IDTechEx

Webinar Thursday 9 August - River, Wave and Tidal Power Reinvented

IDTechEx is hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9 August titled - River, Wave and Tidal Power Reinvented: A Bright Future.

Nissan to sell electric battery business to Envision Group

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Envision Group for the sale of Nissan's electric battery operations and production facilities to Envision.

Tech takes on cigarette smoking

Researchers are using wearable sensor technology to develop an automatic alert system to help people quit smoking.

A kernel of promise in popcorn-powered robots

Researchers have discovered how to power simple robots with a novel substance that, when heated, can expand more than 10 times in size, change its viscosity by a factor of 10 and transition from regular to highly irregular granules with surprising force.

Biosensor chip wirelessly detects disease

Researchers have developed a chip that can detect a type of genetic mutation known as a single nucleotide polymorphism and wirelessly send the results in real time to a smartphone, computer, or other electronic device. The chip is at least 1,000 times more sensitive at detecting an SNP than current technology.

Exploring the prospects for offshore wind in Norway

There is currently 17 GW of offshore wind capacity in Europe - providing 1.5% of Europe's electricity. 2017 was a record year, with installed capacity expanding by 25% whilst prices continue to tumble and turbines grow ever more powerful.

First-ever coloured thin films of nanotubes created

Researchers present a technique to produce large quantities of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes in select shades of the rainbow. The secret is a fine-tuned fabrication process—and a small dose of CO2.

Wearable for battlefield trauma

Known as Batdok, a wearable technology allows a medic to efficiently monitor multiple casualties in the field using a smartphone or tablet. Adaptation for civilian applications will advance telemedicine capabilities, the company said.

Harley-Davidson's first electric motorcycle

Harley-Davidson plans to lead the electric motorcycle market by launching Harley-Davidson's first electric motorcycle, LiveWire™, in 2019 -- the first in a broad, no-clutch "twist and go" portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed to establish the company as the leader in the electrification of the sport.

Europe adds 4.5 GW of wind energy in first half of 2018

Europe added 4.5 GW of wind energy capacity in the first half of 2018, according to figures released by WindEurope. The figure is down on the same period last year (6.1 GW) though is in line with expectations.

Solar cells need to slim down

Thin-film solar cells could be 1/100th the thickness of a piece of paper and flexible enough to festoon surfaces ranging from an aerodynamically sleek car to clothing. To make thin-film solar cells, scientists are moving beyond the "classic" semiconductor compounds, such as gallium arsenide or silicon, and working instead with other light-harvesting compounds that have the potential to be cheaper and easier to mass produce. The compounds could be widely adopted if they could perform as well as today's technology.

Researchers successfully transplant bioengineered lung

A research team have bioengineered lungs and transplanted them into adult pigs with no medical complication.

Bioprinting in space

As we continue to explore deeper into space, astronauts are spending more time in orbit than ever before and need tools that are adaptable and customizable for any given task.

Laser-scribed disordered graphene improves sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries have potential to replace the currently used lithium-ion batteries by using the cheaper (less than a thirtieth of the cost of lithium) and more abundant sodium resource. This has particular potential in Saudi Arabia, where sodium is readily available and easily extracted as a byproduct of water desalination, a significant source of potable water in the country.

Controlling drones via voice channels

The future is airborne. Drones may soon become the key to relieving the burden of traffic on our streets, optimizing deliveries, and improving the safety and efficiency of firefighting. But there are still a few hurdles to cross before the technology reaches the maturity required for large-scale commercial roll-out.

Advanced wound imaging - going beyond 2D photographs

An emerging trend in wound care management is the use of connected devices such as smartphones and tablets to simplify and streamline the documentation process. Photographs of wounds taken on these devices, complete with calculated wound dimensions, can be directly added to a patient's electronic health record via specialized software and apps.

Wearable sonar technology to guide sight impaired

Using radar and augmented reality, Sunu Band enables people who are low vision and blind to travel with confidence. Advanced haptic feedback guides the way around any obstacle, and navigation sensors connect to the world that's around you.

Lead acid battery alternatives set to become big business

Cleantech Hub reports that a mere 13% of lead acid batteries are recycled in Nigeria. Yet there is a mini-grid revolution about to take off in Nigeria, such as the World Bank and the Rural Electrification Agency $350 million project as well as other investments into the sector, driving more batteries.

Gentle robotic hand for sea life

The open ocean is the largest and least explored environment on Earth, estimated to hold up to a million species that have yet to be described. However, many of those organisms are soft-bodied - like jellyfish, squid, and octopuses - and are difficult to capture for study with existing underwater tools, which all too frequently damage or destroy them. Now, a new device safely traps delicate sea creatures inside a folding polyhedral enclosure and lets them go without harm using a novel, origami-inspired design.

Improving biosensors for implantable sensing

Biosensors are devices that can detect biological molecules in air, water, or blood. They are widely used in drug development, medical diagnostics, and biological research. The growing need for continuous, real-time monitoring of biomarkers in diseases like diabetes is currently driving efforts to develop efficient and portable biosensor devices.