IDTechEx

World's first hydrogen fuel cell train

The Coradia iLint, built by Alstom in Salzgitter, Germany, is equipped with fuel cells which convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, thus eliminating pollutant emissions related to propulsion. From 17 September onwards, two such trains will enter commercial service according to a fixed timetable in Lower Saxony.

New sensors track dopamine in the brain for more than a year

Neuroscientists have now devised a way to measure dopamine in the brain for more than a year, which they believe will help them to learn much more about its role in both healthy and diseased brains.

Siemens Mobility to 3D print replacement parts

Ability to rapidly and cost-effectively 3D print replacement parts and production tools on-demand eliminates obsolete parts and warehousing costs

Personalized soft exosuit breaks new ground

Fully wearable soft exosuit with automatic tuning helps users save energy and walk outside over difficult terrain.

Wave concentrator helps capture renewable energy from the sea

A new device that can triple the amplitude of a water wave by concentrating it into a small, shallow space has been unveiled by researchers in China and the US.

Patented nanostructure for solar cells: Rough optics, smooth surface

Thin-film solar cells made of crystalline silicon are inexpensive and achieve efficiencies of a good 14 percent. However, they could do even better if their shiny surfaces reflected less light. A team has now patented a sophisticated new solution to this problem.

Imperial College Composites Centre

The research hub is a collaborative effort between the aeronautics, chemical, civil, design and mechanical engineering as well as chemistry and materials science departments. According to the composites centre, the industry was worth £2bn in 2015 and is expected to reach £12bn by 2030.

Downshifting light energy to create more efficient smart glass

IDTechEx visit the UbiQD exhibit at the IDTechEx Show! Europe 2018 to discuss their down shifting high energy light sources allowing for better energy absorption through their solar cells due to the altered wavelengths.

Drones 2018-2038: Components, Technologies, Roadmaps, Market Forecasts

The new report from IDTechEx Research, Drones 2018-2038: Components, Technologies, Roadmaps, Market Forecasts, provides a comprehensive analysis of the drone market, considering components, technologies, application roadmaps and markets.

Smart Materials Replace Components in a Box:Billion Dollar Opportunity

It is a technological megatrend providing billion dollar business opportunities. The unique new IDTechEx Research report "Smart Materials as Structural Electronics and Electrics 2019-2029" explains how structural materials can be electronically, electrically, mechanically, magnetically and optically smart nowadays.

Skeleton Technologies to supply Brush Traction with ultra capacitors

Skeleton Technologies is now contracted to supply SkelSart Engine Start Module units on all Brush Traction Porterbrook Bi Mode Unit Class 769 flex prime movers.

Verdant Power secures $6 million funding for tidal power system

Verdant Power has received $6 million in funding for the next phase of its program to advance the development of the Company's tidal power system in New York.

World's largest deal for driverless grocery deliveries

The agreement, which will see udelv supply supermarkets like Uptown Grocery, Buy For Less, Buy For Less Super Mercado and Smart Saver with an initial 10 customized cargo vans to service online deliveries in the OKC metro area, is the largest ADV deal in the world to date.

A wearable device for regrowing hair

Researchers have developed a flexible, wearable photostimulator that speeds up hair growth in mice. They report their results in ACS Nano.

Advanced Ceramic Fibers

Advanced Ceramic Fibers (ACF) manufacture specialty fibers for metal, polymer and ceramic matrix composites. Ken Koller (CEO/COO), Shawn Perkins (President), and John Garnier (Founder/CTO) spoke with IDTechEx technology analyst Richard Collins.

Lego-style solar panels to smash energy bills

Ready-made snap-together solar panels that turn waste heat into hot water are being developed at Brunel University London in a £10 million sustainable energy scheme starting next month.

Report from TERMIS WC 2018

IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr Nadia Tsao attended the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) World Congress 2018. The event was held between September 5 - 7, 2018 at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto, Japan. The World Congress is held every 3 years - chapter meetings (Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific) are held in the intervening years.

30-Year Evolution of Laser Power & Price: 1988-2018

Advances in laser technologies over the past three decades have enabled lasers to progress from specialist scientific instruments to a diverse range of end-user markets. In this article, time periods where data storage and data communication segments dominated the laser diode market are coloured yellow, while the current era of emerging laser diode applications in material processing, sensing and healthcare is indicated by green shading in the charts.

Printed solar cell set to transform electronics manufacturing

Researchers have achieved a new efficiency record in organic photovoltaic cells. The process could improve the production of new devices for energy harvesting and lighting.

Not too wet, not too dry: plasma-treated fuel cell gets it just right

Fuel cells hold promise as a clean, renewable source of energy. But keeping them dry has long been a challenge, as they produce water during the process of converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity.