Compressed Air

Robotic hands do show a lot of promise for various applications, but their mechanical complexity still limits their possible uses. A new air-powered hand is much simpler, but still dextrous enough to be utilized to play a video game.

California is set to be home to two new compressed-air energy storage facilities – each claiming the crown for world’s largest non-hydro energy storage system. Developed by Hydrostor, the facilities will have an output of 500 MW and capacity of 4 GWh.

Soft robots are gaining a lot of attention in research circles, and from an engineering lab at the University of California, San Diego comes an interesting new example of this technology in the form of a robot that can move without any electronics.

When it comes to portable bicycle tire-inflating devices, hand pumps require a lot of effort, while CO2 cartridges are single-use only. The aluminum Choka bike frame offers an alternative, by doubling as a compressed air tank.

This California company says its oil-free, centrifugal air compressor design, inspired by the air pumps used in sixteenth-century Catalonian blacksmith forges, is quieter, cleaner, longer lasting, and cheaper to run than traditional piston designs.

Portable, cordless air-compressors aren't new, but they're often bulky, limited in scope and ugly. In response to these issues, a team of engineers and product designers fro Hong Kong has come up with the Norshire Mini. A compact, minimalist, multi-function pump/compressor for the iPhone generation.

It's safe to say that generally-speaking, electricity and water don't mix. So, what do you do if you're designing a powered wheelchair for use in a splash park? If you're part of a team at the University of Pittsburgh, you power it using compressed air.

The rapid growth of solar arrays and wind farms might sound like a win for the environment, but storing renewable sources of energy efficiently on the grid​ remains a challenge for energy providers. EU scientists are turning to a cheap and plentiful natural resource for the answer: air.

Tubeless tires are pretty much standard on higher-end mountain bikes now, but they do have one drawback – you need to use a CO2 cartridge or an air compressor to put the things on. Bontrager has set out to change that, with its TLR Flash Charger pump.

Peugeot revealed its Hybrid Air technology last year and will showcase the 208 Hybrid 2L Demonstrator car at this year's Paris Motor Show. The latest iteration of Hybrid Air design complements the gasoline-air powertrain with weight- and drag-cutting measures.

A "soft exosuit" could provide a lighter, more comfortable alternative to powered rigid exoskeletons.

PSA Peugeot Citroen's “Hybrid Air” powertrain that will debut in vehicles in 2016 combines compressed air energy storage technology with a gasoline powered internal combustion engine (ICE).