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Tag: Boosts

  • Knee Exoskeleton Reportedly Boosts Leg Strength by 50%

    Knee Exoskeleton Reportedly Boosts Leg Strength by 50%

    Motors have powered up bikes, skateboards, and kayaks — so why not attach them to your legs? That’s the Z1 exoskeleton’s goal: boost leg strength by 50% and reduce knee pressure by 200%.
    Image Credits: The Z1’s two motors deliver a combined 900 watts of power to the user’s thighs and calves 
    Dnsys

    Motors have powered up bikes, skateboards, and kayaks — so why not attach them to your legs? That’s the Z1 exoskeleton’s goal: boost leg strength by 50% and reduce knee pressure by 200%.

    “Now on Kickstarter, the Z1 comes from Hong Kong-based startup Dnsys, founded four years ago by robotics veterans with experience at Segway, DJI, and Xiaomi.“

    User Feedback Inspires Z1 Evolution

    “Last year, Dnsys launched the X1 exoskeleton to boost hip strength using thigh-mounted motors.Feedback from users requesting similar support at the knees led to the development of the Z1.“

    Image Credits:The system is said to make users feel 44 lb (20 kg) lighter when climbing
    Dnsys

    The system includes two 1.5-lb (680 g) exoskeletons that fit in a backpack and strap on in 15 seconds. Each uses a 450W motor to assist the calf and thigh with padded supports.

    Smart Sensors and AI Deliver Instant, Adaptive Support

    Built-in torque, position, and force sensors detect leg movement and activate the motors in just 0.01 seconds. “Dual-core 240-MHz processors learn the user’s movements, allowing smoother, more natural AI assistance.“

    The AI can also identify different movements and automatically adjust to assist with walking, running, cycling, jumping, squatting, sitting, and standing.

    Image Credits:The Z1 is IP54 water-resistant, meaning it can withstand being splashed from any direction
    Dnsys

    While hiking, the Z1 reportedly extends endurance by an average of 15.5 miles (25 km). Though it adds 3 lb (1.4 kg), the lift assist can make users feel 44 lb (20 kg) lighter during movement.

    Each battery lasts up to five hours, with downhill walks helping recharge via energy recovery.

    Image Credits:For joint-punishing activities like downhill skiing, the Z1 is claimed to offload up to 330 lb (150 kg) of knee load
    Dnsys

    To add to the options, Dnsys is offering the Z1 in three versions. Dnsys offers the mid-tier aluminum/carbon Dual Joint model on Kickstarter for $899 (retail $1,499).

    Dnsys sells the 225W Single Joint for $699 (retail $1,099) and the titanium Dual Joint Pro for $1,398 (retail $2,298).

    Read the original article on: New Atlas

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  • New Molecule Boosts Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells

    New Molecule Boosts Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells

    A recent study published in Science highlights that incorporating a synthetic molecule can greatly enhance the energy efficiency and lifespan of perovskite solar cells. The molecule, named CPMAC, was developed through an international collaboration that involved researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
    Credit: Depositphotos

    A recent Science study shows that the synthetic molecule CPMAC, developed through an international collaboration with KAUST, significantly boosts the energy efficiency and lifespan of perovskite solar cells.

    CPMAC is an ionic salt derived from buckminsterfullerene (C60), a carbon-based material with 60 atoms. While C60 has helped achieve record energy efficiencies in perovskite solar cells, it also limits performance and long-term stability.. To address these issues, scientists explored alternative materials, leading to the creation of CPMAC.

    For over a decade, C60 has played a key role in the development of perovskite solar cells. However, weak interactions at the perovskite/C60 interface result in mechanical degradation, which compromises the long-term stability of the cells. “To address this, we created CPMAC, a C60-derived ionic salt, to greatly enhance the stability of perovskite solar cells,” said Professor Osman Bakr, Executive Faculty at KAUST CREST, who led the research.

    Enhanced Electronic Properties of Solar Cells with CPMAC

    The chemistry of CPMAC enhanced the electronic properties of the solar cells. Solar cells incorporating CPMAC exhibited a power conversion efficiency— a key measure of solar cell energy efficiency— that was 0.6% higher than those made with C60.

    To put this into perspective, if a typical power plant generates 1 gigawatt of power, a less than 1% increase could still provide electricity to 5,000 additional homes.

    “As we consider the scale of a typical power plant, even a small increase in efficiency, such as a fraction of a percentage point, can lead to a significant amount of additional electricity generated,” said Hongwei Zhu, a research scientist at KAUST and a contributor to the study.

    Moreover, CPMAC-based solar cells showed a reduction in power conversion efficiency that was only one-third of that seen in C60 solar cells when exposed to high temperatures and varying humidity for over 2,000 hours, a standard test for solar cell stability.

    Increased Performance Differences in Solar Cell Modules

    The distinction between the two types became more noticeable when assembled into modules of four solar cells— a simplified version of a solar panel, which typically contains 50 to 100 cells.

    “CPMAC reduces defects in the electron transfer layer of the solar cell by forming stronger ionic bonds with the perovskite, unlike C60, which forms weaker van der Waals bonds.”

    Read the original article on: Scitech Daily

    Read more: Quantum Dot Solar Cells Break Efficiency Record Target Silicon Technology Surpass

  • Advancing OLEDs: New Spectroscopy Boosts Lifespan

    Advancing OLEDs: New Spectroscopy Boosts Lifespan

    High-resolution, full-color displays—like those in foldable smartphones and ultrathin TVs—depend on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). OLEDs are gaining popularity due to their flexibility, self-illumination, light weight, slim design, high contrast, and low power consumption.
    Credit: Scitech Daily

    High-resolution, full-color displays—like those in foldable smartphones and ultrathin TVs—depend on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). OLEDs are gaining popularity due to their flexibility, self-illumination, light weight, slim design, high contrast, and low power consumption.

    An OLED consists of several ultrathin organic layers placed between two electrodes, each with a distinct function. When voltage is applied, charges build up at the interfaces between layers, and these charges recombine, emitting light in the process.. While the multilayer structure allows precise control of charge movement and light production, it also causes gradual degradation of the organic materials, reducing lifespan and efficiency.

    Understanding the behavior of electronic structures at OLED interfaces during operation remains a major challenge. Professor Takayuki Miyamae, Mr. Tatsuya Kaburagi, and Dr. Kazunori Morimoto from Chiba University used sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to study the vibrational and electronic properties at OLED interfaces, providing key insights into their real-time behavior.

    As voltage is applied, charges recombine at the organic interfaces, producing light and altering the SFG signal. This change helps researchers observe how charges build up and how the electronic structure evolves under various operating conditions. The team published their innovative, nondestructive approach to studying charge dynamics in OLEDs online in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C on March 10, 2025.

    Analyzing Charge Dynamics in Multilayer OLEDs Using ESFG Spectroscopy

    In this research, they analyzed three distinct multilayer OLEDs, each featuring different types and combinations of organic layers. The team used electronic sum-frequency generation (ESFG) spectroscopy to track changes in spectral features related to charge activity and electronic structure at OLED interfaces. Prof. Miyamae explains, “We observed how variations in electric field strength affect internal charge movement and light emission, marking the first clear demonstration of these field differences on device performance.”

    The researchers identified ESFG spectral bands for each organic layer by comparing the absorption spectra and structural configurations across the three OLED devices. When they applied voltage, they observed changes in the intensity of the spectral signals, which linked to variations in the internal electric field and charge dynamics within the OLEDs.

    Specifically, applying voltage caused an increase in signal intensity at the absorption band of the hole transport layer (which carries positive charges), while the signal intensity at the light-emitting layer’s absorption band decreased. These changes indicate that charge movement varies across different organic layers, resulting in shifts in the observed spectra.

    Impact of BAlq on Light Emission and Efficiency in OLEDs

    The team also used square-wave pulse voltages on the devices to investigate how the internal electric fields changed over time. Their experiments revealed that incorporating BAlq—a material commonly used for electron transport in OLEDs—alters the location of light emission within the device. This change influences not only the color and pattern of the emitted light but also the overall efficiency of converting electrical energy into light.

    Professor Miyamae commented on the significance of the study, stating that the ESFG technique offers a groundbreaking, highly efficient, and non-invasive spectroscopic method for analyzing how injected charges generate electric fields in solid-state thin-film devices.

    This technique helps design OLEDs with longer lifespans, better energy efficiency, and lower costs, speeding up the integration of ultrathin organic devices. Prof. Miyamae adds, “It can also streamline the materials development process, reducing reliance on trial-and-error and lengthy degradation testing.”

    Read the original article on: Scitech Daily

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  • Teamwork Boosts Discretionary Efforts in White US Employees

    Teamwork Boosts Discretionary Efforts in White US Employees

    The findings set the stage for further research that could inform employers’ initiatives to boost worker effort.
    The findings set the stage for further research that could inform employers’ initiatives to boost worker effort. Credit: Pixaobay

    According to a study analyzing over 5,000 individuals, working in teams was found to be connected to a higher likelihood of women and white men putting in extra effort at work.

    However, the relationship between job conditions and effort varied among different genders and ethnoracial groups. These findings were presented by Wei-hsin Yu from the University of California, Los Angeles, U.S., and Janet Chen-Lan Kuo from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on August 2, 2023.

    An Examination of Employee Effort

    Recent discussions in popular media have focused on “quiet quitting,” a phenomenon where employees exert the minimum effort required in their jobs without going the extra mile. Previous research has primarily explored how family responsibilities may impact workers’ efforts, leaving other job conditions that could influence discretionary effort largely unexplored.

    To address this research gap, Wei-hsin Yu and Janet Chen-Lan Kuo conducted a study using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, which tracks information on U.S. residents born in the 1980s. They analyzed responses from 2,706 male and 2,621 female participants, evaluating the amount of effort they put into their jobs in relation to typical job conditions associated with their occupations.

    A Crucial Influence on Employee Effort

    Among all the job conditions considered, workplace social dynamics emerged as a significant factor linked to worker effort. Both men and women working in jobs with frequent teamwork tended to report putting in extra effort. However, this association was only observed for white men and not for non-white men.

    For women, working full time instead of part-time and having access to paid maternity leave were associated with increased effort. On the other hand, women in male-dominated occupations or those facing confrontations in their jobs were less likely to go the extra mile.

    Contrasting Findings for Black and White Women

    The study also highlighted differences between white and non-white workers. For example, the relationship between effort and time spent at work was weaker for Black women compared to white women.

    It’s important to note that these findings do not establish causal relationships between job conditions and work effort. However, they serve as a foundation for further research, which could inform employers’ initiatives to enhance worker effort and reduce “quiet quitting.”

    The authors emphasize the significance of workplace interpersonal dynamics for motivating workers to put in extra effort. They suggest that the shift to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected social interactions and comparisons at work, potentially influencing workers’ motivation and productivity.

    Read the original article on Phys.

    Read more: AI Framework Improves Communication Analysis in Team Training.