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Solar-Powered Graphene Skin Reproduces Sense of Touch

Solar-Powered Graphene Skin Reproduces Sense of Touch

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have created a solar-powered graphene skin that can simulate the sense of touch.


News Apr 01, 2017 by Zabrel Holsman
Exploring the Pros and Cons of Silicon Carbide (SiC) FETs: A New MOSFET from Cree

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Silicon Carbide (SiC) FETs: A New MOSFET from Cree

The C3M0075120K is a low-on-resistance N-channel FET for high-power switching applications.


LEDs and Solar Cells Combine into Devices that Emit and Absorb Light

LEDs and Solar Cells Combine into Devices that Emit and Absorb Light

Researchers have developed double-heterojunction nanorods which can be biased to both send and receive light—in other words, a device that is both an LED and solar cell, capable of emitting and absorbing light.


News Mar 17, 2017 by Chantelle Dubois
Understanding Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in Power Systems

Understanding Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in Power Systems

This article describes the cause and effect of total harmonic distortion (THD) in power systems. Some means of improving THD are also discussed.


Teardown Tuesday: Portable Power Bank and Solar Charger

Teardown Tuesday: Portable Power Bank and Solar Charger

In this teardown, we look at the Hiluckey solar charger with an inbuilt lithium-ion battery.


News Mar 14, 2017 by Robin Mitchell
New Wind River Software Platform Designed to Battle Infrastructure Obsolescence with the IIoT

New Wind River Software Platform Designed to Battle Infrastructure Obsolescence with the IIoT

In this News Brief, Wind River introduces advancement to the Industrial IoT with a new software virtualization platform for cloud infrastructure.


News Mar 14, 2017 by Karissa Manske
Panasonic Grid-EYE Infrared Array Sensors | New Product Brief

Panasonic Grid-EYE Infrared Array Sensors | New Product Brief

Panasonic second generation Grid-EYE infrared array sensors measure temperatures and temperature gradients, enabling people counting, positioning, and movement direction.


Teardown Tuesday: Mercury Remote-Controlled Socket

Teardown Tuesday: Mercury Remote-Controlled Socket

In this Teardown Tuesday, we will be looking at the innards of a Mercury remote power plug that uses a remote to control power sockets.


News Feb 21, 2017 by Robin Mitchell
Understanding, Calculating, and Measuring Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

Understanding, Calculating, and Measuring Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

Total harmonic distortion (THD) is a measurement that tells you how much of the distortion of a voltage or current is due to harmonics in the signal.


Diamonds Vie to Replace Silicon as Next Semiconductor Material

Diamonds Vie to Replace Silicon as Next Semiconductor Material

Researcher Professor Mutsuko Matano and Tokyo Tech are planning to use diamonds as the next power and sensor semiconductor.


News Jan 28, 2017 by Robin Mitchell
New Doping Process for Organic Photo-Voltaic Cells Could Change the Solar Energy Industry

New Doping Process for Organic Photo-Voltaic Cells Could Change the Solar Energy Industry

A new processing technique allows for the doping of organic PV cells at room temperature.


News Jan 23, 2017 by Robin Mitchell
Changes in Electricity Generation and Use Strengthen the Case for DC Power Distribution

Changes in Electricity Generation and Use Strengthen the Case for DC Power Distribution

The growing need to create electricity from a wider variety of energy sources including renewables is driving growing interest in DC power distribution over long distances and within buildings.


Mirai: The Program That Makes IoT Botnet Zombies

Mirai: The Program That Makes IoT Botnet Zombies

There are malicious individuals creating "zombies" out of internet enabled devices using a program called Mirai. How can engineers and users stop it?


News Jan 05, 2017 by Robin Mitchell
New Electric Vehicle Battery Sensor Design Could Reduce EV Costs

New Electric Vehicle Battery Sensor Design Could Reduce EV Costs

Electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) are used to power electric vehicles (EVs). Generally, each cell requires its own voltage sensor, however, this might have changed in a recent breakthrough.


News Dec 28, 2016 by Donald Krambeck
The Future Looks Bright as Cost of Unsubsidized Solar Power Trends Down

The Future Looks Bright as Cost of Unsubsidized Solar Power Trends Down

For the first time, unsubsidized solar power is the cheapest form of new electricity, with solar power projects costing less than other forms of renewable energy in emerging market countries.


News Dec 27, 2016 by Chantelle Dubois
Could Cryogenic Energy Storage Solve Renewable Energy’s Biggest Problem?

Could Cryogenic Energy Storage Solve Renewable Energy’s Biggest Problem?

Highview Power Storage, a designer and developer of energy storage solutions, will construct a Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) plant that will have the ability to deliver 5MW/15MWh and up to 200MW/1.2GWh at their proposed Gigafactory.


News Dec 21, 2016 by Donald Krambeck
How the Boost PFC Converter Circuit Improves Power Quality

How the Boost PFC Converter Circuit Improves Power Quality

A boost power factor correction (PFC) converter can significantly improve both the power factor and the harmonic distortion.


Power Factor, THD, and Why Linear Power Supplies Fail to Meet Power Standards

Power Factor, THD, and Why Linear Power Supplies Fail to Meet Power Standards

A discussion of international electrical quality standards and why basic linear power supplies fail to meet them.


Protecting Technological Infrastructure with EMP-Proof Conductive Concrete

Protecting Technological Infrastructure with EMP-Proof Conductive Concrete

Engineers from the University of Nebraska have created a spray-on conductive concrete that can defend against EMP attacks.


News Dec 04, 2016 by Robin Mitchell
Tesla’s Towers: Pikes Peak, Wardenclyffe, and Wireless Power Transmission

Tesla’s Towers: Pikes Peak, Wardenclyffe, and Wireless Power Transmission

Even a genius like Tesla couldn't escape the market rules of product success: Be first to market, offer good value, and best the competition.