In recent years, scientists have introduced a wide variety of robots of all shapes and sizes. Among these are microswimmers, carefully engineered microstructures that can move in water and other liquids.
TECHXPLORE
A new rational solvent molecule could enhance the performance of lithium metal battery electrolytes
Lithium (Li) metal batteries are currently perceived as one of the most promising next-generation batteries. As a result, many academics and companies worldwide have been focusing their research efforts on the development of these batteries, in the hope to gradually...
Study examines the effects of personally relevant robotic failures on users’ perceptions of collaborative robots
Over the past few decades, roboticists and computer scientists have developed increasingly advanced systems that can interact with humans and complete numerous everyday tasks. While robots are rapidly advancing, for humans to effectively start using them they should...
A locally reactive controller to enhance visual teach and repeat systems
To operate autonomously in a various unfamiliar settings and successfully complete missions, mobile robots should be able to adapt to changes in their surroundings. Visual teach and repeat (VT&R) systems are a promising class of approaches for training robots to...
A CMOS-based chip that integrates silicon quantum dots and multiplexed readout electronics
Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory have recently designed an integrated circuit (IC) that integrates silicon quantum dots with conventional readout electronics. This chip, introduced in a paper published...
New insights about the toxicity of smoke produced by home stoves and power plants
The color of smoke coming out from chimneys can vary greatly based on its source and how it is produced. For instance, small coal or biomass stoves typically release dense, black smoke, while power generation plants produce lighter-colored plumes of smoke.
A four-megabit nvCIM macro for edge AI devices
Edge AI devices, systems that combine artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing techniques, are becoming an essential part of the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. These devices include smart speakers, smart phones, robots, self-driven cars,...
A model that can create realistic animations of talking faces
In recent years, computer-generated animations of animals and humans have become increasingly detailed and realistic. Nonetheless, producing convincing animations of a character's face as it's talking remains a key challenge, as it typically entails the successful...
A wafer-scale van der Waals dielectric based on an inorganic molecular crystal film
Van der Waals (vdW) dielectrics, materials with dielectric properties and affected by van der Waals forces, are commonly integrated within electronic devices, as they can help to preserve the properties of 2D semiconducting materials. So far, however, fabricating...
New fuel cells that can operate at temperatures between -20 to 200°C
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are power cells that can transform the chemical energy produced during the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. While these cells could be highly promising energy solutions, most of...