The ability to become transparent is a considerable evolutionary advantage, as it allows animals to blend in with their environment, avoid predators and mask their movements. Robots with similar capabilities could be of great value for a number of applications, for...
Research
A brain-inspired architecture for human gesture recognition
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University and University of Technology Sydney have recently developed a machine learning architecture that can recognize human gestures by analyzing images captured by stretchable strain sensors. The new architecture, presented in...
Using a quantum-like model to enable perception in robots with limited sensing capabilities
Over the past few years, researchers have been trying to apply quantum physics theory to a variety of fields, including robotics, biology and cognitive science. Computational techniques that draw inspiration from quantum systems, also known as quantum-like (QL)...
A three-dimensional phase diagram of heavy-fermion compound with competing quantum phases
URu2Si2 is a metal that belongs to the family of heavy-fermion compounds in which several quantum phases (e.g., magnetism and superconductivity) can compete or coexist. These metals exhibit small energy scales that are easy to tune, a characteristic that makes them...
Investigating the interplay between axions and dark photons in the early universe
Axions and dark photons are two of the most promising types of particles for unveiling new physics. The axion scalar field explains the absence of an electric dipole moment for the neutron, while the dark photon resembles regular photons responsible for...
Teaching humanoid robots different locomotion behaviors using human demonstrations
In recent years, many research teams worldwide have been developing and evaluating techniques to enable different locomotion styles in legged robots. One way of training robots to walk like humans or animals is by having them analyze and emulate real-world...
Professor Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton – Investigating Disparities in Higher Education Environments
Increasing diversity among STEM students is extremely important when it comes to training the workforce of the future. Professor Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, a professor and social psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, has been carrying out extensive...
Dr Marian Klamer – Language as a Time Machine
Language is the primary tool used by human beings to communicate with each other, allowing them to co-operate, explore their similarities and sometimes even bridge their differences. Yet it can also become a means to dive deep into the past, acting as a time machine...
A quantum memory that operates at telecom wavelengths
To create large quantum networks, researchers will first need to develop efficient quantum repeaters. A key component of these repeaters are quantum memories, which are the quantum-mechanical equivalents of more conventional computer memories, such as random-access...
A new approach to control the stiffness and position of inflatable robots
Robots that are made of flexible materials that can be inflated have a number of desirable properties, including their light weight and high levels of compliance (i.e. the ability to undergo elastic deformation). These qualities make them ideal for completing tasks in...