Trevor Cannon, Ty Hagan, Trevor Kramer, David Schafer, Spencer Meeks, Ryan Medlin, Devin Roland, Ahmad Vasel-Be-Hagh, Rory Roberts
{"title":"Thermodynamic evaluation of contrail formation from a conventional jet fuel and an ammonia-based aviation propulsion system","authors":"Trevor Cannon, Ty Hagan, Trevor Kramer, David Schafer, Spencer Meeks, Ryan Medlin, Devin Roland, Ahmad Vasel-Be-Hagh, Rory Roberts","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00312-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00312-2","url":null,"abstract":"Condensation trail (contrail) formation in an airplane’s wake requires thermodynamics supersaturation and ice nucleation to form visible ice crystals. Here, using a thermodynamic analysis, we evaluate the potential for forming contrails in a carbon-free, ammonia-powered propulsion system compared to conventional planes powered by jet fuel. The analysis calculates the moisture released by fuel into the atmosphere for each one-degree increase in air temperature due to exhaust gas. It then determines if this moisture can saturate the initially undersaturated atmosphere, maintain saturation as temperature rises, and result in supersaturation with respect to ice while leaving enough moisture for a visible cloud to form. With ammonia increases the critical temperature required for supersaturation. Although ammonia does not generate soot particles in the exhaust gas, various aerosols exist in the atmosphere through other sources that can facilitate heterogeneous ice nucleation. Hence, while ammonia’s contrails might not be as dense, they can form at lower altitudes where the air is warmer and endure longer due to the increased water content, which preserves supersaturation for longer as fresh air dilutes the contrail. Trevor Cannon and colleagues evaluate the impact of a carbon-free, ammonia-powered propulsion system on contrail formation during flight. The report suggests that there are benefits compared to the use of conventional jet fuel from reduced soot formation. However, the increased critical temperatures caused by burning ammonia result could lead to increased volumes of more enduring contrails at lower altitudes.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00312-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142599028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. P. Pattnaik, Y. Sharma, S. Savel’ev, P. Borisov, A. Akhter, A. Balanov, P. Ferreira
{"title":"Stress-induced artificial neuron spiking in diffusive memristors","authors":"D. P. Pattnaik, Y. Sharma, S. Savel’ev, P. Borisov, A. Akhter, A. Balanov, P. Ferreira","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00315-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00315-z","url":null,"abstract":"Diffusive memristors owing to their ability to produce current spiking when a constant or slowly changing voltage is applied are competitive candidates for development of artificial electronic neurons. These artificial neurons can be integrated into various prospective autonomous and robotic systems as sensors, e.g. ones implementing object grasping and classification. We report here Ag nanoparticle-based diffusive memristor prepared on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate in which the electric spiking behaviour was induced by the electric voltage under an additional stimulus of external mechanical impact. By changing the magnitude and frequency of the mechanical impact, we are able to manipulate the spiking response of our artificial neuron. This functionality to control the spiking characteristics paves a pathway for the development of touch-perception sensors that can convert local pressure into electrical spikes for further processing in neural networks. We have proposed a mathematical model which captures the operation principle of the fabricated memristive sensors and qualitatively describes the measured spiking behaviour. Employing such flexible diffusive memristors that can directly translate tactile information into spikes, similar to force and pressure sensors, could offer substantial benefits for various applications in robotics. Debi Pattnaik and co-authors present a flexible Ag nanoparticle-based diffusive memristor that generates electric spikes in response to both voltage and mechanical impact. Their approach is suitable for touch-sensitive sensors with neural network-based processing.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00315-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142599030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Teng Yang, Yuqi Jin, Lee Miller Smith, Narendra B. Dahotre, Arup Neogi
{"title":"Real-time in-situ ultrasound monitoring of soft hydrogel 3D printing with subwavelength resolution","authors":"Teng Yang, Yuqi Jin, Lee Miller Smith, Narendra B. Dahotre, Arup Neogi","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00318-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00318-w","url":null,"abstract":"3D bioprinting has excellent potential in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery systems due to the ability to fabricate intricate structures that are challenging to make with conventional manufacturing methods. However, the complexity of parametric combinations and lack of product quality control have restricted soft hydrogel bioprinting from practical applications. Here we show an in-situ ultrasound monitoring system that reveals the alginate-gelatin hydrogel’s additive manufacturing process. We use this technique to understand the parameters that influenced transient printing behaviors and material properties in approximately real-time. This unique monitoring process can facilitate the detection of minor errors/flaws during the printing. By analyzing the ultrasonic reflected signals in both time and frequency domains, transient printing information can be obtained from 3D printed soft hydrogels during the processes with a depth subwavelength resolution approaching 0.78 $$lambda$$ . This in-situ technique monitors the printing behaviors regarding the constructed film, interlayer bonding, transient effective elastic constant, layer-wise surface roughness (elastic or plastic), nozzle indentation/scratching, and gravitational spreading. The simulation-verified experimental methods monitored fully infilled printing and gridded pattern printing conditions. Furthermore, the proposed ultrasound system also experimentally monitored the post-crosslinking process of alginate-gelatin hydrogel in CaCl2 solution. The results can optimize crosslinking time by balancing the hydrogel’s stiffness enhancement and geometrical distortion. Arup Neogi and colleagues introduce an in-situ ultrasound monitoring system designed to assess the real-time printing quality of alginate-gelatin hydrogel. The findings show an instantaneous monitoring process, a potential alternative to layer-by-layer monitoring.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00318-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142599018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Mareike Geisler, Kevin H. Lausch, Felix Hehnen, Isabell Schulz, Ulrich Kertzscher, Martin Kriegel, C. Oliver Paschereit, Sebastian Schimek, Ümit Hasirci, Gerrid Brockmann, Annette Moter, Karolin Senftleben, Stefan Moritz
{"title":"Comparing strategies for the mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 airborne infection risk in tiered auditorium venues","authors":"S. Mareike Geisler, Kevin H. Lausch, Felix Hehnen, Isabell Schulz, Ulrich Kertzscher, Martin Kriegel, C. Oliver Paschereit, Sebastian Schimek, Ümit Hasirci, Gerrid Brockmann, Annette Moter, Karolin Senftleben, Stefan Moritz","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00297-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00297-y","url":null,"abstract":"The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that reliable risk assessment of venues is still challenging and resulted in the indiscriminate closure of many venues worldwide. Therefore, this study used an experimental, numerical and analytical approach to investigate the airborne transmission risk potential of differently ventilated, sized and shaped venues. The data were used to assess the magnitude of effect of various mitigation measures and to develop recommendations. Here we show that, in general, positions in the near field of an emission source were at high risk, while the risk of infection from positions in the far field varied depending on the ventilation strategy. Occupancy, airflow rate, residence time, virus variants, activity level and face masks affected the individual and global infection risk in all venues. The global infection risk was lowest for the displacement ventilation case, making it the most effective ventilation strategy for keeping airborne transmission and the number of secondary cases low, compared to mixing or natural ventilation. Sophia Mareike Geisler and Kevin Harry Lausch with colleagues study the impact of ventilation strategies on the risk of COVID transmission. They demonstrate that the use of displacement ventilation is advantageous in stopping the virus spread in tiered auditoriums.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00297-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142599012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul Szypryt, Douglas A. Bennett, Ian Fogarty Florang, Joseph W. Fowler, Andrea Giachero, Ruslan Hummatov, Adriana E. Lita, John A. B. Mates, Sae Woo Nam, Galen C. O’Neil, Daniel S. Swetz, Joel N. Ullom, Michael R. Vissers, Jordan Wheeler, Jiansong Gao
{"title":"Kinetic inductance current sensor for visible to near-infrared wavelength transition-edge sensor readout","authors":"Paul Szypryt, Douglas A. Bennett, Ian Fogarty Florang, Joseph W. Fowler, Andrea Giachero, Ruslan Hummatov, Adriana E. Lita, John A. B. Mates, Sae Woo Nam, Galen C. O’Neil, Daniel S. Swetz, Joel N. Ullom, Michael R. Vissers, Jordan Wheeler, Jiansong Gao","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00308-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00308-y","url":null,"abstract":"Single-photon detectors based on the superconducting transition-edge sensor are used in a number of visible to near-infrared applications, particularly for photon-number-resolving measurements in quantum information science. To be practical for large-scale spectroscopic imaging or photonic quantum computing applications, the size of visible to near-infrared transition-edge sensor arrays and their associated readouts must be increased from a few pixels to many thousands. In this manuscript, we introduce the kinetic inductance current sensor, a scalable readout technology that exploits the nonlinear kinetic inductance in a superconducting resonator to make sensitive current measurements. Kinetic inductance current sensors can replace superconducting quantum interference devices for many applications because of their ability to measure fast, high slew-rate signals, their compatibility with standard microwave frequency-division multiplexing techniques, and their relatively simple fabrication. Here, we demonstrate the readout of a visible to near-infrared transition-edge sensor using a kinetic inductance current sensor with 3.7 MHz of bandwidth. We measure a readout noise of $$1.4,{{{rm{pA}}}}/sqrt{{{{rm{Hz}}}}}$$ , considerably below the detector noise at frequencies of interest, and an energy resolution of (0.137 ± 0.001) eV at 0.8 eV, comparable to resolutions observed with non-multiplexed superconducting quantum interference device readouts. Paul Szypryt and co-authors present a kinetic inductance current sensor which uses nonlinear kinetic inductance in a superconducting resonator for current measurement. Their device demonstrates a readout noise below the level of a coupled transition-edge sensor.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00308-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142588295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chain-based lattice printing for efficient robotically-assembled structures","authors":"Zhe Xu, Aaron M. Dollar","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00305-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00305-1","url":null,"abstract":"Due to the nature of their implementation, nearly all low-level fabrication processes produce solidly filled structures. However, lattice structures are significantly stronger for the same amount of material, resulting in structures that are much lighter and more materially efficient. Here we propose an approach for fabricating lattice structures that echoes 3D printing techniques. In it, a modular chain of specially designed links is “extruded” onto a substrate to produce various lattices configurations depending on the chosen assembly algorithm, ranging from rigid regular lattices with nodal connectivity of 12, octet-truss, to significantly less dense configurations. Compared to conventional additive manufacturing methods, our approach allows for efficient use of nearly any material or combination of materials to construct lattices with programmed arrangements. We experimentally demonstrate that a 3x3x2 lattice structure (287 total links) is fabricated in 27 minutes via a modified robotic arm and can support approximately 1000 N in compression testing. Extrusion-based 3D printing, in which a filament of material is extruded through a nozzle has been widely adopted. Here, Zhe Xu and Aaron Dollar report an approach for fabricating lattice structures in which a modular chain of specially designed links is “extruded” onto a substrate allowing for construction of multiscale structures that are efficient in weight and varied in composition.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00305-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142579805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pawel Mieszczanek, Peter Corke, Courosh Mehanian, Paul D. Dalton, Dietmar W. Hutmacher
{"title":"Towards industry-ready additive manufacturing: AI-enabled closed-loop control for 3D melt electrowriting","authors":"Pawel Mieszczanek, Peter Corke, Courosh Mehanian, Paul D. Dalton, Dietmar W. Hutmacher","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00302-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00302-4","url":null,"abstract":"Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging high-resolution 3D printing technology used in biomedical engineering, regenerative medicine, and soft robotics. Its transition from academia to industry faces challenges such as slow experimentation, low printing throughput, poor reproducibility, and user-dependent operation, largely due to the nonlinear and multiparametric nature of the MEW process. To address these challenges, we applied computer vision and machine learning to monitor and analyze the process in real-time through imaging of the MEW jet between the nozzle-collector gap. To collect data for training we developed an automated data collection methodology that eases the experimental time from days to hours. A feedforward neural network, working in concert with optimization methods and a feedback loop, is used to develop closed-loop control ensuring reproducibility of the printed parts. We demonstrate that machine learning allows streamlining the MEW operation via closed-loop control of the highly nonlinear 3D printing technology. Pawel Mieszczanek and colleagues design a machine learning-based approach to improve 3D printing processes based on melt electrowriting. They present a closed-loop control framework that is based on data-driven models and enables them to monitor the melt electrowriting operations in real time in order to improve reproducibility.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00302-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142579827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Science and technology: a framework for peace","authors":"Mariazel Maqueda López, Sheena Kennedy, Solomzi Makohliso, Yves Daccord, Klaus Schönenberger","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00310-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00310-4","url":null,"abstract":"With global conflicts on the rise, it is crucial for transdisciplinary researchers to become more actively involved in leveraging technology to promote peace. After years of experience and discussions with multiple stakeholders, we have identified specific aspects that require greater attention from science, technology, engineering and mathematics scientists. To address these, we propose a practical framework designed to better integrate professionals from technical disciplines into the field of PeaceTech. This framework is built on four key principles: adopting a common language, prioritizing needs-driven innovation, engaging with diverse stakeholders, and adhering to the do-no-harm principle. With global conflicts on the rise, it is crucial for researchers in science, engineering, and technology to engage more actively in promoting peace. Here, Mariazel Maqueda-López et al. propose a practical framework focusing on common language, needs-driven innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and minimizing harm.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00310-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142579812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mehedi Hasan, Charles Nicholls, Keegan Pitre, Boris Spokoinyi, Trevor Hall
{"title":"Delay drift compensation of an optoelectronic oscillator over a large temperature range through continuous tuning","authors":"Mehedi Hasan, Charles Nicholls, Keegan Pitre, Boris Spokoinyi, Trevor Hall","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00301-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00301-5","url":null,"abstract":"Phase noise reduces target sensitivity in radar and increases bit error rate in telecommunications systems. Optoelectronic oscillators are known for using optical fibre technology to realise the large delay required to attain superior phase noise performance compared to conventional microwave source technology. However, the long fibre is vulnerable to environmentally induced phase perturbations, while conventional phase shifters have insufficient range to compensate for the phase drift over the operational temperature range without the use of a temperature-controlled enclosure. Here we introduce a vector modulator controlled by a Stuart-Landau integrator, as a solution to non-efficient tuning for the phase shift. The concept is verified by simulation and experimentally demonstrated using an optoelectronic oscillator phase-locked to a system reference. Phase lock is maintained over four free spectral ranges equivalent to a tuning phase range of 1440° when the optoelectronic oscillator is cycled over a 10 °C to 85 °C temperature range. These demonstrations highlight the practical potential of our continuous tuning method. Mehedi Hasan and colleagues present a technique for mitigating the frequency drift in an optoelectronic oscillator. They demonstrate the performance and practicality of their approach over a wide temperature range.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00301-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142574263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maximilian Lechner, Anna Kollenda, Konrad Bendzuck, Julian K. Burmeister, Kashfia Mahin, Josef Keilhofer, Lukas Kemmer, Maximilian J. Blaschke, Gunther Friedl, Ruediger Daub, Arno Kwade
{"title":"Cost modeling for the GWh-scale production of modern lithium-ion battery cells","authors":"Maximilian Lechner, Anna Kollenda, Konrad Bendzuck, Julian K. Burmeister, Kashfia Mahin, Josef Keilhofer, Lukas Kemmer, Maximilian J. Blaschke, Gunther Friedl, Ruediger Daub, Arno Kwade","doi":"10.1038/s44172-024-00306-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44172-024-00306-0","url":null,"abstract":"Battery production cost models are critical for evaluating the cost competitiveness of different cell geometries, chemistries, and production processes. To address this need, we present a detailed bottom-up approach for calculating the full cost, marginal cost, and levelized cost of various battery production methods. Our approach ensures comparability across research fields and industries, reflecting capital and imputed interest costs. We showcase the model with case studies of a prismatic PHEV2 hardcase cell and a cylindrical 4680 cell in four different chemistries. Our publicly available browser-based modular tool incorporates up-to-date parameters derived from literature and expert interviews. This work enables researchers to quickly assess the production cost implications of new battery production processes and technologies, ultimately advancing the goal of reducing the cost of electrified mobility. Battery production cost models are critical for evaluating cost competitiveness but frequently lack transparency and standardization. A bottom-up approach for calculating the full cost, marginal cost, and levelized cost of various battery production methods is proposed, enriched by a browser-based modular user tool.","PeriodicalId":72644,"journal":{"name":"Communications engineering","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00306-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142566007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}