Materials & Manufacturing

A New Shape-Changing Polymer for Better Soft Material Construction

A team of scientists has created a new shape-changing polymer that could transform how future soft materials are constructed.

Integrating and Testing the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

In this video, we provide an overview of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s mission, capabilities and timeline to launch.

Replacing Thick Insulation with Thin MXenes

Research reports that MXenes, a class of 2D materials originally discovered at Drexel University in 2011, demonstrate the rare combination of high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity.

How AiSee Can Make the Blind ‘See’

AiSee is a smart headphone equipped with an integrated camera, microphone, and an AI-powered software architecture. It “sees” what’s in front of the user, “hears” what the user says, and is able “speak” to the user.

NASA’s Electric Thrusters Keep Commercial Satellites on the Clock

NASA’s advancements in materials research for ion thrusters enabled Orbion Space Technology to bring high-efficiency ion thrusters to the commercial satellite industry.

How Much Do You Know About Industrial Robotics?

Industrial robots are playing a continually increasing role in manufacturing worldwide. It’s therefore important that we in the tech industries have a good understanding of what they are, what they do, and what they can do. How much do you know about industrial robotics? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

The State of AI: Manufacturing 2025

AI represents a tremendous opportunity across the manufacturing industry. To successfully implement and benefit from AI in 2025, manufacturers will need to develop a clear AI strategy, optimize operations, and manage risks. Read on to learn more.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of month, including one on UW researchers developing a flexible, durable electronic prototype that can harvest energy from body heat and turn it into electricity that can be used to power small electronics; one on Purdue University researchers using both ultrasonic waves and X-ray CT to “see inside” manufactured objects nondestructively; one on Rotograb, a robotic hand that merges the dexterity of human hands with the strength and efficiency of industrial grippers; and more.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow, including the world’s first soft touchpad that can sense the force, area, and location of contact without electricity; a hydrogel that retains the semiconductive ability needed to transmit information between living tissue and machine; and a thin film sensor that measures temperatures up to 1200 °F.

New on the Market

See what's new on the market, including Cotronics' Duralco™ 215, an alumina ceramic-based high temperature coating, specially developed for impregnating and coating electrical products to 2500 ºF; COMSOL's Multiphysics ® version 6.3, which delivers new features and capability updates for efficient physics modeling and simulation app development; Binder's angled M5 panel mount connectors; and much more.

Critical Minerals Recovery from Electronic Waste

A PNNL research team used a simple mixed-salt water-based solution and their knowledge of metal properties to separate valuable minerals in continuously flowing reaction chambers. Read on to learn more.

Snail-Inspired Robot Could Scoop Ocean Microplastics

Inspired by a small and slow snail, scientists have developed a robot prototype that may one day scoop up microplastics from the surfaces of oceans, seas, and lakes.

Fabricating High-Temperature Superconducting Wires for Future Energy Generation

Researchers have fabricated the world’s highest-performing HTS wire segment while making the price-performance metric significantly more favorable. Read on to learn more.

Integrating Fragile 2D Materials into Devices

Researchers from MIT and elsewhere have developed a new technique to integrate 2D materials into devices in a single step while keeping the surfaces of the materials and the resulting interfaces pristine and free from defects. Read on to learn more.

Artificial Intelligence and Industrial Robotics: Far Beyond the Hype

Accelerating progress in AI is redefining what is possible with industrial robotics, enhancing everything from robots’ ability to grip, pick and place as well as their ability to map and navigate through dynamic environments. Read on to learn more about what this means.

How AI Impacts an Industrial Machinery Manufacturer’s Design Process

Artificial intelligence will be a key tool going forward in achieving results, offering the ability to more rapidly design, prototype, and implement changes and solutions through superior data analytics abilities and improved human-machine interactions. Read on to learn more.

The Future of AI for Aerospace Manufacturing

All aerospace industry sectors have embraced artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve practical and urgent concerns. AI has become fundamental in the management of safety, part design, inspection processes, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), and fuel efficiency. Read on to learn more about it.

Large Format Windows: From Material to Mission

Defense applications, in particular, are always tasked with the balancing act that optimizes size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) efficiencies when specifying new equipment. The challenge is how to balance beneficial trade-offs for optimal performance. Read on to learn more.

How Double-Sided Polishing Can Revolutionize Optical Manufacturing

In optical manufacturing, precision polishing is vital to achieving the required flatness, surface quality, and angular precision that many applications demand. Traditionally, single-sided polishing has been the go-to method, particularly for complex components where one-sided control is critical. Read on to learn more about double-sided polishing.

Top 10 Most-Read Tech Briefs Stories of 2024

With another year of Tech Briefs almost in the books, it's time to look at our most-read articles of 2024.

Meet MobiPrint: A Mobile 3D Printer that Can Automatically Measure a Room and Print to the Specs

University of Washington researchers have created MobiPrint, a mobile 3D printer that can automatically measure a room and print objects onto its floor. The team’s graphic interface lets users design objects for a space that the robot has mapped out.

Microrobots Swimming Autonomously in Viscous Liquids

The researchers’ groundbreaking study introduces the first toroidal, light-driven microrobot that can move autonomously in viscous liquids, such as mucus.

Magnetically Controlled Kirigami Surfaces Move Objects: No Grasping Needed

A novel device couples magnetic fields and kirigami design principles to remotely control the movement of a flexible dimpled surface, allowing it to manipulate...

MIT Team Takes a Major Step Toward Fully 3D-Printed Active Electronics

Active electronics — components that can control electrical signals — usually contain semiconductor devices that receive, store, and process information. These...