Channeling Wave Energy for Advanced Ocean Monitoring

A wave-powered remote sensing platform enhances data collection and processing at sea.

A Donut-Shaped In-Wheel Motor for Military Electric Vehicles

Michael Waksman, CEO of Donut Defence, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.

Thermal Management Lies at the Heart of EV Innovation

Along with rapid innovation in cooling methods, a major trend in EV thermal management is the use of technology to better design more thermally efficient vehicle architectures. AI and digital technologies have been major boons to the engineering toolkit for better design, helping to radically speed up system testing and development. Read on to learn more.

Navigating the Challenges of Motor Commutation

Motor commutation involves the process of switching between motor phases to ensure smooth, continuous operation. In this article, we’ll dive into the importance of commutation, explain how it works, and discuss the challenges faced when trying to pair different motors and drives, especially across brands.

A Quick and Easy Way to Produce Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries Using Microwaves

A research team led by Dr. Daeho Kim and Dr. Jong Hwan Park at the Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute has developed a groundbreaking process technology that enables ultrafast, 30-second preparation of hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries, using microwave induction heating. Read on to learn more.

Safe and Energy-Efficient Quasi-Solid Battery for Electric Vehicles and Devices

A team of researchers from Japan has developed a non-flammable quasi-solid-state LIB that can overcome the limitations of conventional batteries. Read on to learn more.

New Products

See the new products, including KULR Technology Group's NASA-certified M35A battery cells; Nexperia's 650 V, 10 A silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky diode; Rotor Clip's patented InterShim™ Wave Spring design; and more.

New Microactuator Driving System Could Give Microdrones a Jump-Start

An innovative circuit design could enable miniature devices, such as microdrones and other microrobotics, to be powered for longer periods of time while staying...

Breakthrough in High-Performance Oxide-Ion Conductors Using Rubidium

Oxide-ion conductors enable oxide ions (O2-) to be transported in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which can run on diverse fuels beyond hydrogen, including natural gas,...

Power Line Test Bed Energizes Technologies for Increasing Grid Capacity

As population growth and extreme temperatures strain the United States power grid, utilities and equipment manufacturers are looking for ways to increase the amount of...

New Material To Make Next Generation of High-Power Electronics Faster and More Efficient

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have achieved a new material that will be pivotal in making the next generation of high-power electronics...

Transmitting Power Through the Body

To free wearable tech from their burdens, researchers developed Power-over-Skin, which allows electricity to travel through the human body and could one day power battery-free devices from head to toe.

NASA’s Moon Shot Launched Commercial Fuel Cell Industry

The first practical fuel cells were developed in preparation for NASA’s Apollo missions because batteries would have weighed too much. The group that produced these fuel cells, now called HyAxiom Inc., sells commercial fuel cells to power buildings and utilities.

A Yarn-Like Seawater Battery

Researchers have developed a yarn-like battery prototype that works when immersed in seawater.

A Safer, More Efficient Lithium Metal Battery

A research team from DGIST has developed a lithium metal battery using a “triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte” that offers greatly enhanced fire safety and an extended lifespan.

My Opinion: There’s a Practical Way to Fix the Electric Grid Bottleneck

There will be a surging need for more electric power in the coming years. The problem is that we will quickly need to upgrade the grid to provide for it. Reconductoring can be a good start.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of month, including one on UW researchers developing a flexible, durable electronic prototype that can harvest energy from body heat and turn it into electricity that can be used to power small electronics; one on Purdue University researchers using both ultrasonic waves and X-ray CT to “see inside” manufactured objects nondestructively; one on Rotograb, a robotic hand that merges the dexterity of human hands with the strength and efficiency of industrial grippers; and more.

How Jet Engine Flow Can Be Controlled Optically

University of Virginia researchers showed for the first time that airflow in supersonic combusting jet engines can be controlled by an optical sensor. The finding could lead to more efficient stabilization of hypersonic jet aircraft. Read on to learn more.

Top 10 Most-Read Tech Briefs Stories of 2024

With another year of Tech Briefs almost in the books, it's time to look at our most-read articles of 2024.

How Much Do You Know About Connecting DC Programmable Power Supplies in Series or Parallel?

There are some applications where the use of a single power supply may not be sufficient to provide the power required by the load. How much do you know about connecting DC programmable power supplies in series or parallel? Find out with this quiz.

DC-DC Converters for High Reliability eVTOL Auxiliary Power Systems

eVTOL power system architectures are not yet well defined, and with the wide variety of possible configurations, from small, unmanned drones through multiseat passenger craft, there may never be one standard. Read on to learn what this means.