University of Illinois

Sybridge Technologies U.S. Inc.

Sameh H Tawfick

William P King

Jennifer T Bernhard

Gaurav Bahl

Charles David Wood

Davis James McGregor

Caterina Lamuta

Miles Bimrose

Dongwoo Shin

Rhinithaa P Thanalakshme

Ali Kanj

Inbar Grinberg

Various embodiments may involve obtaining an image of at least a section of a manufactured part; determining, based on executing a neural network on the image, that the manufactured part was not fabricated according to a specification for the manufactured part, wherein the neural network was trained to associate images of manufactured parts with corresponding indicators of specifications for the manufactured parts; and, in response to determining that the manufactured part was not fabricated according to the specification, generating an electronic alert indicating that the manufactured part was improperly fabricated.

Conformance testing of manufactured parts via neural networks

A fiber-based device having a reconfigurable geometry comprises an array of hair-like fibers spaced apart on a substrate, where each hair-like fiber comprises a free end extending away from the substrate and a secured end attached to the substrate. The array has a first bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a first cross-sectional shape, and a second bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a second cross-sectional shape. The array is reconfigurable from the first bundled configuration to the second bundled configuration by exposure to a liquid and then removal of the liquid at a predetermined rate.

Fiber-based device having a reconfigurable geometry

An elongate fiber artificial muscle includes or consists of an elongate carbon or glass fiber and at least a partial coating of a polymer, and preferably a full shell coating to form a core-shell arrangement, that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. Additional elongate fiber artificial muscles of the invention include a plurality of elongate carbon or glass fibers that are infiltrated between the fibers with a polymer that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. In a fabrication method, the rheology (flow characteristic) of a polymer precursor is adjusted with solvent so it is less viscous. A fiber or plurality of fibers (pre-twisted or untwisted), such as a tow is dipped in the polymer precursor. The fiber or fibers is then pulled out of the polymer precursor and hung to allow polymer to distribute and then cured and can be twisted to coil prior to curing. A model is provided to fabricate elongate fiber artificial muscle with specific characteristics based upon a thermal or moisture expansion coefficient of the polymer, its elongation capability percentage before flaking or breaking, and its elastic modulus.

Elongate fiber artificial muscles and method of fabrication

The present disclosure provides a device and method for producing low-frequency magnetic-field signals to enable long-range wireless communication through conductive media. The magnetic-field signals can be generated by mechanically moving permanent magnets. In some examples, transmitters are capable of transmitting signals in the ultra-low and very-low frequency ranges (e.g., 100 Hz-30 kHz), utilizing a small amount of power.

System and method for mechanically-based magnetic-field transmitter

Growing community of inventors

Champaign, IL, United States of America

Sameh H Tawfick