Sensors for touch, vision are on the leading-edge of robotics developments. Sensors enable robots to gather information about the environment, determine how the environment may be changing, and provide the data to determine the appropriate response to any changes. Sensor information can be used to improve performance of the task at hand, or it can […]
FAQ
Robot software environments and motion control architectures
Robots can be classified by their kinesiology, their mechanical performance specifications, and various types of software they employ. This FAQ will consider robot software environments and motion control architectures. The next FAQ will delve into “Sentient robots and artificial intelligence.” The series will conclude with a review of the major “International performance and safety standards […]
Robot axes, drive safety, and power architectures
Depending on the intended tasks and the associated range of motion, robots can have varying axes and various axis configurations called robot kinesiology. This FAQ will consider robot axes, kinesiology, drive safety functions, and power architectures. Subsequent FAQs will focus on “Robot software environments and motion control architectures,” “Sentient robots and artificial intelligence,” and “International […]
LCD contrast vs temperature
by Bill Cheung, Orient Display The LCD has been widely used in different applications, such as automotive, home appliance, medical, industrial, communication, entertainment, consumer devices, etc. It has been the most popular display technology for more than a decade after surpassing CRT. But the LCD has its genetic drawbacks, such as narrow viewing angle, slow […]
Automotive lidar slides down the cost curve
Techniques now emerging from research labs will help make it affordable for next-generation autonomous vehicles to keep out of harm’s way. There’s a dirty little secret associated with the autonomous vehicle (AV) prototypes now feeling their way along roads and byways: Many of them depend on expensive lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors to detect […]
The pros and cons of the Raspberry Pi 400
In many ways, Raspberry Pi falls short as a full-fledged personal computer. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has tried to change this with its latest addition, the Raspberry Pi 400. Launched in November of 2020, the Raspberry Pi 400 is a single-board computer in the form of a keyboard, retailing at $70 per unit or $100 […]
What are system integration issues with FPGAs?
FPGAs are complex devices and are being used in more and more systems. The complexity of FPGAs is both a strength and a weakness. It’s a strength because of the many system performance benefits and capabilities they bring for designers to leverage. It’s a weakness because of the complexities of successfully integrating high pin-count FPGAs […]
How does using FPGAs impact the design process?
Using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) can significantly increase the complexity of the design process. As seen in the previous FAQ on the application considerations when selecting FPGAs, these devices can bring improved performance to complex functions and improve overall system performance. This FAQ will consider the design process for FPGAs while the next and […]
What are the application considerations when selecting FPGAs?
Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are powerful and flexible devices. They combine the performance of custom designs with reprogrammability, even after the system is in the field. As a result, FPGAs are increasingly used in various systems, from the Mars rover to fighter jets and from communications and automotive systems to a growing variety of […]
Tips on designing smart home devices – Part 2
In Part 1, we covered the design criteria to consider when creating a new smart home device and some of the smart home protocols. Here, we continue with additional device-design considerations. How can I determine which cloud platform to use? Today, multiple cloud platforms are available. It depends on which smartphone or handheld device you […]
