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Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Analog Nonvolatile Computer Memory Circuits
In nonvolatile random-access memory (RAM) circuits of a proposed type, digital data would be stored in analog form in ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FFETs). This type of memory circuit would offer advantages over prior volatile and nonvolatile types:
Briefs: Software
World Wind 3D Earth Viewing
World Wind allows users to zoom from satellite altitude down to any place on Earth, leveraging high-resolution LandSat imagery and SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) elevation data to experience Earth in visually rich 3D. In addition to Earth, World Wind can also visualize other planets, and there are already...
Briefs: Software
JavaGenes Molecular Evolution
JavaGenes is a general-purpose, evolutionary software system written in Java. It implements several versions of a genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, stochastic hill climbing, and other search techniques. This software has been used to evolve molecules, atomic force field parameters, digital circuits, Earth...
Briefs: Materials
Accounting for Uncertainties in Strengths of SiC MEMS Parts
A methodology has been devised for accounting for uncertainties in the strengths of silicon carbide structural components of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The methodology enables prediction of the probabilistic strengths of complexly shaped MEMS parts using data from tests of...
Briefs: Energy
Lithium Dinitramide as an Additive in Lithium Power Cells
Lithium dinitramide, LiN(NO2)2 has shown promise as an additive to nonaqueous electrolytes in rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium-ion-based electrochemical power cells. Such non-aqueous electrolytes consist of lithium salts dissolved in mixtures of organic ethers, esters, carbonates,...
Briefs: Materials
Ion-conducting polymers that are hybrids of organic and inorganic moieties and that are suitable for forming into solid electrolyte membranes have been invented in an effort to improve upon the...
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Briefs: Materials
MoO3 has shown promise as a cathode material that can extend the upper limit of operating temperature of rechargeable lithium thin-film electrochemical cells. Cells of this type are...
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Who's Who: Aerospace
In a crash, keeping the occupants alive and uninjured is paramount. In order to study the dynamics of an impact, military and general aviation aircraft,...
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Products: Design
NextEngine, Santa Monica, CA, offers the Desktop 3D Scanner, a full-color multi-laser scanner that scans complex shapes for CAD and 3D design applications on the desktop. About the size of a cereal box, the scanner connects...
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
A streamliner motorcycle designed and built by Sierra Design Engineering and BUB Enterprises achieved a new world-record speed of 350.884 miles per hour last year at the Bonneville Salt...
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
A counterrotating-shoulder mechanism has been proposed as an alternative to the mechanism and fixtures used in conventional friction stir welding. The mechanism would internally react...
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
A method of detecting mechanical failure induced by variation in temperature at an adhesive bond between two materials that have different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs)...
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Briefs: Medical
Antibodies that bind to preselected regions of the urokinase molecule have been developed. These antibodies can be used to measure small quantities of each of three molecular forms of urokinase that...
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Briefs: Medical
Understanding and Counteracting Fatigue in Flight Crews
The materials included in the collection of documents describe the research of the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Group (FCG), which examines the extent to which fatigue, sleep loss, and circadian disruption affect flight-crew performance. The group was formed in 1980 — in response to a...
Application Briefs: Photonics/Optics
SLP-330 Laser Scanning Probe Laser Design Minneapolis, MN 952-884-9648 www.laserdesign.com The loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia because of damage to its...
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Tech Needs
Environmentally Friendly Solvents
A specialty chemical company is seeking innovative green, renewable raw materials, products, and processes for replacement of existing non-environmentally friendly solvents while not compromising the performance or significantly increasing the costs. The solutions should be biodegradable, low/non- VOC, low...
Articles
Michael Kaplan Director of EngineeringAdobe AcrobatAdobe Systems Inc.San Jose, CA When I started graduate studies in 3D computer graphics in 1978, dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I still remember my shock the first time I saw a...
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Tech Needs
Quantifying Breast-Feeding Volume
A method is sought to provide a real-time quantitative measure of the volume of milk consumed as a baby breast-feeds. The solution must be safe, environmentally sound, non-invasive, retail for under $50, and should not interfere with mother- newborn bonding. It should be compatible with home use and relatively...
Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Emhart Teknologies Presents “Create the Future” 2006 Design Contest Winners
Creating the future is about change, creativity, and risk - the core building blocks that foster innovation. For the past five years, Emhart Teknologies has partnered with NASA Tech Briefs in challenging the engineering community through our “Create the Future”...
Articles: Motion Control
Winner of a hybrid automobile or $20,000 Designed by:David A. Torrey, Ph.D., P.E. Advanced Energy Conversion LLC Malta, NY There is tremendous interest today in reducing the...
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Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Winner of a Panasonic 42" plasma TV Designed by: Buck Albritton GearMax Ashland, VA
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Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Merit Prize Winners, “Create the Future” 2006 Design Contest
Parallel-Plate Motorcycle Frame Martin O’Toole, Revolution Motorcycles, Doylestown, PA The concept of the parallel-plate framing system is to eliminate the welded tubular frame. The components are made using 3-axis CNC milling, waterjet, and laser-cutting machines. By removing the...
Articles: Aerospace
Meet the Judges, “Create the Future” 2006 Design Contest
William Brosey, Section Manager,BWXT Y-12, Oak Ridge, TN Joe Buford, Mfg. Engineer,Boeing Satellite Development Center, El Segundo, CA
Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
In today’s competitive marketplace, manufacturers need suppliers who not only deliver the parts required to build a product, but those who deliver support and consultation on how best to...
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Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
Nowadays, there are many technologies available that are used to quantify the motion of humans and animals. However, recent innovations in optical motion capture systems have...
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Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
At full power, the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), part of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN), will produce the world’s most intense pulsed...
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Application Briefs: Motion Control
World cotton production in 2006/07 is forecast at 115.7 million bales, and global cotton consumption is forecast at a record of nearly 121 million bales, with 13.2 million acres dedicated...
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Products: Motion Control
Avago Technologies (San Jose, CA) introduced the AEDS-964x optical encoder modules, with resolutions of up to 360 lines per inch, for printing applications. The modules are used with a transmissive code strip to detect...
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