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.

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Briefs: Imaging
Optically Reconfigurable Charge-Transfer Liquid Crystals
These re-writeable materials have applications in data storage and encryption, energy transducers, and optical display technologies.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Heat predictably and precisely changes the surface structure of a particle of liquid metal.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The multitasking device could advance development of an electric circuit for faster, next-generation electronics like quantum computing technologies.
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Briefs: Energy
This method of producing clean syngas could be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to gasoline.
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Briefs: Materials
This method can be used to protect stored building materials and to remediate in-service wood and wood products.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The flexible device harvests heat energy from the body to monitor health.
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Briefs: Energy
This green process produces pristine graphene in bulk using waste food, plastic, and other materials.
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Briefs: Materials
A novel plate-cell architecture reaches the theoretical limit of performance.
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Briefs: Materials
These composites could improve how unmanned vehicles dissipate energy.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
This technology supports CO2 emissions reduction in cement manufacturing.
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Briefs: Wearables
The rainproof, stainproof technology turns clothing into self-powered remotes while turning away bacteria.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Inspired by the octopus, the structure senses, computes, and responds without any centralized processing.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
A new method could enable vehicles and equipment to better withstand high temperatures, loads, and speeds.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Next-generation devices made with a “peel and stack” method could include electronic chips worn on the skin.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
Bandages with integrated pH and temperature sensors, and electronically triggered drug release, improve healing.
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Briefs: Materials
This method uses fiber optic probes for measurement of semiconductors, optical coatings, magnetic read/write heads, and precision machines.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
This fast, flexible tool allows researchers to quickly compare and prioritize strategies for converting biomass to fuels and products.
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Briefs: Imaging
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: Test & Measurement
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: Aerospace
This diffuser provides double the pumping efficiency in one-quarter the space.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The capacitor could enable a new generation of electronics that will require less power and generate less heat.
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Briefs: Software
This program generates a mesh that conforms to a complex model without clipping.
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Briefs: Materials
This passive device relies on a layer of material that blocks incoming sunlight but lets heat radiate away.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
An inexpensive 3D-printed microfluidics device could be used to personalize cancer treatment.
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Briefs: Nanotechnology
The material consists solely of components that have already been shown to work well in the body.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
A ceramic sensor could be embedded into structures such as bridges and aircraft to monitor their health.
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Briefs: Lighting
The AI system can help shorten the time required for 2D material-based electronics to be ready for consumer devices.
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