Tech Xplore news
Tech Xplore / Do robots have to be human-like for us to trust them?
Recently published research assessed human trust when collaborating with eyed and non-eyed robots of the same type. The data suggest that humans might not need human-like machines to trust and work with them. Instead, they ...
Tech Xplore / Researchers develop ultrahigh-water-flux membranes for seawater desalination
The supply–demand imbalance of clean water has resulted in a global sustainability crisis. The United Nations World Water Developments Report 2023 reveals that 2–3 billion people are suffering from a shortage of water.
Tech Xplore / Efficient and mild: Recycling of used lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) provide our portable devices like tablets and mobiles—and increasingly also vehicles—with power. As the share of volatile renewable energy needing electricity storage increases, more and more ...
Tech Xplore / Exploring the effects of hardware implementation on the exploration space of evolvable robots
Evolutionary robotics is a sub-field of robotics aimed at developing artificial "organisms" that can improve their capabilities and body configuration in response to their surroundings, just as humans and animals evolve, ...
Tech Xplore / A technique to facilitate the robotic manipulation of crumpled cloths
To assist humans during their day-to-day activities and successfully complete domestic chores, robots should be able to effectively manipulate the objects we use every day, including utensils and cleaning equipment. Some ...
Tech Xplore / Muscles for soft robots inspired by nature: Hydrogel actuators with improved performance
Robots made of metal and other solid materials are already widely used in industry. But they are too rigid and cumbersome for fine-motor activities and interaction with people, such as in nursing or medicine. Intensive research ...
Tech Xplore / Flexible solar cell achieves major power conversion efficiency gains
Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have tweaked the material of ternary organic solar cells (TOSCs) and achieved efficiencies in ...
Tech Xplore / Tech's carbon footprint: can AI revolutionize responsibly?
Across the globe, data servers are humming, consuming both megawatts and precious natural resources to bring life to our digital world.
Tech Xplore / Scientists create soft and scalable robotic hand based on multiple materials
Robots based on soft materials are often better at replicating the appearance, movements and abilities of both humans and animals. While there are now countless soft robots, many of these are difficult to produce on a large-scale, ...
Tech Xplore / An energy-efficient object detection system for UAVs based on edge computing
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are already used in countless settings to tackle real-world problems. These flying robotic systems can, among other things, help to monitor natural environments, ...
Tech Xplore / A bipedal robot that can walk using just one actuator
A small team of mechanical engineers at Carnegie Mellon University, working with a colleague from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has designed and built what they describe as the simplest walking robot ever. ...
Tech Xplore / A smart color-changing flexible battery with ultra-high efficiency
With the rapid growth of the smart and wearable electronic devices market, smart next-generation energy storage systems that have energy storage functions as well as additional color-changing properties are receiving a great ...