Hi Tech & Innovation news

Robotics

Use of robotic hand exoskeleton helps pianists improve their playing speed

A team of roboticists at Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. and the NeuroPiano Institute, in Kyoto, reports that a robotic exoskeleton strapped to the top of a piano player's hand allowed it to control the player's fingers ...

Engineering

More versatile shape-shifting materials offer new possibilities for soft robotics and wearable tech

Finding new angles on an old artform, McGill researchers have increased the number of stable shapes that kirigami-based engineered materials can take, opening the way to a range of new applications. Their study is published ...

Robotics

Artificial touch: Brain-controlled bionic hand now senses edges and motion

A complex sense of touch for individuals living with spinal cord injuries is a step closer to reality. A study published in Science, paves the way for complex touch sensations through brain stimulation while using an extracorporeal ...

Engineering

Insect-eye-inspired camera captures 9,120 frames per second

The compound eyes of insects can detect fast-moving objects in parallel and, in low-light conditions, enhance sensitivity by integrating signals over time to determine motion. Inspired by these biological mechanisms, KAIST ...

Robotics

Robotic insects could someday aid in mechanical pollination

With a more efficient method for artificial pollination, farmers in the future could grow fruits and vegetables inside multilevel warehouses, boosting yields while mitigating some of agriculture's harmful impacts on the environment.

Energy & Green Tech

Comfortable materials use friction to generate power when worn

Researchers have demonstrated new wearable technologies that both generate electricity from human movement and improve the comfort of the technology for the people wearing them. The work stems from an advanced understanding ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

Novel OLED stacks enable exceptionally bright microdisplays

Users of augmented reality (AR) glasses require especially bright displays in daylight to clearly recognize content. High brightness and low power consumption are therefore crucial development goals, as optical systems—such ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

Invisible man: German startup bets on remote driver

With no one in the driver seat, the SUV pulling up resembles an autonomous robotaxi like those becoming increasingly present in some cities—but the car from German startup Vay is something else.

Energy & Green Tech

Using camp stoves to power electronics in the wilderness

While camping is a great opportunity to unplug and connect with nature, it's hard not to rely on some sort of technology—cellphones, radios, lanterns, and portable chargers are all useful tools to bring along while exploring ...

Engineering

Carpet fibers can stop concrete cracking

Engineers in Australia have found a way to make stronger and crack-resistant concrete with scrap carpet fibers, rolling out the red carpet for sustainability in the construction sector.

Electronics & Semiconductors

3D-printed solutions shield electronics from electrostatic discharge

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is a significant concern in the chemical and electronics industries. In electronics, ESD often causes integrated circuit failures due to rapid voltage and current discharges from charged ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

Tiny electronic nose rivals animal scent detection

Imagine a robot that can detect scents in the air and track down their sources as efficiently as a dog or a mouse. If realized, it could detect small wildfires in dense forests, find people buried in debris after an earthquake, ...