PSEL wraps up nonreflective solar panel testing
Sandia’s Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory is in the final phase of a collaborative research project with Nishati, a veteran-run manufacturer of light-weight, portable photovoltaic panels. The collaboration will shift to the PV proving grounds project at the end of the fiscal year.
HOT SHOT findings could save defense technology developers time and money
An early milestone for developing missile technologies is to show they can work in computer simulations or large-scale field tests that shake and spin components without falling to pieces. Now, HOT SHOT sounding rocket data analysis has revealed a way to improve these tests, providing an earlier, more accurate indicator of whether an experimental technology will ultimately succeed in flight.
Seeing infrared
Sandia researchers have developed tiny, gold antennas to help cameras and sensors that “see” heat deliver clearer pictures of thermal infrared radiation for everything from stars and galaxies to people, buildings and items requiring security.
Getting to the nuts and bolts of nuts and bolts
After more than five years, a mathematical breakthrough devised by a structural engineer and a computational scientist may save Sandia time and resources to test complex systems. The method is now being used in production in Sandia's Sierra code, and the designers say its potential is limited only by researchers' imagination.
Sandia Labs manufacturing spinoff steps into national market
Sandia’s Entrepreneurial Separation to Transfer Technology program helped Joe Beck and Eric Branson, both former employees, launch their small business. The Albuquerque-based Advanced Manufactured Power Solutions, or AMPS, is a custom manufacturing company builds battery packs, cables and other small components of larger machines.
Three Sandia teams win NA-50 Awards of Excellence
Jim McConnell, associate administrator for NNSA’s Office of Safety, Infrastructure and Operations, presented three Sandia project teams with NA-50 Awards of Excellence during a July ceremony at Sandia’s Albuquerque campus.
Sandia abuses batteries for better energy storage
Lithium-ion batteries are most commonly found in electric cars, computers, medical equipment and aircraft. And they are getting more powerful all the time. The constant push for more storage and power drives the need for extensive battery testing, and Sandia's new drop tower has created yet another way to learn more about how these batteries respond to stress.
Earthquake or underground explosion?
Sandia researchers, as part of a group of NNSA scientists, have wrapped up years of field experiments to improve the United States’ ability to differentiate earthquakes from underground explosions, key knowledge needed to advance the nation’s monitoring and verification capabilities for detecting underground nuclear explosions.
Dragonflies: A lesson in missile defense
Dragonflies catch 95% of their prey, crowning them one of the top predators in the world. Now, Sandia researchers are discovering how dragonfly brains might be wired to be extremely efficient at calculating complex trajectories. Their discoveries could lead to improvements in missile defense systems.
Portable gas detection shrinks to new dimensions
A sensor for detecting toxic gases is now smaller, faster and more reliable, thanks to researchers at Sandia. The sensor’s performance sets it up for integration into a highly sensitive, portable system for detecting chemical weapons. The sensors can also rapidly detect airborne toxins.