Mechanical/​Mechatronics

Blog: Transportation

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

In a roundtable presentation at the virtual CES 2021, panelists said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed driving patterns and consumer preferences – and that those shifts are here to stay.

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

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Biocontainment Unit for Virus-Sized Particles

The unit could help healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Liquid Sorbent Carbon Dioxide Removal System

Applications include aerospace, automotive, commercial spaceflight, scuba diving equipment, and for first responders.

Briefs: AR/AI

“Stethoscope” Monitors Machine Quality and Functionality

This system provides low-cost monitoring for machine health with audio-based artificial intelligence.

Briefs: Packaging & Sterilization

Inexpensive Method Decontaminates Personal Protective Equipment

The system uses off-the-shelf materials combined with ultraviolet lights to decontaminate N95 masks.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

New Method Makes Computer Memory from Titanium Oxide

The material, commonly found in house paint, can be used in a device to more efficiently process information.

Briefs: Energy

Lithium Metal Battery Allows Cold Charging

The battery could be used for drones, cars, or underwater applications at low temperatures.

NASA Spinoff: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Water-Powered Engines Offer Satellite Mobility

The technology could allow deep-space exploration without running out of propellant.

Blog: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

A Spiraling Robotic Gripper 'Twines' Like a Plant

As engineering professor Mable Fok saw how the pole beans in her garden wrapped tightly around any objects nearby, she had an idea:

What if a robotic gripper could do the same...

INSIDER: Motion Control

Miniscule Machines Made of Metal and Plastic

Researchers have developed a technique for manufacturing micrometer-long machines by interlocking multiple materials in a complex way. The micromachines are made out of metal and plastic, in...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Human-Like Hands with Flexible, Hybrid Pneumatic Actuators

These hands, with a large grasping force, enable safer human-robot interactions.

Articles: Test & Measurement

Executive Roundtable: Robotics Design

A panel of experts explains how robots are playing a larger role in manufacturing.

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Machine Health & Asset Monitoring in Industrial Applications: A Look at Sensor Technologies

Learn about the sensors assessing and analyzing plant equipment.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Compact, Long-Reach Robotic Arm

Applications include retractable covers and awnings, camera booms, and spacecraft and astronaut positioning.

Application Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Efficient Pump Protection for Large Pumps: The Control Valve Alternative

Automatic recirculation valves offer efficiency for critical pump protection in power or oil and gas applications.

Products: Motion Control

New Products: December 2020 Motion Design

Linear slides, electric motors, gears, and more.

Articles: Sensors/Data Acquisition

20 Years of Science on the International Space Station

We explore the major scientific breakthroughs achieved during 20 years of human presence on the ISS.

Products: Software

New on the Market: December 2020

Mixed-signal oscilloscopes, 3D printers, DC/DC converters, and more.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

16-Atom Molecular Motor

The tiny motor can be powered by both thermal and electrical energy.

Briefs: Defense

High-Performance, Lightweight, Easy-to-Fabricate Heat Exchanger

This can be used in energy-recovery systems in industrial, space, automotive, and military applications.

Briefs: Aerospace

Multirotor Aircraft Noise Reduction

NASA's phase-locked rotors reduce noise.

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.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Glove-Like Device Mimics Sense of Touch

The soft, wearable device simulates the sense of touch and has wide potential in medical and industrial applications.