Stories

Robotic Skin Allows Tiny Robots to Navigate Complex, Fragile Environments

Researchers have developed a soft robotic skin that enables vine robots a few millimeters wide to navigate convoluted paths and fragile environments. To accomplish...

How Much Do You Know About the History of 3D Printing?

It seems like there are new applications for 3D printing every day. How much do you know about its history?

Machine Learning Leads to Stronger 3D-Printed Alloy

MIT engineers have developed a printable aluminum alloy that can withstand high temperatures and is five times stronger than traditionally manufactured aluminum.

Solving Space, Power Challenges with PoE-Enabled Panel PCs

Semiconductor manufacturers are turning to panel PCs — integrated computing solutions built for demanding production environments.

Powerful and Precise Multi-color Lasers Now Fit on a Single Chip

A few years ago, researchers in Michal Lipson’s Columbia Engineering lab noticed something remarkable. They were working on a project to design high-power chips that could...

Breaking the Thermal Conductivity Barrier with Boron Arsenide

University of Houston researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in thermal conductivity, overturning an existing theory that boron arsenide (BAs) couldn’t compete with...

Using Streetlamps as EV Chargers

Electric vehicles (EVs) can have lower fuel costs and reduce emissions relative to cars that use gasoline, but they are only a practical option if drivers have convenient ways to charge them. For people who...

My Opinion: What’s AI Good For?

Some applications of generative AI are quite useful, some not so much. One way to tame its exponentially expanding hunger for power is to use it intelligently.

Using Street Lamps as EV Chargers

EVs can have lower fuel costs and reduce emissions relative to cars that use gasoline, but they are only a practical option if drivers have convenient ways to charge them. To address this issue, a team of researchers at Penn State created a scalable framework to develop, analyze, and evaluate using streetlights as a low-cost, equitable EV charging option.

A High-Performance Mid-Infrared Imaging System Without Lenses

Researchers have used the centuries-old idea of pinhole imaging to create a high-performance mid-infrared imaging system without lenses. The new camera can capture extremely clear pictures over a large range of distances and in low light, making it useful for situations that are challenging for traditional cameras.

Light-Powered Motor Fits Inside a Strand of Hair

For more than 30 years, researchers have been trying to create small gears in order to construct micro-engines. But progress stalled at 0.1 millimeters, as it was not possible to build the...

MultiRobot Team Walks, Flies, and Rolls

Introducing X1: The world's first multirobot system that integrates a humanoid robot with a transforming drone that can launch off the humanoid's back and, later, drive away. The versatile team can...

Programming Robots with Rubber Bands

From sorting objects in a warehouse to navigating furniture while vacuuming, robots today use sensors, software control systems, and moving parts to perform tasks. The harder the task or more complex the...

Using an AI-Powered Robotic Unicycle to Study How People Learn Complex Motor Skills

The path to recovery for stroke survivors taking their first tentative steps, or individuals navigating daily challenges from balance disorders, often feels...

Test Your Knowledge About Small Satellites

Small satellites are revolutionizing space-based services due to their affordability, faster development cycles, and flexibility. Take this quiz to test your knowledge about smallsats.

Meet HandProxy: A Digital, Voice-Controlled Hand that Aims to Enhance AR/VR

A digital, voice-controlled hand could improve the convenience and accessibility of virtual and augmented reality by enabling hands-free use of games and apps. The prototype software was developed by computer scientists at the University of Michigan.

3D Printing Ultrastrong Materials

EPFL researchers have pioneered a 3D printing method that grows metals and ceramics inside a water-based gel, resulting in constructions for next-gen energy, biomedical, and sensing technologies.

How Much Do You Know About Glucose Monitors?

Your blood sugar levels can tell you a lot about your health: How well your diabetes is under control; how well your diet and exercise regimens are going; and much more. How much do you know about glucose monitors? Find out with this quiz.

Magnetic Transistor Aims for Smaller, Faster, More Energy-Efficient Electronics

MIT researchers have replaced silicon with a magnetic semiconductor, creating a magnetic transistor that could enable smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient circuits.

How Much Do You Know About Analog Electronics?

From its beginning, electronics was analog — digital circuits didn’t start being used until the 1970s. But even in today’s digital world, analog has its place. What do you know about analog electronics? Find out with this quiz.

Watch Out, Li-ion Batteries: This Battery Made of Natural Materials Could Replace You!

What if the next battery you buy was made from the same kinds of ingredients found in your body? That’s the idea behind a breakthrough battery material made from natural, biodegradable components. It’s so natural, it could even be consumed as food.

Product Focus: Freudenberg Expands Portfolio with Application-Specific Electric Mobility Solutions

As the mobility industry rapidly evolves, Freudenberg continues to expand its portfolio with high-performance, application-specific solutions...

Experts agree on need for large-scale fire testing of battery energy storage systems

A panel of four battery testing experts from different fields agreed that large scale fire testing, as called for in a proposed update to testing standard...

Battery Show: Bosch Rexroth adds HS linear motion, 6D floating prototype to multi-axis systems

Bosch Rexroth displayed new battery automation solutions at The Battery Show 2025 in Detroit this week, focusing on making batteries in a more...

Building Safe and Secure, Resilient Embedded Systems with QNX OS for Safety

With increasing demands and requirements for building complex embedded systems that involve complex machines, the demand for resilient embedded systems is even higher today. Building safe and secure embedded systems is paramount in the context of pervasive embedded systems across multiple domains and industries. Read on to learn more.

Product Focus: Prestone Exhibits EV Thermal Management Solutions to Meet New Industry Standards

Prestone is exhibiting its Prestone EVX™ collection of electrified vehicle (EV and hybrid) thermal management fluids that meet newly...

Battery Show: Pickering 5-amp battery simulator speeds up BMS testing

Engineers looking for a new way to simulate battery cells as they develop new battery management systems might be interested in the latest PXI battery simulator modules...

GM to have LMR long-distance battery deployed by 2028

A GM battery executive told an audience at the Battery Show North America audience Tuesday that the company would deploy a lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery by 2028 in some of its...

Countdown clock for competition with China ticking faster, says battery-analysis CEO

Tal Sholklapper, cofounder and CEO of Voltaiq, a battery analytics company, made bold statements on the eve of the Battery Show in 2024 that Western and...