Keyword: Elastomers

5 Ws: Robotics, Automation & Control
A team of researchers at Cornell Engineering has developed a soft robot that can detect when and where it was damaged — and then heal itself on the spot.
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Briefs: Design
Researchers designed a new type of soft robotic gripper that uses a collection of thin tentacles to entangle and ensnare objects.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Researchers have developed electronic skin (e-skin) that is applied directly on top of real skin. Made from soft, flexible rubber, it can be embedded with sensors that...

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Briefs: Wearables

Elastic polymers, known as elastomers, can be stretched and released repeatedly and are used in applications such as gloves and heart valves, where they need to last a long time without tearing. But...

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Briefs: Materials
The sustainable material offers a zero-waste solution to boost recycling and support the circular economy.
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5 Ws: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Imagine a tablet or Kindle that can display braille on command for the visually impaired.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
A 3D-printable elastomer yields soft, elastic objects that feel like human tissue.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
An optimized flash process could reduce carbon emissions.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
These elastomers have a wide range of uses for the building, automotive, and electronics industries.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Biobots based on muscle cells can swim at unprecedented velocities.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
An electrically driven soft valve paves the way for fully soft robots.
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Articles: Materials
Thanos Yiagopoulos, Chief Technology Officer of Momentive Performance Materials, discusses how engineers can determine the best product for their application.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
The inexpensive, convenient devices can measure exposure to a class of chemicals that can be harmful during pregnancy.
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Briefs: Aerospace
Applications include anti-fouling and anti-contamination, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic drag reduction, and adhesive joining of composite parts.
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Briefs: Wearables
The organic composite material is soft, stretchable, and has good thermoelectric properties for many wearable applications.
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Briefs: Energy
A flexible device worn on the wrist harvests heat energy from the human body to monitor health.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
A connection between electricity and mechanical motion in soft, rubber-like materials could improve robot range.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
Microspheres are used in wind tunnel experiments to monitor airflow, to stain biological samples, and in time-delayed drug release.
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Articles: Materials
Highly purified, low-outgassing silicones prevent material degradation in satellites and space vehicles.
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Briefs: Materials
This material could be used for artificial muscles that power bio-inspired robots.
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5 Ws: Materials
MIT researchers are developing a shoe coating that provides a stronger grip on ice and other slippery surfaces.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
This technology can help robots walk up to 40 percent faster on uneven terrain such as pebbles and wood chips.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
This technology shows potential for the detection of subtle human motions and the real-time monitoring of body postures for healthcare applications.
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Briefs: Energy
A liquid crystal elastomer can be programmed to exhibit controllable, dynamic behavior without the need for complex electronic components.
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Briefs: Tubing & Extrusion
The material consists solely of components that have already been shown to work well in the body.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
These materials can be used in soft robotics, self-healing electronics, and medical devices.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
A wireless sensor small enough to be implanted in the blood vessels of the human brain could help clinicians evaluate the healing of aneurysms.
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Q&A: Materials
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
This microrobot with soft actuators can crash, fall, and collide without being damaged.
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