Industrial Factory Automation

Eight of Toshiba Imaging's ultra-compact IK-HR1S high-definition cameras were recently used to film a 60-second commercial of a living-room chair as it was carried into space by a helium balloon. The balloon flights were launched from a Nevada desert and ascended to 98,268ft (18.6miles) altitude before breaking apart and falling back to earth. The IK-HR1S cameras' compact size (1.75in x 1.75in x 3in) and the HD-SDI video output capability with switchable 1080i/720p scanning options made them suitable for this project. The custom-built camera rigging had Toshiba's miniature HD cameras attached to the frame. The lightweight apparatus, with a full-sized model chair made from biodegradable balsa wood, was less than 4lb. Also attached to the rigging frame were four GPS systems to record altitude (accuracy was within 4m), longitude and latitude, and to monitor, via a computer satellite system, the location of the camera rig once it had fallen back to earth. The high-definition f...

With the increasing demand for machine device control and communication over industrial Ethernet, DeviceNet, and other networks, OEMs have found that installing traditional power supplies in distributed and remote locations has become prohibitively complex and costly because of the need for protective enclosures, fans, and excess wiring. In addition, enclosures introduce another potential point of failure into the production line. To reduce cost and complications, SolaHD has launched its new IP67 SCP-X self-sealed power supplies. They mount directly on machines or as freestanding components on a production line, removing the constraints imposed by power supplies that must be housed in enclosures. Compared to power supplies housed in a separate enclosure, the IP67 SCP-X reduces total cost of ownership by as much as 54 percent. Because the IP67 SCP-X is available in 100 watt and dual 100 watt models, it has the versatility to power from one to four loads. The 100 watt model has a s...