Mechanics

Using solar energy to generate heat at high temperatures

Instead of burning coal or oil to produce cement or steel, in the future solar energy could be used for this purpose. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a thermal trap that can absorb concentrated sunlight and deliver heat at over thousand degrees Celsius.

Laser additive manufacturing: listening for defects as they happen

Researchers from EPFL have resolved a long-standing debate surrounding laser additive manufacturing processes with a pioneering approach to defect detection.

Making a femtosecond laser out of glass

EPFL scientists show that it is possible to make a femtosecond laser that fits in the palm of one’s hand using a glass substrate.

Robot team on lunar exploration tour

Swiss engineers are training legged robots for future lunar missions that will search for minerals and raw materials. To ensure that the robots can continue to work even if one of them malfunctions, the researchers are teaching them teamwork.

New real-time guidable-tip wire for surgically treating strokes

EPFL spin-off Artiria has developed a wire with a guidable tip that makes it easier for neurosurgeons to navigate the dense network of cerebral arteries and get to the source of strokes. Its system has just received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A precision arm for miniature robots

Until now, microscopic robotic systems have had to make do without arms. Now researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an ultrasonically actuated glass needle that can be attached to a robotic arm. This lets them pump and mix minuscule amounts of liquid and trap particles.

1

2

3 4

Page 2 of 4