Applied Technology Review : News

New VSN visual guidance system navigates rows while monitoring spraying operations across a range of crop stages.  Raven Industries, a precision agriculture company, is dedicated to providing innovative, high-value products and solutions to reduce operating costs and improve yields. The company is expanding its class-leading product line lending hands to the ag retailers and growers to boost their efficiency and profits. The new VSN visual guidance system monitors the spraying operations to deliver higher profits through superior application efficiency and improved yield. It uses the state-of-the-art image sensor and processing technologies that focus on the essential aspects of spraying operation. “We’re excited to announce the new VSN visual guidance system," said Brian Meyer, Vice President and General Manager of Raven Applied Technology. “It seamlessly integrates into our complete system solution and makes application on a variety of crops easier than it has ever been before. In these challenging times, ag retailers need to look for innovative ways to enhance efficiency and profitability, as they are consistently being asked to cover more ground in less time without sacrificing application quality. VSN is helping retailers maintain a high level of application accuracy and efficacy across all of their acres.” Check Out This : Retail Business Review VSN utilizes a non-contact stereo vision camera to navigate rows while preventing more crop damage and covering more acres each day. It maintains row guidance at industry required spraying speeds exceeding 20 mph. The operation is simple and replaces mechanical feelers while providing best-in-class guidance portfolio from the time when crops are just a few inches post-emerge up to a nearly full canopy. The versatile system has been tested for use in corn, cotton, sorghum and soya beans followed by other applications. “I was surprised it was so simple,” says Jason Bolsen, operator/applicator for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Cerra Gordo, IL, when asked about his experience with using the VSN Visual Guidance System. “It was effortless. You pulled into a row and went five feet, hit the button and pretty much didn’t worry about it until you got to the other end.” Bolsen, a 24-year veteran of row cropping, says the VSN system is a major improvement. “This is huge for row cropping; it’s just as big of a jump as was the plain [GPS-guided] system was when it came out,” he continues. “It’s so much easier on the operator. At the end of the day, you’re not as fatigued, and you can pay more attention to your tips and obstacles in the field. It helps you keep your boom out of the dirt and your equipment off the crop.” Reducing the possibility of crop damage takes away a huge amount of stress for the operator, and it will please farmers, as well. Bolsen says his manager got a call from a grower who didn’t think Bolsen had sprayed his field that day because nothing was damaged. Bolson has already recommended that his manager purchase the system for all the operators. “To have a system work and drive down the row for you this nice is just great,” he concluded. “It made my life this summer so much easier.” ...Read more

Robotics-as-a-service” is a paradigm in which clients acquire automation on an “as-needed” basis. This could be monthly price or usage-based pricing. Upfront expenditures are often minor or non-existent. " Robotics-as-a-service"(RaaS) is a business concept in which clients acquire automation "as-needed." This could be a monthly fee or a usage-based fee. Typically, upfront costs are low or non-existent. Contract durations are adjustable, allowing businesses to utilize the technology for as long as they require it. Throughout the contract, the provider is responsible for servicing and upgrades. The advantages of this strategy include increased flexibility, immediate scalability, zero risks, and complete predictability of operational expenses at the bottom line. Perhaps most crucially, RaaS can save money from day one, in contrast to significant capital investments, which might take years to get a good return on investment. The RaaS concept is critical as manufacturers scramble to automate essential processes in response to historic labor scarcity, rising wages, and increased global competitiveness. Automation is no longer a "nice to have," but a "need to have" for many manufacturers. Automation will play a significant role in American reshoring initiatives. Still, for all parts of the manufacturing market to benefit, the implementation process must be made more accessible and more flexible than it is today. What manufacturing industry difficulties is RaaS addressing? There are five primary hurdles to automation that manufacturers repeatedly cite: Capital: manufacturers typically lack the funds necessary for substantial capital expenditures. Time: Manufacturers do not have the time to manage the complex process of purchasing and deploying automation technology. Expertise: No amount of in-house expertise can convince manufacturers to forego automation. Uncertainty: it's difficult for manufacturers to justify automation equipment purchases without a multi-year forecast of their production processes and requirements. Risk: Owning automation equipment entails a risk of failure, which can include unexpected maintenance costs or, worse, a robot that becomes inoperable owing to a change in production processes. The conventional approach to procuring and installing automation works rather well for significant enterprises with a wealth of in-house expertise and capital. When smaller and mid-sized manufacturers consider automating, they often encounter one or more of the aforementioned barriers to entry. What qualifies a business as a suitable fit for RaaS? RaaS is an excellent fit for businesses that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: Struggling to recruit and retain qualified staff Have insufficient funds on hand to invest in automation advances (or, perhaps capital is available, but budgeting for large outlays is too lengthy a process) Lack of in-house knowledge in robotics Time is of the essence Want to reduce OpEx costs Lack of clarity around future production requirements and desire flexibility Risk-averse and seeking complete transparency and assurance on their bottom line   ...Read more

Robotics is being used in pharmaceutical companies to keep up with the rapid technological advancement and enhance pharmaceutical processes. The pharmaceutical sector has seen significant transformations in recent years. Pharmaceutical firms are currently adopting robots at a higher rate than any other industry. Companies have had to alter their procedures to keep up with the rapid pace of the world. Pharmaceutical businesses are embracing robots as one of their primary technologies to stay ahead of the curve. According to a recent survey, the pharmaceutical industry is now growing faster than other industries. Here are six ways robots can be utilized in pharmaceutical companies: Pick and drop Pick and drop, as the name implies, entails shifting objects from one location to another. This could include transporting products from a conveyor to a work area, sorting things for further processing, or any other operation of a similar nature.  Sorting medication bottles, positioning syringes for packaging, and removing defective products during an inspection are all examples of pick and drop jobs. Inspection In any business, inspection is a complex process, and the consequences of inconsistency in inspection could be disastrous for a pharmaceutical company. Robots are an excellent approach to increase inspection work consistency. Bottle capping Capping bottles is an established and tested robotic application in various pharmaceutical businesses. Capping bottles with a robot can be a faster, more reliable operation with the correct robot, end effector, and sensor. Dispensing People don't typically think of dispensing as work that a robot could accomplish. On the other hand, Robotic dispensing is employed in a variety of applications, ranging from glue to food preparation. The dispensing tool is either attached to the robot or moves containers underneath a dispensing machine. Machine tending In the pharmaceutical sector, there are several semi-autonomous devices. Typically, a human operator loads and unloads these. However, this is not the most efficient use of the individual's time. A robot is a far superior option for equipment maintenance, allowing people to focus on higher-value duties. Packaging Every item that leaves your establishment must be wrapped. Within a pharmaceutical company, there are frequently several options to delegate packing jobs to robots. Packing things into individual bags, loading products onto trays, and stacking boxes onto pallets are all examples of packaging tasks. See Also :  Top ERP Solution Companies In Europe ...Read more