Seniors and other people suffering from arthritis could do more daily tasks for themselves, and save money, by 3D printing their own small plastic aids, like key holders and pill-splitters.
Prototype vehicle built with 3D printing – but is it green?
Tim Gutowski
Thorsten Wuest, West Virginia University; David Romero, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, and Johan Stahre, Chalmers University of Technology
People will still be needed on factory floors, even as robots become more common. Future operators will have technical support and be super-strong, super-smart and constantly connected.
University students experiment with human-robot interaction and autonomous manipulation, two elements of manufacturing’s future.
Nikolaus Correll
Today, the U.S. is leading the robotics revolution. But without timely investment, China will overtake us, and could permanently put Americans out of work.
A solid, non-working Colt 1911 static model by TaylarRoids is printed on a household printer; is this a digital blueprint?
Richard Matthews
3D printing still exists in a legal grey area. This area is slowly being defined as courts prosecute the first cases but, is current copyright and criminal law keeping up with the technology?
Look tasty? It depends what’s in it.
Natural Machines
Beyond making guns at home, 3D printing could help countries secretly develop nuclear weapons and terrorists stage more effective attacks. How do we protect innovation and ourselves?
Innovating with 3D printing offers huge promise, such as these 3D-printed microscopes.
SynBioSRI/Flickr
3D printing is opening doors to amazing opportunities and benefits – as well as some undeniable dangers. Patience and caution about regulating it will yield more innovation.
Robotic construction of Lunar and Martian infrastructure using 3D printing.
Contour Crafting
Our civilisation is built on chemistry, and the science has a bright future, with the launch of a new Decadal Plan that will steer the science into the future.
Tom Llewellyn-Jones, Bruce Drinkwater and Richard Trask
Researchers have found a way to turn cheap 3D printers into a simple method for making super-strong but light composite materials for things like aircraft.
A new study has shown that high frequency vibrations can cause bricks to self-assemble into a larger 3D cylinder, a finding that may one day help do away with the need for assembly lines.
Technologies like 3d printing and robotics will be crucial aspects of Australia’s manufacturing future.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory