Diving Deeper

Check out these resources for more information:

Dec 1st, 2009

Rise Above the Gathering Storm:
Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future—Read it online or download a free PDF from the National Academies Press:
www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11463

FIRST Web site:
www.usfirst.org

Project Lead the Way:
www.pltw.org

National Science Foundation Web site:
www.nsf.gov

ISA Web site:
www.isa.org

Waking up to the Quiet Crisis in the United States: (From The College Board Review, Winter/Spring 2007)
www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/CBReview.pdf

Innovation and Human Capital:
A Renewable Resource for a Secure
Energy Future By Shirley Ann Jackson,
Ph.D., President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Full text can be found here:
www.rpi.edu/president/speeches/ps061008-ralphcoatsroe.html

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute page on The Quiet Crisis:
www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/news.html

ASEE—American Society of Engineering Education Web site:
www.asee.org

Related Feature - Exciting the Next Generation Engineer
To read the feature article relating to this story, go to www.automationworld.com/feature-6314.

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1 Moog Modular Electrohydrostatic Actuation System

Modular Electrohydrostatic Actuation System

Moog's new product features lower oil requirement, a decentralized system, low mass inertia, and much more.

Bosch Rexroth Ctrl X Drive 38644

Compact, Scalable Drive System

Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX DRIVE is said to be the most compact, scalable, and consistent modular drive system available. It has space-saving dimensions of up to 50% and can provide tailored solutions with peak currents of 6 A to 375 A.

Mass Flow Controller for Gas

Burkert's Type 8742/46 mass flow controllers/meters can handle low- to mid- to high-flow gas applications.

Pr182020 Beckhoff Elm72xx Print

Servo Drives

Beckhoff’s ELM72xx EtherCAT servo drives deliver an output current (Irms) of up to 16 A at 48 V DC for the power supply.

Inductive Automation Ignition8

Industrial Application Platform Update

Find out about the latest application platform tools included with Ignition 8.1.

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Looking for automation solutions for packaging and palletizing? This is your destination for all things cobot. Whether it’s webinars, video case studies or product information, you’ll find it all in this one spot.

Beckhoff Al8000 Linear Motors1

Linear Motors

The AL8000 linear motor series from Beckhoff is based on a modular system design consisting of linear motors and magnetic plates and offers wide-ranging options in length, winding, and cooling type.

SPC-800 Series of Button-integrated HMI with IP66-Rated Protection for Process Visualization

Advantech has to announced its new SPC-800 series of arm-mounted human-machine interfaces with full IP66-rated protection that provides a cabinet-free solution for operation in industrial environments.

Converter Cables

Converter Cables Create Possibilities for Mobile Equipment Makers

New Balluff cables connect M12 to Deutsch DT and AMP Superseal connectors.

Wago 2000 Series Pnp Npn Converter

Converter Reduces Need for Inventory and Space

Helps increase machine functionality

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Single-Phase Compressor Soft Starters

These single-phase compressor soft starters from Carlo Gavazzi are said to reduce start current by more than 50%.

Belden HighFlex VFD Cables Available from Digi-Key

Belden HighFlex VFD Cables Available from Digi-Key

Belden's series of UL-rated, extra flexible VFD cables provides supremely pliable, flexible constructions for use on-machines (16-8 AWG) and increases ease of installation without sacrificing any crucial elements.

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SICK to Host Virtual Press Conference at PACK EXPO Connects

See what’s new with SICK at its first ever virtual press conference for PACK EXPO Connects. There will be four live demos of its intelligent sensor solutions that are helping to improve the packaging process.

3D Profile Sensors

See it at PACK EXPO Connects! Matrox Imaging will showcase the Matrox AltiZ series of integrated high-fidelity 3D profile sensors featuring a dual-camera single-laser design.

Gladiator Circuit Breakers 5x7

Gladiator Series Circuit Breakers and Supplementary Protectors

Circuit breakers from Automation Direct offer optimum and efficient protection for branch and control circuits up to 63 amps.

Icotek Releases New IMAS-Connect Adapter Grommets

Icotek is expanding its range of adapter grommets for its IMAS-Connect adapter system to include the AT-PP and the AT-K-M.

Idec Hg1 P 07 Hg1 P 片手持ち

IDEC Introduces HG1P Handheld Human-Machine Interface

Easy to hold due to its small form factor and light weight—and includes a touchscreen, function keys, and switches—making it a good fit for machine tending and robotics applications.

Prosense Loop Panel Meters 5x7

Field and Panel Mount Loop-Powered 4 to 20mA Process Displays

ProSense LPM1 loop panel meters from Automation Direct is powered from the mA loop and requires no external power supply and features three front-panel operating keys.

Wago Extends Family of PFC200 Gen 2 Controllers

PFC200 Generation 2 controllers from Wago supports MQTT protocol and can easily be configured to connect to cloud services.

Io Link News Page

Absolute Encoders Feature IO-Link Interface

Smart absolute rotary encoder ready for Industry 4.0.

More in Control

Sbc6511 With Metalwork Hi Res Copy

New 6U SBC Incorporates Intel 9th Gen CPU, Aligns with SOSA Technical Standard

Abaco's 6U SBC features the Intel Xeon E six core CPU with 64GB DDR4 with ECC and up to 256 GB SSD and provides a dual 40 GbE data plane with RDMA, plus dual 10GbE ports on the control plane.

Effective Tool Change Designed With Inductive Miniature Sensors

In modern processing centers, inductive sensors are the components of choice for monitoring the motor spindle clamping process. Integrated into the spindle, they must be small and offer high repeatability to ensure smooth tool changing at all times.

Nord Usa Maxxdrive Xt Industrial Gear Unit

Industrial Gear Drives

The two-stage MAXXDRIVE XT right-angle gear drives from Nord are designed for heavy-duty conveyor belt applications in the bulk material handling industry.

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IDEC Adds 12V DC 16 I/O CPUs to MicroSmart FC6A PLC

With the addition three new 12V DC CPUs, the capable MicroSmart FC6A All-in-One PLC family now offers users more options for automating battery-backed systems, traffic controls, and mobile equipment.

Quantum Press Release

Quantum Automation Supports Off-Grid Automation with QRTU and QSolarBattery

These Quantum Automation hardware platforms can be used individually or together to enable IIoT monitoring and automation almost anywhere.

Yaskawa and Phoenix Contact Announce Partnership

Yaskawa and Phoenix Contact announce an agreement to utilize PLCnext Technology from Phoenix Contact in the development of the next generation machine controller and PLC platform realizing the i3-Mechatronics solution concept lead by Yaskawa.

Laser Direct Structuring (LDS)—The structure of the conductor path is applied using the LDS process. LDS enables electronic assemblies to be made in flexible geometric shapes. Smart phones, hearing aids, and smart watches are becoming smaller and more powerful thanks to this process.

Electronic Assemblies Without PCBs

Laser direct structuring (LDS) is a special success story. For almost 20 years, it has been possible to apply electronic conductor paths directly onto plastic parts during series production.

Nova Tech Pcm5 Smaller

NovaTech Announces D/3 Version 16.2

New features make it easier to configure and maintain a cybersecure control system.

Carlo Gavazzi Em50 Energy Analyzer

Analyzer Helps Monitor and Manage Energy Costs

Measures most relevant instantaneous electrical variables and energy consumption with high level of accuracy

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Nord Drivesystems Offers Variable Frequency Drives from 0.33 to 215 HP

Full line of drive electronics provides exceptional flexibility with a wide range of customization options.

Apex Motion Control Tray Stacker

Tray Stacking System Eliminates Human Error and Reduces Risk of Injury

Has a quick and easy tool changer

Wago’s New Isolating Converter Reduces Need for Inventory, Space

Wago's PNP/NPN converter can be used to accommodate four signal types: PNP to NPN, NPN to PNP, PNP to PNP isolation and NPN to NPN isolation.