Pennsylvania State University

Design Approach May Help Fix Bias in Artificial Intelligence

Bias in artificial intelligence and machine learning programs is well established. Researchers are now proposing that software developers incorporate the concept of "feminist design thinking" into their development process as a way of improving equity - particularly in the development of software used in the hiring process.

Engineers Mix and Match Materials to Make New Stretchy Electronics

At the heart of any electronic device is a cold, hard computer chip, covered in a miniature city of transistors and other semiconducting elements. Because computer chips are rigid, the electronic devices that they power, such as our smartphones, laptops, watches, and televisions, are similarly inflexible. Now a process developed by engineers may be the key to manufacturing flexible electronics with multiple functionalities in a cost-effective way.

SEMI-FlexTech Launches Six New Projects

SEMI-FlexTech announced the launch of six projects to accelerate sensor and sensor system innovations for new applications in industries including healthcare, automotive, industrial and defense.

Wearable Gas Sensor for Health and Environmental Monitoring

A highly sensitive wearable gas sensor for environmental and human health monitoring may soon become commercially available, according to researchers.

Optimizing Additive Manufacturing on a Molecular Level

As the complexity and applications of additive manufacturing increase, researchers are digging down to the smallest scales to optimize the technology on a molecular level.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Analyse Placentas

Placentas can provide critical information about the health of the mother and baby, but only 20 percent of placentas are assessed by pathology exams after delivery in the U.S. The cost, time and expertise required to analyze them are prohibitive.

AI Learns to Design

Big design problems require creative and exploratory decision making, a skill in which humans excel. When engineers use artificial intelligence, they have traditionally applied it to a problem within a defined set of rules rather than having it generally follow human strategies to create something new.

Machine Learning Algorithms Help Predict Traffic Headaches

Urban traffic roughly follows a periodic pattern associated with the typical "9 to 5" work schedule. However, when an accident happens, traffic patterns are disrupted. Designing accurate traffic flow models, for use during accidents, is a major challenge for traffic engineers, who must adapt to unforeseen traffic scenarios in real time.

Lithium Ion Battery Design Charges an Electric Vehicle in 10 Minutes

Scientist have developed a lithium ion battery that charges at an elevated temperature to increase reaction rate but keeps the cell cool during discharge, showing the potential to add 200 miles of driving range to an electric car in 10 minutes.

Next-gen solar cells mimic photosynthesis with biological material

Next-generation solar cells that mimic photosynthesis with biological material may give new meaning to the term "green technology."

3Devo

3Devo is a desktop 3D printing filament extruder and peripherals manufacturer. IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr Bryony Core interviewed Tim Wesselink, CEO to find out more about how their products are disrupting the world of engineering grade thermoplastic filaments.

Using artificial intelligence to detect discrimination

A new artificial intelligence tool for detecting unfair discrimination--such as on the basis of race or gender--has been created by researchers.

$5.5 million to apply machine learning to geothermal exploration

The US Department of Energy announced up to $5.5 million for 10 new projects to apply machine learning techniques to geothermal exploration and production. Machine learning - the use of advanced algorithms to identify patterns in and make inferences from data - could assist in finding and developing new geothermal resources.

Novel technology aims to improve lithium metal battery life, safety

Rechargeable lithium metal batteries with increased energy density, performance, and safety may be possible with a newly-developed, solid-electrolyte interphase.

Process to 3D print piezoelectric materials

The piezoelectric materials that inhabit everything from our cell phones to musical greeting cards may be getting an upgrade. Researchers have developed methods to 3D print piezoelectric materials that can be custom-designed to convert movement, impact and stress from any directions to electrical energy.

Machine learning-detected signal predicts time to earthquake

Machine-learning research published in two related papers reports the detection of seismic signals accurately predicting the Cascadia fault's slow slippage, a type of failure observed to precede large earthquakes in other subduction zones.

3D imaging technique unlocks properties of perovskite crystals

A team of materials scientists have, for the first time, visualized the 3D atomic and electron density structure of the most complex perovskite crystal structure system decoded to date.

Wearables powered by body movements

A wearable energy-harvesting device could generate energy from the swing of an arm while walking or jogging, according to a team of researchers. The device, about the size of a wristwatch, produces enough power to run a personal health monitoring system.

Fiber lasers: unique tools for automotive & aerospace manufacturing

Automotive and aerospace manufacturers are increasingly turning to fiber lasers to resolve their manufacturing challenges.

Self-heating, fast-charging battery for electric vehicles

Californians do not purchase electric vehicles because they are cool, they buy EVs because they live in a warm climate. Conventional lithium-ion batteries cannot be rapidly charged at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but now a team of engineers has created a battery that can self-heat, allowing rapid charging regardless of the outside chill.