Sensors & Test

NASA Spinoff: Aerospace

Balance Scale Predicts and Helps Prevent Falls

A technique to assess astronauts’ balance recovery helps people assess their risk of falling.

Products: Semiconductors & ICs

Product of the Month: November 2020 Tech Briefs

The SHFQA Quantum Analyzer from Zurich Instruments operates at up to 8.5 GHz and can perform direct readout of superconducting and spin qubits.

Blog: Sensors/Data Acquisition

A Spider-Inspired Design Paves Way for Better Photodetectors

Purdue University innovators are taking cues from the spider to develop 3D photodetectors for biomedical imaging.

Blog: Automotive

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Testing: Simulation vs. Closed-Course vs. Public Roads

A reader asks, "For AV testing, what are the respective role of simulation, closed course, and public road testing?"

Blog: Transportation

Is the Public Ready for a Level-4 Autonomous Vehicle?

A reader asks, "Will the public feel safe enough in an autonomous vehicle?"

On-Demand Webinars: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Rotary Position Sensing for EV Powertrain Applications

This 30-minute Webinar examines a patented breakthrough sensor technology for electric vehicle (EV) traction motor applications. These rotary position sensors are an alternative...

Products: Software

New on the Market: October 2020

Tubing plugs, displacement measurements, CAM software, and more.

Briefs: Imaging

Hybrid Material is an Efficient Photodetector

A metal-organic framework does not contain cost-intensive raw materials and can be produced in bulk.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Integrated Microchips for Electronic Skin

Fully integrated flexible electronics made of magnetic sensors and organic circuits open the path towards the development of electronic skin.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Drawing Electronics on Human Skin

People could monitor their own health conditions by picking up a pencil and drawing a bioelectronic device on their skin.

Briefs: Automotive

AI Software Enables Real-Time 3D Printing Quality Assessment

The software assesses the quality of parts in real time, without the need for expensive characterization equipment.

Briefs: Test & Measurement

System Eases Networking Lag in Massive IoT Devices

“EasyPass” would enable smart warehouses, automated factories, and more to operate without delays.

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Open Controllers Simplify Automation Systems

By consolidating tasks traditionally performed by multiple devices into a single, high-performing controller, manufacturers can improve operations.

Articles: Materials

Rapid Prototyping of Cable and Connectors for Unique Applications

Standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) connectors continue to be a great resource for quick prototypes and reference designs.

Briefs: Test & Measurement

Bending an Organic Semiconductor Boosts Electrical Flow

This method could benefit next-generation electronics.

NASA Spinoff: Aerospace

Autonomous Drone Navigation System Ends Reliance on GPS

NASA's UAS traffic management expertise leads to advances in drone navigation.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

“One-Way” Electronic Devices

These non-reciprocal devices on a compact chip pave the way for applications from two-way wireless to quantum computing.

Articles: Photonics/Optics

Products of Tomorrow: October 2020

Nanowire masks, underwater imaging, and tiny 3D-printed block that repair bone breaks.

Briefs: Medical

3D-Printed Soft, Rubbery Brain Implants

This technique may enable speedy, on-demand design of softer, safer neural devices.

Briefs: Nanotechnology

Nanocardboard Aircraft with No Moving Parts

Tiny aircraft that weigh as much as a fruit fly could serve as Martian atmospheric probes.

Briefs: Medical

Manufacturing Nanoscale Light Manipulation Devices on Peelable Film

This method integrates 3D plasmonic nanoarrays onto stickers that adhere to any surface.

Briefs: Materials

Quantum Switch Turns Metals into Insulators

This approach could engineer quantum materials atom-by-atom for new electronic, magnetic, and sensing applications.

Q&A: Test & Measurement

Q&A: NanoLED Architecture Overcomes Efficiency Droop

A nanoLED has up to 1,000 times the brightness of conventional submicron-sized LEDs.

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Wavy Surfaces for Better Light Control

This method could impact optical technologies such as smartphone cameras, biosensors, or autonomous vision for robots and self-driving cars.

Products: Motion Control

New Products: October 2020 Motion Design

Accelerometers, actuators, hexapods, and more.