Mechanical/Mechatronics

Propulsion

Explore the key advances impacting propulsion technologies and applications involved in aircraft propulsion, turbo-electric distributed propulsion, and hybrid electric aircraft propulsion systems.

Facility Focus: Aerospace

Facility Focus: Stanford University School of Engineering

NASA Spinoff: Propulsion

Water-Powered Engines Offer Satellite Mobility

Articles: Photonics/Optics

2020 Create the Future Design Contest: Automotive/Transportation Category Winner — Low-Noise Laser for Lidar

Articles: Imaging

2020 Create the Future Design Contest: Aerospace & Defense Category Winner — NiobiCon™

Application Briefs: Aerospace

Wave Energy Modeling for Safer Space Travel

Get the latest breakthroughs from NASA & other technology sources.

Latest Briefs & News

White Papers: Power

Measuring Torque Ripple and Its Effects on Electric Power and Noise & Vibration

Torque ripple can create challenges in electric motors including control, power output, noise, vibration, and durability. Torque ripple can be described as the...

Facility Focus: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Facility Focus: NASA John C. Stennis Space Center

Stennis now is testing RS-25 rocket engines for the Space Launch System (SLS) that will carry humans back to the Moon.

Question of the Week: Propulsion

Will Electric Aircraft Take-Off in Everyday Aviation?

In May of 2020, the “eCaravan” aircraft, powered by a 750-horsepower electric motor and more than 2000 pounds of lithium-ion batteries, flew to a height of over 2500 feet, at over 100 miles per hour. The all-electric airplane was built by magniX, Seattle-based electric propulsion...

Blog: Propulsion

Answering Your (Mars 2020) Questions: Will the Perseverance Rover Carry Around NASA's Mars Helicopter?

The Mars rover Perseverance has a helicopter. Will the rover have to carry it around?

Special Reports: Design

Vehicle Electrification - July 2020

The global transition to electric vehicles presents new design, manufacturing, and infrastructure challenges. To help you keep pace with the rapid changes in vehicle electrification technology, we present...

Briefs: Energy

Electrohydraulically Actuated Valve Train

The new technology demonstrates a 20 percent savings in fuel in typical passenger car low-load operating conditions.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

SMART Solar Sail

The miniaturized, autonomous, reconfigurable solar sail is capable of very fine maneuvering by small surface deformation.

Briefs: Software

Machine Learning Enables Rapid Rocket Engine Design

This method provides a fast way to assess rocket engine performance in a variety of operating conditions.

Briefs: Transportation

Bio-Inspired Propulsion

Frequencies and passive dynamics of vehicles moving in air or water help enhance propulsion performance.

Briefs: Power

Supersonic Spike Diffuser

This diffuser provides double the pumping efficiency in one-quarter the space.

Blog: Software

A Faster Way to Design Rockets: Scientific Machine Learning

To speed up the design process, researchers from the University of Texas are finding more efficient ways to predict, or "learn," a rocket's behavior.

Articles: Photonics/Optics

Fiber Lasers for Powertrain Welding Applications

Altering the traditional intensity distribution of fiber lasers improves weld quality.

Application Briefs: Test & Measurement

Multiple Sensors Aid in Development of an Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft

Beta Technologies is putting their Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft (eVTOL) prototype through the wringer.

Briefs: Propulsion

Green Jet Fuel Additive Made from Acetone Plus Light

The additive creates fuel from biomass while improving engine performance.

Articles: Transportation

What’s Next in Mobility: WCX 2020 SAE World Congress Experience

Your preview of one of the largest technical mobility events of the year.

Blog: Aerospace

Researcher Finds Promising Patterns in ‘Explosive’ Rotating Detonation Engine

University of Washington engineer James Koch observed patterns in a promising, but often-unpredictable rocket part: The rotating detonation engine.

Briefs: Energy

Power System for Hybrid Heavy-Duty Trucks

Electric motors and gas-alcohol engines could slash pollution levels and greenhouse gases from long-haul trucks.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

CubeSat Form Factor Thermal Control Louvers

These louvers provide passive thermal cooling for CubeSats.

Special Reports: Motion Control

CONEXPO/IFPE - January 2020

Coming to Las Vegas in March, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE are North America's largest events for the construction/commercial vehicle, fluid power, power transmission, and motion control industries. In this Special...

Special Reports: Design

Vehicle Electrification - January 2020

Demand for electric vehicles is accelerating, presenting new design, manufacturing, and infrastructure challenges. To help you keep pace with the rapid changes in vehicle electrification technology, we...