Magazine Articles - SAE Mobilus
It’s common knowledge that a major challenge for solar energy is how to store excess energy produced when conditions are right, like noon-time sun, so that it can be used later. The usual answer is batteries. But renewable energy resources are causing problems for the electricity grid in other ways as well. In a warm, sunny location like California, mid-afternoon had been a time of peak demand for the electric utility, but with solar it’s now a time of peak output
In the fall of 2023, NASA hot fire tested an aluminum-based, 3D-printed rocket engine nozzle. What made the event remarkable is that aluminum isn’t typically used for additive manufacturing because the process causes it to crack, and it isn’t used in rocket engines due to its low melting point. Yet the test was a success
Butterflies can see more of the world than humans, including more colors and the field oscillation direction, or polarization, of light. This special ability enables them to navigate with precision, forage for food, and communicate with one another. Other species, like the mantis shrimp, can sense an even wider spectrum of light, as well as the circular polarization, or spinning states, of light waves. They use this capability to signal a “love code,” which helps them find and be discovered by mates
In the quest to develop lifelike materials to replace and repair human body parts, scientists face a formidable challenge: Real tissues are often both strong and stretchable and vary in shape and size
Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
November 20–21, 2024 Santa Clara Convention Center
Advances in IoT and electronic technology are enabling more personalized, continuous medical care. People with medical conditions that require a high degree of monitoring and continuous medication infusion can now take advantage of wearable medicine injection devices to treat their problems. Wireless communication allows medical personnel to monitor and adjust the amount and flow rate of an individual’s medication. The small size of the injectors enables the individual to be active and not be burdened or limited by a line-powered instrument (see Figure 1
Researchers have succeeded in adding finger straightening or extension to soft rehabilitation gloves through a novel foldable pouch actuator (FPA) without compromising the already existing functionality of finger bending or flexion
Many organizations have data stored in differing formats and various locations throughout the organization and often outside the organization. It is often difficult to access such data and to determine and access interconnected data and data derivatives. Developed at NASA Ames Research Center is a novel data management platform for managing interconnected data and its derivatives
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter in our brains, not only regulates our emotions but also serves as a biomarker for the screening of certain cancers and other neurological conditions
When wounds happen, we want them to heal quickly and without complications, but sometimes infections and other complications prevent it. Chronic wounds are a significant health concern affecting tens of millions of Americans
Researchers have now developed the first hydrogel implant designed for use in fallopian tubes. This innovation performs two functions: one is to act as a contraceptive, the other is to prevent the recipient from developing endometriosis in the first place or to halt the spread if they do
Did you know that pythons initially hold onto their prey with their sharp, backward-curving teeth? Medical researchers have long been aware that these teeth are perfect for grasping soft tissue rather than cutting through it, but no one has yet been able to put this concept into surgical practice
Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising clean energy sources. Hydrogen fuel cells offer high energy conversion efficiency and zero emissions. But the development of hydrogen fuel cells faces many challenges, including the issue of carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning of the fuel cell electrodes
A new bioink has been designed for engineering human skin constructs using norbornene-pullulan-based hydrogels. The researchers introduced a novel photocrosslinkable bioink designed for engineering human skin constructs, based on thiol-norbornene-pullulan (N-PLN) formulations combined with various crosslinkers
Researchers have discovered that minuscule, self-propelled particles called “nanoswimmers” can escape from mazes as much as 20 times faster than other passive particles. The tiny synthetic nanorobots are incredibly effective at escaping cavities within maze-like environments
Researchers have shown that twisted carbon nanotubes can store three times more energy per unit mass than advanced lithium-ion batteries. The finding may advance carbon nanotubes as a promising solution for storing energy in devices that need to be lightweight, compact, and safe, such as medical implants and sensors
Electrosurgery has revolutionized the field of medicine, offering precise and efficient methods for tissue cutting, coagulation and ablation. With advancements in technology, new trends are emerging and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in surgical interventions. Among these trends, pulsed field ablation (PFA) stands out as a promising technique with the potential to redefine electrosurgical procedures. In this blog, we’ll delve into the current trends in electrosurgery, with a special focus on pulsed field ablation
Imagine if physicians could capture three-dimensional projections of medical scans, suspending them inside an acrylic cube to create a hand-held reproduction of a patient’s heart, brain, kidneys, or other organs. Then, when the visit is done, a quick blast of heat erases the projection, and the cube is ready for the next scan
SABERS, as this portfolio of innovations is named, refers to Solid-state Architecture Batteries for Enhanced Rechargeability and Safety. Developed jointly at NASA’s Glenn, Langley and Ames Research Centers, SABERS includes several advanced material, manufacturing and computational design innovations that enable a new paradigm in battery performance. The primary target application is next-generation electric aviation propulsion systems, yet SABERS will benefit other applications, too
Scientists have developed an innovative wearable fabric that is flexible but can stiffen on demand. Developed through a combination of geometric design, 3D printing, and robotic control, the new technology, RoboFabric, can quickly be made into medical devices or soft robotics
A flexible and stretchable cell has been developed for wearable electronic devices that require a reliable and efficient energy source that can easily be integrated into the human body. Conductive material consisting of carbon nanotubes, crosslinked polymers, and enzymes joined by stretchable connectors, are directly printed onto the material through screenprinting
Pipeline inspection is a crucial aspect of maintaining the integrity, safety, and reliability of the planet’s energy infrastructure. However, due to cost and scale challenges, infrastructure operators struggle to conduct accurate, large-scale inspections. A French startup, HyLight, offers a solution to precisely detect issues on the infrastructure, such as methane leaks on pipelines and defects on power lines at an industrial scale, without emitting greenhouse gases
What does origami have in common with electronics? Here, math once again proves to be a universal language, spanning not just cultures but disciplines
Solving a decades-old problem, a multi-disciplinary team of Caltech researchers has figured out a method to noninvasively and continually measure blood pressure anywhere on the body with next to no disruption to the patient. A device based on the new technique holds the promise to enable better vital-sign monitoring at home, in hospitals, and possibly even in remote locations where resources are limited
Silicone elastomers have become a vital material in the medical device industry due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility, durability and chemical inertness. Silicone materials are categorized based on their unvulcanized consistency, which significantly affects their processability and their physical properties. This article compares high consistency silicone rubbers (HCRs), liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs), and low consistency elastomers (LCEs), analyzing their characteristics and the implications in selecting each during different phases in the development of silicone medical devices
Mitigating environmental impacts is ever more crucial as wind energy technology expands to help meet the Nation’s goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and net zero emissions economy by no later than 2050
Imagine the year is 2035. Your plane has just landed at LAX, and you need to get to your hotel in the South Bay. Traffic on the 405 is at a standstill, however, so you pull out your phone, open an app and order an air taxi. You walk over to the nearby vertiport, where a multi-rotor aircraft has just finished charging, waiting for you to board. You climb in and the air taxi quietly lifts itself in the air, without a human pilot, and flies you over the Los Angeles cityscape to your destination in just a few minutes. As a result, you get to enjoy an afternoon at the beach, instead of sitting for hours in LA traffic. This is how a future with advanced air mobility (AAM) could look
Oonagh Hassett Program Manager Symphysis Medical Galway, Ireland
Delivered by Team Hersa, a joint Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S) and Defense, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) enterprise, the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) can detect, track and engage a range of threats across land, air and sea. The system uses radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside enemy platforms, such as drones, causing them to stop in their tracks or fall out of the sky. As such, it offers a solution for the protection and defense of critical assets and bases. Capable of downing dangerous drone swarms with instant effect, at only 10p per shot, the RFDEW is a highly capable and cost-effective alternative to traditional missile-based air defense systems. It will be able to effect targets up to 1 km away, with further development in extending the range ongoing. Its high level of automation also means the system can be operated by a single person
Detecting diseases early requires the rapid, continuous and convenient monitoring of vital biomarkers. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have developed a novel sensor that enables the continuous, real-time detection of solid-state epidermal biomarkers (SEB), a new category of health indicators
High productivity, low manufacturing costs, and high workpiece quality: these are the key factors that deliver sustainability, profitability, and competitive edge for industrial manufacturers. Reliable machine monitoring yields valuable real-time insights into ongoing processes; it is the basis for dependable, productive, and reproducible manufacturing and it helps machine operators to reach well-founded decisions on both short- and long-term improvements. This technology can even capture anomalies in highly dynamic machining processes, so users can respond instantly to ensure high productivity, decrease scrap rates, and prolong tool lifetimes. Thanks to all these advantages, continuous machine and process monitoring based on suitable sensor technology is a critical success factor in today’s manufacturing industry
Asha Parekh CEO and Cofounder Front Line Medical Technologies Ontario, Canada
Southwest Research Institute has developed off-road autonomous driving tools with a focus on stealth for the military and agility for space and agriculture clients. The vision-based system pairs stereo cameras with novel algorithms, eliminating the need for LiDAR and active sensors
From televisions to smartphones, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are finding their way into many everyday devices. For use in displays, blue OLEDs are also required to supplement the primary colors — red and green. Especially in blue OLEDs, impurities give rise to strong electrical losses, which could be partly circumvented by using highly complex and expensive device layouts
Shell Rotella hosted journalists at the National Tractor Pulling Championships in Bowling Green, Ohio, in August, where the company was sponsoring tractors run by Koester Racing in the mini-modified division. Karin Haumann, OEM technical manager of Shell Global Solutions, was onsite and spoke with TOHE about the approaching proposed category 12 (PC-12) heavy-duty diesel engine oil category. PC-12 engine oils are in development and will be licensed for use on January 1, 2027. The current engine oil categories, CK-4 and FA-4, were introduced in 2016. Development of the new category is necessary due to advancements in engine technology, and it aligns with stricter emissions regulations that begin in 2027, said Haumann, who serves as chairperson of the API new category development team. “As diesel engine technology evolves, they require oils that offer increased oxidation performance and wear reduction, can handle higher temperatures, and improve fuel economy,” she said. Lubricant
Bemis Manufacturing and BASF collaborated to develop a lighter-weight and lower-cost hydraulic tank for compact excavators that was recognized with a lightweighting award traditionally reserved for automotive innovations. Receiving an honorable mention in the Enabling Technology category of this year's Altair Enlighten Awards, the development team leveraged a combination of injection molding and vibration welding techniques to lower costs by approximately 20% and reduce mass by about 5% compared to the traditional roto-molding process. The solution also is more eco-efficient, delivering both environmental savings (reductions in lifecycle CO2 emissions) and reducing lifecycle costs
More than 80 percent of stroke survivors experience walking difficulty, significantly impacting their daily lives, independence, and overall quality of life. Now, new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst pushes forward the bounds of stroke recovery with a unique robotic hip exoskeleton, designed as a training tool to improve walking function. This invites the possibility of new therapies that are more accessible and easier to translate from practice to daily life compared to current rehabilitation methods
McGill University researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a ‘lab on a chip’ that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible
University of Chicago Pritzker Molecular Engineering Professor Y. Shirley Meng’s Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion (LESC) has created the world’s first anode-free sodium solid-state battery
Georgia Tech researchers are using artificial intelligence to accelerate materials discovery. Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA Nylon, Teflon, Kevlar. These are just a few familiar polymers - large-molecule chemical compounds - that have changed the world. From Teflon-coated frying pans to 3D printing, polymers are vital to creating the systems that make the world function better. Finding the next groundbreaking polymer is always a challenge, but now Georgia Tech researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to shape and transform the future of the field. Rampi Ramprasad's group develops and adapts AI algorithms to accelerate materials discovery
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a pair of prototypes powered by hydrogen combustion engines that were created in collaboration with Mörtlbauer Baumaschinen Vertriebs. The prototypes are part of the “WaVe” development project to research hydrogen combustion engines for special-purpose vehicles. The WaVe project is a publicly funded program by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It consists of 18 partners ranging from industry and science experts and began in July 2021. Development work on the prototypes began in mid-2022. The main objective of the WaVe project was to develop a hydrogen-based drive system for working machines that demonstrated the practicality of replacing diesel-fueled trucks
Borophene is more conductive, thinner, lighter, stronger, and more flexible than graphene, the 2D version of carbon. Now, researchers have made the material potentially more useful by imparting chirality — or handedness — on it, which could make for advanced sensors and implantable medical devices. The chirality, induced via a method never before used on borophene, enables the material to interact in unique ways with different biological units such as cells and protein precursors
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