assigned specific tasks, with the result being a veritable mini-factory! Each factory features thousands of little robots performing dozens of programmed tasks. They appear almost alive, their focus quite like that of living creatures.

While the video shows the robots creating a 29 cm cubic truss that can hold a 1 kg weight, there are even grander plans for these futuristic workers. They may be used for artificial tissue creation.

Unlike the trained flea circuses of bygone days, the SRI International microbots, while entertaining to watch, also fulfill practical needs. Might these tiny laborers someday be able to construct objects from afar via remote control, or replace much larger robots, which cannot match these little ones’ dexterity? Only time will tell.

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Inexpensive PCBs, Robots Teach Children Programming /blog/inexpensive-pcbs-robots-teach-children-programming/ /blog/inexpensive-pcbs-robots-teach-children-programming/#respond Tue, 16 Dec 2014 21:41:54 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=425 Continue reading ]]> cheap-pcbs

A main priority for engineers and technology companies in the United States is to develop ways to get the next generation interested in science and engineering. This way, our children will one day be able to lead global development for PCBs, consumer products, medical research and more. Researchers at Harvard University are doing just that and have created an inexpensive robot using basic printed circuit boards that gives children the tools they need to learn about programming and robotics.

This robot uses vibration motors for locomotion and does not have a chassis, according to WIRED. So how does it work? The robot gets its programming interface and power from a connected laptop or desktop computer and uses a highly graphical programming language that allows children to drag and drop commands for it to carry out. In addition to creating this robot, which only costs around $10, the research team has developed a 15-lesson curriculum that teaches students about sensors, programming flow and logic and how to create specific robot behavior.

Starting with the Basics of PCBs

In order for students to gain an understanding and passion for engineering, steps must be taken to introduce them to PCBs and the basics when they are in middle school and high school. From basic design theories to component and material selection, it is important for kids to work with printed circuit boards and start to learn programming languages. This will help to develop the next generation of engineers that will have the tools they need to foster innovation and invention down the road. To learn more about how Advanced Circuits supports engineering students and their development, contact a representative today.

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Will Engineers Be Able to Read Robots’ Minds? /blog/will-engineers-be-able-to-read-robots-minds/ /blog/will-engineers-be-able-to-read-robots-minds/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:05:37 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=408 Continue reading ]]> printed circuit board PCB robots

Sure, it is easy to build a robot and program it to carry out routine tasks. But what happens when you increase the sophistication of the technology and it is able to make decisions for itself based on its environment? This question is being addressed by engineers at MIT who are working on a system that will allow them to read robots’ minds as a decision is being made. To do this, the team set up an experiment that asked a robot to navigate a course with a moving obstacle – a human pacing back and forth. Normally, the robot evaluates its environment, detects where the object is and charts a path that allows it to move safely around it. In this experiment, engineers used printed circuit boards with motion-capture components and other technology to set up projectors that showed the real-time intentions of the test subject. This technology can help scientists and researchers better understand the “thought processes” of robots to be able to predict how they perform in certain conditions.

Integrating the Right Software with Your Hardware

When you are working on a project you want to be able to create something that can perform as you need it to, especially under pressure. Without the right hardware – printed circuit boards, components and product casing – your robot or other machine will not be able to carry out the functions that you need. To ensure that your hardware and software match up it is important to design your PCBs with your end result in mind. What components are critical for your project to succeed? How can you maximize the space you have on your PCB while also reducing energy consumption and eliminating instances of overheating? To get your questions answered and place your order for the exact PCBs you need for your next project, contact an expert at Advanced Circuits today.

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Is Robotics Replacing the “Human Element” for Printed Circuit Boards? /blog/is-robotics-replacing-the-human-element-for-printed-circuit-boards/ /blog/is-robotics-replacing-the-human-element-for-printed-circuit-boards/#respond Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:00:35 +0000 http://dev.4pcb.com/blog/?p=395 Continue reading ]]>  printed-circuit-boards-human-element

Although robotics is undoubtedly helping advance society and unlock new possibilities with technology, there is a debate taking place about whether or not this is a good thing. The question arises when manufacturing printed circuit boards, as more and more companies replace human operators with robots and machines. This is due to increases in the cost of operators for manufacturing test, according to an article for EE Times. This increase is forcing PCB assembly line managers to look for ways to reduce expenses in order to stay competitive. While a solution for many has been to replace manual operators with automated systems, the machines at times need the human element in order to maintain quality. As scientists and engineers work to find a perfect system for PCB manufacturing and assembly, expect a balance to be found between machine precision and human design and functionality in the future.

Simplifying the Structure of Printed Circuit Boards

When you are designing your printed circuit boards a main goal is to maximize the quality and output of your PCB while expending resources such as money and product space efficiently. For example, size or packaging restrictions may force you to get more creative with your PCBs in order to ensure desired functionality. Refining your PCB designs to ensure that you have a simple and effective structure will allow you to get the circuit boards you need that will work in the intended application. During the design stage, consider operating temperature, material and laminate requirements and necessary components so you can seamlessly create and order your PCBs. Get started by contacting an expert at Advanced Circuits today.

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