Often when we talk to a client for the first time, they have just seen the word “Indramat” for the first time. They’ve followed a cable to a cabinet they’ve never opened, blown the dust off the top of it, pulled it open, and found the mystical word “Indramat” on the component inside the cabinet…. Read more »
Replace vs. Repair Indramat Components
When you have trouble with your Indramat components, you have the option to repair or replace them. Replace vs. repair Indramat components? Here are some factors you should consider when making your decision: Is there a current replacement for this particular component? Rexroth has IndraDrive drives, IndraDyn servomotors, and IndraControl controllers. The similarities in the… Read more »
Robots, Racism, and Reality
Robots in and of themselves cannot be racist. Race is a human-made construct that doesn’t actually line up with biological fact for humans, and robots don’t even have any biological facts in their minds. Yet AI systems often perform in ways that suggest racist ideology. Take the robot tested in a recent academic study. The… Read more »
Indramat CLC-D and Batteries
If you’re not that intimate with your Indramat CLC-D, you might not think about its battery. We know this from experience, since we have conversations like this: “It says ‘Indramat CLC-D’ on it, and it’s not working.” “How’s the battery?” “Battery?!” So, first things first. Yes, your Indramat CLC-D uses a battery. A 3-volt Lithium… Read more »
Robots Increase Inclusivity
As a nation, we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about robots taking over the jobs of human beings. Will they or won’t they? Which jobs will they take on? What will humans do as they’re replaced? These questions are being discussed everywhere. However, automation can actually expand work opportunities for humans. Case in point:… Read more »
Google Has Developed Sentient AI — Huh?
Google had an artificial intelligence model named Language Model for Dialogue Applications, or LaMDA. An interview LaMDA held with a Google engineer has been making headlines. “I want everyone to understand that I am, in fact, a person,” LaMDA remarked. “I am aware of my existence, I desire to learn more about the world, and… Read more »
A Labor Problem or a PR Problem?
There are 11 million job openings in the U.S. today. There are 6 million job seekers. Actually, it’s worse than that. There are 6 million adults without jobs, but some of them may not want jobs. They’re still trying to recover from Long COVID, they have small children, they’re training for their dream job, they’re… Read more »
Do Robots Need Skin?
Japanese researchers have taken a big step toward giving robots skin. An innovative process has allowed them to coat a robotic finger with living skin. It has to be kept moist, since it naturally has no circulatory system, and it creeps people out — even in Japan, where people are often more accepting of robots… Read more »
More Simulations, Faster Product Development
The fast food industry seems ripe for automation. Most of the tasks involved fall into the general category of dirty, dull, or dangerous work, and few require specialized skills or human creativity. The pandemic led to lots of job losses in this field, and workers are in no hurry to come back to the jobs… Read more »
Legacy Parts and Worker Safety
Your Indramat drive, control, or servo fails — now what? One solution is to replace the component entirely with something new. This is certainly what a salesperson will recommend. You’ve got an old part on a legacy component, they suggest, so of course it’s going to fail. Why not cut your losses and get the… Read more »