Briefs: Physical Sciences
An apparatus that includes an array of multiple electrodes has been invented as a means of simultaneously testing multiple materials for their utility as oxygen-reduction catalysts in...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A photonic instrument is proposed to boost the resolution for ultraviolet/optical/infrared spectral analysis and spectral imaging allowing the detection of narrow...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
In a substantial improvement over present alkaline systems, an advanced hybrid bipolar plate for a unitized fuel cell/ electrolyzer has been developed. This design, which operates on pure feed streams (H2/O2 and water, respectively) consists of a porous metallic foil filled with a...
Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Universal Proprietary Water Purifying/ Conditioning Multimedia
Jim Jablonsky J&M Associates Hatfield, PAThis inexpensive and easily operated filter system removes heavy metals, arsenic, mercury, bad...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Thermophotovoltaic cells containing multiple quantum wells have been invented as improved means of conversion of thermal to electrical energy. The semiconductor bandgaps of the quantum wells can be tailored to be narrower than those of prior thermophotovoltaic cells, thereby enabling the cells to convert energy...
Briefs: Information Technology
Bounded-angle iterative decoding is a modified version of conventional iterative decoding, conceived as a means of reducing undetected- error rates for short low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes....
Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
Slip clutches are commonly used to protect against overloads, but they can solve many other problems as well. Their applications include increasing machine speeds, applying constant tension to webs or...
Briefs: Information Technology
A procedure and software to implement the procedure have been devised to enable conversion from a tree representation to a graph representation of the requirements governing the...
Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Off-highway tractors slog through mud, muck, and other rough terrain on a daily basis. Achieving high reliability and performance in spite of these...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
A paper reports the results of a Hybrid Diesel Vehicle Project focused on a parallel hybrid configuration suitable for diesel-powered, medium-sized, commercial vehicles commonly used for parcel delivery and shuttle buses, as the missions of these types of vehicles require frequent stops. During these...
Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
There’s a science to testing metal structures for rigidity and performance under stress. The development of new testing methodologies is continuing at a fast pace, aided by...
Briefs: Medical
A document discusses the adaptation of a patented biomass-digesting process, denoted sequential batch anaerobic composting (SEBAC), to recycling of wastes aboard a spacecraft. In SEBAC, high-solids-content biomass wastes are converted into methane, carbon dioxide, and compost.
Application Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
TRW has been making parts for the automotive industry for many years, but when Ford Automotive considered giving them the contract to manufacture the rear toe-links for their Navigator and Expedition SUVs, their traditional lathes were considered inadequate for the task. The solution was to...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A study was performed to evaluate the relative merits of four methods of reconfiguring a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) in response to detection of a faulty configurable logic block...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The TONiC optical encoder from Renishaw, Hoffman Estates, IL, provides the accuracy of fine-pitch encoders in a rugged, simple-to-install package. It employs a compact read head (35mm long × 13.5mm wide × 10mm high for...
Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
Winner of an HP Workstation
Small-Area Thin-Film Heat Flux Sensor
Mahmoud AssaadThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Akron, OH
This sensor is being used in tires of all types and sizes, and has also...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Pillow blocks from Quality Bearings & Components, Garden City Park, NY, feature both locking collar and set screw types. Designated the BBXBLK-HCP and BBXBLK-UCP Series, the blocks have cast iron housings and are designed to...
Articles: Medical
Kristina Irsch Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MDAmblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” is the leading cause of vision loss in childhood, caused by...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The DFS 60 incremental encoders from Sick|Stegmann, Dayton, OH, are available in fully programmable versions to accommodate any value from 1 to 65,536 pulses per revolution. With the help of a simple programming tool, users,...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
New architectures have been developed for cryptographic hardware that offer high throughput, algorithm flexibility, radiation hardness, and low power. The asynchronous (clockless) architecture combines a dedicated large-integer processor (LIP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and a...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Based on the Piezo Walk principle, the N-380/N-381 NEXACT® ceramic linear motor actuator from Physik Instrumente replaces classical lead screw actuators. It combines high forces and long travel ranges with sub-nanometer...
Articles: Electronics & Computers
Electronic Fog, Frost, and Ice Prevention Technology
Don Skomsky Integrity Engineering, Inc. West Chester, PA
This electronic device prevents condensation, frost, and ice from forming on any surface. It...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Designed for high torque, tight space applications, the FlexTorq™ 762 series hollow shaft offset DC gearmotors from Bison Gear & Engineering Corp., St. Charles, IL, feature either a 1.25in. (31.75mm) I.D. hollow shaft, or a...
Articles: Green Design & Manufacturing
Lindsay Meek Perth, Australia
This design improves the energy efficiency of a residential air conditioner by replacing the traditional reciprocating compressor (bore and stroke) with a higher efficiency...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The Cushion-Start Kinechek® speed regulator from Deschner Corp., Santa Ana, CA, combines the shock absorbing feature of the company’s Cushioneer® shock absorber with the Kinechek® speed regulator. The impact-absorbing...
Articles: Transportation
Movito Electric Scooter
Tai Chiem Melbourne, Australia
Movito is a scooter based on an electric inwheel motor, a hubless front wheel, and a modular base system. It is designed for traveling short distances in and...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The EGC electric actuator from Festo Corp., Hauppauge, NY, is designed for high dynamic speeds and high rigidity. It can be used as an individual component adapted to third-party motors, or as a complete system. The actuator...
Application Briefs: Communications
Communications systems and support equipment L-3 Communications Corp. Communications Systems West Salt Lake City, UT 801-594-2000 www.l-3com.com/csw/
NASA’s Dryden Flight Research...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
The TA333 high-power linear drive from Trust Automation, San Luis Obispo, CA, combines a Class-AB linear amplifier with pure analog throughput at currents up to 25A. Highly configurable, the drive can be used with a brushless motor...