Features

A Tabletop Robot May Revolutionize Physical Therapy Delivery

Mohammad Habibur (Habib) Rahman, Director of the BioRobotics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his team have been developing a portable, assistive robotic arm that therapists can use to assess and treat patients whether or not they are not in the same location.

NASA’s Electric Thrusters Keep Commercial Satellites on the Clock

NASA’s advancements in materials research for ion thrusters enabled Orbion Space Technology to bring high-efficiency ion thrusters to the commercial satellite industry.

5Ws of a Raven-Inspired Drone

EPFL researchers have built RAVEN, a drone that can walk, hop, and jump into flight with the aid of birdlike legs.

New on the Market

See what's new on the market, including Cotronics' Duralco™ 215, an alumina ceramic-based high temperature coating, specially developed for impregnating and coating electrical products to 2500 ºF; COMSOL's Multiphysics ® version 6.3, which delivers new features and capability updates for efficient physics modeling and simulation app development; Binder's angled M5 panel mount connectors; and much more.

How Double-Sided Polishing Can Revolutionize Optical Manufacturing

In optical manufacturing, precision polishing is vital to achieving the required flatness, surface quality, and angular precision that many applications demand. Traditionally, single-sided polishing has been the go-to method, particularly for complex components where one-sided control is critical. Read on to learn more about double-sided polishing.

Designing and Testing the Optics for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

When it launches no later than May 2027, the NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will serve as a powerful eye on deep space, capturing images of billions of distant galaxies and exploring the mysteries of dark matter, supernovae and other cosmic phenomena. Read on to learn about what it takes to make it a success.

The Future of AI for Aerospace Manufacturing

All aerospace industry sectors have embraced artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve practical and urgent concerns. AI has become fundamental in the management of safety, part design, inspection processes, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), and fuel efficiency. Read on to learn more about it.

How AI Impacts an Industrial Machinery Manufacturer’s Design Process

Artificial intelligence will be a key tool going forward in achieving results, offering the ability to more rapidly design, prototype, and implement changes and solutions through superior data analytics abilities and improved human-machine interactions. Read on to learn more.

Designing Next-Generation Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology for Better Life in Space

Engineers at NASA used modeling and simulation with experimental testing to analyze the next generation of compressor designs that get the job done more quietly, with fewer maintenance needs, and at lower fabrication cost. Read on to learn more.

New Products

See the new products, including TRIOPTICS' compact and retrofittable solution for processing laser diodes on the ATS 100 alignment turning station; TRUMPF's VCSELs and photodiodes; Edmund Optics’ TECHSPEC® UV Fused Silica Plano-Convex (PCX) Lenses MgF2 Coated feature precision specifications; Imperx' two new Cheetah cameras: the CXP-C1941 and the SFP-C1941; and more.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: L. S. Starrett's AVR400 CNC Vision System, the largest benchtop platform to date from Starrett.

Large Format Windows: From Material to Mission

Defense applications, in particular, are always tasked with the balancing act that optimizes size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) efficiencies when specifying new equipment. The challenge is how to balance beneficial trade-offs for optimal performance. Read on to learn more.

On-Chip Spectral Imaging for Earth Observation

Today, companies are building small satellite constellations with tens to hundreds of units, far exceeding the scale of traditional space operations. Read on to learn more.

The State of AI: Manufacturing 2025

AI represents a tremendous opportunity across the manufacturing industry. To successfully implement and benefit from AI in 2025, manufacturers will need to develop a clear AI strategy, optimize operations, and manage risks. Read on to learn more.

Photonic Processor Could Enable Ultrafast AI Computations

Scientists from MIT and elsewhere have demonstrated a fully integrated photonic processor that can perform all the key computations of a deep neural network optically on a chip. Read on to learn more about it.

Artificial Intelligence and Industrial Robotics: Far Beyond the Hype

Accelerating progress in AI is redefining what is possible with industrial robotics, enhancing everything from robots’ ability to grip, pick and place as well as their ability to map and navigate through dynamic environments. Read on to learn more about what this means.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow, including the world’s first soft touchpad that can sense the force, area, and location of contact without electricity; a hydrogel that retains the semiconductive ability needed to transmit information between living tissue and machine; and a thin film sensor that measures temperatures up to 1200 °F.

A Haptic Patch Can Transmit Complex Information to a Wearer’s Skin

Matthew Flavin, Ph.D., was part of a team at Northwestern University that developed a haptic patch to convey visual information to unsighted people through an array of multi-function actuators. Now, as assistant professor in the School of Electrical Engineering, he has started a new lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology to continue his work on bioelectronics.

NASA’s Inspection Technology for Spacecraft Tests Quality of Seacraft Hulls

An ultrasonic technology for inspecting the heat shield on NASA’s Orion spacecraft is now being used for evaluating seacraft hulls made with advanced composite materials.

5Ws of the EgoTouch

EgoTouch, a new tool developed by researchers in CMU’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, could put control for AR/VR environments in the palm of your hand.

New Products

See the new products, including the TNC7 control system from HEIDENHAIN; ATI Industrial Automation's GBX 10 Gigabit Tool Changer Ethernet Module; Emerson's Rosemount™ 802 Wireless Multi-Discrete Input or Output Transmitter; Moticont's two 15.9 mm (0.625 in.) diameter Linear Voice Coil Motors, the LVCM-016-019-01M (Metric) and the LVCM-016-019-01 (Imperial); and much more.

New on the Market

See what's new on the market, including Nikon Metrology NV's Scatter Correction CT; Emerson's next-generation Rosemount™ 3490 Controller; Fischer Connectors' USB 3.2 connectors and cable assembly solutions; Renesas Electronics' R-Car Family of system-on-chips for entry-level Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS); and much more.

Where Do EV Batteries Go When They Die?

Some go to Cox Automotive’s battery solutions center in Oklahoma City, where the company works with OEMs on their post-sale needs. Others get recycled, with lots of OEMs teaming up with Redwood Materials. Read on to find out what happens to the others.

Crafting Safe, Long-Cyclable Lithium Metal Batteries for High Temperatures

A research team led by Professor Dong-Myeong Shin of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong has developed a new generation of lithium metal batteries, representing a significant advancement in the field. Here, an interview with Shin to learn more about the technology.

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.

Solving the Battery Recycling Challenge

The surging global popularity of electric vehicles is creating a new challenge: a mounting pile of spent lithium-ion batteries. In just a decade, more than 1.2 million tons of lithium-ion batteries will reach their end-of-life, creating an urgent need for efficient and profitable recycling solutions. This impending battery waste crisis presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Read on to learn more.

The Future Is Flexible: How One Component Represents Tomorrow’s Manufacturing

Speed and efficiency are bedrocks of operational efficiency but are only proven in processes that are strategically optimized. Read on to learn more about what this means.

AI in Motion Control: Optimizing Servo Systems

As technology advances, so do we as skilled professionals in the automation industry. Much like artificial intelligence, we continuously learn and adapt to enhance our overall performance. AI advancement and straightforward learning algorithms have transformed how we implement servo systems. Read on to learn more.

3D-Woven Thermal Protection System Technologies Support NASA Space Missions

Over the past decade, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and its team of development partners have developed several unique thermal protection system (TPS) technologies designed to protect spacecraft from the extreme heat conditions and entry environments that space missions face. Read on to learn more about it.