The numerous drone sightings at airports have proven that drones can pose a big issue. Not only that, but they can become a security threat depending on where they appear. To counter this problem, the U.S. Army has developed a countermeasure in the form of drone-netting grenades. The 40-mm grenade was created at Picatinny Arsenal…
Elevator to the Stars
It sounds like something out of a science fiction novel or big budget movie: an elevator system that could bring goods and people into space. Instead of using rockets, a space elevator could move items up and down a strong cable line, with one end anchored to Earth and the other attached by a counterweight…
Patients Walk Again with the HAL Exoskeleton
The simple act of walking from one room to another is often taken for granted. For people that have trouble walking or use a wheelchair, these regular movements are sometimes unattainable. Danny Bal, 57, was riding a motorcycle when the driver of an oncoming car fell asleep at the wheel and hit him, crushing three…
Engineering Stronger Vehicle Armor
Keeping the men and women of our military safe is a serious priority, and should continue to be in the future. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan regularly carry between 60 and 100 lb of gear, including weapons, armor, and batteries. Most of that weight comes from body armor, made with a combination of polymer and…
Drone-Based Research May Prevent Shark Attacks
Swimming in the ocean on a hot summer day is the picture of relaxation for beach lovers. Just thinking about the ocean conjures memories of the sound of the waves, the smell of salt from the ocean, and the feel of sand between toes. One thing no one at the beach wants to hear is:…
Send Your Secrets Down a Laser Beam
Communication has become easier with the growth of smartphones and other connected devices that always keep us in the know. If you’re trying to communicate with someone across the room, but you can’t yell or talk directly to them, you may need a helpful device. Particularly if the person you want to talk to doesn’t…
No Mow Worries
Lawn care is the bane of many homeowners existence—putting off mowing the lawn for a nicer day, only to spend that nice day doing something else. Well iRobot, makers of the Roomba, have created a lawn mowing robot that can take care of that weekend chore from now on. Similar to the autonomous vacuum cleaner,…
Your Pet’s New Best Friend
Leaving a pet at home is among the difficult decisions to make as a pet owner. While we’d all like to stay home and cuddle up with our loveable animals, there are real-world responsibilities that take us away. However, the smart robotic pet companion from VARRAM may be able to soothe some of that animal…
Can You Build a Tiny Home for $15k? This Engineering Grad Did
Tiny houses have become a desirable trend with people giving up larger homes in favor of small, mobile, and affordable housing. Engineering grad Tyler Bennett recently finished building his very own tiny house with a budget of $15,000. With only 140 sq. ft. to work with, Bennett had to be innovative and creative in his…
The Drone Airport Saga Continues
Over the last several weeks we’ve seen and heard reports of drones around Heathrow and London’s Gatwick airports. It seems Newark Liberty International Airport in N.J. faced a similar incident Tuesday, grounding all departing and incoming flights. Two pilots were the first to report a drone sighting over nearby Teterboro Airport at 3,500 ft. Following…
Robot Delivery Comes to Another College Campus
College students across the country can rejoice as another wave of robot delivery vehicles makes their way to another campus. Earlier in the month, PepsiCo put self-driving robots to the test at the University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Now, Starship Technologies is bringing a fleet of 25 mini robots to the George Mason University…
Zoom Through Your Commute with Self-Driving Scooters & Bikes
Move over autonomous cars and delivery trucks, self-driving scooters and bikes are coming through. Uber is currently working on the development of autonomous scooters and bikes that can drive riders to their destination and bring itself to charging stations. 3DRobotics CEO Chris Anderson tweeted the news that they are hiring engineers for “Micromobility Robotics,” a…
3D Printing Turns Plastic Waste Into Furniture
When plastic came onto the market and steadily grew to popularity during 1960, the technology changed the way we stored things. Plastic was made to endure, but when you use a plastic item, you’re more likely to get rid of it than you are to keep it. Print Your City launched Zero Waste Lab in…
Innovative Power Rail Probe Resolves Measurement Challenges
Tektronix is introducing two new products, the TPR1000 and TPR4000 power rail probes that merge with the 12-bit 5 or 6 Series MSO mixed signal oscilloscopes, offering the lowest system noise out of any power rail measurement solution currently on the market. Carefully measuring and analyzing power rails is imperative to maintain power efficiency and…
New Technologies in Development to Aid Disaster Relief
When disaster strikes, picking up the pieces is one of the most important aspects of moving on and trying to deal with the chaos. This last year, California was hit with devastating wildfires, and Puerto Rico was still trying to recover from Hurricane Maria. Natural disasters often take the hardest toll on rescuers, aids, fire…
Danger to Users & Targets of 3D-Printed Guns
Guns and weaponry are a hot topic for debate among many. Whether it be tragic school shootings or other senseless violence, gun use has divided our country. There are those who question, “How do people get ahold of these weapons?” or “Were they licensed to carry?” and even, “Did they get a background check before…
Student Developed Device Alerts to Opioid Overdose
The opioid addiction in the United States has grown exponentially over the past several years with more than 115 opioid related deaths per day. In 2017 alone, there were 72,000 drug-related overdose deaths with 30,000 of those deaths related to opioids. People are prescribed powerful medications every single day which can later lead to addiction…
SpaceX Launches Air Force’s Best GPS Yet, Ends Banner Year
The race to space is still a global phenomenon, with more studies emerging every year about the world beyond our own. As technology emerges, satellites are equipped with more gadgets and tools to make research possible. SpaceX launched the U.S. Air Force’s most powerful GPS satellite ever created. A Falcon 9 rocket took off from…
Drone Threat: A Steep Learning Curve for Airport Chiefs
Drones have slowly worked their way from military use to an everyday consumer product. They have been used for nature photography, weddings, TV shows, films, and countless other areas of everyday life. One place where drones do not fit in the average person’s world is the airport. Aviation chiefs have been scrambling to rethink their…
Exoskeleton Event Brings Teams Together to Advance Exoskeleton Technology
While many of us were celebrating the holidays with loved ones, there were soldiers overseas protecting us, allowing those special holiday moments to transpire. Recently, numerous organizations came together to spearhead exoskeleton technology for soldiers during an intensive Operations and Maneuver and Technology interchange meeting. The User Technical Touch Point-Exoskeleton event was a three day,…