Then and Now – Corvettes Past and Present

Joe Ciringione pic
Joe Ciringione, Igus Energy Chain Systems

From his office in East Providence, Rhode Island, Joseph (Joe) Ciringione leads North American sales for Igus Energy Chain Systems. Mr. Ciringione’s functions include employee relations and project management. Joe Ciringione is also a fan of the General Motors Corvette.

After being unveiled as a “dream car” in 1953, workers hand-assembled the first 300 Corvettes in Flint, Michigan. Full production moved to St. Louis, and soon, the early cars featured a 265-cubic-inch V8 engine with a three-speed manual transmission. In 1956, designers updated the body with sculpted side covers and exposed headlights.

It was completely restyled in 1963 along the lines of the Sting Ray racer. As the decade progressed, safety features were added, the engine went through several upgrades, and a Corvette convertible made its debut.

GM passed the 500,000-car milestone in 1977 and later moved production to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Adding aerodynamic features boosted its maximum speed to 150 mph. Steady sales led to the rollout of the one-millionth Corvette in 1992. Improvements in transmissions, engines, and air bags continued into the 21st century.

Aluminum frames became standard in 2013 for the seventh-generation model. The Z06 was the first one to offer automatic transmission and a supercharged engine, making it the most track-capable Corvette yet.

The Near Future of Humanoid Robots

The RIA is actively involved in the development of humanoid robots. For decades a staple of science fiction, these machines are now becoming a viable business proposition.

Driven by their quickly emerging capabilities in a variety of applications, the market for humanoid robots should reach $3.9 billion by 2023, growing some 52 percent from 2017 to 2023, according to the RIA. Bipedal (two-legged) machines should account for most of this expansion.

Their chief economic value lies in performing dangerous and labor-intensive tasks formerly done by human beings. For example, they can handle disaster response, inspection, and maintenance functions at power plants. Robots can relieve astronauts of time-consuming routines, serve as caregivers for elderly patients, and provide information for customers. Even farther out, they could one day provide a growth medium for organs for transplantation.

About the Author:

Joe Ciringione photo
Joe Ciringione, Igus Energy Chain Systems

Directing 70 sales representatives, Joseph “Joe” Ciringione serves as the North American division manager for Igus Energy Chain Systems in East Providence, Rhode Island. Joe Ciringione’s responsibilities include its product line of cable management systems. Additionally, Mr. Ciringione maintains membership in the Robotics Industry Association (RIA).