Tag: Future Technology

The Internet of Things Comes to Warehousing and Logistics

The Internet of Things Can Be Very Valuable to Businesses
The Internet of Things Can Be Very Valuable to Businesses

The Internet of Things(IoT) has quickly proven its value in the world of business. Companies are integrating IoT within the framework of their operations to make the entire production process more efficient and transparent. This integration is also being extended towards the warehousing and logistics framework of companies for finding new material handling trends and their solutions.

At DJ Products, we have made enormous progress in adopting IoT solutions for product warehousing and logistics. Various types of sensors and RFID tags have been incorporated into the material handling equipment. This has resulted in a number of advantages:

1. Faster Movement

The speed of the entire operation has increased greatly, thanks to instantaneous information being relayed across the various teams involved in the operation. No more lag time between individual steps of the operation that can bottleneck the overall process.

2. Error Free Process

The addition of sensors and alarms means that the chances of an error occurring in the middle of an operation are virtually eliminated.

3. Around the Clock Monitoring

Thanks to sensors being integrated into vehicles, which carry data back to the control center, we are always aware of exactly what speed the vehicle is traveling at, how much load it’s carrying and the directions it needs to take, making the entire process highly transparent and providing constant material handling trends information.

So the next time you need help with material handling solutions that are safe and cost effective, call on the experts at DJ Products, and we’ll bring you the most cutting edge motorized vehicle solutions that are able to handle the most cumbersome equipment with ease!

Agile Contracting Spending on the Rise for Federal Projects

Technology is the Future for The DOD
Technology is the Future for The DOD

As the Office of Management and Budget pushes for a new approach to streamline IT development projects, government agencies appear to be going all in on agile contracting. But is this the dawn of a new era in flexible contracts and efficient project management, or is it a runaway train headed for disaster?

Department of Homeland Security Shifts to Agile Contracts

In early 2016 Mark Schwartz, CIO of U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS), instituted a Flexible Agile Development Services (FADS) contract requiring vendors to collaborate and compete on an iterative basis. Projects include option periods where vendor teams may be added or subtracted.

Following Schwartz’s lead, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now has two more major agile contracts in the works:

• Flexible Agile Support for the Homeland (FLASH), announced in May, is an agency-wide contract that will be overseen by the DHS Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL).

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is soliciting agile services through its EAGLE II contract, which is expected to be awarded in early fiscal 2017. This contract, expected to be worth $50 million to $100 million over a five-year period, will cover a variety of agency-wide IT projects.

Handling Equipment for DoD Contractors? Pushers and Movers from DJ Products

Our battery-powered pushers and movers smoothly and efficiently handle equipment for DoD contractors ranging from parts and materials to Humvees and trucks. A single employee can maneuver loads of up to 20,000 pounds. Call 800.686.2651 or use our handy online chat feature to let our experienced sales engineers help you select the right solution for your applications.

 

Will Working with Robots be in Your Future?

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With Your Future Workmates be Robots?

Robots with human characteristics have long been featured in science-fiction tales. There’s a good chance that before long employees in your distribution center will be working side-by-side with these “humanoids.”

The New “Face” of Robotics

Robots have been used for industrial applications for more than 50 years, but developers, anticipating the inevitable step toward direct human-machine interaction, have begun adding more “flesh-and-blood” characteristics. These collaborative robots, or “cobots,” are expected to be seen more frequently within the next five to 10 years.

What’s different about cobots? In addition to having a “face,” they have built-in actuators allowing their joints to mimic the movement of a human arm. Force-sensing technology stops a cobot in its tracks whenever it comes into contact with another object.

Benefits of Cobots

• Cobots can move freely around a DC without the directional aids required by traditional robots.

• Instead of using time-consuming programming for activation, co-workers will actually be able to take a cobot by the “hand” and walk it through the steps of an action or procedure.

• Costs are lower thanks to more efficient construction and less need for a supportive infrastructure.

Not surprisingly, there are fears that cobots will eventually replace human workers. Aldo Zini, president and CEO of Aethon Inc., says the 500 cobots they employ handle many of the repetitive manual duties, freeing up employees for more value-added activities.

Save Time and Money with Industrial Tugs from DJ Products

Moving carts and equipment is another task that consumes valuable resources. Our industrial tugs let a single employee move loads up to 50,000 pounds. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more from our experienced sales engineers.

New Surfaces May End De-Icing Needs for Aircraft

No More Icy Roads And Runways
No More Icy Roads And Runways

Scientists may have found a way to eliminate the need for aircraft de-icing — by preventing moisture from adhering to surfaces in the first place.

A team of researchers from China and Israel recently unveiled their findings about how water droplets react upon contact with surfaces. The results are published in Applied Physics Letters and have quickly become discussed by materials manufacturers such as AZoM.

The Breakthrough that May Stop De-Icing

Picture a raindrop falling on a flat surface: the droplet flattens out momentarily, then retracts into more of a spherical shape.

The study looked into the details of how long water droplets remain flattened against a surface before retracting. The faster the water retracts, the less likely it is to stick — and freeze into ice.

While you might imagine that water sticks less to metal than organic materials, scientists point out that lotus leaves are the “gold standard” for repelling water due to an air cushion effect.

If the same effect can be produced on surface materials used for aircraft, we might see de-icing become a thing of the past.

Aircraft materials made from cutting-edge materials may be more hydrophobic than ever. Without de-icing, or with less frequent de-icing, how much more efficient would your aircraft maintenance be?

Great innovations are leading to easier operations and more efficient solutions for the aircraft industry. Our Lindbergh small aircraft tugs are already helping many operators enjoy simple towing and maneuvering on the ground. Small aircraft tugs make it easier to move equipment in snow and sleet and other tough conditions.

Contact us at DJProducts.com for more info about Lindbergh small aircraft tugs.