Briefs: Materials
Pearl-Like Coating Enhances Lightweight Armor
By mimicking the outer coating of pearls (nacre or mother of pearl), researchers created a lightweight plastic that is 14 times stronger and eight times lighter (less dense) than steel. It could...
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Wind Event Warning System
NASA Langley Research Center developed a wind event warning technology that provides a practical early warning system (5-10 minutes) for a severe change in the wind vector. Events such as gusts, shear, microbursts,...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Wearable Motion Sensors Measure Fetal Heartbeat
A technique was developed that could allow expectant parents to hear their baby’s heartbeat continuously at home with a non-invasive and safe device that is potentially more accurate than any fetal heartrate monitor currently available in the market.
Briefs: Materials
Simulating Softness for Haptic Interfaces
Researchers have developed a formula that enables them to recreate different levels of perceived softness. Based on the results from their experiments, they created equations that can calculate how...
Briefs: Wearables
Printed Electronics for Electrified Tattoos and Personalized Biosensors
A fully print-in-place technique for electronics could enable technologies such as high-adhesion, embedded electronic tattoos and bandages with patient-specific...
Articles: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
2019 'Create the Future' Automotive/Transportation Category Winner: A Standalone AC Battery
Articles: Electronics & Computers
Products of Tomorrow: November 2019
This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that...
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Robots Track Moving Objects with Sub-Centimeter Accuracy
A system was developed that uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to help robots target moving objects with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The system could enable greater...
Articles: Test & Measurement
The 6 Most Important Parts of a Temperature Monitoring System
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Form-Fitting Nanoscale Sensors
A method was developed to make atom-flat sensors that seamlessly integrate with devices to report on what they perceive. Electronically active 2D materials, touted for their strength, are difficult to move to...
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Passive Smart Container
Although Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is being used widely for pallet and box-level tracking in the commercial sector, significant technology gaps remain for tracking dense quantities at the item...
Articles: Aerospace
2019 Create the Future Design Contest Special Awards Section
Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
2019 'Create the Future' Consumer Products Category Winner: Livox
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Method Makes Transistors and Electronic Devices from Thread
A transistor has been made from linen thread, enabling the creation of electronic devices made entirely of thin threads that could be woven into fabric, worn on the skin, or...
Application Briefs: Communications
Quantitative Analysis of Raw Milk Using Spectral Sensors
Application Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics
A Vision-Based Lunar Navigator for Next-Generation Landers
Engineers at the University of Illinois have found a way to redirect misfit light waves to reduce energy loss during optical data transmission. In a study,...
Products: Imaging
New Products: November 2019 Photonics & Imaging Technology
Articles: Photonics/Optics
Expanding Traditional Machine Vision With High-Speed Digital Imaging
Articles: Photonics/Optics
Bringing Precision Anamorphic Micro-Optics to Consumer-Level Laser Applications
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Tiny Lensless Endoscope Captures 3D Images of Objects Smaller Than a Cell
Researchers have developed a new self-calibrating endoscope that produces 3D images of objects smaller than a single cell without a lens or any optical, electrical, or...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Shaping Light with a Smartlens
High quality camera performance on mobile devices has proven to be one of the features that most end-users aim for. The importance of optical image quality improvement and the trend to have thinner and thinner...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Recovering Color Images from Scattered Light
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Optical Neural Network Could Lead to Intelligent Cameras
UCLA engineers have made major improvements on their design of an optical neural network — a device inspired by how the human brain works — that can identify objects or process...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Mathematical Technique Quickly Tunes Next-Generation Lenses
Most of us know optical lenses as curved, transparent pieces of plastic or glass, designed to focus light for microscopes, spectacles, cameras, and more. For the most part, a...
Features: Medical
2019 Create the Future Design Contest Grand Prize Winner: ULiSSES
Articles: Wearables
2019 'Create the Future' Medical Category Winner: Cervical Stabilization Device
Products: Electronics & Computers
Product of the Month: November 2019 Tech Briefs
Blog: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Creating the Future: Livox Simplifies Communication for People with Disabilities
Top Stories
Blog: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

A Former NASA Mission Manager Reflects on a 'Flawless' Mars Landing
Articles: RF & Microwave Electronics
Nano Diamond Battery Provides Universal Applicability
Videos: Electronics & Computers

'LaserFactory' Manufactures Fully Functional Devices & Drones
Podcasts: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Here's an Idea: Hospital Robots
Videos: Aerospace

Watch NASA's Perseverance Rover Land on Mars
INSIDER: Motion Control


Question of the Week
Would You Use the 'LaserFactory?'
Webcasts
Upcoming Webinars: Electronics & Computers
Contactless Position, Torque, and Force Sensing for Today’s and...
Upcoming Webinars: Automotive
How to Achieve Multidisciplinary, Collaborative, Concurrent...
Upcoming Webinars: Materials
Ultra-High Purity Silicone in Aerospace and Defense Product Design
Upcoming Webinars: Automotive
A Four-Pillar Approach to Driving Greater Efficiency ePowertrain...
Upcoming Webinars: Automotive
Confident TCU Connectivity Through Efficient Functional Testing
Upcoming Webinars: Transportation
Trending Stories
Application Briefs: Data Acquisition

Using the IoT for Predictive Maintenance
Application Briefs: Motion Control

Innovation on a Larger Scale: Robotic Fiber Placement and 3D Printing
Articles: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Executive Roundtable: Facility & Network Security
NASA Spinoff: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Nanotechnology Repairs Engine Damage in Cars
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Sound Inaudible to Humans Can Be Recorded by Microphones
Briefs: Physical Sciences

Compact Ku-Band T/R Module for High-Resolution Radar Imaging of Cold Land...