The Ethics of Choice
In this article I’m exploring the need for ethics in systems thinking using the ideas of Heinz von Foerster and Russell Ackoff. The two come from different traditions within systems thinking.
New 3D Chips Could Make Electronics Faster, More Energy-Efficient
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Researchers have developed a new fabrication process that integrates high-performance gallium nitride transistors onto standard silicon CMOS chips in a way that’s low-cost and scalable.
The advanced semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN) will likely be key for the next generation of high-speed communication systems and the power electronics needed for state-of-the-art data centers.
Streamlined Transition From Scan-to-CAD
Streamlining the transition from scan-to-CAD involves selecting the right tool set for reverse engineering.
Smart Manufacturing: Where We’ll Be by 2028
When Henry Ford introduced the moving assembly line in 1913, manufacturing changed forever. Today, it stands on the edge of another revolution—one powered by AI, automation, and sustainability. Ford’s innovation paved the way for transformation.
FDA Guidances on AI-Enabled Devices
As part of its effort to address the changing landscape around artificial intelligence (AI) in medical devices, the U.S.
A Giant’s Legacy: In Memory of Tom Taormina
Tom Taormina, CMC, esteemed quality consultant and long-time contributor to Quality Digest, has passed away.
New System Enables Robots to Solve Manipulation Problems in Seconds
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The researchers’ robot planning approach considers thousands of possible actions simultaneously, enabling it to rapidly determine how to manipulate and tightly pack items without damaging them.
Ready for that long-awaited summer vacation? First, you’ll need to pack all items required for your trip into a suitcase, making sure everything fits securely without crushing anything fragile.
Accountable When AI Fails?
On April 8, 2025, a driverless Zoox robotaxi misjudged an approaching vehicle, braked too late, and sideswiped it at 43 mph on the Las Vegas Strip.
Learning How to Predict Rare Kinds of Failures
On Dec. 21, 2022, just as peak holiday season travel was getting underway, Southwest Airlines went through a cascading series of failures in its scheduling, initially triggered by severe winter weather in the Denver area.
New 3D-Printing Method Enables Complex Designs, Creates Less Waste
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Researchers have developed a resin that turns into two different kinds of solids, depending on the type of light that shines on it: Ultraviolet light cures the resin into a highly resilient solid, while visible light turns the same resin into a solid that is easily dissolvable in certain solvents.
Hearing aids, mouth guards, dental implants, and other highly tailored structures are often products of 3D printing.