Features

Five Techniques for Lightweighting: Doing More With Less

Manufacturers in almost every industry are looking to design lighter parts. Here are five lightweighting strategies.

Product of the Month

Vitrek introduces the PA920 Series ultra-high-accuracy power analyzer.

Collaborative Automation: It's More Than Just the Cobot

“Cobots” allow companies of almost any size to automate processes that were previously out of reach.

The Role of Sensors in the Evolution of Robotics

Sensing technology will help to transform manufacturing floors into the connected factories of the future.

Docking System Enables Safe Rendezvous in Space

The ESA has commissioned its industry partners to design a new docking system called the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM).

New Products

Actuators, Encoders, Gripping Tools, and More

Valve Position Sensor Protects Switch Boxes from Salt Environment

Salty air the Dutch city of Harlingen causes exposed metal parts to corrode.

New on the Market: December 2019

Adhesives, flame-retardant compounds, vision measurement, and more...

Employing the Electrical Digital Twin to Mitigate Compliance Risk in Aerospace

With the rise in electrification and design complexity, aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) need to look for new methodologies to mitigate compliance risk.

5 Ws of EarEcho

The biometric tool uses modified wireless earbuds to authenticate smartphone users

Development and Analysis of Solid-State Batteries with the COMSOL® Platform

As lithium-ion battery production doubles, more viable energy storage solutions are needed.

Facility Focus: NASA John H. Glenn Research Center

Glenn's research facilities have contributed to decades of technology advances.

Carbon Capture Process Makes Sustainable Oil

Life support research for astronauts enabled a solution to one aspect of climate change.

Products of Tomorrow

Products include an aerosol scattering sensor; metal foam; and a new coated drug capsule.

Q&A: Refrigeration by Twisting Fibers

Changing directions of twist and coiling changes whether a material cools or heats.

Innovators Recognized for Creating the Future 2019

Top prizes in the 2019 contest were awarded on November 8 in New York City.

Product of the Month

The GNV-720 and GNV-725 humidity temperature meters from Global Specialties feature three environmental sensors.

2019 'Create the Future' Aerospace & Defense Category Winner: A Morphing, Foldable Drone

The Foldable Drone: a Morphing Quadrotor that can Squeeze and Fly Davide Falanga, Kevin Kleber, Stefano Mintchev, Dario Floreano, and Davide...

5 Ws of the E-Tattoo for Heart Monitoring

A new wearable could make heart health monitoring easier and more accurate than existing electrocardiograph machines.

Facility Focus: National Science Foundation

In recent decades, NSF-funded researchers have discovered quite a bit, including many of the fundamental particles of matter.

Q&A: Innovative Linear Electrostatic MEMS Actuator

Sherry Towfighian and her team made a big improvement on how microphones are manufactured.

2019 'Create the Future' Manufacturing/Robotics/Automation Category Winner: The HPCI® Joining Gun

A team of inventors found a fast way to join plastic to metal.

New on the Market: November 2019

3D-printing platforms, simulation software, transistors, and more.

Phase-Change Coating Absorbs Heat from Rockets, Pipes, and Beer

The material used on a shuttle's rocket boosters has several terrestrial applications.

2019 'Create the Future' Electronics/Sensors/IOT Category Winner: Early Detection of Battery Faults

Battelle's simple, cost-effective sensor detects the onset of battery faults.

2019 'Create the Future' Sustainable Technologies Category Winner: Wave-Powered Water Desalination

Learn about the world's first wave-driven desalination system.

2019 'Create the Future' Automotive/Transportation Category Winner: A Standalone AC Battery

A prototype of the AC 'Biode' battery has been developed at 20W.

Products of Tomorrow

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 innovation.

The 6 Most Important Parts of a Temperature Monitoring System

Make the best selection for your hospital, clinic, or life science organization.