Virginia Tech

Owl-inspired wing design reduces wind turbine noise by 10 decibels

A team of researchers studying the acoustics of owl flight are working to pinpoint the mechanisms that accomplish this virtual silence to improve man-made aerodynamic design - of wind turbines, aircraft, underwater vehicles and, even, automobiles.

Energy harvester to power pacemakers

A project that designs broadband low-frequency piezoelectric energy harvesters to help power pacemakers.

Flexible solar panel goes where silicon can't

A group of researchers is producing flexible solar panels that can become part of window shades or wallpaper that will capture light from the sun as well as light from sources inside buildings.

Grant to produce nuclear radiation energy-harvesting device

Research grant to develop nuclear radiation energy harvesting and through-wall wireless communication for enclosed metal containers in nuclear environments, like pressure reactor vessels or nuclear spent-fuel canisters.

Army grant for energy harvesting backpack

By using innovative technology designed by researchers, soldiers will soon have a lighter, more energy-efficient load to bear.

Process to upsize nanostructures into 3-D printed materials

Researchers have published a study that describes a new process to create lightweight, strong, and super-elastic 3-D printed metallic nanostructured materials with unprecedented scalability, a full seven orders of magnitude control of arbitrary 3-D architectures.

Scale up on ocean wave energy harvesting

The Mechanical Motion Rectifier, a novel power takeoff that uses the up and down and back and forth oscillation of wave energy and turns it into a unidirectional rotation to drive the generator.

A royal flush in powering fuel cells with wastewater

Researchers have discovered a way to maximize the amount of electricity that can be generated from the wastewater we flush down the toilet.

IDTechEx Show! - NASA Langley & National Institute Aerospace Win Award

Energy Harvesting & Storage USA: The Best Technical Development within Energy Harvesting and Storage Award went to NASA Langley Research Center, in collaboration with the National Institute of Aerospace, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina State University for the development of their multistage force amplification piezoelectric energy harvester.

Winners of the 2015 IDTechEx awards on EH, IoT and 3D Printing

This year's IDTechEx awards on 3D Printing, Energy Harvesting & Storage and the Internet of Things were announced on Wednesday, Nov 18, during the IDTechEx Show! in Santa Clara, California. The 5 awards were presented by Mr John LeMoncheck, President & CEO of Cambrios, a distinguished leader of both innovative startups and public companies.

Students to launch experimental 3-D printer on NASA rocket ship

How would a 3-D printer work in the microgravity of suborbital space after surviving a jarring ride 100 miles above the earth? A group of students hope to have an answer next week after a launch at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.

Progress in harvesting energy from bumps in the road

This energy-harvesting shock absorber works by translating the vertical vibrations of the suspension into rotational motion that turns a generator.

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.

Electric vehicle will offer free non-stop road travel

The new IDTechEx Research report, "High Power Energy Harvesting 2015-2025" (www.IDTechEx.com/high) appraises the many new ways in which the vehicle will internally harvest energy that is currently wasted as tyre and brake heat etc. so it needs much less externally supplied energy to get along. That alone will get us to a range of up to 1000 miles. In this article, let us look at how the increasingly infrequent charging can be done automatically without involving the driver and how it can grab externally-supplied electricity created from free ambient energy.

Discovery may be breakthrough for hydrogen-fueled vehicles

Researchers discovered a way to create hydrogen fuel using a biological method that greatly reduces the time and money it takes to produce the zero-emissions fuel. This method uses abundantly available corn stover - the stalks, cobs, and husks - to produce the hydrogen.

Novel plastic could spur new green energy applications

A plastic used in filters and tubing has an unusual trait: It can produce electricity when pulled or pressed.

Energy Harvesting & Storage and IoT Applications Awards USA 2014

The winners of the IDTechEx awards for Energy Harvesting & Storage and the Internet of Things were announced today on the opening day of the largest event IDTechEx has produced to date in California, which is estimated to have attracted over 2,500 attendees at the Santa Clara Convention Centre.

ASU engineers to help develop next generation of power electronics

Arizona State University electrical engineers Srabanti Chowdhury and Raja Ayyanar will lead research for the university's role in a new national consortium formed to develop the next generation of power electronics for electric vehicles and electronic devices.