Tech Briefs

Electronics & Software

Topics:

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

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Scavenger Technology Allows Robots to “Eat” Metal for Energy
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Process for Producing High-Quality, Lightweight Mirrors
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Cut-to-Length Electrical Cable Cuts Costs
subscribe to newsletter
Each week get the latest tech briefs & key industry topics…delivered to your inbox!

Top Stories

Blog: Sensors/Data Acquisition

'HEAT' Uses Cameras to Detect Facial Temperatures and Keep the Room Cool

Briefs: Materials

Carbon Nanostructure is Stronger Than Diamonds

Videos: Aerospace

'Mini Rover' Can Wiggle Out of Martian Sand Traps

Videos: Automotive

Design Contest Winner Jon Sumroy Shares Success Story

Blog: Test & Measurement

Answering Your Questions: Will the 2020 Mars Rover Have Back-Up Features?

Videos: Power

Hyper-Efficient 'SlothBot' Uses Innovative Power Management Technology

Latest Tech Briefs

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Device Modulates Light and Amplifies Tiny Signals
This system can amplify a faint signal from a neighboring system even when that signal’s amplitude is as small as ten trillionths of a meter.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Improving Data Speeds with Laser-Activated Magnets
Mini-magnets could enable cloud computing systems to process data up to 100 times faster than current technologies.
Briefs: Materials
Metals Change Surfaces in Response to Heat
Heat predictably and precisely changes the surface structure of a particle of liquid metal.
Briefs: Materials
Graphene Device with Superconducting, Insulating, and Magnetic Properties
The multitasking device could advance development of an electric circuit for faster, next-generation electronics like quantum computing technologies.
Briefs: Energy
'Artificial Leaf' Produces Clean Gas
This method of producing clean syngas could be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to gasoline.
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Wearable Device Monitors Health
The flexible device harvests heat energy from the body to monitor health.
Briefs: Energy
Method Turns Trash Into Graphene
This green process produces pristine graphene in bulk using waste food, plastic, and other materials.
Briefs: Energy
Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites with Electrical and Thermal Characteristics
These composites could improve how unmanned vehicles dissipate energy.
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Fabric Allows Wearers to Control Electronic Devices Through Clothing
The rainproof, stainproof technology turns clothing into self-powered remotes while turning away bacteria.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Soft Tactile Logic Distributes Decision-Making Throughout Stretchable Material
Inspired by the octopus, the structure senses, computes, and responds without any centralized processing.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Spin Capacitor for Energy-Efficient Electronics
The capacitor could enable a new generation of electronics that will require less power and generate less heat.
Briefs: Software
VoroCrust v.1.0 Meshing Software
This program generates a mesh that conforms to a complex model without clipping.
Briefs: Materials
System Provides Cooling with No Electricity
This passive device relies on a layer of material that blocks incoming sunlight but lets heat radiate away.
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Nano-Infused Ceramic Can Report its own Health
A ceramic sensor could be embedded into structures such as bridges and aircraft to monitor their health.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Artificial Intelligence Finds and Labels 2D Materials Instantly
The AI system can help shorten the time required for 2D material-based electronics to be ready for consumer devices.
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Radiation-Hardened Gain Digitizer
This instrument has applications in medical equipment, robotics, and satellites.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Computational Model Predicts Human Behavior
This analytic model shows how groups of people influence individual behavior.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
High-Efficiency Laser for Silicon Chips
Applications include optical data transfer, infrared and night-vision systems, environmental sensors, and breath analysis for medical diagnosis.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Autonomic and Apoptotic Highly Distributed System
Applications include distributed computer systems, computer security, and commercial satellite systems.
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Ultrasonic System to Assess Compartment Syndrome
Applications include emergency medicine, combat casualty care, and sports injuries.
Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics
Electric Nanoscale Device Sees Through Walls
Applications include imaging, sensing, wireless communications, and medical treatments.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Characterizing Richness of Previously Unmapped Terrain and its Impact on Navigation Using 3D Range Sensors
Landers to small bodies such as comets and asteroids can use this program to estimate the terrain richness of the previously unmapped small body.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Wi-Fi-assisted Inertial Odometry (WIO) Measures Speed and Distance of Indoor Movement
The technique could be used to improve navigation for robots, drones, or pedestrians.
Briefs: Wearables
Wearable Air Conditioning
This on-skin electronic device provides a personal air conditioner without electricity.
Briefs: Medical
Wirelessly Powered, Leadless Pacemaker
This device could give doctors a new therapeutic option for treating patients with conditions such as heart failure.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Organic Material for Printed Electronics
The material combines two polymers with different properties.
Briefs: Medical
Lab-on-a-Chip Enables “Liquid Biopsy” of Cancer Cells
This diagnostic device allows doctors to detect cancer quickly from a droplet of blood or plasma.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Protocol Improves Storage Efficiency and Output Speed of Computer Systems
This approach enables computer systems to retrieve data much faster.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Defects Enable High-Performance Infrared Photodetectors
A highly sensitive, CMOS-compatible, broadband photodetector was created by tailoring material defects.
Question of the Week
Can Camera Systems Replace the Wall-Mounted Thermostat?

Webcasts

Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace

Understanding O-ring Complexity in the Aerospace Industry

Upcoming Webinars: Robotics, Automation & Control

The Path to High-Level Autonomy for Commercial Vehicles

Upcoming Webinars: Medical

COVID-19: The New Design Paradigm and Emerging Technologies

Upcoming Webinars: Robotics, Automation & Control

Why Multiple Sensing Modalities Are Required to Achieve Level 3...

Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace

Aviation Electrification: Choosing Your Motor Topology and...

Upcoming Webinars: Robotics, Automation & Control

Collaborative Robotics: Sharing the Workspace

Trending Stories

Products: Sensors/Data Acquisition

New Products: March 2019 Sensor Technology

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Carbon Nanostructure is Stronger Than Diamonds

Articles: Motion Control

The Basics of Encoder Selection

Articles: Sensors/Data Acquisition

AI-Based Machine Vision & the Future of Automotive In-Cabin Technologies

Question of the Week: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Do You See Yourself Someday Printing in 4D?

Videos