The Thomas Blog

Video: Snakebots Could Be The Key To Safer Surgeries

The concept of snakebots is not new. These modular robots, which are comprised of connected-but-independent parts, are able to manipulate their shape according to their surroundings. This is extremely helpful for projects that require a closer view of areas that may be difficult to access or dangerous to enter. But Nabil Simaan, Vanderbilt University bioengineering professor, now wants to use the technology to make surgeries safer.

Video: Did China Steal Wave Technology?

Pelamis Wave Power, a renewable energy manufacturer based in Scotland, was at the forefront of wave technology. In 2004, it became the first company capable of using the technology to generate electricity into the grid.

Celebrating Manufacturing Day

October 7 is Manufacturing Day, an annual celebration of the North American manufacturing industry and the accomplishments of the people who work within it. 

We partner with thousands of manufacturers to help them reach their business goals, and we spoke with a few of them to find out why a career in manufacturing is cause for celebration:

Video: A Laser Machine Gun For Your Cleaning Needs

Cleaning might actually become exciting for those that work in the industrial sector. The company P-laser released a new handheld laser cleaner that is able to remove rust and dirt from metals. 

Although the use of lasers to cut and clean equipment is nothing new, this particular laser is essentially a 1,000 watt laser machine gun that shoots light bullets at an incredibly high pulse rate. 

Video: Army Helicopters Getting Big Upgrade

The United States Army's fleet of helicopters is about to get a major upgrade.

After eight years of development, recent advancements and grants are about to culminate in the development of a new centerline engine for Black Hawk and Apache helicopters. The advanced design includes a 3,000 shaft horsepower turbine engine, which will mean big improvements longevity and fuel efficiency.  

How Tennis Rackets Are Manufactured

The tennis rackets that you'll see on display at the U.S. Open are nothing like the clunky, wooden rackets used years ago. That's because today's game is faster, with average serve speeds of 124 to 140 mph, and engineers are tasked with creating rackets that can not only accommodate these speeds, but can withstand forces as great as 50 kilos while being lighter and more aerodynamic than ever before. So what technologies do companies use to create these modern marvels of engineering? 

While different brands use their own distinct materials and techniques for creating tennis rackets, the manufacturing process is mostly consistent. Check out the step-by-step process of creating a tennis racket below:

Video: A New And Improved Corvette For A New Generation

The decade-old rumor of a new and improved Corvette is finally coming to fruition. A sleeker model of the classic American sports car will come out as early as 2018. The dramatically changed car will have a mid-engine design, allowing better handling and responsiveness and more flexibility while incorporating a potential plug-in hybrid powertrain or all-wheel drive. 

Video: U-Loop Could Let You Travel At Record Speeds

Are you sick of waiting in traffic while traveling this summer? With the latest hyperloop technology, long travel times may become a thing of the past.

5 Supply Chain Lessons We Can Learn From The Summer Games In Rio

More than 10,500 athletes from 200 countries will compete in front of the cameras at the Summer Games in Rio. But those numbers pale in comparison to what’s going on behind the scenes, where two warehouses spanning 105,000 square meters will store more than 30 million items. These items include 10,000 smartphones, 54 boats, 32,000 tennis balls, 250 golf carts and 70,000 tables. Making it all possible is a team of almost 7,000 employees and 70,000 volunteers who will handle everything from registering and recording the arrival of the goods to organizing their final delivery.