Access the latest news and technical advancements impacting Mechanical and Fluid systems. Explore articles and technical briefs about fastening, joining, mechanical components, fluid handling, and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMs).
A successful space mission requires not only reliable motion components, it also means partnering with a motion specialist that can ensure they work as planned on their mission. This...
A valve developed by NASA Stennis Space Center consists of a solid piston floating in a medium to control the flow stream. The piston is designed to be axially and radially balanced within the flow stream whether the valve is in the open or closed position. This valve has many unique features and design advantages over conventional valve concepts. Read on to learn more.
Bodine Electric Company has been designing and manufacturing electric gearmotors for 120 years. Having seen thousands of applications over the years, the engineers at Bodine know the best play for each...
When building software-defined vehicle technologies, every decision influences delivery speed, system performance, and software longevity. But do engineering teams...
Custom machinery projects often fall victim to "perfectionism tax." When equipment specifications exceed actual operational needs, capital costs skyrocket...
Modern industrial applications demand electric actuators that can thrive in unforgiving conditions. This technical brief outlines critical design considerations for extreme environments,...
Digital innovations in hydraulic components, such as digitally enhanced high-response directional valves, are moving the needle for machine builders and raising performance standards for machine builders. As hydraulic systems evolve, smart technology is enabling deeper connectivity for more productive machines. Read on to learn more.
Imagine a tiny robot, no bigger than a leaf, gliding across a pond’s surface like a water strider. One day, devices like this could track pollutants, collect water samples, or scout flooded areas too risky for people. Baoxing Xu, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, is pioneering a way to build them. Read on to learn more.
For workers whose jobs involve hours of lifting and repetitive motion, even small innovations can make a big difference in preventing future musculoskeletal disorders. That’s why engineers at The University of Texas at Arlington have developed PASE (Pneumatically Actuated Soft Elbow Exoskeleton), a soft robotic exoskeleton that lightens the load — literally — by reducing strain on the arm and elbow. Read on to learn more.
A team of roboticists at the University of California San Diego has developed a robot that can swim under the sand and dig itself out too, thanks to two front limbs that mimic the oversized flippers of turtle hatchlings. Read on to learn more about it.
Mechanical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a proof-of-concept method for programming mechanical properties into solid Lego-like building blocks. By controlling the...
Fluidic Systems metering and mixing machines are widely used in the Aerospace Industry for their accuracy in processing adhesive/sealants and coatings. This white paper compares...
An essential question engineers ask before specifying a rotary ball spline is: Should the rotary spline nut be riding on angular contact ball bearings or crossed roller bearings?
Researchers have developed five new ways to securely connect large concrete pieces. These connection methods are intended for a type of material called “precast concrete,” in which parts such as beams and columns are made in a factory and assembled later at a construction site. Read on to learn more.
Researchers have created a light-powered soft robot that can carry loads through the air along established tracks, similar to cable cars or aerial trams. The soft robot operates autonomously, can climb slopes at angles of up to 80°, and can carry loads up to 12 times its weight. Read on to learn more.
From packaging to life science applications to office equipment to factory automation, smooth motion, fast accelerating and highly accurate are hallmarks of high quality linear movement actuators. Together with...
Although many roboticists today turn to nature to inspire their designs, even bioinspired robots are usually fabricated from non-biological materials like metal, plastic, and...
Renishaw’s advanced probing technology played a crucial role in supporting major space agency’s cutting‑edge particle physics research. Recent breakthroughs in particle...
This white paper describes new technology that enable engineers to easily program key functions into a linear position sensor and the inductive sensing technology that makes it...
If you’ve ridden in a modern car, bus, truck, aircraft, or even on certain bicycles, you’ve used hydraulic brakes. You most certainly have used them, but do you know how they work? Find out with this quiz.
While growing up, many of us were fascinated by watching gears turning, whether in bicycles, clocks or garbage trucks packing trash on the old rear-load machines. Today, gearing systems play a crucial role in machinery, transmitting power efficiently and reliably across a wide range of applications. Read on to learn more.
Missions to the moon and other planets will require large-scale infrastructure that would benefit from autonomous assembly by robots without on-site human intervention. NASA Ames Research Center has developed a novel and efficient mobile bipedal robot system to construct low-mass, high precision, and largescale infrastructure. Read on to learn more.
A new prototype of a knitting machine creates solid, knitted shapes, adding stitches in any direction — forward, backward, and diagonal — so users can construct a wide variety of shapes and add...
In this sponsored episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Margaux Ningre-Coirier, Aerospace Sales and Market Development Manager at Omniseal Solutions, is the guest to analyze how advanced sealing solutions are becoming the hidden enablers of safe, efficient hydrogen-powered advanced air mobility (AAM). Listen now!
Imagine a tiny robot, no bigger than a leaf, gliding across a pond’s surface like a water strider. One day, devices like this could track pollutants, collect water samples or scout...
Berkeley alumni Todd Roberts (MEng’20 ME) and Owen Kent (B.A.’17 Film) have shown how an idea can turn into a product that makes a difference. The pair first developed Reflex,...
