Renewable energy sources hold great promise for a future free of fossil fuels, but some forms of renewable energy remain out of reach. Researchers have developed a new kind of wind turbine that can produce clean energy from previously untapped winds at high altitudes. Climate change needs to be addressed by innovative, efficient systems to […]
Energy-Efficient Climate Control System for Electric Vehicles
At present, a substantial amount of energy is required to run the CCS within electric vehicles, creating a major drain on the battery and limiting the range of the car. The EU-funded Horizon2020 XERIC project addressed this challenge by producing an energy-friendly CCS capable of ensuring passenger comfort and increasing the range of electric vehicles. […]
Printed Solar Cell Set to Transform Electronics Manufacturing
Researchers have achieved a new efficiency record in organic photovoltaic cells. The process could improve the production of new devices for energy harvesting and lighting. The emerging field of organic electronics is already altering the way we use technology. From light emitting diode displays used in televisions, computers and mobile phones, to panels that convert sunlight into electricity, research […]
Pepper-Picking Robot Demonstrates Its Skills in Greenhouse Labour Automation
With the rising shortage of skilled workforce in agriculture, there’s a growing need for robotisation to perform labour-intensive and repetitive tasks in greenhouses. Enter SWEEPER, the EU-funded project developing a sweet pepper-harvesting robot that can help farmers reduce their costs. The team of experts involved in the project recently gave a live demonstration of the […]
Smart Robots Master the Art of Gripping
During the last few decades, humans have increasingly relied on robots to perform a variety of tasks. Robots have been extensively used in production lines for tasks such as car assembly. However, despite their widespread success, automatic assembly still suffers from the time it takes to programme and reprogramme robots. To address this challenge, researchers […]
Teaching Robots How To Interact With Children With Autism
People with autism see, hear and feel the world differently from other people, which affects how they interact with others. This makes communication-centred activities quite challenging for children with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs). Therapists therefore find it difficult to engage them in these activities during educational therapy. To address this challenge, therapists recently began to […]
Diamond-Based Sensors Enable Spintronics And Next-Generation MRI
Sensors developed under the DIADEMS project and capable of measuring magnetic fields with unprecedented accuracy are on the path to commercialisation. The technology has already spurred the creation of four start-ups. The DIADEMS project has come a long way since it was covered by CORDIS in 2016. At the time, the consortium aimed to use artificial […]
Portable Solar Energy System Powers Rural Development
Photovoltaic energy is a clean, renewable and economical source of energy that can help reduce consumption of fossil fuels to mitigate global warming. It provides energy off-grid to remote communities with no electricity or as part of a hybrid energy generation system. Most people without access to electricity live in regions with very good or […]
Hydrogen-Powered Mobility Edges Closer With Next-Generation Fuel Cell Systems
Scientists have made significant progress in the design of vital components used in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Improved features will lower production costs and help create a clean automotive future. With hybrid and all-electric battery-powered cars now becoming mainstream, hydrogen’s importance as a versatile, clean and safe energy carrier is increasingly recognised. Although its use […]
An Inside Approach To Building Efficiency
Whereas most look at what can be done to the outside of a building to make it more energy efficient, the EU-funded OrbEET project decided to focus on what happens inside. Forty percent of the EU’s total energy consumption occurs through buildings. This in turn accounts for 36 percent of the EU’s total carbon emissions – […]