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How hummingbirds hum

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology used a high-speed camera and 2176 microphones to measure the precise origin of the hummingbird's sound. The team found that the wing's pressure difference generates the hum, which is essential for lift-off and hovering.

Capturing all of light's data in one snapshot

Researchers at Duke University and other institutions are developing a 'super camera' capable of capturing all types of information carried by light, including polarization, depth, phase, coherence, and incidence angle. The project aims to create an imaging system that can handle sensing and processing simultaneously, streamlining size...

Curtin find could slash energy use and cost in making silicon

Researchers have discovered a method to produce silicon at room temperature using electrical currents instead of extreme heat, which could slash energy use and cost in the industry. This technique replaces thermochemical processes with electrochemical processes, converting clean electricity into chemical energy.

SourceCurtin University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 20, 2021

How to keep drones flying when a motor fails

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a solution to stabilize drones when one motor fails, using onboard camera information. The team equipped quadcopters with standard and event cameras, which enable the drone to estimate its position in space despite high-speed rotation. This innovation improves flight safety in area...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateJan 13, 2021

Accurate and efficient 3D motion tracking using deep learning

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new sensing method using deep learning and a structure-aware temporal bilateral filter. The system can track complex motions with higher accuracy, enabling applications such as tracking small animal movements, fluid flow, and virtual reality finger movements.

SourceTohoku University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics·DateNov 27, 2020

3D camera earns its stripes at Rice

Researchers at Rice University have developed a compact Hyperspectral Stripe Projector that combines depth and spectral information, enabling real-time 3D spectroscopy. This technology has potential applications in self-driving cars, machine vision, crop monitoring, and surface wear and corrosion detection.

SourceRice University·JournalOptics Express·DateSep 24, 2020

Inside the secret lives of synchronous fireflies

A team of researchers discovered that synchronous fireflies don't flash according to an innate rhythm but instead adjust their behavior based on what their neighbors are doing. The study uses a new technological approach to map out the locations of the bugs flashing in their vicinity, revealing a more complex synchronization mechanism.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateSep 23, 2020

All-optical method sets record for ultrafast high-spatial-resolution imaging: 15 trillion frames per second

Scientists have developed an all-optical imaging system that captures ultrafast dynamic processes at a record-breaking frame rate of 15 trillion frames per second. The method uses non-collinear optical parametric amplifiers, allowing for high spatial and temporal resolutions, and has the potential to become a new microscopy technique.

Biggest fish in the sea are girls

Female whale sharks grow more slowly than males but eventually surpass them to reach an average adult length of 14 metres. The study found that only one pregnant whale shark had produced 300 young, highlighting the benefits of large size for female whales.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateSep 16, 2020

Studying water polo for kicks

Water polo players use efficient 'eggbeater' kicks to elevate themselves in the water, exceeding biomechanical predictions. The high efficacy of this technique may lead to optimized sports performance and new underwater propulsion methods.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalSports Biomechanics·DateAug 25, 2020

T-ray camera speed boosted a hundred times over

A research team at the University of Warwick has developed a single-pixel terahertz imaging technology that reaches 100 times faster acquisition than the previous state-of-the-art. This breakthrough enables potential use in biomedical and industrial applications, including non-invasive security and medical screening.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 10, 2020

High-speed atomic video

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has successfully captured high-speed atomic video at 1,600 frames per second using a powerful electron microscope and highly sensitive camera. This achievement is 100 times faster than previous experiments and enables the observation of previously inaccessible details.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalBulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan·DateJun 4, 2020

Researchers incorporate computer vision and uncertainty into AI for robotic prosthetics

Researchers developed a software framework that incorporates computer vision and uncertainty into AI for robotic prosthetics, allowing users to walk safely on various terrains. The framework uses robust AI algorithms to predict terrain type, quantify uncertainty, and adjust behavior accordingly.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering·DateMay 27, 2020