SMT007 Magazine

SMT-Jan2015

Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/441404

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 17 of 70

18 SMT Magazine • January 2015 this report we show how it will even extend to sheathing of conductor wires and cables. Fur- ther, electronic smart skin is becoming multi- layer and multifunctional. Transparency in the outer layers can permit inner layers to function as photovoltaics, light sensors, etc. The smart skin cannot simply be flexible in one direction from a roll-to-roll production line if it is to be widely applied across a vehicle. The IDTechEx report, "Stretchable Electronics and Electrics 2015–2025: Technologies, Markets, Fore- casts," analyses and forecasts progress in this field. However, for now, stretchable electronics is feasi- ble only in smaller formats such as skin patches. In short, structural energy storage and en- ergy harvesting are being pursued by building up a load-bearing structure or applying a smart skin, but is there another way? Why not spray it on? It does not matter if the photovoltaics or supercapacitor storage has poor performance by unit of area when applied in this way because huge area is usually available. Indeed, spray-on THE rISE Of STruCTuraL ELECTrOnICS continues Figure 2: Precursors of structural electronics in yellow, transitioning to established technology in green, and speculative dreams in magenta. Feature

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of SMT007 Magazine - SMT-Jan2015