Tech Briefs

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A comprehensive library of technical briefs from engineering experts at NASA and major government, university, and commercial laboratories covering all aspects of innovations in electronics, software, photonics, imaging, motion control, automation, sensors, test, materials, manufacturing, mechanical, and mechatronics.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Sixth Mirror Casting Brings Giant Magellan Telescope Closer to Completion

Briefs: Materials

New “Metalens” Shifts Focus Without Tilting or Moving

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Stretchable Pressure Sensor Could Lead to Better Robotics, Prosthetics

Get the latest breakthroughs from NASA & other technology sources.

Latest Tech Briefs

Briefs: Connectivity

Can Your Phone Tell if a Bridge Is in Good Shape?

A new study suggests mobile data collected while traveling over bridges could help evaluate their integrity.

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Smart Micro-Robots Learn to Swim with AI

Researchers have been able to successfully teach micro-robots how to swim via deep reinforcement learning, marking a substantial leap in the progression of micro-swimming capability.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Reverse Vortex Ring

This mechanism improves rotordynamic stability in turbomachinery.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Inductive Non-Contact Position Sensor

Potential uses include MEMS accelerometers, vibration monitoring, and other precision motion control applications.

Briefs: Design

Miniaturized Electrospray System

The technology was developed as an alternative to existing options for in-space aeroponic food production applications.

Briefs: Materials

Handheld Metal Tube Straightener

The tool straightens thin, malleable 4-mm metal tubes like those used for fuel, pneumatic, or hydraulic pressurized lines.

Briefs: Energy

Printed Thermoelectric Generators for Power Generation

Scientists have now developed three-dimensional component architectures based on novel, printable thermoelectric materials.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Overcoming the Optical Resolution Limit

When measuring with light, the lateral extent of the structures that can be resolved by an optical imaging system is fundamentally diffraction limited.

Briefs: Power

Organic Redox Flow Battery

Redox flow batteries are stationary batteries in which the energy is located in the electrolyte, outside of the cell itself, as in a fuel cell.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

A Laser That Could Reshape the Landscape of Integrated Photonics

This technology will pave the way for new applications of integrated semiconductor lasers in LiDAR.

Briefs: Packaging & Sterilization

Self-Cleaning Germicidal Door Handle

To overcome the limitations of using cleaning agents, sprays, or bulky high-cost sterilizing systems, NASA developed the Ultraviolet Germicidal Door Handle.

Briefs: Design

Deformation Fingerprints Will Help Researchers Identify, Design Better Metallic Materials

Researchers report that automated high-resolution electron imaging can capture the nanoscale deformation events that lead to metal failure and breakage.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Oculometric Testing for Detecting Mild Neural Impairment

This set of oculomotor metrics provide valid and reliable measures of dynamic visual performance.

Briefs: Materials

Light-Analyzing ‘Lab on A Chip’ Opens Door to Widespread Use of Portable Spectrometers

The device is 100 percent electrically controllable regarding the colors of light it absorbs, which gives it massive potential for widespread usability.

Briefs: Design

Engineers Build Reconfigurable Artificial Intelligence Chip

The researchers plan to apply the design to edge computing devices.

Briefs: Design

Modular and Reconfigurable Robots for Assembly of Structures

In-space and planetary surface assembly for human exploration is a challenging domain that encompasses various technological thrusts to support human missions.

Briefs: Power

Enhancing Fault Isolation and Detection for Electric Powertrains of UAVs

NASA’s System-Wide Safety (SWS) project is developing innovative data solutions to assure safe, rapid, and repeatable access to a transformed National Airspace System.