Replicating movements found in nature —— for example, the small, whip-like movements of cilia —— could help researchers create better robots or microscopic devices. Something for the summer months? Virgin Galactic announced that its VSS Unity shuttle accelerated to three times the speed of sound and reached an altitude of just over 55 miles 89 kilometers above sea level before making its gliding return through the atmosphere. In nature, cilia flap independently, and mimicking these movements with artificial materials requires complex mechanisms. In configuring an isolated SSR, high-voltage, large-current switching, which photorelays handle with difficulty, can be implemented easily by combining a photovoltaic coupler and a MOSFET.
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