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Robotics

Electricity-free circuit helps free up space for robots to 'think,' say scientists

Engineers have worked out how to give robots complex instructions without electricity for the first time, which could free up more space in the robotic 'brain' for them to 'think.'

Robotics

Soft robotics redefined: Meet the light-driven toroidal micro-robot that navigates viscous liquids autonomously

Researchers from Tampere University in Finland and Anhui Jianzhu University in China have made a significant breakthrough in soft robotics. Their study introduces the first toroidal, light-driven micro-robot that can move ...

Hi Tech & Innovation

New apps aid blind people in navigating indoor spaces

Two new apps are set to assist blind individuals in navigating indoor spaces by providing spoken directions through a smartphone. This offers a safe solution for wayfinding in areas where GPS is ineffective.

Engineering

Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries, could provide drinking water at low cost

MIT engineers have built a new desalination system that runs with the rhythms of the sun. The researchers report details of the new system in a paper appearing in Nature Water.

Energy & Green Tech

Research highlights China's coal transition complexities

A new paper from the University of California San Diego details how China faces numerous political, economic and technological obstacles as it tries to transition away from coal—the country's primary energy source—while ...

Automotive

Will Tesla's robotaxi reveal live up to hype?

After years of talking up Tesla's prowess on autonomous driving, Elon Musk is set to host Thursday a much-hyped robotaxi event amid a mix of anticipation and skepticism.

Business

US industrial policy may strengthen EV battery supply chain

Vehicle electrification is an important pathway to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The supply chain for electric vehicle battery materials relies heavily on China, a dependency that can leave the US vulnerable to ...

Machine learning & AI

Meta's Movie Gen lets users animate photos into videos

Meta on Friday provided a look at a generative artificial intelligence model it is working on that lets people create short videos, complete with audio, from text prompts and photos.

Robotics

A transformable robot with an omnidirectional wheel-leg

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute recently created OmniWheg, a robotic system that can adapt its configuration while navigating its surrounding environment, seamlessly changing from a wheeled to a legged robot. ...

Computer Sciences

Researchers develop a scaled-up spintronic probabilistic computer

Researchers at Tohoku University, the University of Messina, and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) have developed a scaled-up version of a probabilistic computer (p-computer) with stochastic spintronic devices ...

Internet

A faster way to preserve privacy online

Searching the internet can reveal information a user would rather keep private. For instance, when someone looks up medical symptoms online, they could reveal their health conditions to Google, an online medical database ...

Engineering

An automated way to assemble thousands of objects

The manufacturing industry (largely) welcomed artificial intelligence with open arms. Less of the dull, dirty, and dangerous? Say no more. However, planning for mechanical assemblies still requires more than scratching out ...

Energy & Green Tech

Flameproofing lithium-ion batteries with salt

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power phones, laptops, other personal electronics and electric cars, and are even used to store energy generated by solar panels. But if the temperature of these batteries rises too high, ...

Engineering

Researchers use ultrasound waves to move objects hands-free

University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have discovered a new method to move objects using ultrasound waves. The research opens the door for using contactless manipulation in industries such as manufacturing and robotics, ...

Hardware

Energy-efficient computing with tiny magnetic vortices

A large percentage of energy used today is consumed in the form of electrical power for processing and storing data and for running the relevant terminal equipment and devices. According to predictions, the level of energy ...

Energy & Green Tech

Harvesting light to grow food and clean energy together

People are increasingly trying to grow both food and clean energy on the same land to help meet the challenges of climate change, drought and a growing global population that just topped 8 billion. This effort includes agrivoltaics, ...

Electronics & Semiconductors

Accelerating tactile communication with skin-attached telehaptics

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has developed a telehaptic device that remotely transmits tactile sensations in real time by attaching it to the fingertip like a sticker. It is expected to add ...

Computer Sciences

Finding the right AI for you

AI is a powerful tool for studying the human genome. But its recent popularity has inundated the field with innovation. With so many options, it's hard to know which AI algorithms work best. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory ...