Category: Projects

Artificial intelligence is part of our reality today and will be a bigger part of our future moving forward. Most AI implementations exist as text, code, emails, or spoken prompts and work in the background of larger businesses that have a budget to develop such technology. They are essentially using AI as digital robots that take over office workers' duties. Most of the time, the idea is to replace a role with AI such that no one notices the job is being done by AI. This AI was meant to be put on display so that users can see what it does and watch what it is "thinking" via a laptop that shows its code working in real-time to solve the Connect 4 problem. The game is just a medium to show the customer's prospective clients what is possible and, hopefully, stimulate creativity that will lead to new implementations of AI, including hardware. Innovation, in this case, is a combination of some sensors, small motors, with the emerging technology of AI to create a show-stopping experience. At Yates Innovations, we strive to help our customers win. In this case, we made the frame of the unit, machined, fabricated, and 3D printed all the hardware, and assembled the unit. We partnered with Kennedy Engineering to create the electronic circuit boards and programming that integrated the AI with our hardware.

Yates Innovations offers a wide range of services, including design, welding, and general fabrication. All of these services were used on this project. We were happy to take our customer's concept and create a functional prototype from it. The result of our effort was a pair of tough Solar Carts that will last a long time and serve many students. We were happy to help with this project because sustainability is important, as is educating our young people about how to implement this technology.

Design, development, and solving production concerns are among the most challenging things that most small to medium-sized businesses have to contend with. In our ever-changing world, innovation and progress are imperative. At Yates Innovations, we pride ourselves on providing a wide range of services that result in success. Many of our customers have previously struggled to find practical design and development services that meet their needs. Some machine shops/fabrication shops will provide engineering services to secure a production contract. However, engineers are not necessarily designers, and they may not understand the customers' needs as well as the aesthetic principles that guide good design. The engineer often provides a quick result that works functionally but does not always meet the customers' design expectations. Proper design firms are often very expensive to employ, and they are not always driven to produce economical or quickly implementable solutions suitable for small or medium-sized businesses. Design firms are often a better fit for product development in large-scale businesses with large budgets and longer timelines. Yates Innovations falls between the engineer and design firm. We are designers with engineering and manufacturing backgrounds, and we understand that aesthetic design is important and people appreciate good design, but it must be implemented in a reasonable, actionable way.

The purpose of the sample is to demonstrate that 3D printed materials and additive manufacturing are not limited to simple or single material plastics or simple shapes. 3D printing offers a vast array of processes and materials, including rubber-like materials, tough plastics, engineering materials, high-resolution options, and even printed metals. Some materials are used for visual/fitment models, while others are suited to complex assemblies, functional parts, and even previously impossible things like the samples above. The limiting factors of 3D printing and printed parts are the current state of material science and the innovative application of those materials. Our team strives to be aware of the latest materials while understanding the limitations of the processes that deposit/create them. While we cannot provide all 3D printed processes in-house, we strive to provide our customers with a wide breadth of material options through our in-house materials and strategic partnerships with other vendors. Our extensive knowledge of materials, processes, and experience in the additive manufacturing industry are among the best in the nation. We look forward to working alongside your team to innovate your ideas into the future.

The Heavy Duty Door Strike was designed to meet the needs of a customer who lived and worked in an area where break-ins, burglary, and vandalism were common. Previous break-ins had damaged the door frame, making it impossible to secure the door without new hardware. Although similar combined strikes were available, they were not as sturdy as our Heavy Duty Door Strike and did not offer the necessary security for the application.