Tech Briefs

Photonics & Imaging

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

Briefs: Test & Measurement
Acoustic Monitoring of Laser Welds
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Leap in Lidar Could Improve Safety and Security of New Technology
Briefs: Imaging
T-Ray Camera Speed Boosted a Hundred Times Over
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Latest Tech Briefs

Briefs: Materials
Occulter for CubeSat Coronagraph
The instrument has uses in photography where the goal is to image a dim object near a bright one.
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Blinking Artificial Human Eye Replica for Disease Modeling and Drug Testing
This eye-on-a-chip can help treatment of dry eye disease.
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Comb-on-a-Chip Optical Ruler Measures Colors of Light Waves
The newest version of these combs could revolutionize clocks, telescopes, and telecommunications.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Laser Technology Assesses Cancer Cells
Laser light induces ultrasonic vibrations in a sample that can be used to image cells, blood vessels, and tissues.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Geoscientists Create Deeper Look at Processes Below Earth’s Surface with 3D Images
Researchers tackled the problem using a geophysical measurement called seismic anisotropy.
Briefs: Materials
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: Wearables
Breathable Electronics for Wearable Technologies
The material was designed specifically for biomedical or wearable technologies, since sweat and volatile organic compounds evaporate away from the skin.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Electronically Controlled 2D Reflector Improves Microwave Communications
Flat-panel technology could transform antennas, wireless, and cellphone communications.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Tunable, Chip-Based, Vortex Microlaser and Detector
This system encodes information in twisting beams of light.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Smart Windows Self-Illuminate on Rainy Days
Self-powering, color-changing humidity sensors are applicable to various fields including smart windows, health care, and safety management.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Markerless Motion Capture Technology Could Help Skeleton Athletes’ Training
A new type of motion capture technology accurately tracks an athlete during the push start phase of performance.
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Nanomaterial Gives Robots Chameleon Skin
Features include unusual color changes and high touch sensitivity.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Graphene Smart Textiles for Heat-Adaptive Clothing
Smart adaptive clothing can lower the body temperature of the wearer in hot climates.
Briefs: Imaging
Ultrathin, Fully Packaged, High-Resolution Camera
Biologically inspired ultrathin arrayed camera captures super-resolution images.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Ultrafast Camera Captures Transparent Objects and Phenomena
The camera can take up to 1 trillion pictures per second of transparent objects, shockwaves, and other phenomena.
Briefs: Imaging
ONav and GeoPixel™ Web-Based Navigation for the Collection of Aerial Imagery
Multiple commercial applications include defense, search and rescue, and disaster relief.
Briefs: Aerospace
Directional UAV Localization of Power Line Ultraviolet Corona
This method detects power line faults using a drone.
Briefs: Imaging
Model Recovers Data Lost from Images and Video in Low Dimensions
Video can be recreated from motion-blurred images and new cameras may someday retrieve 3D data from 2D medical images.
Briefs: Imaging
Light-Emitting Nanoparticles for Imaging Living Cells
Tiny, metal-rich particles can be excited with a low-power laser for deep-tissue imaging.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Neural Hardware for Image Recognition in Nanoseconds
An ultrafast image sensor with a built-in neural network can be trained to recognize certain objects.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Pseudo-Random Coding Technique for 3D Imaging
This technique offers enhanced resolution and improved system reliability for mapping and obstacle recognition and navigation for vehicles.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Smart Surgical Microscope
Imaging technology used to map the universe shows promise for more accurately and quickly identifying cancer cells in the operating room.
Briefs: Materials
Polymer Composite for Radiation Shielding
The polymer composite could replace conventional radiation shielding materials such as lead.
Briefs: Nanotechnology
Transparent Graphene Electrodes
A new roll-to-roll production method could enable lightweight, flexible solar devices and a new generation of display screens.
Briefs: Imaging
Cellulose-Based Sensor Simultaneously Measures Pressure, Temperature, and Humidity
The sensor has applications in fields such as robotics, healthcare, and security.
Briefs: Energy
Wearable Strain Sensor Using Light Transmittance
This technology shows potential for the detection of subtle human motions and the real-time monitoring of body postures for healthcare applications.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Method Verifies that Quantum Chips are Computing Correctly
The method determines whether circuits are accurately executing complex operations that classical computers can’t tackle.
Briefs: Aerospace
Enhanced Fabrication Improves Temperature Sensing in Cryogenic Humid Environments
This technology is useful for energy, industrial, and aerospace applications.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Tracking Lab-Grown Tissue with Light
A new proof-of-concept photonic pH sensor could advance studies of tissue regeneration.
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Can Courtesy Be Programmed Into Self-Driving Cars?

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