Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Development of a Multi-User Modem for Space Telecommunications
Efficient support of planetary surface missions typically requires an orbiting asset that acts as a relay point to/from Earth. Orbital relay passes are normally 5 to 15 minutes in duration over any specific landed site. When multiple landed assets are co-located or near-located in...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Scientific imaging arrays need to have their individual imaging elements arranged in a close-spaced mosaic. The typical single imaging element is a silicon chip mounted on a larger support frame. This...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
cFE/CFS Evolution for Multicore Platforms
This effort ports the Core Flight Executive (cFE)/Core Flight System (CFS) flight software architecture to multicore processor platforms, and provides mission developers with a common, flightready, flexible software environment that supports single, multi-processor, and multicore systems. Currently the...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
One of the most common causes of electronics failure is moisture. Because water and electronics do not mix well, several strategies exist to protect mission-critical components from...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Advanced Spacecraft Navigation and Timing Using Celestial Gamma-Ray Sources
The Advanced Spacecraft Navigation and Timing using Celestial Gamma-Ray Sources concept is a novel relative navigation technology for deep-space exploration using measurements of celestial gamma-ray sources. This new Gamma-ray source Localization-Induced Navigation and...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Generating a Laser Linear Frequency Modulation Waveform for Application in Coherent Doppler Lidar
Frequency modulation of a single-frequency laser with a linear triangular waveform is of great interest to many laser remote sensing and interferometry applications. Linear frequency modulation of a continuous-wave (CW) laser beam can make target...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Outlier Detection Via Estimating Clusters
The Outlier Detection Via Estimating Clusters (ODVEC) software provides an efficient method for real-time or offline analysis of multivariate sensor data for use in anomaly detection, fault detection, and system health monitoring. ODVEC uses models automatically derived from archived system data to...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Wideband Single-Crystal Transducer for Bone Characterization
The microgravity conditions of space travel create unique physiological demands on the astronauts’ skeletal structures, resulting in a reduction in bone strength from restructuring of the micro-architecture and loss of key minerals. An ultrasound system was developed that is capable...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Method for Fabricating Metallic Panels with Deep Stiffener Sections
This innovation integrates existing highperformance metallic materials and manufacturing technologies (all of which are now certified and used to produce thinner stiffened panels for launch vehicle structures) in a novel manner to allow fabrication of more structurally efficient...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Robust, High-Temperature Containment Cartridges for Microgravity
Robust, high-temperature containment cartridges are needed for processing materials science experiments in microgravity. In general, the refractory metals (Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Re) possess the chemical inertness and high melting temperatures desired. Of these materials, niobium and...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Method for Insertion of Carbon Fiber Through the Thickness of Dense Dry Fiber Preform
Creation of a structural joint for a heat shield for extreme entry environments requires structural fibers penetrating through the thickness of the shield at joint locations. The structural fibers must be made of carbon to withstand extremely high temperatures,...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Precision shims are used as compensators to absorb tolerances between mating components. They significantly reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for each component to be precision-machined in order to achieve...
Briefs: Materials
Processing and Damage Tolerance of Continuous Carbon Fiber Composites Containing Puncture-Self-Healing Thermoplastic Matrix
The initiation and propagation of damage ultimately results in failure of aircraft structural components. Often, impact damage is difficult to identify in-service, and hence design of continuous carbon fiber reinforced...
Briefs: Materials
Advanced Supported Liquid Membranes for CO2 Control in EVA Applications
NASA has a clear need to develop new technology in support of its future goals, including missions beyond low-Earth orbit, the possible development of lunar outposts, and the eventual exploration of Mars. As these missions develop, it is anticipated that crew members will...
Briefs: Materials
Ti-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and matrix composites (BMGMCs) are a subset of the class of materials known synonymously as amorphous metals, liquid...
Briefs: Materials
An experimental study was conducted in conjunction with the research and development program at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) on thermal protection systems (TPS) for aerospace applications, a...
Briefs: Materials
AeroHeating Tools (AHT) Suite
This suite of computer programs, called “tools,” is used to calculate local flow angles over damage sites in the Shuttle Orbiter Thermal Protection System (TPS). It provides a quick and easy way to compute cross flow angles over points of interest on the Shuttle Orbiter TPS.
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
NEO Hunter Seeker Micro-Spacecraft and Mission Concept
The area of research known as “Planetary Defense” is largely concerned with identifying and tracking asteroids that could impact Earth. The vast majority of asteroids that pose such a risk are known as “Near Earth Asteroids/Objects” or NEAs and NEOs. Some of them are unknown,...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Multipath, multistage, erosion-resistant flow control valves have been developed that can sustain the extremely high pressure of deep oil wells. Fitting in the...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The current coring bit and percussive drilling style works very well for strong rocks; however, when coring into weak, crumbling rock, the core tends to break apart and simply...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Piezoelectric-Actuated Cryogenic Thermodynamic Vent Valve
Cryogenic fluid control valves require actuation that controls the geometric position of the orifice in a thermally stable manner. Traditional actuator devices may have various materials used in their construction that have varying CTEs (coefficients of thermal expansion) and therefore...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The amine swingbed was in development for incorporation into Orion’s environmental control and life support system to remove metabolic carbon dioxide and humidity from the crew atmosphere. The compact, low-power...
Briefs: Medical
Bayesian Sleep Fusion
To ensure mission success, astronauts must maintain a high level of performance, even when work-rest schedules result in chronic sleep restriction and circadian misalignment, both of which can contribute to fatigue and performance deficits unless effective countermeasures are used. The overarching goal of this project is to...
Briefs: Medical
Technique for Reversible Permeabilization of Live Cells for Intracellular Delivery of Quantum Dots
Nanomaterials are comparable in size to various biomolecules (1 to 100 nm), and have unique properties such as enhanced electrical conductivity, increased chemical reactivity, and novel optical properties that make them attractive candidates for...
Briefs: Medical
Introduction of Structural Affinity Handles as a Tool in Selective Nucleic Separations
This invention relates to the general field of bio-chemical separations. Current methods for separating nucleic acids either lack sufficient selectivity or large-capacity production as required for gene therapy or DNA vaccines or other applications. There is a...
Briefs: Medical
Functionalized Patterning of Tissue Engineering Substrates
Tissue engineering (TE) is an emerging field for tissue repair and regeneration compared to conventional techniques including autograft and allograft, through engineering functional implants created from living cells. TE is a highly interdisciplinary research area where material science,...
Briefs: Medical
Hearing Test System Suitable for Self-Administered Hearing Assessment
Astronauts have developed hearing loss in space, so the goal of this project was to provide a robust, self-administered, accurate noise-tolerance hearing test system for astronauts. The device includes Bekesy-like threshold audiometry, distortion product otoacoustic emission...
Briefs: Medical
Assessment of Microbial Bioburden Within Aerogel Matrices
A makeshift apparatus has been designed composed of a sealed, hydrophobic 2-propanol/SiO2 aerogel component to filter outside air particles. Following verification and assessment, the apparatus was crafted with a Buchner funnel. Aerogel matrices were tightly fitted into filter...
Briefs: Information Technology
The Advanced Data Analytics Platform (ADAPT): Concept, Design, Architecture, and Operation
NASA scientists are uniquely positioned to research and understand the processes affecting the Earth’s climate. To study these important processes, scientists must address the Big Data challenges posed by working with massive amounts of observational and...
Question of the Week
Will "Antipodes" take off?
This week's Question: Canadian industrial designer Charles Bombardier has developed an aircraft concept that, in theory, could send passengers from London to New York in 11 minutes. The "Antipode" would have a scramjet engine and wings fitted with rocket boosters, propelling the aircraft to 40,000 feet and enabling the...
Briefs: Information Technology
Orion Heat Shield Thermal Mapping Tool
The Orion Heat Shield Mapping Tool collects data from a set of output files from various re-entry thermal response codes, interpolates the data, and maps the analysis code data onto a finely meshed finite element model.
Briefs: Information Technology
The Ground Systems Development and Operations (GSDO) Smart Firing Room Project aims to create a firing room using cutting-edge technologies of today that...
Briefs: Information Technology
The Design Reference Mission (DRM) tool was developed to support the Exo-Starshade (Exo-S) Science and Technology Definition Team for modeling both the Dedicated (30-m...
Briefs: Information Technology
Data Parallel Line Relaxation Code (DPLR) Version 3.05
The Reacting Flow Environments branch at NASA ARC is interested in characterizing the aerothermal environment of three main classes of problem: planetary entry vehicles, reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), and arc-jet (or other ground test) flow simulations. Each of these problem classes has...
Briefs: Information Technology
Front End Data System (FEDS) Version 10.0
In traditional missions at NASA, ground systems were normally custom-built for each project. Additionally, there would be separate ground systems for each part of the spacecraft as well as a totally separate ground system for mission operations. Each of these generally interfaced through non-standard...
Briefs: Information Technology
Link Complexity Scheduling Algorithm
NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) provides communication and other services for planetary exploration for both NASA and international users. The DSN operates antennas at three complexes in California, Spain, and Australia, with the longitudinal distribution of the complexes enabling full sky coverage and...
Briefs: Information Technology
BUMPER-CEV Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Risk Assessment Code Rev. A
BUMPER-CEV Version 1.71 is used to perform micrometeoroid/orbital debris (MMOD) risk assessments for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) spacecraft. BUMPER is the primary risk analysis program used by NASA to provide for reliable and safe operations of spacecraft...
Briefs: Software
Advanced Numerical Integration Techniques for High-Fidelity SDE Spacecraft Simulation
Simulation study is an integral part of the validation of navigation algorithms for spacecraft. While it is possible to come up with an estimate of a navigation algorithm’s performance with a low-fidelity system model, the mathematical analysis is intractable...
Briefs: Information Technology
One of the crucial ground structures employed at the launch pad during the Space Shuttle program is the rainbird nozzle system, whose primary objective is to...
Briefs: Information Technology
Seismometer Simulation Software
Seismometer Simulation Software (SEISim) is written to provide a simulation for the seismometer instrument in the Insight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport) mission so that flight software developers can use it to develop and test their software applications. It can...
Briefs: Software
Numerical simulations of plume impingement heating to the International Space Station (ISS) and its visiting vehicles require a specific way to...
Briefs: Information Technology
Submersible Phase Change Float Sizing
This software allows sizing of submersibles powered by hydraulic generators that are pressurized by ocean thermal gradients at various depths. The software allows the operator to input the fixed size of the vessels containing the phase change material (PCM). The effective expansion of the PCM is also input,...
Briefs: Software
Method for Evaluating the Pneumatic Hammer Stability of a Fluid-Film Bearing Using CFD
This invention relates to a fluid film bearing and a process for evaluating pneumatic hammer instability. Based on the stability criteria, a method was developed using 3D CFD (computational fluid dynamics) evaluation dynamics to evaluate the onset of pneumatic...
Briefs: Information Technology
DAWN: a Simulation Model for Evaluating Costs and Tradeoffs of Big Data Science Architectures
Data science is emerging as a critical area of research and technology to advance scientific discovery, knowledge, and decision-making through systematic computational approaches to analyzing massive data sets. The sheer volume of data increase, coupled...
Briefs: Information Technology
Auxiliary Payload Sensor System Simulation Software
Auxiliary Payload Sensor System Simulation Software (APSSim) provides a simulation of the seismometer used in the Insight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport) mission. The software takes recorded or simulated APSS data as an input, preprocesses the...
Briefs: Information Technology
Multiphysics Piezoelectric Finite Element Modeling for Designing a Piezoelectric Damping Treatment for Vibration Control of Rotating Blades
The requirements for advanced aircraft engine components lead to designs that are more lightweight and efficient, yet more susceptible to excessive vibration, complex dynamic behavior, and uncertain...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Decelerator System Simulation (DSS)
The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) project conducts computer simulations to verify that requirements on flight performance, parachute loads, and terminal rate of descent are met. The objective of this work was to obtain a high-fidelity simulation of Orion crew capsule flight test...
Briefs: Information Technology
EXOS Software
An improved version of EXOS software allows for the modeling of fabrics, mixtures, and porous materials, and also provides the ability to accept hex mesh geometries. The code employs a novel numerical method, a hybrid particle finite element approach, as well as particles and elements in tandem, each modeling distinct aspects of...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Wireless Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Microwave Heater System Using RFID-Based Temperature Feedback
This innovation has two main parts — a wireless, flexible film heater containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to convert radiated microwave energy into heat, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) temperature sensor to provide...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Sub-Audible Speech Recognition Based on Electromyographic (EMG) Signals
Sub-audible speech is a new form of human communication that uses tiny neural impulses (EMG signals) in the human vocal tract instead of audible sounds. These EMG signals arise from commands sent by the brain’s speech center to tongue and larynx muscles that enable...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Precision Detector Conductance Definition via Ballistic Thermal Transport
The characteristics of a thermal detector, such as sensitivity, response time, and saturation power (or energy resolution), are functions of the thermal conductance of the detector to its cryogenic environment. The thermal conductance is specified to achieve a tradeoff...
Podcasts
Dave McNally, Aerospace Engineer, Air Traffic Management, and Kapil Sheth, Aerospace Research Engineer, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Two NASA-developed tools — the Dynamic Weather Routes (DWR) tool and a national implementation of DWR called the National Airspace System Constraint Evaluation and Notification Tool (NASCENT) — will...
Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
The technologies NASA develops don’t just blast off into space. They also improve our lives here on Earth. Life-saving search-and-rescue tools, implantable medical devices, advances in commercial aircraft safety,...
Articles: Aerospace
“The sky could become increasingly crowded as personal and commercial uses of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) become more popular,” said Parimal Kopardekar, manager of NASA’s Safe Autonomous...
Articles: Aerospace
Since the early 1990s, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have operated on a limited basis in the National Airspace System (NAS). Until recently, UAS mainly supported public operations, such as military and border security...
Articles: Aerospace
Building on work he and his companies did with Johnson Space Center’s In Situ Resource Utilization...
Application Briefs: Aerospace
Comet Solutions
Cincinnati, OH
513-588-2773
www.cometsolutions.com
A Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance (STOP) analysis is an...
Application Briefs: Aerospace
Advanced Vacuum, a Plasma-Therm Co.
Saint Petersburg, FL
800-246-2592
www.plasmatherm.com
An Advanced Vacuum inductively...
Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
Energy savings are an extremely important topic in virtually every segment of industry today. In general, the largest consumer of power in a converting line or machine is the drive system. As...
Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Southern Manufacturing Group (SMG) of Morrison, TN, makes automotive components and industrial valves. In 2012, the automation system for its 175-ton hydraulic forming...
Articles: Sensors/Data Acquisition
NASA Technologist Mahmooda Sultana has been leading the development of tiny graphene sensors. Because of the material’s extreme sensitivity, graphene-based sensors have a wide range of possible...
Articles: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The romantic notion of grizzled ranchers out riding the range on horseback to shepherd their herd of cattle may soon be a distant memory, as cloud-based sensor technology now permits real-time...
Articles: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Innovations in communications and computing hardware and software have made it easier than ever to collect minute details regarding just about any topic of interest. For technology...
Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
RoboSimian, a limbed robot developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is designed to operate in environments too dangerous or difficult for human intervention,...
Application Briefs: Energy
As more connected devices enter the market and see wider adoption by an ever increasing number of industries, the Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly expanding.
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The Standard Power Series from Honeywell (Fort Mill, SC) includes four new sensor ICs. The integrated circuits offer a sensitivity of 11 Gauss max., allowing design engineers to use larger air gaps between the sensor IC...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
SignalFire Wireless Telemetry (Hudson, MA) has added capabilities to its Field Setup and Diagnostic ToolKit. Interfacing with sensors, thermocouples, load cells, pots, and turbine meters, the Signal Fire Wireless...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The CirrusSense™ wireless router from Transducers Direct (Cincinnati, OH) provides remote pressure readings, diagnostics, and immediate email/text alarm alerts transmitted by CirrusSense™ pressure transducers. The device...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Micro-Epsilon (Raleigh, NC) offers optoNCDT 1320 and 1420 optical smart sensors. Electronics for signal processing are housed in each sensor body. Weighing 60 g, the devices are suitable for dynamic acceleration applications,...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The new Komfy™ Switch with camera by D-Link features the iAQcore indoor air quality module from ams (Cupertino, CA). The iAQcore, a miniaturized, low-power gas sensor, uses a MEMS-based VOC component. The device provides...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
OmniVision Technologies (Santa Clara, CA) has released the OV16860, a 16-megapixel PureCel® Plus-S image sensor. A 1.3-micron pixel architecture enables full resolution recording at 45 frames per second. The sensor also...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
TE Connectivity (Berwyn, PA) has announced the 86BC, a 16-mm piezoresistive silicon pressure sensor packaged in a 316L stainless steel housing. O-ring mounting supports integration into industrial applications. The...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
WAGO Corp. (Germantown, WI) has added 3-Phase Power Measurement Modules to its XTR line of harsh environment (-40 °C to 70 °C extreme temperature and 5g vibration resistance) I/O. Varying communication interfaces...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The POSIWIRE® WS21 cable extension sensor from ASM (Elmhurst, IL) is equipped with a non-contact, magnetic multi-turn-encoder that enables long measuring lengths up to 20,000 mm. Typical applications include linear...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Exergen Corp. (Watertown, MA) has announced the Extreme IRt/c non-contact temperature sensor. A custom-designed housing protects the sensor from extreme vibrations, shifts in pressure, and other acute ambient changes. The...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Macro Sensors (Pennsauken, NJ) has introduced submersible LVDT Position Sensors for use as part of subsea measurement systems. The SSIR 937 Series Submersible LVDT Position Sensors withstand deep sea environments...
Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Pressure Profile Systems (Los Angeles, CA) has released the SingleTact, a miniature capacitive force sensor. The ultra-thin, single-element device quantifies forces in analog or digital configuration. The SingleTact...
Products: Aerospace
MSC Software Corp., Newport Beach, CA, announced the release of Marc 2015 nonlinear and multiphysics simulation software. Enhancements include new material models to simulate complex dynamic behavior of elastomers,...
Products: Aerospace
North Atlantic Industries, Bohemia, NY, announced the VPX57- 31 3U rugged power product that provides up to 400 watts of power with six outputs. It is compliant with MIL-STD-704F, and features current share, remote error...
Products: Aerospace
Intepro Systems, Tustin, CA, introduced the ELR9000 Series of electronic DC loads that features an integral, grid-synchronized inverter designed to return up to 94% of the load test energy back to the grid. The rack-mounted...
Products: Aerospace
The ISL94203 3-to-8 cell battery pack monitor from Intersil Corp., Milpitas, CA, supports lithium-ion and other battery chemistries. The device monitors, protects, and cell-balances rechargeable battery packs to maximize...
Products: Aerospace
Littelfuse, Chicago, IL, offers the SPxx-01WTG-C-HV Series generalpurpose electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection TVS diode arrays (SPA® Diodes). The 0201-size components safeguard data lines on larger touchscreen modules...
Products: Aerospace
Protek Power North America, Hudson, MA, introduced the PUB200/250/300/400 Series of AC/DC switching power supplies that delivers 200-400 Watts of continuous power at convection cooling. The units are housed in a perforated...
Products: Aerospace
TDK-Lambda Americas, National City, CA, announced the 12-Ampere iCH series of POL (Point of Load) non-isolated DC-DC converters. Accepting an input range of 4.5 to 14Vdc, the series can operate from either a 5Vdc or 12Vdc...
Products: Aerospace
OMEGA Engineering, Stamford, CT, offers the PLATINUM™ Series PT-DEMO PID controller that provides an integrated temperature control system suitable as a platform to investigate the use of closed loop (PID) and...
Products: Aerospace
OKW Enclosures, Bridgeville, PA, offers CONNECT enclosures for wired or USB electronics for applications where the unit is connected to a cable, sits between cables, or where the units are joined with USB connectors....
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Marathon Motors (Wausau, WI) introduced totally enclosed air-over (TEAO) cooling tower motors with Bearing Current Protection (BCP) using AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings. The NEMA Premium Severe-Duty motors feature...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Schneider Electric Motion USA (Marlborough, CT) offers Lexium MDrive NEMA size 23 drives with high-torque stepper motors as an alternative to standard motors. Closed loop performance of the drives eliminates possible motor...
Products: Motion Control
EXSYS Tool (San Antonio, FL) offers pL LEHMANN 500 series ultra-high-precision rotary tables. The modular, multi-axis rotary tables allow users to upgrade a vertical machining center without incurring the expense of a new...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The DCH Series actuator control from American Control Electronics (South Beloit, IL) combines an AC-to-DC switching power supply with a regenerative PWM drive to create an all-in-one solution. The control is suited for...
Products: Motion Control
PITTMAN® Motors, a business unit of AMETEK Precision Motion Control (Harleysville, PA), announced IDEATM PBL4850E programmable 3-phase brushless motor controllers that let users create distributed standalone motion...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The Model 30M low-profile, 30-mm-diameter magnetic encoder module from Encoder Products (Sagle, ID) provides incremental feedback by means of advanced sensing and signal processing technology. It combines a Hall-effect...
Products: Motion Control
U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission (Wheeling, IL) introduced Titan Series roller chain for high-speed and harsh environments. The ANSI chain utilizes a “Titan specific” chain construction that includes coated pins and pin...
Products: Motion Control
maxon precision motors (Fall River, MA) announced the GP 6 S spindle for a variety of linear drive solutions. The maximum feed velocity is 15 mm/s, at a force of 10 N. Integrated ball bearings ensure that the drive stands up to...
Products: Motion Control
Catalyst Motion Group™, a Haydon Kerk Motion System integrator (Waterbury, CT), offers a Z-Theta system capability that provides a compact package to achieve a rotary axis and a linear axis in a single unit. When operated in...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Soft Servo Systems (Waltham, MA) offers the WMX general motion controller that simultaneously controls up to 64 axes and 64 channels with control functions on the EtherCAT platform. It can run as an EtherCAT master on a...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Profile Guide rail brakes from Nexen Group (Vadnais Heights, MN) are available in a range of sizes from 15 to 45, and provide engagement at 0.049 to 0.080 seconds. They provide static holding force to 2,600 N (585 lbs.), and can...
Products: Motion Control
The RCP-DELTA robot and control system from Aerotech (Piitsburgh, PA) is available in four models that support payloads up to 3 kg, with X/Y operating ranges of 500/800/1100/1300 mm, and an optional continuous...
Products: Motion Control
Velmex (Bloomfield, NY) offers the Parallel-Coupled BiSlide System for long traverses and larger loads. The system features two identical BiSlide assemblies coupled with a timing belt to drive synchronous operation. It can...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
LinTech (Monrovia, CA) offers the 610 series totally enclosed positioning stage in stroke lengths from 6 to 60 inches (150 to 1520 mm). The screwdriven linear positioning systems use a low-friction, preloaded, recirculating...
INSIDER: Green Design & Manufacturing
During natural disasters like high-magnitude earthquakes, areas most in need of assistance must be located as fast as possible. Researchers, led by Sang-Ho Yun at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,...
Question of the Week
Would you like to ride in a Hyperloop?
This week's Question: A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) team took top honors this month at a competition to design the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation concept from Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In the absence of air or surface friction, the Hyperloop design enables passenger pods...
INSIDER: Energy
A new design for gigantic blades longer than two football fields could help bring offshore 50-megawatt (MW) wind turbines to the United States and the world. Sandia National...
INSIDER: Energy
NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter broke the record to become humanity's most distant solar-powered emissary when Juno was about 493 million miles from the Sun. Launched in 2011, Juno is the...
INSIDER: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) researchers have developed a "Proximity Hat" that uses head pressure to inform users about their surroundings. The ultrasonic sensors, batteries,...
INSIDER: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Slated for launch in 2018, NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) will carry a 3D-printed part made of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), a material that has never been...
INSIDER: Electronics & Computers
A research group from ITMO University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have invented unique conductive magnetic films that will be applied to transparent data storage, flexible...
INSIDER: Electronics & Computers
Stanford researchers have developed the first lithium-ion battery that shuts down before overheating, then restarts immediately when the temperature cools. The new technology could...
INSIDER: Electronics & Computers
In an effort to help solve one of the grand challenges of artificial intelligence, the University of Michigan and IBM have launched a $4.5 million collaboration to develop a new class of...
INSIDER Product: Electronics & Computers
dSPACE’s (Wixom, MI) latest production code generator, TargetLink 4.1, supports the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) 2.0 and the latest version of the AUTOSAR standard, AUTOSAR 4.2. Moreover, MISRA C compliance...
INSIDER Product: Electronics & Computers
Barry Industries (Attleboro, MA) and Modelithics, Inc. have published a report detailing the broadband performance of Barry's 5mm high temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) quad-flat-no-leads (QFN) package to 40GHz. The...
INSIDER Product: Electronics & Computers
ADLINK Technology, Inc. (San Jose, CA) released its latest industrial ATX motherboard, the IMB-M43, powered by 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5/i3 processors and providing up to five PCIe slots. The PCIe slots can be...
INSIDER: Manufacturing & Prototyping
UC Berkeley biologists have found robotic inspiration in the creepy ability of cockroaches to squeeze through even the tiniest crack.
Question of the Week
Are wearable health devices effective?
This week's Question: The market for smartwatches and fitness bands is growing, but how effective are today's wearable health devices? A study from Lancaster University, the University of the West of England, and Nottingham Trent says that the technologies are marketed under the premise that they will help...
INSIDER: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the use of infrared cameras to image additive manufacturing processes in hopes of better understanding how...
INSIDER: Imaging
A new paradigm for the development of photo-bioelectrochemical cells has been reported by researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in...
INSIDER: Photonics/Optics
A NASA team has been tapped to build a new type of communications modem that will employ an emerging, potentially revolutionary technology that could transform everything...
INSIDER Product: Photonics/Optics
Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC) , (New Bedford, MA) has announced the addition of ÅngströmLap Ultimas-Pro Final Polishing Lapping Film to their website. The new Ultimas-Pro line offers: positive...
INSIDER Product: Imaging
The new EyeCheck 9xxx series ready-to-use smart camera by EVT (Karlsruhe, Germany) is available as a complete system with integrated EyeVision image processing software or as an OEM version. The OEM solution is also available in...
INSIDER Product: Photonics/Optics
Resolve Optics Ltd. (Chesham, UK) has expanded its range of fixed focus non-browning lenses for close-up inspection tasks in high radiation environments. Designed to provide uncompromised performance on 2/3-inch cameras,...
INSIDER Product: Software
DolphiTech (Raufoss, Norway) announced that a Software Development Toolkit (SDK) for the DolphiCam Ultrasound Camera System will be released in 1Q 2016. The SDK will enable developers and integrators to create...
Products: Aerospace
PEM® ReelFast® SMTPFLSM™ surfacemount, spring-loaded, captive panel screws from PennEngineering®, Danboro, PA, install permanently on printed circuit boards to provide secure attachment and allow for subsequent...
INSIDER: Energy
An energy-harvesting technology developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers captures the energy of human motion to power mobile electronic devices. The footwear-embedded energy...
News: Manufacturing & Prototyping
The fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, is all about going digital. But the term – and the basic idea behind it – are not new. First used in 2011 at Hannover Fair in Germany, the term...
News: Aerospace
40th Anniversary Reader Contest Winners
In the 1960s, the newly formed NASA began issuing single-sheet reports on the commercially significant technologies the agency was developing in the course of R&D being conducted for the space program – a mandate from Congress. In 1976, NASA turned those single-sheet reports into a magazine format...
Who's Who: Software
Dave McNally, Aerospace Engineer, Air Traffic Management, and Kapil Sheth, Aerospace Research Engineer, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
Convective weather, such as severe thunderstorm activity, is the leading cause of delay in the U.S. National Airspace System. Two NASA-developed tools – the Dynamic Weather Routes (DWR) tool...
Question of the Week
Do you want to be a "space tourist"?
This week's Question: After more than three years of construction, Virgin Galactic unveiled its new spaceship at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. Physicist Stephen Hawking named the new vehicle Virgin Spaceship (VSS) Unity. Although the spacecraft faces an extensive testing period, the company...
INSIDER: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Researchers from the University of Bath, Imperial College, and University College London have developed robotic drones designed to "print" emergency shelters. The flying robots will...
News: Energy
Energy efficiency is key to the total cost of ownership of enclosure climate control solutions, and electricity consumption is a major element of operating costs. Hybrid technology, developed and patented by...
INSIDER: Robotics, Automation & Control
The James Webb Space Telescope team is installing telescope mirror segments using a high-precision robotic arm. To precisely install the segments, the robotic arm can move in six...
INSIDER: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
A new soft robotic gripper made out of rubber and stretchable electrodes can bend and pick up delicate objects like eggs and paper. It uses electroadhesion – flexible electrode flaps that...
INSIDER: Test & Measurement
An artificial intelligence algorithm was developed that greatly increases accuracy in diagnosing the health of complex mechanical systems. Typical vibration analysis searches for...
INSIDER: Imaging
To improve a robot's ability to "see", the fix is in the code.
INSIDER: Imaging
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a chip that allows new radar cameras to fit into the palm of your hand.
News: Aerospace
When astronauts return to Earth in the Orion spacecraft, they will reenter on an extremely hot and fast journey through the atmosphere before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. To protect...
News: Automotive
Two new systems for driverless cars can identify a user’s location and orientation in places where GPS does not function, and identify the various components of a road...
News: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The most important information that is immediately needed for earthquake disasters is the location, depth, and magnitude of the earthquake. The most common method of establishing an earthquake's...
Top Stories
Videos: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Stratolaunch Approaches Hypersonic Speeds in First Talon-A Flight
Blog: Automotive
A Hack to Trick Automotive Radar
Blog: Medical
3D Ice Printing Artificial Blood Vessels
Blog: Power
Tesla Valve-Inspired Design Could Improve the Performance of Rotating...
Podcasts: RF & Microwave Electronics
Countering Illegally Operated Drones at Airports, Stadiums, and Prisons
Blog: Energy
Fast-Charging Li Battery Could Make ‘Range Anxiety’ a Thing of the Past
Question of the Week
Blog: Artificial Intelligence: Meet Human Intelligence
Webcasts
On-Demand Webinars: Defense
From Data to Decision: How AI Enhances Warfighter Readiness
Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace
April Battery & Electrification Summit
Upcoming Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Tech Update: 3D Printing for Transportation in 2024
Upcoming Webinars: Materials
Unleashing Epoxy's Potential: Ensuring Hermetic Sealing in Modern...
Upcoming Webinars: Test & Measurement
Building an Automotive EMC Test Plan