Repair

Utilizing tape to repair concrete structures may seem like some hillbilly fix-it joke, but in fact that's just what fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets are used for. Now, scientists have developed a better FRP, that halves the number of people and amount of time required for application.

​Although professional mechanics use a lift or a pit to get at the undersides of cars, home-based tinkerers don't usually have such a setup. And while using a wheeled creeper to squeeze underneath the vehicle is one alternative, the new "It's a Jack" lets users tilt their autos over instead.

Imagine if your car could feel pain and alert you when it takes damage. The US Army is funding research to make that a reality, with vehicles outfitted with a smart material that senses damage the way nerves sense pain, relaying a damage report to help with maintenance and repairs.

Adventure Tape believes duct tape might soon be relinquishing its ultimate fix-all crown. The company's fix-it tape pops out of a small tin to repair broken tent poles, fix leaky hoses, sling up injured arms, lash gear in place, and perform innumerable other impromptu functions and fixes.

​Scientists have struggled to develop a single substance that can both speed up wound healing and reduce the formation of scars. Scar reduction medications tend to interfere with the process of healing but now a team has created a patch that can reduce scarring and improve the pace of wound healing.

A few years ago, we saw a tool called Bondic, which fixes things by applying a layer of liquid plastic that will only set hard when it’s exposed to an included UV light. Now the company is back with BondicEvo, a new model that reportedly improves the "liquid plastic welder."

A smartphone and tablet repair outfit has found a fitting way to breathe new life into the UK's iconic red telephone boxes. Lovefone is converting the underused booths into the kind of mobile phone repair shop that should probably be avoided by those with a fear of enclosed spaces.

DARPA has released a video outlining the agency's vision of a mobile robotic servicing system designed to rendezvous with and repair ailing telecommunications satellites.​

​A lot of effort goes into keeping our our cities in working order. But a new project could soon see many labor-intensive tasks taken care of by an army of drones that keep a watchful eye over our streets, tending to cracks in our urban environment the moment they begin to appear.

Tubeless tires have become pretty much standard on higher-end mountain bikes, thanks partly to the fact that they're able to self-seal small punctures. When it comes to larger holes, however, they need a little help. That's why South African cyclist Stefan Sahm created the Sahmurai Sword.

Mechanic Advisors’ new product is designed to make the appearance of the dreaded check engine light that little bit less disheartening, by giving car owners a portal into the health of their vehicle.

Stem cells in rats and mice have been mobilized to form new muscle tissue "in situ" (i.e., in the body), possibly paving the way for similar treatment in people with damaged muscle regions.