Radiation-proof connectors allow robots to work in places where humans cannot safely tread. By Jean Thilmany The number of robots working at nuclear power plants — helping to shut down, clean up, and perform other duties that humans cannot, due to inaccessibility or the danger of radiation exposure — continues to grow. This rising demandRead More

High-speed, lightweight electronics are making soldiers safer and military operations more successful. Bob Stanton, Director, Omnetics Corporation   Advanced electronics in high-reliability systems are improving military and aerospace equipment to meet the significant challenges that lie ahead. As new technologies expand and spread around the world, however, so has the potential threat from possible foesRead More

Robots are rolling into new applications, from personal companions to an expanding industrial base. Their complexity and ranges of motion make rugged connectors a pivotal component.   Mention robots to most people today and they think in terms of humanoids similar to those featured in movies such as Star Wars and ExMachina. Few would thinkRead More

GM is investing $1 billion in US factories, possibly foretelling a strong market for industrial products. Record setting robot sales also portend growth for connector makers that focus on the severe demands for ruggedized components.   A General Motors plan to invest $1 billion in its US factories may herald an expansion in manufacturing. TheRead More

The challenges of high-bandwidth low-latency wireless for autonomous technology, high data volumes for media, and support for the Internet of Things are shaping the next generation of wireless.   While each generation of mobile technology has been developed to tackle new challenges, the current generation in development – the 5G standard – will be designedRead More

As armed robots become reality, a tug-of-war is building over humans’ place in the decision-making loop during battle.   On July 7, a sniper opened fire on a crowded street protest in downtown Dallas, Tex., killing five police officers and injuring others. A long standoff followed inside a parking garage, where the shooter was said toRead More

Robotic carsharing services will put fleets of autonomous vehicles at our app-driven beck and call. What do these super-cheap, super-safe connected vehicle systems mean for the transportation industry?   Most cars spend most of their time parked and not being of any use to anyone, but carsharing schemes are changing that. “Street rental” services like GetaroundRead More

Today we see all types of robotic devices that do everything from vacuum your floors to clean up nuclear waste. Originally focused on industrial and hazardous applications, robots are now appearing in warehouses, hospitals, and even the home. The concept of automated devices that extend human capabilities has sparked the imagination of people for manyRead More

After experiencing numerous costly downtimes, Ford turned to Remke for an alternative to the hard-wired cable that connected its welding robots.      Sudden downtime of an automotive assembly line can be costly. Industry experts estimate that downtime can cost a manufacturer as much as $1 million per hour in lost revenue. Ford Motor Co.Read More

Mouser asked celebrity engineer Grant Imahara to help its team reach out to engineers around the world; now it’s built a worldwide engineering community on its site.     We want the engineer who once built a fighting robot named Deathblow on our team. We guess that many within Mouser Electronics feel the same. The distributorRead More

Using robots and imaging technology to make autopsies more efficient and less costly may seem like a no-brainer, yet when we look at the tech at work, virtual autopsies remain controversial around the world.   Who’s afraid of a dead body? Based on the success of television shows like CSI and Bones, it looks likeRead More

Amphenol Industrial’s RoboLok primary circuit power connector enables quick disconnect and easy assembly with the power of RADSOK technology. Amphenol Industrial Products Group now offers RoboLok, a three-position, high-current primary circuit power connector. This new connector features three fixed, proprietary RADSOK contacts on each connector, offering a wide range of cable contact configurations. Ideal forRead More