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: 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: Power
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: Aerospace
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?
Briefs: Propulsion
Electrohydraulically Actuated Valve Train
The new technology demonstrates a 20 percent savings in fuel in typical passenger car low-load operating conditions.
Briefs: Energy
SMART Solar Sail
The miniaturized, autonomous, reconfigurable solar sail is capable of very fine maneuvering by small surface deformation.
Briefs: Test & Measurement
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.
White Papers: Propulsion
Recoma®HT: Rare Earth Magnets for High Temperatures

Arnold Magnetic Technologies has developed Samarium Cobalt magnets for a wide range of applications. The RECOMA®HT grade magnets were developed specifically for applications operating at...

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: Propulsion
Fiber Lasers for Powertrain Welding Applications
Altering the traditional intensity distribution of fiber lasers improves weld quality.
Application Briefs: Communications
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: Power
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: Propulsion
CubeSat Form Factor Thermal Control Louvers
These louvers provide passive thermal cooling for CubeSats.
Special Reports: Power
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: Transportation
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...

Briefs: Materials
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Methylotrophic Microorganisms Expressing Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Proteins
This technology enables methane metabolism by yeast.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Superconductivity in a Nickel Oxide Material
Made with “Jenga chemistry,” the material could help in understanding how high-temperature superconductors work.
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Metallization for SiC Semiconductors
This technology provides simultaneous ohmic contacts and the process to make them.
Facility Focus: Imaging
Facility Focus: NASA John H. Glenn Research Center
Glenn's research facilities have contributed to decades of technology advances.
Briefs: Aerospace
De-Orbit Device for SmallSats
This retractable de-orbit device facilitates targeted re-entry, attitude and orbital control, and collision avoidance.
Articles: Imaging
2019 'Create the Future' Aerospace & Defense Category Winner: A Morphing, Foldable Drone
The Foldable Drone: a Morphing Quadrotor that can Squeeze and Fly Davide Falanga, Kevin Kleber, Stefano Mintchev, Dario Floreano, and Davide...
NASA Spinoff: Propulsion
Phase-Change Coating Absorbs Heat from Rockets, Pipes, and Beer
The material used on a shuttle's rocket boosters has several terrestrial applications.
Articles: Propulsion
2019 'Create the Future' Automotive/Transportation Category Winner: A Standalone AC Battery
A prototype of the AC 'Biode' battery has been developed at 20W.
On-Demand Webinars: Propulsion
The Future of Commercial Vehicle Propulsion: Diesel vs. Electrification

Diesel engine makers and suppliers are ramping up their electrification efforts aimed at on-highway commercial vehicles and off-highway equipment. However, they have no plans to abandon the tried-and-true internal-combustion engine any time soon. Industry experts...

Facility Focus: Aerospace
Facility Focus: NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center
NASA Armstrong flight-tests some of the nation’s most unique aircraft and aeronautical systems.

Top Stories

Blog: Unmanned Systems

Can We Trust A.I.? Modeling Tool Quantifies How Much a Machine Doesn't Know

Podcasts: Software

Here's an Idea: An ‘Aerodrome’ Testing Ground for Unmanned Aircraft

Videos: Defense

Tomorrow's Fastest Jet

INSIDER: Design

Biomorphic Batteries Could Provide 72 Times More Energy for Robots

Videos: Defense

SQUID 2.0: Autonomously-Stabilizing, Ballistically Launched Drone

Blog: Automotive

What's Best for Autonomous Cars: LiDAR vs Radar vs Cameras

Webcasts

Tech Talks: Communications

Amplifying Satellite Communications: Next-Generation Deployable Antenna Mesh

On-Demand Webinars: Electronics & Computers

Calibre nmLVS-Recon Early Circuit Verification Helps Reduce Time to Market

On-Demand Webinars: Electronics & Computers

Introduction to Visualizer for VHDL Users

On-Demand Webinars: Electronics & Computers

What Is This RISC-V Thing, Anyway?

On-Demand Webinars: Automotive

Verification of ADAS and Autonomous Vehicles

Webinars: Medical

Making Medical Device Designs Possible with Innovative Silicone Elastomers

Trending Stories

Application Briefs: Software

Using the IoT for Predictive Maintenance

Q&A: Energy

Q&A: Charge Wirelessly as You Drive

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Connecting the Digital Twin: From Idea Through Production, to Customers and Back

Briefs: Materials

Electrically Conductive Anodized Aluminum Surfaces

INSIDER: Robotics, Automation & Control

Biomorphic Batteries Could Provide 72 Times More Energy for Robots

INSIDER: Energy

Scientists Boost Stability and Efficiency of Next-Gen Solar Tech

Videos