Time to read: 2 min
Our April roundup video is hosted by Danielle, a Technical Project Manager on our manufacturing team! Be sure to check out our video below to view some roundup highlights.
This month’s roundup highlights innovation in aviation, battery pack design, e-recycling technology, and much more.
Hardware Knowledge
- The Tesla Model 3 allows individual battery modules to be swapped out to improve longevity, rather than replacing the whole battery pack. + Restoring old electronic capacitors.
- Meet Daisy, a 33-foot long industrial robot with 5 arms that can deconstruct 200 iPhones per hour.
- A brief history of CNC machining, from predecessor mechanisms to desktop mills.
- Stratolaunch aims to use the twin-fuselage, six-engined aircraft to launch satellite-bearing rockets into space. + Video of the world’s largest plane taking flight.
- Potential applications of the four-legged SpotMinis include working together as a robot swarm. + The tank-bot that helped battle the Notre Dame blaze.
- An intro to how generative design works to minimize weight, maximize stiffness, reduce cost, and optimize material usage. + How to design your product to meet common certification and regulatory requirements.
Industry News
- Although smart speakers are one of the fastest-growing consumer devices, trust may be the main barrier to smart speaker adoption.
- In warehouse automation, Amazon acquired Canvas and their spatial AI technology. Locus Robotics raised $26 million in Series C funding for their warehouse LocusBots.
- How heightened sensitivity to new complex aircraft systems may delay FAA approval of air taxi services. + Wing Aviation gets permission for drone deliveries.
- A look into the German auto industry’s transition from combustion to electric technology.
- Tesla and Panasonic are freezing plans to expand the Gigafactory 1. The demand and supply around Tesla’s battery cell production.
- Rusal’s $200 million investment into a Kentucky low-carbon aluminum rolling mill. + Jaguar’s aluminum recycling initiative.
Events + Community
2019 State of Hardware Report:
- Our State of Hardware report is launching on May 7! Be sure to sign up to receive it.
- A few 2019 State of Hardware findings: One of the top barriers to bringing a new product to market is scaling into production. + 18% of survey respondents drink 4+ cups of coffee a day.
Jobs:
- Origin is hiring a lab technician and an enterprise technical account manager.
- Fictiv is looking for product managers, software & development engineers, and quality experts. Check out a full list of jobs here.
Events:
- Fictiv will be at Digital Factory in Boston on May 7! Use code FICTIV20 for 20% off registration.
- To kick off the launch of our State of Hardware report, Fictiv will be going on a roadshow! We’ll be in Boston on May 8 and will also be stopping by NYC, LA, Seattle, and Pittsburgh, as well as hosting an event here at our SF HQ.
For the Love of Rockets
SpaceX landing 3 of its Falcon Heavy rocket boosters for the first time.
Want to share an interesting article, job posting, or event in our Hardware Roundup? Submit your link here.
Until the next roundup!
