news

Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 21.12.2011
Harmony on the homefront?
Are robots welcome in our homes? A qualitative study has revealed some interesting possibilities. Only one out of three households thinks automatic vacuum cleaners are worth the investment. The opinions of the others will be used to develop the appliances of the future.

Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 16.11.2011
Touchscreen with texture
Researchers have invented a new generation of tactile surfaces with relief effects – users can feel actual raised keys under their fingers. This technology could have many applications, particularly in improving access to electronic media for the visually impaired.

Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 14.11.2011
Packaging smarties and watches
It's the story of a long dynasty of industrial robots. Delta's three arms began by packaging chocolates, before being used in watchmaking, tele-surgery and the processing of materials.... More than 200 operations per minute! It's not a firearm, but rather an outstanding packaging tool.

Physics/Astronomy - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 8.09.2011
The tarte tatin throws a new light on photovoltaics
Manufacturing solar cells that are one thousand times thinner than conventional cells. That is the challenge the researchers have set for themselves. In order to boost the output of the cells, they have developed a new nanopatterning technique.

Electroengineering/Microtechnics - Business/Economics - 3.08.2011
A new motor for the watch of tomorrow
An electromagnetic three-phase motor will enable the watchmaking industry to build watches that are three times more efficient and that can include more applications. Tomorrow's wristwatches will be more efficient.

Environmental Sciences - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 9.06.2011
A Power Grid on a Chip
Researchers have developed a device only 4mm thick that can manage an urban power grid a thousand times faster than currently possible. Is it really possible to manage the power grid of a whole town on single chip? The future of energy production will surely be a combination of several power sources, and Maher Kayal's team from EPFL are developing a dedicated hardware that manages the network a thousand times faster than current software running on a conventional computer.

Electroengineering/Microtechnics - Environmental Sciences - 24.03.2011
Neuartige Dünnschicht-Solarzellen
Die marktübliche Technologie der Silizium-basierten starren Solarzellen eignet sich nicht für die Herstellung formbarer Dünnschicht-Solarzellen. Bei diesen sammelt eine transparente, flexible und leitfähige Elektrode das Licht und leitet den Strom ab.

Environmental Sciences - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 19.10.2010
Energiesparlampe mit bester Öko-Bilanz
In einer Studie wurde die Ökobilanz verschiedener Beleuchtungsmethoden untersucht. Dabei wurden nicht nur den Energieverbrauch, sondern auch Herstellung und Entsorgung sowie verschiedene Strommixe berücksichtigt.

Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 1.07.2010
Alcedo – the flying avalanche transceiver
Today's trend in winter sports draws more and more people away from the designated slopes. Free riding and ski tours experience a massive boost in popularity. However, every year in Switzerland alone, 25 persons die on average in avalanche accidents.

Computer Science/Telecom - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 31.05.2010
Mobile Web users prefer mobile version over standard Web
Mobilversionen von Websites stehen hoch im Kurs - werden aber kaum angeboten. Das ist das Ergebnis einer Studie der Fachhochschule St. Pölten, die zeigt, dass Österreichs mobile Internetsurfer Websites klar bevorzugen, die speziell für das Handy optimiert sind.

Electroengineering/Microtechnics - Physics/Astronomy - 2.10.2009
Funkchips im Abfall
Immer öfter werden Waren in Läden anstelle eines simplen Strichcodes mit Hightech-Chips, den sogenannten RFID-Tags, ausgestattet. Was praktisch ist für die Abkassierung und die Diebstahlsicherung, stellt ein Problem dar bei der Entsorgung.

Physics/Astronomy - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 23.11.2011
The impending revolution of low-power quantum computers
Electronics could be 100 times less energy-hungry thanks to a quantum phenomenon known as the tunnel effect - by 2017 in consumer electronics By 2017, quantum physics will help reduce the energy consumption of our computers and cellular phones by up to a factor of 100.

Physics/Astronomy - Electroengineering/Microtechnics - 20.05.2011
Der Unterschied zwischen dünn und sehr dünn
Materialforschung in neuer Dimension Viele Materialien haben eine spezielle kristalline Struktur – ihre Atome sind übereinander in Schichten angeordnet. Ein deutsch-schweizerisches Forscherteam hat zum ersten Mal präzise beobachtet, wie die physikalischen Eigenschaften einer Substanz von der Zahl dieser Schichten abhängen: Die Substanz Lanthannickeloxid hat völlig verschiedene elektronische und magnetische Eigenschaften, je nach dem, ob sie aus zwei oder mehr Schichten besteht.