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Helping hands guide robots as they learn![]() Houston TX (SPX) Dec 06, 2017 Like toddlers, robots can use a little help as they learn to function in the physical world. That's the purpose of a Rice University program that gently guides robots toward the most helpful, human-like ways to collaborate on tasks. Rice engineer Marcia O'Malley and graduate student Dylan Losey have refined their method to train robots by applying gentle physical feedback to machines while they perform tasks. The goal is to simplify the training of robots expected to work efficiently side by side ... read more |
Toyota showcases humanoid robot that mirrors userTokyo (AFP) Nov 29, 2017 Japanese auto giant Toyota Wednesday showcased a humanoid robot that can mirror its user's movements, a product it says has uses as varied as elderly care and disaster response. ... more
Biotemplates breakthrough paves way for cheaper nanobotsWashington DC (SPX) Dec 05, 2017 A feature of science fiction stories for decades, nanorobot potential ranges from cancer diagnosis and drug delivery to tissue repair and more. A major hurdle to these endeavors, however, is finding ... more
Amputees can learn to control a robotic arm with their mindsChicago IL (SPX) Nov 29, 2017 A new study by neuroscientists at the University of Chicago shows how amputees can learn to control a robotic arm through electrodes implanted in the brain. The research, published in Nature C ... more
'Grinch bots' may steal Christmas by snatching up prized toysSan Francisco (AFP) Dec 8, 2017 If no one comes to the rescue, an online army of "Grinch bots" may end up spoiling Christmas for many kids by using automated software to scoop up prized toys and other sought-after items for big profit. ... more |
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| Previous Issues | Dec 07 | Dec 06 | Dec 05 | Dec 04 | Dec 01 |
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Robot learning improves student engagementEast Lansing MI (SPX) Dec 05, 2017 The first-ever study of Michigan State University's pioneering robot-learning course shows that online students who use the innovative robots feel more engaged and connected to the instructor and st ... more
Cheap origami-inspired muscles are both soft and strongBoston MA (SPX) Nov 28, 2017 Soft robotics has made leaps and bounds over the last decade as researchers around the world have experimented with different materials and designs to allow once rigid, jerky machines to bend and fl ... more
Lockheed Martin autonomous driving system tops 55,000M in extended testDallas TX (SPX) Dec 04, 2017 Lockheed Martin's Autonomous Mobility Applique System (AMAS) logged more than 55,000 testing miles during the U.S. Army Extended Warfighter Experiment (EWE) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort ... more
With 'material robotics,' intelligent products won't even look like robotsCorvallis OR (SPX) Nov 30, 2017 Robots as inconspicuous as they are ubiquitous represent the vision of researchers in the new and burgeoning field of material robotics. In an invited perspective paper published in Science Ro ... more
NASA builds its next Mars rover missionPasadena CA (JPL) Nov 29, 2017 In just a few years, NASA's next Mars rover mission will be flying to the Red Planet. At a glance, it looks a lot like its predecessor, the Curiosity Mars rover. But there's no doubt it's a souped-u ... more
Scientists developed a new sensor for future missions to the Moon and MarsMoscow, Russia (SPX) Nov 30, 2017 A team of scientists from the Faculty of Physics of Lomonosov Moscow State University and their colleagues developed a compact spectral polarimeter for carrying outmineralogical investigations on th ... more |
![]() Amazon brings Alexa from the home to the office in a new AI push
Artificial muscles give 'superpower' to robotsMiami (AFP) Nov 27, 2017 Inspired by the folding technique of origami, US researchers said Monday they have crafted cheap, artificial muscles for robots that give them the power to lift up to 1,000 times their own weight. ... more
Facebook trains artificial intelligence to spot suicidal signsSan Francisco (AFP) Nov 27, 2017 Facebook on Monday said stepping up the use of artificial intelligence to identify members of the leading social network who may be thinking of suicide. ... more
Zwicky Transient Facility sees "First Light"College Park MD (SPX) Nov 16, 2017 A new robotic camera with the ability to capture hundreds of thousands of stars and galaxies in a single shot has taken its first image of the sky - an event astronomers refer to as "first light." ... more
Speedy collision detector could make robots better human assistantsSan Diego CA (SPX) Nov 22, 2017 Electrical engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a faster collision detection algorithm that uses machine learning to help robots avoid moving objects and weave through ... more |
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Miami (AFP) Dec 4, 2017
Peregrine falcons are nature's fastest predators, and the way they swoop down on a target may one day inspire small, visually guided drones that can take out rogue drones, researchers said Monday.
Falcons' attack trajectories do not follow any geometric rules, contrary to popular belief, said the report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Rather, the birds use their e ... more Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017Hensoldt intros new counter-drone system Tokyo (AFP) Dec 7, 2017'Go home' drone seeks to stop Japan overtime binge Beijing (AFP) Dec 7, 2017China says Indian drone 'invaded' its airspace, crashed |
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
The U.S. is losing ground in a second laser revolution of highly intense, ultrafast lasers that have broad applications in manufacturing, medicine, and national security, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Currently, 80 percent to 90 percent of the high-intensity laser systems are overseas, and all of the highest power research lasers currently ... more Oak Ridge TN (SPX) Dec 07, 2017ORNL-designed algorithm leverages Titan to create high-performing deep neural networks Seattle WA (SPX) Dec 07, 2017In first, 3-D printed objects connect to WiFi without electronics Houston TX (SPX) Dec 08, 2017Nature's toughest substances decoded |
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Lausanne, Switzerland (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
A group of spintronics researchers at EPFL is using new materials to reveal more of the many capabilities of electrons. The field of spintronics seeks to tap the quantum properties of "spin," the term often used to describe one of the fundamental properties of elementary particles - in this case, electrons. This is among the most cutting-edge areas of research in electronics today.
Researc ... more London UK (SPX) Dec 08, 2017Squeezing light into a tiny channel brings optical computing a step closer Washington (AFP) Dec 7, 2017Qualcomm CEO sees 'no path to value' in Broadcom tie-up Singapore (SPX) Dec 07, 2017NUS researchers achieve significant breakthrough in topological insulator based devices |
Mounana, Gabon (AFP) Nov 29, 2017
"We are all sick. It's our health, and we are being conned," Moise Massala says angrily.
The 82-year-old is a retired geochemist who used to work in a uranium mine in Gabon owned by French nuclear giant Areva.
He and hundreds of other former workers say they fell ill from their work to extract the uranium - a source of nuclear power and warheads, but toxic and potentially carcinogenic. ... more Ostrovets, Belarus (AFP) Nov 26, 2017Belarus nuclear power plant stirs fears in Lithuania Charlotte NC (SPX) Nov 22, 2017Lightbridge and AREVA NP Sign Agreements to Immediately Advance Fuel Development London (AFP) Nov 22, 2017UK made grave errors over Hinkley nuclear project: MPs |
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Niamey (AFP) Dec 6, 2017
Niger on Wednesday said it had begun work on a new national security and defence policy as part of its campaign to fight terrorism, in a country where attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State are frequent.
During a forum of experts and military brass in the capital Niamey, the president's chief of staff, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, announced that the meeting marked the "first phase" in a strat ... more Abuja (AFP) Dec 7, 2017Nigeria appoints new chief to head Boko Haram fight Baghdad (AFP) Dec 5, 2017Fewer than 3,000 IS fighters left in Iraq, Syria: coalition Sarajevo (AFP) Dec 4, 2017Bosnia puts jihadist arrested with weapons in detention |
Paris (AFP) Dec 7, 2017
The development of oil, gas and coal energy must stop in order to avoid the worst ravages of global warming, 80 top economists said Thursday, days ahead of a climate summit in Paris.
"We call for an immediate end to investments in new fossil fuel production and infrastructure, and encourage a dramatic increase in investments in renewable energy," they wrote in a declaration.
The December ... more Washington DC (SPX) Nov 08, 2017Improving sensor accuracy to prevent electrical grid overload Washington (UPI) Oct 23, 2017Japan faces challenges in cutting CO2, Moody's finds Washington (UPI) Oct 19, 2017IEA: An electrified world would cost $31B per year to achieve |
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Albuquerque NM (SPX) Dec 06, 2017
Replacing your everyday gas guzzler with a hydrogen fueled car could drastically reduce your carbon footprint. So why don't we all make the switch?
One of reasons we don't is the expensive platinum catalyst required to operate hydrogen fuel cells efficiently.
Research led by Sandia National Laboratories and the University of California, Merced aim at bringing down the cost of hydroge ... more Washington (AFP) Dec 7, 2017Nuclear fusion project faces delay over US budget cuts: director Adelaide, Australia (AFP) Dec 1, 2017Musk's record-breaking battery officially launches in Australia Zurich, Switzerland (SPX) Nov 30, 2017Batteries with better performance and improved safety |
Beijing (XNA) Nov 27, 2017
China is now the world leader in remote sensing technologies for scientific purposes and is able to provide an unprecedented amount of data to support research and development for the world, officials said on Tuesday.
Remote sensing refers to aerial or satellite-based technologies to detect and measure objects on Earth's surface, atmosphere and oceans.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Sci ... more Beijing (XNA) Nov 19, 2017China plans for nuclear-powered interplanetary capacity by 2040 Beijing (Sputnik) Nov 16, 2017China plans first sea based launch by 2018 Beijing (XNA) Nov 02, 2017China's reusable spacecraft to be launched in 2020 |
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Dubai (AFP) Dec 6, 2017
Dubai's ruler on Wednesday launched the United Arab Emirates' first space programme aimed at sending four Emirati astronauts to the International Space Station within five years.
"On this day, a new chapter in our history begins with the launch of the first UAE Astronaut Programme," within the next five years, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, the UAE's vice president and prime ministe ... more Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 05, 2017The Voyagers in Popular Culture Washington (AFP) Dec 2, 2017NASA successfully fires Voyager 1 thrusters after 37 years Houston TX (SPX) Dec 05, 2017NASA Extends Expandable Habitat's Time on the International Space Station |
Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017
Opportunity, NASA's senior Mars rover, has lasted through another harsh winter on the Red Planet.
Like Earth, Mars has a tilted axis. But because Mars takes longer to circle the sun, its seasons are nearly twice as long.
With the sun hanging low and appearing only for a brief time each day, keeping Opportunity charged via its solar panels is a challenge. Engineers worried the rov ... more Providence RI (SPX) Dec 06, 2017Brown: Clay on Mars May Have Formed in Primordial Steam Bath Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 07, 2017Mars Rover Team's Tilted Winter Strategy Works Moscow (Sputnik) Dec 04, 2017EU exempts fuel for ExoMars mission from Russian sanctions |
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Washington (UPI) Dec 7, 2017
Aerospace startup company Rocket Lab have delayed plans to launch its Electron rocket until Friday.
The four-hour launch window was originally supposed to open at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday - Friday in New Zealand, where the rocket will launch from. The new window will open at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday - 1:30 in the afternoon on Saturday in New Zealand.
Officials said the launch was ... more Miami (AFP) Dec 6, 2017SpaceX's Elon Musk to launch his own car into deep space New Delhi (IANS) Nov 30, 2017ISRO eyes one rocket launch a month in 2018 Moscow (Sputnik) Nov 29, 2017Russia to build launch pad for super heavy-lift carrier by 2028 |
New Delhi (AFP) Dec 7, 2017
Cricket organisers must take pollution into account before allowing matches to go ahead, the Indian Medical Association told the country's governing body for the sport Thursday, after a smog-plagued Test match in New Delhi.
The IMA said in a letter to the Indian cricket board it was "greatly troubled" by scenes of players wearing masks to protect themselves from air pollution many times the ... more Nairobi (AFP) Dec 6, 2017World's nations adopt plan 'towards a pollution-free planet' Nairobi (AFP) Dec 7, 2017UN pledge to tackle lead poisoning too late for some victims Mesecoy, Philippines (AFP) Dec 6, 2017Confiscation crusaders try to save Philippine paradise |
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Frankfurt Am Main (AFP) Dec 7, 2017
German prosecutors on Thursday said they have opened a preliminary inquiry into allegations that luxury carmaker BMW used a defeat device to cheat diesel emissions tests in at least one of its models.
It comes after environmental group DUH this week said tests carried out on a 2016 BMW 320d showed the car emitted higher harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels on the road than in the lab, and wel ... more San Francisco (AFP) Dec 6, 2017Lyft puts driverless cars to work in Boston New Orleans LA (SPX) Dec 06, 2017Hearing hybrid and electric vehicles while quieting noise pollution London (AFP) Dec 5, 2017London's iconic black cabs go electric |
Boston MA (SPX) Dec 07, 2017
"Two-dimensional materials" - materials deposited in layers that are only a few atoms thick - are promising for both high-performance electronics and flexible, transparent electronics that could be layered onto physical surfaces to make computing ubiquitous.
The best-known 2-D material is graphene, which is a form of carbon, but recently researchers have been investigating other 2-D materi ... more Moscow, Russia (SPX) Nov 30, 2017Physicists explain metallic conductivity of thin carbon nanotube films Karlsruher, Germany (SPX) ov 27, 2017Ceria nanoparticles: It is the surface that matters Semiconducting carbon nanotubes can reduce noise in interconnects |
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Washington DC (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
The U.S. is losing ground in a second laser revolution of highly intense, ultrafast lasers that have broad applications in manufacturing, medicine, and national security, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Currently, 80 percent to 90 percent of the high-intensity laser systems are overseas, and all of the highest power research lasers currently ... more Oak Ridge TN (SPX) Dec 07, 2017ORNL-designed algorithm leverages Titan to create high-performing deep neural networks Seattle WA (SPX) Dec 07, 2017In first, 3-D printed objects connect to WiFi without electronics Houston TX (SPX) Dec 08, 2017Nature's toughest substances decoded |
College Park MD (SPX) Dec 08, 2017
NASA has tapped the University of Maryland to lead a new consortium focused on putting satellite data to use to enhance food security and agriculture around the world.
The Earth Observations for Food Security and Agriculture Consortium (EOFSAC) will combine the expertise of more than 40 partners to advance the use of Earth observations in informing decisions that affect the global food sup ... more Manchester UK (SPX) Dec 06, 2017What makes soil, soil? Researchers find hidden clues in DNA Oak Ridge TN (SPX) Dec 07, 2017Drought-resistant plant genes could accelerate evolution of water-use efficient crops Champaign IL (SPX) Dec 06, 2017Light green plants save nitrogen without sacrificing photosynthetic efficiency |
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