IDTechEx

Aluminum on the way to titanium strength

Scientists have proposed a technology that can double the strength of composites obtained by 3D printing from aluminum powder, and advance the characteristics of these products to the quality of titanium alloys: titanium's strength is about six times higher than that of aluminum, but the density of titanium is 1.7 times higher.

IDTechEx Announces the Winners of Launchpad

IDTechEx Announces the Winners of Launchpad, the New Technologies Initiative will showcase innovations from 10 start-up companies at the IDTechEx Show! held in Santa Clara, USA on November 14-15, 2018 (www.IDTechEx.com/USA). All winners will be showing a new working prototype or product, many for the first time.

Dinosaur movement leads to stronger robots

Computer simulations may soon provide a realistic glimpse into how some species moved and inform work in fields such as robotics, prosthetics and architecture.

Deep learning distinguishes recalled-benign mammograms

An artificial intelligence approach based on deep learning convolutional neural network could identify nuanced mammographic imaging features specific for recalled but benign (false-positive) mammograms and distinguish such mammograms from those identified as malignant or negative.

3D printing cells to produce human tissue

With today's technology, we can 3-D-print sculptures, mechanical parts, prosthetics, even guns and food. But a team of biomedical engineers have developed a method to 3-D-print cells to produce human tissue such as ligaments and tendons, a process that will greatly improve a patient's recovery.

Microgrid trial

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced it was partnering with Monash University and technology partner Indra Australia to trial a microgrid on Monash's Clayton campus that will see the campus powered by renewable energy.

Unlocking the value in second-life electric vehicle batteries

With global electric vehicle sales hitting 4 million this summer, increasing attention has been paid to the end-of-life issues of EV batteries. Recycling the batteries to recover the raw materials seems to be the default solution. However, after their first life as powertrain for electric cars, the batteries could still hold 70-80% of their initial capacity which can be further utilised in second-life applications such as stationary energy storage before being recycled.

Strong and self-healing ion gels

Scientists have designed an ion gel with excellent toughness and an ability to self-heal at ambient temperature without any external trigger or detectable change in the environment such as light or temperature. This new class of material has promising potential for building flexible electronic devices.

Cellink

IDTechEx analyst Nadia Tsao spoke with Cellink CEO Erick Gatenholm and Cellink Head of Global Sales Johan Berthag at TERMIS WC 2018.

Material supplier Heraeus on what they can provide

Dr Peter Harrop, Chairman of IDTechEx, discusses the services Heraeus provides as a material supplier and sectors they wish to cover in the future. This includes sectors such as printed electronics, display and touch sensors.

IDTechEx Announces the Winners of Launchpad

IDTechEx Announces the Winners of Launchpad, the New Technologies Initiative will showcase innovations from 10 start-up companies at the IDTechEx Show! held in Santa Clara, USA on November 14-15, 2018 (www.IDTechEx.com/USA). All winners will be showing a new working prototype or product, many for the first time.

MTT Micro Turbine Technology

MTT is a Dutch company that produces advanced micro gas turbines for a variety of different applications, including micro CHP systems. IDTechEx spoke with the company's CEO in 2018.

Peer-to-peer solar electricity trading platform

SOLshare has developed the world's first peer-to-peer solar electricity trading platform that leverages existing solar home systems in an off-grid context to create a bottom-up smart grid.

Range Rover Sport self-drives Coventry Ring Road

A Range Rover Sport has completed the first ever self-driving lap of one of the UK's most challenging road layouts. A prototype self-driving Range Rover Sport handled the complex Coventry Ring Road, successfully changing lanes, merging with traffic and exiting junctions at the speed limit of 40mph.

Where are all the female inventors? Addressing the patent gender gap.

The uptake of STEM subjects by women and other minorities is crucial for myriad reasons, for instance boosting economic activity and closing the pay gender gap, to name but two.

New 3D-printed cement paste gets stronger when it cracks

What if the inherent weaknesses of a material actually made houses and buildings stronger during wildfires and earthquakes? Researchers have 3D-printed cement paste, a key ingredient of the concrete and mortar used to build various elements of infrastructure, that gets tougher under pressure like the shells of arthropods such as lobsters and beetles.

Lightweight, compact smart glasses

Researchers have developed a fundamentally new approach to a see-through display for augmented reality, or smart glasses. By projecting images from the glass directly onto the eye, the new design could one day make it possible for a user to see information such as directions or restaurant ratings while wearing a device almost indistinguishable from traditional glasses.

Off grid hydrogen fuel cell for the construction industry

This new technology will be used to provide silent, zero emission power.

Portable cancer test uses smartphone, new gold biosensor

A research team is creating a new cancer-spotting tool that health care providers could eventually use in areas that lack hospitals, clinics and other treatment centers. The tool is based upon a unique gold biosensor the research team created. When paired with a computer or smartphone and other inexpensive tools, the system is capable of spotting cancer biomarkers from a blood sample.

Webinar Tues 16 October - Future of 3D printing in medicine, dentistry

IDTechEx will be hosting a free webinar on Tuesday 16 October titled The future of 3D Printing in Medicine and Dentistry