When Mushrooms Control Robots

In creating a pair of new robots, Cornell researchers cultivated an unlikely component: fungal mycelia. By harnessing mycelia’s innate electrical signals, the researchers discovered a new way of controlling “biohybrid” robots that can potentially react to their environment better than their purely synthetic counterparts. Read on to learn more.

Seeing Like a Butterfly: Optical Invention Enhances Camera Capabilities

Butterflies can see more of the world than humans, including more colors and the field oscillation direction, or polarization, of light. Other species, like the mantis shrimp, can sense an even wider spectrum of light, as well as the circular polarization, or spinning states, of light waves. Inspired by these abilities in the animal kingdom, researchers have developed an ultrathin optical element known as a metasurface, which can attach to a conventional camera and encode the spectral and polarization data of images captured in a snapshot or video through tiny, antenna-like nano-structures that tailor light properties.

The Industrial Nervous System: IIoT and PLCs

Moving forward, the lines between PLCs, edge devices, and cloud systems will continue to blur. The most successful manufacturers will be those who can seamlessly integrate these technologies, creating a unified system that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Read on to learn more.

Convolutional Neural Networks Enable Nighttime Imaging

Increasing regulatory concentration on improving the protection of vulnerable road users (VRUs) against vehicle collisions at night has led to new evaluations of proven imaging modalities that might quickly, effectively, and economically identify VRUs and measure their positions relative to moving vehicles.

NeuWS Camera Overcomes Light Scattering With Full-Motion Video

Engineers have created full-motion video technology that could potentially be used to make cameras that peer through fog, smoke, driving rain, murky water, skin, bone, and other media that reflect scattered light and obscure objects from view.

Drones Navigate Unseen Environments via Liquid Neural Networks

Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have introduced a method for robust flight navigation agents to master vision-based fly-to-target tasks in intricate, unfamiliar environments.

Electronic Skin Sensor Decodes Human Motion

This system can track the motion of the entire body with a small sensory network.

Smart Micro-Robots Learn to Swim with AI

Researchers have been able to successfully teach micro-robots how to swim via deep reinforcement learning, marking a substantial leap in the progression of micro-swimming capability.

Faster Computation for Deep-Learning Applications

A new area of artificial intelligence called analog deep learning promises faster computation with a fraction of the energy usage.

Teaching Robots the Craft of Manipulating Materials

The new system learns directly from visual inputs to let a robot with a two-fingered gripper see, simulate, and shape doughy objects.

Nanomagnets Can Perform AI-Like Processing

The new method could slash the energy cost of AI.

Teaching Drones How to Navigate Real-World Weather

For drones to autonomously perform necessary but quotidian tasks, they must be able to adapt to wind conditions in real time.

Products of Tomorrow

This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.

Artificial Intelligence Magnifies the Utility of Electron Microscopes

A research team demonstrated a way to recover phase information.

Soft Sensor Boosts Fingertip Sensitivity for Robots

A haptic thumb-shaped sensor uses machine learning to accurately estimate where objects come into contact with the sensor and how large the applied forces are.

Artificial Intelligence in Cars — Inside the Brains

Learn the internal functioning of an AI processor that pulls from a variety of sensors, including radar, lidar, sonar, and cameras.

Artificial Intelligence Magnifies the Utility of Electron Microscopes

An AI framework enables scientists to improve an imaging technique, enhancing the performance of electron microscopes.

Facility Focus: The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Learn about the aviation, space, cybersecurity, and engineering achievements happening at Embry-Riddle.

Programmable Digital Fiber

The fiber contains memory, temperature sensors, and a trained neural network program for inferring physical activity.

Smart Laser Cutter System Detects Different Materials

SensiCut, a smart material-sensing platform for laser cutters, can differentiate among 30 materials commonly found in makerspaces.

3D Hand-Sensing Wristband

The technology has possible uses in monitoring disorders that affect fine motor skills such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Robot Locates and Retrieves Buried Items

This robotic arm fuses data from a camera and antenna to locate and retrieve items buried under piles and completely out of view.

3D Motion Tracking System for Autonomous Technology

The system could one day replace LiDAR and cameras in automated manufacturing, biomedical imaging, and autonomous driving.

Artificial Intelligence Creates Sharp Images from Blurry Photos

This AI turns even the blurriest photo into realistic computer-generated faces in HD.

Liquid Metal Sensors and AI Help Prosthetic Hands “Feel”

The technology could improve the control of prosthetic hands and provide a sense of “touch” for amputees.

Programmable Fiber Provides Power and Transmits Data

Designed for soldier uniforms, the fiber can sense, store, analyze, and infer activity when sewn into a piece of clothing.

Algorithm Designs Soft Robots That Sense

A deep-learning technique optimizes the arrangement of sensors on a robot’s body to ensure efficient operation.

Drones Use Machine Learning to Detect Landmines

Dangerous “butterfly” landmines can be detected using low-cost drones and infrared cameras.