Powering an ‘Arm’ with Air Could Be Mighty Handy

Mechanical engineers have built a handy extra limb able to grasp objects and go, powered only by compressed air. It’s one of several ideas the engineers at Rice University’s George...

Taking Benchtop Fluid Dispensing to a New Level of Process Control

The latest benchtop dispensers provide a high degree of process control, capable of dispensing adhesives, solder pastes, and all other assembly fluids with high consistency.

Waterproof Wheelchair Runs on Compressed Air

A new waterproof motorized wheelchair uses high-pressured air as an energy source instead of heavy batteries and electronics. The chair weighs about 80 lb overall and takes just 10 minutes to...

Linear Actuators for High-Speed, Low-Load Applications

A number of medical applications need high-speed actuation in the lower load band. Many OEMs use pneumatic actuators or electric solenoids for this purpose; however, these options do not...

Microprocessor-Controlled Prostheses Are a Step in the Right Direction

It’s not always easy to walk in someone else’s shoes. It’s even more difficult if those shoes belong to a person with an artificial leg. However, that’s exactly what...