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: Design

A New Method to Improve Motion Planning for Robots

Interactive program aids motion planning for environments with obstacles.

Briefs: Software

An AI Chip Runs Computations Directly in Memory

A team has designed and built a chip that runs computations directly in memory and can run a wide variety of AI applications.

Briefs: Energy

Anode-Free Lithium Batteries with Maximized Energy Density

The newly developed anode-free battery has a volumetric energy density of 977 Wh/L which is 40 percent higher than the conventional batteries (700 wh/L).

Briefs: Energy

Simplifying the Production of Lithium-ion Batteries

24M Technologies has simplified Li-ion battery production with a new design that requires fewer materials and steps to manufacture each cell.

Briefs: Energy

New Hybrid Electrolyte for High-Performance Lithium-ion Batteries

The polymeric solid electrolyte realized a wide potential window, a high Li-ion conductivity, and a high Li-ion transference number.

Briefs: Design

Using Nano-Engineering Techniques to Develop a Safer Battery

A research team has developed technology that could prevent electric vehicle fires, like those caused by saltwater flooding from Hurricane Ian.

Briefs: Power

Improving Accuracy of Battery Charge Measurement

The issue of battery usage inefficiency in EVs resulting from an inaccurate battery charge measurement may finally get resolved.

Briefs: Energy

Sodium-Ion Battery Anode for Energy Storage

The high cost and limited supply of lithium necessitate the development of alternative energy storage systems.

Briefs: Energy

A Sodium-Aluminum Battery Aims to Integrate Renewables for Grid Resiliency

A new battery design could help ease integration of renewable energy into the nation's electrical grid at lower cost, using Earth-abundant metals.

Briefs: Aerospace

Shark Skin Inspires Functional Surface Film for Aircraft

Following nature's example, Lufthansa Technik and BASF have jointly developed the functional surface film AeroSHARK for commercial aircraft.

Briefs: Propulsion

Biomimicking Hummingbirds for Better Drones

Hummingbirds have extreme aerial agility and flight forms, which is why many drones and other aerial vehicles are designed to mimic hummingbird movement.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Using Small Drones to Monitor Volcanoes

A team at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has recently been assessing the potential for using a small, portable observation drone in remote regions.

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Aerospace Vehicle Entry Flightpath Control

This novel flightpath control system exploits the dihedral effect to control the bank angle of the vehicle by modulating sideslip.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Serial Arrayed Waveguide Grating

The technology has several applications including optical communications, remote sensing/LiDAR, and beam steering.

Briefs: Medical

Health Monitoring with Skin-Like Electronics

Flexible, wearable electronics could be used for precision medical sensors attached to the skin, designed to perform health monitoring and diagnosis.

Briefs: Wearables

Wearable Electronics for Continuous Cardiac, Respiratory Monitoring

A highly sensitive wearable sensor for cardiorespiratory monitoring could potentially be worn continuously by cardiac patients or others who require constant monitoring.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Bioelectronic Devices Enable Real-Time Sensing

If a chemical spill in a river goes unnoticed for 20 minutes, it might be too late to remediate. Living bioelectronic sensors developed at Rice University can help.

Briefs: Design

Impact and Trajectory Detection System

The system can indicate the time and location of an impact and the trajectory of that projectile using piezoelectric polymer film and sensors.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Sensor Can Detect Scarred or Fatty Liver Tissue

Diagnosing liver damage earlier could help to prevent liver failure in many patients.

Briefs: Wearables

Suture of the Future Fights Infection

The smart bandage can dispense antibiotic, monitor wound-healing biomarkers, and report important data directly to doctors.

Briefs: Materials

Room Temperature Oxygen Sensors

Traditional oxygen sensors have significant drawbacks and suffer from high power consumption.

Briefs: Design

Lunar Surface Navigation System

Scientists have developed a novel concept for a lunar navigation system based on the reverse-ephemeris technique.

Briefs: Wearables

Electronic Skin Sensor Decodes Human Motion

This system can track the motion of the entire body with a small sensory network.

Briefs: Motion Control

Motion Control Using Micro Controllers

Accomplishing motion control with digitally commanded electric motors is a responsive, precise, and energy-efficient approach suitable for a wide range of applications.