Tech Briefs

A comprehensive library of technical briefs from engineering experts at NASA and major government, university, and commercial laboratories covering all aspects of innovations in electronics, software, photonics, imaging, motion control, automation, sensors, test, materials, manufacturing, mechanical, and mechatronics.

Briefs: Energy

Optical Coating Exhibits the Same Color in Reflection and Transmission

Fano Resonance Optical Coatings can both transmit and reflect the same color simultaneously.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Light Helps Autonomous Vehicles Better Scan for Nearby Fast-Moving Objects

Mechanical control and modulation of light on a silicon chip could enhance LiDAR.

Briefs: Imaging

Electronic Paper Displays Brilliant Colors

Using ambient light, the reflective screen keeps energy consumption to a minimum.

Briefs: Imaging

System Uses Smartphone or Computer Cameras to Measure Health

The camera captures pulse and respiration signals from a video of a person’s face.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Multi-Shot Lensless Camera

The camera could have uses in faster disease diagnosis and thinner cellphones.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

High-Definition Millimeter-Wave Body Scanner

In an airport, the scanner could eliminate the need for passengers to remove shoes at the checkpoint, speeding the screening process.

Briefs: Data Acquisition

Progressive Band Selection for Hyperspectral Images

This system enables fast analysis of hyperspectral images in disaster response or target detection scenarios.

Briefs: Imaging

Smart Displays Show Information Through Fabric

The technology shines through fabrics to show notifications for email messages, time, weather, or other forms of basic information.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Artificial Intelligence Improves Battery Health and Safety

A machine learning method promises to predict battery health with 10 times higher accuracy than the current industry standard.

Briefs: Energy

Wearable Biofuel Cells Produce Electricity from Lactate

The biofuel cells can power wearable electronics purely by using human sweat.

Briefs: Energy

Wearable Device Transforms the Human Body into a Biological Battery

The device is stretchy enough to wear like a ring, a bracelet, or any other accessory that touches the skin.

Briefs: Materials

Polymer-Based Battery Enables Fast Charging and Low Operating Temperatures

The battery charges faster than a lithium-ion battery and is fire-safe and eco-friendly.

Briefs: Materials

Eliminating Corrosion Extends Life of Lightweight Batteries

A new design could extend the shelf-life of single-use metal-air batteries for electric vehicles, off-grid storage, and other applications.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Cleaner Water Through Corn

Activated carbon made from corn stover filters 98 percent of a pollutant from water.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Chemistry Discovery Could Remove Micropollutants from the Environment

This approach could result in developing chemical sensors that are sensitive at a very low level to a specific chemical in the environment.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Recycling Battery Parts Without Crushing or Melting

The method replenishes lithium in electrodes while keeping the existing structure intact.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Tires Turned into Graphene Make Stronger Concrete

An optimized flash process could reduce carbon emissions.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Bipedal Robot Achieves Better Body Balance

A new robot developed by Caltech researchers LEO carves out a new type of locomotion somewhere between walking and flying.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Getting NASA Data to the Ground With Lasers

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) will usher in a new era of laser communications.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Need for Larger Space Telescope Inspires Lightweight Flexible Holographic Lens

Holographic lenses render visible and infrared starlight into either a focused image or a spectrum.

Briefs: Imaging

Cell Labelling Method from Microscopy Adapted for Use in Whole-Body Imaging

A team at the University of Münster is adapting a cell labelling strategy known as "SNAP-tag" technology.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Sixth Mirror Casting Brings Giant Magellan Telescope Closer to Completion

At 3 p.m. on March 5, a gigantic furnace slowly started spinning underneath the stands of Arizona Stadium at the University of Arizona. Fire-engine red, massive in size...