News: Robotics, Automation & Control
After more than a decade traveling through space, a robotic lander built by the European Space Agency has made the first-ever soft landing of a spacecraft on a comet. Mission controllers at ESA's mission...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
The goals of this research are to develop a relatively inexpensive, compact, and modular power package for deep offshore oil drilling or other undersea applications that provides 2 to 5 MW...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Mars-Optimized Solar Cells
Commercial triple junction solar cell designs were modified in their junction thicknesses, contact grid densities, and anti-reflective (AR) coating thicknesses to better match the Mars surface solar spectrum. Resulting cells show up to approximately 8% relative improvement in efficiency under the Mars solar spectrum,...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Alternating Magnetic Field Forces for Satellite Formation Flying
Orbiting a large number of satellites in fixed formations will be critical to many future space missions, especially large-scale interferometers, telescopes, antennas, and gravity wave detectors. Consequently, extensive research has been devoted over the last 20 years to formation...
News: Imaging
It has long been understood that acoustic nonlinearity is sensitive to many physical properties including material microstructure and mechanical damage. The lack of effective...
News: Test & Measurement
After 116 days of being subjected to extremely frigid temperatures like those in space, the heart of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) and its...
News: Materials
Stanford engineers have invented a wireless pressure sensor that has already been used to measure brain pressure in lab mice with brain injuries. The underlying technology has such...
Briefs: Software
Enterprise Middleware Solution
An enterprise middleware solution allows disparate information technology (IT) systems to be integrated into one seamless, efficient system. As software and database platforms continue to develop at an accelerated pace, legacy systems can be a drain on resources, requiring complex workarounds and major code...
Briefs: Software
Peak-Seeking Control Method
Peak-seeking algorithms optimize physical processes in real time and are widely used throughout a variety of industries. However, measuring associated parameters in changing conditions, and responding to them appropriately, is difficult because the measurements are typically distorted by noise. This technology...
Briefs: Software
Processing Time History Data for Display and Analysis
A suite of software tools was developed that enables powerful and efficient processing of time history data. These tools can be used together or independently, offering a variety of capabilities including comparison of time history data files to validate pre-processing activities, conversion...
Briefs: Software
Prototype Genomics-Based Keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code Protocol
Cryptography and molecular biology share certain aspects and operations that allow for a set of unified principles to be applied to problems in either venue. A DNA-inspired hash code system is presented that utilizes concepts from molecular biology. It is a keyed-Hash...
Briefs: Information Technology
Station Spacewalk
The Station Spacewalk game enables players to virtually conduct NASA repair work on the International Space Station, including jobs critical to help power up the space station so it can continue to operate. Players are provided with a limited quantity of oxygen during which they must complete extravehicular activities (EVAs)...
News: Energy
Stanford engineers have invented a revolutionary coating material that can help cool buildings, even on sunny days, by radiating heat away from the buildings and sending it directly into...
News
The first detailed, high-resolution 3D maps of Antarctic sea ice have been developed using an underwater robot. Scientists from the UK, US, and Australia say the new technology provides...
Question of the Week
Are we moving toward pilotless airliners?
This week's Question: NASA has worked with industry to help create the Synthetic Vision System (SVS), a virtual reality display system for cockpits. The SVS uses 3D to provide pilots with intuitive means of understanding their flying environment, including graphical displays of terrain and hazards. In...
Products: Software
COMSOL, Burlington, MA, announced COMSOL Multiphysics® software version 5.0 that features product updates, three new add-on products, and the new Application Builder. The Application Builder lets users build...
News: Lighting
Researchers have developed new organic compounds characterized by higher modularity, stability, and efficiency that could be applicable for use in electronics or lighting. A...
Application Briefs: Imaging
A new medical imaging method being developed at Rutgers University could help physicians detect cancer and other diseases earlier than before, speeding treatment and reducing the need...
Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
On November 7, the top prizes in the 2014 Create the Future Design Contest were presented in New York City. Winners in seven categories, as well as the Grand Prize winner,...
Application Briefs: Test & Measurement
Hexagon Metrology
North Kingstown, RI
800-274-9433
www.hexagonmetrology.us
While air travel is considered the...
Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
DTS (Diversified Technical Systems)
Seal Beach, CA
562-493-0158
www.dtsweb.com
Aircraft impact testing and hard landing...
Products: Motion Control
Global Specialties (Yorba Linda, CA) introduced the R700 Vector Robotic Arm that is fully assembled and ready to be programmed in the C language. The robot comes with pre-written example programs that can be downloaded to the...
Products: Motion Control
Avago Technologies (San Jose, CA) announced the AEDR-87xx series of 3-channel reflective optical encoder devices for use in low-power miniaturized motion control systems such as stepper motors, electrical actuators,...
Articles: Materials
Most of us cannot comprehend the task of building something to withstand temperatures over 4,000 °F, but NASA can. The space shuttles endured such temperatures when returning to...
Products: Motion Control
ElectroCraft (Dover, NH) released the PRO Series integrated motor drive controllers that include brushless motor drives, stepper motor variants, and linear actuators, all incorporating a fully integrated drive with...
Articles: Motion Control
Selecting the right actuator for use in any manufacturing operation involves a host of application-specific variables, including aspects such as the required stroke length, load capacity,...
Application Briefs: Motion Control
Pearl Harbor Naval Station and Hickam Air Force Base have grown up together around the historic port known as Wai’Momi, adjacent to Honolulu. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY), located at Joint...
Products: Motion Control
Mitsubishi Electric Automation (Vernon Hills, IL) introduced the GOT2000 Series human machine interface (HMI) that monitors and controls machine components with a graphical touchscreen. It allows operators to interact...
Products: Motion Control
Electro Static Technology (Mechanic Falls, ME) offers the AEGIS® iPRO-MR ring that combines shaft voltage bearing protection with continuous monitoring of shaft voltage levels from a remote location in real...
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Webcasts
Upcoming Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping
AI on the Ascent: Optimizing Factory Schedules for Peak Production
Webinars: Materials
Top 3 Factors Impacting the Useful Life of Medical Devices
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How to Safely Control the Power to Your Vehicle
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Digital Twins and Simulation for Accelerated Automotive Product...
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EV Bodyshop Metrology: The Same but Different
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Integrating Additive Manufacturing Into Aerospace Production