Robot News from RoboDaily.com
February 18, 2019
ROBO SPACE
The first walking robot that moves without GPS



Pris, France (SPX) Feb 14, 2019
Human eyes are insensitive to polarized light and ultraviolet radiation, but that is not the case for ants, who use it to locate themselves in space. Cataglyphis desert ants in particular can cover several hundreds of meters in direct sunlight in the desert to find food, then return in a straight line to the nest, without getting lost. They cannot use pheromones: they come out when the temperature would burn the slightest drop. Their extraordinary navigation talent relies on two pieces of informat ... read more

ROBO SPACE
Getting a grip on human-robot cooperation
Pisa, Italy (SPX) Feb 14, 2019
There is a time when a successful cooperation between humans and robots has decisive importance: it is in the precise moment that one "actor" is required to hand an object to another "actor" and, th ... more
MARSDAILY
DLR 'Mole' deployed on surface of Mars
Cologne, Germany (SPX) Feb 14, 2019
It stands vertically on flat ground, ready for its historic mission. At 19:18 CET on 12 February 2019, the German Aerospace Center Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) or 'Mole' was deplo ... more
MARSDAILY
Mars Rover Opportunity Ends Mission After 15 Years
Ithaca NY (SPX) Feb 13, 2019
The Mars rover Opportunity, NASA's robotic geologist fitted with an array of tools to search for evidence of water, ended its mission Feb. 13 - three weeks after its 15th anniversary and long past i ... more
MARSDAILY
NASA announces demise of Opportunity rover
Washington (AFP) Feb 14, 2019
During 14 years of intrepid exploration across Mars, it advanced human knowledge by confirming that water once flowed on the red planet - but NASA's Opportunity rover has analyzed its last soil sample. ... more
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ROBO SPACE
Teaching AI systems to adapt to dynamic environments
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 18, 2019
Current AI systems excel at tasks defined by rigid rules - such as mastering the board games Go and chess with proficiency surpassing world-class human players. However, AI systems aren't very ... more
ROBO SPACE
Psychology: Robot saved, people take the hit
Munich, Germany (SPX) Feb 11, 2019
Robots are now being employed not just for hazardous tasks, such as detecting and disarming mines. They are also finding application as household helps and as nursing assistants. As increasing numbe ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Robot lifts bits of melted fuel at Japan's Fukushima plant
Tokyo (AFP) Feb 14, 2019
A robot arm has successfully picked up pebble-sized pieces of radioactive fuel at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant in a complex operation seen as key to clean-up efforts after the 2011 meltdown, officials said Thursday. ... more
ROBO SPACE
Can we trust scientific discoveries made using machine learning?
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 18, 2019
Rice University statistician Genevera Allen says scientists must keep questioning the accuracy and reproducibility of scientific discoveries made by machine-learning techniques until researchers dev ... more
ROBO SPACE
Pope talks AI ethics with Microsoft head Smith
Vatican City (AFP) Feb 13, 2019
Pope Francis debated the potential threats artificial intelligence poses to humanity with the head of Microsoft on Wednesday, ahead of a robotics summit at the Vatican, it said. ... more
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ROBO SPACE
Programming autonomous machines ahead of time promotes selfless decision-making
Aberdeen Proving Ground MD (SPX) Feb 12, 2019
A new study suggests the use of autonomous machines increases cooperation among individuals. Researchers from the U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory, the A ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Robot probes radioactive fuel at Japan's Fukushima plant
Tokyo (AFP) Feb 13, 2019
A robot will attempt to examine radioactive fuel at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant on Wednesday in a complex operation seen as key to clean-up efforts after the 2011 meltdown. ... more
ROBO SPACE
Trumps orders government to prioritize artificial intelligence
Washington (AFP) Feb 11, 2019
President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the US administration to give greater priority to artificial intelligence, a move seen as firing up a battle for leadership with China. ... more
ROBO SPACE
Trump orders government to prioritize artificial intelligence
Washington (AFP) Feb 12, 2019
President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the US administration to give greater priority to artificial intelligence, a move seen as firing up a battle for leadership with China. ... more
ROBO SPACE
IBM says AI debate loss is still a win
Washington (AFP) Feb 12, 2019
IBM conceded Tuesday its artificial intelligence-powered Project Debater lost a competition to a human debate champion but said the experience was an important milestone in efforts to get computers to master human language. ... more


NASA's MAVEN spacecraft shrinking its Mars orbit to prepare for Mars 2020 Rover

MARSDAILY
Developing a flight strategy to land heavier vehicles on Mars
Urbana IL (SPX) Feb 12, 2019
The heaviest vehicle to successfully land on Mars is the Curiosity Rover at 1 metric ton, about 2,200 pounds. Sending more ambitious robotic missions to the surface of Mars, and eventually humans, w ... more
Robotics News from RoboDaily.com

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CAR TECH
SoftBank fund invests big in self-driving deliveries
San Francisco (AFP) Feb 11, 2019
A Silicon Valley startup working on self-driving delivery vehicles on Monday announced nearly a billion dollars in fresh funding from the SoftBank Vision Fund. ... more
CYBER WARS
Bezos, world's richest man, shows won't be pushed around
San Francisco (AFP) Feb 8, 2019
He built one of the world's most valuable companies from scratch, becoming the richest person on the planet. ... more
SPACEMART
Recreating space on Earth - two facilities join ESA's platforms for spaceflight research
Human and Robotic Exploration
Paris (ESA) Feb 07, 2019 Science is everywhere but opportunities to carry out research in space can be limited. To combat this, ESA works with institutes across Europe to maintain a network of grou ... more
MARSDAILY
InSight's Seismometer Now Has a Cozy Shelter on Mars
Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 05, 2019
For the past several weeks, NASA's InSight lander has been making adjustments to the seismometer it set on the Martian surface on Dec. 19. Now it's reached another milestone by placing a domed shiel ... more
ROBO SPACE
A reconfigurable soft actuator
Boston MA (SPX) Feb 05, 2019
Mechanical systems, such as engines and motors, rely on two principal types of motions of stiff components: linear motion, which involves an object moving from one point to another in a straight lin ... more
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Illegally drones pose an outsized risk for US aviation and the public
Alexandria VA (SPX) Feb 15, 2019
U.S. aviation is courting catastrophe by making drones so accessible to untrained, unskilled, less-than-serious "pilots" who treat them as toys, veteran LeClairRyan aviation attorney Mark A. Dombroff warns in a new column at AviationPros.com. "My fear is that, sooner or later, an illegally operated drone will cause a catastrophic aviation accident," writes Dombroff, an Alexandria-based mem ... more
+ Hughes satellite modems power beyond-line-of-sight comms for UAVs
+ UK plans drone 'swarm squadrons' after Brexit
+ German Forces Begin Training Courses on Armed Israeli Surveillance Drones
+ Airborne Response supports fire and rescue exercise with drones and aerostats
+ ZX Lidars achieves world-first wind Lidar measurements from a drone
+ Ecuador eradicates Galapagos rats using drones
+ Taiwan unveils new drone as China tensions mount
Nanotechnology enables engineers to weld previously un-weldable aluminum alloy
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 13, 2019
An aluminum alloy developed in the 1940s has long held promise for use in automobile manufacturing, except for one key obstacle. Although it's nearly as strong as steel and just one-third the weight, it is almost impossible to weld together using the technique commonly used to assemble body panels or engine parts. That's because when the alloy is heated during welding, its molecular struct ... more
+ NASA to Advance Unique 3D Printed Sensor Technology
+ A glimpse into the future
+ Study unfolds a new class of mechanical devices
+ Researchers find way to stabilize color of light in next-gen material
+ Raytheon contract ceiling for Silent Knight development upped by $15M
+ Polymers pave way for wider use of recycled tires in asphalt
+ Turning desalination waste into a useful resource


Running an LED in reverse could cool future computers
Ann Arbor MI (SPX) Feb 14, 2019
In a finding that runs counter to a common assumption in physics, researchers at the University of Michigan ran a light emitting diode (LED) with electrodes reversed in order to cool another device mere nanometers away. The approach could lead to new solid-state cooling technology for future microprocessors, which will have so many transistors packed into a small space that current methods ... more
+ Spintronics by 'straintronics'
+ Penn engineers develop room temperature, two-dimensional platform for quantum technology
+ Quantum strangeness gives rise to new electronics
+ Boosting solid state chemical reactions
+ Life on the edge in the quantum world
+ First transport measurements reveal intriguing properties of germanene
+ Controllable electron flow in quantum wires
Glowing results for nuclear power at France's EDF
Paris (AFP) Feb 15, 2019
A rebound in nuclear and hydroelectric production helped French power company EDF push operating profits higher last year, it said Friday while remaining cautious about the outlook for 2019. Operating profit climbed by 11 percent to 15.3 billion euros ($17.2 billion), slightly higher than the consensus of analyst forecasts compiled by data firm FactSet. Net profit plunged by nearly 63 p ... more
+ Storage of nuclear waste a 'global crisis': report
+ Strategic French civil nuclear industry contract: Framatome is a committed actor of the sector in France and abroad
+ Framatome receives $49 million grant to accelerate enhanced accident tolerant fuel development
+ Framatome companies and Joint Ventures in China are renamed
+ Hitachi wants nationalisation of UK nuclear project: report
+ Britain's AECOM, AWE announce nuclear waste storage partnership
+ Framatome receives $49 million grant to accelerate enhanced accident tolerant fuel development
Top general won't say 'winning' in anti-IS fight
Washington (AFP) Feb 14, 2019
The general leading US special operations forces cautioned Thursday against talk of "winning" against the Islamic State group in Syria, where the jihadists are fighting to defend a last scrap of territory. President Donald Trump in December declared victory over IS, saying the US had "beaten them badly" and "we have won" as he announced the 2,000 or so American troops - most of them special ... more
+ US struggles to convince anti-IS allies to secure Syria after it leaves
+ Britain will 'do what it takes' to beat IS: minister
+ US targets Al-Qaeda in Libya air strike
+ Tunisia IS-linked children must be brought home: HRW
+ Russia 'repatriates' 27 IS children from Iraq
+ Caught in Syria, foreign jihadist suspects may face trial in Iraq
+ US strikes in Somalia won't stop Shabaab: US general
S.Africa imposes severe power cuts ahead of election
Johannesburg (AFP) Feb 11, 2019
South Africa on Monday introduced its most severe electricity rationing in nearly five years, presenting President Cyril Ramaphosa with a major political challenge just months ahead of a May general election. The debt-laden state power utility Eskom is at the centre of the country's economic troubles and has been hit by allegations of government graft. Ramaphosa who last week admitted th ... more
+ To conserve energy, AI clears up cloudy forecasts
+ Keeping the lights on during extreme cold snaps takes investments and upgrades
+ US charges Chinese national for stealing energy company secrets
+ Making the world hotter: India's expected AC explosion
+ EU court backs Dyson on vacuum cleaner energy tests
+ Mining bitcoin uses more energy than Denmark: study
+ Spain's Ibedrola sells hydro, gas-powered assets in U.K. for $929M


Upcycling plastic bags into battery parts
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 14, 2019
Plastic bag pollution has become a huge environmental problem, prompting some cities and countries to heavily tax or ban the sacks. But what if used plastic bags could be made into higher-value products? Now, researchers have reported a new method to convert plastic bags into carbon chips that could be used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries. They report their results in ACS Omega. See it ... more
+ Improving geothermal HVAC systems with mathematics
+ Mana Monitoring Sets Sights on National Smart Grid Opportunities for 2019
+ Better red than dread: Barrier keeps batteries safe
+ Fuel Cell electric buses ready to deliver zero-emission transit throughout US
+ Lithium-air batteries can store energy for cars, houses and industry
+ Shell buys German battery maker Sonnen
+ Chinese company wins bid to build lithium factories in Bolivia
China improves Long March-6 rocket for growing commercial launches
Beijing (XNA) Feb 12, 2019
China announced Monday that it is developing the modified version of the Long March-6 rocket to add four solid boosters to increase its carrying capacity. The improved medium-left carrier rocket will be sent into space by 2020, according to the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which designed the rocket. The Long ... more
+ Seed of moon's first sprout: Chinese scientists' endeavor
+ China to send over 50 spacecraft into space via over 30 launches in 2019
+ China to deepen lunar exploration: space expert
+ China launches Zhongxing-2D satellite
+ China welcomes world's scientists to collaborate in lunar exploration
+ In space, the US sees a rival in China
+ China launches telecommunication technology test satellite


Five future astronauts and a teacher you need to know
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 13, 2019
All five of the women in NASA's latest class of astronaut candidates followed a passion for adventure and science to get where they are today and are inspirations for the next generation of NASA scientists. Kayla Barron, Zena Cardman, Jasmin Moghbeli, Loral O'Hara and Jessica Watkins are nearing the end of two years of intensive training that began in August 2017. They were selected out of ... more
+ The future of human spaceflight in America
+ Refabricator to recycle, reuse plastic installed on Space Station
+ US to extend use of Russia's Soyuz for ISS missions until April 2020
+ The case for leaving Earth
+ New research opportunities on International Space Station
+ Ex-Marine pilot dreams of ferrying folks into space
+ Richard Branson says he'll fly to space by July
New study suggests possibility of recent underground volcanism on Mars
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 13, 2019
A study published last year in the journal Science suggested liquid water is present beneath the south polar ice cap of Mars. Now, a new study in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters argues there needs to be an underground source of heat for liquid water to exist underneath the polar ice cap. The new research does not take sides as to whether the liquid water exists. Instead, the a ... more
+ NASA announces demise of Opportunity rover
+ DLR 'Mole' deployed on surface of Mars
+ InSight Prepares to Take Mars's Temperature
+ Mars Rover Opportunity Ends Mission After 15 Years
+ NASA to make final attempt to contact Mars Opportunity Rover
+ NASA's Record-Setting Opportunity Rover Mission on Mars Comes to End
+ Developing a flight strategy to land heavier vehicles on Mars


Raptor engine beats Russian RD-180 record in combustion chamber pressure says Musk
Moscow (Sputnik) Feb 12, 2019
The new methane-fueled Raptor engine developed by US SpaceX aerospace company for its Starship interplanetary craft has outperformed the Russian RD-180 rocket engine in terms of pressure level in the combustion chamber, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Monday. "Raptor reached 268.9 bar [approximately 274.2 kilograms of power per square centimeter], exceeding prior record held by the awesome Ru ... more
+ Arianespace orbits two telecommunications satellites on first Ariane 5 launch of 2019
+ SpaceX no-load test delayed
+ Launch of Unmanned US Dragon 2 Spacecraft to ISS Set for March 2
+ Learning on the Job: Student Rocket Launches From Norway
+ New photos show russia's first hypersonic space drone
+ Arianespace Rejects Russia Offer to Fix Seam Rupture in Fregat Booster
+ India enlists France's Arianespace to replace dying satellite
In New York, one non-profit looks to combat textile waste
New York (AFP) Feb 14, 2019
The fashion industry generates tons of fabric waste each year, notably in New York - one of the world's shopping capitals and host twice a year to runway shows, a major contributor to the wider problem. Enter Fabscrap, a non-profit organization dedicated to recycling and reusing textiles that are unsuitable for donation. Every day, 3,000 pounds (some 1,350 kilos) of scraps arrive at the ... more
+ Philip Morris eyes tech gadgets for 'smoke-free' market
+ Ten towns hit by river pollution from Brazil dam disaster
+ NUS marine scientists find toxic bacteria on microplastics retrieved from tropical waters
+ Light pollution affects most of the planet's key wildlife areas
+ Holloman Air Force Base receives notice for groundwater contamination
+ Green water-purification system works without heavy metals or corrosive chemicals
+ A warming world increases air pollution


Risk Analysis releases special issue on social science of automated cars
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 15, 2019
Risk Analysis, An International Journal has published a special issue, "Social Science of Automated Driving," which features several articles examining the human side of automated driving, focusing on questions about morality, the role of feeling, trust and risk perceptions. Autonomous vehicles are more than just an improvement on existing vehicles, they are a brand new technology. The wid ... more
+ Amazon invests in electric vehicle startup Rivian
+ Giving keener 'electric eyesight' to autonomous vehicles
+ Teaching self-driving cars to predict pedestrian movement
+ UN eyes rule for automatic emergency braking systems in new cars
+ SoftBank fund invests big in self-driving deliveries
+ Injuries pile up with e-scooter craze: survey
+ Amazon invests in self-driving car startup Aurora
Customized mix of materials for three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures
Karlsruher, Germany (SPX) Feb 14, 2019
Three-dimensional structures on the micrometer and nanometer scales have a great potential for many applications. An efficient and precise process to print such structures from different materials is now presented by researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Carl Zeiss AG in Science Advances: they integrated a microfluidic chamber into a 3D laser lithography device. Then, they u ... more
+ Nano drops a million times smaller than a teardrop explodes 19th century theory
+ Rice lab adds porous envelope to aluminum plasmonics
+ Research details sticky situations at the nanoscale
+ Nano-infused ceramic could report on its own health
+ Aerosol-assisted biosynthesis strategy enables functional bulk nanocomposites
+ Platinum forms nano-bubbles
+ New applications for encapsulated nanoparticles with promising properties


Nanotechnology enables engineers to weld previously un-weldable aluminum alloy
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 13, 2019
An aluminum alloy developed in the 1940s has long held promise for use in automobile manufacturing, except for one key obstacle. Although it's nearly as strong as steel and just one-third the weight, it is almost impossible to weld together using the technique commonly used to assemble body panels or engine parts. That's because when the alloy is heated during welding, its molecular struct ... more
+ NASA to Advance Unique 3D Printed Sensor Technology
+ A glimpse into the future
+ Study unfolds a new class of mechanical devices
+ Researchers find way to stabilize color of light in next-gen material
+ Raytheon contract ceiling for Silent Knight development upped by $15M
+ Polymers pave way for wider use of recycled tires in asphalt
+ Turning desalination waste into a useful resource
Prickly pears: 'humble' cactus brings hope to Algeria
Sidi Fredj, Algeria (AFP) Feb 15, 2019
For generations Algerians like the Gueldasmi family have barely eked out a living growing prickly pear fruits, but thanks to the cactus's new found virtues their lives are steadily improving. "Now, my future is here. There is no need to go abroad" to find work, said Fethi Gueldasmi, 40, whose family's revenues have been growing thanks to what agronomists and biologists now call the "green go ... more
+ Surprise findings turn up the temperature on the study of vernalization
+ NASA is Everywhere: Farming Tech with Roots in Space
+ Tracking pollen with quantum dots
+ China imposes anti-dumping tariffs on Brazilian chicken
+ After deadly clashes, Ivorian farmers and herders try dialogue
+ Prickly pears: 'humble' cactus brings hope to Algeria
+ Australia cattle giant warns of 'extreme losses' from floods
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