Here's an Idea
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsHere’s an Idea is a podcast series from Tech Briefs that showcases today's most innovative technologies. Hosts Billy Hurley and Chitra Sethi lead conversations with inventors and highlight their early prototypes, early challenges, and design lessons learned along the way.
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Episodes
Here's an Idea: Going for the Gold with Aerodynamic Luge Sleds
February 11, 2022 13:08 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBLuge is one of the three sliding sports on the program at the 2022 Winter Olympics being held in Beijing this month. The sport requires athletes to barrel down an ice track on small sleds accelerating to speeds of nearly 90 mph. Traditionally, lugers design and build their own sleds, often through trial and error. Now, Clarkson Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Professors Doug Bohl and Brian Helenbrook, in collaboration with Colby Mazzuca of Aeroworks, are using advanced computational...
Here's an Idea: How to Make an 'Ocean Battery'
January 28, 2022 19:01 - 11 minutes - 15.3 MBDr. Frits Bliek and his team at Ocean Grazer are building an "Ocean Battery" that brings hydrodam technology to the sea. On this episode of Here's an Idea, Bliek, CEO of the Netherlands-based energy company, talks about an innovative idea for power that involves plastic bags, underground reservoirs, and a big drill.
A Major Role for Microneedles in Drug Delivery, Post-Pandemic
December 10, 2021 20:35 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBWho really likes needles? A brand-new episode of our Tech Briefs podcast series Here’s an Idea™ explores the emergence of a drug-delivery patch made of micro-needles. The Velcro-like option is less painful – and more effective, it turns out. And the devices are especially valuable during a pandemic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Reinventing the Hearing Aid: From DIY Devices to Brainwave Monitoring
August 02, 2021 13:30 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBWe speak to four researchers about their hearing innovations: a 3D-printed stent for collapsed cartilage, a one-dollar hearing aid that can be built in an hour, a "mind-reading" hearing aid that solves the cocktail party problem, and a brain monitor for cochlear-implant calibration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Robot’s Emerging Role: Surgeon
June 21, 2021 20:15 - 26 minutes - 24 MBTech Briefs talks to three researchers who are finding ways to automate surgical tasks, from suturing, to spotting tumors, to operating one of the biggest machines in surgery today: The Da Vinci. Ken Goldberg of UC Berkeley discusses how his team got the Da Vinci to autonomously perform a training exercise with "superhuman" speed and accuracy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Inside the New Medical Wearables: Patches, Tattoos, and Skin-Like Sensors
March 22, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBMedical wearables are advancing past smartwatches and Fitbits, but will they catch on? We talk to the researchers behind an assistive mouth sensor, skin-like sensor tattoos called “BodyNet,” a low-cost UV patch, and an electronic sensor that's 3D-printed directly on the skin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Hospital Robots Join the COVID-19 Fight: Meet Tommy, Spot, and Tiago
February 15, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBAs doctors and nurses seek hands-free ways to disinfect environments, operate equipment, and contain the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19, some hospitals have turned to a higher-tech idea: Robots. We talk to the researchers behind “Tiago” and other robotic technologies finding a place in patients' rooms. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A "Teflon" for Dangerous Bacteria: Dr. Leyla Soleymani and RepelWrap
January 18, 2021 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBIt looks a bit like the plastic wrap you’d find around a Coca-Cola bottle, but with a big difference. This “RepelWrap” fends off viruses like one that causes COVID-19, and dangerous drug-resistant bacteria. Dr. Leyla Soleymani of McMaster University discusses how an idea for biosensors turned into an invention that some are calling a “Teflon” for pathogens. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A Bug-Inspired Building Material for Mars: Javier Gomez Fernandez and "Chitin"
November 16, 2020 12:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBIf humans end up on Mars in the next ten years, astronauts will need to use as much of the planet’s resources as possible and potentially build habitats to stay there. Chitin is found in the exoskeletons of insects and when combined with Martian soil, results in a potential building material for Mars. Javier Gomez Fernandez from the Singapore University of Technology and Design discusses how Mars explorers can make the most of this peculiar material. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and o...
3D Printing in Space: NASA's Tracie Prater
October 05, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBThe International Space Station is full of spare parts that can replace any faulty or broken ones. Tracie Prater, a materials engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, wants astronauts to be able to quickly print out the tools and parts that they need on demand. She discusses NASA's efforts to bring 3d printing to space. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Future of Urban Air Mobility: Tim McConnell and the 'Aerodrome'
September 08, 2020 11:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBWhen our urban environments are filled with drones and other unmanned aircraft, they'll need to be able detect and avoid obstacles. University of California, San Diego robotics researcher Tim McConnell oversees the Aerodrome — a facility that may look like a driving range, but is, in fact, a testing ground for unmanned aircraft. Learn how McConnell and UCSD students are using the space to take drones out for a spin, and to try out the kinds of maneuvers required in a future of urban air mobil...
A Jumping Robot to Explore the Moon and Mars: Hendrik Kolvenbach and "SpaceBok"
August 10, 2020 13:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBThe Mars-bound Perseverance rover is as sophisticated as it gets. But can it jump? Hendrik Kolvenbach, PhD researcher at the ETH Zurich Robotics Systems Lab, sees the best way to get around on the Moon and Mars as less of a step and more of a giant leap. Kolvenbach discusses his team's work in creating a technology that's part space robot and part African springbok. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A Shape-Shifting Airplane Wing: Ben Jenett's "MADCAT" Idea
July 13, 2020 13:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBEvery airplane wing and body has basically the same shape. "That means they're suboptimal," says MIT's Ben Jenett. Learn how Ben is creating a shape-shifting airplane wing — built by tiny assembler robots. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Looking for Life on Mars: Roger Wiens and the “SuperCam”
June 08, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBRoger Wiens, a fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory, talks about how he and his team created the SuperCam. The "Super" instrument will be aboard the 2020 Mars rover, ready to vaporize rocks and search for signs of past life on the Red Planet. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Looking for Life on Mars: Roger Wiens and the “SuperCam”
June 08, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBRoger Wiens, a fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory, talks about how he and his team created the SuperCam. The "Super" instrument will be aboard the 2020 Mars rover, ready to vaporize rocks and search for signs of past life on the Red Planet. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A.I. in the Air
November 18, 2019 19:03 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBIn July of this year, Tech Briefs editors found themselves in the middle of a drone testing ground. Now, the race is on. See how engineers are writing code that can send aircraft through obstacle courses — all without a pilot. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apollo 11
July 26, 2019 20:23 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBIn conjunction with our celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, this month's Here's an Idea episode features an interview with Daniel Coleman, editor of the publication NASA Spin-Off. Many of the technologies we use today – from memory foam to our phone cameras – were first developed in NASA missions. In this special edition of Here's an Idea, Coleman reveals all kinds of everyday tools and materials that began with one small step toward the Moon. See acast.com/privacy for priva...
Candy
June 17, 2019 19:00 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBWhether you're the owner of a candy shop in Brooklyn or you're one of the giant chocolate makers like Hershey's or Nestlé, you'll want to experiment. In this episode of Here's an Idea, we explore how candy manufacturers large and small turn to technology to support their newest, sweetest ideas. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sports
April 29, 2019 20:44 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBThere was a time where the closest thing we had to a wearable was plugging your sneaker into a computer. But now that we’re so connected, now that we have the ability to gather a treasure trove of data, what do we do with it? We talk with a wide range of experts to explore how sensors are being used to detect concussions, track player performance, and even provide new opportunities to bet. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sleep
March 18, 2019 21:01 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBWhen it comes to a better night's sleep, what role should technology play – if any? We talk with two noted sleep specialists and explore some of the innovative products being developed in the emerging field of Sleep Tech. And we go behind the scenes of the manufacturing and prototyping processes of designers who are trying to find new ways to get you some rest. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Car Hacking
January 21, 2019 22:57 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBToday's cars are more connected than ever before. But the more you open up internal parts of your system to this connectivity, the bigger the chance that those vulnerabilities are accessible from the outside. In this episode, we’ll talk with researchers, including noted Jeep Cherokee hacker Chris Valasek, who have found weaknesses in today’s connected cars, and we explore the teamwork involved in keeping today’s vehicles as secure as possible. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...
Garbage
November 26, 2018 16:57 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBGarbage is everywhere — whether it’s paper in your trashcan, plastic in the ocean, blobs in the sewers, or junk floating out in space. In this episode, we talk with researchers who are finding small — and maybe even fun — ways to take out all the trash. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Asteroids
October 15, 2018 17:34 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBDetecting a potentially-hazardous, near-Earth asteroid requires a community of dedicated researchers, from amateur astronomers to NASA professionals. In this episode, we talk with NASA's Planetary Defense Officer Lindley Johnson, Dr. Bruce Betts of the Planetary Society, and astrophysicist Mike Owens, about working together to detect and deflect these near-Earth objects (NEOs). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Haptics
September 24, 2018 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBYou've most likely felt the vibrations of a phone in your pocket, but did you know that the buzzing effect is one of the most basic forms of a field known as Haptics? Haptics refers to any interaction involving touch, or specifically touch feedback. What if vibrations could communicate more to you than just the arrival of a text or phone call? What if touch was the only sense you had? The haptics field is wide open, and researchers are finding new and exciting ways to communicate and experi...
Alcohol
August 13, 2018 19:00 - 23 minutes - 22 MBThe process for making wine, beer, and spirits has remained relatively the same for centuries. In this episode of Here’s an Idea™, we look at the efforts of vineyard owners, distillers, and brewers who are discovering small ways to innovate and adjust their own crafting processes. We speak with former scientists and engineers who are putting their own spin on traditional ideas, using knowledge gained from their previous experience in the lab. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...
Superpowers
July 17, 2018 14:08 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBEngineers today are using their creativity to build a variety of superhero-like technologies that enhance our human capabilities, including exosuits, invisibility cloaks, and wall-scaling gloves. What drives these researchers? Were they all comic-book reading dreamers? Or is a need to imagine bigger and better human capabilities just a natural part of who we are? In this episode of Here's an Idea, we talk with researchers whose technologies are giving people the capabilities of their favor...
Sponges
June 12, 2018 07:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBAfter a disaster like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf coast, what if a giant sponge could clean up the area and the wildlife around it? What if a bunch of tiny sponges could quickly save gunshot victims? In this episode of Here's an Idea, we look at how researchers are doing just that, and expanding the sponge concept to entire cities. Access full-length interviews with the episode's featured researchers here: Reusable ‘Oleo’ Sponge Soaks Up Oil Spills https://www.techbri...
Humanoid Robots
May 14, 2018 22:10 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBSome conditions are too dangerous, or just too mundane, for people. For decades, humanoid robots have been stepping in to take tasks off our hands. One named Manny spent a lot of the 80s being shot with a flamethrower. Another, R2, is currently doing chores in space. In this episode, we look at how humanoid robots have evolved, and why we have the need for robots that look, act, and even think like humans. Episode highlights include: In 1988, a team at Pacific Northwest National Laborato...
Rockets
April 09, 2018 14:30 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBOn a snowy day in 1926, a physicist named Robert Goddard set out to his Aunt Effie's ranch. What happened next was not your typical day on the farm – Goddard launched the first liquid-propellant rocket. In this episode of Here's an Idea™, we explore how Dr. Goddard's efforts, almost 100 years ago, have inspired generations of rocketeers and spaceflight launches. We speak with engineering student Josh Allen; Orbital ATK’s Mark Ogren; NASA’s Rob Garner; and Estes model-rocket director Michae...
3D Printing
March 12, 2018 17:54 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBChances are you’ve heard of 3D printing - the modern fabrication process being used today to make everything from football cleats to dental implants. In this episode of Here's an Idea™ we look at how 3D printing began. We speak with the creator of the 3D printer himself, Chuck Hull, who admits he could never have guessed that his "stereolithography apparatus" would be capable of so much more than prototyping plastic parts. In the making of this episode, we also spoke to industry insider Te...