Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Magazine Archives

2022 September August July June May April March February January 2021 December November October ...

Encoder Selection: Finding the Right Fit

Key considerations to keep in mind while selecting the best encoder for your application.

New Products: August 2022 Motion Design

New Products from the August 2022 issue of Motion Design.

Miniature Separable Fill and Drain Valve

Besides miniature spacecraft propulsion systems, the valve could also have applications in the industrial processing industry where low flow devices are commonly used.

Self-Aligning Poppet

Testing has shown that NASA's poppet reduces leakage rates of traditional aerospace cryogenic valves by three orders of magnitude.

Ginning Up a Modern Automation Platform

Although the basic function of cotton gins is quite old, today’s versions can benefit further from modernized control systems.

Making Automotive Assembly Lines Safer

The moving assembly line remains an integral piece of most automobile manufacturing.

Improved Fixed-Wing Gust Load Alleviation Device

Gust load alleviation is an increasing concern for the design of fixed-wing aircraft with ultra-high aspect wings.

Low Separation Force Quick Disconnect Device

A self-aligning, self-healing system for pneumatics and cryogenics with applications in aerospace.

Multi-Link Spherical Joint

Single joint allows six attachments with independent movement.

Material Inspired by Chain Mail Transforms from Flexible to Rigid on Command

Applications include a smart fabric for exoskeletons, an adaptive cast that adjusts its stiffness as an injury heals, or a deployable bridge that could be unrolled and stiffened.

Nanostructured Fibers Can Impersonate Human Muscles

Mimicking the human body, specifically the actuators that control muscle movement, is of immense interest around the globe. In recent years, it has led to many innovations to improve...

Making Robotic Assistive Walking More Natural

A new method of generating gaits for robotic assistive devices aims to guarantee stability and achieve more natural locomotion for different users. The method is being developed by a team at...

How Well Do You Know the ISS?

NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by 2030; its operations will be transitioned to commercial low-Earth orbit destinations. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of the ISS.

Superior Organ Transport Moves Forward

A life-saving device developed by Vascular Perfusion Solutions uses compressed oxygen to extend the life of organs for transplants.

Products of Tomorrow: July 2022

This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that...

What Can Engineers Learn from Nature?

A number of the engineers I’ve interviewed have taken their inspirations from nature. As one said to me, nature has been evolving and perfecting its designs over thousands of years — we should...

Here's an Idea: 3D-Printed Lubrication System for Single-Use Engines

CTO Daniella Sladen and her team at Zulu Pods have created an oil-delivery system that fits in the palm of your hand.

Assessing Five Key Areas of Modern Hydraulic Power Units

Any manufacturing facility that uses hydraulics powered by conventional fixed-speed hydraulic power units (HPUs) has engineers and personnel who know all too well how large,...

Rat-Like Nimble Robot Could Someday Perform Inspections

Legged robots are very promising for use in real-world applications, but their operation in narrow spaces is still challenging. One solution for enhancing their environmental...

Self-Contained Device Isolates Biological Samples

A patented self-contained device for isolating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins, and cells without using pipettes or centrifuges has been developed at NASA’s...

Computer Simulation Accurately Models Moving Cars

Specialists in fluid dynamics at Rice University and Waseda University in Tokyo have developed their computer simulation methods to the point where it’s possible to accurately model...

Jumping Robot Leaps to Record Heights

A mechanical jumper developed by University of California Santa Barbara engineering professor Elliot Hawkes and collaborators is capable of achieving the tallest height — roughly 100 feet (30...

Engineers Bring a Soft Touch to Commercial Robotics

Inspired by the natural dexterity of the human hand, a team of engineers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has created a reconfigurable hybrid robotics system that is able...

Molecular Robots Work Cooperatively in Swarms

In a global first, scientists have demonstrated that molecular robots are able to accomplish cargo delivery by employing a strategy of swarming, achieving a transport efficiency five times...

Microdrones With Light-Driven Nanomotors

Physicists at the University of Würzburg have propelled micrometer-sized drones significantly smaller than red blood cells, exerting precise control, using only light.