https://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/ en-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/f/forum/57219/mis-using-rs-485-interfaces-to-generate-audio-and-visual-alerts/237978Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:51:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:a4104352-ea46-4c59-a4e8-f63b62e448fckmikemooshabaz Sounds pretty clever to me. Simple is hard. Well done. ☺https://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/f/forum/57219/mis-using-rs-485-interfaces-to-generate-audio-and-visual-alerts/237963Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:49:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:0d45f6d1-4c68-40d8-9f22-1d1082b6c3b0DABGood hack.https://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/f/forum/57219/mis-using-rs-485-interfaces-to-generate-audio-and-visual-alerts/237954Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:44:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:c8055049-11cd-43cb-8da5-bc08540abeaeQbitClever hack! Using Driver Enable alongside the TX pin to leverage the high-impedance state is a really smart way to independent-control two loads without needing to tear open the enclosure.https://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/m/managed-videos/151657Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:64aab3db-000a-4673-8ece-b188e526be3ashabazhttps://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/f/forum/57219/mis-using-rs-485-interfaces-to-generate-audio-and-visual-alertsThu, 27 Aug 2026 20:58:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:09affcd5-0bb9-4ebe-af2c-fd08f57e55f5shabazI did a bit of a hack today : ) I have a Pi Pico, attached to an RS-485 transceiver. As you're maybe aware, the RS-485 transceiver converts the UART signal into two signals, called A and B, or Non-Inverting and Inverting. The oscilloscope trace below explains this. What's not shown is that the A and B outputs are often only enabled if requested to do so by applying a logic high on a Driver Enable (DE) pin. If the DE pin is low, then the A and B signals will no longer output a signal. I had a request from a friend to control an LED and a little audio tone beeper from the Pi Pico. Sometimes he wanted just the LED to light, sometimes just the beeper, and sometimes both. He doesn't need RS-485. I initially considered opening up the device and wiring things up to spare GPIO pins internally. However, after thinking some more, I realized I could just repurpose the RS-485 connections, as shown in the video: community.element14.com/.../20260827_5F00_211338.mp4 To get this to work, all I needed to do was a software mod, to change the Pi Pico UART Tx pin to become a normal GPIO configured as an output. Then, the logic was simple: Driver Enable (DE) UART TXD RS-485 A,B 1 0 Low, High 1 1 High, Low 0 0 HiZ, HiZ 0 1 HiZ, HiZ I wired the little beeper to the A connection, and the LED to the B connection (use series diodes and resistors as required to reduce the voltage or current if needed), with the other end of each connected to 0V (ground). I cannot turn on both the LED and the beeper simultaneously, but that's not a big deal, the code can just alternate every second as shown in the video. I'll encase this in moldable plastic (PolyDoh) , that will be good enough for the particular use-case. Not a very clever hack, but it did save me some effort! Thanks for reading.rs-232hackrs-485rs485rs232https://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/b/blog/posts/tiny-robots-could-collect-lithium-ions-from-seawaterWed, 12 Aug 2026 19:23:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:784d4371-76bf-4151-be39-5a1f1bb3800bCatwellLithium ore. (Image Credit: James St. John. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons ) Texas A&M University researchers are developing autonomous nanobots designed to dive in seawater to retrieve lithium ions. In turn, seawater can serve as an alternative source of lithium for EVs, batteries, and energy storage. They believe this method may be more efficient than mining for the mineral. The U.S. Department of Energy is backing this project with a $1 million award. “Unlike traditional mining that digs up land or pumps brine from underground and requires massive amounts of energy, these autonomous micro/nanorobots move freely through seawater to harvest lithium with virtually zero infrastructure footprint,” said Dr. Jingjing (Jenny) Qiu in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering. The fish-like robot relies on micro- and nanoparticles, activated by light or other external forces, to swim through seawater. Swimming like fish allows them to find and capture lithium ions instead of using stationary extraction. Once they retrieve the lithium, magnetic fields pull the robots out of the water. The microparticles can then be used again. “Seawater lithium recovery could provide a stable alternative source to address the growing global demand for lithium,” Qiu said. “Our goal is to develop a technology that supports a more reliable domestic lithium supply chain while reducing the environmental footprint associated with traditional extraction methods.” The team is working to improve the technology’s performance, test lithium recovery efficiency, and develop techniques for larger-scale demonstrations. They also want to create a cheaper, reusable, and continuously running process. However, the team still needs to address a few obstacles. For example, separating lithium from other minerals in seawater may be difficult. These robots also need to be sufficiently durable to survive the harsh and complex marine environment. Meanwhile, the technology must undergo testing at a larger scale before industrial deployment. The researchers plan to evaluate the potential environmental effects of deploying the system. Have a story tip? Message me here at element14.alternative energyroboticslithiumroboton_campusuniversityinnovationhttps://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/b/blog/posts/walden-robotics-receives-300-million-in-seed-funding-to-deploy-its-robots-in-various-industriesThu, 23 Jul 2026 18:44:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:1156b494-af99-4dae-865b-faa6ae989227CatwellWalden’s general-purpose robot. (Image Credit: Walden Robotics ) I didn't even know they existed, but they are worth so much. Massachusetts-based startup Walden Robotics, founded from Toyota’s robotics research lab, recently emerged from stealth after securing $300 million in seed funding, giving it a $1.1 billion valuation. This investment round was led by Toyota Corp and Deviation Capital. Other companies like Boeing, NVIDIA, Samsung Ventures, AE Ventures, and CoreWeave Ventures also contributed. “Core advances in Physical AI have made disruptive change possible,” said Dr. Russ Tedrake, co-founder and CEO of Walden, a professor at MIT, and former Senior Vice President of Large Behavior Models at Toyota Research Institute. “But providing real value to customers and building a robust and scalable business requires a deep understanding and respect for how manufacturing is done today. The best way to make fast and positive progress is by working closely together with the real experts.” Walden Robotics has been developing wheeled humanoid robots for logistics and manufacturing industries. Instead of a bipedal design, the machines have a wheeled base with an upper body to perform complex tasks that human workers handle. According to Walden Robotics, the machines use Large Behavior Models and other foundation-model techniques to learn new manipulation tasks in manufacturing environments. Funding sizes like these are unusual at the seed stage. A $1.1 billion valuation reflects the costs for building and manufacturing robots at scale and investors who see long-term potential in the technology. Toyota is involved in more than just the funding. The automaker is also testing the robots in production settings. NVIDIA focuses on AI hardware and computing power in advanced robotics. Boeing, Samsung Ventures, and CoreWeave want to expand the technology beyond auto manufacturing. These funds will be used by Walden to boost robot production and introduce its new system to other industries. It wants to deploy them in aerospace, semiconductors, electronics, automotive, logistics, and life sciences. Automation is seeing more demand in these sectors due to labor shortages and domestic manufacturing expansions. The startup must scale manufacturing to move the technology from a factory to various industries. At the same time, it will need to make sure the robots can handle different workplace demands. The funding’s arrival comes when the Boston area is paying more attention to robotics companies. With the $300 million raise, investors have shown more interest in industrial automation’s future. Hardware cost reduction, AI improvements, and labor shortages have made robot deployment more convenient in factories. However, companies will need to show that these robots are capable of various tasks other than manufacturing. Have a story tip? Message me here at element14.researchfundingroboticsrobotstartupwalden roboticstoyotahttps://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/b/blog/posts/cooling-system-in-china-cools-the-air-around-apartment-buildingsTue, 14 Jul 2026 19:35:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:5034e9e1-b004-4a4a-8ede-a074980c6194CatwellChina’s rooftop rain system releases water mist to cool the air on hot days. (Image Credit: Reddit ) It’s hard to believe this is real. But, China is deploying some pretty cool technology. Literally. If there’s hot weather in the area, air conditioning can shield you from the heat. Recently, China came up with an alternative cool-down method called rooftop rain that lowers the air temperature for those living in high-rise apartment buildings. The system, which uses evaporative cooling, has already been deployed in Yuncheng, Shanxi, atop tall apartment complexes. Intended for extremely hot days, the high-pressure nozzles spray a fine water mist into the surrounding air. The heat allows the droplets to evaporate before they can reach the ground. If the air is too cool or humid, the mist will evaporate too slowly and fall below. While evaporating, these droplets carry away heat to reduce the air temperature by as much as 46°F. People in online communities like Reddit and Instagram have noticed this system. And they’ve asked why this method isn’t being used all over the world. With the intense heat waves hitting Europe and North America, expanding its use seems like the right idea. However, it’s far more complex to consider. It’s an intriguing concept, but we still don’t fully understand this rooftop rain system. And there are questions about how well it could be scaled up and how much water it would need. Would mineral deposits block the nozzles? And would the system reduce the temperature inside the apartment buildings for the residents? Although there isn’t much information about the system, its deployment in Chinese cities suggests it offers some noteworthy benefits. Have a story tip? Message me here at element14.infrastructurestructurebuildinghmihumanlifecoolinginnovationhttps://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/b/blog/posts/bambu-lab-introduces-a-new-cleaner-safer-3d-printing-filamentTue, 07 Jul 2026 19:23:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:88923b50-ad83-4874-bbe3-10c8094289cdCatwell(Image Credit: Osman Talha Dilyar/ Unsplash ) Some makers worry about using 3D printers at home as they may emit ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds in the air during printing. This raises concerns about indoor air quality, especially around pets and children. Bambu Lab created PLA Pure , a 3D printing filament that is clean, food-safe, and UL Greenguard-certified, as the company claims. The product is sold in three soft pastel colors, including black and white, for $24.99 (spool) or $21.99 (refill). Although filament manufacturers don’t need to include the ingredients on the package or website, Bambu Lab does that anyway. It provides more information on the filament’s composition and its performance in indoor environments. On the company’s website, it says PLA Pure uses acrylic copolymer, polylactic acid (PLA), color pigments, ethylene bis-stearamide (EBS), and asbestos-free talc. However, the most eyebrow-raising one is asbestos-free talc. After all, it reflects an issue with mineral sourcing rather than 3D printing concerns. Talc and asbestos can be found naturally in the same geological deposits. And it’s very difficult to separate them during processing. Manufacturers using talc may test their raw materials to ensure they don’t have any asbestos contamination. By disclosing this information, Bambu Lab is being transparent about the materials going into their filaments. According to Bambu Lab, PLA Pure has a UL GREENGUARD (UL2409) certification. This means it underwent tests for particles and Volatile Organic Compound emissions that affect air quality. They say the levels are lower than those in an average living room, kitchen, or office, suggesting the air is cleaner than expected. Even though the PLA Basic has the same indoor air quality certification, PLA Pure’s simpler ingredient formulation produces lower emissions. They ran tests on its A1 and A2L printers without using air filters or an enclosure, replicating a home environment. During printing, PLA Pure emits 0.01-0.02 mg/m 3 of formaldehyde, 0.24-0.44 mg/m 3 of TVOCs, and 0.015-0.027 mg/m 3 of PM 2.5. While PLA is one of the lower-emission materials in 3D printing, emissions vary based on the additives, formulation, pigments, and printing conditions. PLA Pure does not perform worse even with fewer additives. It has the same mechanical properties as PLA Basic and achieves layer adhesion comparable to typical PLA filaments. PLA Pure is also suitable and safe for toys. The filament complies with the EN 71-3 certification, a European toy safety standard. This helps prevent the final product from releasing hazardous levels of heavy metals, such as chromium, lead, and cadmium. Have a story tip? Message me here at element14.researchtoxicmaterials3D Printingsafebambu labsfilamenthttps://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/b/blog/posts/high-school-student-develops-turtle-inspired-underwater-robotWed, 01 Jul 2026 18:44:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:197056a5-be15-4f71-9f6c-8d1cd12c5f06CatwellB URT is an AI-powered robot designed to monitor the aquatic environment. (Image Credit: Youth Science Canada /Evan Budz) Sea turtles are one of the most majestic creatures in the ocean. For Evan Budz, a 15-year-old high school student in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, it became a source of inspiration for his robot designed for aquatic environment exploration. The AI-powered Bionic Underwater Robotic Turtle (BURT) swims underwater to collect data and monitor it for ecological threats. Budz studied the locomotion of a turtle before developing his underwater robot. By speaking to experts at the nearby aquarium and watching sea turtles swim on video, he learned the front flippers allow the turtles to move forward, while their back legs are used for navigating. He also created a prototype in SolidWorks and developed the 3D parts. The entire system runs on a Raspberry Pi microcomputer encased within an acrylic tube. It also executes AI models designed to record/transmit data and identify environmental hazards. On a single charge, BURT swims for eight hours at 0.5 miles per hour. And with a solar panel mounted, the robot can extend its swimming time. Budz can make it go faster by adjusting the flipper oscillation frequency. Like a live turtle, BURT features four flippers. Two of them at the front generate thrust, while the ones in the back are for navigation and stability. Onboard sensors, like a GPS module for location tracking, help the robot move around the water. A front camera allows BURT to visualize what’s going on in its environment, and all this data is sent to the Raspberry Pi. Other exterior sensors provide depth control and detect bleached coral and microplastics. Budz also used 3D models to simulate a coral reef and trained his robot turtle to recognize coral bleaching and invasive species. BURT then swims around them via a predetermined search pattern to simulate its behavior in a real-world environment. In tests, the robot detected replicated coral bleaching with 96% accuracy. Next, the creator plans to introduce BURT into diverse environments to measure the robot’s operational depth. Additionally, the front of the robot has lights for murky waters and an ultrasonic transducer that detects obstacles in its path. He also created a holographic imaging device that captures the structural features and shapes of microscopic particles in waterways. A custom-trained neural network then determines whether or not a particle is a microplastic. Budz even won first place in 2025 at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists and the Canada-Wide Science Fair . He also envisions deploying fleets of these turtle robots for aquatic ecosystem monitoring and ecological threat identification. While he’s already used it for coral bleaching, invasive species, and microplastics, he believes it can be adapted for many other uses. Have a story tip? Message me here at element14.transportationroboticsartificial intelligencerobotwaterraspberry_piaischoolsolidworkshigh schoolhttps://community.element14.com/technologies/industrial-automation-space/f/forum/57027/e14-community-recommendation-for-modbus-tcp-client/236227Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:58:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:e210b9d9-ab8e-4354-9486-57290c70e809colporteurI will close this post by first saying thank you for your input. Sounding out the problem and getting suggestions was helpful in arriving at the solution. I culled a link for oceancontrol windows GUI client from the link beacon_dave provided. shabaz python client established a connection, I just didn't invest in generating a query. It did confirm it was working. BigG input reminded me of net cat a network test tool I had used many moon ago. I confess net cat was the one I used the most. Since I was only looking to confirm a connection through the firewall, net cats ease of use made it ideal for quick testing. Supported on windows and linux was bonus. I had to learn the syntax for Windows:( It is not the same as linux. With a confirmed modbus tcp interface available it is off to configure and test a VPN end to end solution that will connect the company and vendor. Thanks again for you input.