Terry Wohlers, founder of Wohlers Associates, powered by ASTM International where he serves as head of additive manufacturing market intelligence, offers a look at where AM is headed in 2022.
In the past 20 years additive manufacturing and growth over the last 10 years has averages almost 25.7% annually. Learn about this and more from Terry Wohlers, founder of Wohlers Associates, powered by ASTM International where he serves as head of additive manufacturing market intelligence.
View the on demand webinar here.
The carbon-based biosensor overcomes three major challenges of graphene-based biosensing: corrosion, durability, and skin-contact resistance.
A novel carbon-based biosensor developed at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is set to drive new innovations in brain-controlled robotics.
Developed by Professor Francesca Iacopi and her team in the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT, the biosensor adheres to the skin of the face and head to detect electrical signals being sent by the brain. These signals can then be translated into commands to control autonomous robotic systems.
A study of the biosensor is published in the Journal of Neural Engineering.
The sensor is made of epitaxial graphene – essentially multiple layers of very thin, very strong carbon – grown directly onto a silicon carbide on silicon substrate. The result is a highly scalable novel sensing technology that overcomes three major challenges of graphene-based biosensing: corrosion, durability, and skin-contact resistance.
“We’ve been able to combine the best of graphene, which is very biocompatible, very conductive, with the best of silicon technology, which makes our biosensor very resilient and robust to use,” Iacopi says.
Graphene is a nanomaterial used frequently in the development of biosensors. However, to date, many of these products have been developed as single-use applications and are prone to delamination because of coming into contact with sweat and other forms of moisture on the skin.
By contrast, the UTS biosensor can be used for prolonged periods and re-used multiple times, even in highly saline environments – an unprecedented result. Further, the sensor has been shown to dramatically reduce what’s known as skin contact resistance, where non-optimal contact between the sensor and skin impedes the detection of electrical signals from the brain.
“With our sensor, the contact resistance improves when the sensor sits on the skin,” Iacopi says. “Over time, we were able to achieve a reduction of more than 75% of the initial contact resistance.
“This means the electric signals being sent by the brain can be reliably collected and then significantly amplified, and that the sensors can also be used reliably in harsh conditions, thereby enhancing their potential for use in brain-machine interfaces.”
The research forms part of a larger collaboration to investigate how brainwaves can be used to command and control autonomous vehicles. The work is a partnership between Professor Iacopi, who is internationally acclaimed for her work in nanotechnology and electronic materials, and UTS Distinguished Professor Chin-Teng Lin, a leading researcher in brain-computer interfaces.
It is funded by $1.2 million from the Defence Innovation Hub.
If successful, the research will produce miniaturized, customized graphene-based sensors that have the potential for application in defense environments and beyond.
Recently introduced Rootstock Learning Center provides an important resource for customers' teams to take control of their Rootstock implementation.
By leveraging the Rootstock Learning Center, customers can achieve a faster return on investment (ROI) for their companies, learning in the way they prefer and expanding the extent of their enterprise resource planning (ERP) comprehension.
"At Rootstock, we know that the more our customers know, the more successful they are," says Caroline Santander, Rootstock Software senior director of Partner Programs. "That's why we offer so many different ways to make the best of their Rootstock ERP investment."
For instance, the new Rootstock Learning Center enables process owners and key users to actively participate in the solution design during implementation by enabling them prior to go-live. Role-based learning paths onboard customers faster, preparing them for their specific jobs. They can accelerate their early adoption to Cloud ERP by participating in boot camps and practicing hands-on in their personal training environment.
The Rootstock Learning Center provides a variety of learning modes from self-study, eliminating personal disruptions, to interactions with a live instructor, which promotes faster learning. Furthermore, Rootstock customers can participate from day one in Rootstock's bi-weekly Learning Hours which address new or advanced product features, implementation tips, low-code custom solutions, and more in interactive sessions where subject matter experts answer any questions visitors may have.
The Rootstock Learning Center promotes continuous learning and supports employee retention by promoting product certifications and better employee engagement. And, with the Rootstock Community, customers can extend their professional network to stay abreast of best practices and the newest trends by exchanging ideas and solutions with their peers and Rootstock experts.
To request access to the Learning Center, people can contact their customer success manager, their account executive, or simply send an email to learningcenter@rootstock.com.
The acquisition strengthens GWS capability and capacity in the arena of custom carbide round tooling.
GWS Tool Group acquired Carbide Tools Mfg. Inc., adding capability and capacity in custom round tools for GWS and expanding the GWS manufacturing footprint in the upper-Midwest region of the United States.
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Carbide Tools Mfg. provides carbide round tools with customer service, supported by grinding equipment, in-house PVD coating technology, and a long-tenured team committed to excellence.
Started in 1992 by President Wayne Riekkoff, Carbide Tools began servicing the greater Milwaukee area manufacturing industries with special carbide round tooling. CTMI expanded their products and services nationwide.
“CTMI has a tremendous reputation for service and ingenuity,” says Rick McIntyre, GWS’ CEO. “Their experience with round tools and commitment to quality perfectly mirrors that of the GWS organization and will further enhance our capacity to support the round tool segment of our business."
“I am very excited for Carbide Tools Manufacturing, Inc. to be joining GWS Tool Group,” Riekkoff says. “The skill sets of our business could not align more closely with that of GWS. Being able to plug our facility into the GWS engine will undoubtedly increase customer exposure and fuel future growth for years to come.”
The company’s developing a new category of consumer biowearables called Lingo, which is being designed to track key signals in the body.
Making CES history, Abbott presented a keynote at the most influential tech event in the world, the first healthcare company ever to do so. Abbott Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert B. Ford headlined the event, “Human- Powered Health: Unlocking the Possibility of You.”
"Technology gives us the power to digitize, decentralize and democratize healthcare, create a shared language between you and your doctor – and put more control of your health in your hands," Ford said. "We’re creating a future that will bring you and your loved ones care that's more personal and precise. It’s happening right now. And its potential is no less than incredible."
Lingo – Speaking your body’s unique language
During the keynote, the company announced it’s developing a new category of consumer biowearables called Lingo. These biowearables are being designed to translate your body’s unique language into actionable data to help you track and measure your general health and wellness. The sensor technology is being designed to track key signals in the body such as glucose, ketones, and lactate, and could also be used one day to track alcohol levels.
"This will be like having a window into your body," Ford said. "It’s science that you will be able to access any time so you can understand what your body is telling you and what it needs. Our vision is that Lingo will go far beyond today’s wearables for consumers to help you proactively manage your health, nutrition and athletic performance.”
Lingo extends the Abbott sensing technology platform that Abbott pioneered in 2014 for people with diabetes, allowing people to continuously monitor their glucose levels with a small sensor on the back of the upper arm. Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd shared live on the CES stage how FreeStyle Libre 2 changed her life, giving her glucose readings, right on her smartphone, unique to her body so she can make healthier decisions.
Abbott then built this technology platform to develop a product designed for athletes with the 2020 launch of Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biowearable in Europe. Elite athletes, like marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, use this biowearable to optimize how they fuel their bodies for rigorous training. Lingo aims to expand glucose monitoring to people looking to manage their weight, sleep better, improve energy, and think clearer.
Abbott is designing Lingo to measure other biomarkers beyond glucose in the future. A ketone biowearable is being developed to track ketones continuously, see how fast you are getting into ketosis, and understand exactly what keeps you there by providing insights on dieting and weight loss. A lactate biowearable is in development to track continuous lactate build up during exercise, which can be used as an indicator of athletic performance.
A human focus
Beyond those who demonstrated the human impact of Abbott’s sensors, Ford was joined on stage by people whose lives were impacted by Abbott devices, partners who rallied to provide seamless and safe travel experiences and other visionaries in the industry.
Posted by Elizabeth Engler Modic
