Articles tagged with Engines
Southwest Research Institute's PaSTA technology stabilizes solar arrays for spacecraft docking, while ALTRIOS simulates locomotive energy technologies for efficient rail systems. Both innovations were recognized as two of the most important of 2026.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has upgraded its High Energy Annex Test (HEAT) facility to simulate extreme conditions for hypersonic and supersonic technologies. The updated facility enables researchers to test scramjets, ramjets, small gas turbines, and rocket thrusters in a controlled environment.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers received five awards for their work on commercial vehicle operations, freight corridors, and integrated energy systems. ORNL's research also focuses on fuel economy guides, high-performance steel alloys, and computational tools for welding and manufacturing.
Hong Wang, a senior R&D scientist at ORNL, recognized by the European Academy of Sciences and Arts for outstanding achievements. He conducts research on connected mobility systems and intelligent transportation technologies.
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have successfully demonstrated a diesel engine system designed to reduce NOx and particulate matter emissions in off-highway diesel vehicles. The system uses exhaust gas recirculation and optimized calibration strategies to achieve significant reductions in emissions.
The H4PERION project will demonstrate the safe and reliable use of a hydrogen-capable internal combustion engine on a large commercial vessel, combining full-scale engine development with onboard demonstration and digital modelling. The project aims to shorten the path from research to real-world impact for low- and zero-carbon shipping.
The new facility enables scientists to observe and measure detonation forces in unprecedented detail, shedding light on industrial safety risks and potential breakthroughs. Researchers aim to develop safer designs and protocols by examining detonation disasters like the Buncefield Fire.
Researchers at Saarland University have developed a new class of miniature actuators using ultrathin silicone film-based pumps. The pumps can operate without motors, compressed air, or lubricants and can be switched on and off as needed.
A research team at Saarland University has developed an AI-assisted method to determine temperature distribution inside a running electric motor in real time, without additional hardware. The system uses motor-condition data extracted from electromagnetic fields and can detect thermal overload and optimize power regulation.
Scientists develop a new generation of energy-efficient transistors made from thin, lightweight electrically conducting films. The film-based switch can control the flow of electric current with high precision, enabling complex motion sequences or fixed positions.
Researchers at Saarland University developed metallic glasses to reduce energy losses in electric motors, enabling more efficient operation. The new alloys minimize energy consumption in everyday devices, extending the range of e-scooters and drones.
Researchers have developed a new method for cleaning oil spills using massive fire whirls, which can burn through crude oil nearly twice as fast as in-situ fire pools. The results show that fire whirls produce 40% less soot and consume up to 95% of the fuel, leaving fewer harmful particles behind.
The upgraded engine features a state-of-the-art turbocharger, increasing peak torque from 1,494 to 1,760-foot pounds and peak power from 370 to 440 horsepower. The engine's peak efficiency has also improved to 44.0%, class-leading for a spark-ignited engine.
A multidisciplinary team led by Natasha Vermaak investigates developing structural materials resistant to high-frequency thermomechanical loads for rotating detonation engines. The project aims to address the lack of established materials solutions for extreme thermomechanical loadings, enabling advancements in propulsion systems.
A new study from the University of Vaasa demonstrates that fuels refined from waste and industrial by-products can significantly reduce emissions in existing engine applications. Renewable naphtha and marine gas oil, derived from crude tall oil and recycled lubricants respectively, offer efficient and cleaner combustion options.
Researchers optimized Stirling cycle analysis to capture real-world behavior, accounting for energy dissipation factors and improving engine efficiency. The study validated the model against experimental data from established engines, providing critical reference support for compact energy systems.
The Hydrogen Engine Alliance of North America aims to educate the public about hydrogen's potential and build support for infrastructure development. It will foster innovation and collaboration across sectors to ensure that internal combustion engine vehicles contribute meaningfully to North America's hydrogen ecosystem.
Researchers discovered that hot and burning droplets can bounce off cool surfaces due to the formation of an invisible air cushion. This phenomenon has potential applications in slowing fire spread and improving engine efficiency.
The university aims to strengthen basic research in the field of sustainable energy systems by hiring Professor Nicole Wermuth, who will focus on large engines and climate-neutral fuels. She will investigate new materials and combustion processes to improve efficiency and minimize emissions.
A team of researchers has devised a novel micro heat engine that can produce both high efficiency and high power at maximum efficiency, overcoming the Carnot limit. The study used a tiny gel-like colloidal bead and a laser beam to direct its motion, achieving an efficiency close to 95%.
The study reveals that quantum thermal machines exhibit distinct synchronization behavior, with cooperation and competition emerging among different components. The researchers found that cooperation manifests in harmony-like synchrony, while competition thrives in chaotic conditions.
Researchers created an information engine using a glass bead suspended in water, exploiting thermal noise to convert it into work. The system uses Bayesian estimates to filter out measurement errors and performs significantly better than typical engines when noise is high.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants use wet cooling methods to dissipate waste heat, but this can lead to significant water loss. A new study developed a radiative cooling system with cold storage that reduces water consumption by up to 85% in hot regions.
The microsatellite will fly at a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), collecting data for commercial VLEO satellites with multiple applications. The satellite is designed to be sustainable, de-orbiting within days of its operational life.
The study found that plate wettability had no impact on the performance of anti-icing fluids, contradicting previous research. Smooth hydrophobic coatings were shown to prevent ice accretion and reduce water adhesion.
A new high-speed projector can project RGB images and invisible infrared images simultaneously and independently at a rate of almost 1,000 fps. This technology has vast potential for applications such as dynamic projection mapping, which requires real-time image control to match complex moving targets.
A team of scientists from Tokyo University of Science has developed a machine learning-based tool to predict thermoacoustic oscillations in engines. The tool uses dynamical systems theory and can classify combustion into three states, identifying pressure fluctuations that indicate future combustion oscillations.
Whale-watch vessels with louder petrol engines significantly disrupt short-finned pilot whale resting and nursing, according to a study. The researchers found that mothers who were approached by the vessel with the petrol engine spent on average 29% less time resting and 81% less time nursing their calves.
The CSEM innovation enables devices to run independently for over a year, reducing installation and maintenance costs. The system's two-tiered data processing approach drastically reduces power requirement, with most applications using only the first accelerator.
Researchers have found that Tesla's patented valve can control flows and generate turbulence at low speeds, making it a potential alternative to conventional check valves. The device can harness vibrations in engines to pump fuel, coolant, lubricant, or other gases and liquids.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University design an information engine that converts random particle motion into stored energy, extracting power comparable to biological systems. The engine achieves speeds of over ten times that of previous implementations, pushing the capabilities of this type of engine beyond its limits.
A KAIST research team creates T-GPS, enabling the processing of large-scale graphs without storing them in main memory or on disks. This allows for faster computation and reduced costs compared to traditional approaches.
A team of researchers has created a thermal power nanogenerator that converts abundant thermal energy into electrical energy without any solid moving parts. This innovation, known as the TA-LM-TENG, has the potential to be used in various applications such as waste heat recovery and space power systems.
A new system called MCUNet enables artificial intelligence on household appliances while improving data security and energy efficiency. The technology uses compact neural networks to deliver unprecedented speed and accuracy for deep learning on IoT devices.
A study of over 1.6 million chess moves reveals a hump-shaped curve in performance over the lifespan, peaking at 35 years old. Performance has improved significantly over the past 125 years, especially for younger players and those with increased experience.
The project investigates how liquid droplets break up and vaporize in detonation waves, which could lead to better engine technologies. Dr. Jacob McFarland's research aims to understand the effects of droplet breakup on combustion processes.
George Mason University Professor KuoChu Chang is supporting Intelligent Fusion Technology in developing a Cyber Resilience Integrated Security Inspection System (CRISIS). The system utilizes machine-learning algorithms and digital twin technology to enhance cybersecurity.
A consortium led by University of Sydney develops world's first real-time monitoring platform for rice fields globally using Google Earth. The project will provide accurate maps outlining rice yields and land use, crucial for achieving global food and water security.
Scientists have found two new objects that, along with AT2018cow, represent a type of stellar explosion significantly different from others. The new explosions, called Fast Blue Optical Transients (FBOTs), share characteristics with supernovae and gamma-ray bursts but differ in important aspects.
Researchers at ETRI developed a 400-Gbps transmitting/receiving optical engine that can provide stable and improved data transfer speeds for data centers. The technology enables real-time high-definition video streaming for 100,000 viewers simultaneously.
A breakthrough in biobutanol separation has been achieved through the development of a novel metal organic framework (MOF) that can efficiently separate biobutanol from biomass fermentation broth. The new MOF has shown great efficiency compared to existing methods, making it a promising step towards economically viable biofuel production.
Researchers have developed micromotors with three engines that can be controlled separately using chemical fuel, magnets, and light. The new micromotors offer a 'myriad of controllable propulsion behaviors' and can travel at high speeds through viscous fluids like saliva and blood.
A new economic system has been proposed by Nikolaos Laoutaris, which would pay individuals for their personal data. The system aims to reduce privacy risks and increase the quality of data, ultimately benefiting internet companies and users alike.
A novel principle of organisation has been discovered in the spinal cord, which coordinates locomotion by forming three recurrent rhythm-generating circuit modules acting as gears. This discovery provides new insights into how brain commands are translated into rhythmic and appropriately paced locomotion.
The ENSO heat engine is shifting eastward under global warming, leading to changes in global climate variations during ENSO years. This shift may also accelerate the decay of El Niño events after their peak phase, shortening their duration.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified a key mechanism by which TB infects and manipulates macrophage cells, shutting down the host's natural response. By targeting microRNA-21, scientists may develop improved immunotherapies or vaccine strategies to combat TB infection.
Researchers are creating a machine translation program for web browsers like Mozilla Firefox, focusing on improving translation quality and ensuring user privacy. The project involves adapting the engine to context, recognizing nuances in language style, and estimating translation quality.
Researchers at MIT have developed a model called ADEPT that demonstrates an understanding of basic intuitive physics. The model observes objects moving in scenes and makes predictions based on their underlying physics, registering levels of surprise when they deviate from expectations.
KAUST researchers develop a universal framework for querying big data, allowing researchers to focus on advancing the query engine rather than coding for specific platforms. The approach uses sparse-matrix algebra and achieves performance comparable to existing specialized approaches.
Astronomers have made the first direct image of a dusty, doughnut-shaped feature surrounding a supermassive black hole in Cygnus A, a galaxy 760 million light-years from Earth. The feature, known as a torus, helps explain why objects with similar properties appear differently when viewed from different angles.
The company's discovery engine identified a series of compounds that shielded cells against alpha-synuclein-induced toxicity by inhibiting stearoyl-CoA desaturase. This finding suggests that inhibition of fatty acid desaturation could be a potential therapeutic approach for treating Parkinson's disease and other synuclein-based disorders.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a virtual reality technique called Force Push, enabling users to manipulate objects with subtle hand gestures. The interface responds to the speed and magnitude of hand movements, providing a more physical and intuitive experience than traditional hand controllers.
Terrence F. Alger II, a leading researcher at Southwest Research Institute, has been awarded the 2019 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Technology Innovation for his groundbreaking work on vehicle engines. His Dedicated Exhaust Gas Recirculation technology improves fuel economy by up to 15% while reducing engine-out emissions.
A team of researchers from CU Boulder has discovered that stagnant slabs, which form when oceanic plates are forced deep underground, may be caused by a thin layer of weak material at the boundary of the planet's upper and lower mantle. This discovery could change how scientists think about tectonics and volcanism on Earth's surface.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed magnetic elastomeric composites that can flex, grip, release or rotate when exposed to lasers or sunlight. The materials can exhibit complex movements like crawling, walking or swimming and can be triggered and controlled wirelessly using light.
Researchers propose a new method to 'lazy grounding,' focusing on crucial tasks and ignoring irrelevant ones, to overcome memory limitations in solving complex problems. This approach enables faster solution-finding while maintaining accuracy.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev developed a new method to detect unknown, malicious emails that outperforms 60 antivirus engines. The Email-Sec-360° approach uses machine learning and leverages 100 unique email features, providing enhanced threat detection in real-time.
A team from Aalto University creates a miniature 'heat valve' in a quantum system, enabling the controlled exchange of energy with external surroundings. This breakthrough aims to improve the efficiency of quantum heat engines and refrigerators.
Scientists at the University of Bonn and Caesar research institute built a one-wheeled vehicle using DNA rings, achieving a length of 240 nanometers on its test drive. The nanomachine uses chemical energy to rotate and is controlled by an RNA thread that grows as it moves.
Researchers found that improving quantum heat engine efficiency requires reducing photons in a cavity, enabling increased quantum manipulation power and accelerating quantum information processing. The study showed that only small photon numbers yield high efficiency and output power.