Briefs: Electronics & Computers

SpaceCube 2.0 Flight Card Mechanical System

Applications include mechanical aerospace manufacturing and thermal structure manufacturing.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Programmable Balloons for Shape-Morphing Devices

Kirigami balloons could be used in shape-changing actuators for soft robots, minimally invasive surgical devices, and macro structures for space exploration.

Briefs: Unmanned Systems

Modular, In-Air, Multi-UAV Docking

This system can be used for long-range or high-payload deliveries as well as search and rescue.

Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics

Miniature Antenna Enables Robotic Teaming in Complex Environments

A low-frequency antenna with enhanced bandwidth will enable robust networking among compact, mobile robots.

Articles: Electronics & Computers

2020 Create the Future Design Contest: Electronics/Sensors/IoT Category Winner – PrintIC Flexible Circuits

With PrintIC technology, sensors, actuators, energy supplies, and ICs can be printed on the same substrate, avoiding assembly cost.

Application Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics

Wave Energy Modeling for Safer Space Travel

What does wave energy have to do with space exploration? Plenty, it turns out.

Products: Software

Product of the Month: December 2020 Tech Briefs

COMSOL Multiphysics® version 5.6 simulation software features four new products.

Articles: Photonics/Optics

Vote for Medical Design Briefs Product of the Year 2020

Winners will be announced in Medical Design Briefs and online.

Blog: Aerospace

Will Electric Aircraft Reach the Speeds of Commercial Jets?

An Israel-based company called Eviation is working on an all-electric aircraft known as "Alice." Will it match the speeds of a jet?

Blog: Semiconductors & ICs

With a 50-Million-Electron Jolt, Sensors Power Themselves

By jumpstarting electrons, a team at Washington University in St. Louis has developed sensors that can power themselves for more than a year.

INSIDER: Motion Control

Printing Paper Structures for Mechatronics

Natural motion in plants occurs because of cellulose fibers absorbing and releasing water. Scientists developed a simple method to produce self-folding origami structures based on this concept....

INSIDER: Robotics, Automation & Control

Robotic “Snake” Grips and Picks Up Objects

An invention similar to an elephant’s trunk has potential benefits for many industries where handling delicate objects is essential. UNSW Sydney developed a soft fabric robotic gripper...

On-Demand Webinars: Materials

Achieving Dimensional Stability of Lightweight Thermoplastic Automotive Parts

Use of thermoplastics can contribute to weight savings for exterior components such as body panels, spoilers, and exterior trim. Some applications present...

Blog: Data Acquisition

Stanford Computer Model Predicts How COVID-19 Spreads in Cities

The model analyzes three factors that drive infection risk: where people go in the course of a day; how long they linger; and how many other people are visiting the same place at the same time.

Blog: Energy

A Solar Alternative: How to Power Devices with Indoor Light

A new material is especially effective at absorbing indoor light and converting it into usable energy.

On-Demand Webinars: Automotive

How VCONN, a USB-C Feature, Changes the Car-to-Passenger Experience

As the automotive market changes from traditional standard A receptacles to the newer USB Type-C™ receptacles, many questions arise regarding which features to...

News: Electronics & Computers

Thin Layer Protects Battery and Allows Cold Charging

Researchers in the Battery and Energy Storage Technology Center at Penn State University are searching for a reliable, quick-charging, cold-weather battery for automobiles. They...

News: Automotive

New Composite Material Revs Up Pursuit of Advanced EVs

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have used new techniques to create a composite that increases the electrical current capacity of copper wires, providing a...

News: Energy

New Battery Electrolyte May Boost Performance of EVs

A new lithium-based electrolyte invented by Stanford University scientists could pave the way for the next generation of battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs). Their electrolyte...