Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2022 - 8

Products of
Tomorrow
 Neuromorphic
Chip for AI on the
Edge
A team of researchers
has developed a chip
that runs computations
directly in memory and
can run a wide variety of AI applications - all at
a fraction of the energy consumed by computing
platforms for general-purpose AI computing. The
NeuRRAM neuromorphic chip brings AI a step
closer to running on a broad range of edge devices,
disconnected from the cloud, where they can
perform sophisticated cognitive tasks anywhere and
anytime without relying on a network connection to
a centralized server. In addition, the chip is highly
versatile and supports many different neural network
models and architectures. As a result, it can be
used for many different applications, including image
recognition and reconstruction as well as voice
recognition. Applications range from smart watches
to VR headsets, smart earbuds, smart sensors in factories,
and rovers for space exploration.
Contact: Ioana Patringenaru
Phone: 858-822-0899
E-mail: ipatrin@ucsd.edu
 Reflection-Reducing
Imaging System
Beamsplitter Cube
NASA researchers have
developed a compact, costeffective
imaging system
using a co-linear, high-intensity
LED illumination
3D Printed
Post-Mount
12V Power
Cord
Camera
This column presents technologies that have
applications in commercial areas, possibly
creating the products of tomorrow. To learn
more about each technology, see the contact
information provided for that innovation.
LED Heat Sink
Printed Circuit Board
unit to minimize window reflections for background-oriented
schlieren (BOS) and machine vision
measurements. The imaging system can reduce
or eliminate shadows that occur when using many
existing BOS and photogrammetric measurement
systems; these shadows occur in existing systems for a
variety of reasons, including the severe back-reflections
from wind tunnel viewing port windows and
variations in the refractive index of the imaged volume.
Due to its compact size, the system can easily fit
in the space behind a typical wind tunnels view port.
The technology could be deployed for use in BOS,
photogrammetric, and general machine vision applications.
The technology can also be used in wind tunnel
testing, thermal systems management, gas flow
imaging, and heat transfer
Contact: NASA's Licensing Concierge
Phone: 202-358-7432
E-mail: Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov
 Toothbrushing Micro-Robots
A multidisciplinary team at the University of Pennsylvania has created micro-robots
that can automatically brush and floss teeth. The technology has the potential
to provide a brand-new, automated method for carrying out the repetitive but important
daily duties of brushing and flossing. The building blocks of these microrobots
are iron oxide nanoparticles that have both catalytic and magnetic activity. Using
a magnetic field, researchers could direct their motion and configuration to
form either bristle-like structures that sweep away dental plaque from the broad
surfaces of teeth, or elongated strings that can slip between teeth like a length of
floss. In both instances, a catalytic reaction drives the nanoparticles to produce antimicrobials that kill harmful
oral bacteria on site. This system could be extremely helpful for people who lack the manual dexterity to
efficiently clean their teeth alone.
Contact: Katherine Unger Baillie
Phone: 215-898-9194
E-mail: kbaillie@upenn.edu
8
www.techbriefs.com
Tech Briefs, October 2022
http://www.techbriefs.com
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2022
