JAMES SCHLETT, EDITOR, [email protected] The thing about potential is that even if it is always present, it may not be realized until the right circumstances arise. Lasers, for example, have been acknowledged as a viable joining technology. However, as detailed in our cover story (read article), “Laser Welding Joins the Lightweighting Trend,” it took the U.S. government’s imposition of stricter gas-mileage standards on automakers to compel them to more readily embrace lasers for the welding of lightweight aluminum panels for car bodies. Similarly, lidar has been recognized as an invaluable asset to mapping. But it...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaArticlesA force multiplier for VGRsVision-guided robots (VGRs) first emerged in the late 1980s. 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