In this repository of ESP8266 projects, we will take you through some of the most recommended DIY projects. A very small but highly potent WiFi module, it serves as a one-stop destination for a wide range of IoT based tasks and home automation projects. These projects quite similar to Arduino projects, however, ESP8266 projects are…
A new way to deal with short-term memory loss in battery-less devices
An international team of researchers from the Delft University of Technology and Northwestern University has successfully developed a new system that helps battery-less devices memorize time during short power outages. This is a notable finding that will pave the way for mass commercialization of battery-less devices. Many small, battery-less devices that are part of the…
Giving EV batteries a second life
As the demand for electric vehicles (EV) increases and gains popularity, one challenge is becoming more prevalent: used batteries. Until now, batteries that have prematurely failed or surpassed their lifespan have had little use. However, a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted a study to reveal that batteries from any…
Researchers build sensor with only 11 atoms
A team of TU Delft researchers has developed an 11-atom sensor: a minuscule device with an antenna, a reset button, a hard disk, a reading screen, and the ability to receive magnetic waves. The sensor was developed with the sole purpose of studying the behavior of magnetic waves to later use that information in green…
How blockbuster movies have advanced soft robotics
Blockbuster films and video games are now doing more than just entertaining. Thanks to collaborators from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Carnegie Mellon University, the sophisticated technology behind the screen of movies and games are being used to help control robots. This team adapted the tech typically used for high-end computer graphics…
The key to generating useable energy from static electricity
Static electricity is not fatal but it can carry a high voltage that goes up to tens of thousands of volts. Triboelectricity, an electric charge generated by friction, is produced when two solid surfaces come in contact with one another. However, scientists have noted that it is generated even when liquids come in contact with…
An implantable biosensor that operates without batteries
A team of researchers from the University of Surrey recently introduced a new biodegradable sensor that requires no batteries to operate. This new device marks a milestone in the direction of implanted nanotechnology, which can support athletes by monitoring health and tracking progress or caregivers who may need to monitor the health and movements of…
One step closer to faster, smaller computer processors
The world of connectivity is currently passing through a major transformation as photons are being replaced by electrons in intercontinental fibre-optics based communications. Already the standard for intercontinental communication through fibre-optics, photons are replacing electrons as the main carriers of information throughout optical networks to computers. Light is emerging as the primary vehicle for information…
Training deep neural networks with less energy
Early Bird is an energy-efficient method developed to train Deep Neural Network (DNNs), artificial intelligence that supports self-driving vehicles, facial recognition, and similar types of applications. It was developed by researchers from Texas A&M University and Rice University. A study by lead authors Haoran You and Chaojian Li of Rice’s Efficient and Intelligent Computing (EIC)…
New super-capacitor technology provides electricity at high-power rates
Researchers from Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) recently introduced a super-capacity technology derived from a material called Polyaniline (PANI). The team believes the technology could make a big difference to electric vehicles and will reduce any renewable-based energy loss for the national grid. Additionally, it’s expected that this new super-capacitor technology will play a significant…
CUI offers new power supply series
CUI Inc. recently unveiled nine ac-dc power supplies for a wide range of consumer, industrial, and ITE applications that use pumps or motors. The PSK-S12B, PSK-S25B, PSK-S60B, VOF-S12B, VOF-S25B, VOF-S60B, VOF-S12C, VOF-S25C, and VOF-S60C offer 12 to 60 W of continuous power in chassis and board-mount packages. Features include: The PSK-S12B/S25B/S60B, VOF-S12B/S25B/S60B and VOF-S12C/S25C/S60C comply with UL/EN/IEC 62368-1. The PSK-S12B/S25B, VOF-S12B/S25B and VOF-S12C/S25C…
How human-robot interactions are improving
As automated machines increase in popularity, the advancements in technology and design must keep up. To this end, Wendy Ju from the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech is currently studying human-robot interaction. “It’s delightful for me to watch people move around in a space,” shares Ju. “We are not always thinking about the communicative…
An AI enhancement for printed circuit boards
Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) have played a significant role in transforming electronics. PCBs provide a platform where miniature electronic components are displayed and interact with one another. However, the requirements of these boards are becoming much more stringent electronic components develop and offer great capabilities. It is vital, for example, to avoid any electrical interference…
Harwin offers FPC assemblies for optimizing PCBs
Harwin, a supplier of reliable and high-performance connectivity solutions, has introduced flexible printed circuits (FPCs) for its Datamate J-Tek and Gecko high-reliability (Hi-Rel) connectors. As a result, printed circuit boards or PCBs (which mechanically supports and electrically connects electrical or electronic components within a system design) can now be stacked much closer together, proving their…
Microchip unveils next-generation AVR MCU family
Microchip Technology Inc. recently announced its next-generation AVR DA family of microcontrollers (MCUs) – its first Functional Safety Ready AVR MCU family with Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC). Featuring core independent peripherals, advanced analog and on-chip communications, the MCU family fulfills the requirements of higher-performance microcontrollers for better real-time control, as well as enhanced human machine interface…
Nexperia launches P-channel MOSFETs for automotive applications
Nexperia, a provider of essential semiconductors, has launched the industry’s first family of P-channel MOSFETs in a reliable, space-saving LFPAK56 portfolio. Previously, N-channel devices were only available in LFPAK packaging. However, Nexperia has now extended the options to include the P-channel feature, based on demand. As part of the LFPAK56 (Power-SO8) package, the new devices…
Renesas launches RA4W1 MCU with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
Renesas Electronics Corporation, a provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, has introduced RA4W1 — the first RA microcontroller (MCU) with enhanced security and privacy for Bluetooth 5.0 low energy connections. The single-chip MCU, with an integrated Bluetooth 5.0 radio, is supported with a flexible software package (FSP) that enables engineers to begin development with Arm ecosystem…
How soft robotics can advance the healthcare sector
Conventional robots are commonly used in heavy industrial tasks but have limited use in healthcare and the human body, where a different approach is necessary. To this end, Edwin Jager, an associate professor, along with his PhD student, Manav Tyagi, teamed with their collaborator, Geoff Spinks, to report some serious progress in soft microrobots. In…
ECP5 FPGA is a new, open-hardware dev board
ULX35 is an open-source, reliable, and compact FPGA dev board. It features a balanced combination of expansions and components Although it was designed primarily as a teaching tool for mastering the principles of digital circuit design, ULX3S incorporates a wide array of features and interfaces, which lets it serve as a broadly useful module for…
Raspberry Pi offers new, high-quality camera with interchangeable lens
The Raspberry Pi camera family recently welcomed a new 12.3-megapixel high-quality camera. It comes with some unique features specifically designed for DIY lovers at the most reasonable cost. The camera has a Sony back-illuminated sensor, lens tripod mounts, adapters for higher-end C and C-S-mount lenses, and a back-focus adjustment ring. This camera is one of…