This paper aims to provide details of a number of recent and significant agricultural robot research and development activities.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide details of a number of recent and significant agricultural robot research and development activities.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this first provides a brief overview of agricultural robot research. It then discusses a number of specific activities involving robots for precision weed control and fertiliser application. A selection of harvesting robots and allied technological developments is then considered and is followed by concluding comments.
Findings
Agricultural robots are the topic of an extensive research and development effort. Several autonomous robots aimed at precision weed control and fertiliser application have reached the pre-production stage. Equally, harvesting robots are at an advanced stage of development. Both classes exploit state-of-the-art machine vision and image processing technologies which are the topic of a major research effort. These developments will contribute to the forecasted rapid growth in the agricultural robot markets during the next decade.
Originality/value
Robots are expected to play a significant role in meeting the ever increasing demand for food, and this paper provides details of some recent agricultural robot research and development activities.
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Keywords
This paper aims to provide details of miniaturised analytical instrument technologies and developments.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide details of miniaturised analytical instrument technologies and developments.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction and historical background, this first considers miniaturised chromatographs and spectrometers based on micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)/micro total analytical system technologies. It then discusses lab-on-a-chip developments with an emphasis on capillary electrophoresis. Developments in the emerging lab-on-paper technology are then considered and are followed by brief concluding comments.
Findings
This shows that many classes of analytical instruments which offer a number of operational and economic benefits have been miniaturised through the use of microfabrication and other technologies. They are an active field of research and are based on silicon, glass, polymers and even paper and are underpinned by developments in microfluidics and optofluidics and fabrication techniques which include lithography, MEMS and micro-opto-electromechanical system.
Originality/value
This provides an insight into the rapidly developing field of miniaturised analytical instrument technologies.
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Keywords
This paper aims to provide details of recent commercial and academic developments in flexible and soft grippers and considers their impact on emerging robotic markets.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide details of recent commercial and academic developments in flexible and soft grippers and considers their impact on emerging robotic markets.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this paper first considers commercially available anthropomorphic robotic hands and soft grippers. It then discusses a selection of recent research activities and concludes with a brief discussion of the potential of these developments.
Findings
Anthropomorphic robotic hands, which seek to mimic the structure and capabilities of the human hand, together with a technologically diverse family of soft grippers have recently have been commercialised. Most are produced by companies which spun-out from academic establishments. A strong body of innovative research continues and involves a wide range of principles and technologies. These gripping technologies are expected to catalyse several new and emerging applications; the most important being in agile manufacturing, particularly when used with collaborative robots (cobots).
Originality/value
This paper provides details of recent developments and research into anthropomorphic hands and soft grippers and an insight into their applications.
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Keywords
This paper aims to provide details of underwater robot technology and its applications.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide details of underwater robot technology and its applications.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this article first discusses remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology and applications and then considers their use in the emerging field of deep-sea mining. It then discusses autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology and its applications, including sub-sea gliders. Finally, brief concluding comments are drawn.
Findings
ROVs were first developed in the 1950s for military applications. They are now widely used by the offshore oil and gas sector and other industries and are being developed for deep-sea mining. AUV technology has progressed rapidly in recent years and AUVs, including sub-sea gliders, are now emerging from their original role in oceanographic research and finding growing uses in the defence and offshore energy sectors.
Originality/value
This provides a detailed insight into underwater robot technologies, products and applications.
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Keywords
This study aims to provide a technical insight into sensors fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing methods.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a technical insight into sensors fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing methods.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction to 3D printing, this article first discusses printed sensors for strain and allied variables, based on a diverse range of principles and materials. It then considers ultrasonic and acoustic sensor developments and provides details of a sensor based on 3D printed electronic components for monitoring food quality in real-time. Finally, brief concluding comments are drawn.
Findings
Several variants of the 3D printing technique have been used in the fabrication of a range of sensors based on many different operating principles. These exhibit good performance and sometimes unique characteristics. A key benefit is the ability to overcome the limitations of conventional manufacturing techniques by creating complex shapes from a wide range of sensing materials.
Originality/value
3D printing is a new and potentially important sensor fabrication technology, and this article provides details of a range of recently reported developments.
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Keywords
This paper aims to provide details of MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) sensors produced from materials other than silicon.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide details of MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) sensors produced from materials other than silicon.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a short introduction, this first considers reasons for using alternatives to silicon. It then discusses MEMS sensor products and research involving sapphire, quartz, silicon carbide and aluminium nitride. It then considers polymer and paper MEMS sensor developments and concludes with a brief discussion.
Findings
MEMS sensors based on the “hard” materials are well-suited to very-high-temperature- and precision-sensing applications. Some have been commercialised and there is a strong, on-going body of research. Polymer MEMS sensors are attracting great interest from the research community and have the potential to yield devices for both physical and molecular sensing that are inexpensive and simple to fabricate. The prospects for paper MEMS remain unclear but the technology may ultimately find uses in ultra-low-cost sensing of low-magnitude mechanical variables.
Originality/value
This provides a technical insight into the increasingly important role played by MEMS sensors fabricated from materials other than silicon.
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Keywords
This paper aims to provide an overview of robots presently in use by the military and an insight into some that are under development.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an overview of robots presently in use by the military and an insight into some that are under development.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a short introduction, this paper first considers existing applications of robots in the military field, including details of Russian weaponised ground robots. It then highlights a range of military robot developments and concludes with a brief discussion.
Findings
Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) and small unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are among the most widely used robots by the military. Russia is developing a growing armoury of heavily weaponised UGVs, some of which were recently deployed in Syria. Some topics of development include humanoid robots, powered exoskeletons, load-carrying robots, micro-air vehicles and autonomous land vehicles. Robots will play an ever-growing role in military actions, and while some developments offer longer-term prospects, others are expected to be deployed in the near future.
Originality/value
Robots are playing an increasingly important role in military conflicts, and this provides details of present-day and anticipated future uses of robots by the military.
This paper aims to illustrate how the growth in e-commerce has catalysed innovative developments in robots for use in warehouses.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to illustrate how the growth in e-commerce has catalysed innovative developments in robots for use in warehouses.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a brief introduction to e-commerce and warehouse robots, this first paper discusses Amazon’s involvement with robotic technology. It then considers the community of recently founded companies manufacturing warehouse robots, together with details of their products. The paper concludes with a short discussion.
Findings
Amazon pioneered the use of robotics in its e-commerce warehouses with Kiva robots. It acquired the company in 2012, renaming it Amazon Robotics, and withdrew the products from open sale, triggering a boom in development activity to fill the gap in the market. Many companies in the USA, Europe and Asia have since been set up to exploit this opportunity and now manufacture robots for use in fulfilment centres around the world. While several products resemble the Kiva robots, others are more sophisticated and feature capabilities such as shelf picking and autonomous navigation. In the longer term, it is anticipated that functions such as product packing will also be conducted by robots, leading to fully automated fulfilment centres.
Originality/value
This paper discusses the recent and dramatic upsurge in the development of robots for use in warehouses, particularly those serving the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.
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Keywords
– This paper aims to provide a European perspective on the collaborative robot business and to consider the factors governing future market development.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a European perspective on the collaborative robot business and to consider the factors governing future market development.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this first describes the collaborative robots launched recently by European manufacturers and their applications. It then discusses major European research activities and finally considers the factors stimulating the market.
Findings
This article shows that collaborative robots are being commercialised by the major European robot manufacturers as well as by several smaller specialists. Although most have low payload capacities they are inexpensive and offer a number of operational benefits, making them well suited to a range of existing and emerging applications. Europe has a strong research base and several EU-funded programmes aim to stimulate collaborative robot development and use. Rapid market development is anticipated, driven in the main by applications in electronic product manufacture and assembly; new applications in the automotive industry; uses by small to medium-sized manufacturers; and companies seeking robots to support agile production methods.
Originality/value
This paper provides a timely review of the rapidly developing European collaborative robot industry.
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– This article aims to provide an insight into recent deliberations on the possibility of a global sensor market reaching one trillion units per annum within the next decade.
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to provide an insight into recent deliberations on the possibility of a global sensor market reaching one trillion units per annum within the next decade.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, which includes details of the TSensors Summit, this article discusses existing high volume sensor applications with multi-billion unit growth prospects. It then considers certain new and emerging applications, including the Internet of Things. This is followed by technological considerations and a brief discussion.
Findings
The possibility of a global sensor market reaching one trillion units per annum within the next decade is the topic of serious debate. Several applications representing multi-billion levels have been identified and the ongoing TSensors Summit activities seek to identify further high volume, high growth uses and the factors that will stimulate them. While MEMS will play a central role, other, often new sensor technologies will be vital to achieving the trillion unit level.
Originality/value
This article provides a timely review of recent deliberations surrounding the feasibility of achieving a global, trillion sensor market.