AX Control, Inc.

What Is a Cartesian Robot?

A Cartesian robot like this 3D printer uses an X, Y, and Z plane. Photo from Unsplash.

We’ve written about robots and robotics before, but we thought we’d go into further detail about different kinds, starting with the Cartesian robot. But before we get there, we probably need to talk about Cartesian systems first. Even before that, let’s talk about where the term “Cartesian” comes from.

Cartesian: what does it mean?

The term “Cartesian” refers to anything relating to French philosopher René Descartes. And no, it’s not because someone thought Descartesian would be too difficult. In fact, the term is based upon his Latinized name Cartesius.

How the GE Turbine Changed Aviation

The Lusac-11 biplane used engines designed by GE Turbine engineers. — The Lusac-11 broke world altitude records in 1920 and 1921.

Do you know how the GE Turbine changed aviation forever? No? Read on!

What Brought GE into Aviation?

You probably know how Wilbur and Orville Wright made their first flights at Kitty Hawk in 1903, especially if you’re located in North Carolina like AX Control, Inc is. Yeah, yeah, we hear you, Ohio ‘first in aviation’ people. Yes, the Wright brothers hailed from Ohio and that’s where they first designed the Wright Flyer. But what sounds like more fun: building or flying? We think flying!

What you may not know is how fast aviation took off (ha!) from there. Within two decades of that 12-second flight from the dunes at Kitty Hawk, trans-Atlantic flights were possible. What’s more, by 1927 Charles Lindbergh managed the flight from New York to Paris without having to refuel.

But as World War I hit its peak, air superiority took on new importance for the entire world. The new technology aided in combat, reconnaissance, troop movements, and defense for both sides.

What is Bang-bang Control?

Old thermostats used bang-bang control. — Thermostats like this old Honeywell model offered bang-bang control. Copyright M Kenney 2021

Mechanical systems offer many different control options. One of these is the oddly-named bang-bang control. This short blog post answers some common questions about this control theory.

What is bang-bang control theory?

Bang-bang control is a kind of feedback controller, meaning it has a type of cause-and-effect closed loop. Bang bang controllers switch quickly between two different states, for example, completely on or completely off.

Bang-bang control symbol. — The symbol for bang-bang control. ^{Sourced from Wikipedia, by Mik81 Public Domain}

Examples of bang bang control

You’ve probably used bang bang control systems all your life without realizing it. This kind of control offers an “on” state and an “off” state with no variable between these. Thermostats–at least older versions–typically use bang bang control.