Tech Briefs

Electronics & Software

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Access our comprehensive library of technical briefs on electronics and software, from engineering experts at NASA and major government, university, and commercial laboratories.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Smart, Self-Powered Knee Implants
Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
Smart Window Improves Energy Efficiency of Buildings
Briefs: Energy
Composite Material Increases Electrical Current Capacity of Copper Wires
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Get the latest breakthroughs from NASA & other technology sources.

Top Stories

Blog: Energy

A Solar Alternative: How to Power Devices with Indoor Light

Blog: Software

Stanford Computer Model Predicts How COVID-19 Spreads in Cities

Blog: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Woodworking, Simplified: New Software Aids in Design

INSIDER: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Printing Paper Structures for Mechatronics

Blog: Imaging

What's Best for Autonomous Cars: LiDAR vs Radar vs Cameras

Videos: Power

Extending Next-Generation, Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

Latest Tech Briefs

Briefs: Communications
Self-Assembling Robot Cubes Form Various Structures
The robot blocks jump, spin, flip, and identify each other.
Briefs: Materials
Method Turns Fruit Peels into New Batteries
Orange peels are used to extract and reuse metals from lithium-ion batteries to create new batteries.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Printable Light Sensors Can See Colors
Printable organic photodiodes can distinguish wavelengths and enable data transmission by light.
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Robotic Assembly of Photovoltaic Arrays
Adaptable automation reduces manufacturing time and costs.
Briefs: Materials
Soft Magnetic Nanocomposite for High-Temperature Applications
The material can be used in power electronics and power converters for solar energy power systems.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Electricity-Free Radiative Cooling System
The system is effective in urban environments where there are tall buildings on all sides.
Briefs: Materials
Aerogel-Reinforced Composites
The flexible composites can be used as thermal insulation for environments of up to 1200 °C.
Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics
Radar Enables Cars to Spot Hazards Around Corners
Using radar commonly deployed to track speeders and fastballs, the automated system “sees” around corners to spot oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Psychosensory Electronic Skin Technology for AI and Humanoid Development
This technology enables robots, electronic devices, and prosthetic devices to feel pain through sense of touch.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Lab-On-Chip Flow and Temperature Sensor
The sensor provides accurate and real-time measurement of flow rates and temperature in next-generation microfluidic instruments.
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
E-Tongue Nanosensor Array
The technology detects the presence of one or more specific chemical components in a liquid.
Briefs: Data Acquisition
Long-Range Wireless Sensor Network
The network is designed for remote, low-resource locations where power and communications infrastructure are scarce.
Briefs: Imaging
Algorithm Improves Navigation of Autonomous Driving Robots
Future robots could be taught how to outperform humans.
Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
Sunlight Converts Emissions into Useful Materials
An environmentally friendly method upcycles carbon dioxide emissions into polymers and other materials.
Briefs: Medical
Virtual and Augmented Reality Device Simulates Vision Loss
VR/AR devices can simulate some of the key difficulties experienced due to glaucoma.
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
3D-Printed Sweating Robot Muscle
This form of thermal management can help enable untethered, high-powered robots to operate for long periods of time without overheating.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Tiny, Magnetically Powered Neural Stimulator
Tests show magnetoelectric power is a viable option for clinical-grade implants.
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Continuous and Stable Lasing Achieved From Low-Cost Perovskites at Room Temperature
With low-cost materials called perovskites, stable, continuous lasing is achieved at room temperature for over an hour.
Briefs: Materials
Ambient Light Alters Refraction in 2D Material
See how tantalum disulfide is supporting new kinds of optics, and potentially new kinds of application for VR and self-driving cars.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Possible Significant Response Speedup from Detuning a Resonator Bolometer
The response time of kinetic inductance bolometers can be greatly enhanced by electrothermal feedback for devices that are both sensitive and speedy.
Briefs: Nanotechnology
Using Silicon for Battery Anodes
A nanostructure design lends extraordinary strength to a promising storage ingredient.
Briefs: Materials
Hybrid Material is an Efficient Photodetector
A metal-organic framework does not contain cost-intensive raw materials and can be produced in bulk.
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Optical Neural Network Recognizes Objects Instantly
This technology can work with multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously.
Briefs: Imaging
Mass-Producible, Centimeter-Scale Metalens
Applications include low-light conditions such as on orbital satellites and VR applications where the lens needs to be larger than a pupil.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Bending an Organic Semiconductor Boosts Electrical Flow
This method could benefit next-generation electronics.
Briefs: Power
Battery Improvement Enhances Electric Flight and Long-Range Electric Cars
The new battery technology could improve electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and supercharge safe, long-range electric cars.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
“One-Way” Electronic Devices
These non-reciprocal devices on a compact chip pave the way for applications from two-way wireless to quantum computing.
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Integrated Microchips for Electronic Skin
Fully integrated flexible electronics made of magnetic sensors and organic circuits open the path towards the development of electronic skin.
Briefs: Materials
3D-Printed Soft, Rubbery Brain Implants
This technique may enable speedy, on-demand design of softer, safer neural devices.
Question of the Week
Will Indoor Light Someday Power Our Smart Devices?

Webcasts

Upcoming Webinars: Materials

Protecting Power Electronics from EM and RF Interference

Upcoming Webinars: Automotive

Vehicle Electrification

Upcoming Webinars: Sensors/Data Acquisition

The Evolution of SOSA

Upcoming Webinars: Software

Next-Gen Vehicle Architectures and the Role of HPCs

Tech Talks: Medical

Testing Home Healthcare Medical Devices

Upcoming Webinars: Software

Accelerating Pre-Silicon Software Development with Next-Gen...

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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Tool for Two Types of Friction Stir Welding

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

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Briefs: Materials

Temperature-Sensitive Coating Sensor Based on Hematite

Briefs: Materials

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Briefs: Materials

Coated Glass for Transparent Heating Elements

NASA Spinoff: Materials

Nanotechnology Repairs Engine Damage in Cars

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