To date, most microbots have limited movements, which hampers their ability to perform useful tasks. To increase their range of motion, they need to be able to fold at large angles. U-M’s team has created microbots that can fold as far as 90 degrees and more. Larger folds allow microbots to form more complex shapes. U-M’s approach enables its microbots to complete their range of motion up to 80 times per second, a faster pace than most can operate. Microbots using origami principles often require an outside stimulus to activate, such as heat inside a body or a magnetic field applied to the microbot. U-M’s utilize a layer of gold and a layer of polymer that act as an onboard actuator—meaning no outside stimulus is needed. While the microbots are currently controlled by a tether, eventually, an onboard battery and a microcontroller will apply an electric current in the systems. “When current passes through the gold layer, it creates heat, and we use heat to control the motions of the microbot,” Filipov said. “We drive the initial fold by heating the system, then we unfold by letting it cool down. “To get something to fold and stay folded, we overheat the system. When we overheat, we can program the fold— change where it comes to rest.” These capabilities allow microbots to function elastically and plastically—giving them the ability to recover their original shape. The research was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U-M College of Engineering Dean’s Fellowship. INDUSTRYNEWS | SCANNER Yi Zhu, Graduate Student Research Assistant for Civil and Environmental Engineering, tests a new generation of microrobotics inside Evgueni Filipov’s lab at the University of Michigan. A new generation of microrobotics is based on the principles of origami. DATAFACTS | NDE METHODS FOR BRIDGE INSPECTION The Annual State Bridge Engineers Survey (2018)* conducted by the AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures found that the most often recommended NDE methods for estimating delaminated areas for partial depth removal were chain drag (33%), ground penetrating radar (26%), and thermal/infrared testing (19%). *based on 42 respondents more than one method could be selected . Source: Annual State Bridge Engineers Survey (2018), AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures 17 (19.1%) Thermal/Infrared Testing (IR) 23 (25.8%) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 10 (11.2%) Impact Echo 29 (32.6%) Chain Drag 3 ( 3.4%) Half-Cell Potential 1 ( 1.1%) Electrical Resistivity 2 ( 2.2%) Ultrasonic Surface Waves 4 ( 4.5%) Other/no reply J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 • M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N 11 2301 ME Jan New.indd 11 12/20/22 8:15 AM

VISICONSULT ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN DIONDO After reaching an initial agreement in July 2022, VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions GmbH announced in November that it has completed its acquisition of a 51% majority stake in the CT specialist diondo GmbH. This strategic cooperation will signifi- cantly increase the capabilities of both companies. Lennart Schulenburg, general manager of VisiConsult, said the combined products and services of the two companies would be greater than the sum of its parts: “For customers, bringing VisiConsult and diondo together means new opportunities to enhance operations. With our comple- mentary product lines, customers can now widen the scope of what is possible. This is a perfect combination of world-class technology, automation, and AI capabilities.” NEW PREFIXES FOR EXTREME NUMBERS The data boom has prompted the governors of the metric system to agree on new prefixes to describe the outra- geously big and small. The prefixes ronna and quetta represent 1027 and 1030, and ronto and quecto signify 10−27 and 10−30. Earth weighs around one ronnagram, and an electron’s mass is about one quectogram. Ronna and quetta might sound strange now, but so did giga and tera once, says metrologist Olivier Pellegrino. This is the first update to the prefix system since 1991, when zetta (1021), zepto (10−21), yotta (1024), and yocto (10−24) were added. AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY DEBUTS RENOVATED CT LABORATORY The Air Force Research Laboratory hosted an official tour of its recently renovated Computed Tomography (CT) Laboratory on 9 November. The lab, part of AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, supports nondestructive testing of 3D-printed materials for the Defense Department’s internal and external customer base. The Accelerated Materials and Processing Solutions branch arranged the tour to highlight an extensive makeover of its facility, which included the installa- tion of an additional CT machine and the construction of a brand-new suite to safely house the added equipment. “The lab tour specifically high- lighted how [materials and processing] lessons learned and the new Computed Tomography Lab are being applied to safely accelerate implementation of addi- tive manufacturing technologies into emerging and future weapons systems,” said Jeff Stricker, the Accelerated Materials and Processing Solutions branch chief. The directorate also hosted a formal ribbon-cutting event in the Additive Manufacturing Laboratory to recognize the recent completion of major infrastruc- tural improvements within both facilities under a shared funding source. Senior Materials Engineer Steve Thompson from the Structural Materials Evaluation section oversaw the project from its inception in conjunction with Matthew Geis, a project engineer from the Engineering Services and Support branch. “We’re proud to bring this facility into the 21st century,” said Thompson. “These changes will allow us to do our jobs better, and more efficiently.” The roughly $4.5 million, 6600-square- foot-facility renovation project was covered by Flex-4 funding and is slated to be completed by December 2022. The Department of Defense provides Flex-4 funds to enable unique research capabilities within its laboratories. Roughly $1 million in supplemental AFRL funding financed the additional computed tomography machine. SCANNER | INDUSTRYNEWS We want to hear from you! News releases for Scanner should be submitted to the ASNT press release inbox at press@asnt.org. www. .com • 2000 ASME & RFT tubes in stock - Same day shipping • Custom calibration standards • Mock-up exchangers / tube testing bundles • EDM notches, holes and flaws • S • Spiral notches & tube expansions • Corrosion simulation 12 M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N • J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 2301 ME Jan New.indd 12 12/20/22 8:15 AM