Electronics & Software

Making High-Performance Parts Inexpensive and Durable

Idaho National Laboratory has developed world-class capabilities to help industry design efficient SPS manufacturing processes. The lab’s newest addition makes it possible to manufacture new materials at industrially relevant scales.

Augmented Reality Headset Provides X-Ray Vision

MIT researchers have built an AR headset that gives the wearer X-ray vision. The headset combines computer vision and wireless perception to automatically locate a specific item that is hidden from view.

Researchers Acquire 3D Images with LED Room Lighting and a Smartphone

Researchers are tapping into dynamically controlled LEDs to create a simple illumination system for 3D imaging.

Ultrafast Beam-Steering Breakthrough at Sandia Labs

The ability to control light using a semiconductor device could allow low-power, relatively inexpensive sources like LEDs or flashlight bulbs to replace more powerful laser beams in new technologies.

Optical Switching at Record Speeds Opens Door for Ultrafast, Light-Based Electronics and Computers

The future of electronics will be based instead on using laser light to control electrical signals, opening the door for the establishment of “optical transistors” and the development of ultrafast optical electronics.

Artificial Skin Provides Haptic Feedback

The skin could help rehabilitation and enhance virtual reality by instantaneously adapting to a wearer's movements.

Gecko-Inspired Climbing Soft Robot

The new robot, developed by engineers at the University of Waterloo, uses ultraviolet (UV) light and magnetic force to move on any surface, even up walls and across ceilings.

AV Computers Contribute to Global Carbon Emissions

MIT researchers recently explored the potential energy consumption and related carbon emissions if autonomous vehicles (AV) are widely adopted.

Radiative Cooling and Solar Heat from One System

Researchers have been exploring how to turbocharge a passive cooling technique — known as radiative or sky cooling — with sun-blocking nanomaterials that emit heat away from building rooftops.

Enhanced Quadrupedal Robot Control Technology

Researchers have developed a quadrupedal robot control technology that can walk robustly with agility even in deformable terrain such as sandy beach.

Optical Signal Amplifying Technique

Optical Signals can be retrieved from inherent background noise using Talbot effect to amplify them.

Nanoscale 3D Structure to Control Light

3D nanometer-scale metamaterial structures hold promise for advanced optical isolators.

New Anode Materials for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries

The commercially relevant approach opens a potential pathway to improve charging speeds for electric vehicles.

A Sustainable Battery with a Biodegradable Electrolyte Made from Crab Shells

Scientists created a zinc battery with a biodegradable electrolyte from an unexpected source — crab shells.

Developing More Durable Solar Cells

An international research collaboration led by UCLA has developed a way to use perovskite in solar cells while protecting it from the conditions that cause it to deteriorate.

Material Derived from Trees Could Replace Liquid Electrolytes

The material could pave the way for better, safer solid-state batteries.

Inflatable, Shape-Changing Spinal Implants Could Help Treat Severe Pain

The device uses soft robotics, ultra-thin electronics, and microfluidics.

Autonomous Driving Algorithm Distributes Risk Fairly

Researchers have developed the first ethical algorithm to fairly distribute the levels of risk rather than operating on an either/or principle.

An Algorithmic Planner Helps Delegate Tasks to Human-Robot Teams

The technology could be useful in manufacturing and assembly plants for sorting packages, or in any environment where humans and robots collaborate.

An Artificial Intelligence System to Identify Objects in Cluttered Scenes

Robotic vision has come a long way, reaching a level of sophistication with applications in complex and demanding tasks, such as autonomous driving and object manipulation.

A New Method to Improve Motion Planning for Robots

Interactive program aids motion planning for environments with obstacles.

An AI Chip Runs Computations Directly in Memory

A team has designed and built a chip that runs computations directly in memory and can run a wide variety of AI applications.

Anode-Free Lithium Batteries with Maximized Energy Density

The newly developed anode-free battery has a volumetric energy density of 977 Wh/L which is 40 percent higher than the conventional batteries (700 wh/L).

Simplifying the Production of Lithium-ion Batteries

24M Technologies has simplified Li-ion battery production with a new design that requires fewer materials and steps to manufacture each cell.

New Hybrid Electrolyte for High-Performance Lithium-ion Batteries

The polymeric solid electrolyte realized a wide potential window, a high Li-ion conductivity, and a high Li-ion transference number.

Using Nano-Engineering Techniques to Develop a Safer Battery

A research team has developed technology that could prevent electric vehicle fires, like those caused by saltwater flooding from Hurricane Ian.