News

Vibration energy-harvester, microalgae-power developer win first ever Transatlantic Green-Tech Awards

Graphene confirmed as strongest material

UPS, FedEx, Purolator to test hydraulic hybrid trucks simultaneously

iRobot to develop soft, flexible, mobile robots for military

When did sports equipment get so smart?
Running shoes that adapt to the way your feet move; a soccer ball that can stand up to the toughest players and still bounce consistently; artificial turf that feels and acts like the real thing. Sports equipment makers are now using computer aided engineering software — such as SIMULIA's Abaqus unified Finite Element Analysis (FEA) product suite — to help them design, build, create, test, and fine-tune "smart" sports equipment products before they are ever manufactured.
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10mm Encoder Redefines Miniature Feedback MicroMo now provides a high-resolution, low current-draw optical encoder in a 10mm and 12mm diameter package. Blending the best technologies, the PA2-100 expands possibilities for applications requiring miniature motors with encoders. By incorporating the "world's smallest optical encoder," Avago's AEDR 8400 provides consistent, accurate, and high resolution not to be matched by magnetic encoders. Optimized for the AEDR 8400, a custom-designed codewheel maximizes the reflected light increasing the system's efficiency and signal reliability. For more information visit MicroMo online.

Boiling efficiency boosted by 30%
Whoever penned the old adage "a watched pot never boils" surely never tried to heat up water in a pot lined with copper nanorods. A new study from researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shows that by adding an invisible layer of the nanomaterials to the bottom of a metal vessel, an order of magnitude less energy is required to bring water to boil. This increase in efficiency could have a big impact on improving heat transfer systems and reducing industrial costs.
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Wheels: Smart bar-code scanners keep tire manufacturing rolling
Bar codes are essential to tire manufacturing because they allow the manufacturer to track tires for quality purposes and in case of product recalls. Several tire manufacturers are using Accu-Sort bar-code reader systems for product sortation prior to shipping, and for reading bar codes at x-ray and balancing test stands.
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Electric Replacement for Hydraulics! Exlar's electric linear actuators deliver the force of hydraulics and the speed of pneumatics. The patented roller screw technology offers peak forces in excess of 40,000 lbf., speeds to 60 in/sec, and stroke lengths to 96 inches, all with the ease and reliability of servo control. Visit Exlar online for more information.

5-Star Product: Heated touchscreen for forklifts is cool idea
Glacier Computer has created a heated touchscreen for its Everest line of vehicle computers. The Everest is an all-in-one computer designed for use on forklifts, carts, pallet jacks, and yard jockeys. The addition of a heated touchscreen solves the challenge of condensation refreezing on the touchscreen.
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Engineer's Toolbox: Custom kits for aerospace/defense simplify repairs
Tyco Electronics now offers custom maintenance and repair kits for the defense and aerospace markets. Designed for field or depot use, the M & R kits are custom configured to meet the needs of a specific platform and provide all the necessary tools and parts to speed repairs. Typical applications include helicopters, ground vehicles, and shipboard maintenance.
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