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: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Researchers have developed a highly specialized 3D-printing technique that allows microfluidic channels to be fabricated on chips at a precise microscale.
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Briefs: Materials
New research shows the glittering, serpentine structures that power wearable electronics can be created with the same technology used to print concert t-shirts.
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Briefs: AR/AI
The piezoelectric “meta-bot” is capable of propulsion, movement, sensing, and decision-making.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
New research suggests that laser-based devices are poised to become a lot smaller.
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Briefs: Communications
Optical Signals can be retrieved from inherent background noise using Talbot effect to amplify them.
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Briefs: Test & Measurement
NASA's NEID tool delivered its first batch of data on the nearest and best-studied star, our Sun.
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Briefs: Communications
3D nanometer-scale metamaterial structures hold promise for advanced optical isolators.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
NASA’s Langley Research Center has developed a Beam Crossing Optical System for use in two-point Focused Laser Differential Interferometers.
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Briefs: Energy
The commercially relevant approach opens a potential pathway to improve charging speeds for electric vehicles.
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Briefs: Energy
Scientists created a zinc battery with a biodegradable electrolyte from an unexpected source — crab shells.
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Briefs: Energy
An international research collaboration led by UCLA has developed a way to use perovskite in solar cells while protecting it from the conditions that cause it to deteriorate.
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Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
The material could pave the way for better, safer solid-state batteries.
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Briefs: Nanotechnology
The device uses soft robotics, ultra-thin electronics, and microfluidics.
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Briefs: Medical
A new technique enables the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the air by using a nanotechnology-packed bubble that spills its chemical contents like a broken piñata when encountering the virus.
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Briefs: Medical
An apparatus and method that controls the growth and proliferation of 3D biological cells and mammalian tissue in the presence of a pulsating, alternating ionic magnetic resonance field.
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Briefs: Design
Researchers have developed the first ethical algorithm to fairly distribute the levels of risk rather than operating on an either/or principle.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
The technology could be useful in manufacturing and assembly plants for sorting packages, or in any environment where humans and robots collaborate.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Robotic vision has come a long way, reaching a level of sophistication with applications in complex and demanding tasks, such as autonomous driving and object manipulation.
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Briefs: Design
Interactive program aids motion planning for environments with obstacles.
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Briefs: Software
A team has designed and built a chip that runs computations directly in memory and can run a wide variety of AI applications.
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Briefs: Energy
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).
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
24M Technologies has simplified Li-ion battery production with a new design that requires fewer materials and steps to manufacture each cell.
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Briefs: Energy
The polymeric solid electrolyte realized a wide potential window, a high Li-ion conductivity, and a high Li-ion transference number.
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Briefs: Power
A research team has developed technology that could prevent electric vehicle fires, like those caused by saltwater flooding from Hurricane Ian.
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Briefs: Energy
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 new battery design could help ease integration of renewable energy into the nation's electrical grid at lower cost, using Earth-abundant metals.
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Briefs: Design
Following nature's example, Lufthansa Technik and BASF have jointly developed the functional surface film AeroSHARK for commercial aircraft.
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Briefs: Design
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.

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