Magazine

Researchers Demonstrate 40-Channel Optical Communication Link

It achieves 40 channels by combining a frequency comb light source based on a new photonic crystal resonator developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with an optimized mode-division multiplexer.

New Products

The new products in September 2022.

Meeting the Challenges for Space to Earth Optical Communication

Satellite radio communication is widely used in industry and government for high-bandwidth data transfers.

Product of the Month

The compact optoNCDT 1420LL laser sensors from Micro-Epsilon, Ortenburg, Germany, perform precise distance measurements on metallic and structured surfaces. The sensor projects a small laser line onto the measuring object,...

Lignin-Based Jet Fuel Packs More Power

An experimental plant-based jet fuel could increase engine performance and efficiency, while dispensing with aromatics, the pollution-causing compounds found in conventional fuels.

Webb Telescope Mirror Tech Improves Eye Surgery on Earth

Eye surgery patients on Earth are benefiting from early research on the NASA’s James Webb Telescope’s enormous mirrors.

Focusing the Sun – A Big Gain for Solar Power Efficiency

A new kind of optical concentrator can passively focus the sun onto a photovoltaic cell from any angle to reduce the amount of photovoltaic material needed for a given amount of power generation.

Solar Power for Carbon Capture

A solar thermal device mimics photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide emissions into a clean energy resource.

An Alternative to Lithium-Ion Batteries

Have we found a better alternative to lithium-ion batteries?

Advancing Battery Technology: The 2022 Battery Show Preview

The largest battery and electric vehicle technologies trade show in North America.

Raising the Reliability of Scientific Space Exploration

How Ada enables LASP to constantly modify OASIS-CC to control new instruments and ensure mission-critical systems remain reliable.

5 Ws of Gel Film for Water Harvesting

Researchers at The University of Texas, Austin, developed a low-cost gel film made of abundant materials that can pull drinkable water from the air in even the driest climates.

Testing and Validating 3D-Printed Parts for Oil and Gas

Keeping oil and gas production facilities running smoothly is among the toughest challenges in any industry.

Ginning Up a Modern Automation Platform

Although the basic function of cotton gins is quite old, today’s versions can benefit further from modernized control systems.

Engineers Build Reconfigurable Artificial Intelligence Chip

The researchers plan to apply the design to edge computing devices.

An Algorithmic Planner Helps Delegate Tasks to Human-Robot Teams

The technology could be useful in manufacturing and assembly plants for sorting packages, or in any environment where humans and robots collaborate.

A New Method to Improve Motion Planning for Robots

Interactive program aids motion planning for environments with obstacles.

Single-Step 3D-Printing Process to Build Robots

The piezoelectric “meta-bot” is capable of propulsion, movement, sensing, and decision-making.

Insect-Scale Robots Take Flight

Researchers built electroluminescent soft artificial muscles for flying, insect-scale robots.

Encoder Selection: Finding the Right Fit

Key considerations to keep in mind while selecting the best encoder for your application.

Improving Autonomous Robotic Systems

A new general-purpose optimizer can speed up the design of walking robots, self-driving vehicles, and other autonomous systems.

AI-Powered Machines for Hazardous Environments

The robots will be challenged to carry out work too dangerous for humans.

New Products

New Products from the August 2022 issue of Motion Design.

Making Automotive Assembly Lines Safer

The moving assembly line remains an integral piece of most automobile manufacturing.

Products of Tomorrow

This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow.

5 Ws of Unmanned Lasers for Methane Detection

As concerns rise about methane, a CU startup is working toward plugging the leaks.

Q&A: Artificial Skin Could Lead to a New Generation of Touch-Sensitive Robots

A team of engineers from the University of Glasgow led by Professor Ravinder Dahiya developed an artificial skin with a new type of processing system based on...

The Commercial Future of Low-Earth Orbit

“Godspeed, fellas. Let’s go have some fun.” These were the words of encouragement from mission control at the Kennedy Space Center — only this time for the first private astronaut mission...

Boosting Operational Intelligence with AI

Although industrial factories and processing plants have long been automated, it remains vital for human decision-making to be involved in operations, sometimes to a great extent. Automation in and...