Tech Briefs Magazine - November 2024 - 6

Products of
Tomorrow
u Acquatic Robots
Binghamton University
Professor Seokheun
" Sean " Choi and his
students have developed
a self-powered
" bug " that can skim across water. Choi had been
working on bacteria-powered biobatteries that have
a possible 100-year shelf life. The new aquatic robots
use similar technology because it is more reliable
under adverse conditions than solar, kinetic, or
thermal energy systems. A Janus interface, which is
hydrophilic on one side and hydrophobic on the
other, lets in nutrients from the water and keeps
them inside the device to fuel bacterial spore production.
The team's research showed power generation
close to 1 milliwatt, which is enough to operate
the robot's mechanical movement and any
sensors that could track environmental data such as
water temperature, pollution levels, the movements
of commercial vessels and aircraft, and the behaviors
of aquatic animals.
Contact: John Brhel
Phone: 607-777-2000
E-mail: jbrhel@binghamton.edu
u Sweat-Powered
Wearable
A sweat-powered
wearable has the potential
to make continuous,
personalized
health monitoring as
effortless as wearing a Band-Aid. Engineers at the
University of California San Diego have developed an
electronic finger wrap that monitors vital chemical
levels - such as glucose, vitamins, and even drugs -
present in the same fingertip sweat from which it derives
its energy. The device is constructed from several
electronic components printed onto a thin, flexible
and stretchable polymer material. Its design allows it
to conform to the finger while being durable enough
to withstand repeated bending, stretching and movement.
Central to its operation are biofuel cells that
are positioned where the device contacts the fingertip.
These cells have been specially engineered to efficiently
collect and convert chemicals in sweat into
electricity. The team's goal is to have autonomous
power, sensing, and treatment all in one device.
Contact: Liezel Labios
Phone: 858-534-3120
E-mail: llabios@ucsd.edu
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.
u Foot Pedal Controller
Innovators at the NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a novel foot-pedal operated
system and device to control movement of an object in three-dimensional space.
The Foot Pedal Controller system enables operators to control movement of spacecraft,
aircraft, and watercraft using only foot pedals. This design leaves the hands free for simultaneous
operation of other equipment. The Foot Pedal Controller integrates six articulating mechanisms and
motion sensors and provides continuous positional feedback to the operator. Motion control across six degrees-of-freedom
is enabled by three-control motions for each foot. The Foot Pedal Controller technology could be used in designs
for the flight deck of the future, video game controls, drone operations, and flight simulators. It can be useful in any
application where it is preferred or desirable to use the feet to control motion rather than using the hands.
Contact: NASA's Licensing Concierge
Phone: 202-358-7432
E-mail: Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov
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Tech Briefs Magazine - November 2024

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