Technical Briefs, Design Engineering News

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Briefs: Energy

A Sustainable Battery with a Biodegradable Electrolyte Made from Crab Shells

Scientists created a zinc battery with a biodegradable electrolyte from an unexpected source — crab shells.

Briefs: Energy

Developing More Durable Solar Cells

An international research collaboration led by UCLA has developed a way to use perovskite in solar cells while protecting it from the conditions that cause it to deteriorate.

Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs

Material Derived from Trees Could Replace Liquid Electrolytes

The material could pave the way for better, safer solid-state batteries.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Inflatable, Shape-Changing Spinal Implants Could Help Treat Severe Pain

The device uses soft robotics, ultra-thin electronics, and microfluidics.

Briefs: Medical

Detecting COVID-Causing Virus with High-Tech Bubbles

A new technique enables the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the air by using a nanotechnology-packed bubble that spills its chemical contents like a broken piñata when encountering the virus.

Briefs: Medical

Ionic Magnetic Resonance Tailors Animal Cells/Tissues

An apparatus and method that controls the growth and proliferation of 3D biological cells and mammalian tissue in the presence of a pulsating, alternating ionic magnetic resonance field.

Briefs: Design

Autonomous Driving Algorithm Distributes Risk Fairly

Researchers have developed the first ethical algorithm to fairly distribute the levels of risk rather than operating on an either/or principle.

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

An Algorithmic Planner Helps Delegate Tasks to Human-Robot Teams

The technology could be useful in manufacturing and assembly plants for sorting packages, or in any environment where humans and robots collaborate.

Briefs: AR/AI

An Artificial Intelligence System to Identify Objects in Cluttered Scenes

Robotic vision has come a long way, reaching a level of sophistication with applications in complex and demanding tasks, such as autonomous driving and object manipulation.

Briefs: Software

A New Method to Improve Motion Planning for Robots

Interactive program aids motion planning for environments with obstacles.

Briefs: AR/AI

An AI Chip Runs Computations Directly in Memory

A team has designed and built a chip that runs computations directly in memory and can run a wide variety of AI applications.

Products: Energy

New on the Market

See what's new, including a new series of ultra-miniature isolated single and dual-output high voltage DC-DC converters and new line of industrial interconnects.

Articles: RF & Microwave Electronics

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow--today.

Quiz: Power

The Rise of Electric Vehicles

Did you know that electric vehicles have been around for over a century? Test your knowledge about the history of EVs in this quiz.

INSIDER: AR/AI

Simulated Terrible Drivers Cut the Time and Cost of AV Testing by a Factor of One Thousand

A new virtual testing environment breaks the ‘curse of rarity’ for autonomous vehicle emergency decision-making.

INSIDER: Unmanned Systems

Feathered Robotic Wing Paves Way for Flapping Drones

Birds fly more efficiently by folding their wings during the upstroke, according to a recent study led by Lund University in Sweden. The results could mean that wing-folding is the next...

INSIDER: Test & Measurement

3D-Printed Revolving Devices Can Sense How They Are Moving

A new system enables makers to incorporate sensors into gears and other rotational mechanisms with just one pass in a 3D printer.

Blog: Aerospace

5 Questions with DART's Dr. Cambioni

A Tech Briefs interview with DART team member Dr. Saverio Cambioni.

Blog: Test & Measurement

When Engineers and Technicians Collide

Engineers and technicians can use their differences to help each other solve technical problems.

INSIDER: Energy

New Battery Aims to Integrate Renewables for Grid Resiliency

A new battery design could help ease integration of renewable energy into the nation’s electrical grid at lower cost, using Earth-abundant metals, according to a study just...

INSIDER: Power

Reused car batteries rev up electric grid

When aging vehicle batteries lack the juice to power your car anymore, they may still hold energy. Yet it’s tough to find new uses for lithium-ion batteries with different makers, ages, and sizes....