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.

News: Photonics/Optics

LASER World of PHOTONICS, Day 2: Bigger is Better

Many vendors at this year's event made their presence known with mega-sized booths.

News: Energy

From LASER World of PHOTONICS 2019: Light as the Key to Global Sustainability

The increased use of photonics has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions — by 3-billion tons.

Blog: Photonics/Optics

LASER World of PHOTONICS 2019

The bi-annual Laser World of Photonics exhibition begins today.

Blog: Energy

How to Produce More Clean Water? Resemble the Rose.

A new water purifier works better because it takes the shape of the rose.

Articles: Data Acquisition

Answering Your Questions: What are New Missions for Military UAVs?

An industry expert tells a Tech Briefs reader what's over the next hill regarding military UAVs.

Blog: Transportation

An ‘Active’ Machine-Vision Tool Adds Intelligence to Traffic Management

A new machine-vision tool extracts and reports valuable driving data from the standard traffic cameras already in place.

Blog: Robotics, Automation & Control

Energy-Efficient ‘SlothBot’ Moves Only When It Has To

While robots like the WildCat from Boston Dynamics reach speeds of just under 20 miles an hour, engineers from Georgia Tech have gone with a decidedly slower approach.

Blog: Energy

A Better Battery Offers ‘All-Renewable’ Promise for the Power Grid

An Ohio State researcher shares with Tech Briefs the promise of potassium-oxygen batteries.

Blog: Automotive

NIWeek 2019: What Will Slow Down 5G? ‘Nothing,’ Says Panel

“Nothing is going to slow 5G down. I mean nothing," said one NIWeek panelist.

Blog: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

A Leech-Like Robot Climbs Up the Walls

Doctoral Programs student Ayato Kanada came up with his leech-like robot in a place you’d least expect it: His bathroom.

Blog: Software

Markforged Helps Factories Fix Themselves

At RAPID + TCT in Detroit today, Markforged introduced Blacksmith artificial intelligence-powered software that makes manufacturing machines “aware” so they can automatically adjust programming...

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

HP’s Digital Disruption

On the opening day of the RAPID + TCT Show in Detroit, HP introduced the new Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solution – an industrial 3D printing system – and the Digital Manufacturing Network, a new...

News: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Beyond Just Gesture, A Modified Smartwatch Detects 25 Specific Hand Activities

Your smartwatch can count your steps, but can it tell if you’re typing on a keyboard? Or chopping a vegetable?

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Want a Magnetized Medical Robot? Just 3D Print It

A microrobot can take up to 8 hours to make. With the help of a 3D printer, University of Toronto engineers got the process down to 20 minutes

Blog: Medical

Answering Your Questions: How Do Medical Robots Help Surgeons?

A reader asks: "With medical robots, what's in it for surgeons?"

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

A New Idea for Putting Out Fires in Space: The Vacuum Cleaner?

If a short circuit starts a fire up on the International Space Station, Dr. Yuji Nakamura has an idea to extinguish it: The vacuum.

Blog: Propulsion

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2019: Helicopter Drones

Three new unmanned helicopters were unveiled at AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL show in Chicago.

News: Defense

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2019: A Flying Sea Glider

A Navy Sea Glider can look for a target in mid-air or underwater.

Blog: Power

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2019: Air Force Technology

As always, the Air Force Research Laboratory had a huge presence at AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL show in Chicago.

News: Aerospace

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2019: A Real Thrill Ride

You think riding your Harley Davidson is exciting? Try the ElectraFly.

News: Transportation

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2019: A Close-Up Look at Air Taxis

Taxi! A steady stream of AUVSI XPONENTIAL attendees got to see Bell's new air vehicle up close.

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D-Printed Glass Paves Way for ‘New Era’ of Photonics

For the first time, researchers have 3D printed a unique material that demonstrates optical transparency in the mid-infrared range: chalcogenide glass.