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
Stanford University’s School of Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century
NASA Spinoff: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Water-Powered Engines Offer Satellite Mobility
The technology could allow deep-space exploration without running out of propellant.
Articles: Photonics/Optics
2020 Create the Future Design Contest: Automotive/Transportation Category Winner — Low-Noise Laser for Lidar
Compact lasers now offer precise colors.
Articles: Unmanned Systems
2020 Create the Future Design Contest: Aerospace & Defense Category Winner — NiobiCon™
The NiobiCon™ underwater connector will not short out, corrode, or cause an electrical shock if touched while powered in harsh environments like saltwater.
Application Briefs: Aerospace
Wave Energy Modeling for Safer Space Travel
What does wave energy have to do with space exploration? Plenty, it turns out.
White Papers: Automotive
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: Aerospace
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: Robotics, Automation & Control
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: Transportation
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: Transportation
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: Propulsion
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: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Supersonic Spike Diffuser
This diffuser provides double the pumping efficiency in one-quarter the space.
Blog: Propulsion
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: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
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: Green Design & Manufacturing
Green Jet Fuel Additive Made from Acetone Plus Light
The additive creates fuel from biomass while improving engine performance.
Articles: Propulsion
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: Transportation
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: 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: Automotive
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: Semiconductors & ICs
Superconductivity in a Nickel Oxide Material
Made with “Jenga chemistry,” the material could help in understanding how high-temperature superconductors work.
Briefs: Power
Metallization for SiC Semiconductors
This technology provides simultaneous ohmic contacts and the process to make them.
Facility Focus: Test & Measurement
Facility Focus: NASA John H. Glenn Research Center
Glenn's research facilities have contributed to decades of technology advances.

Top Stories

Blog: Unmanned Systems

Experts Weigh In: How Will a Robotic Future Impact Nature?

INSIDER: Photonics/Optics

Orbiting Instrument Hints That Stored Magnetic Energy Heats Solar...

Videos: Motion Control

Test System Could Enable Reduced Helicopter Vibration

Podcasts: Materials

Here's an Idea: RepelWrap

Videos: Automotive

New Lithium Metal Batteries ‘Build Themselves’

Blog: Transportation

CES 2021: How COVID-19 Turned the Car into a Personal 'Second Space'

Webcasts

Upcoming Webinars: Automotive

Reducing the Cost of Quality in Automotive BiW

Upcoming Webinars: Automotive

Electric-Vehicle Transmission Development Priorities

Upcoming Webinars: Medical

The Critical Role of Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors in Medical...

Upcoming Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Zinc Die Casting Concepts to Achieve Precision, Performance, and...

Upcoming Webinars: Test & Measurement

Radar Measurements: Triggering, Analysis, and Generation

Upcoming Webinars: Materials

Designing with Silicone for Space

Trending Stories

INSIDER: Imaging

Orbiting Instrument Hints That Stored Magnetic Energy Heats Solar Atmosphere

INSIDER: Electronics & Computers

Combining Electronic, Photonic Chips Enables Super-Fast Quantum Light Detection

Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Motion Solutions for Electric Expansion Valves

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Special Section: The Winners of the 2020 'Create the Future' Design Contest

Briefs: Energy

Solid-State Technology Enables Smaller, Safer Batteries

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Double-Vacuum-Bag Process for Making Resin-Matrix Composites

Videos