Innovation Toronto
Innovation Toronto
This unassuming material is capable of capturing or releasing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in response to moisture swings.
Pulling carbon dioxide out of the air using moisture
A more efficient way to capture fresh water from the air
Bringing transformative potential to agriculture with a natural technology for ‘dimming’ genes
Staving off coral reef collapse via a new technique
Producing energy from evaporating tap or seawater with new nanoscale devices
Setting the stage for regenerative therapy by turning skin cells into limb cells

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

July 20, 2019

A detonation-based combustion system that utilizes shock waves for propulsion

A detonation-based combustion system that utilizes shock waves for propulsion

Engineered material that can simultaneously sense, think and act upon mechanical stress?

Engineered material that can simultaneously sense, think and act upon mechanical stress?

After a single injection, paralyzed animals regained ability to walk within four weeks

After a single injection, paralyzed animals regained ability to walk within four weeks

Engineered ‘living’ machines hold potential for wide variety of societal benefits

Engineered ‘living’ machines hold potential for wide variety of societal benefits

First flight of ROBOpilot demonstrates a new flight capability

The Air Force Research Laboratory and DZYNE Technologies Incorporated successfully completed a two-hour initial flight of a revolutionary Robotic Pilot Unmanned Conversion Program called ROBOpilot Aug. 9 at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. “This flight test is a testament to AFRL’s ability to rapidly innovate technology from concept to application in a safe build up

First flight of ROBOpilot demonstrates a new flight capability

Manned and unmanned aircraft start flying together

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and Calspan Corporation successfully demonstrated manned/unmanned teaming to improve combat efficiency and effectiveness for the warfighter. “This demonstration is an important milestone in AFRL’s maturation of technologies needed to integrate manned and unmanned aircraft in a strike package,” said

Manned and unmanned aircraft start flying together

Gecko-inspired adhesive loses no traction in temperatures as cold as liquid nitrogen or as hot as molten silver

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Dayton Air Force Research Laboratory and China have developed a new dry adhesive that bonds in extreme temperatures—a quality that could make the product ideal for space exploration and beyond. The gecko-inspired adhesive loses no traction in temperatures as cold as liquid nitrogen or as hot as molten silver,

Gecko-inspired adhesive loses no traction in temperatures as cold as liquid nitrogen or as hot as molten silver

New materials that directly convert ultraviolet light into motion without the need for electronics

One of the impediments to developing miniaturized, “squishy” robots is the need for an internal power source that overcomes the power-to-weight ratio for efficient movement. An international group involving Inha University, University of Pittsburgh and the Air Force Research Laboratory has built upon their previous research and identified new materials that directly convert ultraviolet light

New materials that directly convert ultraviolet light into motion without the need for electronics

Hypersonic missiles could be operational in 2020s

Hypersonic missiles could be here faster than you know it. By 2020, the Air Force is likely to have operational prototypes ready for a program of record and testing to develop an operational unit, said Maj. Gen. Thomas Masiello, the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. By the 2030s, the technology could have expanded

Hypersonic missiles could be operational in 2020s

4-D Technology Allows Self-folding of Complex Objects

Using components made from smart shape-memory materials with slightly different responses to heat, researchers have demonstrated a four-dimensional printing technology that allowed creation of complex self-folding structures. The technology, developed by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), could be used to create 3-D structures that

4-D Technology Allows Self-folding of Complex Objects

New nanomaterial maintains conductivity in three dimensions

An international team of scientists has developed what may be the first one-step process for making seamless carbon-based nanomaterials that possess superior thermal, electrical and mechanical properties in three dimensions. The research holds potential for increased energy storage in high efficiency batteries and supercapacitors, increasing the efficiency of energy conversion in solar cells, for lightweight

New nanomaterial maintains conductivity in three dimensions

A thin ribbon of flexible electronics can monitor health, infrastructure

A new world of flexible, bendable, even stretchable electronics is emerging from research labs to address a wide range of potentially game-changing uses. The common, rigid printed circuit board is slowly being replaced by a thin ribbon of resilient, high-performance electronics. Over the last few years, one team of chemists and materials scientists has begun

A thin ribbon of flexible electronics can monitor health, infrastructure

Rediscovering Spontaneous Light Emission: LEDs Could Replace Some Lasers

  “Sometimes the great discoveries are looking right at us and waiting.” Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a nano-sized optical antenna that can greatly enhance the spontaneous emission of light from atoms, molecules and semiconductor quantum dots. This advance opens the door to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can replace lasers for short-range optical communications, including

Rediscovering Spontaneous Light Emission: LEDs Could Replace Some Lasers

University of Minnesota engineers make sound loud enough to bend light on a computer chip

Device could improve wireless communications systems During a thunderstorm, we all know that it is common to hear thunder after we see the lightning. That’s because sound travels much slower (768 miles per hour) than light (670,000,000 miles per hour). Now, University of Minnesota engineering researchers have developed a chip on which both sound wave

University of Minnesota engineers make sound loud enough to bend light on a computer chip

Lighter, Cheaper Radio Wave Device Could Transform Telecommunications

The new circulator has the potential to double the useful bandwidth in wireless communications Researchers at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have achieved a milestone in modern wireless and cellular telecommunications, creating a radically smaller, more efficient radio wave circulator that could be used in cellphones and other

Lighter, Cheaper Radio Wave Device Could Transform Telecommunications

Ballistic Transport in Graphene Suggests New Type of Electronic Device

“We believe this shows that there is a real possibility for a new type of graphene-based electronics.” Using electrons more like photons could provide the foundation for a new type of electronic device that would capitalize on the ability of graphene to carry electrons with almost no resistance even at room temperature – a property

Ballistic Transport in Graphene Suggests New Type of Electronic Device

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The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) boasts a rich history dating back to 1918, making it one of the oldest and most respected research institutions in the United States. Its legacy stems from several predecessor organizations, including the Wright Field Materiel Division and the Air Force Cambridge Research Center. These entities played pivotal roles in developing groundbreaking technologies like the Wright brothers’ first airplane, radar, and early versions of jet propulsion.

In 1997, the AFRL officially consolidated these legacy institutions, establishing a unified research and development powerhouse for the Air Force. Since then, the AFRL has continued to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological advancement, driving innovation across diverse aerospace, cyber, and intelligence domains.

The Latest Bing News on:
Air Force Research Laboratory Research
The Latest Bing News on:
Air Force Research Laboratory Discovery

Top 10 Innovations:

  1. Stealth Technology: Pioneered in the 1970s, this technology allows aircraft to evade radar detection, revolutionizing aerial warfare.
  2. Global Positioning System (GPS): Developed in collaboration with the Department of Defense, GPS provides precise location and navigation services worldwide.
  3. Predator Drone: This unmanned aerial vehicle revolutionized intelligence gathering and combat operations, offering unprecedented surveillance capabilities.
  4. Composite Materials: AFRL advancements in composite materials have significantly improved aircraft performance and fuel efficiency.
  5. Directed Energy Weapons: These high-energy lasers and particle beams offer a revolutionary approach to defense and weapon systems.
  6. Hypersonic Flight: Research in hypersonic technology aims to develop vehicles capable of exceeding Mach 5, transforming air travel and military capabilities.
  7. Cybersecurity Technologies: AFRL is at the forefront of developing advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect critical infrastructure and information systems.
  8. Space Situational Awareness: Research focuses on monitoring and tracking objects in space, ensuring safe spaceflight and understanding potential threats.
  9. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AFRL leverages AI for various applications, including autonomous systems, decision support, and data analysis.
  10. Quantum Computing: Research in quantum computing explores its potential to revolutionize cryptography, materials science, and other fields.

Top 10 Innovators:

See Also

Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST)
  1. Dr. John Boyd: Renowned military strategist and theorist who developed the OODA Loop decision-making model.
  2. Dr. Kelly Johnson: Legendary aerospace engineer who led the development of iconic aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird and U-2 spy plane.
  3. Dr. Walter Dornberger: Developed the V-2 rocket, a pioneering technology that paved the way for modern space exploration.
  4. Dr. Ivan Getting: Played a crucial role in developing GPS technology and its applications.
  5. Dr. Simon Ramo: Co-founded TRW, a leading aerospace and defense contractor, and made significant contributions to radar and missile technology.
  6. Dr. John McCarthy: Father of the Lisp programming language and a pioneer in artificial intelligence research.
  7. Dr. Grace Hopper: Developed the COBOL programming language and made significant contributions to computer science.
  8. Dr. Katherine Johnson: A “human computer” who played a crucial role in calculating trajectories for NASA space missions.
  9. Dr. Wernher von Braun: A leading rocket scientist who played a key role in the development of the V-2 rocket and the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo missions.
  10. Dr. Charles Townes: Developed the maser, a precursor to the laser, and made significant contributions to the field of radio astronomy.

These are just a few examples of the many innovations and innovators that have shaped the Air Force Research Laboratory’s remarkable history. As AFRL continues to push the boundaries of scientific discovery, its impact on national security, technological development, and the future of air, space, and cyber defense remains undeniable.

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