Over the past few decades, research teams worldwide have developed a wide variety of computational tools and technological solutions. Quality-diversity (QD) optimization algorithms are an approach that can generate large collections of diverse and highly performing...
TECHXPLORE
A highly stretchable and self-healing strain sensor for motion detection
Strain sensors are devices that can convert force, pressure, tension and weight into a change in electrical resistance (i.e., capacitance), which can then be measured. Over the past few years, these sensors have been used to create a variety of devices that can detect...
Using drones to reduce disease-spreading mosquito populations
Vector-borne diseases are illnesses that can be transmitted to humans by blood-feeding insects, such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Mosquitoes are known to contribute to the spread of a number of vector-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue, yellow fever and Zika.
A strategy to modulate the magnetic anisotropy of ultra-thin ferromagnets
Electrical control of the magnetism of novel two-dimensional ferromagnetic semiconductors could enable the development of new types of spintronic devices—electronic devices that leverage the intrinsic magnetic properties of electrons to transmit, store and process...
A platinum and yttrium iron garnet-based structure produces a new magnetoresistance effect
In recent years, several research teams worldwide have been trying to develop a new class of devices known as spintronics or spin transport electronics. These devices can encode, store, process and transmit data using the spin of electrons in certain materials.
An algorithm that merges online and offline reinforcement learning
In recent years, a growing number of researchers have been developing artificial neural network (ANN)- based models that can be trained using a technique known as reinforcement learning (RL). RL entails training artificial agents to solve a variety of tasks by giving...
A transparent artificial muscle to enable camouflaging in soft robots
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...
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)...
Using astrocytes to change the behavior of robots controlled by neuromorphic chips
Neurons, specialized cells that transmit nerve impulses, have long been known to be a vital element for the functioning of the human brain. Over the past century, however, neuroscience research has given rise to the false belief that neurons are the only cells that...