Ivan Hernandez Dalas - Mechatronics

Humanoid robots have become an important area of research in robotics, attracting attention from universities, research institutions, and technology companies. Compared with traditional industrial robots that usually perform repetitive tasks in controlled environments, humanoid robots are designed to operate in more complex scenarios where balance, flexibility, and interaction capabilities are required. To achieve human-like movements, humanoid robots need dozens of joints working together, including joints in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. Each joint must provide accurate movement control while maintaining a compact structure and reasonable overall weight. Therefore, robotic actuators have become one of the most critical components in humanoid robot development. The Importance of Actuators in Humanoid Robot Design A robotic actuator directly affects how a robot moves, responds, and interacts with its environment. In humanoid robot systems, actuators are re...

The soft robotic model of the human heart, developed at UNSW. Credit: UNSW/Richard Freeman. UNSW researchers have developed a soft robotic model of the human heart that can mimic disease and provide a realistic environment for testing the next generation of cardiac devices. Researchers at UNSW Sydney have developed a fully synthetic soft robotic heart that reproduces the complex movements and internal structures of the human heart, opening the door to better treatments, safer medical devices and more personalised care. Published in Nature Communications and Advanced Science , the research introduces a beating model of the left side of the heart that includes artificial valves, papillary muscles and chordae tendineae – structures that are critical to healthy heart function and are frequently affected by disease. The device is able to accurately reproduce the process in a real heart where cardiac valves leak and blood flows backwards, which increases the risk of heart failure and ot...

Kraken has developed modular maritime platforms for defense use. Source: Kraken Technology Autonomous vehicles are proliferating, particularly in maritime and defense applications. Kraken Technology Group Ltd. this month raised $175 million in Series B funding to reach a valuation of $1 billion. Digital Transformation Capital Partners GmbH, or DTCP, led the investment. “Kraken is excited to be partnering with DTCP, leading such a prestigious group of European and international investors,” stated Mal Crease, founder and CEO of Kraken Technology. “This significant funding round will accelerate Kraken’s global rollout, enabling the deployment of hardened, reliable, mission-ready capabilities for NATO and its worldwide partners at an unprecedented scale in the maritime domain.” With a background in racing, Kraken builds autonomous maritime platforms including the K3 SCOUT modular uncrewed surface vessel (USV), the K4 MANTA stealthy uncrewed subsurface vessel (USS...

NORD Drivesystems’ NORDAC PRO VFD series. | Source: NORD Drivesystems NORD Drivesystems recently expanded its NORDAC PRO SK 500P VFD series. Now, the company’s NORDAC VFDs reach powers up to 200 hp with multi-protocol Ethernet interfaces, integrated functional safety, and wireless diagnostics. NORD described its variable frequency drives as control cabinet systems that can handle a broad range of applications with scalable functionality, versatility, and maximum connectivity. With the addition of four new frame sizes, bringing the total to 10, the product line now covers a performance range of 0.33 – 200.0 hp, further expanding the capabilities of the NORDAC PRO series. The VFD’s compact, book-size design enables side-by-side installation without gaps, said the company. This makes it easier to integrate it into the cabinet and reduce volume, installation space, and costs. NORD Drivesystems offers a comprehensive range of mechanical and electronic systems for indus...

Magmotor provides systems for a range of applications, including industrial robotics. Source: Magmotor Magmotor Technologies Inc., originally founded in 1876 under the name Kendrick and Davis, or K&D, in Lebanon, N.H., has been quietly manufacturing custom AC and DC fan motors. In its 102nd year, Herbert Peterson bought the business , changed its name to K&D Magmotor , and relocated its offices to Worcester, Mass. Now in its sesquicentennial year, Magmotor is planning a major expansion that it said will triple its income and its number of employees. Production manager Jamie Willigar has been with the enterprise for 21 years; senior mechanical design engineer Scott Cerra is nearing his 20th anniversary on the job; and fellow production team members have over 25 years with the company. Many of Magmotor ’s customers – in such industries as aerospace , defense , and high-tech – have been just as loyal. The company noted that many of its products have lasted 15 to 20 years wit...

Johnson & Johnson’s Ottava surgical robot has four robotic arms that come out from underneath the operating table. Photo credit: Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson MedTech unveiled its long-awaited Ottava surgical robot after  winning FDA de novo authorization . It’s the world’s first table-integrated, soft-tissue robotics system. The robot-in-table design is meant to save space in the operating room, with J&J saying its n ovel architecture takes up 30-50% less space than boom-and-cart systems. “Ottava’s robotic arms are built directly into the operating table and can be tucked beneath it when not in use, reducing friction and opening space to support clinical workflow,” the company says. “Software, motors and sensors coordinate the system’s four robotic arms, allowing Ottava to move into predefined procedural positions at the push of a button,” the company continued. “By automating portions of setup and breakdown, the system is designed to save time, sim...