Recent advances and ongoing improvements will help rapid and low-cost development of smart materials, and the next wave of innovation will be in self-healing coatings and parts, according to Lux Research. Smart materials – those that change their properties in response to environmental stimuli, providing dynamic capabilities — range from everyday items such as photochromic…
Vertical axis wind turbines deserve a second look, says inventor
WHEN ENGINEERS CONTEMPLATE vertical axis wind turbines today, they only see the problems – vibration, torque ripple, and a low-power output. Solving these problems requires rethinking the structure, suggests engineer and inventor Glen Lux, President of Lux Wind Power. He has designed and built more than 30 vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) over the past…
Research group releases top 10 companies for Q3 2012
Potentially disruptive technologies for efficient grid storage, low-cost solar, drug delivery, cheaper LEDs, and novel graphene materials highlight Lux Research’s Q3 list. Technology research firm Lux Research profiled 370 companies across 15 different emerging technology domains in the third quarter of 2012 as part of its ongoing Intelligence services. Drawing on the domain expertise of…
Wind surpasses aerospace as top user of advanced composites
Wind energy, powered by stringent renewable energy standards and larger installations offshore, will overtake aerospace as the largest user of advanced composite materials. The overall market for advanced composites – based on carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and graphene – more than triples to $25.8 billion by 2020, according to a research report. The use…