A recent Tech Briefs TV video demonstrated an achievement from engineers at MIT and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. The teams designed the first completely flat fisheye lens to produce crisp, 180-degree panoramic images. The lenses, according to...

With an ever-increasing worldwide number of automated-vehicle developers comes the need for standards for physical and simulation testing. There currently are many global and regional endeavors to formulate AV testing standards, but the piecemeal nature of these efforts...

A Tech Brief featured in our October issue showcases how University of Missouri researchers are creating pencil-drawn sensors. The engineers demonstrated that the simple combination of pencils and paper could be used to create personal, health-monitoring devices.

As automotive electronic systems become increasingly complex, the potential impact on the safety of the vehicle’s occupants and bystanders becomes a critical consideration. As per ISO 26262 guidelines, two classes of safety...

Development and fleet testing of electric commercial vehicles is accelerating as manufacturers attempt to satisfy ever-stricter emissions regulations. Electrification strategies can prove effective for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in a variety of applications, including “last mile”...

When plastics are used in electric components, the selection process examines mechanical properties, temperature capability, flammability, thermal conductivity, and moldability, as well as the need for electrical resistance to isolate the system...

University of Michigan engineers reported that their new self-erasing chips could help stop counterfeit electronics or provide alerts if sensitive shipments are tampered with. The chips use a new material that temporarily stores energy, changing the color of the light it emits. The self-erase period takes seven...

Conventional aircraft configurations have three power options: pneumatic, electrical, and hydraulic. To move to a solely electric aircraft, however, requires new components such as high-speed motors, power electronics, and high-voltage cabling.

Systems and Software Engineering are key to managing spiraling complexity. In this session IBM experts from the Automotive and Aerospace/Defense industries share key engineering challenges like compliance, quality and productivity facing companies today and how they are...

As the need for environmental protection increases, auto manufacturers are forced to develop engines that are more efficient and environmentally friendly. Besides electrification, engine downsizing is a common method used to help achieve this goal, but smaller engines require materials that can...

This 30-minute Webinar examines how adsorbed natural gas (ANG) can bring operational benefits for fleets and pay for itself in less than five years. ANG is specifically suited to light-duty fleets and offers a simple, alternative fueling solution that costs a fraction of a...

A “SwingBot” robotic arm from MIT can learn the physical features of a handheld object through tactile exploration. Instead of using cameras or vision methods, the robot’s grippers use GelSight tactile sensors that measure the pose and force distribution of the object. Watch the demo on Tech Briefs TV.

Today’s automotive industry requires precision parts with high performance and reliability at a competitive cost. This 30-minute Webinar discusses a unique process that eliminates the need for complex, expensive machining when producing small, intricate steel and stainless steel components...

This Tech Talk shares the results of a study that looks at the effects of radiation on a low-bend-loss optical fiber for gyroscope applications. It examines the experiments that were set up and then reviews their surprising results. The irradiation was done at the Naval Research Laboratory. The specifics and...