US Department of Defense (DoD)

Progress with autonomous robotic jellyfish

Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers are working on a multi-university, nationwide project for the U.S. Navy that one day will put life-like autonomous robot jellyfish in waters around the world.

New nanotech fiber: robust handling, shocking performance

Rice University's latest nanotechnology breakthrough was more than 10 years in the making, but it still came with a shock.

Advancing bio-inspired micro-robotics technology

BAE Systems has been awarded $43 million to lead the Army Research Laboratory's (ARL) Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) Collaborative Technology Alliance for an additional five years to advance bio-inspired micro-robotics technology to extend the remote sensing capability of U.S. ground forces.

Collaboration to produce nano-hybrid supercapacitor

The United States Army Research Laboratory has joined hands with a Mumbai lab to develop nano-hybrid supercapacitors.

New battery for wearable electronics

Imprint Energy, Inc based in California, USA, is developing its proprietary Zinc Poly™ batteries for small portable electronics markets, including mobile accessories, compact wireless devices, wearable technology, health and fitness monitoring, and medical devices.

Supercapacitors to the rescue

Supercapacitors are improving much faster than lithium-ion batteries and their marketing is now more imaginative, many applications not involving batteries being opened up.

Supercapacitors to the rescue

They call it the Bad Dreamliner because the new Boeing jet has been beset with electrical problems. When new, the Airbus A380 also had electrical problems but they were caught at an early stage. This time it has been more dramatic. In one instance a fire raged in the belly of a Boeing 787 parked at Logan International Airport in the USA. Flames were doused that emanated from the lithium-ion battery compartment. Investigations continue to determine the precise origin of that problem but the air industry is acutely aware that lithium-ion batteries have caused extreme incidents before.

DOD electric vehicles will supply power to local grids

As the military continues to move away from dependence on fossil fuels, the Defense Department plans to spend $20 million on a fleet of electric vehicles unique in their ability to export their own power and offset their cost.

Efficient military mobile power

Reference designs for the world's lightest, and highest energy density, flexible military charging mats.

Battery runs on plant dye

Rose madder - a natural plant dye once prized throughout the Old World to make fiery red textiles - has found a second life as the basis for a new "green" battery.

How 'transparent' is graphene?

The amazing electrical, optical and strength properties of graphene, a single-atom-thick layer of carbon, have been extensively researched over the last decade.

Chinese firm creates political storm in winning bid for A123 Systems

Wanxiang, China's largest maker of auto parts created a political storm when they won the auction to acquire recently bankrupt company, A123 Systems.

AeroVironment will invest up to $3 million in CybAero for VTOL UAS

AeroVironment has entered into a strategic relationship with Sweden-based CybAero to develop and distribute a Tier II vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system in response to unmet requirements from multiple customers.

Seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid created

Researchers have successfully grown forests of carbon nanotubes that rise quickly from sheets of graphene to astounding lengths of up to 120 microns.

Single-surface material for energy storage

A seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid created at Rice University may be the best electrode interface material possible for many energy storage and electronics applications.

GE to power US Navy's latest hybrid amphibious assault flagship

GE's Power Conversion business has signed a contract worth more than $10 million with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to provide an auxiliary propulsion system (APS) for the future USS Tripoli (LHA-7), which is the U.S. Navy's latest large-deck amphibious assault ship.

Keynotes at Energy Harvesting, WSN and Supercapacitors USA 2012

Some of the highlights of the keynote presentations at the 2012 IDTechEx conferences on energy harvesting, storage, wireless sensor networks and supercapacitors are presented.