Engineering news

Engineering

Sodium-ion batteries lean heavily on lithium-ion expertise, patent analysis suggests

Researchers from the University of Münster, ETH Zurich, Stanford University, and the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production (FFB) used AI-supported patent analysis to show how strongly battery technologies ...

Robotics

Engineers demonstrate lightweight 'exoskeleton' that helps stroke survivors walk

A leading cause of disability in the United States is hemiparesis, a condition where impaired motor control, muscle weakness, and spasticity affect one side of the body. Occurring in 80% of stroke survivors, reduced mobility ...

Engineering

A new way to study how cannabis use impacts safe driving

As marijuana legalization expands across the U.S., it is outpacing research on the impact of cannabis use behind the wheel. Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) recently spent two years collecting ...

Engineering

Mixing generative AI with physics to create personal items that work in the real world

Ever had an idea for something that looked cool, but wouldn't work well in practice? When it comes to designing things like decor and personal accessories, generative artificial intelligence (genAI) models can relate. They ...

Engineering

Tackling uplift resistance in tall infrastructure sustainably

Tall structures like radio towers experience high wind loads that generate uplift forces at their foundations, a challenge that is increasing burden, as natural occurrences like typhoons and tornadoes become more frequent ...

Engineering

3D printing platform rapidly produces complex electric machines

A broken motor in an automated machine can bring production on a busy factory floor to a halt. If engineers can't find a replacement part, they may have to order one from a distributor hundreds of miles away, leading to costly ...

Engineering

The giant fire tornado that could save our oceans

In the frantic hours following an offshore oil spill, emergency responders face a destructive decision: let the oil spread or ignite it. Once ignited, it creates an "in-situ" fire pool that stops the oil from spreading and ...

Engineering

Physicist patents quantum computing enhancement method

Quantum computers can solve complex problems in seconds—problems that would take thousands of years for today's most powerful traditional computers. This makes them especially promising for data-intensive applications such ...

Engineering

Carbon fiber boosts dry-processed battery performance

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers have overcome a barrier to using a more affordable, dry process for manufacturing the lithium-ion batteries used in vehicles and electronic devices. The resulting batteries ...

Engineering

What does 'drier' really mean in 'green' homes?

As many New Zealanders contend with condensation, drafts, and mold this winter, a recent study challenges assumptions about what makes a home drier. It urges green building rating tools to clarify how humidity and dampness ...

Robotics

Designing drones that can fly in air ducts

New research published in npj Robotics addresses the challenge of flying small quadrotors in air ducts as small as 35 cm (14 inches). This research, led by a team of researchers from Inria, CNRS, Université de Lorraine, ...

Engineering

Solving a moon mystery helps game out future landings

Multiple moon landings, conducted over several decades, produced a remarkably similar pattern of dust on the lunar surface. The recurrence of this pattern, created by rockets firing during touchdown, is a long-running mystery ...

Engineering

After 250 years, Mount Vesuvius artwork erupts into life

A mechanical artwork designed in 1775 to depict the eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius has been brought to life for the first time—250 years after it was conceived—thanks to modern technology and the ingenuity of two ...