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2020

Scrona

Scrona is an early stage Swiss company that has developed a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) that enables very high resolution (<1 um) electrohydrodynamic printing via 1000s of independently controllable nozzles simultaneously. This exciting technology breaks the current trade-off between printing speed and resolution.

Boston Materials

Boston Materials has developed z-axis reinforcement for composite applications. IDTechEx spoke with Anvesh Gurijala (CEO)

European Collaboration on Innovative Membrane-less Redox Flow Battery

The EU recently awarded €4Million to the MELODY consortium, to develop low cost, innovative batteries for large-scale energy storage, as part of the Horizon 2020 program 'Advanced Redox Flow Batteries for stationary energy storage.'

Researchers Put Proximity Tracing App to the Test

Over the past two weeks, EPFL computer scientists have been testing and refining the smartphone-based system developed by the international Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing project (DP3T), with the help of the Swiss Army. Their goal: to optimize the app's ability to alert users after they've been in contact with someone contagious with COVID-19, while building trust around the open system.

Printing Complex Cellulose Based Objects

Researchers have set a new world record: they 3D printed complex objects with higher cellulose content than that of any other additively manufactured cellulose-based parts. To achieve this, they used a clever trick.

Allowing Robots to Feel

With the help of machine learning, researchers have developed a novel yet low-cost tactile sensor. The sensor measures force distribution at high resolution and with great accuracy, enabling robot arms to grasp sensitive or fragile objects.

New Universal Carrier Ink for 3D Printing

Researchers have produced a gel from cellulose fibres and biodegradable nanoparticles that liquifies when pressed through the nozzle of a 3D printer, but then quickly returns to its original shape. Their invention paves the way for personalised biomaterial implants.

Switzerland's Local Blockchain-Based Electricity Market

For one year, 37 households in Walenstadt have sold solar power in a local blockchain-based electricity market. The participants involved in this pioneering project, the first of its kind in the world, were very positive about their experience.

9T Labs

9T Labs are a start-up 3D print continuous carbon fiber composites. IDTechEx spoke with Yannick Willemin (Business Development Specialist).

Ultrasound Can Selectively Kill Cancer Cells

A new technique could offer a targeted approach to fighting cancer: low-intensity pulses of ultrasound have been shown to selectively kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.

Storing Data in Everyday Objects

A research team has discovered a new method for turning nearly any object into a data storage unit. This makes it possible to save extensive data in, say, shirt buttons, water bottles or even the lenses of glasses, and then retrieve it years later. The technique also allows users to hide information and store it for later generations. It uses DNA as the storage medium.

2019

Glass From a 3D Printer

Producing glass objects using 3D printing is not easy. Only a few groups of researchers around the world have attempted to produce glass using additive methods. Some have made objects by printing molten glass, but the disadvantage is that this requires extremely high temperatures and heat-resistant equipment.

Cutting-Edge Robot 'Trimbot' Makes Short Work of Gardening

A gardening robot has been developed that can self-navigate and automatically prune roses and trim bushes.

Leg amputees feel and use the prosthesis as a real limb

Tiny electrodes implanted in the patients' thigh nerve allow them to feel natural sensations of touch and movement from the prosthesis. Therefore, the amputees can walk freely while thinking about different activities other than controlling the device.

A battery that can be bent, stretched and twisted

Researchers have used stretchable materials to develop a battery that can be bent, stretched and twisted. For applications in bendable electronic devices, this is precisely the kind of battery they need.

Feeling legs again improves amputees' health

Two volunteers are the first above-knee amputees in the world to feel their prosthetic foot and knee in real time. Their bionic prosthesis, which was developed by an international team of researchers, features sensors that connect to residual nerves in the thigh. The resulting neurofeedback greatly reduces physical and mental strain for users of the prosthesis.

Carbon-neutral fuels from air and green power

Several challenges associated with the energy transition can be managed by coupling the sectors of electric power and mobility. Green power could be stored in the long term, fuels of high energy density could be used in a carbon-neutral way.

Revolutionising the CRISPR method

Everyone's talking about CRISPR-Cas. This biotechnological method offers a relatively quick and easy way to manipulate single genes in cells, meaning they can be precisely deleted, replaced or modified.

Cytosurge announces spin-off 3D printing business unit

All 3D Printing activities of Cytosurge will be transitioned into an autonomous entity. The new company will be able to focus entirely on providing solutions for processes and instruments in the field of additive micro manufacturing of micro metal parts.

3D printing of metallic micro-objects

3D printing has become an increasingly important production method. Researchers have now developed a new 3D printing technique by which micrometre-sized objects made of several metals can be produced with high spatial resolution.