Air purifiers and humidifiers must be able to reliably improve air quality for end users. The best designs also offer improved energy efficiency, convenience, and low noise. As more and more appliances are expected to be smart-home ready, consumers are demanding new features such as wireless connectivity for ease of control. To meet and exceed customer expectations, designers are challenged with f...

Drones and multicopters are a rapidly growing market, as consumer applications increase and prices plummet. New drone models must be able to offer advanced speed, navigation, and control systems as well as the longest possible airtime. Safety, reliability, and ease of use are crucial to each part — and the holistic function — of these small unmanned aircraft. To ensure that flight is safe and effi...

Refrigerators must offer customers the key features of reliability, effective cooling, energy efficiency, and convenience. These key appliances must keep food the correct temperature without being noisy or significantly raising power bills. New generations of refrigerators are integrating smart-home ready features such as touch screens, wireless connectivity, and predictive maintenance. As one of ...

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are revolutionizing industrial and defense markets. New UAV designs must be able to withstand harsh conditions and offer state-of-the-art security, reliability, and speed. Control and navigation systems need to be more precise and efficient to ensure to maximize flight time amid a growing number of applications for these unmanned aircraft. Innovations in avionics an...

Portable power tools offer a wide variety of features to a range of customers from everyday consumers doing small home improvement projects to construction and maintenance professionals. Because of this, portable power tool designs often demand high flexibility and have strict power, safety, and total size requirements. Both cordless and corded power tools must be able to offer high efficiency in ...

Air conditioners for both industrial and residential applications must offer customers the key features of reliability, energy efficiency, and convenience. The best air conditioning systems provide cool air without introducing a lot of noise or raising power bills. New generations of air conditioners are integrating smart-home ready features such as capacitive touch, predictive maintenance, and wi...

3D printers are an increasingly popular tool for industrial and home use. Their ability to print objects, rather than simply images or documents, opens up a world of possibility for the user and a range of challenges for the designer. Accurate, precise motor control is more important than ever in these devices, and speed is a key differentiator for new designs. Consumer expectations are growing fo...

Multi-function printers typically offer printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes more features within one consumer device. Both inkjet and laser printers are incorporating more features, easier wireless connectivity, and smoother user interfaces into new designs. These all-in-one printers must be able to quickly print or image high-quality renditions of documents or photos, and energy-saving tre...