News Archive - Page 10 of 13

48-core chips could power mobile devices in five to 10 years, says Intel

sbondadmin November 5, 2012

Currently, smartphone and tablet computers run on processors that have up to four cores, or brains. As powerful as today's top-of-the-line mobile electronic devices are, what do you think you could do with one operating on a 48-core chip?

That is what Intel is working on at the moment – developing a chip more powerful than what we are even using on desktop computers – and hopes to put it in the hands of consumers in the next five to 10 years, according to Computerworld.

As Justin Rattner, Intel's chief technology officer, told the news source, having that many cores could spread out the tasks each one handles at any given time, drastically improving overall computing power. Individual applications could run on their own dedicated cores, making multitasking significantly easier.

"I think the desire to move to more natural interfaces to make the interaction much more human-like is really going to drive the computational requirements," Rattner said. "Having large numbers of cores to generate very high performance levels is the most energy efficient way to deliver those performance levels."

As these and other technologies related to mobile electronics continue to forge onward, manufacturing processes must provide the foundation for their success. Innovative methods of joining dissimilar metals and the thermal management of electronics is essential for equipment power to increase while overall size scales downward.

Considering the leaps made in the last decade, it's not unreasonable to think Intel will be able to make a 48-core processor in the next 10 years. If successful, the world of computing could soon resemble that of what we see in science fiction films.

Innovative battery design may empower renewable energy storage efforts

sbondadmin November 1, 2012

Long battery life is an objective for manufacturers in a number of industries, from consumer electronics to heavy manufacturing. Innovative advancements in the bonding of battery terminals contribute to continuing research in the effort to expand battery life, which could be particularly valuable for the burgeoning renewable energy industry.

As a recent research report from Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory describes, renewable energy advocates appreciate new sources of energy – solar and wind in particular – for their ability to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources. However, electrical grid operators must find more efficient and effective ways to storage this energy, something existing lead-acid batteries and pumped hydropower techniques have not been able to achieve to a satisfactory degree.

The researchers' efforts to address these challenges were published last month in Nature Communications. The team found that it was able to mix certain inexpensive materials – including carbon, copper and a liquid comprising sodium and potassium – to develop an ideal battery for use in the electrical grid. Their efforts seemed to work – the battery held 83 percent of its capacity after 40,000 charge cycles in earlier runs, and later was shown to sustain up to 1,000 charges without significant energy loss.

Ultimately, the work being done by the team at Stanford and SLAC demonstrate how innovations in battery design continue to break down barriers that were previously thought insurmountable. We see improvements in battery design and thermal management each day with the consistent rollout of smaller, more powerful consumer electronics, but this research shows this is only the first step in sustained efforts to improve battery technology.

Researchers developing ways to make hurricane predictions earlier, more accurate

sbondadmin October 29, 2012

As Hurricane Sandy bears down on the eastern coast of the United States, many people are hunkering down in their homes with supplies they bought over the last few days, including bottled water, canned foods and batteries for flashlights and lanterns. In some areas residents have been evacuated as a safety precaution.

For countless Americans, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina is still fresh in their memories. So when individuals find that their homes are in the path of the next big storm, tensions run high. Powerful winds can uproot trees and send them crashing into buildings while levees, rivers and other bodies of water overflow and cause serious flooding.

But, hopefully the damage done by hurricanes can soon be mitigated, thanks to innovative technological breakthroughs at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Terry Hock, an electrical engineer at NCAR, and a team of other scientists have been using something called a "dropsonde" for years now.

These devices look similar to a tube that one might store a poster or blueprints in. However, you won't find paper inside when you open them up. Instead, there is a series of state-of-the-art sensors that measure everything from temperature and humidity to wind speed and direction.

Dropsondes are launched from aircraft and then gather atmospheric data via these sensors as they descend. Currently, researchers are able to use this technology to classify hurricanes and learn more about their inner workings. They also hope to be able to gather information that will help them identify conditions that lead to the formation of hurricanes, allowing forecasters to make earlier and more accurate predictions.

Dropsondes have a huge impact on understanding hurricanes and predicting hurricanes," Hock said in a Science Nation video for NASA Tech Briefs TV. "As the sonde is falling we're seeing every single little measurement show up immediately on the computer screen."

As researchers continue to improve dropsonde technology, the benefits could be enormous. The goal is to provide crucial time for adequate preparations to be made and, if necessary, evacuations to be conducted.

Hybrid drives make devices smaller but pack bigger punch

sbondadmin October 25, 2012

Consumers and industry analysts alike anticipated Apple's press event Tuesday morning with bated breath. The iPad Mini was the highlight of the day for many, as it had been a source of constant rumors and speculation for months. But, there were several other new product iterations announced as well.

One of the more impressive revamps came in the form of a new iMac desktop computer. Practically as thin as a tablet, this elicited an audible reaction from the crowd attending the event. Among the new features of the updated iMac is what Apple calls a "Fusion Drive."

Each computer in the series will have a solid state drive (SSD) starting at 128GB and a standard mechanical hard disk in either a 1TB or 3TB configuration. Both drives will show up as one volume on the computer, however the SSD will hold the operating system and preloaded software, while the traditional hard drive will be home to documents and other large media files. This allows for greater operational efficiency, reduced boot times and a substantial amount of local storage space.

Now, while impressive, the idea here is not new. As a PC World article from earlier this week explains, other companies like Seagate and Samsung introduced various hybrid drives as much as two years ago. But, the technology is improving, thanks to a combination of techniques used in the thermal management of electronics and joining methods for metal.

These innovative manufacturing processes enable companies like Apple, Google and Samsung to build thinner, lightweight products that pack a bigger punch in a smaller physical space than their predecessors. For example, cutting-edge ways of bonding aluminum have become a priority over the last several years as aluminum becomes more popular in the design of various electronic devices.

Whenever a new electronic device hits store shelves and wows consumers, it's manufacturing ingenuity that made it possible.

Study says investing in technology best way to achieve energy security

sbondadmin October 23, 2012

During the election cycle, you're likely to hear about energy independence a great deal. With gas prices rising and home heating oil costs following suit, it makes sense that this would be a popular topic.

But, according to a new report released by Deloitte titled "Energy independence and security: A reality check," the best thing the United States and its elected officials can do right now is focus on technology.

"While rising global demand for oil will likely keep crude prices relatively high, it also will provide a continuing stimulus for increased domestic production,” says the report. "Moreover, the introduction of increasingly sophisticated enabling technologies worldwide may herald the introduction of new countries as oil suppliers, and increase potential supplies from existing friendly sources."

As the study points out, there are three significant areas where renewed focus could lead to better energy independence and security for the U.S. – more efficient automobiles, improved technology for domestic oil and gas production and emphasis on innovative alternative energy sources.

Let's start with automobiles. More efficient engines along with the development of new electric cars can reduce our consumption of petroleum products while simultaneously lowering harmful emissions. Technologies like those used in state-of-the-art bonding of battery terminals are exactly the kind of thing that makes this possible.

To improve domestic oil and gas production capabilities and ensure job site safety for all workers, high performance pressure and temperature sensors are needed.

Lastly, alternative energy technologies that allow us to harness wind, solar and ocean wave power will plant the seeds for industry growth, job creation and a cleaner environment.

By investing in these cutting-edge manufacturing processes, we can build more efficient equipment that will increase productivity while reducing dependence on foreign energy sources.

Solar-powered generators could save U.S. military lives

sbondadmin October 19, 2012

Electricity tends to be in short supply when one is in the middle of the Iraqi desert or the mountains of Afghanistan. It's not like there is an electrical outlet in the side of a big rock on the ground. But U.S. military personnel stationed on the frontlines must be able to operate everything from coffee pots to laptops and radar systems.

Small comforts for servicemen and women, as well as the equipment their lives depend on, all need power sources. Currently, they use generators running entirely on diesel fuel. But, hopefully that will soon change as Raytheon, one of the largest defense technology contractors in the country, has secured a contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop a better generator.

The Hybrid Dish/Engine Expeditionary Generator (HyDE-2G) will use a combination of diesel and solar power and is being designed with several goals in mind, the first of which is to save a minimum of 40 percent on current fuel costs. Doing so not only saves money, but it has the potential to safeguard lives around the world. Beyond the environmental benefits of burning less fuel, the HyDE-2G will actually reduce the threat of attack on U.S. personnel.

Fuel must be transported to forward-deployed warfighters via convoys. These convoys are high-value targets for enemy forces. But, with the HyDE-2G, the military can significantly reduce the amount of diesel fuel that they must transport through hostile territory.

"Delivering fuel to remote locations, whether transported over land or through the air, is expensive and puts warfighters at risk," said Joe Biondi, vice president of Advanced Technology for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. "Through the HyDE-2G program, Raytheon will help the Marines reduce operational costs and manning; minimize logistical vulnerabilities; and, most importantly, safeguard our warfighters."

In order to make this possible, manufacturers must use cutting-edge technologies, including methods of solar module soldering. Maximum efficiency and reduced weight are essential to make hybrid generators a viable alternative to the devices in use today. American innovation can literally save lives.

Robotic exoskeleton could help paraplegics and astronauts

sbondadmin October 18, 2012

The same technology may one day soon help paraplegics walk on Earth while simultaneously assist astronauts venturing into the vastness of space.

The X1 Robotic Exoskeleton is the product of a joint venture between NASA, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (FIHMC) and Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, Texas. The suit borrows design elements from NASA's Robonaut 2 project, a more than 300-pound humanoid robot sporting 350 sensors currently used on the International Space Station.

The idea behind the X1's space applications, according to NASA's website, is to augment an astronaut's movements by increasing an individual's strength in zero gravity. The suit, likened to the Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man, can both assist and inhibit movement, even allowing one to exercise during long missions in space. It doesn't, however, come with fancy repulsor rays … yet.

The X1 weighs 57 pounds and is worn over the legs with a harness that wraps around the shoulders. Through a total of 10 joints, four of which are motorized, anyone wearing the suit can move forward, backward, laterally, flex their feet and much more.

"What's extraordinary about space technology and our work with projects like Robonaut are the unexpected possibilities space tech spinoffs may have right here on Earth," said Michael Gazarik, director of NASA's Space Technology Program. "It's exciting to see a NASA-developed technology that might one day help people with serious ambulatory needs begin to walk again, or even walk for the first time. That's the sort of return on investment NASA is proud to give back to America and the world."

While still in the research and development phase, the X1 Robotic Exoskeleton is an example of the innovative spirit that may eventually allow paraplegics to walk and assist astronauts in their exploration of space.

As cutting-edge methods of joining dissimilar metals and manufacturing sensors continue to evolve, the weight of such suits could be drastically reduced while their performance only gets better. In this case, not even the sky is the limit.

DOD partners with Boston’s Allied Minds to fund technology breakthroughs

sbondadmin October 16, 2012

According to a recent VentureBeat article, the U.S. Department of Defense spends $100 billion annually to fund the research of more than 50,000 scientists across 100 facilities – and soon, fruits of that labor will find its way into consumer markets.

The DOD has partnered with alternative investment company Allied Minds. The Boston-based organization will license technologies developed for and used in military applications and create startup companies with the goal of integrating these innovations into consumer products. That includes projects related to cyber security, data analytics and other networking hardware.

But, the applications stretch far beyond that. Advanced materials, energy and power storage are also major focuses of the partnership and the subsequent startup companies that will emerge in the coming years. In fact, an estimated 20 businesses will be formed in the first year, with a goal to start 100 new ones each year after that – all based off technology licensed from the DOD.

As the VentureBeat article points out, these innovations have already been used in military applications. This eliminates a common problem facing new organizations: wondering whether or not a technology actually works. Now the challenge lies in developing ways to combine them with affordable products that will serve consumer and business needs.

A unique partnership like this presents a wealth of opportunities for energy, consumer electronics and other industries. Combined with the right thermal management technologies and methods of joining dissimilar metals, the results could be truly revolutionary.

"Federal research labs have long been a rich source of invention and innovation and we believe that their intellectual output represents an underutilized national asset," Allied Minds CEO Chris Silva said in a release. "Through our unique collaboration, [we] will facilitate the successful transfer of new technologies to the commercial marketplace, keeping the U.S. at the forefront of technological innovation and creating new opportunities to build businesses and jobs."

DOD research led to the internet, GPS and countless other groundbreaking innovations. Now, with this partnership, who knows what will be next.

Moore’s Law holds true, networking chip technology continues to improve

sbondadmin October 15, 2012

Throughout history, efforts to improve technology have all had similar goals – namely to enable tasks to be completed faster and with greater efficiency than ever before.

When the internet first came to be, one could begin the login process, go out to run a few errands, and come back only to hear that dial-up modem still working to make a connection. Once you were online, websites looked like what today would be equated to archaic paintings on a cave wall.

But, we've come a long way since then. Where we are today is in no small part due to the power of networking chips. They are essentially the fuel that powers the internet engine. In 1965, Intel's Gordon Moore made a prediction, which has since become known as Moore's Law, that the number of transistors in networking chips will double every two years. Nearly half a century later, that law remains unbroken.

A recent VentureBeat article discusses Moore's Law and Andy Bechtolsheim's assertion that it will continue to prove accurate in the coming decades. Bechtolsheim, founder, chairman and chief development officer at Arista Networks, predicted that networking chip performance will increase by 1,000 times in the next 20 years.

"Architecture matters. Having a faster internal engine makes a car run faster. That’s also true for a chip," writes Dean Takahashi, author of the article, about Bechtolsheim's reasoning. "With better design at the component level, the overall chip and system run better. This requires rethinking approaches that worked in the past for a more modern technology. Keeping the data flowing within the chip is critical."

At the same time networking and other computer chips are rapidly improving, there is an increased focus on making them smaller. As a result, the demand for innovative thermal management technologies is rising and must keep pace with the consumer electronics industry.

Creating better chips that will actually find their way into real-world products ultimately comes down to our ability to handle the increase in power and the thermal management of electronics.

Advances in robotics technology could save U.S. lives, help catch bomb-makers

sbondadmin October 12, 2012

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are merciless weapons that threaten the lives of U.S. military personnel stationed in Afghanistan on a daily basis.

In 2011, camera crews from technology and entertainment TV network G4 followed a Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit as they risked their lives to find and disarm hidden bombs meant to kill their fellow servicemen and women.

G4 aired a documentary series titled "Bomb Patrol Afghanistan" to reveal just how heroic the individuals in this unit are and what men and women serving in that area face day-in and day-out. Lieutenant Brad Penley perhaps summed up the situation best.

"We're going out there against something that doesn't have a personality, a soul, and it wants to kill you."

According to the show, enemy forces plant about 15,000 IEDs every year and they are the number one killer of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The members of the Navy's EOD unit use robots operated via modified video game controllers to either disarm or safely detonate explosive devices. Disarming and recovering IEDs is ideal because their components could provide valuable evidence that eventually leads to the bomb-makers.

Unfortunately, the robots they must use essentially have grip claws with a noticeable lack of dexterity for handling explosives. Research being done at Sandia National Laboratories, however, could change all that. Scientists have built what they call the "Sandia Hand" – a robotic device with the flexibility and control needed to safely disarm IEDs rather than detonate them.

The hand has four fingers that attach magnetically and can easily be replaced with tools like screwdrivers, flashlights and cameras. Sandia's design allows the robot to pick up and easily manipulate large objects as well as items as small as a door key – much the same way a human hand would.

Thanks to innovative methods of joining dissimilar metals and state-of-the-art sensors, the Sandia Hand and similar devices could drastically improve the efficiency of bomb disposal units in the U.S. and abroad. Not only will evidence recovery and crime prevention improve, but countless lives will be saved.

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