Category: Hi Tech & Innovation

Extra ‘set of eyes’ for self-driving cars: Roadside radar sensors could reduce blind spots Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are becoming increasingly common on roadways, but making them as safe as possible may entail going beyond the particular specs of the vehicles themselves to upgrading the roadway infrastructure. EyeDAR, a low-power millimeter-wave radar sensor roughly the size…

Midair haptics and levitation may get steadier with predictable ultrasonic airflow Acoustic streaming generated by airborne ultrasonic phased arrays plays a critical role in the performance of advanced ultrasonic technologies, including midair haptic feedback, odor delivery, and acoustic levitation. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a predictive model for acoustic streaming in phased arrays…

Scientists camouflage heart rate from invasive radar-based surveillance It’s a typical workday and you sign onto your computer. Unbeknownst to you, a high-frequency sensing system embedded in your work device is now tracking your heart rate, allowing your employer to monitor your breaks, engagement, and stress levels and infer alertness. It sounds like a dystopian…

New AI system pushes the time limits of generative video A team of EPFL researchers has taken a major step towards resolving the problem of drift in generative video, which is what causes sequences to become incoherent after a handful of seconds. Their breakthrough paves the way to AI videos with no time constraints. Go…

Musk vows to put data centers in space and run them on solar power but experts have their doubts Elon Musk vowed this week to upend another industry just as he did with cars and rockets—and once again he’s taking on long odds. Go to techxplore

Unhackable metasurface holograms: Security technology can lock information with light color and distance A research team led by Professor Junsuk Rho at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has developed a secure hologram platform that operates solely based on the wavelength of light and the spacing between metasurface layers. The technology makes hacking and…

New AI system fixes 3D printing defects in real time Additive manufacturing has revolutionized manufacturing by enabling customized, cost-effective products with minimal waste. However, with the majority of 3D printers operating on open-loop systems, they are notoriously prone to failure. Minor changes, like adjustments to nozzle size or print speed, can lead to print errors…

Detection of concealed explosives using terahertz spectral imaging and deep learning Detecting concealed explosives and chemical threats constitutes a critical challenge in global security, yet current technologies often face significant operational limitations. While X-ray scanners and millimeter-wave imaging can efficiently identify suspicious shapes, they frequently lack chemical specificity. Go to techxplore

Generative AI tool helps 3D print personalized items that withstand daily use Generative artificial intelligence models have left such an indelible impact on digital content creation that it’s getting harder to recall what the internet was like before it. You can call on these AI tools for clever projects such as videos and photos—but their…

Danish chemist’s invention could make counterfeiting a thing of the past Every year, companies lose revenue when goods are copied or illegally resold. Now, a new digital and legally binding fingerprint developed at the University of Copenhagen makes products impossible to counterfeit. Royal Copenhagen is among the first brands in the world to use the…

More efficient holographic solutions can enable smarter vehicle head-up displays Imagine driving down a busy highway. You need to check your speed and navigation, but glancing down at the dashboard takes your eyes off the road for a critical second. This is where head-up displays (HUDs) come in, projecting information directly onto the windshield. However,…

Low-cost gelators nearly double the performance of aircraft anti-icing fluids, finds new study Tiny molecules already used to thicken everyday products like lotions and adhesives may soon help keep aircraft safe in icy conditions. These molecules, known as low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs), can self-assemble into soft, gel-like structures and have long been used in industrial formulations.…

Data centers in space: Will 2027 really be the year AI goes to orbit? Google recently unveiled Project Suncatcher, a research “moonshot” aiming to build a data center in space. The tech giant plans to use a constellation of solar-powered satellites which would run on its own TPU chips and transmit data to one another…

Employing low-frequency noise can help electric vehicles stand out in busy environments One of the many benefits of electric vehicles is that they are much quieter than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. In some cases, though, they are too quiet. Automakers are required to design their vehicles so they emit sounds at low speeds to alert pedestrians…

‘Dinosaur tartare’ and holograms: Dubai AI chef sparks awe and ire A Dubai restaurant has opened that prides itself on having the world’s “first AI chef,” the latest ostentatious dive into new technology in a city obsessed with being on the cutting edge of the future. Go to techxplore

Electric vehicle prowess helps China’s flying car sector take off A worker in white gloves inspects the propellers of a boxy two-seater aircraft fresh off the assembly line at a Chinese factory trialing the mass production of flying cars. Go to techxplore

X-ray vision dives deep to boost safety, inspection and response X-ray imaging is useful for seeing inside objects without causing damage, but until now it was not practical for use underwater. Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have developed the first X-ray imaging system that clearly reveals the interior of suspicious objects or infrastructure underwater. Go…

Big platforms chart gradual path to self-driving at Web Summit Major Western ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft sketched a gradual path toward introducing self-driving cars at this week’s Web Summit in Lisbon, with infrastructure, developing regulation and passengers’ preference for human contact weighing on the brakes. Go to techxplore

DeepMind introduces AI agent that learns to complete various tasks in a scalable world model Over the past decade, deep learning has transformed how artificial intelligence (AI) agents perceive and act in digital environments, allowing them to master board games, control simulated robots and reliably tackle various other tasks. Yet most of these systems still…

Scientists create a novel hydrogel for unclonable security tags Encryption technologies are vital in today’s digital landscape to protect sensitive information from hackers and prevent fraud. While cutting-edge encryption has been developed for data, sophisticated protection for physical objects such as high-value products, access cards and documents has lagged behind until now. Go to techxplore

Waymo robotaxis to deliver orders for some US DoorDash users US food delivery app DoorDash announced Thursday that Waymo driverless cars will soon shuttle orders to some customers in a budding partnership with the Google-owned robotaxi star. Go to techxplore

AI-generated voices now indistinguishable from real human voices Many people still think of AI-generated speech as sounding “fake” or unconvincing and easily told apart from human voices. But new research from Queen Mary University of London shows that AI voice technology has now reached a stage where it can create “voice clones” or deepfakes which…

Film festival showcases what artificial intelligence can do on the big screen Artificial intelligence ‘s use in movie making is exploding. And a young film festival, now in its junior year, is showcasing what this technology can do on screen today. Go to techxplore

‘The Matrix is everywhere’: cinema bets on immersion In a Los Angeles theater, a trench coat-wearing Neo bends backwards to dodge bullets that spiral over the viewer’s head, as the sound of gunfire erupts from everywhere. Go to techxplore

AI-powered headphones offer group translation with voice cloning and 3D spatial audio Tuochao Chen, a University of Washington doctoral student, recently toured a museum in Mexico. Chen doesn’t speak Spanish, so he ran a translation app on his phone and pointed the microphone at the tour guide. But even in a museum’s relative quiet, the…

Photonic computing needs more nonlinearity: Acoustics can help Neural networks are one typical structure on which artificial intelligence can be based. The term “neural” describes their learning ability, which to some extent mimics the functioning of neurons in our brains. To be able to work, several key ingredients are required: one of them is an…

Encryption method for key exchange enables tap-proof communication to fend off future quantum tech threats Quantum computers are a specter for future data security because they might break many of today’s encryption methods. Among other things, this will affect encrypted emails, messenger services, or online banking. Together with partners, researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology…

AI and satellites help aid workers respond to Myanmar earthquake damage Just after sunrise on Saturday, a satellite set its long-range camera on the city of Mandalay in Myanmar, not far from the epicenter of Friday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake that devastated the Southeast Asian country’s second-largest city. Go to techxplore

DNA data storage: AI method speeds up data retrieval by 3,200 times Researchers from the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science have developed an AI-based method that accelerates DNA-based data retrieval by three orders of magnitude while significantly improving accuracy. The research team included Ph.D. student Omer Sabary, Dr. Daniella Bar-Lev, Dr. Itai…

AI ring tracks spelled words in American Sign Language A Cornell-led research team has developed an artificial intelligence-powered ring equipped with micro-sonar technology that can continuously—and in real time—track fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL). Go to techxplore

Driverless ‘bus of the future’ is tested in Barcelona Commuters in downtown Barcelona have been able to ride the bus for free this week. There’s just one catch: this mini-bus has no one at the wheel. Go to techxplore

Do it with your eyes closed: How Formula 1 drivers memorize race tracks before even stepping foot on them The Albert Park circuit for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix has 14 turns over 5.278 kilometers. F1 drivers can tell you the braking points, cornering speeds and preferred line for every one of those corners…

Rich in cash, Japan automaker Toyota builds a city to test futuristic mobility Woven City near Mount Fuji is where Japanese automaker Toyota plans to test everyday living with robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous zero-emissions transportation. Go to techxplore

Synaptic device array integrates sensing, memory, and processing for artificial vision In a development for artificial intelligence, researchers have unveiled a synaptic device array that shows promise for enhancing artificial visual systems. This innovative array, measuring a compact 0.7 × 0.7 cm2, integrates the capabilities of sensing, memory, and processing to mimic the intricate functions…

AI model masters new terrain at NASA facility one scoop at a time Extraterrestrial landers sent to gather samples from the surface of distant moons and planets have limited time and battery power to complete their mission. Aerospace and computer science engineering researchers at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign trained a…

Case study demonstrates practical applications for quantum machine learning Quantum researchers from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have demonstrated the potential for quantum computing to significantly improve how we solve complex problems involving large datasets, highlighting the potential of using quantum in areas such as real-time traffic management, agricultural monitoring, health care, and energy optimization.…

AI-powered robotic labs enable simultaneous experiments In a pioneering experiment, a robotic sample preparation platform, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) was used to undertake simultaneous experiments at both Diamond Light Source, the UK’s National Synchrotron, and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, the UK’s National Neutron and Muon Source. Go to techxplore

New training technique opens the door to neural networks that require much less energy AI applications like ChatGPT are based on artificial neural networks that, in many respects, imitate the nerve cells in our brains. They are trained with vast quantities of data on high-performance computers, gobbling up massive amounts of energy in the process.…

How virtual reality technologies are shaping an inclusive future for architecture Imagine stepping into your dream home before it is even built. Virtual reality (VR) technologies are revolutionizing architecture by allowing clients to walk through their future spaces, change details and experience the space before construction. VR bridges the gap between imagination and reality. Go…

From brain maps to living bridges: The innovations set to reshape life in 2025 From solar energy beamed from space to genetic brain maps and live self-repairing bridges, research in 2025 is promising. And we may see more changes that make cities greener and cleaner. Go to techxplore

Study reveals vulnerability of metaverse platforms to cyber attacks Having access to virtual worlds from your home computer via your web browser and being able to interact with others in a secure and private manner: that is the promise of metaverse platforms. Go to techxplore

Platform allows AI to learn from constant, nuanced human feedback rather than large datasets During your first driving class, the instructor probably sat next to you, offering immediate advice on every turn, stop and minor adjustment. If it was a parent, they might have even grabbed the wheel a few times and shouted “Brake!” Over…

Using AI to turn sound recordings into accurate street images Using generative artificial intelligence, a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has converted sounds from audio recordings into street-view images. The visual accuracy of these generated images demonstrates that machines can replicate human connection between audio and visual perception of environments.…