Sensors & Test

SBQuantum Launches Quantum Sensor into Space

SBQuantum’s diamond quantum magnetometer (SBQDM) represents a significant leap forward in addressing the challenge of magnetic navigation.

New on the Market

See what's new on the market, including The Imaging Source's Aptiris, USB 3.1 autofocus cameras designed for dynamic machine vision applications; Würth Elektronik's Proteus-IV and Ophelia-IV components, two new high-performance RF modules based on the latest Nordic nRF54L15-SoC semiconductor; Novotechnik U.S.'s Vert-X 13E Series of touchless rotary sensors; and much more.

New Products

See the new products, including EBE Elektro Bau Elemente GmbH's capacitive level sensor technology based on corTEC® technology for applications where conventional level sensors reach their limits; Abaco Systems' VP241, a SOSA-aligned 3U VPX FPGA carrier card designed to deliver unmatched flexibility for next-generation embedded computing applications; Emerson's Rosemount™ QX1000 Continuous Gas Analyzer; and more.

MEMS in Transition

Wide-scale applications for Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) became practical in the 1980s when they started being fabricated with the same silicon wafer processes as semiconductor chips. Once they could be mass produced, they found a major market in automobile safety systems as inertial sensors for airbag deployment. Then came the introduction of smart phones in the late 2000s. Read on to learn where they're heading.

Humidity-Resistant Hydrogen Sensor Can Improve Safety for Large-Scale Clean Energy

It's a challenge that today’s sensors do not work optimally in humid environments. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, are presenting a new sensor that is well suited to humid environments — and actually performs better the more humid it gets. Read on to learn more about it.

Cars and Planes Could Avoid Hazardous Ice and Freezing Rain with New Sensors

Pilots, drivers, and automated safety systems in cars and airplanes could be alerted to icy hazards by a pair of sensors developed at the University of Michigan. Read on to learn more about it.

LiDAR Goes Digital

Early LiDAR sensors, built on legacy mechanical architectures, proved the possibility of 3D perception but struggled to meet the demands of production. As the industry matures, the focus has shifted from simply detecting objects to doing so reliably, at scale, and at a price point suitable for commercial deployment. Read on to learn more.

New Solar Research Achieves 130% Efficiency Yield Using Singlet Fission

To become a mainstream energy source, solar panels need to become more efficient, and a recent breakthrough by researchers from Kyushu University and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz may accelerate this progress. Read on to learn more.

Microbial Fuel Cell Uses Soil Bacteria to Power Agricultural Sensors

Precision agriculture uses sensors to monitor soil and help farmers improve yields. However, powering these sensors with continuous, uninterrupted power is challenging due to limited battery capacity and limited development of renewable power. To help address farmers' power needs, Northwestern University researchers have developed a fuel cell the size of a paperback that captures energy as microbes break down organic matter, powering underground sensors for agriculture and environmental monitoring.

AI-Powered Smart Wheels Anticipate User Intent to Improve Control and Mobility

Researchers at Saarland University created AI-powered smart wheels that sense user intent to provide smoother acceleration, braking, and steering. The technology could make carts, beds, wheelchairs, and other wheeled systems easier and safer to use. Read on to learn more.

Ultrasound Wristband Precisely Tracks Hand Movements in Real Time

MIT engineers have designed an ultrasound wristband that precisely tracks a wearer’s hand movements in real time. Read on to learn more.

Thinking Outside the Box (Score): Carnegie Mellon’s Quest to Define the Future of Sports Analytics

A team at Carnegie Mellon University is innovating statistical analysis and data science to revolutionize the world of sports. Read on to learn more about it.

5Ws of BEM-AI

Buildings researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have released Building Energy Model AI (BEM-AI) is an open-source bot that can help energy modelers save time and money.

Unlocking the Potential of 48V Robotic Systems

The shift from 12V to 48V systems is driven by the need for improved efficiency and reduced cooling requirements. Read on to learn more.

New Products

See the new products, including Flexxbotics' enhanced MQTT connector driver within the Flexxbotics open-source project on GitHub; IKO International's LCRB series — an ultra-lightweight crossed roller bearing series with a unique inner and outer ring construction; Bosch Sensortec's BMI5 platform, a new generation of inertial sensors designed to provide consistent, high-precision performance across multiple device classes; and more.

A Smart Sensor Performs AI Tricks While Capturing Spectral Images

By folding AI algorithms into a camera’s sensor itself, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have now eliminated a data-processing bottleneck that has long plagued the performance of spectral imaging technology. The result is an intelligent sensor capable of identifying chemicals and characterizing materials quickly and efficiently. Read on to learn more.

ARC ANGEL Reduces Gravity’s Effect on Arms

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed an Earthbound robotic training system called “ARGOS” for short. It can actively simulate an astronaut’s weightlessness in space by using an overhead runway and bridge drive system to partially or fully offload their weight using attached cables, effectively suspending them off the ground. Read on to learn more.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow, including Chalmers University of Technology's new sensor that is well suited to humid environments — and actually performs better the more humid it gets; a new fabrication technique that can produce multifunctional “smart synthetic skin” from a research team at Penn State; and RMIT University researchers' flexible nylon-film device that generates electricity from compression and keeps working even after being run over by a car multiple times.

CES 2026: AI, EVs Need These Power Electronics Updates

Physical AI may have been the dominant keyword at CES 2026, but behind all the hype around that, there were still plenty of companies on hand in Las Vegas focused on less flashy headlines. Read on for some examples of companies working on the power electronics required behind the scenes to make our potential artificial intelligence future possible.

Research Upturns Assumptions About Battery Failure

New research from Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering has solved a major battery mystery that has led to capacity degradation, shortened lifespan and, in some cases, fire. Read on to learn more.

Shifting from Reactive to Preemptive Thermal Management

A shift from reactive to preemptive thermal management is particularly important for improving performance, efficiency, and service life. By maintaining a uniform, stable temperature and minimizing even small momentary disruptions to such a steady state, thermal management systems backed by coupled electrothermal modeling will be key to pushing the envelope for EV motor quality. Read on to learn more.

Stony Brook University Researchers Redefine Capacitor Behavior at the Nanoscale

Stony Brook University researchers led a new study published in Physical Review Letters that overturns long-standing assumptions about how capacitors operate when engineered at the nanoscale, offering a clearer scientific foundation for future nanoscale electronic devices. Read on to learn more.

Electron Microscopy Shows ‘Mouse Bite’ Defects in Semiconductors

Cornell researchers have used high-resolution 3D imaging to detect, for the first time, the atomic-scale defects in computer chips that can sabotage their performance. Read on to learn more.