Important Innovations

New Concept:  Hikari Changes Shape, Changes Light Source:  Lexus Hikari Concept Car Not Your Father's Lexus It's called the Lexus Hikari, which in Japanese means light and the principle of light in motion.  This is an incredible new concept car.  Let's just say it's not your average Lexus.  The Hikari changes shape to let the ambience of light into the car or  shade it for a more comfortable drive.  The flexible exterior enables the dynamic use of light. The e-rubber exterior of the vehicle is a next generation material that holds a surface together while allowing it to bend without showing any visible creasing.  And, there's a lot more to this incredible car. Hydrogen Powered and Autonomous The Hikari is autonomous.  It's hydrogen powered and lined with fuel cells. There are no visible doors and windows.  The roof controls the ambience to enable the "driver" to work in sunlight or in a shady, more comfortable space as t...

Shape-Changing Wing that Adjusts to Flight Conditions Game-changing Aviation Technology and Fabrication Engineers at NASA and MIT have created a radical, new airplane wing that changes shape for optimal functionality during takeoff, landing, cruising and maneuvering.  Behind the innovation is a new fabrication process that holds promise for other engineering construction such as bridges and blades for wind turbines.  This is important new innovation.  For more details go to Important Innovations Collection: NASA-MIT Radical Airplane Wing : Shape-Shifting in Flight Source:  NASA New Way of Fabricating NASA and MIT engineers have created a radically new kind of airplane ...

New Morphing Material Source:  Rice University Taking Complex Shapes Scientists at Rice University have created shape changing, morphing material.  The face in the photo takes shape when cooled and goes flat when heat is applied to it. The unique material they've innovated is a rubbery polymer. Nanoscale Tug of War At the nanoscale level there's a battle for control between liquid crystals and the elastomer in which they're embedded.  When cooled, the shape programmed into the crystal dominates.  When heated, the crystals relax and the material goes flat.  This innovation was just published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Soft Matter. Significant Applications This unique material is expected to have significant application for soft robots that morph into different shapes.  Also for medical devices that take preprogrammed shape at body temperature.  For more news stories on innovation go to  amazon.com/author/ekane