A Swiss weedkiller robot could curb our dependence on herbicides
A Swiss company called ecoRobotix recently unveiled its contribution to automated agriculture -- a robotic weeding machine. The four-wheeled robot doesn’t look like much more than a mobile table top, but the unassuming machine may reshape the way we approach agriculture.
Watch Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot evolve from a stagger to a sprint
For the past five years, Boston Dynamics' incredible Atlas robot has lived up to A.I. expert Gary Bradski’s 2013 statement that “a new species, Robo sapiens, [is] emerging.” Here are seven significant landmarks and milestones that have passed on Atlas' journey to robot A-lister.
VTOL drone can evacuate wounded soldiers and disaster victims, deliver cargo
Tactical Robotics' unmanned Cormorant VTOL drone can evacuate two wounded battlefield casualties or disaster site victims at the same time. The aircraft can land and take off from remote or hard to reach locations without a landing strip.
Could fleets of self-driving cars become a public health concern?
Could self-driving and autonomous vehicles being used as public transportation be considered a public health concern? Who will keep things clean for driver-less vehicles if there's no driver to maintain it? Taxis, Ubers, and even Lyfts, have questionable levels of cleanliness already.
Surgeons might soon train in VR simulations instead of using real cadavers
It’s not the most glamorous part of medicine, but cadavers are an essential resource for trainees. Unfortunately, they're in short supply. However, the latest 3D scanning and VR technology could create virtual cadavers to allow trainees to carry out realistic simulated dissections.
30 percent fewer taxis in New York City could be an improvement, MIT says
The right algorithm could have a massive impact on the number of taxis needed in a city. Researchers from MIT have created an ultra-efficient dispatching algorithm that they say could slash the size of a city’s fleet of taxis by 30 percent. All thanks to the power of math!
CRISPR gene-editing could help feed future generations
By making mutations in 13 genes, scientists from the United States and China produced a strain of rice with 25-31 percent high yield. Without the aid of CRISPR the crop would’ve taken trial and error with millions of plants to reach a similar goal.
Elon Musk Tweets Tesla Model Y will be revealed on March 15, 2019
Word on the street via some tweets is that Elon Musk has set a date for the reveal of its next vehicle, the Model Y. That date is supposedly March 15, 2019, after a curious and inquisitive Tesla fan tweeted Musk himself regarding the new model.
French chemists have an ingenious new use for rotten, discarded wine grapes
Researchers from the University of Clermont Auvergne in France have found a way to turn the waste grape skins, stems and seeds left behind during wine production into more durable plastics. The results could be used to strengthen plastics and bioplastics intended for outdoor use.
Fussy, hungry, or in pain? This app accurately translates your baby’s cries
Machine translation can help tell us what people are saying when they speak other languages. Could artificial intelligence also decipher what a baby is trying to communicate when it cries? The makers of a new smartphone app for both iOS and Android certainly claim it can.
Snore-cancelling headphones are finally here, and they’re absolutely brilliant
Do you have a spouse or significant other who snores? If you’re not willing to call it quits on your relationship in the name of a good night’s sleep, you may want to check out these QuietOn Sleep earbuds. Using cutting edge noise-cancelling tech they promise to block out low-frequency sounds.
It sounds crazy, but jet thrusters on a motorbike may actually make it safer
When you hear the words “motorbike” and “jet thruster” together, your next thought probably isn’t, “Wow, that sure sounds safe.” In this case, however, you may be wrong. Researchers at Bosch have developed jet thrusters for motorbikes which actually make the experience safer.
Watch Disney’s Stickman robot show off its amazing acrobatic skills
Disney's Stickman is an unorthodox robot capable of performing some spectacular acrobatic flips. These involve the stick-like robot swinging from a near-20 foot ceiling-mounted wire, then tucking into a ball to perform its amazing, well-calculated athletic feats. Check it out.
Looking for a drummer that won’t argue with you? Spider-like robot fits the bill
This oddball robotic creation is designed to play the cajón, the box-shaped drum that hails from Peru. Play, sing, or rap and Cabot will accompany you in the background by tapping out a handy rhythm to augment your jam session. Here's how you can get your hands on one.
This robot taught itself how to walk and it’s as clumsy as a newborn deer
Created by researchers at the University of Oslo, DyRET (Dynamic Robot for Embodied Testing) is a quadruped robot which has learned how to walk on its own. The results may look clumsy, but there's a good chance that all robots will one day use similar tech to figure out their environments.
SpaceX nails another launch, but fails to catch the fairing
Less than two weeks have passed since SpaceX's last rocket launch, but today the company will attempt to break free from the shackles of gravity and reach orbit once again, launching yet another Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Workhorse Group’s drones are now delivering packages in Ohio
Workhorse Group is launching a drone delivery pilot program in Loveland, Ohio. Residents will be able to use a dedicated app to have their packages delivered by drones launched from nearby delivery vans. The drones are the same HorseFly models used in a test with UPS last year.
Florida police are using Amazon’s creepy real-time facial-recognition tech
According to documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union, Amazon recently sold access to its real-time “Rekognition” facial recognition tech to the Orlando, Florida police department, which could potentially use it as part of its future crime-solving goals.
No sun? No problem — this solar panel harvests energy from raindrops, too
We’re used to solar panels which can harvest power from sunlight. But how about a new type of solar cell that’s able to generate power from raindrops, even when the rain falls in the middle of the night? It sounds impossible, but it's just been demonstrated by researchers in China.
Think your apartment’s tiny? This micro-house is no wider than three human hairs
Created as a demonstration of a brand-new nanorobotic system, this “micro-house” measures just 300 x 300 micrometers, about as wide as three human hairs. The house can sit on one end of an optical fiber. It serves as a demonstration of future nanoscale creations manufactured with a robot.
FLI Charge’s conductive wireless charging could revolutionize classroom tech
Juice Mobile Power has won FCC approval and ETL certification to roll into classrooms and offices across the country. In partnership with Bretford, FLI Charge has built its conductive wireless charging technology into a mobile solution that turns a single outlet into a power source for up to 20 devices.
Addicted to your smartphone? Ironically, there is an app for that
There’s plenty of concern right now about the possible dangers of smartphone addiction, particularly among kids and teenagers. A new Android app called Siempo wants to help you kick the smartphone habit -- or, at least, stop you wasting quite so much time staring at it.
‘Don’t buy electric!’ — car dealerships dismiss electric vehicles, study finds
Car dealers in Scandinavia have something against electric vehicles. That’s the conclusion of an investigative study conducted by Nordic researchers, who visited car dealerships and found agents actively discouraging them from going electric.
This portable grill transforms your bike into a rolling BBQ
Created by German entrepreneur Carolin Kunert, the Knister Grill is a handlebar-mounted barbecue that lets you transport grill, charcoal, food, and utensils by pedal power. Simply hook it to the handlebars of your bike, then remove it when you arrive, and extend it to twice its traveling size.
If ‘Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots’ debuted today, they’d probably look like this
Looking for a 21st-century update on the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots? Super Anthony is a smartphone-controlled “beetleweight fighting robot” which stands at 15-inches high, weighs 4.6 pounds, and boasts an assortment of martial arts moves. Here's how you can get your hands on one.
From BigDog to SpotMini: Tracing the evolution of Boston Dynamics robo-dogs
Launched in 1992, Boston Dynamics has introduced some of the most advanced robots around, especially when it comes to replicating the movement of animals -- the most well-known of which are its series of canine-inspired machines.
Bose’s revolutionary adaptive suspension gets a reboot for 2019
Bose, the same company that brings you some of the most popular audio gear, conceptualized a revolutionary adaptive car suspension design in 1980. Thanks to advances in technology and a new proprietor, it will finally reach production in 2019 as the world's first digital car chassis technology.
The Fairy drone is an aerial photographer with nearly magical powers
It's been years since you believed in the tooth fairy, your fairy godmother, or the best known fairy of all -- Tinkerbell. But that doesn't mean fairies don't exist. In fact, the Fairy drone is very real indeed. It's a pocket-sized drone that is able to fly and take photos just about anywhere.
How much energy does Bitcoin mining require? Experts are unsure
How much energy is required to mine Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies? A recent study estimates that Bitcoin mining uses as much energy as Ireland, but some experts disagree with those findings.
China is creating a ‘magpie bridge’ to the far side of the moon
China's latest lunar rover will land on the far side of the moon, and that presents some communication challenges. A high-tech relay satellite with a name from Chinese folklore will not only support the rover but search for clues about the origin of the universe.
Carbon fiber bikes may become a whole lot cheaper with 3D-printed frames
Silicon Valley startup Arevo is gearing up to become a force in 3D manufacturing, and to demonstrate its capabilities it has created a new bike frame made from carbon fiber that it says it more affordable and efficient than making traditional carbon frames, potentially changing the bike industry.
NASA’s planet-hunting satellite sends back its first image — and it’s amazing
A routine calibration camera test on NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission has produced a stunning image, capturing more than 200,000 stars in the southern sky. Future images will provide even more details as we search for signs of alien life.
A.I. border agents could use machine smarts to tell if travelers are lying
If you're at an airport or border crossing in the next few years, you could possibly find yourself answering questions asked by a surly artificial intelligence -- with very little tolerance for lying. Such technology is reportedly being investigated in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Surgery-free ‘nasal airway remodeler’ boosts airflow in congested patients’ noses
Tens of millions of Americans suffer from sinus pain and inflammation due to obstruction of the nasal cavity. Aerin Medical has developed a noninvasive device designed to help solve this problem with minimal discomfort and long-lasting results. Best of all? No surgery is required.