Explore control options for Deep Trekker ROVs, including handheld, tablet, console, and BRIDGE Box for diverse environments and operator needs.

Flexible ROV Control Options: Tailored Solutions for Every Mission

<a href="https://www.fcmore.cl/">FC More Integral</a> is a leading engineering firm based in Chile that specializes in comprehensive solutions for the mining industry. The company manufactures, offers maintenance and repairs components of mining equipment. FC More Integral provides its services to major mining businesses, including Cerro Colorado, Collahuasi, Lomas Bayas (a Glencore company), Finning-CAT, and Komatsu, Minera Escondida, Minera Centinela and Sierra Gorda.With a strong commitment to quality, FC More Integral has established itself as a trusted partner for complex projects across Latin America. The company’s team brings together multidisciplinary expertise, enabling it to deliver tailored solutions that meet each client’s unique challenges.<h2>Legacy inspection techniques are no longer effective for Latin America’s booming mining sector</h2>In the mining industry, maintaining and repairing large-scale equipment is a critical challenge, especially when it comes to the integrity of components and assemblies. Traditional visual inspections and manual 3D measurement techniques can be prone to human error, resulting in overlooked issues that lead to costly component failures and fleet downtimes.According to Robert Valenzuela, Manager of Engineering, Administration and Quality at FC More Integral, there was—and still is—a growing need in the Latin American mining sector for more accurate and reliable methods to evaluate, repair, and improve parts to ensure equipment performance and operational efficiency.The team at FC More Integral wanted to find a better approach, using the latest metrology technologies, to improve component inspections, designs, redesigns, manufacturing and quality control.<h2>Transforming 3D measurement challenges into market opportunities</h2>The FC More Integral started exploring different 3D scanning solutions. They settled on two Creaform solutions: the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/en/handyscan-3d-silver-series-professional-3d?aw_campaign=20.90.1.0-%5bBRANDED%5d-Search-Canada-EN%5bCB%5d&network=g&aw_device=c&keyword=handyscan%20silver&creative=696797456081&matchtype=p&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxY-3BhAuEiwAu7Y6s_kTPWwwT3s0CI-LbT6HZZSJivU99BqPjkgRqaJwqO1UZs21Z8OMIxoCJLoQAvD_BwE">HandySCAN 3D|SILVER metrology-grade 3D scanner</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/en/metrology-solutions/optical-measuring-systems-maxshot-3d">MaxSHOT 3D optical coordinate measuring system</a>.“Our customers use HandySCAN 3D|SILVER to carry out 3D measurements on smaller components and the MaxSHOT 3D to scan large components over 5 meters—and up to 30 meters,” explained Ismael Mandiola at Talentum Digital. “The results are always accurate, reliable and repeatable.”The ultimate goal was to set up a brand-new and patented service, FC Scan, using Creaform’s technologies. In addition to improving the company’s in-house workflows, the HandySCAN 3D|SILVER and MaxSHOT 3D are now leveraged to provide FC More Integral’s customers with on-site assessments.“With FC Scan, customers can obtain a range of possibilities, from a simple initial structural diagnosis to deformation or failure identification to an entire inspection cycle, which generates a real three-dimensional image of how the component is today,” Robert said. That data makes carrying out maintenance and repair work easier and more precise. FC Scan customers appreciate the higher quality of repairs, reduced lead times and minimized downtimes.Another bonus is part archiving for future reference. “We can provide customers with complete models of various components and assemblies—information that was previously unavailable to many mining companies,” he mentioned.FC More Integral’s experts are thrilled with the MaxSHOT 3D and HandySCAN 3D|SILVER. They have had a tremendously positive impact on the company’s processes and customer inspections.

The FC More Integral started exploring different 3D scanning solutions. They settled on two Creaform solutions: the HandySCAN 3D|SILVER metrology-grade 3D scanner and the MaxSHOT 3D optical coordinate measuring system.

Mining engineering firm opens new service segment thanks to 3D scanners

Point rate 64000 points/s&nbsp;Distance resolution 4.5mm&nbsp;FOV 360°x96°&nbsp;Scan distance 30m&nbsp;Performance increased by 200%&nbsp;Open source address: <a dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/u1Hr2wB1T2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank" id="isPasted">https://github.com/unitreerobotics/point_lio_unilidar…</a>

New Upgrade Released: 200% Increase in L2 4D LiDAR Performance $419 🥳


New Upgrade Released: L2 4D LiDAR Doubles Performance for 419 USD

<a href="https://www.eberhard.ch/" id="isPasted">Eberhard Unternehmungen</a> is a family-owned company with over 70 years of experience in civil engineering, railroad construction, airport construction, excavation, demolition, recycling and contaminated site remediation. With more than 650 employees, the company carries out the most complex projects with services that are both sustainable and economically viable. Based near to Zurich, Switzerland, Eberhard Unternehmungen has built an enviable reputation for first-class primary and secondary building materials, advanced technologies, and an extensive network of like-minded partners.<h2 id="isPasted">The challenge: Roadblocks with manual 3D measurement techniques</h2>For a long time, Eberhard Unternehmungen relied on manually taking 3D measurements of parts and recording the surrounding areas. Measuring components by hand was not only time-consuming but also prone to waste.Faced with production delays and extended downtimes, the company decided it was time to look for a more modern way of capturing 3D measurements. As team members scouted out technology solutions, they based their evaluations on the following criteria:<ul><li>Speed</li><li>Accuracy</li><li>Suitable for any environment</li><li>The ability to use it in any plant or on any site—with or without an external power</li><li>Easy to use and easy to rework.</li></ul>The ultimate goal was to reduce breaks in production as well as ensure smoother planning and assembly processes. This included identifying obstacles in advance for the installation and removal of parts in a sometimes highly obstructed environment.<h2>The solution: Creaform’s HandySCAN Max</h2>After its market analysis, Eberhard Unternehmungen chose <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/en/handyscan-3d-max-series-for-large-objects">Creaform’s HandySCAN Max</a> for its ease of use, flexibility, speed, and accuracy for the reverse engineering of large parts. Creaform’s <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/en/metrology-solutions/3d-applications-software-platforms/vxmodel-scan-cad-software-module">integrated Scan-to-CAD software module, VXmodel</a>, along with comprehensive training and support services, were also key factors in the decision.The HandySCAN Max’s user-friendly hardware and software allowed the team to adapt quickly. Although the scanning process initially had a learning curve, it soon became intuitive for operators, enabling them to capture precise 3D measurements of complex structures.Once the team was completely onboarded, they got to work on more demanding assignments. In a specific project, the team needed to replace a transfer funnel that had reached the end of its life. Without any original geometry data, they turned to the HandySCAN Max. By strategically positioning targets on the component, users were able to scan the funnel in 3D. The scan data was then processed in VXmodel, where planes and axes were generated before exporting the data into CAD for the final design. This seamless setup allowed Eberhard Unternehmungen to produce the necessary production documents for the replacement quickly and accurately. <img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1731519841820-1731519841820.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib">“Creaform’s technology has proven invaluable with its insensitivity to dust, optimal scanning range, and ability to deliver accurate 1:1 images for reverse engineering,” explained Markus Eggenberger, Project Manager of Equipment/Inventory, at the company. “HandySCAN Max and VXmodel simplified the data acquisition, saving us significant time and effort in achieving the final results.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1731519865599-Trichter-in-VXModel.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Creaform’s HandySCAN Max and VXmodel help to create the 3D model of the transfer funnel<h2 id="isPasted">The results: Creaform’s HandySCAN Max accelerates reverse engineering workflows</h2>The implementation of Creaform’s 3D measurement solutions has significantly optimized the exchange and maintenance processes at Eberhard Enterprises. The team noticed tangible improvements in terms of time savings, cost reduction, and minimized downtime. The precise measurements from the HandySCAN MAX eliminate the risk of having to remanufacture parts and ensure that replacement parts fit perfectly on the first attempt. Furthermore, the robustness of the HandySCAN MAX allowed employees to work under challenging environmental conditions, thereby reducing delays in planning and installation.What are the plans for the future? The team envisions creating 3D models of all components for all upcoming replacements and maintenance work. Another testament that shifting to newer technologies is pivotal for operational efficiency!

Using the HandySCAN Max to 3D scan the transfer funnel.

Eberhard Unternehmungen chose Creaform’s HandySCAN Max for its ease of use, flexibility, speed, and accuracy for the reverse engineering of large parts. Creaform’s integrated Scan-to-CAD software module, VXmodel, along with comprehensive training and support services

Improving Construction Processes with 3D Metrology

If you’re an RPAS pilot in Canada, you’re likely using NAV Drone (and if you’re not, you should be).The mobile and web app from NAV Canada is the app to ensure your mission is approved. As the NAV CANADA <a href="https://www.navcanada.ca/en/flight-planning/drone-flight-planning/nav-drone-support.aspx" target="_blank">website explains</a>: “NAV Drone is the only app that lets you safely and legally request permission to fly a drone in airspace controlled by NAV CANADA. From the web or a mobile device, professional and recreational drone pilots and operators can easily see where they can and cannot fly with interactive maps and, when needed, submit requests to fly in controlled airspace.”It’s a snap to use. The app lets you know where you can fly – and where you can’t – and could save you from both dangerous operations and potential fines. The app also notifies you if there are other drone operations underway in the vicinity of your operations, which is really useful for situational awareness.Last week, at the <a href="https://www.aerialevolution.ca/" target="_blank">Aerial Evolution Association of Canada</a>‘s annual conference and exhibition, NAV CANADA offered an update on usage stats for the app – and revealed there are more enhancements on the horizon.Below: Screengrabs from the NAV Drone mobile app, followed by a NAV CANADA explainer video<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzMxMzQ5NzgyOTAzLUlNR182MTM0LXNjYWxlZC5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="NAV Drone App"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzMxMzQ5ODA0MTg3LUlNR182MTM1LmpwZy53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="NAV Drone App"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZR6ii6PX8s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe><h3 id="isPasted">By The Numbers</h3>NAV Drone has been operational now for several years. There was a lot of buzz in the industry when it was first released, but what has that translated to in terms of actual use? Here, NAV CANADA offered some numbers – which indicate the app has been widely embraced across the sector.In 2024, NAV Drone had processed 53,000 permission requests as of early November, a growth rate of 26 per cent over the previous year. By automating this process – and avoiding manual approval (30 minutes per request at $130/hour), NAV CANADA says the app has saved more than $6.5M in Air Traffic Service (ATS) costs. What’s more, users seem to really like the app; it has excellent ratings on the App Store and Google Play.And, of course, NAV Drone has greatly enhanced safety (and provided a huge amount of data) for NAV CANADA, the country’s privately run non-profit corporation that operates our civil air navigation system.“Safety is the key reason it’s there. It’s all about keeping the airspace safe,” explained Alan Chapman, NAV CANADA’s director of RPAS Traffic Management.As we head toward increased RPAS traffic, including regulations that will permit low-risk Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights in 2025, NAV CANADA has bold plans to enhance the offerings of the NAV Drone app. And that’s good news for both RPAS operators and also those operating traditional crewed aviation.“Some big changes are coming to NAV Drone in 2025,” said&nbsp;Stewart Paveling,&nbsp;Product Family Leader, RPAS Traffic Management NAV CANADA during a panel discussion.That includes a number of additional features to the app, including greater capabilities with RPAS Traffic Management (RTM), low-risk BVLOS and EVLOS flight approvals – Including the ability to record flights undertaken with a Special Flight Operations Certificate through the app.These are big changes, indicative of recognition this industry will continue to grow as well as NAV CANADA’s desire to safely help the industry expand as we head, ultimately, into the era of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).“NAV CANADA’s strategic direction positions us to take a leadership role to effect change across the air navigation system,” read a slide during its presentation. “To unlock not just our own potential, but also the potential of the industry to be more effective, more efficient, and more environmentally sustainable going forward.”To further emphasise that, the slide continued – including the bold in the following paragraph:“RTM facilitates the safe integration of RPAS, in a highly automated way, enabling growth of operations and expansion of use cases to capture the potential aviation and societal benefits.”That was followed by a high-level road map indicating priorities for the coming years.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzMxMzUwMjgxNjYxLU5BVi1DYW5hZGEtTkFWLURyb25lLXNjYWxlZC5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="RTM Phase 1 Progress Report"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzMxMzUwMzAzNDYyLU5BVi1DQU5BREEtUlRNLVBoYXNlLVR3by1zY2FsZWQuanBnLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="RTM Phase 2"><h3 id="isPasted">Next Steps</h3>Following the slides, there was a panel discussion about future plans, along with other suggestions on ways to improve the existing app. In addition to Alan Chapman and Stewart Aveling, the panel included Joanne Moon (Manager of RPAS Operations, NAV CANADA), Anne Sophie Ripple-Bouvier (Flight Safety Officer, Aerial Evolution Association of Canada) and Brian Fentiman (Project Manager, InDro Robotics/CEO BlueForce UAV Consulting, Inc.).As the slide above notes, NAV Drone will keep pace with Transport Canada regulations – including the much anticipated changes that will allow low-risk BVLOS flights in 2025. The emphasis here is on pushing the envelope with a highly automated RTM system “to support safe, efficient and scalable BVLOS operations.”For years, the sector has been eager to enable BVLOS flight without the need for a time-consuming Special Flight Operations Certificate. This obviously opens the door to a broad range of use-case scenarios, ranging from monitoring long-range assets like railroad tracks and pipelines through to large-scale mapping and other data acquisition.For those operations that will still require an SFOC, NAV Canada revealed that the capability will be in place to allow flights to be recorded in the app. Though that will simplify the process of recording for operators, NAV Canada will not approve SFOCs; these applications will be reviewed by Transport Canada, which is responsible for approving SFOCs.Later this year, Paveling added, there will be new map layers for restricted airspace. NAV Canada is also planing to improve the flight clipboard that comes with the system, redesigning it and making it easier to read. There will also be changes to the web-based support site, including a move away from PDF manuals “with better content that’s easier to consume and search.”Outside of the app, NAV Canada said it is working to beef up its ability to detect drone incursions.“We see reports of RPAS in control zones on approach paths,” said Joanne Moon of NAV Canada, adding that the corporation also obtains data from drone detection systems in place at airports. (InDro Robotics is the chief technology partner with the <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/drone-pilot-fined-3021-for-drone-incursion-at-yow/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drone detection system at YOW</a>. That data is shared with NAV CANADA and Transport Canada, among others.)NAV Canada, she said, is looking at strengthening its capabilities and enforcement in this arena.“(We’ve)&nbsp;Been working with industry partners, looking at things like drone detection, information sharing, emergency response, collaboratiion with airport authorities (as well as) our own air traffic services unit.”&nbsp;<h3>Other Improvements&nbsp;</h3>There was also an opportunity during the panel to discuss other improvements that could be made to the NAV Drone app. And here, InDro’s Brian Fentiman offered some suggestions.“One of the biggest things I find, more as a trainer than an operator, is the weak spot. The weak spot seems to be emergency procedures…With a flyaway,&nbsp;I would much prefer that there’s a single number. I’d like to see that phone number up front so it’s easy for people to find. In&nbsp;controlled airspace, you do get a phone number but it’s buried in a flight report…Sometimes you’ll get that phone number and the tower is not even open during those hours.”It’s an important point – and one NAV Canada says it’s about to address.“We are actively working on that right now…for an upcoming change to NAV Drone,” said Moon.The other point Fentiman raised was with regards to conspicuity – meaning the electronic visibility of a drone within a broader RTM system.“To enable BVLOS, we need conspicuity…whether it’s from the drone to other (RPAS) traffic or to commercial aviation,” he said.That is something, said NAV CANADA, that is precisely on its roadmap. And the best way to fully get there, it was suggested, was to ensure that everyone in the industry uses the NAV Drone app.“The more people who use the tool, the better situational awareness we have,” said Chapman.Below: Brian Fentiman on the NAV CANADA panel at AEAC2024. Photo by Scott Simmie, InDro Robotics<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzMxMzUwMzY4NzU4LURTQ0YzNjY4LXNjYWxlZC5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Brian Fentiman"> <h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take</h3>The annual Aerial Evolution Association of Canada’s conference and exhibit is always a great event – and precisely due to learning opportunities like this one. Conversations with bodies like NAV CANADA and Transport Canada are tremendously important for the growth of the sector.“We are fortunate in Canada to have a collaborative relationship with NAV CANADA and Transport Canada, as that’s not always the case between the industry and regulators or air traffic systems organizations,” says Philip Reece, Founder and CEO of InDro Robotics.“We have seen a true evolution over the years in terms of this relationship – and from both sides. There’s a greater recognition now from the industry that safety has to remain paramount if the sector is going to continue its growth trajectory. And we’ve also seen a real willingness from NAV CANADA and Transport Canada to work with RPAS operators to safely continue growth. The NAV Drone app – and how widely it’s now used – is evidence of this collaboration from both sides. We look forward to enhanced capabilities on this already excellent tool.”Want to learn more about the benefits of membership with the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada? You can find all the details <a href="https://www.aerialevolution.ca/become-a-member/" target="_blank">here</a>.

NAV Canada Update

Enhanced Capabilities Coming to NAV Drone App

operator piloting underwater ROV on Deep Trekker handheld controller

Discover the essential role of underwater positioning, and how remotely operated vehicles are advancing accuracy in underwater inspections and surveys.

Underwater Positioning 101: Navigating the Depths with ROVs

The ocean is a hostile environment for humans, so much so that some would consider it even more hostile than space. Like space, the deep ocean is extremely cold and completely dark; but unlike space's absence of pressure, the deep ocean has extreme pressure. Deep ocean explorers can only reach these depths using either a submarine or a submersible.Submarines, like those from the US Navy, are ships that can navigate long distances underwater without having to surface. They can navigate the world’s oceans with precision and at speeds upwards of 25 knots (46km/h). Their highly engineered hulls are constructed of layers of steel, titanium, and other metal alloys, capable of withstanding the extreme pressure of the ocean’s depths. These submarines are also highly compartmentalized to help mitigate any potential hull breach.Submarines are sleek, self-contained ships with mission-critical redundant safety systems, pinpoint accuracy navigation capabilities, and powerful propulsion systems capable of circumnavigating the globe without refueling. For the most part, a submarine’s crew can move about freely and carry on with normal life, close quarters notwithstanding. &nbsp;A submersible’s mission typically revolves around exploration or excursions and, like submarines, they can descend into the ocean’s depths. But that is about where the similarities end. Compared to submarines, submersibles are almost the complete opposite. In general, submersibles tend to be small and clunky and lack sleekness. Submersibles are usually only capable of carrying a limited crew of 1–3 individuals who serve as operators and researchers. Also, their hulls are generally engineered as a unibody structure, not necessarily made of steel, and typically feature port holes or large plexiglass globes as windows for the crew—something submarines lack. Additionally, submersibles have limited propulsion systems powered by batteries that propel the vessel at low speeds.Because of their size, submersibles lack water-tight compartmentalization, meaning a hull breach can have disastrous consequences. A submersible’s dive missions are typically short—in the order of hours— and typically rely on a surface mother ship for support, so many of their onboard safety, navigation, and life support systems do not typically employ redundancy.<h2 dir="ltr">Extreme Water Pressure</h2>To get an idea of the immense pressure at the depth of the Titanic wreckage, let’s consider that the air pressure that surrounds us (referred to as one atmosphere) is 1013mbar or 14.7 pounds per square inch (PSI). We humans do not feel this pressure because the fluids in our bodies are pushing out, helping to equalize this pressure. But this all changes the deeper you go under the ocean; the pressure of the water pushing down on you increases approximately one atmosphere for every 10 meters of water depth. For example, at the depth where the Titanic wreckage lies, the pressure is approximately 385 atmospheres, or 385 times greater than the pressure at sea level. The fact that numerous sea-dwelling creatures face no difficulty coping with this high pressure, frigid 2.5°C water, and total darkness is simply nature at work.<h2 dir="ltr">Featured Products</h2>This week's New Tech Tuesday introduces two sensing products. One enables wireless monitoring of water leaks, while the other allows monitoring of humidity and temperature in critical electronics. With precise measurements and ultra-low power consumption, these dependable products can help keep water and moisture under control in your future engineering projects.The <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/multitech/multitech-wireless-water-leak-sensors/">LoRaWAN®&nbsp;Wireless Leak Detection Sensors from MultiTech</a> offer a highly effective solution to mitigate water damage in a range of environments. These sensors are available as 1-meter rope sensors for indoor, outdoor, or industrial use. In puck form, these sensors can promptly send alerts over a wireless network upon detection of water to prevent catastrophic damage. Leveraging LoRaWAN technology, these remote detectors can be strategically placed near water heaters, standing tanks, toilets, septic systems, floor drains, and other potential leakage points to preempt costly water damage.The sensors are built for IoT applications, engineered for long-range transmission, and offer an extended battery life of 5–10 years at an affordable cost. They feature an open architecture design, allowing for flexible integration with other systems. A notable advantage is the optional web-based console for real-time provisioning, monitoring, and configuration of sensors in the field.These sensors also have applications in monitoring plumbing and reservoir leaks, burst water pipe surveillance, data center leak, and water intrusion monitoring. These capabilities make them ideal for complex facilities, with custom designs available to meet specific needs.Integrating these sensors on the same network allows monitoring from even the most remote locations. The sensors also feature long-range, excellent wireless penetration through structures, enclosure tamper detection, automatic error reporting, and over-the-air configuration. All these features and benefits reinforce the role of MultiTech's wireless leak detection sensors in effectively managing and reducing liquid leak-related risks.The <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/sensirion/sensirion-sht4x-digital-sensor/">Sensirion 4th Generation SHT4x Digital Humidity and Temperature Sensors</a> offer a range of benefits for climatic management of critical electronics. These sensors feature high accuracy and ultra-low power consumption, making them ideal for mobile and battery-driven applications. With their extended supply voltage range and improved accuracy specifications, they are well-suited for climate control, anti-fogging, and relative humidity/temperature (RH/T) condition monitoring. The sensors are compact and housed in a robust DFN package, allowing for easy integration into challenging designs while meeting the highest reliability standards. Additionally, the <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/sensirion/sensirion-senseval-sht4xv1-eval-board/">SENSEVAL-SHT4xV1 Evaluation Board</a> simplifies sensor evaluation and prototyping, with compatibility for various STMicroelectronics boards. The I²C interface provides flexibility, and the internal heater enables sensor operation in demanding environments. These sensors are packaged in a surface mount technology (SMT) compatible format, making them suitable for high-volume applications. Sensirion's proven sensor solutions are widely used across different applications and markets.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730708637663-sensor.webp" style="width: 832px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">MultiTech LoRaWAN Wireless IoT Sensors<h3 id="isPasted"> </h3> <h2>Conclusion</h2>The ocean’s immense water pressure at great depths poses a significant threat to humans and machines alike.In the realm of technology, this week’s featured products offer innovative solutions for detecting water leaks and monitoring moisture and temperature. The potential damage caused by water leaks and moisture to electronics cannot be overlooked. The featured products from MultiTech and Sensirion play a crucial role in preventing such damage by providing early detection and monitoring capabilities. Implementing these innovative sensing technologies enables engineers to effectively mitigate the risks associated with water leakages or moisture buildup, ensuring the longevity and optimal performance of critical electronic systems.

This article introduces two sensing products. One enables wireless monitoring of water leaks, while the other allows monitoring of humidity and temperature in critical electronics. 

Perils of the Deep: Mission Critical Sensing Technology Solutions

In today’s market, it seems like all 3D scanners have similar specifications, as if manufacturers look at their competitors’ data and use the same numbers. Datasheets, marketing videos, and even product appearances all look comparable, making it difficult to distinguish quality based on technical data alone.So, when faced with multiple options, how can we identify a high-quality 3D scanner?In this blog post, Creaform presents three practical tests that require no calibrated artifact to determine whether the <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/blog/the-difference-between-stated-accuracy-and-accredited-accuracy/">performance claimed on technical specification sheets is achievable in real-life scenarios</a> or just numbers without tangible value on paper. These tests are intended to help you identify which manufacturers have rigorously developed and tested their 3D scanners.<h2 id="isPasted">Form Defect Measurement (Cylindricity)</h2>In <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/blog/what-is-gdt-basics-and-definitions/">GD&amp;T</a>, a form defect is the deviation of a machined part from its ideal shape, such as a plane or a cylinder. A form defect measurement is a good indication of the 3D scanner’s quality because it shows the sensor’s ability to measure the true value of the form defect. <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/en/portable-3d-scanners">High-quality 3D scanners</a> will provide measurements very close to the nominal value, while poor-quality 3D scanners may show significant deviations.<h2>Test #1: Cylindricity Test</h2>A simple cylindricity test can provide valuable insights into the 3D scanner’s raw data quality.When assessing the quality of a 3D scanner, the primary consideration is the raw data, which undergoes an extensive point filtering process. No doubt, if the raw data is noisy and of low quality, it will lead to questionable 3D models.See how to perform a cylindricity test<h3>The Result: A Cylinder or a Mushroom</h3>If, at high resolution, you are unable to obtain a good cylindricity value and clearly see the edge of the cylinder at right angles, it suggests that the sensor is capturing poor-quality raw data. This raises concerns about the entire data capture and analysis process.When a cylinder looks like a mushroom, it indicates that the 3D scanner’s raw data is noisy. As a result, the software uses reconstruction algorithms to smooth the cylinder’s body and edges (and make the data look better), creating a mushroom shape. However, these algorithms can cause various unintended effects.&nbsp;Poor-quality raw data with lots of noise means a thick point cloud. Therefore, how do we know where the real surface is in this point cloud? How can we ensure the mesh is created using accurate raw data and real surface points? Are there any hidden smoothed surfaces at high resolution that might affect the accuracy of the mesh?<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730455359522-3-simple-tests-2-Low-Quality-3D-Scanners-Results-1536x864.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Mushroom effect visible with a low-quality 3D scanner<h2 id="isPasted">Creaform, Inventor of the Handheld 3D Scanner</h2>As the pioneer of handheld 3D scanners, Creaform possesses unique expertise that ensures the quality of acquired data with minimal noise. Consequently, surface reconstruction algorithms perform more effectively because they do not need to smooth low-quality surface points, thus guaranteeing <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/blog/results-revealed-and-facts-exposed-benchmarking-two-3d-scanning-metrology-solutions-to-save-inspection-time/">consistently high quality</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730455385221-3-simple-tests-1-MetraSCAN-Black_Elite-results-1536x864.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Evidence supporting the claim: Cylindricity measured with Creaform’s MetraSCAN BlackTM|Elite<h2 id="isPasted">Test #2: Volumetric Accuracy Test</h2>This test aims to show the consistency of the 3D scanner’s measurements. A high-quality 3D scanner must be repeatable, i.e., produce repeatable measurements with minimal variation. In contrast, a low-quality 3D scanner may yield inconsistent results when measuring the same part multiple times or when measured by several operators.Consequently, when measurements are taken multiple times on the same part, the results must be grouped and similar whether one or several operators take them.Repeatability test: One operator performs five consecutive measurementsReproducibility test: Five operators each perform the same measurementBoth tests should present grouped results.A calibrated reference tool or artifact is not required to assess volumetric accuracy. You can measure any part within a certain period (e.g., same day, same hour). The results are even more evident on large parts.See how to perform a volumetric accuracy test<h3>The Result: Same Part, Identical Dimensions or Not</h3>If the results are not grouped, it is a good indicator that the <a href="https://www.creaform3d.com/blog/do-you-have-confidence-in-your-3d-measurements-are-you-certain-they-are-accurate-repeatable-and-reliable/">volumetric accuracy</a> claimed on the datasheet is probably wrong.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730455406648-Maximum-Deviation-Graph-1536x621.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Ungrouped results obtained with a 3D scanner of similar price (gray columns) compared with the volumetric accuracy measured with the Creaform HandySCAN Black+TM|Elite (Blue columns)If you measure the distance between two planes that are 2 meters apart, and this distance varies by more than 15µm/m, meaning 30µm over two consecutive measurements, it is difficult to claim that the 3D scanner has a volumetric precision of 15µm/m.In other words, if you measure a car twice in a row, and the first time it measures a certain dimension, and the second time it measures 2mm less, how can the sensor have a volumetric accuracy below 1mm/m? And, when two measurements differ, which one is the correct one?<h2>Creaform, 20+ Years of Innovation in 3D Scanning</h2>Creaform has encountered similar issues during its initial years of research and development but has developed the knowledge and expertise to overcome and solve them. Given Creaform’s 10-year lead in innovation and product development over other 3D scanner manufacturers in the market, we can see what problems some manufacturers have been unable to resolve.<h2>Test #3: Thermal Stability Test</h2>Another indicator of a 3D scanner’s quality grade is its performance under varying environmental conditions, such as temperature. High-quality 3D scanners are designed to remain stable under different conditions, while poor-quality scanners may be more susceptible to environmental changes.Another way to distinguish high from low quality is the frequency to which the 3D scanner requires recalibration to maintain accuracy. High-quality 3D scanners generally remain calibrated for longer periods. In contrast, poor-quality 3D scanners might drift quickly and require frequent recalibration.To perform this test, simply connect your 3D scanner and measure a part, any part. Then, repeat the measurement after 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours. Then, place the results on top of each other. Are the results consistent?See how to perform a thermal stability test<h3>The Result: Constant Recalibration Required or Not</h3>With high-quality 3D scanners, various mechanisms (mainly software) manage thermal expansion within the sensor, ensuring stable and reliable measurements over a long period of time. However, these mechanisms are absent for low-quality 3D scanners, so results tend to drift.The solution to address repeatability and thermal drift issues is to recalibrate the 3D scanner. However, it can quickly become inconvenient, even painful, for users to recalibrate their sensor each time they use it throughout the day.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1730455428978-Thermal-Drift-Graph-1536x849.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Drifted results obtained with a 3D scanner of similar price (gray line) compared with the thermal stability measured with the Creaform HandySCAN Black+TM|Elite over 15 minutes<h2 id="isPasted">Creaform: High-Quality Born from Rigor and Learning</h2>Since 2005, Creaform has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in software development and mechanical design. This expertise includes lens design, finite element analysis of component heating, heatsink location, and more.All this expertise in mechanical engineering has been developed for both the optomechanical structure (developing the lenses to the CMOS sensor) and the physical structure (precisely placing the handgrip on the external structure of the sensor to avoid applying pressure and moving the cameras). This insight also includes the user and factory calibration processes.Thanks to this continuous learning and improvement, Creaform has consistently been able to subtract micrometers—not only on the specification sheet but in real life. This is what we refer to as&nbsp;accredited accuracy (link to previous blog). Our focus goes beyond numbers written on data sheets. We strive to demonstrate and maintain stability and repeatability in real-world applications, always aiming to showcase the high quality of Creaform 3D scanners.

In this blog post, Creaform presents three practical tests that require no calibrated artifact to determine whether the performance claimed on technical specification sheets is achievable in real-life scenarios or just numbers without tangible value on paper.

3 Simple Tests to Recognize High-Quality 3D Scanners with no Calibrated Artifacts Required

In this episode, we explore how AI can help aerial vehicles adjust to extreme turbulence in real-time and enhance safety/stability, even in challenging driving conditions.

Scared of Turbulence? AI -Might- Fix That

<section id="isPasted">When it comes to inspections in the maritime environment, the status quo has long been marked by challenges that impede efficiency and incur significant costs. Routine vessel inspections, vital for maintaining operational integrity, optimizing fuel efficiency, and ensuring safety underwater, have traditionally relied on divers or drydocking methods, both of which are inherently costly and time-consuming.The emergence of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) promises a more accessible and cost-effective alternative, yet their usability has been hindered by the perennial problem of navigation beneath vessels' hulls.This article provides a comprehensive exploration of Dead Reckoning and the seminal work undertaken by Deep Trekker in mini ROV technology, with a particular emphasis on its potential to transform routine vessel inspections. The focus is on highlighting the implications for fuel efficiency, defect detection, and the cost-effective optimization of vessel maintenance.This innovative breakthrough was achieved by Deep Trekker’s pioneering work on Dead Reckoning technology. These latest achievements have the potential to advance underwater vessel inspections by providing a practical solution to the long-standing challenge of underwater navigation.<img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/kzewhs8e6cvu/3t6Sd0J8AmQJovMiFiUn2a/a62bd6232bd4c359e78a51496aabe8c7/Group_Glamor_Shot_crop1.jpg" alt="DESCRIPTION HERE" width="800" height="356" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></section><section><h2>Applications of Dead Reckoning with Underwater Robotics</h2>Beyond just hull inspections, Dead Reckoning finds widespread application in the field of underwater robotics, where autonomous vehicles and ROVs navigate complex underwater environments for various tasks, including oceanographic research, underwater surveys, pipeline maintenance, and search and recovery, to name a few.In oceanographic research, ROVs equipped with Dead Reckoning systems can gather data on ocean currents, temperature gradients, water quality, and marine life distribution. By continuously updating their positions through Dead Reckoning calculations, ROVs can execute predefined survey patterns, enabling scientists to study ocean dynamics and ecosystem health.Similarly, in underwater inspections and maintenance operations, ROVs rely on Dead Reckoning to navigate complex underwater structures, such as offshore oil rigs and submerged pipelines. By accurately estimating their positions relative to target objects, ROVs can perform tasks such as visual inspections, structural repairs, and equipment installations with minimal human intervention.Dead Reckoning also plays a vital role in search and recovery (SAR) missions, where time-critical decisions depend on accurate positional information. Deep Trekker ROVs equipped with Dead Reckoning systems can systematically cover large search areas, narrowing down the search radius based on calculated positions and sensor feedback.Overall, the integration of Dead Reckoning with underwater robotics facilitates more effective navigation in challenging underwater environments, enabling a wide range of scientific, commercial, industrial, and humanitarian applications.</section><section><h2>The Significance of Dead Reckoning in Maritime Inspections</h2>Dead Reckoning is a key component in maritime operations, especially in underwater inspections, as it provides a fundamental means of tracking the position and movement of inspection equipment in underwater environments, such as ROVs. This enables inspectors to navigate, track, and collect data accurately in challenging subaquatic settings.When combined with other navigation aids and sensors, Dead Reckoning contributes to the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of maritime inspections, ensuring that they meet their intended objectives.Here are some key points highlighting the significance of Dead Reckoning in maritime operations:<h3>Navigating Underwater Without GPS or Electronic Aids</h3>Dead Reckoning serves as a valuable alternative for navigation in GPS-denied environments like underwater regions where GPS signals may be obstructed or jammed. In underwater inspection scenarios, GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable due to the water's attenuation of satellite signals. Dead Reckoning can provide positional data when these systems are unavailable, allowing for underwater navigation without the assistance of GPS or optics in underwater environments.By harnessing a combination of inertial sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and sophisticated algorithms, Dead Reckoning enables ROV operators to maintain accurate spatial awareness and navigate with confidence, irrespective of GPS availability.Operators can rely on Dead Reckoning’s positional data to guide the ROV along predetermined routes and conduct thorough inspections, all without the need for GPS or optics assistance.<h3>Maximizing Inspection Efficiency with Position Tracking</h3>Dead Reckoning enables inspectors to continuously estimate the position of Deep Trekker ROVs as they move underwater during inspections. This information is critical for ensuring that the inspection covers the intended area. When you know where you are, you know where you have already inspected, and you know where you need to go next. Up until now, there has not been an effective method for position tracking for underwater ROVs near ships.By integrating various sensors and algorithms, Dead Reckoning provides real-time feedback on the ROV's location, allowing inspectors to maintain control. By employing Dead Reckoning technology, inspectors can monitor the ROV's position relative to predefined waypoints or planned trajectories, ensuring that the inspection remains on course and covers all targeted areas effectively.<img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/kzewhs8e6cvu/76y0rV73H4Knpiq1h0jdGP/654a1b0426b093d3ada261e9c8bb45d7/gif-__ROV_MOVING_ALONG_HULL_OF_SHIP_WITH_TRACK_LINE_FOLLOWING.gif" alt="DESCRIPTION HERE" width="800" height="356" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></section><section><blockquote>"Real-time position tracking enables inspectors to adapt to changing underwater conditions or unexpected obstacles, allowing for dynamic adjustments to the inspection strategy as needed."</blockquote>By maintaining accurate spatial awareness throughout the inspection process, inspectors can assess underwater assets, identify potential issues, and make informed decisions to optimize maintenance and repair activities.<h3>Enhancing Underwater Safety</h3>When working underwater, safety is a primary concern, both for the ROV operators and any accompanying divers - and knowing the location of the ROV and divers is essential for safety.Dead Reckoning helps inspectors ensure that ROVs or divers do not stray into hazardous areas, such as underwater structures, shipwrecks, or areas with strong currents. By utilizing Dead Reckoning for tracking the precise location of ROVs relative to underwater structures and currents, potential risks can be identified and avoided, minimizing the likelihood of accidents or damage to equipment.<h3>Optimizing Maintenance Strategies through Data Driven Insights</h3>Positional data obtained through Dead Reckoning improves the quality of inspection data, enabling inspectors to navigate ROVs to specific areas of interest. This targeted approach ensures that inspections focus on the most important areas, reducing the chance of missing essential details and improving data accuracy.<img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/kzewhs8e6cvu/5sM6RDNMt3mhw0FFcZ4pfK/55f0e7b543ed7c1e8d6b733f221c3aa0/gif-__LOOKING_UP_CLOSE_AT_SHIP_WITH_DEAD_RECKONING_TRACK_LINE_ON_SCREEN.gif" alt="DESCRIPTION HERE" width="800" height="356" class="fr-fic fr-dii">This includes data such as the location of underwater structures, defects, or anomalies, which must be precisely recorded for effective analysis. Higher quality data can lead to more informed decision-making, potentially reducing the need for follow-up inspections that consume additional fuel and resources.The data collected by ROVs utilizing Dead Reckoning technology provides valuable insights that can optimize vessel maintenance strategies. By accurately documenting hull conditions and identifying areas requiring attention, ROVs allow maintenance teams to prioritize repairs, schedule cleaning operations, and implement proactive maintenance measures.This data driven approach minimizes downtime, reduces operational costs, and extends the lifespan of vessels, ultimately raising the bar for operational efficiency and profitability.</section><section><h3>Fuel Efficiency and Resource Management</h3>Dead Reckoning assists in efficient resource management by helping inspectors monitor the progress of inspections. It helps ROVs identify the optimal times to clean the ship, to ensure that the hull remains clear of biofouling. Fuel efficiency in maritime operations can be dramatically improved by regular inspections and keeping the hull clear of marine growth - which can potentially reduce fuel efficiency by up to 40% by creating drag from the rough surface.Minimizing fuel consumption not only saves money but also reduces the environmental impact of maritime operations. Dead Reckoning, by ensuring efficient maintenance schedules, contributes to sustainability efforts by reducing emissions associated with fuel burning.<img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/kzewhs8e6cvu/5wlYcwl6ZPnGvJmvXR1PbL/23d532b66f95008b4391b9f560b8b9d5/Wed-Aug-7-12-56-13-2019-hi-res-date-removed.jpg" alt="Hull inspection biofouling" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></section><section><h2>Integration of Dead Reckoning with Advanced Sensor Technologies</h2>Dead Reckoning technology is often integrated with advanced sensor technologies to further enhance the capabilities of ROVs during vessel inspections. Deep Trekker’s innovative Sensor Fusion algorithms is a great example of this.Sensors such as acoustic positioning systems, imaging sonars, and 3D mapping cameras complement Dead Reckoning by providing additional spatial awareness and environmental data.This integration enables ROVs to navigate complex underwater environments more effectively and capture comprehensive inspection data for thorough analysis and decision-making.</section><section><h2>Future Prospects and Innovations in ROV-based Vessel Inspections</h2>Dead Reckoning is a fundamental navigation technique that ROVs and underwater vehicles use to estimate their position and navigate in GPS-denied or challenging environments. While it provides continuous position estimates, it's important to combine with other sensor data and correction methods to maintain accuracy, especially in dynamic underwater conditions.In the maritime industry where efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness are critical to operations, Deep Trekker's Dead Reckoning technology stands as an example of this innovation's potential to reshape long standing industry practices and overcome the historical challenges of underwater navigation.<blockquote>"The ongoing advancements in ROV technology, coupled with the continued refinement of Dead Reckoning algorithms, point to an exciting future for vessel inspections."</blockquote>Innovations such as autonomous navigation, machine learning algorithms, and advanced sensor fusion techniques promise to further enhance the capabilities of ROVs for conducting comprehensive and efficient inspections.As these technologies continue to evolve, ROVs equipped with Dead Reckoning will play an increasingly prominent role in maintaining vessel integrity and ensuring maritime safety in the years to come.</section><section><h2>The Deep Trekker Advantage</h2>Deep Trekker ROVs, engineered with rugged industrial-grade materials, are designed for versatility and durability. They offer immediate deployment and a comprehensive variety of advanced features. These ROVs are highly portable and quick to set up, featuring powerful LED lighting, a live 4K video feed, and up to 360-degree field of view, imaging sonar, and flexible sampling tools.Our experienced team is at your service to offer expert guidance for a wide spectrum of applications, ranging from inspecting hull vessels to water tanks to conducting underwater assessments across various industries. We ensure tailor-made solutions that precisely match your specific requirements. When you're prepared to acquire your Deep Trekker ROV, don't hesitate to <a href="https://www.deeptrekker.com/contact-us" target="_blank">get in touch</a> with us for a <a href="https://www.deeptrekker.com/request-quote" target="_blank">personalized quote.</a></section>

Operator piloting ROV with Dead Reckoning tracking

Discover how Deep Trekker's ROV technology transforms underwater navigation, overcoming traditional challenges in underwater positioning. 

Modernizing Vessel Inspections: Dead Reckoning for Mini ROVs

As you might recall from <a href="https://cypherrobotics.com/2024/10/17/cypher-robotics-puts-captis-on-the-global-stage-at-gitex-global-2024-in-dubai/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off" target="_blank">this post</a>, Cypher Robotics and its <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/cypher-robotics-announces-captis-a-new-solution-for-industrial-scanning/" target="_blank">Captis</a> cycle-counting/inventory management solution recently attended the huge <a href="https://www.gitex.com/" target="_blank">GITEX GLOBAL 2024</a> event in Dubai. It’s the world’s largest technology and AI exhibition, with some 200,000 attendees. It was a *huge* show.But a lot of the work – and the opportunities – for both Cypher Robotics and InDro Robotics (which incubated Cypher and has a technology agreement with the company) took place away from the show floor. Cypher Robotics CEO and InDro Vice President Peter King spent much of his time in high-level meetings with executives from five of the largest companies in the United Arab Emirates.“These were C-Suite level meetings, where we were able to learn more about what these companies do – and discuss how both InDro and Cypher can offer solutions that could benefit them,” says King.These aren’t companies where you can simply call and ask for a meeting with high-level executives. There needs to be a catalyst to facilitate such discussions.And there was: The Government of Canada; specifically, the Canadian Consulate in Dubai.Below: Cypher Robotics CEO Peter King on the floor at GITEX GLOBAL 2024. Much of his time was spent off the floor, meeting with executives from the largest companies in the UAE<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729798081995-GITEX-Peter.jpg-2.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Cypher Robotics Booth at GITEX"><h3 id="isPasted">Trade Mission</h3>Among the many responsibilities of the Federal Government is promoting trade between Canadian firms and international clients. Sometimes, there are large “Team Canada Trade Missions” which are led by a Minister and often covered by media. With these missions, there’s a specific push on the Indo-Pacific region. On other occasions, however, the government pulls together smaller groups with a very specific focus. Months before GITEX GLOBAL 2024 was to take the world stage, planning began for a mission in Dubai that would take place the same week.Government officials identified five Canadian firms in the Canadian high-tech sector it felt might be a fit for the UAE market. InDro Robotics was invited to participate – and was the only company among those five from the robotics sector.“They identified that our solutions could be highlighted in Dubai – not only for trade reasons, but also to help solve some really hard problems,” says Peter King. “We were obviously really pleased to be one of a small handful of technology companies to be on the federal government’s radar.”Canada’s Consul General in Dubai, H.E. Tracy Reynolds, was at the helm of this program and coordinated a series of meetings with “the UAE’s most influential business and technology leaders,” reads a Government of Canada document outlining the program.“Consul General Reynolds will lead a two-day outreach program that will allow selected Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) clients to pitch their products and solutions to Dubai’s conglomerates, which are considered to be major buyers of ICT products and solutions. The meetings will also allow the delegation to learn about the latest technologies being adopted by these organizations,” it adds.<h3> </h3><h3 id="isPasted">Why UAE?</h3>Though historically an oil-driven economy, the United Arab Emirates has diversified greatly in recent years. It has evolved, according to the CIA’s World FactBook, “into a trade-oriented logistics and supply chain leader (with) strong foreign direct investment orientation; building trade and investment ties through partnership agreements…” The UAE Gross Domestic Product is the fourth highest in the Middle East (after Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel), with an estimated USD 719.733 billion GDP in 2023.In Dubai, the skyline has been utterly transformed over the past few decades. It’s home to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and other ultra-modern architecture. Known also for its luxury shopping and high-end autos, Dubai has also embraced technology in recent years. In fact, the local police count Tesla Cybertrucks among their fleet.Dubai has never been as dependent on oil as the other six Emirates that comprise the UAE – and Dubai has led the way in the UAE in terms of economic diversification. According to Wikipedia, “Oil production, which once accounted for 50% of Dubai’s gross domestic product, contributes less than 1% today. In 2018, wholesale and retail trade represented 26% of the total GDP; transport and logistics, 12%; banking, insurance activities and capital markets, 10%; manufacturing, 9%; real estate, 7%; construction, 6%; tourism, 5%. The International Herald Tribune described it as ‘centrally-planned free-market capitalism’.”In other words, Dubai – and the wider UAE – are a significant and growing global marketplace.Below: The Dubai Skyline at night. Photo by Ivan Siarbolin – https://www.pexels.com/photo/city-skyline-during-night-time-3787839/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95959711<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729798138316-Dubai_Skylines_at_night_Pexels_3787839-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Dubai Skyline"> <h3 id="isPasted">High-Level Agenda</h3>With that context, it’s clear why the Canadian Consulate in Dubai sees opportunity. Being on the ground, Canadian&nbsp;Consul General&nbsp;Tracy Reynolds,&nbsp;Deputy Consul General Anthony Finch and Trade Commissioner&nbsp;Arun Basandai have an insider’s vantage point into the key economic players in Dubai and the UAE.&nbsp;And so, over the course of two days, they accompanied representatives of the five invited Canadian companies to five different high-level meetings.The first was with one of the largest real estate developers in the entire UAE. Remember the earlier reference to the Burj Khalifa? This company owns it. In addition to real estate, its diverse portfolio includes&nbsp;retail, hospitality, and&nbsp;leisure. The firm’s Executive Director and its Head of Information Technology attended the meeting.We don’t want to get into the details, but it was an excellent discussion – which included how solutions from both InDro Robotics and Cypher Robotics might be useful to that firm.&nbsp;From there, it was off to a massive global investment company that has been a major driver of Dubai’s spectacular growth. It’s involved with 10 sectors,&nbsp;including real estate, hospitality, leisure&nbsp;&amp; entertainment, media, ICT, design, education, retail, manufacturing, and&nbsp;logistics and science. It owns hotels, parks, resorts, a huge arena, multiple large retail outlets – and is also involved in multiple projects to accelerate Dubai into a fully Smart City. There were fruitful discussions there as well.Meeting three was with one of the largest retailers in Dubai and the entire UAE with an emphasis on the fashion and lifestyle industry. On the food and beverage side, it runs multiple name brand franchises throughout the UAE and is the distributor/retailer of major fashion brands. It’s a huge company with a massive rolling inventory across several sectors. As with the previous meetings, all five Canadian technology companies had a chance to discuss their offerings.&nbsp;<h3>And There Was More…</h3>Once again, it was C-suite meetings with the full support of senior Consulate staff. The group met with the CEO and Chief Strategy and Technology Officer (CSTO) of the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure company across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It owns and operates 27 major shopping malls, multiple hotels, cinemas, etc. and has assets in excess of USD 18 billion and 44,000 employees.The final meeting was with “a multinational retail franchise operator of 70 brands in 20 countries.” Those brands include Starbucks, Chipotle and Cheesecake Factory. The company runs hotels and major retail outlets with names you’d recognize. The company’s Chief Strategy and Digital Officer attended this meeting, and was able to learn about solutions offered by all five Canadian technology companies.“These meetings were a tremendous opportunity to learn not only about what these leading UAE companies do, but also explore some of the challenges they face with operations at that scale,” says King. “There was significant interest in solutions from both InDro and Cypher – and I’m confident these were just the first of many conversations to come.”Below: The Cypher Robotics cycle-counting and RFID scanning Captis, which can operate autonomously for five hours and also capture precision digital twins. Below that is the InDro Robotics Sentinel, designed for remote asset inspection, security and surveillance and digital twins<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729798194505-Captis-1-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Captis Robot"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729798212185-Sentinel-in-substation-1.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Sentinel Inspection Robot"><h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take</h3>We are pleased to have been selected to take part in this trade mission in the United Arab Emirates – and are exceedingly grateful to the senior staff at the Canadian Consul General in Dubai. These were exceptional meetings and, potentially, the beginning of new business relationships.“These meetings were a significant step along Cypher’s long-term roadmap, which includes markets beyond North America,” says King. “Every business relationship begins with a discussion, and these were very productive introductory meetings for all of the Canadian firms on this trip. I’d like to extend our deepest thanks for Consul General Tracy Reynolds, Trade Commissioner Arun Basandani and Deputy Consul General Anthony Finch.”InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece is also pleased.“These meetings were a remarkable opportunity for not only InDro and Cypher, but for four other innovative Canadian tech companies,” he says. “The Government of Canada recognizes the global shift toward Industry 4.0 and the role Canadian technology companies can play in that. We are pleased that InDro had this opportunity and extend our thanks to all those involved.”If you’d like to learn more about InDro Robotics solutions, contact us <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank">here</a>. For Cypher Robotics and Captis, reach out <a href="https://cypherrobotics.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">here</a>.Cover image of Dubai at top of story via Wikimedia Commons by Tim Reckmann, CC BY-SA 3.0

Exploring strategic partnerships and showcasing cutting-edge robotic technologies, InDro Robotics and Cypher Robotics attend pivotal trade discussions to expand their global impact.

InDro Robotics and Cypher Robotics attend High-Level Trade Meetings in Dubai

Inspecting FPSOs in harsh marine environments is no easy task, especially with high temperatures, confined spaces, and the need for precise corrosion monitoring. Recently, a major breakthrough in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) was achieved during the inspection of an FPSO tank, where both Ultrasonic Testing (UT) and Visual Testing (VT) were conducted using SKYRON, an intelligent flying robot designed to perform NDT inspections faster, safer, and more cost-effectively.This innovative approach allowed inspectors to gather crucial data while avoiding the dangers of traditional methods like rope access and scaffolding. From capturing HD images to delivering UT readings in temperatures up to 45°C, the inspection process was completed swiftly, safely, and more efficiently than ever.Watch the full inspection video to see how NDT is being transformed!

A Technological Breakthrough

Redefining NDT Inspections in FPSOs

This article was discussed in our <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" rel="noopener noreferrer">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/ba9d3b2c-0388-4b26-839e-f00c49d3ec84?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> The full article will continue below.<hr>In nature, flying animals sense coming changes in their surroundings, including the onset of sudden turbulence, and quickly adjust to stay safe. Engineers who design aircraft would like to give their vehicles the same ability to predict incoming disturbances and respond appropriately. Indeed, disasters such as the fatal Singapore Airlines flight this past May in which more than 100 passengers were injured after the plane encountered severe turbulence, could be avoided if aircraft had such automatic sensing and prediction capabilities combined with mechanisms to stabilize the vehicle.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI5MDM4MjAxNjIyLUFuYW5ka3VtYXItR2hhcmliLVdpbmRfVHVubmVsX0ZhbGNvbi1XRUIud2lkdGgtNDUwLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The team's experimental setup in the John W. Lucas Wind Tunnel at Caltech. A large black cylinder with a plate attached at the front creates irregular turbulence under the tunnel's high-speed winds. The airfoil wing system with eight pressure sensors and a pitot tube is mounted on a load cell to measure the lift experienced by the system. Credit: CaltechNow a team of researchers from Caltech's <a href="https://cast.caltech.edu/">Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies</a> (CAST) and Nvidia has taken an important step toward such capabilities. In a new <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44182-024-00013-0.epdf?sharing_token=6SA8UpWMvumTfhM3BzcI0NRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OYBT9CUtY2_MnOaaTlLg26HDgxOHgFndBOc1Ku9JjlUbinxhxQy2OVlESO-2I1ea10WRlqhnXFkZL3MD7WxjALanseKL57Txyt7Qm936pSVU30LsD6GimfDMNURtTs7_Q%3D">paper</a> in the journal npj Robotics, the team describes a control strategy they have developed for unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, called FALCON (Fourier Adaptive Learning and CONtrol). The strategy uses reinforcement learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to adaptively learn how turbulent wind can change over time and then uses that knowledge to control a UAV based on what it is experiencing in real time."Spontaneous turbulence has major consequences for everything from civilian flights to drones. With climate change, extreme weather events that cause this type of turbulence are on the rise," says <a href="https://www.eas.caltech.edu/people/mgharib">Mory Gharib</a> (PhD '83), the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Medical Engineering, the Booth-Kresa Leadership Chair of CAST, and an author of the new paper. "Extreme turbulence also arises at the interface between two different shear flows—for example, when high-speed winds meet stagnation around a tall building. Therefore, UAVs in urban settings need to be able to compensate for such sudden changes. FALCON gives these vehicles a way to understand the turbulence that is coming and make necessary adjustments."FALCON is not the first UAV control strategy to use reinforcement learning. However, previous strategies have not tried to learn the underlying model that truly represents how turbulent winds work. Instead, they have all been model-free methods. Such methods focus on maximizing a reward function that cannot be used to tackle different settings, such as different wind conditions or vehicle configurations, without retraining because they focus on just one environment."That's not so good in the physical world, where we know that situations can change drastically and quickly," says <a href="https://www.eas.caltech.edu/people/anima">Anima Anandkumar</a>, the Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech and an author of the new paper. "We need the AI to learn the underlying model of turbulence well so that it can take action based on how it thinks the wind will change.""Advancements in fundamental AI will change the face of the aviation industry, enhancing safety, efficiency, and performance across a range of platforms, including passenger planes, UAVs, and carrier aircraft. These innovations promise to make air travel and operations smarter, safer, and more streamlined," says Kamyar Azizzadenesheli, a co-author from Nvidia.As the FALCON acronym says, the strategy is based on Fourier methods, meaning that it relies on the use of sinusoids, or periodic waves, to represent signals—here, wind conditions. The waves provide a good approximation of standard wind motions, keeping needed computation to a minimum. Within those waves, when extreme turbulence arises, the unsteadiness shows up as a noticeable change in frequency."If you can learn how to predict those frequencies, then our method can give you some prediction of what is headed your way," says Gharib, who is also director of the <a href="https://www.galcit.caltech.edu/">Graduate Aerospace Laboratories</a> at Caltech."Fourier methods work well here because turbulent waves are better modeled in terms of frequencies, with most of their energy lying in low frequencies," says co-lead author Sahin Lale (PhD '23), now a senior staff research engineer at Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc., who completed the work while at Caltech. "Using this prior knowledge simplifies both the learning and control of turbulent dynamics, even with a limited amount of information."To test the effectiveness of the FALCON strategy, the researchers created an extremely challenging test setup in the <a href="http://windtunnel.caltech.edu/">John W. Lucas Wind Tunnel</a> at Caltech. They used a fully equipped airfoil wing system as their representative UAV, outfitting it with pressure sensors and control surfaces that could make adjustments online to things like the system's altitude and yaw. They then positioned a large cylinder with a moveable attachment in the wind tunnel. When wind flowed over the cylinder, it created random, major fluctuations in the wind reaching the airfoil."Training a reinforcement learning algorithm in a physical turbulent environment presents all kinds of unique challenges," says Peter I. Renn (BS '19, PhD '23) co-lead author of the paper who is now a quantitative strategist at Virtu Financial. "We couldn't rely on perfectly clean signals or simplified flow simulations, and everything had to be done in real time."After about nine minutes of learning, the FALCON-assisted system was able to stabilize itself in this extreme environment."With each new observation, the program gets better because it has more information," says Anandkumar."The future really depends on how powerful the software gets in terms of needing less and less training," says Gharib. "Quick adaptation is going to be the challenge, and we are going to push, push, push."Looking to the future, he adds that the researchers envision giving UAVs and even passenger planes the ability to share sensed and learned information about conditions with each other. Such plane-to-plane sharing of sensor measurements and artificial intelligence–based learning, especially when in the vicinity of a disturbance, could help keep aircraft safe."I believe that's going to happen," says Gharib. "Otherwise, things will get pretty dangerous as extreme weather events increase in frequency."The paper, "FALCON: Fourier Adaptive Learning and Control for Disturbance Rejection Under Extreme Turbulence," was published online on September 24. Babak Hassibi, the Mose and Lillian S. Bohn Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech is also an author of the new paper. The work was supported by CAST and by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

In nature, flying animals sense coming changes in their surroundings, including the onset of sudden turbulence, and quickly adjust to stay safe. Engineers who design aircraft would like to give their vehicles the same ability to predict incoming disturbances and respond appropriately.

AI-Trained Vehicles Can Adjust to Extreme Turbulence on the Fly

The first element of this responsibility for employers is to conduct a stringent risk assessment. So let’s look at what this entails and demonstrate why risk assessments are so important to machine safety.<h2 dir="ltr">What Is A Machinery Risk Assessment?</h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728911459985-1728911459985.png" alt="Risk Assessment" class="fr-fic fr-dii">A machinery risk assessment entails a comprehensive examination of your facility’s working equipment, from set-up to usage patterns and maintenance. It’s intended to identify the potential hazards of each machine and come up with ways to reduce the risk of those hazards occurring. Some areas come under particular scrutiny, especially those measures taken by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure their machinery is safe to use.<h3 dir="ltr">Safeguards</h3>Before anybody uses any piece of equipment, you should ensure that it’s complete, correctly installed and free from defects. It should be fitted with appropriate safeguards, such as physical protective guards for human body parts. Safeguards should also include other measures such as two-hand controls, interlocks, pressure-sensitive mats, light guards, etc.Suppliers of safeguards are required by law to provide the appropriate protection and inform purchasers of equipment if there are any residual risks that they weren’t able to eliminate. You should be aware of these risks and figure out how to manage them. This includes risks inherent in safeguards that are badly designed, inconvenient to use or allow such dangerous evasions as an easy override.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">Best Practice&nbsp;</h3>Before you undertake any risk assessment, first identify each machine's characteristics and performance and how it contributes to the whole activity. Each piece of equipment forms part of a larger process that also embraces the products, the people and the working environment.At the outset, it’s important to check that all static machinery has been correctly installed and is stable. Then, establish a&nbsp;<a title="Procedures" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/10-machine-safety-rules" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">set of safe procedures</a> for using and maintaining equipment, such as scheduling regular inspections of critical features and preventive maintenance. This should include any residual risks advised by the OEM.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)</h2>The&nbsp;<a title="Regulations" href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/puwer-assessments-guide" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">PUWER Regulations</a> cover the supply and installation of machinery, together with employers’ responsibilities for its safety in the workplace. They require that all equipment used in the workplace is:<ul><li dir="ltr">Safe to use, regularly inspected and properly maintained</li><li dir="ltr">Suitable for its intended use</li><li dir="ltr">Supported by appropriate safety measures.</li><li dir="ltr">Used only by properly trained employees</li></ul>In addition, there are specific requirements for specialised equipment. Separate legislation governs the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), pressure systems and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment (LOLER).<h3 dir="ltr">What Are The Penalties For Non-Compliance?&nbsp;</h3>At present, there’s no specific set of instructions for compliance with PUWER. The only way you can be sure is to be fully aware of its main provisions and legal requirements. Conducting an evaluation will help you apply these to your company’s specific workplace and institute proper systems and training. If an inspector comes to call, you’ll want to be sure you are complying with all appropriate regulations.&nbsp;If any violations of work equipment regulations are discovered, the HSE is empowered to serve non-compliance notices on duty holders, call a halt to your operations, prosecute and impose fines. Penalties can be severe: a recent LOLER prosecution incurred a fine of £430,000. Another company’s&nbsp;<a title="Risk Assessment" href="https://press.hse.gov.uk/2024/07/22/recycling-company-fined-3m-after-one-man-died-and-another-seriously-injured/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">failure to conduct a risk assessment</a> resulted in a £3m fine. You should note that the HSE’s conviction rate is consistently higher than that of conventional criminal courts.<h2 dir="ltr">Carrying Out Successful Machine Risk Assessments</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Hazard Identification</h3>Successful machine risk assessment relies on you identifying any equipment’s potential hazards and their possible effects. This means you need to determine what and how any harm might be caused and who’s at risk of such harm. To do this, start with the OEM’s instructions and information, which should help you identify potential hazards, including residual risks. They should also set out the predictable risks of misusing machinery, as this affects the OEM’s liability. If you have any doubts or queries, contact the OEM directly.<h3 dir="ltr">Risk Evaluation</h3>Once you’ve identified all the potential risks in all your working equipment, you need to evaluate their degree of risk. This includes possible physical hazards and dangerous parts, as well as risks to human health and safety. The machine operator and maintenance crew should also look at the surrounding environment and nearby workers. You should include the risks of unusual circumstances occurring, as well as risks in standard operating conditions. Your evaluation should conclude with how you’re going to mitigate the potential risks.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">Risk Prevention</h3>The HSE requires you to prioritise the precautions and control measures you implement, to reduce risks to the minimum possible. To comply with H&amp;S regulations and be prepared for any possible inspection, you should also make a record of what you find and implement the necessary precautions. You must review and update this assessment regularly so that an up-to-date record is always available for inspection.<h2 dir="ltr">Expert Advice From Rowse On Machine Safety&nbsp;</h2>Whether you use machinery or automated equipment in your business or supply it to others, the law requires you to manage its potential risks. Full risk assessments for machinery must be carried out according to the PUWER regulations – and this is a service we’re happy to offer.&nbsp;Rowse has an experienced team of qualified machine safety experts who are happy to advise you at any point. We can help you develop a strategy and schedule for machinery risk assessments which comply with the law. We can also custom-fit the risk evaluation process to your business and its machine safety needs so you can be secure in the knowledge that your equipment and your employees are safe at work.

As a business owner, you’ll be aware of the safety requirements for work equipment under Health and Safety law. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that all employers must ensure the safety of machinery on their premises.

Why Are Risk Assessments Important In Machine Safety?

At least some of you will remember The Jetsons.The television series, created by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Inc., was a space-age version of The Flintstones (another Hanna-Barbera production). It originally aired in 1962-1963 with later episodes created in a reboot from 1985 to 1987.But while Fred Flintstone drove a stone-age car (complete with stone wheels) that he powered by pushing his feet along the ground, George Jetson and his family lived in Orbit City, where Jetson commuted to his two-hour per week job via a flying car with a bubble top. And instead of having dinosaurs (including pterodactyls) help carry out tasks, The Jetsons live in a future where they’re surrounded by automated devices. You could think of their surroundings as the 1960s vision of the Smart Home.And an integral part of that home? Well, that would be Rosey (later changed to ‘Rosie’) the robot.Rosey was the family’s robotic maid. She carried out tasks that weren’t performed by the many other automatic conveniences that filled the Jetson’s home. She had two manipulator arms and an internally stored vacuum that be deployed on demand.She was very useful around the house, carrying out tasks to save the family time.And this story? Well, it’s about our own Rosie – which is also very space-age.Below: A Rosie the robot publicity cel, signed by show creators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. The cel was auctioned in 2018; <a href="https://comics.ha.com/itm/animation-art/presentation-cel/the-jetsons-rosie-the-robot-publicity-cel-hanna-barbera-1985-/a/7193-97570.s#" target="_blank">image by Heritage Auctions</a><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI4NDAzNDIwMTI1LVNjcmVlbnNob3QtMjAyNC0xMC0wMi1hdC0xLjUxLjIwLVBNLnBuZy53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Rosie the Robot"> <h3 id="isPasted">The Rosie Story</h3>So. What is Rosie? We asked Head of R&amp;D Sales Luke Corbeth for a snapshot.“Rosie is a dual arm mobile manipulation robot designed for pick and place in an industry 4.0 setting,” he says. In other words, it has two arms and manoeuvres on a wheeled platform, and is capable of moving objects from one location to another or even manipulating a single object with both end effectors.And Rosie has a few tricks up her sleeve. Or, more accurately, sleeves.“The actual robot is very unique because it has six mounting points for the arms. So you can mount the arms on top, high on the side or low on the side to access shelving of different heights. In fact,&nbsp;you could actually mount one arm directly on the top right, for example, and then mount the second one on the bottom left. So you could grab something from the top of the shelf and from the floor at the same time, which is kind of cool, right?”Yes, indeed.Rosie’s home is not with the Jetsons (she has no vacuum cleaner) but in a new lab that hasn’t yet been officially launched at <a href="https://www.polymtl.ca/futur/en" target="_blank">Polytechnique Montréal</a>. It’s called the Intelligent-Cyber Physical System Lab, or I-CPS. So we contacted <a href="https://www.polymtl.ca/expertises/en/birglen-lionel" target="_blank">Lionel Birglen</a>, a professor with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. We wanted to learn more about what the lab does, what he does – and what plans he has for Rosie (which InDro built and shipped in 2023).Dr. Birglen is a PhD Mechanical Engineer, with a specialisation in robotics. He’s particularly interested in – and an expert on – manipulators and end effectors and has designed and built them. He’s written two books, holds three patents, and is the author or contributing author of at least <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Lionel-Birglen-69852833" target="_blank">94 research papers</a>. He’s also – get this – been listed among the <a href="https://www.polymtl.ca/carrefour-actualite/en/news/50-polytechnique-montreal-researchers-among-top-2-most-cited-their-respective-fields" target="_blank">top two per cent&nbsp;most-cited scientists in the world</a> in his area of specialisation.So it kinda goes without saying, but he’s a pretty big deal in this field.Dr. Birglen has a deep interest in the role robotics will play in the future of industry. And, within that realm, he’s intensely interested in ensuring that robots, particularly those that will be sharing space with human beings on a factory or warehouse floor, will be safe.And – he emphasises – he doesn’t trust simulations for important work like this.“Because simulations lie. They lie all the time,” he says. “You have to understand that reality is infinitely more complex than anything you can have in simulation – so actual experiments are absolutely essential to me. They are essential to my work,&nbsp;to my understanding of what robotic manipulation is.”“I believe in math, but I know that reality is different.&nbsp;It’s more complex, more complicated, and includes so many un-modelled phenomena.”&nbsp;<h3>Rosie's Journey</h3>Dr. Birglen knew he wanted a new robot for use in the new lab (which we’ll get to shortly). And he knew he wanted a robot with two manipulator arms.“Dual-arm robots are, in my opinion, the future for industry applications,” he says.And while humanoid bipeds grab a lot of attention, they’re far more complex (and expensive) than wheeled robots. Plus, he says, most factory applications take place on a single level and don’t require climbing stairs.“From a factory perspective, a wheeled platform makes a lot of sense because typically in factories you don’t have, say, five levels connected by stairs.”So he knew he wanted an autonomous, wheeled, dual-arm robot. And he started, initially, to think of a company other than InDro for the build.“I came across InDro almost by accident,” he explains. “<a href="https://www.polymtl.ca/expertises/en/beltrame-giovanni" target="_blank">Giovanni Beltrame</a> told me about you because he has purchased many, many robots from you. He said: ‘Those guys can build and assemble the robot for you. They’re close and they do a great job.’ So that’s how I came in contact with you.” (We’ve written previously about the amazing work Dr. Beltrame is working on involving robots and space. You can find that <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/robots-on-earth-help-prepare-for-research-on-the-moon/" target="_blank">here.</a>)And so, after a number of calls with Luke Corbeth and the engineering team to settle on design and performance parameters, work on Rosie began.Below: Technologist Tirth Gajera (‘T’) puts the finishing touches on Rosie in 2023<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI4NDAzNDY1MDg1LURTQzAxNTE4LXNjYWxlZC5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="InDro's Roșie the Robot"> <h3 id="isPasted">The Lab</h3>Polytechnique Montréal’s&nbsp;Intelligent-Cyber Physical System Lab (I-CPS) is set up as a highly connected Industry 4.0 factory. Faculty from four different departments – computer engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and mechanical engineering (Dr. Birglen) – are involved with the lab. Interns and students, under supervision, also work in the facility.“So we have four&nbsp;departments involved in this lab and the idea is to build a small scale factory of the future, meaning that everything is connected. We are building a mini-factory inside this lab,” he says.So think of cameras that can track objects on shelves – and people and robots within the environment. Think of smart tools like a CNC machine, which will eventually be operated by Rosie. And, perhaps just as important as the connectivity within the lab, is connectivity to other research institutes in Quebec, including <a href="https://www.ulaval.ca/en" target="_blank">Université Laval</a>, <a href="https://www.usherbrooke.ca/about/" target="_blank">Université de Sherbrooke</a> and <a href="https://www.etsmtl.ca/en" target="_blank">École de Technologié Supérieure</a> (ÉTS). All of those institutes are working with similar mini-factories, and they’re all connected. There’s even a relationship (and connectivity) with manipulator manufacturer <a href="https://www.kinovarobotics.com/" target="_blank">Kinova</a>. Funding came via a significant grant from the <a href="https://www.innovation.ca/" target="_blank">Canada Foundation for Innovation</a>, or CFI.“So think of our lab as like one node of this network of mini-factories around Quebec,” explains Dr. Birglen. That connectivity of all components is still a work-in-progress, but “ultimately the goal is that there is a cyber-connection between these different mini-factories, these different laboratories around Quebec, so that one part of one node can work in collaboration with another node in realtime.”Plus, of course, a lot of learnings will take place within the individual labs themselves.“We want to bring collaborative robots to work in tandem with humans,” he says. “We want our robots to safely move around people, we want robots to help people. And we also want robots to learn how to work from people.”&nbsp;<h3>Safety, Safety, Safety</h3>As mentioned earlier, there’s a huge emphasis on safety. And while there are international safety standards for collaborative robots, even a ‘safe’ cobot can pose a threat.“All the collaborative robots that you have currently on the market more or less follow this technical standard and they are more or less safe, but they’re still dangerous,” explains Dr. Birglen. “And the classical example that we’ve all heard, and which is true, is that if a safe cobot has a knife in its hand and is moving around – it is very dangerous.”So safety in the lab(s) is paramount – and that means safety at multiple levels. There must be safety:<ul><li>At the task level; you must not have tasks that could endanger people</li><li>Safety at the control level</li><li>Safety in terms of collision detection, mitigation, obstacle avoidance</li><li>Safety at the data security level</li></ul>Plus – and this really interests Dr. Birglen – you must ensure safety with any additional mechanical innovations that are introduced.“What you develop, any mechanical system you develop, must be as much as possible intrinsically safe. And actually that’s one of the topics I’m currently working on is to develop end effectors and tooling that is intrinsically safe.”<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7186438904722472960" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A LinkedIn post from Luke Corbeth shows Rosie, using both arms, inside the I-CPS lab</a><h3> </h3><h3 id="isPasted">The Future&nbsp;</h3>And why is research like this so important? What difference will it make to have robots and humans working safely together, with safe manipulators and end effectors that might even be able to, for example, lift an object in concert with a human being? And why the focus on interconnectedness between all of these facilities?Well, there’s obviously the value of the research itself – which will lead to greater efficiencies, improved manipulators, gripping technologies, new algorithms and AI enhancements – as well as enhanced safety down the road. But there’s a much bigger picture, says Dr. Birglen, especially if you can get your head around thinking about the future from a global perspective.China, he says, is no longer a developing nation. The days when the words “Made in China” meant poor quality are – with rare exceptions – gone. The country is, in fact, highly developed – and working at breakneck speed when it comes to innovation and adoption of robotics at scale. A revolution is underway that has massive implications for competitive advantage that simply cannot be ignored. So the research at &nbsp;I-CPS is not merely important from an academic perspective, it’s strategic when viewed through a global economic lens.“We as a country – meaning Canada – are in competition with other countries for manufacturing, for producing goods and services.&nbsp;China is a developed country and it is very, very, very good in robotics,” he states. “You know how in the past&nbsp;we saw China as producing low quality goods, low quality robots? That’s over, man. That’s finished.”And?“If they are investing in robotics like mad and we are not, we’re going to be a leftover –&nbsp;Canada is going to sink as a rich country. If you want to produce wealth in the 21st Century, you need robots, you need automation, you need integration. In short, you need to be the leader of the pack or you’re going to be eaten.”It’s a stark warning – and it’s true.I step outside as author and state this having lived in China back when it was still a developing country in the late 1980s – and having returned several times since then. The transformation has been nothing short of astonishing. How, you might ask, did it achieve all this?The answer has its genesis with former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. who led the country from 1978 to 1989. He didn’t merely open the door to reform; he created policies that began sending waves of students from what had been a xenophobic country abroad to study. There was an emphasis on careers that could help modernise the nation, including all aspects of engineering, aerospace, construction, transportation, architecture, etc. That’s where all this began.Thankfully (and with credit to federal funding agencies like CFI), there are projects like I-CPS underway – and academics like Dr. Lionel Birglen with the vision to push the needle safely forward.Below: “Baxter” – the original dual-arm robot. Baxter is still at Polytechnique Montréal, but Rosie is the mobile future. Photo by Luke Corbeth<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728403885667-Image-22.jpeg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Baxter"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1728403913708-Rosie.png.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Rosie Details"><h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take&nbsp;</h3>We’re obviously pleased Polytechnique Montréal selected InDro to build Rosie. And we’re particularly pleased to see that she’s being deployed at I-CPS, as part of an integrated and networked research project that has such potentially profound implications for the future.“I believe Dr. Birglen is correct in his assessment of the importance of robotics and automation in the future,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “And when you throw innovations with drones and even autonomous Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles capable of carrying large cargo loads and passengers into the mix, we are actually heading into a Jetsons-like future,” he adds.“I think there’s a growing understanding of the implications of this kind of future from not only the private sector, but also federal regulators and funding agencies. At InDro our mission will always focus on continued innovation. Sometimes those innovations are our own inventions, but a key piece of the puzzle is R&amp;D work carried out by academics like Lionel Birglen. We’re confident that Rosie’s arms are in the right hands.”Interested in learning more about a custom robotics solution? Feel free to <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank">contact us here</a>.

Rosie is a dual arm mobile manipulation robot designed for pick and place in an industry 4.0 setting.

Dual Manipulator Rosie The Robot Used for Industry 4.0 Research

WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

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WayKen Rapid Manufacturing Limited-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

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All Digital Additive Manufacturing-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

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Blueprint Lab-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Blueprint Lab-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Blueprint Lab-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Blueprint Lab-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

FLIR-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

FLIR-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

FLIR-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

FLIR-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

FLIR-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Voltera

Cloud Ground Control-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Cloud Ground Control-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Cloud Ground Control-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Cloud Ground Control-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Cloud Ground Control-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Machina Labs-Fri Jun 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Machina Labs-Mon Jul 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Machina Labs-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Machina Labs-Thu Aug 31 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0200 (Central European Summer Time)

Machina Labs-Sat Sep 30 2023 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Introduction

Sensing Technologies

Thinking and Learning

EDGE and RTOS

Communication and Connectivity

Security

Tech Stack

Examining the latest developments in self-driving vehicles.

Autonomous Vehicle Technology Report

Manufacturing Machines

Understanding the theoretical principles, real-life implementations, maintenance, and  preventive measures for open and closed circuits and navigating the differences between open circuit vs short circuit

Open Circuit vs Short Circuit: Core Differences between Open and Closed Circuit

Hipot Electrical Testing of an Oil-immersed Transformer

This article explores the fundamentals, advantages, and practical uses of Hipot testing, emphasizing its role in electrical safety and reliability, alongside recent advancements and the challenges faced by engineers. 

Hipot Test: Ensuring Electrical Safety and Reliability

A guide that elaborates the types and applications of electrical testing, evolution of testing methods, technological advancements and the challenges associated with electrical testing with the growing industrial demands.

Electrical Testing: Comprehensive Guide for Engineering Professionals

Fig 1 - Printed Circuit Board Chips and Radio Components

Unveiling the Duel of Digital Design - A Comprehensive Exploration of History, Syntax, and Applications of the two popular hardware description languages

Verilog vs VHDL: A Comprehensive Comparison

Safety precautions like 3D printer enclosures can enhance the efficiency of air filters.

In this article, we look at the importance of using a 3D printer air filter to remove potentially harmful fumes from the print environment, as well as the different kinds of filter available and how to ensure proper maintenance.

Your Guide to Using and Maintaining 3D Printer Air Filters

In this article, we will dive deep into the world of simultaneous localization and mapping using Lidar technology. Lidar SLAM has been gaining popularity in recent years, thanks to its versatility and applications across various domains, including autonomous vehicles, mobile robotics, and indoor mapping.

Lidar SLAM: The Ultimate Guide to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping

Manufacturing Machines

Autonomous Vehicle Technology Report

Introduction

1. Sensing Technologies

2. Thinking and Learning

3. EDGE and RTOS

4. Communication and Connectivity

5. Security

6. Tech Stack

Profiles