NANOTECHNOLOGY/EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Drive a nanocar
Rice University researchers are developing a new “nanocar” that’s far too small for human drivers but holds promise for medical or computer memory applications.
In October 2005, a team of scientists from Rice University in Houston successfully tested the world’s smallest car — a single-molecule “nanocar” that contained a chassis, axles and four tiny wheels. The car measured just three to four nanometers across. By comparison, a human hair measures about 80,000 nanometers across. To prove the tiny cars could move, the scientists placed them on a gold platform heated to 200 degrees Celsius and analyzed images captured by a special microscope. Since introducing the first nanocar, the Rice team has proposed more useful applications for the technology, such as more efficient catalytic systems for automobiles and the petrochemical industry.
“We’d eventually like to move objects and do work in a controlled fashion on the molecular scale, and these vehicles are great test beds for that,” said James Tour, one of the Rice University researchers.
Emerging technologies such as these are expected to generate $3 trillion in revenue worldwide over the next decade.
For more information, contact Jade Boyd, (713) 348-6778, jadeboyd@rice.edu
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY/ELECTRONICS
Got luggage?
Stricter airport screenings have led many passengers to check their luggage, upping the chances for lost bags.
The Las Vegas McCarran Airport and Hong Kong International Airport have contracted with Symbol Technologies to install radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to help ensure luggage catches the right flight.
RFID is about 99 percent accurate, said Mike Saunders, Symbol Technologies’ manager of aviation.
RFID could save passengers as much as $760 million in luggage losses worldwide, according to the International Air Transport Association.
For more information, contact Mike Saunders, (516) 766-7575
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY/ELECTRONICS
Doctor's e-orders
Doctors and nurses have a digital companion to help them on their daily rounds. Austin-based Motion Computing’s C5 mobile clinical assistant is a tablet computer that lets hospital personnel search patient records and record information with an attached digitized pen. The C5 has wireless connectivity, a digital camera and a bar code scanner. Computer companies such as Hitachi and IBM are mobilizing to join the market.
For more information, contact Erin Maher, (512) 637-1174, emaher@motioncomputing.com