48 The PCB Magazine • July 2016
Engineers Take First Step toward Flexible,
Wearable, Tricorder-like Device
Engineers at University of California San Diego
have developed the first flexible wearable device
capable of monitoring both biochemical and elec-
tric signals in the human body. The Chem-Phys
patch records EKG heart signals and tracks levels
of lactate, a biochemical that is a marker of physi-
cal effort, in real time.
Fast, Stretchy Circuits Could Yield
New Wave of Wearable Electronics
Fabricated in interlocking segments like a 3D puz-
zle, the new integrated circuits could be used in
wearable electronics that adhere to the skin like
temporary tattoos. Because the circuits increase
wireless speed, these systems could allow health
care staff to monitor patients remotely, without
the use of cables and cords.
Flight of the RoboBee
One of the more unexpected robotics applications
in recent years comes from the National Science
Foundation (NSF)-supported "RoboBees" project,
which aims to create autonomous robotic insects
capable of sustained, independent flight.
The Inverter Industry in China: Local Players
are Gradually Becoming Unavoidable
Chinese players have become leaders in diverse
inverter market segments, forcing foreign players
to collaborate with each other. The rail traction
leader was created by the merger of CSR and CNR
to form CRRC, which controls more than 40% of
the market.
Discovery Could Energize Development
of Longer-Lasting Batteries
A UT Dallas researcher has made a discovery that
could open the door to cellphone and car batter-
ies that last five times longer than current ones.
Over 8 Billion Connected Devices Globally
The current IHS Technology Connected Device
Market Monitor report examines key trends and
data for global devices, over the top (OTT) and
pay TV multiscreen markets.
International Partners Provide Science
Satellites for America's SLS Maiden Flight
NASA's new Space Launch System (SLS) will launch
America into a new era of exploration to destina-
tions beyond Earth's orbit. On its first flight, NASA
will demonstrate the rocket's heavy-lift capability
and send a crewless Orion spacecraft into deep
space.
Graphene-based Transparent Electrodes
for Highly-Efficient Flexible OLEDs
The arrival of a thin and lightweight computer that
even rolls up like a piece of paper will not be in
the far distant future. Flexible organic light-emit-
ting diodes (OLEDs), built upon a plastic substrate,
have received greater attention lately for their use
in next-generation displays that can be bent or
rolled while still operating.
Better Combustion for Power Generation
In the United States, the use of natural gas for
electricity generation continues to grow. The driv-
ing forces behind this development? A boom in
domestic natural gas production, historically low
prices, and increased scrutiny over fossil fuels' car-
bon emissions.
Tiny Lasers Enable Next-Gen Microprocessors
to Run Faster, be Less Power-Hungry
A group of scientists from Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology, University of Califor-
nia, Santa Barbara, Sandia National Laboratories,
and Harvard University were able to fabricate tiny
lasers directly on silicon—a huge breakthrough for
the semiconductor industry and well beyond.
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