NASA’s Valkyrie Robots Set The Table For Human Life On Mars
by Matt O’Brien, The Associated Press
Thu, 05/19/2016 – 9:50am
Four sister robots built by NASA could be pioneers in the colonization of Mars, part of an advance construction team that sets up a habitat for more fragile human explorers. But first they’re finding new homes on Earth and engineers to hone their skills.
The space agency has kept one Valkyrie robot at its birthplace, the Johnson Space Center in Houston. It has loaned three others to universities in Massachusetts and Scotland so professors and students can tinker with the 6-foot-tall, 300-pound humanoids and make them more autonomous.
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Maybe Traditional Automakers Could Be Winners In An Autonomous World?
Neil Winton , CONTRIBUTOR
MAY 19, 2016 @ 11:29 AM
Automotive executives have been suffering sleepless nights for years worrying that new technology thrusters like Google, Apple and Uber will suddenly blind-side them and effectively destroy their businesses.
Investment researcher Evercore ISI, in a report called “TheEmpire Strikes Back”, says maybe this isn’t inevitable and reminds the traditional industry and its suppliers that not least because of their sheer size, they still have some formidable weapons in their armoury.
The nightmare scenario is that the traditional automotive business will be vulnerable to these upstarts when transport becomes a commodity that you summon via an app.
For the rest of the story visit Forbes.
What is the Best Way to Begin a Lean or Continuous Improvement Journey?
by Larry Fast
May 17, 2016
Question: We are a small company with approximately 150 employees, 3 manufacturing locations and 5 nonwoven processing lines. The nonwoven process is a continuous-flow process as opposed to assembly. The decision has been made to embark on a lean/continuous-improvement initiative for our company. There is no one in our company who specifically has lean experience. Do you have any advice on the best way to begin this journey?
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