University of Cincinnati

A round 3D-printed metal part, surrounded by ultra-clear ice within a plastic cylinder

3D Printing

Icy inspection may catch faulty 3D-printed parts

We're increasingly seeing 3D-printed metal components being used in fields such as aviation, where failures could be catastrophic. It's therefore very important to check those items for structural flaws before they're installed, and the best way of doing so may involve freezing them in ice.

Retired United States Air Force Colonel Gene Lee takes part in simulated air combat versus artificial intelligence technology

Aircraft

New AI takes down experienced human pilots in virtual dog fights

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) called ALPHA has consistently beaten other AIs and a retired United States Air Force Colonel in a high-fidelity, air-combat simulator using a genetic-fuzzy system to do what was thought to be the job of supercomputers.

The HorseFly octocopter could charge its battery and pick up packages from a mobile delivery van (Photo: Kelly Cohen)

Drones

HorseFly delivery drone would use a van as its base-on-the-go

A team from the University of Cincinnati and AMP Electric Vehicles have created a package-delivering UAV that could make short flights from a traveling delivery van, using that van as a mobile charging station and package depot.

SmartLight could direct light from outside (far right), through a building, and to a centralized energy-harvesting and -storage hub (far left) (Image: Timothy Zarki)

Architecture

SmartLight redirects sunlight into "light-locked" building interiors

A pair of researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed the SmartLight system, which is designed to direct sunlight into dark, dingy rooms located within the bowels of buildings without requiring the installation of new wiring, ducts, tubes or cables.

The electrowetting e-ink process on paper.

Good Thinking

E-ink evolves: full color, video-capable, easy on the eye and cheap enough to be disposable

Researchers have developed an e-ink technology that's quick enough to competently display full color video - but so cheap that it can be completely disposable.