Engineering news

Engineering

Construction exoskeletons may help workers spot hazards by reducing fatigue

Taking some of the physical strain off construction workers could do more than reduce fatigue. New research from Texas A&M University suggests it may also help them recognize hazards around them.

Engineering

A cooling device built to last: Sustainable refrigeration system maintains performance through one million cycles

Although invaluable to modern society, refrigeration faces challenges from traditional vapor-compression systems, which are energy-intensive and use refrigerants that exacerbate the greenhouse effect and damage the ozone ...

Robotics

Maple-seed-inspired robot flies more accurately with predictive control

A flying robot with just one moving part may sound simple. Controlling one precisely is anything but. Most conventional drones rely on several rotors to control how they rise, turn and move. A robot with only one actuator ...

Engineering

Cost-conscious method helps design automated materials labs before equipment is purchased

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed a new modeling and optimization framework that helps researchers design modularized autonomous experimentation (MAE) platforms ...

Engineering

New flow sensor can measure hydrogen in pipes of any size

Until now, it has been almost impossible to measure the energy density of hydrogen precisely, but a new sensor can register every single molecule. This could lay the foundation for correct accounting in the hydrogen economy.

Engineering

Supercooled water enables 3D printing of ice

Physicists from the University of Amsterdam have developed a method to print three-dimensional structures in ice. The researchers show how small pillars can be printed at an angle, making it possible to print arbitrary profiles ...

Engineering

Metal foam front rails could make cars safer in collisions

A new study finds that composite metal foam (CMF) could significantly improve automobile safety during frontal collisions. Using computational models to run detailed simulations, researchers found that incorporating CMF into ...

Engineering

A 'raincoat' protects lead-free solar cells from the elements

One drawback of most solar cells made with efficiency-boosting perovskite is the presence of hazardous lead in the materials that turn sunlight into electricity. Next-generation solar cells made with the most promising lead-free ...

Engineering

Engineers create a world-first in floating titanium

Research led by RMIT University shows the 3D-printed titanium lattice—made up of hollow, interconnected struts filled with foam—not only floats but also withstands seawater exposure and is stronger than the stainless steel ...

Engineering

New method puts a twist on creating efficient micromixers

"Micromixer" might just sound like a fancy name for a tiny blender, but mixing liquids at the microliter scale is no simple task. Micromixers are essential components of microfluidic devices widely used across the pharmaceutical, ...

Engineering

Engineers work toward a hurricane-resilient Texas

Torrential downpours. Storm surge floods. Thunder and lightning. High winds of more than 100 mph (161 km/h). Hurricanes are among the most devastating natural hazards to affect Texans. Damage causes many disruptions, including ...

Robotics

Like a bird, this drone uses touch to grip branches and rest

Drones often hover in the air, noisy and whining. They can already be used for many tasks, but not when you need some quiet. Their batteries would also last longer if they could take a "rest" from time to time. But when a ...