Georgia Institute of Technology

Wearable robot transforms musicians into three-armed drummers

Researchers have built a wearable robotic limb that allows drummers to play with three arms. The two-foot long "smart arm" can be attached to a musician's shoulder. It responds to human gestures and the music it hears.

Acoustic technique reveals structural info in nanoscale materials

Understanding where and how phase transitions occur is critical to developing new generations of the materials used in high-performance batteries, sensors, energy-harvesting devices, medical diagnostic equipment and other applications.

Grant to develop atomically thin semiconductors

A research team has been awarded a grant of $2 million over the next four years from the National Science Foundation to research and develop thin, flexible semiconductors that might eventually lead to bendable computer screens and wearable electronics.

First optical rectenna converts light to DC current

Using nanometer-scale components, researchers have demonstrated the first optical rectenna, a device that combines the functions of an antenna and a rectifier diode to convert light directly into DC current.

Graphene band gap heralds new electronics

Regular graphene has no band gap - its unusually rippled valence and conduction bands actually meet in places, making it more like a metal. Nonetheless, scientists have tried to tease them apart.

Paper tubes make stiff origami structures

From shipping and construction to outer space, origami could put a folded twist on structural engineering.

New 3D nano-material enhances battery storage

The scientists' goal is to produce new materials for a host of uses, ranging from high-efficiency batteries, ultracapacitors, fuel cells and hydrogen storage devices to lightweight thermal coatings for hypersonic jets, multifunctional materials for aerospace, and more.

Sarvint Technologies

Sarvint Technologies are a small company from Atlanta, Georgia. They hold two key patents around smart clothing and sensing, and came to the attention of the industry when they filed multiple parallel IP infringement claims against all of the players in the US with these products. They have now gained $6m Series A funding of their own, and will release a smart clothing product with biometric sensors in Q1 2016.

Students electrify NASA with future airplane designs

In response to a NASA challenge to design an all-electric propulsion general aviation airplane, five ideas out of the 20 submitted by U.S. universities wowed the judges.

Body-motion-powered device could promote bone healing

Medical implants and wearable devices that harvest energy from the bearer's movements and convert it into electrical power could help patients avoid the inconvenience of replacing batteries.

Sol-gel capacitor dielectric offers record-high energy storage

Using a hybrid silica sol-gel material and self-assembled monolayers of a common fatty acid, researchers have developed a new capacitor dielectric material that provides an electrical energy storage capacity rivaling certain batteries, with both a high energy density and high power density.

Ultra-thin hollow nanocages reduce platinum use in fuel cell electrode

A new fabrication technique that produces platinum hollow nanocages with ultra-thin walls could dramatically reduce the amount of the costly metal needed to provide catalytic activity in such applications as fuel cells.

Manufacturing smart garments

Proof of concept that allows traditional garment manufacturers to develop smart or connected textiles by easily integrating with the workspace and workflow used in traditional garment production.

Solar sails use the sun's energy for propulsion

Solar sails use the sun's energy as a method of propulsion—flight by light.

Therapy gloves for stroke patients

The "Haptic Mirror Therapy Glove" is an interactive mirror therapy glove for the treatment of a paretic limb following a stroke.

Smart window harvests energy from wind and rain

A team of researchers have created glass that tints by harvesting energy from wind and rain.

Self-powered intelligent keyboard

By analyzing such parameters as the force applied by key presses and the time interval between them, a new self-powered non-mechanical intelligent keyboard could provide a stronger layer of security for computer users.

Complaints for patent infringement for wearable technology

Sarvint Technologies, Inc, a wearable technology company, has filed complaints in the United States District Court.

World's thinnest electric generator

Researchers report that they have made the first experimental observation of piezoelectricity and the piezotronic effect in an atomically thin material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), resulting in a unique electric generator and mechanosensation devices that are optically transparent, extremely light, and very bendable and stretchable.

Electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

This article primarily investigates the hybrid and pure electric powertrains and electrics being used or considered for UAVs and the new missions made possible by electrification. UAVs survey military threats but also the melting ice caps and natural disasters. They can carry ordnance but also drop aid and locate disaster survivors and lost climbers and trekkers. Little wonder then that new electric UAVs are announced frequently these days.