UpFront: October 2021 Tech Briefs

NASA reveals winners of a CO2 conversion challenge.

Material Increases Efficiency of LED Devices

The approach achieves near 100% light emission efficiency at all brightness levels.

Analytical Model Evaluates Battery Capability

The model helps researchers fine-tune battery performance.

High-Resolution, Continuous Field-of-View, Non-Rotating Imaging System

Applications include planetary exploration and imaging systems used in surveillance, navigation, and target recognition.

Safer, Less Expensive, Fast-Charging Aqueous Battery

A new anode for aqueous batteries uses seawater as an electrolyte.

New on the Market: October 2021

Battery-pack test systems, data management, connector clips, and more.

Method Integrates Elements of Electronic Filters onto a Single Component

This component takes up ten times less space on computer chips.

Is The Future of Automation in the Manufacturing Sector Already Here?

These technologies provide a tantalizing glimpse into the future of manufacturing automation.

Air Traffic Simulation Tool

This evaluation tool for low-altitude air traffic operations can be used by the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry.

Insulation Material Enables More Efficient Electricity Distribution

High-voltage direct current cables can more efficiently transport electricity over long distances.

Coating Protects Fragile Quantum Electronics

The protective coating works like body armor for the atomically thin materials.

Device Detects Which Hand Gesture a Person Intends to Make

The device paves the way for better prosthetic control and seamless interaction with electronic devices.

One-Atom-Thin 2D Magnet

The ultrathin magnet could advance new applications in computing and electronics.

Facility Focus: Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering

Today, Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering performs research in robotics, cyberphysical systems, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, energy, and other topics.

Microbe Turns Waste into Industrial Chemical

The method could be applied to carbon waste streams.

Using Solar Technology to Power Smart Devices Indoors

An already ubiquitous material in outdoor photovoltaic modules could be repurposed for indoor devices with low-capacity batteries.

3D Motion Tracking System for Autonomous Technology

The system could one day replace LiDAR and cameras in automated manufacturing, biomedical imaging, and autonomous driving.

System Harvests Energy from Radio Waves to Power Wearable Devices

The electricity can be used to power wireless devices or to charge energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors.

Technologies Increase Safety of Astronauts to the Moon

As the U.S. lands a craft on the Moon for the first time since 1972, technology built by Louisiana State University students will report back from the lunar surface.

Photonic Integrated Chip for Improved Light Control

This combination of technologies could enable developments for many optical applications.

Coherent Optical Transistor

Applications include telecommunications, optical switching, and quantum computing.

Macroflash Cup Cryostat

The compact instrument measures thermal conductivity of materials at below ambient temperatures.

Artificial Intelligence Creates Sharp Images from Blurry Photos

This AI turns even the blurriest photo into realistic computer-generated faces in HD.

Ultra-High Performance Flexible Ultraviolet Sensors for Use in Wearables

To enable the development of wearable devices that possess advanced ultraviolet (UV) detection functions, scientists have created a new type of light sensor that is both flexible and highly sensitive.

Sensing Hazardous Gases Can Save Lives

Pellistor/Catalytic Bead (CB) sensors can respond to flammable gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, methane, butane, propane, and carbon monoxide.

What Will 5G Do for the IoT/IIoT?

To find out about the impact of 5G mobile broadband service on the IoT/IIoT, I interviewed Jai Suri, Vice President, IoT and Blockchain Applications Development, Oracle, and Mike Anderson, Embedded Systems...

Tiny, Wireless, Injectable Chips Use Ultrasound to Monitor Body Processes

Implantable chips visible only in a microscope point the way to developing chips that can be injected into the body with a hypodermic needle to monitor medical conditions.

New Products

Laser-distance sensors, light monitoring, flow meters, and more.