Guest experience is quickly becoming an increasingly important factor in the hotel world, with decisions being made on where to stay based on service and reliability. To aid with this, service robots are being introduced. But, while hoteliers are open to adopting new technologies to enhance guest experience, safety devices are often neglected.
When the word “robot” is mentioned, most people think about old sci-fi depictions like droids in Star Wars or Cybermen in Dr Who; where actors hid inside shiny, light covered costumes. Back then, little more than metallic spray-paint and a ring-modulated audio track was enough to create a robotic superstar, but today’s world is filled with genuine robotic celebrities.
Since 2019, a Formula 1 rule states that the fastest lap winner of each race gains a bonus point, encouraging drivers to get to the finish line sooner every lap.
'Dead batteries caused 24% of all smoke alarm failures in 2015', which means that Fire Protection Groups and Fire Departments must be cautious when it comes to battery selection. Many factors must be considered, from high performance to longevity.
Films about fictitious shrinking devices - like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Despicable Me - have captured the imagination of audiences for many years. So imagine the excitement in 2011 when Chinese engineers claimed to have made the world’s first shrinking device. While it may sound like it came from a film, the device only created the illusion of a smaller object, rather than actually shrinking it.
It is hard to imagine life without the 9V battery. It has powered so many household and industrial devices for over six decades that it can easily be taken for granted. Yet Ultralife Corporation are still manufacturing these power houses after more than a quarter of a century; phenomenal considering the rate of scientific and technological change.
Did you know that the lead acid battery is over 160 years old? Since its invention, there have been many improved variations such as the first sealed, or maintenance-free, lead acid (SLA) that was introduced in the mid-1970s. However, in 1996, an alternative chemistry – Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) – was introduced that can serve the same applications with significant advantages. Ultralife Corporation developed a full range of batteries using this chemistry to provide OEMs with a lower cost, reduced weight and easier-to-integrate option. Here we explore these advantages and introduce the newest member of the Ultralife LiFePO4 family.
In October 2020, the U.S. Postal Service implemented a temporary price increase due to the heightened number of online shopping packages being delivered in the run up to the holidays. No surprise, as a heady combination of national pandemic restrictions and ever-expanding e-retail dreadnaughts like Amazon are setting us up for a Christmas of video calls and deliveries. It’s perfect timing then that the smart doorbell has skyrocketed in popularity.
Effective decontamination and sterilization of hospital wards and bathrooms is essential in reducing the risk of cross infection. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we consider that there are just 20 critical care beds per 100,000 people in the US. Here, we explore the vital role robotics play in sterilization and what to consider when choosing a power supply.
Robots for military, medical, surveillance and logistics purposes are all assisting humans by undertaking dangerous or monotonous tasks but can still have very different power needs, based on the legislations they are subject to and their reliance on battery power. Here we examine the vital functionalities of bomb disposal robots, drones, surgical robotics and logistics robots that can influence the power solutions they require.
