IDTechEx

Upcoming Webinar - The Bioplastic Revolution: Successes and Challenges

Thursday 1 September 2022 - What is the value of bioplastics in a circular economy? What trends have shifted to drive bioplastic growth? What are the needs bioplastics must meet and pain points to solve? What is the outlook for bioplastics in the next decade?

5 Key Routes to Better Li-Ion Batteries

The current iteration of Li-ion batteries, which are based on graphite anodes, liquid electrolytes, and cathode materials such as NMC and LFP, are generally considered to be reaching their performance limits. However, from cell materials to battery designs, there are still several routes that can lead to further improvements in performance and cost.

Graphene Recovers Gold From Waste Electronics

This new, seemingly magical application of graphene works quite straightforwardly: add graphene into a solution containing traces of gold and, after a few minutes, pure gold appears on graphene sheets, with no other chemicals or energy input involved. After this you can extract pure gold by simply burning the graphene off.

Machine Learning Makes It Easier to Get the Denim You Want

The latest machine learning innovation makes shopping for your favourite Levi's online easier and more efficient.

Brushing Thin Films onto Electrodes Preserves Batteries

A bit of brushing may be the secret to making better rechargeable lithium batteries. Researchers have introduced a technique to tune the surface of anodes for batteries by simply brushing powders into them. The powder adheres to the anode and becomes a thin, lithiated coating that effectively prevents the formation of damaging dendrites.

Clearpath Robotics

Clearpath Robotics is an autonomous mobile platform (autonomous guided vehicles) manufacturer that provides indoor and outdoor unmanned guided vehicles, along with software services for autonomous driving.

A Chip-Free, Wireless Electronic "Skin"

Wearable sensors are ubiquitous thanks to wireless technology that enables a person's glucose concentrations, blood pressure, heart rate, and activity levels to be transmitted seamlessly from sensor to smartphone for further analysis. Most wireless sensors today communicate via embedded Bluetooth chips that are themselves powered by small batteries. But these conventional chips and power sources will likely be too bulky for next-generation sensors, which are taking on smaller, thinner, more flexible forms.

KEMET: Flexible Haptic Actuators

This interview with IDTechEx focused on recent progress with KEMET's flexible piezo actuator for surface haptics applications.

Embark — Autonomous Trucks

Embark is one of the leaders in autonomous truck development. It has a significant amount of funding and has amassed 14,200 non-committal orders for vehicles from potential customers.

Ultralight eVTOL Designed To Revolutionize Farming and Agriculture

Test flights exceeded expectations, resulting in the successful testing of the ultralight eVTOL flight control systems with seamless takeoff, controlled hover, forward flight, pivot turn maneuvers, and a safe, smooth landing, performing optimally in a stable flight envelope.

First Completely Robot-Supported Microsurgical Operations on Humans

Scientists have carried out the first completely robot-supported microsurgical operations on humans. The physicians used an innovative operating method in which a new type of operations robot, designed especially for microsurgery, is networked with a robotic microscope. This approach makes it possible for the operating surgeon to be completely taken out of the operating area.

Solar Powered Speed Cameras for Queensland

New speed camera technology will target speeding drivers in school zones and roadworks across Queensland in a world-first road safety initiative.

New Inks for 3D Printable Wearable Bioelectronics

Flexible electronics have enabled the design of sensors, actuators, microfluidics and electronics on flexible, conformal and/or stretchable sublayers for wearable, implantable or ingestible applications. However, these devices have very different mechanical and biological properties when compared to human tissue and thus cannot be integrated with the human body.

Enerkem

Enerkem are a leading player in the production of low carbon intensity fuels and chemicals by recycling carbon from residual materials which are typically discarded or not valorised, such as municipal solid waste. Enerkem target hard-to-abate sectors such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), marine fuels, heavy transports, and circular chemicals. IDTechEx spoke with David Lynch (General Manager, R&D).

Vivalink

Vivalink develop continuous wearable vital sign monitor devices and a platform for remote patient monitoring.

Ponsse Develops Electric Forestry Vehicle

Ponsse and Epec are introducing an electric forest machine technology concept. While the forest machine will be commercially available later, Epec's technology can already be used in electric or hybrid-electric commercial vehicles and non-road mobile machines. Ponsse's technological concept is a peek into the future, paving the way for technological development and sustainable harvesting solutions.

Algorithm Learns to Correct 3D Printing Errors

Engineers have created intelligent 3D printers that can quickly detect and correct errors, even in previously unseen designs, or unfamiliar materials like ketchup and mayonnaise, by learning from the experiences of other machines.

Ultra-Thin Device Generates Electricity from Air Moisture

Imagine being able to generate electricity by harnessing moisture in the air around you with just everyday items like sea salt and a piece of fabric, or even powering everyday electronics with a non-toxic battery that is as thin as paper. A team of researchers has developed a new moisture-driven electricity generation device made of a thin layer of fabric - about 0.3 millimetres in thickness - sea salt, carbon ink, and a special water-absorbing gel.

New Flyer: Autonomous City Buses

New Flyer is working on a level 4 autonomous city bus. It is preparing for semi-commercial trials to commence in 2023, with paying passengers and a safety driver onboard. It has identified a tight operational design domain, which increases its likelihood of a driverless deployment.

ACI Materials

ACI Materials manufactures a range of conductive inks, provided as part of a 'full-stack' functional material portfolio. It targets applications across printed/hybrid electronics, especially in the wearable technology market with its stretchable inks. IDTechEx caught up with Marshall Tibbetts (COO), Andrew Bambach (Application Engineering Manager) and Mike Mastropietro (CTO).