Smart Materials

Viewpoints Archive


	2006
Dec/Jan -		2006: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2007
November -		Smart Tires
October -		Robotics and Artificial Robots: An Update
September -		Smart Fasteners: Enabling a New Type of Smart Phone
August -		New Applications for Piezoelectric Material
July -		Siemens Pushing Automotive Applications
June -		Opportunities for Smart Materials in Consumer Products New Technology Area: Connected Homes
May -		Opportunities for Smart Materials in Medical Applications
April -		Advanced Artificial Muscles
March -		Opportunities: Industrial, Power, and Construction
February -		Future Opportunities: Smart Materials for Automotive Applications

	2005	Download all 2005 Viewpoints (PDF)
Dec/Jan -		2005: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2006
November -		Wearing Smart Products
October -		Piezoelectric Materials: Promise and Competition
September -		Recent Developments: Recent Developments in Smart-Materials Technology for Medical Applications • Lord Corp.
August -		Smart Materials for Defense Applications
July -		Recent Developments: Vibration-Canceling in Automobiles • Art Meets Science • New Shape-Memory Polymers
June -		Recent Activity in Smart Materials for Aerospace Applications
May -		Bio-Based Smart Plastics
April -		The Elusive Robot Snake
March -		Nanoscale Smart Materials
February -		Smart Materials in Robotics Applications

	2004	Download all 2004 Viewpoints (PDF)
Dec/Jan -		2004: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2005
November -		Recent Developments: Biomimetic Smart Materials • Ferromagnetic Shape-Memory Alloys
October -		Recent Developments: Sharp Develops a Shape-Memory Screw • H.B. Fuller Invests in Smart Windows • Researchers Develop Biomimetic Muscles
September -		Recent Developments: Thermoelectric Power Sources • Shape-Memory Fabrics • Smart Window Coatings
August -		Environmental and Health Impacts of Nanomaterials
July -		Intelligent Fasteners Recent Developments: Smart Window Funding • Helimorph Actuators
June -		Electroactive Polymer Technologies: A Brief Review
May -		Recent Developments: MRFs Look for Further Application • Scientists Develop Green Electrochromic Polythiophenes • NanoMuscle Looks to Toys
April -		Smart Materials: Implications of Commercialization
March -		Smart Materials for the Retail Sector
February -		Recent Developments: GM Looks to MRF-Based Radiator Fan Clutches • Researchers Produce Nanoparticle-Based Giant Electrorheological Effects • Researchers Develop Color-Changing Fingernails

	2003	Download all 2003 Viewpoints (PDF)
Dec/Jan -		2003: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2004
November -		Recent Developments: Energy-Harvesting Wireless Sensors • A Nitinol Blood-Clot Remover Announcement: Next Generation Technologies
October -		Recent Developments: Ziptronix Develops Better Piezoelectric Materials • Researchers Develop and Commercialize Electrochromic Foils • Fingers Point at Chinese Students
September -		Recent Developments: Developments at Gentex • Picture-Messaging Phones • Terfenol-D Funding
August -		Recent Developments: The Piezo Common-Rail Injection-System Market Gathers Pace • Researchers Use Piezoceramics to Eliminate Brake-Squeal Noise
July -		Volkswagen Looks to Smart Actuators
June -		Recent Developments: U.S. Navy Funds Energy-Harvesting Research • Researchers Develop Smart Surfaces
May -		Gentex and the Automatic-Dimming–Mirror Market
April -		SRI Will Commercialize Its Artificial-Muscle Technology Recent Developments: Lockheed Looks to Aircraft That Change Shape • Fuji Xerox Develops Chameleon Polymer Gel Bags
March -		The Beauty of Terfenol Causes Tensions to Rise
February -		A Look at CRF's Shape-Memory Actuators Recent Developments: An Electroactive Polymer Composite

	2002	Download Aug.–Dec. 2002 Viewpoints (PDF)
Dec/Jan -		2002: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2003
November -		Research Frontiers's SPD Technology Recent Developments: Flexible Piezoelectric Actuators from NASA
October -		Recent Developments: Magnetic Fluids for Ophthalmic Applications • Record Fiscal Year 2002 Results • Smart Materials to License Morph Gel Applications
September -		Shape-Memory Polymers and Composites
August -		Recent Developments: Piezoceramic Keypads • A Smart Beer Glass • Piezoceramics for Electronics • Memry Corporation's Flexium
July -		Recent Developments: A Nitinol-Driven Linear Motor • A Piezo-Driven Linear Motor Application • Electrochromic Glass for NVS Mirrors
June -		Recent Developments: Piezoelectric Polyimide • Electrorheological Fluids at Work • The Terfenol Toy Explorer Announcement
May -		Impressions from SPIE's Smart Structures and Materials Symposium
April -		Piezomotors Recent Developments: Nitinol Wires for Toys
March -		Recent Developments: New Applications for Nitinol • Award for Siemens VDO Automotive's Common-Rail System • A Smart Eel Areas to Monitor: Research on Bacteria-Based Memories
February -		Phase-Change Materials

	2001
Dec/Jan -		2001: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2002
November -		Recent Developments: A Nickel-Free SMA • Ferromagnetic Shape-Memory Alloys • Improving Piezoceramics
October -		Magnetics and Smart Materials Recent Developments: Piezo-Materials and Everyone's Tennis Game • A New Shape-Memory Polymer
September -		Recent Developments: A Smart Skin for a Ship • Piezocrystals for Smart Tires • Shape-Memory Alloys for Better Automobile Tires • Good Future for Shape-Memory Alloys • Improved Loudspeakers of Piezoceramics
August -		Piezomaterials and Electrostrictive Materials
July -		Recent Developments: Big Push for Piezocontrolled Diesel Engines • Suspended-Particle Devices for Sunroofs • Powder Sintering for Nitinol Products • Smart Water • APC Expanding Its Holdings
June -		Recent Developments: Energy Conservation with Thermochromic Paints • A Contraceptive of Shape-Memory Alloy • SmartBeam for Safer Driving • Smart Kitchen Ware
May -		Recent Inroads of Smart Materials in the Automobile
April -		Recent Developments: MR Technology for Mass-Market Applications • A Microrobot Piezoceramic Drive • A PVDF Space Mirror • A Smart PET Membrane
March -		A New Shape-Memory Alloy Recent Developments: Recyclable Electronic Equipment
February -		Recent Developments: Automotive Market Increases for Self-Dimming Mirrors

	2000
Dec/Jan -		2000: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2001
November -		Recent Developments: Ford Develops New Piezoceramic Sensor for Engines Areas to Monitor: Smart Materials in the Recycling of Electronics
October -		Recent Patents for Piezomaterials in Biosensors and Biochips
September -		Recent Patent Activity in Shape-Memory Alloys
August -		Advances in Electroactive Polymers for Robotics Recent Developments: Electrostatic Actuator for Artificial Eyelid to Protect Optical Sensors
July -		Research to Develop Actuators from Carbon Nanotubes
June -		Promise of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites for Sensors and Actuators
May -		Recent Patents for Automotive Uses of Smart Materials Players: MagneRide MRF Suspension-Control System
April -		The SPIE Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials and Nondestructive Testing
March -		Recent Developments: A New Use for P(VDF-TrFE) • Piezoresistive Accelerometers of Silicon • Magnetorheological Devices for Earthquakes • A High-Temperature Piezosensor from Europe
February -		Recent Developments: Piezo-valves for Diesel Engines • An Electric Motor for In-Vacuum Use • A Piezo-driven Flat Audio Speaker • Electrochromic Glass Technology from a Donnelley and Schott Joint Venture • A Smart Glue from Elf Atochem

	1999
Dec/Jan -		1999: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 2000
November -		Worldwide Attraction to Electroactive Polymers • Smart Gels
October -		Recent Developments: Magnetorheological Shock Absorbers • A Photovoltaic PZT, a Doubly Smart Material • Shape-Memory Alloys for Data Storage • Complicated Shapes of PZT from Gelcast • Nanofibers as PZT Performance Enhancers
September -		Recent Developments: Phase-Change Materials as Smart Materials • Magnetoresistive Rotational Speed Sensor • An Actuator of Carbon Nanotubes
August -		Explorer Technology Charts
*Before August 1999, the Explorer service was called TechMonitoring, and Viewpoints* were TechLinks.**
July -		Recent Developments: Gallium Arsenide Finds a Role as a Piezoelectric Material • Lead-Free Piezoceramics Have Enhanced Induced Strains • Zirconium Tungstate Shows Negative Thermal Expansion • Mass-Produced Magnetostrictive Linear Position Sensors Lower Cost • Magnetorheological Fluids Work for High Precision Polishing
June -		Linear Motors
May -		Recent Developments: New Shape-Memory Polymer from Mitsui Chemicals • Smart Fasteners for Easy Recycling • An Oil Change Indicator of Piezo Material • A New Magnetostrictive Alloy • A New Stent for Biliary Obstructions
April -		Creative Applications for Sensors of Piezomaterials
March -		Recent Developments: Piezowave Motors for Toyota • Packaging of Piezocrystals for Consumer Products • Large Energy Savings through Piezomembranes • Biological Switching Device
February -		Recent Developments: Piezo Materials Drive Epson's New Generation of Color Printers • Piezo Crystal Drives Nano Motor • Encodare's Stent Technology Receives a Patent • Electrochromic Material Is New • Surface Waves on Piezo Crystal Move Slider

	1998
Dec/Jan -		1998: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 1999
November -		Smart Materials and Entrenched Technologies
October -		Recent Developments: The Market for Electrochromic Rearview Mirrors Expands • Interest in Smart Window Glass Grows • Smart Dyes Have Their Niche • Japanese Research Team Maximizes Efficiency of Piezo Ceramics • Smart Gels Change Properties
September -		Recent Developments: Irradiation Treatment to Create an Electrostrictive Polymer • Piezoelectric Materials for Active Noise Control • Food Safety: Detecting Bacteria with Nitinol • Piezo Sensors for Disposable Blood Pressure Devices • Electrochromic Glass for Hot Climate Zones
August -		Recent Developments: Smart Baseball Bat • Building Blocks of Conductive Polymers • Smart Piezo-Controlled Rotors for Helicopters
July -		Smart Ski Technology Expands to a Smart Mountain Bike Recent Developments: The Food and Drug Administration Conditionally Approves a Heart Implant of Nitinol • NASA Projects to Fund More Research on MEMS • Etrema Products Receive a Contract for Prototypes of Linear Motors of Terfenol-D.
June -		Smart Glass Technologies
May -		Smarter Smart Materials Recent Developments: A Smart Structure • Piezohydraulic Valves and the Efficiency of Diesel Engines
April -		Recent Developments: A Possible Treatment for Scoliosis • A Nitinol Stent for Prostate Treatment • Smart Sunglasses through SPD • Piezoelectric Sensor for an Electronic Nose • Memory Fittings for Hydraulic Use • A Patent to Examine Pipelines by Means of a Magnetostrictive Sensor
March -		Recent Developments: Suspended Particle Device • A Breakthrough in the Production of Piezoelectric Actuators • Supramolecular Polymers, Self-Healing through Hydrogen Bonding • Intelligent Chemical Sensor Imbedded in a Gel • Blue Light for Safety
February -		Recent Developments: Piezoelectric Plastic in Advanced Security System • Piezoelectric Damping Technology for Snowboards • New Megasonic Cleaner: No Degradation • New Electrochromic Window Technology from Chinese Researchers • Suspended Particle Device Technology Approaching Commercialization • Smart Composite Wires from Sensortex

	1997
Dec/Jan -		1997: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 1998
November -		Recent Developments: Helicopter Rotor Controlled Completely by Piezoelectric Ceramics • Nitinol Used for Protection and Simplicity in New Devices • High-Temperature Shape-Memory Alloy from Tohuku University • Tenfold Expansion Increase for New Piezoelectric • Piezoelectrics in Pipe-Inspecting Device • New Applications for Giant Magnetoresistives
October -		Recent Developments: Nitinol Update: Microvalve on Mars, Self-Cleaning Surfaces • Magnetostrictives Damp Vibrations • New Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors • World's First Aspheric External Electrochromic Automobile Mirrors • Piezoceramic Wires
September -		Smart Gels
August -		Recent Developments in Piezoelectrics
July -		Advances in Nitinol Technology, Design
June -		Sensor, RF Filter Solutions for Thin-Film Resonators
May -		Nitinol Poised for Rapid Medical Device Growth, New Applications Recent Developments: Shape-Memory Alloy as Coupling • Piezoelectric Materials in Helicopter Rotor Design • Piezoelectric Sensors and Composite Delaminations
April -		Smartifacts
March -		SMAs and MEMS Might Be Forming a Partnership
February -		Nanoparticles for Electrochromic Devices

	1996
Dec/Jan -		1996: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 1997
November -		Smart Material Drove Motors Out of Interior Automobile Mirrors • Raychem Leaves a Thriving SMA Industry • ABB Will Help PE-Based Noise-Cancellation System Enter the Utility Market • Award-Winning THUNDER PE Actuators Are Drawing Commercial Interest • Gentex Reports Record EC-Mirror Sales as Donnelly Prepares for Volume Production
October -		Fast-Growing Medical Markets Boost Shape-Memory Alloys • Disclosures for NMTI's Public Stock Sale Offer a Look Inside the Medical-SMA Field
September -		Strong Momentum Continues in Smart-Structures Development • Adaptive-Optics Technology May Leave SMs Behind as It Moves into Commercial Markets • DARPA Offers $52 Million for Development and Demonstration of SM Actuators and Systems • Lasers Measure Three-Dimensional PE Motion in Study of Ultrasonic Motors • Company Seeks to Move Adaptive Optics into Industrial Applications • Project Seeks to Simplify Repair of Deformable Mirrors • Ceramic Can Reduce Thermal Stress and Strain • U.S. Sales of Simple PE Components Grew 23% in 1995
August -		SMs Are Winners in the 1996 DISCOVER Awards • PE Actuator Improves Accuracy of Spring Production • Forecast Calls for Rapidly Rising Demand for "Smart-Positioning Control Valves" • System Allows Speakers to Project a Shake-Free Pointer on Screens • Low-Cost Sonic Anemometer Competes with Mechanical Units
July -		Efforts to Cut Space Mission Costs Will Not Eliminate SM Entry Markets • ETREMA Reports Include New MS Applications and New Representatives • Space-Robots Could Create SM Markets and New Terrestrial Robot Applications
June -		Smart Materials Can Be Outsmarted • Donnelly Corp. Settled Patent Disputes and Prepares for Full Production of EC Mirrors • Negative Viscosity Coefficients in Magnetic Fluids Are Potentially Useful, but Are Laboratory Curiosities at Present • Holographic Ultrasound Technique Produces High-Resolution Medical Images
May -		Synergistic Impacts of Optical Technologies Will Outweigh Competitive Impacts • Declassified Military Technology Boosts the Adaptive Optics Field • Piezoelectrics Could Lower the Cost of Fiber-Optic Interferometry • PE Actuator Would Find Use in a Laser-Based Inspection System • New Optical Imaging Technique Is Analogous to Ultrasound • Lasers Offer Advantages Over Ink Jets for Marking Codes on Containers
April -		A Different Look at Smart Structures
March -		Ease of Use and Unique Benefits Are Very Important for SM Success in Broad Markets
February -		Smart Structures Can Succeed with Simplicity
Dec/Jan -		1995: The Year in Review Look for These Developments in 1996