Electronics & Software

A Fully Autonomous Robotic System Measures Key Properties of New Materials

Scientists are striving to discover new semiconductor materials that could boost the efficiency of solar cells and other electronics. But the pace of innovation is bottlenecked by the speed at which researchers can manually measure important material properties. A fully autonomous robotic system developed by MIT researchers could speed things up. Read on to learn more.

Porous Radical Organic Framework Improves Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

A team led by Professor Yan Lu, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, and Professor Arne Thomas, Technical University of Berlin, has developed a material that enhances the capacity and stability of lithium-sulfur batteries. Read on to learn more.

New Products

See the new products, including EBE Elektro Bau Elemente GmbH's capacitive level sensor technology based on corTEC® technology for applications where conventional level sensors reach their limits; Abaco Systems' VP241, a SOSA-aligned 3U VPX FPGA carrier card designed to deliver unmatched flexibility for next-generation embedded computing applications; Emerson's Rosemount™ QX1000 Continuous Gas Analyzer; and more.

Finding Hidden Damage in Cold-Formed Steel with Radar and AI

A University of Houston engineer has developed a method to detect possible damage in concealed cold-formed steel construction framing materials hidden behind walls, without having to tear the walls open. Read on to learn more.

MEMS in Transition

Wide-scale applications for Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) became practical in the 1980s when they started being fabricated with the same silicon wafer processes as semiconductor chips. Once they could be mass produced, they found a major market in automobile safety systems as inertial sensors for airbag deployment. Then came the introduction of smart phones in the late 2000s. Read on to learn where they're heading.

Attacking the Cyberattackers

Smart factories, smart buildings, smart grids, smart cars, make things run better, more productively, more sustainably, more accurately, more safely, and unfortunately, more vulnerable to attack. The more things are automated and interconnected, the more attention has to be given to protecting these systems from outside interference. Read on to learn how to combat cyberattacks.

Humidity-Resistant Hydrogen Sensor Can Improve Safety for Large-Scale Clean Energy

It's a challenge that today’s sensors do not work optimally in humid environments. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, are presenting a new sensor that is well suited to humid environments — and actually performs better the more humid it gets. Read on to learn more about it.

An Industrial Edge Layer Creates a Safe OT-IT Interface

Edge software provides the controlled, secure interface manufacturers need to comply with the 2024 EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and other security mandates. Read on to learn more.

Resilient Nylon Device Creates Electricity Under Tons of Pressure

Researchers have developed a flexible nylon-film device that generates electricity from compression and keeps working even after being run over by a car multiple times, opening the door to self-powered sensors on our roads and for other electronic devices. Read on to learn more.

Wireless Transceiver Rivals Fiber-Optic Speed

A new transceiver invented by electrical engineers at the University of California, Irvine boosts radio frequencies into 140-gigahertz territory, unlocking data speeds that rival those of physical fiber-optic cables and laying the groundwork for a transition to 6G and FutureG data transmission protocols. Read on to learn more about it.

LiDAR Goes Digital

Early LiDAR sensors, built on legacy mechanical architectures, proved the possibility of 3D perception but struggled to meet the demands of production. As the industry matures, the focus has shifted from simply detecting objects to doing so reliably, at scale, and at a price point suitable for commercial deployment. Read on to learn more.

New Solar Research Achieves 130% Efficiency Yield Using Singlet Fission

To become a mainstream energy source, solar panels need to become more efficient, and a recent breakthrough by researchers from Kyushu University and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz may accelerate this progress. Read on to learn more.

New Technology Makes Solar Panels Blend Seamlessly Into Buildings

German researchers have developed a technique for applying realistic designs to photovoltaic modules, which convert sunlight into electricity, enabling them to mimic roof tiles and integrate more seamlessly into buildings. Read on to learn about this new method, termed ShadeCut.

Light-Responsive Perovskites Exhibit Reversible Shape-Shifting Behavior

Researchers at the University of California, Davis recently found that perovskites may enable a new class of light-responsive semiconductor devices. Read on to learn more.

Microbial Fuel Cell Uses Soil Bacteria to Power Agricultural Sensors

Precision agriculture uses sensors to monitor soil and help farmers improve yields. However, powering these sensors with continuous, uninterrupted power is challenging due to limited battery capacity and limited development of renewable power. To help address farmers' power needs, Northwestern University researchers have developed a fuel cell the size of a paperback that captures energy as microbes break down organic matter, powering underground sensors for agriculture and environmental monitoring.

MIT Researchers Develop AI System That Keeps Warehouse Robot Traffic Running Smoothly

MIT researchers developed an AI system that prevents robot traffic jams in automated warehouses by dynamically prioritizing and rerouting robots. Simulations show the approach can increase throughput and facilitate robot-to-robot communication. Read on to learn more.

WPI Researchers Develop Bat-Inspired AI Drones for Advanced Search and Rescue

For advanced search-and-rescue, a team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) drew inspiration from bats to create palm-sized aerial robots. Read on to learn more.

Celebrate 50 Years of Tech Briefs: Share Your Story

Thank you to everyone who shared their Tech Briefs story. We are no longer accepting submissions. Watch for featured stories in our September issue.  

How Modular Computing Is Accelerating Modern Defense Technology

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Shaun Fischer, Director of Development and Open Systems Solutions at Leonardo DRS, discusses the company’s newly launched THOR — Tactical, High‑Performance Embedded Computing, Open Architecture, Rugged — embedded computing chassis and the new military applications it is designed to enable. Listen now!

How Much Do You Know About Alternative Fuels?

Fuel supply and costs are a growing concern for consumers and businesses alike. Fleets running medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles have many options beyond conventional diesel fuel. Test your knowledge on the history and current state of alternative fuels with this quiz.