Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

New biomimetic structural electronics

Biomimetics - usefully copying nature - is alive and well.

Is 3D printing using binders having a resurgence?

Jetting binder on layers of plastic powder was originally developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1993. This binder-on-powder process was the first to be known as 3D Printing technology.

To capture a wave

Creating anything new requires testing the limits of what already exists and delving into uncertainty.

APDM

APDM develop and sell high end wearable sensor for high performance motion tracking. Their packages are build around a sensor called the opal, which includes inertial measurement unit components in a small rigid package. These sensors, usually used several at a time, feed into their software platforms which enable high level motion analysis of subjects, used in areas such as research, medical diagnosis and elite sports analysis.

Infi-tex

Infi-tex emerged after Peratech Ltd entered administration. Infi-tex adopted intellectual property from Peratech around using QTC™ (Quantum tunnelling composite) materials in 'Soft-Switch' applications. Infi-tex is now continuing to explore opportunities around this technology.

Impossible Objects

Impossible Objects' goal is to produce the world's strongest additively manufactured composite parts, rivalling hand layup materials, at injection moulding speeds. They are commercialising composite-based additive manufacturing technology (CBAM), which is a process that is different from most other additive manufacturing technologies.

3D printing and public policy

Although legal principles apply to 3D printing the same as they apply to any other technology, 3D printing has the unique potential to upset the legal status quo. It is the potential scale of 3D printing that may have profound effects on the law.

Personalized heart models for surgical planning

Researchers have developed a system that can take MRI scans of a patient's heart and, in a matter of hours, convert them into a tangible, physical model that surgeons can use to plan surgery.

Method for scaling up production of thin electronic material

Sheets of graphene and other materials that are virtually two-dimensional hold great promise for electronic, optical, and other high-tech applications. But the biggest limitation in unleashing this potential has been figuring out how to make these materials in the form of anything larger than tiny flakes.

Forster Rohner Textile Innovations

Forster Rohner Textile Innovations (FRTI) was set up as a subsidiary of Forster Rohner in 2008, with the aim of exploring opportunities in combining electronics and textiles. They have completed many projects with a large number of partners, as they develop a wide array of relevant technologies, such as their e-broidery solutions.

Customizing 3-D printing

Design tool lets novices do in minutes what would take experts in computer-aided design hours.

Sakti3

Sakti3 is a company developing solid-state batteries. They were founded in 2007 by current CEO Dr. Ann Marie Sastry, who was then a professor at the University of Michigan. Sakti3 was recently acquired by Dyson for $90m.

$75 million DoD funding for flexible hybrid electronics hub

The Obama administration will award a Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Flexible Hybrid Electronics to a consortium of 162 companies, universities, and non-profits led by the FlexTech Alliance.

MultiFab 3D-prints a record 10 materials at once

Researchers have presented a 3D printer that can print an unprecedented 10 different materials at once by using 3D-scanning techniques that save the user time, energy and money.

Going solid-state could make batteries safer and longer-lasting

Researchers have developed a new approach to one of the three basic components of batteries, the electrolyte.

Electric vehicle end game: self-powered, energy autonomous

The end-game with electric vehicles by land, water and air is for them to be self-powered. They will create all their electricity from ambient energy such as light, wind, waves and tide where necessary storing it until needed.

Additive manufacturing of optically transparent glass

MIT's Mediated Matter Group in collaboration with MIT's Department of Mechnical Engineering and MIT's Glass Lab have developed a method of 3D printing glass.

QD Vision Inc

QD Vision produces quantum dots and supplies components to the display industry, to enhance the backlight of LCD. Their Color IQ technology has been used by several TV manufacturers, including Sony, TCL and Hisense.

Aluminum could give boost to capacity, power of lithium-ion batteries

Researchers have created an electrode made of nanoparticles with a solid shell, and a "yolk" inside that can change size again and again without affecting the shell.

48V vehicle systems becoming significant

Analysts IDTechEx almost completely rewrote their report Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles 2015-2025 this year and frequent updates take place, such is the pace of change.