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January 19, 2006
Christian School Uses Competitive Robotics to Help Students Learn about Technology, Teamwork,amd Life
Seventh-Day Adventist Church teams plan to compete regionally in program endorsed by Carnegie Mellon Institute and American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Augusta, GA (PRWEB) January 19, 2006 -- When veteran educator Joy Licht (“light”) first heard of “Lego Robotics” she figured it had to be some highly technical, agonizingly difficult project for true computer geeks with well-developed mechanical skills. “Then I tried it, found out that it was relatively easy, and -- most important -- it was fun,” smiles Mrs. Licht, a teacher at Augusta First Seventh-day Adventist School, 4301 Wheeler Road. “And, as a wonderful bonus, Robotics competition is an excellent educational tool with the additional benefit of helping kids learn teamwork, patience, and character skills.”
The local team will compete in the Adventist Robotics League Southern Union Regional competition to be held at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee in April. “Of course, we need sponsors for all three teams to make this dream a reality,” reports Joy Licht. “Each sponsorship -- which includes the sponsor’s logo on all team t-shirts, the cost of the Lego Robotics competition kits, and travel accommodations for the competitors -- is covered by an $1,800 donation.”
About The Adventist Robotics League
Robotics teaches children creative problem-solving and logic skills that are useful in many math and science fields. Furthermore, robotics is a great teaching tool that provides hands-on learning in physics, mechanics, computer programming, teamwork, and problem-solving while building teamwork skills.
The Adventist Robotics League promotes the use of robotics technology in the classroom. They encourage involvement by schools, home school groups, Pathfinder clubs (similar to scouting), and other organizations. (www.adventistroboticsleague.net)
The Adventist Robotics League is a FIRST Partner. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization that aspires to transform culture, making science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today. (www.usfirst.org)
About FIRST LEGO League
FLL is a result of an exciting alliance between FIRST and the LEGO Company. Guided by adult mentors and their own imaginations, FLL students solve real-world engineering challenges, develop important life skills, and learn to make positive contributions to society. (www.firstlegoleague.org)
For more information, call Joy Licht at (706) 651-0491.
Additional reference and resource links:
www.asme.org/ducation/precollege/partner.htm
www.rec.cmu.edu/education
www.lego.com/eng
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:59 AM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2006
Contract Packager, Erie Plastics, New Market Leader in Advanced Lid Stacking and Packaging Technology
Erie Plastics, a Top 100 injection molder in the U.S., implements first-of-its-kind, robotic packaging technology.
ERIE, PA (PRWEB) January 17, 2006 -- Erie Plastics, a high-volume contract packager for numerous Global 500s, recently implemented an advanced stacking and packaging system that takes packaging technology to a whole new level.
A first-of-its kind system in the U.S. (possibly the world), the fully automated “work cell” entails high-speed lid stacking from two injection molding presses, while robotic equipment makes and tapes the bottoms of cartons, fills them with stacked lids and closes carton tops.
“Through this technology, we have significantly streamlined lid production, which translates into both improved quality for high-volume products and customer cost savings,” said P. C. Hoop Roche, CEO and Chairman of Erie Plastics.
Ronald Walters, President and Chief Technology Officer at Erie Plastics, indicates that being first to market with state-of-the-art packaging technologies is central to Erie Plastics’ plan to stay “ahead of the curve” through best practice, ultra-lean manufacturing.
“Within months, we will add another first-of-its-kind technology to our new lid stacking and packaging system – downstream robotic equipment that stacks the pre-filled cartons on pallets and shrink wraps each shipment,” Walters said.
Specializing in the custom design, engineering and production of injection molded plastic parts for the food and beverage, personal care, consumer, pharmaceutical and household cleaner/detergent markets, Erie Plastics is also a U.S. market leader in combining 128-cavity molds with advanced, valve-gate, hot-runner systems.
For more information on Erie Plastics and an online virtual tour of their ultra-lean manufacturing plant in Corry, Pa., visit http://www.erieplastics.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Erie Plastics is an award-winning, international firm with 2005 revenues of approximately $100 million. A Top 100 injection molding company in the U.S., it services customers from three production facilities based in Corry, Pa. (headquarters), Westborough, Mass., and Székesfehérvár, Hungary. Call or write Erie Plastics at 844 Route 6, Corry, Pa., 16407-9099. Phone: (814) 664-4661. Web: http://www.erieplastics.com.
CONTACT:
Jane T. Roche
(814) 664-4661
http://www.erieplastics.com
Sandra McVeigh
(724) 776-5279
http://www.spectria.biz
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:38 AM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
SpacePortShenyang Blasts Off on its Journey to the 08-08-08 Olympics Opening with a Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Feasibility Study Grant
The SpacePortShenyang Dutch Consortium has just received approval from EVD, a division of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, for a PESP Grant Application toward the funding of the SpacePortShenyang Feasibility Study.
Cape Town, South Africa (PRWEB) January 10, 2005 – SpacePortEdutainment (www.SpacePortEdutainment.com), a South African company, is the visionary and developer of the SpacePort(”Destination”) concept, and has a global vision to build world-class “next generation” space, science and technology theme parks, which will provide a "space tourism experience" on Planet Earth for those unable to travel into space.
SpacePortEdutainment signed a Joint Venture Agreement with Liaoning Rexing Enterprises Group Company Limited to build SpacePortShenyang, a US$250mio., 20 hectare, space theme park in Shenyang, China, to cater for 2.5mio. visitors per annum and is due to open in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
SpacePortShenyang is the first of several SpacePorts that are in the pipeline.
The SpacePortShenyang Dutch Government-funded Feasibility Study will be carried out by an international consortium with a June 2006 completion due date.
“A Creative Charrette will be held in the Netherlands mid February under the guidance of BRC Imagination Arts to drive out the vision of SpacePortShenyang including the theme park visualization and visitor attraction and content conceptualization and will address marketing strategy, branding issues and merchandize development” explains Raoul Katovsky, CEO of SpacePortEdutainment.
SpacePortEdutainment has had initial discussions with major players in the investment community in the United States and England, who have already indicated an ability to fund the SpacePortShenyang project and a desire to discuss the project further upon completion of the Feasibility Study. “I am quite confident that we will be able to secure the needed funding upon completion of the Feasibility Study. I am also quite confident that the Feasibility Study will clearly demonstrate the viability of the project.” says SpacePortEdutainment’s Washington DC-based lawyer, Daniel Huber, who is leading the SpacePortShenyang capital raising program.
“The City of Shenyang is whole heartedly supporting the SpacePortShenyang project, which is regarded as an important asset for the 2008 Olympic Games. Together with SpacePortShenyang, the Qipanshan Area will become a sought after tourist destination creating many jobs and will become a welcome boost for the local economy.” says Shenyang’s Deputy Mayor Song Qi.
About SpacePortEdutainment
SpacePortEdutainment, based in Cape Town, South Africa, has been developing the SpacePort("Destination") concept since 2002 and is now fast tracking its commercialization starting with SpacePortShenyang as its flagship. Together with an internationally high profile SpacePortEdutainment Strategic Partner Network, SpacePortEdutainment is well equipped to meet the challenging deadlines it has to open SpacePortShenyang mid 2008 and SpacePortAfrica during October 2009.
SpacePortEdutainment plans to produce the SpacePort("Destination") high-tech 4-D animated simulation rides and other proprietary special effects content in Cape Town, taking advantage of the well established film and ICT sectors, having the full backing and support of the Cape Film Commission.
For further information, please visit www.SpacePortEdutainment.com:
The complete Press Release is available at:
http://www.spaceportedutainment.com/news_shen_pesp.html
Media Contact:
Raoul Katovsky
SpacePort Edutainment
Telephone: +27 (0)82 442-8602
SpacePortShenyang Cathedral & SpacePortShenyang Terminal Graphics copyright: Pat Rawlings/SAIC.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:44 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2006
New DC Brush Drive Provides Distributed Motion Control Solution
Intelligent motion controller increases flexibility by providing network connectivity via CANBus or serial port.
Lincoln, MA (PRWEB) January 5, 2006 -- Performance Motion Devices, a world leader in motion-control technology, announces the NEW ION™ DC Brush Drive. This fully enclosed, compact module is the second in PMD’s NEW family of high performance drives providing network connectivity, power amplification and other advanced features in a rugged, easy to use package. ION is available for DC brush, brushless DC and microstepping motors, and is ideal for medical, scientific, semiconductor, industrial, robotic and general automation applications.
Based on PMD’s Magellan™ Motion Processor, the ION provides high-performance, low cost distributed motion control in an asynchronous serial network (RS485) version or a CANBus network version. Multiple ION modules (up to 127) can be connected on a single network. ION provides an output capability of up to 15 amps peak, and 500 W at 56 volts. Other features include hardware performance trace, on-the-fly profile changes, and PLC style inputs and outputs.
President and CEO, Chuck Lewin says, “The move toward distributed control has been driven by cost. A motion controller with separate amplifiers is substantially more expensive than multiple single-axis intelligent modules. The reduction in wiring in that sense actually comes for free, because it is absolutely not necessarily to justify the move to a serial network.”
The ION DC Brush Drive can be programmed using Pro-Motion,® a Windows™-based exerciser which allows quick and easy drive set up or C-Motion® and VB-Motion™ software libraries which let users to develop their own applications in C/C++ or Visual Basic.
The ION Drive is CE marked and RoHS compliant. Prices start at $223 in OEM quantities.
http://www.pmdcorp.com/
Performance Motion Devices Inc. is a world leader in motion-control ICs, boards and modules. We provide a full range of high-performance single and multi-axis motion control products for DC brush, brushless DC and step motors.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:27 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2006
RE2, INC. Awarded U.S. Army SBIR Program to Develop a Robot Infrastructure Toolkit for Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles
RE2, INC., a woman-owned Carnegie Mellon spin-off company specializing in mobile defense robotics, announced that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) located in Warren, Michigan to develop a low-cost Robot Infrastructure Toolkit for small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV).
PITTSBURGH, PA (PRWEB) January 4, 2006 -- RE2, INC., a woman-owned Carnegie Mellon spin-off company specializing in mobile defense robotics, announced that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) located in Warren, Michigan to develop a low-cost Robot Infrastructure Toolkit for small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV).
The current state of technology for small UGVs is varied and complex. For example, small UGVs utilized by the Army in the field are required to perform a variety of tasks such as surveillance, under car inspection and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), quite often in hostile environments. Typically, specific robots are developed for each task, creating a multitude of robotic platforms. Moreover, robot manipulator arms are expensive, fragile and difficult to control. In addition to the specific robotic platforms, the Operator Control Units (OCUs) are often specialized for each particular robot, requiring unique training and maintenance. Also, critical missions, such as EOD operations, have specific communication requirements, such as minimized radio frequency (RF) signals. The Army is seeking to simplify and reduce the cost of small UGV technologies. Therefore, the objective of this SBIR program is to develop a low-cost toolkit of specialized communication components and low degree of freedom (DOF) manipulators with a common control interface.
“We are pleased to have been awarded this SBIR because we believe that there is a serious need for a universal toolkit for small unmanned ground vehicles,” states Jorgen Pedersen, president and chief executive officer for RE2, INC. “Quite often, when a specific unmanned system need is identified, the typical response is to design and build a new robot intended to perform the specific task. This has resulted in a proliferation of small robotic UGVs. Each UGV performs admirably on tasks within its subset of core competencies, but is generally unsuitable for tasks that vary too widely from its essential purpose. By utilizing a common infrastructure toolkit on small UGVs, not only will the users become more efficient, but the cost savings will be significant.”
During the six-month phase of the project, RE2 will do the following:
- Develop a full system design, including the vehicle interfaces, operator control unit, controllers, manipulators and communication components
- Establish performance goals and develop a cost/benefit analysis for the communication components
- Determine the technical feasibility of using the toolkit with and without access to JAUS-based native robot controllers and communication links
RE2’s experience with a variety of unmanned systems programs and tasks, including open-systems modular design, JAUS-based vehicle management and control, sensor and systems integration, Ethernet and serial communications, and innovative mechanisms, will provide a strong basis for meeting the goals and objectives of this Phase I SBIR program.
“The awarding of this SBIR Phase I program to RE2 further signifies the strength of the company’s UGV and JAUS expertise and is evidence of the growing role that Southwestern Pennsylvania’s agile robotics companies play in unmanned systems for the Department of Defense,” remarked Bill Thomasmeyer, president of the National Center for Defense Robotics and executive vice president of The Technology Collaborative.
About RE2, Inc.
RE2, Inc. (Robotics Engineering Excellence), located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a woman-owned Carnegie Mellon spin-off company specializing in mobile defense robotics with an emphasis on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). RE2, Inc. has partnered with universities and industry leaders, such as Carnegie Mellon and Exponent, Inc., to develop and support robotic technologies. As a defense subcontractor, RE2, Inc. has contributed to the development of mobile robotic technologies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF), The Office of Naval Research (ONR), and The Marine Corps. For more information, visit www.resquared.com or call (412) 681-6382.
RE2, Inc. Contact
Jessica Jordan Pedersen
(412) 681-1697
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:49 AM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2006
Protronica Launches North American Website at www.protronica.us.com
Protronica Incorporated worked with eXubrio C-Level Leads to develop and launch a new website to support business growth in the North American market. Protronica represents a Swiss electronics manufacturing service firm – Escatec – that makes products and subassemblies.
Buffalo & Corning, N.Y. (PRWEB) January 3, 2006 –- Protronica Incorporated launched a new website at www.protronica.us.com to serve its US and Canadian clients. The firm worked with eXubrio C-Level Leads, LLC, to develop the new website. The website will support a lead generation and appointment setting campaign created by eXubrio C-Level Leads.
Protronica represents a Swiss electronics manufacturing service firm – Escatec – that makes products and subassemblies. The firm serves companies whose products, and product launches, must work right every time – without exception. When clients work with Protronica, they work with a company that cares for and safeguards their brand's reputation. Well-respected international brands already trust their projects to Protronica, from innovative consumer product manufacturers to market-leading communications firms.
Protronica can step in at any point in a product development process and expertly manage every step of the project: Styling model through prototypes to production. Whether its complex molded parts or printed circuit board assemblies, Protronica will deliver the electronics a client’s product needs.
About Protronica
Protronica represents the Escatec Group, a Swiss owned Electronics Manufacturing Services company with its headquarters in Malaysia and main manufacturing facilities in Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland. Protronica’s North American office is located in Corning, New York. Protronica also has offices in London, England, and Belfast, Ireland. For more information about Protronica in North America, call Rob Garner at (607) 936-0463, or visit www.protronica.us.com.
About eXubrio C-Level Leads
The eXubrio C-Level Leads sales appointment making service provides more selling opportunities for a business's sales staff. With this service, sales people are able to focus on what they do best - closing sales. eXubrio, LLC, and Noein Inc. own eXubrio C-Level Leads. The service integrates with eXubrio’s other marketing offerings which include Value Proposition development, Key Message creation, and business development direct marketing programs.
eXubrio C-Level Leads has offices in Cheektowaga, Kenmore, and Amherst, New York. Call John Klingensmith at (716) 689-8886, or visit www.c-levelleads.com for information about eXubrio C-Level Leads.
Media Contact:
Rob Garner
Phone (607) 936-0463
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:05 AM | Comments (0)