Tiny flying robots that can flip, dart and change direction like insects could one day be sent into places too dangerous or confined for conventional drones, from collapsed buildings to other hard-to-reach environments. Researchers at MIT have taken a step towards that goal with an AI-based control system that gives an insect-scale flying robot far greater speed and agility. … [Read more...] about AI gives insect-sized flying robots a 450 per cent speed boost
Autonomous drone swarm wins XPRIZE for rapid wildfire response
An autonomous drone system designed to detect and respond to wildfires within minutes has secured a US$500,000 award in the international XPRIZE Wildfire competition. Developed by AURA Foresight, an international collaboration co-led by robotics researchers at the University of Bristol, the platform combines artificial intelligence, optical and thermal sensing and autonomous … [Read more...] about Autonomous drone swarm wins XPRIZE for rapid wildfire response
Solar desalination system turns seawater into fresh water without brine waste
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a solar-powered desalination system that produces fresh water while recovering almost all of the dissolved salts as solids rather than generating concentrated liquid brine. The technology uses laser-treated black metal to absorb solar energy and move seawater across its surface, where it evaporates. The researchers … [Read more...] about Solar desalination system turns seawater into fresh water without brine waste
Light-steering chip redirects beams in just 74 femtoseconds
Researchers at Caltech have developed an ultrafast optical device capable of using one beam of light to redirect another in just 74 femtoseconds. The technology uses a nanoengineered silicon metasurface to amplify interactions between light and matter, potentially offering a new approach to controlling light in future communications, computing and sensing systems. At 74 … [Read more...] about Light-steering chip redirects beams in just 74 femtoseconds
Engineers uncover hidden risk in AI-assisted aerospace design
Engineers at Imperial College London have identified a hidden problem in AI-assisted design that could cause automated optimisation systems to overlook promising aircraft and spacecraft concepts. The researchers found that engineering models can appear accurate when assessed individually, and even perform convincingly when coupled with other models, while still directing an … [Read more...] about Engineers uncover hidden risk in AI-assisted aerospace design