Billy's Blog

On Billy's Blog, Billy Hurley, Digital Editorial Manager, writes stories about new and innovative achievements in design engineering, from industrial robots and autonomous vehicles to 3D printers and see-through solar cells. Along with other Tech Briefs writers and editors, Billy shares his opinions, poses questions to readers, and finds the fun, interesting, and unexpected stories behind today's leading-edge inventions.

Blog: AR/AI

NIST Researchers Use A.I. to Boost 5G Efficiency

NIST engineers are working to make the cellular network standard even faster.

Blog: AR/AI

A Breakthrough for Robotic Prosthetics: Researchers Train A.I. to Spot Different Terrain

New software sets the stage for A.I.-enabled robotic prostheses that predict user terrain and initiate mechanical changes accordingly.

Blog: Electronics & Computers

How to Keep Batteries from Catching Fire? Nanotech Energy Goes with Graphene and New Electrolyte

The Los Angeles, CA-based company Nanotech Energy is using graphene to prevent thermal runaway and create a non-flammable battery.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Gecko-Inspired: Researchers Find Easier Way to Mass-Produce Adhesives

A team at Georgia Tech has discovered a Velcro-like way of mass-producing gecko-inspired adhesives.

Blog: Materials

The Next Challenge for Soft Robots? Beat the Cheetah

A proof-of-concept soft robot has a cheetah-like gait that avoids the usual crawl.

Blog: Test & Measurement

As Fewer Planes Take Off, NASA's Pandora Sensors Measure Airport Air Quality

An empty airport tells you more than you might think.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Starting In the Garage, NASA Engineer Makes Oxygen Helmet for COVID-19 Patients

See how NASA engineer Mike Buttigieg is creating a device that will free up ventilators for patients with COVID-19

Blog: FDA/Regulatory

NASA's 'VITAL' Ventilator Gets FDA Approval

A low-cost, low-complexity ventilator developed by NASA engineers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week.

Blog: Robotics, Automation & Control

Mars 2020: Looking for Signs of Life in the Jezero Crater River Delta

By taking a closer look at the delta deposits on Mars, Stanford University researchers concluded that the Jezero Crater is still the best place to search for signs of life on Mars.

Blog: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Biosensor to Measure Coronavirus Concentration in Air

A team used to making pollutant-detection systems is adapting their technologies to spot coronavirus.

Blog: Software

A Faster Way to Design Rockets: Scientific Machine Learning

To speed up the design process, researchers from the University of Texas are finding more efficient ways to predict, or "learn," a rocket's behavior.

Blog: Energy

Super-Porous Material Gives Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles a Boost

A team at Northwestern University is developing a material so porous that if you were able to unfold a gram of it, you could go farther than a football field.

Blog: Electronics & Computers

'mRIXS' Offers Deeper Look into Battery Chemistry

A Berkeley Lab system provides a much more sensitive probe of the chemical state of battery electrodes, especially when the battery is operated under high capacity mode.

Blog: Robotics, Automation & Control

UC Berkeley Launches 'Pop-Up' COVID-19 Testing Lab — In 3 Weeks

In just three weeks, the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) at UC Berkeley built a robotic COVID-19 laboratory.

Blog: Robotics, Automation & Control

Medical Robots' Role Expands as COVID-19 Outbreak Continues

Robots are in high demand as medical professionals seek hands-free ways to disinfect environments and contain the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

FIU to 3D-Print 1,000 Face Shields for Baptist Health Workers

Bridget Pelaez spoke to Tech Briefs about the 1,000 face shields being printed for Florida hospitals.

Blog: Transportation

Answering Your Questions: Who is Responsible for the Level 5 Autonomous Car (and Its Sensors)?

A reader asks our expert.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

How One Engineer is Supporting the Coronavirus Response with a Hands-Free Door Opener

See how Prof. Olaf Diegel built a hands-free door opener.

Blog: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Answering Your Questions: How Do A.I. Engineers Address Data Security Concerns with Self-Driving Cars?

As autonomous cars collect data on passing pedestrians, cyclists, and license plates, what privacy measures are in place? A reader asks.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

How 3D Printing is Helping the Response to Coronavirus

3D printing is being used to quickly create life-saving parts and prototypes like masks, shields, and ventilator valves.

Blog: Electronics & Computers

Answering Your Questions: What Will Drive Growth of Class 8 Electric Trucks?

A reader asks, "What market drivers need to occur for electric vehicles to be considered an acceptable replacement for vehicles with internal combustion engines?"