Tech Talk E14: Saving a Life of Kids and Animals Left in Cars, New Materials for Solar Panels, a New Type of Band-Aid

A simple, life-saving device. A solar panel that is “alive”. All that and more in today’s version of. . .

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Researchers at UCLA have created a material that moves toward the sun, orienting itself as a sunflower does to continually soak up the most light. This artificial material, made into stem-like cylinders can maneuver to capture around 90% of sunlight in the sky. The researchers have dubbed this material SunBOT. Since the material can move into the best position to absorb the sun, shifting as the sun moves, this is an ideal material to look at for future solar panels. Currently, solar panels are able to capture about 25% of available sunlight from the sun. Moving this to 90% could be a game-changer in the energy industry.

Researchers at Montana Technical University have developed a portable electrospinning device to be used in the medical field. This device has an electric field and uses air to spray fibers out onto a surface. The device works like a can of spray paint with one small difference. Instead of spraying out paint, it spits out bandages and drugs, placing them directly onto the skin. The device can be used to place bandages on open wounds and to provide controlled drug release over a period of time. Hopefully, it hurts less than peeling off a band-aid when removing it.

Looking to solve a worldwide problem, researchers at the University of Waterloo created a small sensor that could trigger an alarm when children or pets are left alone in a vehicle. The device combines radar technology and artificial intelligence to detect children or animals. So far the device has had a 100% accuracy rating. This potentially life-saving device can be attached to a car’s rear-view mirror or mounted in the car. By sending out radar signals, the device detects who or what is in the car and sounds the alarm when necessary. Hopes are that the device will be brought to market by the end of 2020.

SunBOT is a material developed by UCLA researchers. It is made into stem-like cylinders and can move to orient itself toward the sun. This artificial material can capture around 90% of sunlight. It is being considered for future solar panels, potentially increasing efficiency from 25% to 90%.

Researchers at Montana Technical University developed a portable electrospinning device. It uses an electric field and air to spray fibers onto a surface. This device can dispense bandages and drugs directly onto the skin. It can be used for wound bandaging and controlled drug release.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo created a sensor combining radar technology and artificial intelligence. This device detects children or animals left alone in a vehicle. It sends out radar signals and has shown 100% accuracy. The device triggers an alarm when needed.

The device designed to detect children and pets in vehicles is hoped to be brought to market. Researchers at the University of Waterloo developed this sensor. The goal is for it to be available by the end of 2020. It aims to solve the problem of children or pets being left alone in cars.