Tech Briefs

Motion Control/​Automation

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

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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Equipment and test system designers need Ethernet devices that outperform consumer-grade components, while remaining easy to use.
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Briefs: Motion Control
The soft and stretchable device converts movement into electricity and can work in wet environments.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
This below-the-hook device enables gentle crane placement to decrease the risk of property damage.
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Briefs: Motion Control
Oscillatory and rotational motions of different parts are combined to pave the way to developing super-miniaturized mechanical devices.
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Briefs: Motion Control
The integrated tool eliminates the need for manual operators or additional custom fixtures.
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Briefs: Materials
The researchers created these sensing structures using just one material and a single run on a 3D printer.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Made from 3D graphene foam, the sensors use a piezoresistive approach, meaning when the material is put under pressure it dynamically changes its electric resistance, easily detecting and adapting to the range of pressure required, from light to heavy.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
An open-access study in Advanced Science outlines the process by which Preston and lead author Faye Yap harnessed a spider’s physiology in a first step toward a novel area of research they call “necrobotics.”
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Briefs: Motion Control
Biomimetics is one of the most important robotic research methods which can improve the kinematic performance of robots by imitating the structure and behavior of natural organisms.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Researchers have taken inspiration from origami to create inflatable structures that can bend, twist, and move in complex, distinct ways from a single source of pressure.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
The R2 hand and forearm assembly is designed in a modular fashion, enabling rapid replacement of components and sub-assemblies.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
For drones to autonomously perform necessary but quotidian tasks, they must be able to adapt to wind conditions in real time.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
The ability to emit light also brings these microscale robots, which weigh barely more than a paper clip, one step closer to flying on their own outside the lab.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Researchers from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin recently created the first ever solid-state optical nanomotor.
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Briefs: Software
The technology could be useful in manufacturing and assembly plants for sorting packages, or in any environment where humans and robots collaborate.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
A new general-purpose optimizer can speed up the design of walking robots, self-driving vehicles, and other autonomous systems.
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Briefs: Power
Acoustic optimization for anti-phase asymmetric rotor.
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Briefs: Design
Interactive program aids motion planning for environments with obstacles.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
The piezoelectric “meta-bot” is capable of propulsion, movement, sensing, and decision-making.
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Briefs: Unmanned Systems
Researchers built electroluminescent soft artificial muscles for flying, insect-scale robots.
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Briefs: AR/AI
The robots will be challenged to carry out work too dangerous for humans.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Gust load alleviation is an increasing concern for the design of fixed-wing aircraft with ultra-high aspect wings.
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Briefs: Aerospace
A lightweight alternative to rudders for aircraft with spanwise adaptive wings.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
A self-aligning, self-healing system for pneumatics and cryogenics with applications in aerospace.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

The automation of additive manufacturing (AM) is limited and usually still requires human labor workflows, including the fundamental step of removing the finished object from the printer...

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Briefs: Imaging

Robots are good at making identical repetitive movements such as a simple task on an assembly line. But they lack the ability to perceive objects as they move through an environment. A...

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Briefs: Aerospace

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

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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

A fish-inspired robot that can travel 26 meters through the air after takeoff could be used to collect water samples in hazardous and cluttered environments,...

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Briefs: Software

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...

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Webcasts

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On-Demand Webinars: Defense

From Data to Decision: How AI Enhances Warfighter Readiness

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Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace

April Battery & Electrification Summit

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Upcoming Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Tech Update: 3D Printing for Transportation in 2024

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Upcoming Webinars: Materials

Unleashing Epoxy's Potential: Ensuring Hermetic Sealing in Modern...

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Upcoming Webinars: Test & Measurement

Building an Automotive EMC Test Plan

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Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace

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