What's cooler flying drones? Intelligent underwater robots!

While high-flying drone vehicles have been in the news quite a lot this year, a new generation of stealthy underwater drones have gone through an amazing evolution. Underwater robots, also known as Unmanned Underwater Vehicles or UUVs, have been around for a while. UUVs are basically any vehicle that's able to operate underwater without a human on board. Some UUVs need a human to directly control them, and are aptly named Remotely Operated underwater Vehicles or ROVs. However, a new generation of intelligent unmanned underwater vehicles are now available. Known as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles or AUVs, and they have allowed us to  explore the mysteries under the sea, as no other underwater technology to date.

The use of hand-held wands for individual screening, walk-through metal detectors, full-body scanners, and baggage X-ray machines, are familiar to anyone who has flown on an airplane in the past decade. Modern airports use these security devices to keep travelers safe from external threats, but how safe are the methods they use? Do modern airport security methods pose a health concern? The following is an overview of current security screening technologies, how they work, and what sort of health issues they might cause.

With packages of all sizes, shapes, and weights moving along your conveyor system daily, "log jams" are bound to occur. Often employees have to resort to "makeshift" jam break poles, or whatever is within arm's reach, to unjam conveyors. Unfortunately, when employees use these sorts of bent metal makeshift conveyor jam-up tools, safety issues or product damage can often result. Whether your company moves hundreds (or millions) of products each day, product damage or downtime due to these package jams can mean the difference between success and failure for your operation. 

Great strides are being made introducing various composite materials for Industrial and Marine applications.  Composites are radically changing the cost/performance curve in the development of new products.

The Design Challenge

Globe Composite Solutions was recently contacted by an international company that was developing a new generation of outboard marine engines to fulfill the emerging global demand for energy-efficient engines. Their new engine required greater cooling capacity than typical outboard engines. In addition, the manufacturer was under a tight timeline to come up with a cost-effective solution. Globe Composite is well known for designing and manufacturing composite components that can withstand adverse operating conditions. Globe’s 30+ years of experience in providing components for pump applications was particularly relevant to address this challenge.   

Whether your company moves thousands or millions of packages, operational inefficiencies, product damage or downtime can mean the difference between success and failure.

Globe's engineering team noticed that distribution centers were using bent metal makeshift tools to unjam packages on conveyor systems. Sometimes the bent metal ends were welded or fastened and the sharp edges of the tool punctured the package or damaged the product. These makeshift tools aren’t easy to repair, causes product damage and are not safe for package handlers or employees. 

In any parcel or distribution facility, there are several pieces of equipment that are critical to operations. Tilt-tray sorters, diverter arms, actuators, and conveyance components all keep business operations running smoothly. Packing and shipping tools, such as palletizers, trailers, and trucks, play an integral role in the efficient movement of parcels. Unfortunately, each of these critical tools can experience issues that disrupt performance.

Downtime can be costly and disrupt the flow of your whole enterprise. There is nothing more frustrating than watching an essential piece of equipment sit idle. Are these frustrations just a part of the job, or is there something you can do to minimize unscheduled downtime?

As we explored in our recent blog, the industry standard for radiation shielding in X-Ray and C/T scanners is lead-based materials. Any individual responsible for producing, using, maintaining, handling or disposing of lead-based materials and products is at risk. With a better understanding of the debilitating (and potentially fatal) effects of lead exposure, many industries have moved towards lead-free or RoHS compliant materials.

For decades, lead has been considered the paradigm in radiation shielding. The material is cheap, easy to process, and provides durable shielding. Yet, there has been an overwhelming increase in health, safety, and environmental concerns over the mining, processing, handling, and disposal of lead. In fact, lead has already banned from use in many applications, such as motor fuels, paint, and water pipes. If this is any indication, the cessation of lead will continue to spread across industries.

According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, over two million individuals are injured and 32,000 are killed each year in motor vehicle accidents. As an employee of or contractor for the Department of Transportation, you have a critical responsibility to guide the flow of traffic, reduce congestion, and ultimately create a safer transportation environment for drivers. Even if you’re an owner of a large parking area at an airport, shopping mall or entertainment venue, managing and controlling traffic is essential.