The two featured speakers on the first day of the National Fluid Power Association’s annual International Economic Outlook Conference, Alan Beaulieu of the Institute for Trend Research and Eli Lustgarten of ESL Consultants Inc., have earned a bit of a reputation as doomsayers to IEOC regulars. But this year, the feeling was decidedly upbeat after […]
Mobile Hydraulics Blog
Day 2 of NI Week is “applications day”
Day 2 of NI Week continued to inspire those in attendance, with the keynote focusing on all the fascinating projects being done in the field with NI’s LabVIEW and CompactRIO architecture. Think of it as applications day. We heard about a crazy spectrum of applications, including CERN researchers sized down massive particle accelerators into smaller […]
NI Week 2013 and the big data revolution
The world is changing in data-driven ways that are sometimes hard even for engineers to fully grasp. Call it the Industrial Revolution 4.0 or the Internet of Things or Cyber-Physical Systems or The Programmable World—but National Instruments is a key player in this “big data” driven world, with its LabVIEW software and CompactRIO hardware systems. […]
Hydraulic engineering becomes art
I stumbled across an article recently about this young man, James Capper, in the U.K., who combines his love of hydraulics and engineering with his art. His movable sculptures use hydraulic cylinders to move throughout his exhibitions. There are no wheels on his devices, just platforms or legs that walk with the power of hydraulics. […]
The manufacturer’s challenges of distribution network expansion
Last fall, Bailey International set the growth of alternative warehouse locations, as a strategic initiative. The idea was to expand westward in order to better serve its customers on the West Coast. This expansion would allow Bailey to save itself—and its customers—time and money. A site in Reno, Nev. was chosen and the move was […]
Ramping up for IFPE Summit
It’s a mere 252 days to IFPE 2014, and I’m looking forward to some great reporting on the show from our editorial staff. (We have some interesting things planned, so stay tuned!) There will be so much to cover, including the educational component to the show, the National Conference on Fluid Power, which will cover a […]
7 most interesting classified engineering projects
An editorial contact of mine recently told me about his friend, Gerald Bull, and Bull’s work on several highly classified engineering projects, including Project Babylon. Babylon involved using a proposed gun-fired satellite launcher as a means of super artillery. Bull was eventually assassinated in Brussels in 1990 and questions remain about who was behind it. […]
Welcoming a new intern—and a new series
I would like to introduce you to Michael Jermann, a journalism student who is currently studying at Kent State University. Michael has a particular interest in technical writing and he will be interning with us for the next few months. You’ll see his handiwork here on MobileHydraulicTips.com, as well as some of our sister sites. […]
When hydraulics is the star — the Mantis walking robot
The last time we wrote something about a multi-legged robot—the Plustech Walking Forest Machine—the post went viral. Maybe because the thing looked like it was straight out of the movie Avatar. Well, maybe the world is getting a little more like James Cameron’s future every day … because some interesting news just surfaced about the use […]
Hydraulics aids in keeping offshore platforms stable
Barge Master BV, a Dutch company, has installed Rexroth motion compensation to neutralize waves and enhance the usefulness and safety of offshore cranes. Barge Master launched the BM-001, its first operational motion compensation platform in December to provide stability and safety to offshore crane operations. The moving platform uses a drive and control system neutralize […]
