Magazine

The James Webb Space Telescope

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), mankind’s understanding of the universe — and its origins — will increase exponentially.

Process Enables Machines to Thermally “Breathe”

Large machines can breathe in and out cooling blasts of water to keep their systems from overheating.

Bolstering Product Design Success with Supply Chain Strategies

In the high-tech sector, there's been a shift from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” inventory strategies.

Smart Wound Dressings with Built-In Healing Sensors

The built-in nanosensors glow to alert patients when a wound is not healing properly.

Robot Arms with Artificial Muscles are Lightweight and Flexible

These shape memory robotic arms eliminate the need for joints, rigid skeletons, or framework.

Compact and Robust Connectors Prove Pivotal in CubeSat Deployment

Learn about the interconnects that are supporting today's miniature satellites.

Self-Healing, Highly Adhesive Elastomers

These elastomers have a wide range of uses for the building, automotive, and electronics industries.

5 Ws of the Winged Flying Microchip

About the size of a grain of sand, the flying microchip (or microflier) does not have a motor or engine.

Cheetah-Inspired Soft Robots

The robots move more quickly on solid surfaces or in the water than previous generations of soft robots.

High-Sensitivity Microwave Radiation Sensor

Better detection of microwave radiation will enable improved thermal imaging, electronic warfare, radio communications, and radar.

New on the Market: January 2022

Microwave measurement receivers, oscilloscopes, longwave infrared cameras, and more.

Q&A: Ultra-Fast Manufacturing of Wearable Sensors

An "E-Skin" material can be printed without polymer binders.

Wearable Exosuit Lessens Back Muscle Fatigue

The suit can be controlled with a double tap to the chest or via an app.

Handheld 3D Skin Printer Accelerates Healing of Burns

The handheld printer deposits sheets of skin to cover large burn wounds.

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Structures Using Transient and Lock-in Thermography

Applications include avionics, data storage, process control, reconfigurable manufacturing lines, and civil and structural engineering.

Facility Focus: North Carolina State University

Learn about the technologies being developed at NC State, including vehicle armor, a monitoring patch for plants, and origami-inspired materials.

Products of Tomorrow

Breath-regulating garments, humidity sensors, thin-film antennas, and more.

A Measured, Agile Response to Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chains run best when all the stakeholders involved stay keenly focused on their core competencies, says Tom Vanderheyden from TTI Americas.

Mask Prototype Can Detect COVID-19 Infection

The sensor technology could also be used to create clothing that detects a variety of pathogens and other threats.

On/Off Functionality for Fast, Sensitive, Ultra-Small Technologies

An ultra-small actuator has nanometer-scale precision.

Engine Made as a Single Calcium Ion

The engine is approximately 10 billion times smaller than a car engine.

UpFront: January 2022 Tech Briefs

Private stations get NASA funding; a camera "sees the unseen," and more.

Smart Artificial Hand for Amputees

Neuroprosthetic technology combines robotic control with the user’s voluntary control.

Implantable Stimulator Speeds Tendon Healing

The device combines with body power to treat tendon disease and damage, and sports injuries.

Flies’ Vision Mimicked to Control Robots

Biological insights of fruit fly eye movements could enhance robotics.

Device Diagnoses COVID-19 from Saliva

The tabletop diagnostic yields results in an hour and can be programmed to detect variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Calibration System for Automated Fiber Placement

The system creates accurate defect standards for in-situ inspection systems.

Tiny Quantum Sensors See Materials Transform Under Pressure

Diamonds’ atomic flaws are converted into atomic sensors that watch a quantum world of materials under extreme pressure.

Ultra-Thin Sensor for Smart Contact Lenses

Engineers have developed a sensor system and manufacturing process for smart contact lenses. The sensor system contains a photodetector for receiving optical information, a temperature sensor for...