Here are some interesting electronics and communications stories from the Association for Computing Machinery’s Tech News:
NIST Scientists Create New Recipe for Single-Atom Transistors
NIST
Ben P. Stein
May 11, 2020
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland have developed a step-by-step recipe to produce single-atom transistors, a breakthrough that could lead to a new generation of computers with unmatched memory and processing power. The team used these steps to construct a single-atom transistor and fabricate a series of single-electron transistors with atom-scale control over the devices’ geometry. The researchers demonstrated they could precisely adjust the rate at which individual electrons flow through a physical gap or electrical barrier in their transistor, known as quantum tunneling. Precise control over quantum tunneling enables the transistors to become “entangled” in a way only possible through quantum mechanics and allows for the possibility of creating qubits that could be used in quantum computing.
Researchers Develop Computational Model to Build Better Capacitors
NC State University News
Matt Shipman
July 1, 2020
North Carolina State University (NC State) researchers have developed a computational model that helps users understand how changes in the nanostructure of materials impact their conductivity, in order to inform the design of better capacitors. NC State’s Doug Irving said the model considers multiple spatial scales simultaneously, accounting for characteristics that include defects and grain boundaries. Said Irving, “The model gives us insights that can be used to engineer materials to meet the demands of specific applications. In other words, we’re optimistic that the model can help us keep the cost of future capacitors low, while ensuring that they’ll work well and last a long time.”
GPS Collars for Lions, Cheetahs: How IoT, Open Source Are Protecting Rare Animals
ZDNet
Charles McLellan
June 15, 2020
Smart Parks, the Netherlands/U.K.-based social enterprise that offers technology solutions for wildlife protection, is testing lightweight GPS collars that can be fitted to lions and cheetahs in Liwonde, Malawi. The collars, which use LoRaWAN (a Low Power, Wide Area networking protocol) connectivity, allow for high-frequency GPS tracking and a battery life in terms of years. Liwonde National Park’s Craig Reid said the collars offer near-live tracking at a lower cost than traditional satellite GPS collars. Smart Parks’ Laurens de Groot said machine learning could provide “more situational awareness that leads to actionable intelligence,” helping determine, for instance, optimal ranger deployment.
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