Tech Briefs

Photonics & Imaging

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

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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Combined muscles and sensors made from soft materials allow for adaptable robots.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
By observing humans, robots learn to perform complex tasks such as setting a table.
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Briefs: Unmanned Systems
The process provides a cost-effective solution for applications in space-based imaging systems, military reconnaissance, and satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
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Briefs: Communications
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.
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Briefs: Data Acquisition
Mini-magnets could enable cloud computing systems to process data up to 100 times faster than current technologies.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Optically Reconfigurable Charge-Transfer Liquid Crystals
These re-writeable materials have applications in data storage and encryption, energy transducers, and optical display technologies.
Briefs: Nanotechnology
A novel plate-cell architecture reaches the theoretical limit of performance.
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Briefs: Defense
A new method could enable vehicles and equipment to better withstand high temperatures, loads, and speeds.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
This method uses fiber optic probes for measurement of semiconductors, optical coatings, magnetic read/write heads, and precision machines.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
The nonlinear camera captures high-resolution images of the interior of solid objects using terahertz (THz) radiation.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
Engineers have developed a new scanning technique inspired by the natural world that can detect corroding metals in oil and gas pipelines.
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Briefs: Communications
A team is exploring new materials for telecommunications and LIDAR applications.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Researchers described a new strategy of designing metamolecules.
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Briefs: Imaging
An inexpensive 3D-printed microfluidics device could be used to personalize cancer treatment.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Applications include optical data transfer, infrared and night-vision systems, environmental sensors, and breath analysis for medical diagnosis.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Applications include imaging, sensing, wireless communications, and medical treatments.
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Briefs: Imaging
Landers to small bodies such as comets and asteroids can use this program to estimate the terrain richness of the previously unmapped small body.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
A highly sensitive, CMOS-compatible, broadband photodetector was created by tailoring material defects.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A liquid crystal elastomer can be programmed to exhibit controllable, dynamic behavior without the need for complex electronic components.
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Briefs: Motion Control
This technology cancels out the vibrations of a satellite by vibrating the solar panels in the opposite direction.
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Briefs: Software
Apps could take up less space on a smartphone and apps could download instantly.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Special light sources and sensors see around corners or through gauzy filters, enabling reconstruction of the shapes of unseen objects.
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Briefs: Materials
Additive Manufacturing Method for Sub-Microscale Three-Dimensional Structures
Applications include MEMS, microlattice fabrication, and other sub-microscale 3D structures with a broad range of materials.
Briefs: Software
Hardware and software tweak microwave patterns to discover the most efficient way to identify objects.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
This imaging technique could impact optical communications and signal processing.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
This work could accelerate the development of flexible electronics.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
The lasers are small and efficient enough to fit on a microchip.
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Briefs: Communications
This method could lead to the transmission of data at the rate of 100 gigabits per second.
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Briefs: Aerospace
The NASA study is a first step in developing a model to deploy in future disasters.
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