Imagine adjusting your clothes to beat the summer heat or winter chill just by changing the temperature of your clothes, on the go. Wearable thermal control devices promise just that, offering portable personal thermal comfort. Not only that, but these devices also have other applications such as providing temperature feedback in virtual and augmented reality … Read more
In the coming decades, NASA plans to send human crews back to the moon, build a space station in lunar orbit, establish a permanent base on the lunar surface, and—hopefully—send astronauts to Mars. What could possibly go wrong? No, seriously, what could go wrong and how would we fix it? That is the question a … Read more
In the future, soft robots will be able to perform tasks that cannot be done by conventional robots. These soft robots could be used in terrain that is difficult to access and in environments where they are exposed to chemicals or radiation that would harm electronically controlled robots made of metal. This requires such soft … Read more
Deep learning stands at the forefront of artificial intelligence, representing a subfield that has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years. It revolves around the concept of training neural networks with multiple hidden layers—commonly known as deep neural networks—to learn intricate representations of data. This hierarchical learning enables deep learning models to automatically extract features and … Read more
Imagine a flying dragon that doesn’t spout fire, but instead extinguishes it with blasts of water. Thanks to a team of Japanese researchers, this new kind of beast may soon be recruited to firefighter teams around the world, to help put out fires that are too dangerous for their human teammates to approach. The blueprint … Read more
Analytical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the identification and quantification of chemical substances. It involves the use of various techniques and methods to analyze and interpret the composition of matter, providing essential information for a wide range of scientific, industrial, and environmental applications. Analytical chemists employ sophisticated instruments and methodologies to … Read more
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a multidisciplinary field of computer science that focuses on creating systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding. The ultimate goal of AI is to develop machines that can emulate and replicate human cognitive functions, making them capable of … Read more
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that utilizes laser light to measure distances and generate precise, three-dimensional representations of the Earth’s surface. This advanced technique has found applications in various fields, including cartography, forestry, archaeology, autonomous vehicles, and environmental monitoring. To comprehend the significance of LiDAR, one must … Read more
Researchers have invented a new kind of artificial seed to sense environmental parameters without impacting the health of the environment. The soft robot, named Acer i-Seed, is inspired by natural Acer seeds and can monitor the temperature of the soil by becoming luminescent. It is made of a biocompatible and compostable material, and it has … Read more
Scientists carrying out quantum research will be able to do so faster and more adaptably, thanks to a new robotic arm which could hold the key to major breakthroughs. The invention, developed by researchers in Quantum Engineering Technology Labs and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) at the University of Bristol, has a unique design, allowing … Read more
3D printing is advancing rapidly, and the range of materials that can be used has expanded considerably. While the technology was previously limited to fast-curing plastics, it has now been made suitable for slow-curing plastics as well. These have decisive advantages as they have enhanced elastic properties and are more durable and robust. The use … Read more
Researchers at UCLA’s Samueli School of Engineering and the California NanoSystems Institute, led by Dr. Aydogan Ozcan and Dr. Mona Jarrahi, has introduced a groundbreaking method for transmitting optical information around obstacles or walls, even when there’s no direct line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. This innovative approach allows for the transfer of … Read more
A groundbreaking image translation model, created by Professor Sang-hyun Park and his team at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology’s Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, holds the potential to effectively mitigate data biases. In the development of artificial intelligence (AI) models that utilize images from diverse sources, data biases can inadvertently creep in … Read more
As I gaze out the window, a scene unfolds before my eyes. A tiny bird gracefully soars across the vast expanse of the azure sky, while a young girl sporting a vibrant red baseball cap strolls along the sunlit sidewalk. Nearby, two individuals find respite on a park bench, engaging in quiet conversation. Yet, this … Read more
Researchers at the University of Twente’s Surgical Robotics Laboratory have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by enabling two minuscule microrobots to collaborate in 3D environments, offering remarkable potential for biomedical applications. Picture a scenario where these robots, smaller than grains of salt, perform intricate surgeries within the human body. These microrobots can work together, almost magically, … Read more
In a comprehensive investigation, researchers from EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) have conducted experiments involving over 10,000 drug combinations to assess their effectiveness against dangerous pathogenic bacteria that exhibit antimicrobial resistance, leading to life-threatening infections. Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global public health concern, where bacteria evolve to withstand antibiotic treatments. A study from 2022 … Read more
Researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have achieved a breakthrough by applying reinforcement learning to solve complex video game challenges. Their innovative approach, inspired by strategies used in board games like Chess and Go, outperformed top human players in a single test. This milestone has far-reaching implications, potentially revolutionizing movement design … Read more
Soft robotic grippers, crafted from pliable materials like fabric, paper, and silicone, emulate a robot’s dexterity in securely grasping and gently releasing objects. Unlike their rigid counterparts, these grippers offer enhanced flexibility and safety. They’re currently under scrutiny for household robots tasked with delicate handling, such as fragile eggs, and logistics robots dealing with diverse … Read more
When you grip a heavy object, like a pipe wrench, your hand naturally uses the entire surface of your fingers, not just the fingertips. This action triggers sensory receptors in your skin to send information to your brain about the object you’re holding. In the realm of robotics, tactile sensors that rely on cameras to … Read more
Corrugated plastic has emerged as a remarkable example of a novel category of “multistable” metamaterials, capable of reversible shape transformations. This discovery holds immense promise for a wide range of applications, spanning from robotics to medical devices. Physicists Anne Meeussen, formerly of AMOLF/Leiden University and now at Harvard University, and Martin van Hecke from AMOLF/Leiden … Read more