Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Biocontainment Unit for Virus-Sized Particles

The unit could help healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Liquid Sorbent Carbon Dioxide Removal System

Applications include aerospace, automotive, commercial spaceflight, scuba diving equipment, and for first responders.

Briefs: Test & Measurement

“Stethoscope” Monitors Machine Quality and Functionality

This system provides low-cost monitoring for machine health with audio-based artificial intelligence.

Briefs: Materials

Inexpensive Method Decontaminates Personal Protective Equipment

The system uses off-the-shelf materials combined with ultraviolet lights to decontaminate N95 masks.

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Human-Like Hands with Flexible, Hybrid Pneumatic Actuators

These hands, with a large grasping force, enable safer human-robot interactions.

Briefs: Motion Control

Compact, Long-Reach Robotic Arm

Applications include retractable covers and awnings, camera booms, and spacecraft and astronaut positioning.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

16-Atom Molecular Motor

The tiny motor can be powered by both thermal and electrical energy.

Briefs: Energy

High-Performance, Lightweight, Easy-to-Fabricate Heat Exchanger

This can be used in energy-recovery systems in industrial, space, automotive, and military applications.

Briefs: Aerospace

Multirotor Aircraft Noise Reduction

NASA's phase-locked rotors reduce noise.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Glove-Like Device Mimics Sense of Touch

The soft, wearable device simulates the sense of touch and has wide potential in medical and industrial applications.

Briefs: Nanotechnology

Nanoscale Thermal Switches

These switches are key to thermal management of nanoscale devices, refrigeration, data storage, thermal computing, and heat management of buildings.

Briefs: Wearables

Device Camouflages Wearer from Heat-Detecting Sensors

Researchers developed a wearable technology that can hide its wearer from heat-detecting sensors such as night vision goggles, even when the ambient temperature changes. The technology...

Briefs: Aerospace

SpaceCube 2.0 Flight Card Mechanical System

Applications include mechanical aerospace manufacturing and thermal structure manufacturing.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Programmable Balloons for Shape-Morphing Devices

Kirigami balloons could be used in shape-changing actuators for soft robots, minimally invasive surgical devices, and macro structures for space exploration.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D-Printed Miniature Magnetic Pump

The magnetic, multi-material pump was 3D-printed all in one piece.

Briefs: Energy

High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor

This partially superconducting machine can be used as a motor or generator.

Briefs: Energy

Electricity-Free Radiative Cooling System

The system is effective in urban environments where there are tall buildings on all sides.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Nature-Inspired Sensors Could Help Autonomous Machines See Better

The sensors can be built into the shells of aircraft, cars, or other machines.

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: Electronics & Computers

E-Tongue Nanosensor Array

The technology detects the presence of one or more specific chemical components in a liquid.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Using Silicon for Battery Anodes

A nanostructure design lends extraordinary strength to a promising storage ingredient.

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Nanocardboard Aircraft with No Moving Parts

Tiny aircraft that weigh as much as a fruit fly could serve as Martian atmospheric probes.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Bio-Inspired Wing Design for Small Drones

Taking a cue from birds and insects, the wing design helps drones fly more efficiently and makes them more robust to atmospheric turbulence.

Briefs: Energy

Laser Spark Distribution and Ignition System

Traditional spark plugs are replaced by an optical pumping source.

Briefs: Materials

Acoustic Monitoring of Laser Welds

Empa researchers were able to demonstrate real-time acoustic monitoring of laser weld seams.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Spider Silk Can Create Lenses Useful for Biological Imaging

One unexpected application for spider silk is its use in the creation of biocompatible lenses.

Briefs: Motion Control

Gripper Handles Freely Moving Cables

The gripper’s soft, sensitive fingers could enable robots to help with tying knots, wire shaping, or surgical suturing.

Briefs: Motion Control

Flexible Feet Help Robots Walk Faster

This technology can help robots walk up to 40 percent faster on uneven terrain such as pebbles and wood chips.

Briefs: Motion Control

Fluid-Filled Frequency-Tunable Mass Damper

Applications include absorbers, tuned mass dampers, harmonic absorbers, and seismic dampers.