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Compact servo drives for harsh environs

Built on Copley's proven NanoPlus platform, the compact, 1.2-oz R-Series Nano servo drives withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and humidity. Available in R47 (CANopen) and R48 (EtherCAT) models, they suit space-constrained, harsh environments such as mil/aero robotics and gimbals. This commercial off-the-shelf series provides a hardened option without defense-specific development lead times.
Learn more from Copley Controls.

Hybrid actuator with force up to 14,726 lb

Kyntronics' new all-electric HyCore hybrid actuator is a compact, low-cost alternative to traditional hydraulic, pneumatic, and electro-mechanical systems. Engineered for OEMs, it delivers up to 14,726 lb of force. The self-contained design eliminates leaks and wear, providing precise control, shock-load tolerance, and high efficiency. It simplifies integration and lowers operating costs for mobile equipment, packaging, assembly automation, and more.
Learn more.

SDP/SI motion products: Best sellers

SDP/SI's best sellers aren't just popular -- they're proven. These are the motion components their customers return to time and again for precision, reliability, and unbeatable value. From belts and pulleys to gears, bearings, and couplings, each product has earned its place through consistent performance in real-world applications.
Learn more and see the full products list.

Automated part grinding and finishing in one unit!

Grinding large fabrications is a classic dull, dirty, and dangerous task perfectly suited for automation, yet traditional setups require multiple costly robots. At Automate 2026, Güdel debuted a single-robot solution that utilizes two extra degrees of freedom to finish massive surfaces without complex part repositioning.
Read the full article.

Rockford RBS ball screws and nuts now available

Automation-Direct now offers US-manufactured RBS ball screws and nuts for precise linear motion in OEM and maintenance applications. Achieving over 90% efficiency, they feature low friction, high accuracy, and minimal wear. Available in various diameters, lengths, and leads, these precision-matched components handle axial loads with minimal backlash, providing a dependable solution that reduces maintenance and extends operational life. Great prices too.
Learn more.

Next-gen conveyor transports 3,000-kg payloads

Building on its established portfolio of twin-strand conveyors that are currently used in a variety of industry verticals, Bosch Rexroth is introducing the TS 7plus transfer system, which is the world's first freely configurable, fully electric conveyance solution to workpieces weighing up to 3,000 kg. TS 7plus transports material via conveyor rollers on freely configurable modular sections with lift/transverse, rotary, and positioning units, as well as stop gates. Great for automotive, battery, aerospace/defense, and more.
Learn more.

Next-generation air bearing linear slide

The A-123 noncontact nanoposi-tioning stage integrates a brushless motor, air bearings, and a 1-nm encoder, supporting 40-kg payloads over 750-mm travel. Its pressurized air film eliminates the friction, wear, and vibration of mechanical stages, ensuring zero particle generation. Customizable with options such as granite bases and isolation systems, it is ideal for semiconductor metrology, inspection, photonics, and more.
Learn more.

How to implement redundancy in stepper motors

Some of the recent research activities in the area of electric motor drives for safety-critical applications (such as aerospace and nuclear power plants) are focused on looking at various fault-tolerant motor and drive topologies. After discussing different solutions, this article focuses on a miniature permanent magnet (PM) stepper motor design that provides increased redundancy.
Read this informative FAULHABER article.

Teradyne Robotics unveils a multitude of deployable AI applications at Automate 2026

Teradyne Robotics, the company behind Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), will demonstrate how physical AI is transforming industrial automation at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25 at booth #1250. The demos presented are real, deployable, and ready for purchase. They include assembly, pick-and-place, palletizing, mobile robots, and more. A lot of good new offerings here. Check it out.
Read the full article.

Affordable nanometer-level precision focus stage

Zaber Technologies has launched the DMA Objective Focus Stage, a compact, linear motor solution for microscope OEMs. Starting at $4,500 with an integrated controller, it offers 50-nm repeatability and sub-15-ms settling times -- matching piezo precision at one-third the cost. Featuring plug-and-play architecture, a developer-friendly API, and a tiny footprint, it accelerates high-throughput workflows like spatial biology and digital pathology.
Learn more.

How Ford automated a moving EV assembly line with vision-guided robots: Inbolt case study

Automating moving assembly lines is highly challenging. At Ford's Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, applying pressure to water shields on vehicle bodies required following a precise path on unsynchronized, continuously moving vehicle carriers. To automate this, Ford deployed two Universal Robots cobots equipped with Inbolt 3D cameras. Using real-time vision guidance, the robots track vehicle positions and adapt on the fly. The result? Near-zero repairs, reliable moving-line automation, and new possibilities for tasks like tightening operations.
View the video.

Inbolt launches vision-enabled Robot Programming, closing the loop from CAD to factory floor

Inbolt is launching two new capabilities that complete the company's AI Vision Model for robot guidance at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25. With Robot Programming and Robot Control, Inbolt covers the full path from virtual commissioning to adaptive robot motion control, for stationary and moving-line applications. It's one platform from perception to motion -- on the robots manufacturers already own.
Read the full article.

Top Tech Tip: How to specify electric rod-style actuators for optimal performance, reliability, and efficiency

The engineers at Tolomatic provide their Top 10 Tips for specifying electric rod-style actuators, which have a higher initial cost, more advanced design, and more predictable performance compared to fluid power cylinders. This is a really thorough presentation filled with useful information.
Read the full article.

High-precision multi-axis motion platforms

Motion Solutions delivers high-speed, high-accuracy XY scanning solutions optimized for OEM integration. These rigid, modular platforms provide stable, repeatable multi-axis motion control, ensuring faster throughput and precise positioning for advanced workflows. Ideal for automated microscopy, digital pathology, and spatial biology, the scalable design supports flexible travel lengths and custom configurations to seamlessly optimize your system.
Learn more.

What is the best palletizing option for your operation?

Is your business looking to install or upgrade a palletizing system, but you don't know where to start? Marc Giguère from Robotiq does a comprehensive run-through of options including a fully engineered system, a cobot, or a plug-and-play setup. A lot depends on your production volume, budget, available space, and need for flexibility. Systems are compared and contrasted. Fastest ROI? The best lean system? What works for high throughput? Find out these answers and more, complete with an available buyer's guide chart.
Read the Robotiq article.

GE Aerospace completes ground test of megawatt-class hybrid electric engine system

GE Aerospace has completed testing of a megawatt-class hybrid electric engine system developed through NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project, paving the way for flight tests.

The ground test was the company's first to validate the full integrated system, including GE Aerospace-developed motor/generators, power converters and inverters, controllers, Dowty propellers, Avio Aero gearboxes, and a CT7 engine. BAE Systems provided the batteries used, and Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences supplied the complete nacelle.

Megawatt-class hybrid electric engine system test stand. [Credit: Photo courtesy of GE Aeroospace]

 

 

"Step by step, we're proving hybrid electric engine technology for next-generation commercial aircraft," said Arjan Hegeman, vice president for future of flight at GE Aerospace. "This latest ground test of a complete hybrid electric powertrain positions GE Aerospace to have the technologies ready to meet customer needs for greater durability, efficiency, and range in future propulsion systems."

Throughout the test campaign at Peebles Test Operation in Ohio, teams simulated various flight phases such as taxi, takeoff, climb, and cruise. The electric powertrain helped successfully power the propeller and generated power to the battery. Flightworthy components that meet higher safety and reliability requirements than typical test hardware were used as part of GE Aerospace's efforts to mature a commercial-grade hybrid electric engine system.

This milestone follows more than a decade of testing and maturing individual components and modules.

"The ground test is a major turning point in our understanding of hybrid electric powertrains for aviation and a fundamental building block for the future," Hegeman said.

A hybrid electric engine system combines an electric powertrain with a traditional gas turbine to optimize power management during different phases of operation. Hybrid electric systems are highly compatible with different fuel types and advanced aircraft engine architectures such as Open Fan.

RISE program testing
GE Aerospace has leveraged several NASA projects to mature technologies for more electric aircraft engines through the CFM International RISE program.

Unveiled in 2021, the RISE program is one of the aviation industry's most comprehensive technology demonstrators with more than 350 tests and more than 3,000 endurance cycles completed to date, including tests on Open Fan, compact core, hybrid electric systems, and other technologies. The RISE program prioritizes safety, durability, and efficiency, targeting more than 20% better fuel burn compared to commercial engines in service today.

CFM RISE program technologies are maturing toward ground and flight tests this decade with work underway on aircraft and engine integration in collaboration with partners.

Hybrid electric experience
GE Aerospace was first awarded the NASA EPFD contract in 2021 to demonstrate flight readiness of hybrid electric technologies for single-aisle aircraft.

Several key milestones have been achieved over the last decade for hybrid electric technology development:

• 2016: An electric motor-driven propeller ground test;
• 2022: The world's first test of a megawatt-class and multi-kilovolt hybrid electric propulsion system in altitude conditions up to 45,000 ft at the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed facility that simulated single-aisle commercial flight; and
• 2025: Successfully demonstrating a narrowbody hybrid electric configuration with power transfer and injection in a modified high-bypass turbofan engine -- no energy storage required -- through the NASA HyTEC project.

A strategic partnership and equity investment announced in 2025 with BETA Technologies to accelerate hybrid electric aviation includes plans to co-develop a hybrid electric turbogenerator for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications.

Source: GE Aerospace

Published June 2026

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