- NASA fixes Juno’s camera from 370 million miles away
Launched in 2011, the Juno spacecraft is tasked with orbiting Jupiter, taking pictures of the planet and its many moons. Unfortunately, the gas giant’s intense radiation fields are an obstacle for the continued operation of any cameras, and by Juno’s 56th orbit of the planet, nearly all images being sent back to NASA were corrupted. The team was presented with a challenge: how to fix a camera 370 million miles away. NASA explained how they did just that last month at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Nuclear & Space Radiation Effects Conference in Nashville.
With few options for recovery, the team turned to a process called annealing, where a material is heated for a specified period before slowly cooling. Although the process is not well understood, the idea is that the heating can reduce defects in the material.
Test images sent back to Earth during the annealing showed little improvement the first week. Then, with the close approach of Io only days away, the images began to improve dramatically. By the time Juno came within 930 miles of the volcanic moon’s surface on Dec. 30, 2023, the images were almost as good as the day the camera launched, capturing detailed views of Io’s north polar region that revealed mountain blocks covered in sulfur dioxide frosts rising sharply from the plains and previously uncharted volcanos with extensive flow fields of lava. - Sonos appoints Tom Conrad as Chief Executive Officer
Sonos, Inc. has announced that the Sonos Board of Directors has appointed Tom Conrad as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Mr. Conrad, who has served as Interim CEO since January of this year, will remain on the Board of Directors.
“Following a comprehensive and competitive search, the Board is confident that Tom is the best person to lead Sonos into its next chapter of delighting customers, spearheading innovation, and driving growth,” said Julius Genachowski, Chair of the Board. “Over the past six months, Tom has earned the confidence of our employees, customers, partners and shareholders by restoring urgency and a deep commitment to delivering ever-improving experiences. He has a compelling vision for Sonos’ future, with strong plans to harness technology to benefit our customers, as AI and other advances reframe the landscape and unlock new opportunities. We’re energized by what Sonos’ next chapter holds for all our stakeholders.” - Adjustable wrench is actually an 11-in-1 multitool
The NexTool W4 brings a new idea to the standard split-handle multitool format by, at its core, being an adjustable ratchet wrench. It packs in ten other tools, including the pliers that a wrench multitool typically sacrifices, while still being pocket-friendly – the W4 measures slightly over 6-inches while closed.
The wrench’s push-button ratchet design allows users to select between standard and ratchet turning to eliminate the need for resetting one’s grip each turn, while other conveniences include a bit holder, driver, steel knife, and 2-in-1 needlenose pliers. While the W4’s entire package might not be quite as versatile as some other multitools on the market, building its design around an adjustable ratcheting wrench puts it in a category of its own.
The NexTool W4 multitool is available now for $59.99. - ITC issues 15-year ban on import of BOE OLED panels
Samsung Display filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in 2023, alleging that BOE had infringed on several of the company’s patents relating to proprietary OLED technology. In July of this year, the ITC issued a preliminary ruling in favor of Samsung, stating that BOE had misappropriated trade secrets, “the importation of which has injured and threatens to substantially injure a domestic industry in the United States.”
During a conference call with investors in January, Executive Vice President of Samsung Display Choi Kwon-young said, “We have accumulated numerous patents and know-how through decades of investment, research and development, and mass production. In order to protect our differentiated technologies and increase their value, we are actively promoting our hard-to-mimic OLED technology to the market. At the same time, we are taking various in-depth measures to recognize the legitimacy of the intellectual property rights accumulated through the efforts of our employees.”
Per the initial ruling, the ITC is issuing a ban on the import of BOE’s OLED panels for 14 years and eight months, in addition to a “cease and desist” to any and all of BOE’s US subsidiaries. While the final ruling is scheduled for November, it is uncommon for the ITC to overturn an initial ruling. - Vertical turntable uses an optical pickup to play vinyl
Netherlands-based Miniot has debuted the third iteration of its Wheel turntable, and the company claims that this version takes the vertical player’s concept and pushes it to its limits. It’s easy to see why, as the Wheel 3’s minimalist design is taken to the extreme, with a tonearm that sits inside the platter for unobscured viewing of the chosen vinyl record.
A new addition to the Wheel 3 is an optical pickup, replacing the traditional magnetic design. A diamond stylus tracks the grooves on the record, while the optical pickup measures the amount of light and shadow to track the position of the stylus.
“Unlike magnetic pickups, which measure acceleration, an optical pickup measures position, allowing it to ‘see’ sound all the way down to 0 Hz,” says Miniot. “Because it also continuously compares stylus and arm position measurements, it is pitch perfect from the first note.”
The company says that the pickup is complimented by a “bespoke, high-end preamplifier,” while the direct-drive motor features 24 neodymium magnets and five optical sensors. The Wheel 3 can be operated on its table stand or wall-mounted via a recessed slot on the back. - Nanolumens powers Assembly Atlanta’s record-setting 140-foot LED tower
Assembly Studios, the heart of the newly developed Assembly Atlanta, is a film and television production hub redefining the entertainment landscape in Georgia. Located in Doraville, just inside the Interstate 285 perimeter, this state-of-the-art studio offers world-class sound stages, stunning exterior locations and comprehensive production services, all within a single, versatile campus. Designed to provide Hollywood-level amenities in the heart of Atlanta, Assembly Studios is an expansive development including 22 high-tech studios, realistic city facades and office spaces, along with public attractions such as parks, an amphitheater and picturesque ponds.
Atlanta has partnered with Tucker-based material supplier Cofer Brothers, Norcross-based LED manufacturer Nanolumens and Lilburn-based visual solutions provider Capital Sign, among many other local companies. One of the project’s most striking features is the iconic LED tower, designed and manufactured by Nanolumens. Soaring 140 feet high, it stands as the largest freestanding LED screen in North America. Positioned at the studio’s entrance, it welcomes visitors and captivates commuters along Interstate 285.
To bring this vision to life, Nanolumens partnered with Capital Signs, which managed the LED wall installation and contributed to the surrounding architectural elements. The display is housed within a distinctive, egg-shaped metal shell that wraps around the triangular structure, forming a bold, spine-like design crafted by Capital Signs.
