Motor Drives, Robotics & Controls

    October 2019
    Moving from Electromechanical to Solid-State in Relays and Circuit Breakers

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: Contact wear in an electromechanical relay

    As a mature technology, electromechanical relays and circuit breakers are well established, however they continue to suffer from some inherent weaknesses. Moving to solid-state technology can address these but introduces its own challenges. So, what is the right solution? In the movies, whenever the lights go
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/31/2019
    Resettable PPTC Fuses Designed for Automotive Applications
    Bel Fuse-Circuit Protection announces their 0ZRS Series of radial resettable PPTC fuses for automotive applications. These AEC-Q compliant fuses have an operating range of 500mA – 10A, a max. current of 100 A and continuous use at voltages up to 32 V DC, with an operating temperature of -40ºC to +125ºC. Featuring very low
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/31/2019
    Marshall Electronics Expands Popular OEM Lens Line
    TORRANCE, Calif. -- Marshall Electronics' Optical Systems Division has announced the release of a new series of high-performance 5MP miniature lenses for industrial OEM applications, including automated robotic warehouses, robotics manufacturing and inspection, machine vision, automotive Tier-1, and visible - n
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/30/2019
    Commutation Encoder for 9 mm to 15.875 mm BLDC Motor Shafts
    TUALATIN, Ore. — CUI Devices’ Motion Group announced the introduction of a new model to its AMT commutation encoder family that supports larger motor shaft sizes from 9 mm to 15.875 mm (5/8 inch). The AMT33 series generates standard U/V/W communication signals for commutating brushless dc motors in industrial, autom
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/29/2019
    Cutting-Edge Robot Makes Short Work of Gardening Chores

    The Trimbot robot trims a bush.

    A gardening robot has been developed that can self-navigate and automatically prune roses and trim bushes. The green-fingered device - known as Trimbot - uses cameras and 3D mapping technology to find its way around gardens and perform precise tasks with cutting tools. Prototype robots could be used to
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/25/2019
    Traco Power - new 0.6 and 1A POL converters
    The TSR-WI line is a set of non-isolated POL converter series with an ultra wide 8:1 input voltage range which come in standard SIP-3 packages. Covering the majority of standard bus- and battery voltages this POL converter line is a versatile solution for many applications in distributed power systems where different inp
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/15/2019
    Lower-Power Family of Isolated, Regulated DC-DC Modules
    Power density, low weight and ease-of-use are critical considerations when designing isolated, regulated DC-DC converter systems for a broad range of robotics, UAV, rail, communications and defense/aerospace applications. The new DCM2322 ChiP family, a lower-power variant of the Vicor DCM3623 series, are targeted to me
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/09/2019
    Position Sensor Offers Robust, High-Resolution Performance
    MALVERN, Pa. — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new high precision position sensor that offers more robust performance than existing absolute encoders and better resolution and accuracy than traditional Hall effect sensors for industrial robotics and other demanding applications. The new RAMK060 rotational absolute magnetic kit encoder uses ad
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/08/2019
    Squid-Inspired Robots Might Have Environmental Applications

    Xiaobo Bi and Qiang Zhu discuss their work developing an aquatic robot inspired by cephalopods. (Left) Envisioned squid-inspired robot that combines fin flapping and jetting for locomotion. (Right) Numerical simulations provide insights of the underlying physical mechanisms.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Inspired by the unique and efficient swimming strategy of cephalopods, scientists developed an aquatic robot that mimics their form of propulsion. These high-speed, squidlike robots are made of smart materials, which make them hard to detect -- an advantage that has potential military reconnais
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    10/01/2019
    Archive

    Power Systems Design

    146 Charles Street
    Annapolis, Maryland 21401 USA

    Power Systems Design

    Power Systems Design is a leading global media platform serving the power electronics design engineering community. It delivers in-depth technical content, industry news, and product insights to engineers and decision-makers developing advanced power systems and technologies.

    Published 12× per year across North America and Europe, Power Systems Design is distributed through online and fully digital editions, complemented by eNewsletters, webinars, and multimedia content. The platform covers key areas including power conversion, semiconductors, renewable energy, automotive electrification, AI power systems, and industrial applications—supporting innovation across the global electronics industry.