| Singapore team wins award at international robotics competition
SINGAPORE : A team from the Millennia Institute clinched the prestigious Think Award at the FIRST Vex Challenge World Championship held in the US state of Georgia. Its Engineering Notebook entry outdone 99 contenders from US, China, Mexico and Canada. The FIRST Vex Challenge World Championship is a mid-level robotics competition for high school students, aimed at encouraging the young to discover the excitement of science, technology, and engineering. The Think Award is one of six awards given out at the competition. In winning it, the Millennia Institute representatives said it reflected the team's successful brainstorming session, good robot design and clear presentation. - CNA /ls .
Thinking Big: Michael Benson delivers the goods at Snow, SUU
Not everyone was happy when Michael T. Benson the ambitious, energetic, piano-playing, globe-trotting, Oxford-educated, low-handicap-golfing, speeding ticket-collecting, marathon-running grandson of the late LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson was appointed president of Southern Utah University.
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BRIEFING: Michigan
Universal Forest Products Inc. said Monday that its first-quarter profit fell almost 75% because of weak lumber and housing markets. Net earnings were $3.9 million, or 20 cents per share, compared with $15.9 million, or 82 cents per share, a year ago, the Grand Rapids-based company said. INSURANCE: Provider has prime listing .
Robot can be mounted any way up
ABB is introducing a new spot-welding and handling robot with a choice of mounting options. Capable of being inverted, floor-mounted, tilted or shelf-mounted as part of a high robot density two-layer automotive installations, the IRB6620 is excellent for use in confined areas and as part of manufacturing cells alongside other robots. Key to the IRB6620's flexibility is the removal of the balancing cylinder, which makes the robot more compact and agile. Weighing in at just 900kg, the IRB6620 offers simplified installation, with no need for heavy-lifting cranes. Nigel Platt, sales and marketing manager for ABB Robotics, says: "Our target was to develop the most versatile robot on the market. The IRB 6620 is compact and agile, and optimised for spot welding and handling applications.
Robots navigate maze, surgery
The Poly boys figured they had the "petite slalom" all sewn up when their robot was the only one to clear the first heat without jostling any cones - in a blistering 18 seconds.
Likewise, last year's "mystery course" champions from Hereford High School were predicting an easy repeat victory - a full hour before the secret course was unveiled.
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