Engineering News

University of Maryland researchers are using the legs of insects as inspiration to create new micro-robots that will be able to travel uneven terrain quickly. The team is also working to have the robots jump and clear obstacles in their way.

USC Viterbi School of Engineering researchers have developed a better-performing and less expensive lithium battery for use in anodes and cathodes. The new design features a silicon anode that is three times more powerful and lasts longer than traditional anodes.

A team of researchers have developed a material that is designed to dissolve when a trigger is stimulated.  The material was created with unique polymer composites and has been tested on transient LED and transistor technology.

A database has been launched by the Federal Communications Commission in efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse for its Lifeline phone service. The National Lifeline Accountability Database has found $169 million in savings in noticing duplications for deletion and also preventing new duplicate records.

The IEEE-SA has launched the Indian Low-Voltage (LVDC) Forum to assess how LVDC will impact emerging and developing markets and also recommend appropriate global standards in the development of microgrids, commercial buildings and homes.

University of Washington researchers have developed a new gesture-recognition system that uses existing signals to read hand movements rather than large amounts of power that previous gesture-recognition technology has required.

A team of researchers from Georgia Tech have developed a new thermal interface material that can conduct heat 20 times better than traditional polymer materials.  Through tests, the material has been found to operate reliably up to 200 degrees Celsius.

The Federal Communications Commission has approved a Report and Order to continue efforts to increase the amount of spectrum available for flexible use wireless services.  This report and order signifies the largest amount of spectrum made available since 2008.

On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the release of a new safety standard that will require all new cars and light trucks to be equipped with rearview cameras by May 2018. This federal standard was mandated in 2011 by Congress, but was delayed due to holdups and a lawsuit.

A team of researchers from Purdue University and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed a new method of coating carbon nanotubes that reduce the amount of voltage required, sharpens the signal and was able to capture more delicate molecules than previous methods.