Looks at Amadeus (advanced manipulator for deep underwater systems) which is an international subsea manipulator project, funded by the European Community Marine Science and Technology Research Programme. The object is to improve the sampling and manipulation capabilities of underwater systems,...

Describes the current research into vision‐based control of remotely controlled vehicles. The research at Robotics and Mechatronics Research Laboratory (RMRL), Monash University, Australia, aims to establish the foundation for future studies in control actions on levers and joysticks for...

Reports on a study organized by leading robotics organizations and sponsored by the DTI to review various sectors where the UK can develop a world‐class industry, namely: hazardous environments; transportation and services; construction; medical and pharmaceutical; food industry; agriculture...

The British Association for Robotics and Automation (BRA) has announced the 1996 statistics on the installation of robots in the UK. The report reveals that it was a record year surpassing the previous best in 1994. It is also forecasting an even larger market in 1997. The report compares the UK...

Explains that the first robotics commercialization project of the National Robotics Engineering Consortium (USA) is Demeter, the first unmanned, fully automated windrower. Describes how lunar rover and terrestrial military vehicle technology is combined to define two core technologies for mobile...

Reports on an aggressive project to develop an advanced, automated welding system, being completed at Babcock & Wilcox, CIM Systems. This system, the programmable automated welding system (PAWS), involves the integration of both planning and control technologies to address the needs of small...

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers celebrated its 150th anniversary in a symposium on 7‐8 July at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London. Its theme was “Visions of the Future ‐ improving the quality of life through technology”, and many senior speakers were invited from...

Describes the design and construction of TROWEL ‐ a test bed for experimental agricultural vehicles. The vehicle will be used to explore ways of increasing the productivity of expensive agricultural mobile machinery by taking over some of the tasks of the operator, allowing him to drive faster...

Explains how the Tracminer project aimed to provide a robust, low cost device to be mounted as an accessory on the motorized wheels of traction machines, in order to increase grip on loose soils. The main goal was to provide a device increasing by 30‐40 per cent the traction capacity of the...

Presents a summary of research which is currently being conducted at Monash University ‐ Gippsland Campus. The research aims at the automation of coal harvesting at a major Australian open cut mine. This mine is located at Morwell, Victoria and produces brown coal (lignite). The coal from this...