Blog

Glow-in-the-Dark Algae May Be Ideal for Soft Robots

Engineers developed soft devices containing algae that glow when under mechanical stress —perfect for building soft robots.

Scientists Stick Hydrogen Where the Sun Doesn’t Shine

One method for keeping removed carbon out of the atmosphere long-term involves injecting CO2 into rock formations deep underground.

Teaching Package-Handling Robots to Navigate Using Visual Cues

We humans are adept at using audio and visual cues for communication while carrying out collaborative tasks. Now researchers are aiming to implement gestural interaction in a networked system of robots.

A Motorless Sailplane to Explore Mars’ Atmosphere

The UA team aims to design a motorless sailplane that can soar over the Martian surface for days at a time, using only wind for propulsion.

Electronic Warfare Combat Training Pod

Using mPOD, “adversary” pilots can emulate enemy jamming techniques accurately, conditioning aircrews to evolving threat scenarios and better preparing them for real combat.

A Silky-Smooth Alternative to Microplastics

The EU has already declared that the nonbiodegradable microplastics must be eliminated by 2025, but a team of MIT scientists has perhaps expedited that timeline.

Think Twice About Wasting Waste

A treatment for floc sludge transforms it to an electrode material usable for high-performance capacitors.

Image Sensor Improvements for Enhanced Machine Vision

These latest nanostructured components, integrated on image sensor chips, are most likely to have the biggest impact in multimodal imaging.

Underwater Security System

KnightShield covers medium ranges in ports and detects hostile divers – whether using closed or open breathing apparatus – as well as AUVs, SDVs, DPVs, and UUVs.

Purdue’s Micro-Robot Could Help Treat Stroke Patients

A magnetically controlled medical device to remove blood accumulating in the brain during a stroke.

New Smart Masks Can Monitor Health

A researcher at MU College of Engineering at the University of Missouri is developing a smart mask that could monitor someone’s physiological status based on the nature of the person’s cough.

Unmanned Hover Plane

The Trojan Unmanned Hover Plane (UHP) is a one-of-a-kind system that bridges the gap between the need to hover and the need to reach long ranges, giving it the ability to perform aerial missions with pinpoint precision.

Where Do Technological Innovations Come From?

We can learn a lot about innovation in technology by looking to the past.

Stamp It: MIT Looks to Change the Ultrasound Game

The stamp-sized ultrasound sticker technology produces higher-resolution images over a longer duration.

Artificial Intelligence: Meet Human Intelligence

A designer’s job gets much more complicated when artificial intelligence is part of the system.

What Can Engineers Learn from Nature?

A number of the engineers I’ve interviewed have taken their inspirations from nature. As one said to me, nature has been evolving and perfecting its designs over thousands of years — we should...

How to Measure 20 Million Volts

As I was scrolling through research lab press releases for a Q&A column, one caught my eye: “Remote High-Voltage Sensor Unveiled at Sandia Gamma Ray Lab.” High voltage is not the sexiest of technology...

Why Hasn’t 3D Printing Caught On in Automotive?

More “talking across industries” can drive growth in additive manufacturing, says an industry expert.

'Floating Sensors' Spread Like Dandelion Seeds

Dropped by a drone, the battery-free devices hover 100 meters in the air.

Is Lidar Necessary for Autonomous Vehicles?

A reader asks an expert how self-driving cars can operate without lidar.

AI’s Inherent Limitations Call for an ‘In-Advance’ Safety Mindset

See what Ed Brown’s early days as a high-voltage power supplies designer tell him about today’s efforts with A.I.

An Insect-Inspired Approach to Anti-Bacterial Surfaces Takes Wing

Tiny manufactured nanopillars slice and dice bacteria, cicada-style.

What is the Future of 3D Printing in the Automotive Industry?

1 Year? 5 years? 10? A reader wants an industry expert to predict when 3D printing will truly catch on in automotive manufacturing.

With Functional Fibers, A Shirt Becomes a Valuable Microphone

The future of computing is in fabrics, says Prof, Yoel Fink from MIT.

EV vs. ICE: How Does Wire Harness Design Differ?

The wire harness is changing as vehicles become “computers on wheels.” A reader asks how electrification impacts the wiring harness.

Designing from the Outside In vs the Inside Out

You can design something special when you begin with a blank piece of paper on a wall. Editor Ed Brown shares a lesson learned from his early days as an engineer.

What Role Does Simulation Play in ‘Model-Based’ Systems Engineering?

A reader asks about the role of simulation when automakers like Toyota have a more “model-based” design approach.

How to Clear Dust from Solar Panels (Without All the Water)

An MIT team has a water-free way to charge up dust on solar panels and repel it away.

Is it Possible to Predict Car Battery Life?

A reader asks how to check the longevity and capacity of vehicle batteries.