Magazine

Soft, Skin-Like Structures for Robotic Locomotion and Transportation

These soft robots can be rolled up and carried in a pocket.

Modified Fittings Enhance Industrial Safety

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is home to one of the largest buildings in the world — the massive Vehicle Assembly Building — and also hosts a number of one-of-a-kind facilities. The more...

Robots Assemble Large Structures from Little Pieces

Systems of tiny robots could build high-performance structures, from airplanes to space settlements.

Going Beyond the Basics: Innovative Step Motor Designs Give Machine Designers More Options for Motion Control

Machine and system designers now have greater options in choosing a motor to meet motion control requirements.

Robot Circulating Liquid Stores Energy and Provides Power

This robot “blood” stores energy, transmits force, operates appendages, and provides structure, all in an integrated design.

Intelligent Microrobots

Such machines, only a few tens of micrometers across, could be used in the human body to perform small operations.

Valves for Pneumatic Cylinders and Actuators

Know your valve options.

Product of the Month

Varjo™ Technologies announced a 2D/3D immersive "Workspace."

Laser-Based System Detects Fires Even in Dusty, Harsh Environments

A new laser-based system offers an efficient way to detect fires in challenging environments such as industrial facilities or large construction sites.

New Products

Photopolymer films, LED light engines, measurement systems, and more.

Microchip Produces High-Contrast OCT Imagery

For disease diagnosis, a microchip maps the back of the eye.

SPIE Photonics West 2020 Preview

SPIE Photonics West 2020 returns to The Moscone Center in San Francisco, February 1 through February 6

Helping Autonomous Vehicles See Around Corners

A system senses tiny changes in shadows on the ground to determine if there’s a moving object coming around the corner.

Sandia’s Nanoantennas Help Detectors See More Heat, Less Noise

A nanoantenna-enabled detector boosts the usable signal of a thermal infrared camera by up to three times.

Blue Lasers: Leveraging Fundamental Physics for High Performance

Increased laser capacity has enabled, and will continue to enable, new manufacturing possibilities.

Additive Manufacturing of Precision Optics at Micro and Nanoscale

AM is an especially good fit for products that require a high level of customization.

Virtually Optimizing Metasurface Topology with a Genetic Algorithm

See how software supported the design of an advanced antenna.

NASA’s BITSE Solar Scope

NASA and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) recently tested a new way to see the Sun

Q&A: A Shape-Morphing, Self-Healing Soft Composite

Have you heard of "Thubber?"

Wirelessly Controlled Ingestible Capsule

This electronic pill can relay diagnostic information or release drugs in response to smartphone commands.

Thin Heat Shield for Superfast Aircraft

A carbon nanotube heat shield can better protect extremely fast aircraft.

Flow Disruption Devices for the Reduction of High Lift System Noise

This technique lowers airstream noise generated at the side edges of deployed flaps, elevons, or slats.

Shape Sensing Innovations Dramatically Improve Structural Design Tools

These advances are useful for transportation, infrastructure, and aerospace.

NASA's Thirst for Water on Mars Quenched by Student Innovators

NASA and universities from across the country are teaming up to support a continued human presence on the Moon and ultimately Mars.

Environmental Barrier Coatings for Ceramic Matrix Composites

These barrier coatings protect high-performance components in extreme environments.

Environmentally Friendly Process for Battery Recycling

A solvent leaches cobalt and lithium for reuse from spent batteries.