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Developers, educators view AI harms differently, research finds

Developers of educational tools focus on technical challenges, while educators are concerned with broader impacts, such as inhibiting critical thinking skills and exacerbating systemic inequality. Researchers recommend designer-centered approach to facilitate development of educator-centered edtech.

Light-driven cockroach cyborgs navigate without wires or surgery

Researchers created a new type of insect cyborg that can navigate autonomously using UV light to guide movement, preserving sensory organs and maintaining consistent control. The system outperformed traditional methods in tests, with 94% of cyborg insects escaping a maze-like environment compared to just 24% of normal cockroaches.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

System lets robots identify an object’s properties through handling

Researchers developed a technique that enables robots to learn about an object's weight, softness, or contents by picking it up and gently shaking it. This method uses internal sensors and simulation processes to rapidly identify characteristics of the object, making it suitable for applications where cameras might be less effective.

This soft robot “thinks” with its legs

A research team from AMOLF created a soft robot that moves with surprising coordination and autonomy, thanks to the principle of physical synchronization. The robot's soft tubes oscillate to create rhythmic locomotion gaits, adapting to obstacles and environments without central control.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Ping pong bot returns shots with high-speed precision

Researchers at MIT created a table tennis bot that can return shots with high-speed precision, achieving a hit rate of 88% in tests. The technology could be adapted to improve the speed and responsiveness of humanoid robots for search-and-rescue operations.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Gender characteristics of service robots can influence customer decisions

Researchers found that service robots with male characteristics can be more persuasive when interacting with women who have a low sense of power. Conversely, cute features in robot design can reduce the effect of portrayed gender on persuasiveness, making them effective for both male and female customers.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Physical cloaking works like a disappearing act for structural defects

Engineers at Princeton University and Georgia Institute of Technology have created a method to reinforce structures without creating new weaknesses. The approach uses microstructures designed to protect against multiple loads, allowing designers to counter various stresses simultaneously.

Robotic touch sensors are not just skin deep

A new method to measure touch reception has been developed, allowing robots to accurately sense object curves and edges. By addressing the insulation layer issue in robotic skins, the researchers provided a clear step-by-step guide for trouble-shooting.

National Academy of Sciences elects Lydia Kavraki as a member

Kavraki's interdisciplinary research in robotics and biomedicine has been recognized for its impact on manufacturing, space exploration, and medicine. Her work bridges theory and application, with contributions to novel robot motion planning, personalized cancer treatments, and drug discovery.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Robotic system zeroes in on objects most relevant for helping humans

A new robotic system uses cues in a scene to determine a human's objective and quickly identify relevant objects, enabling intuitive assistance in household, workplace, and warehouse settings. The approach achieved 90% accuracy in predicting human objectives and 96% accuracy in identifying relevant objects.

Material? Robot? It’s a metabot

Researchers at Princeton University developed a 'metabot' material that can expand, assume new shapes, move, and respond to electromagnetic commands. The metamaterial's complex behavior is enabled by chirality, allowing it to defy typical physical object rules.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

RoboBee comes in for a landing

The Harvard RoboBee has been equipped with crane fly-inspired legs and an updated controller, allowing it to land safely on various surfaces. The robot's delicate actuators were protected by the improved design, which enabled controlled landing tests on a leaf and rigid surfaces.

Machine learning unlocks superior performance in light-driven organic crystals

Researchers from Waseda University used machine learning to enhance the performance of photomechanical crystals, achieving up to 3.7 times greater force output compared to previously reported values. This breakthrough has significant implications for remote-controlled actuators, medical devices, and energy-efficient systems.

Hopping gives this tiny robot a leg up

Researchers created a hopping robot that can traverse challenging terrains, carry heavy payloads, and uses less energy than aerial robots. The robot's springy leg and flapping-wing modules enable it to jump over obstacles and adjust its orientation mid-air.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Want to 3D print a walking robot? Just ask your computer.

Text2Robot leverages generative AI to convert user text descriptions into functional robots. The system generates manufacturable robot designs that resemble the specific request within minutes, making it accessible to anyone with a computer and 3D printer.

Nurture more important than nature for robotic hand

A team of researchers discovered that a robotic hand can learn to grasp and rotate objects even with incomplete or absent tactile sensation. The study highlights the importance of the sequence of learning experiences, also known as the curriculum, in facilitating learning.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

AI in a mini-lab or putting precision to the test

Juan Gamella's mini-labs provide a flexible test environment for new AI algorithms, allowing researchers to test their performance beyond simulated data. The mini-labs help identify issues early on, enabling targeted improvements to underlying mathematical assumptions and algorithms.

Coffee-making robot breaks new ground for AI machines

A new coffee-making robot, developed by the University of Edinburgh, demonstrates cutting-edge AI and motor skills that enable it to adapt to challenging kitchen environments. The robot can interact with objects and people seamlessly, solving complex problems like accessing drawers and measuring ingredients.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Magnetic microalgae on a mission to become robots

Researchers developed magnetic micro swimmers covered in a thin coating of magnetic nanoparticles, unaffected by the coating. The algae maintained their swimming speed after magnetization and navigated 3D-printed channels using magnetic guidance.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Most AI struggles to read clocks and calendars, study finds

State-of-the-art AI models struggle to interpret clock-hand positions and answer questions about dates on calendars, requiring spatial awareness, context, and basic maths. Researchers tested various clock designs with different fonts and styles and found that AI systems got clock-hand positions right less than a quarter of the time.

Future innovators take over UTA at science fair

The University of Texas at Arlington hosted the 74th Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair, attracting more students than ever. The fair featured original research projects on various topics, including using earthworms to remove toxic lead from soil and creating a robotic glove for people with Parkinson's disease.

Artificial muscles for tremor suppression

Researchers at Max Planck Institute have created a biorobotic arm with artificial muscles that can mimic and suppress real tremors. The technology has the potential to revolutionize assistive exoskeletons and wearable devices for individuals with tremors, providing a more discreet and effective solution.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Press program now available for the world's largest physics conference

The Global Physics Summit will feature nearly 1,200 sessions and 14,000 presentations on various topics, including astrophysics, climate science, medicine, and quantum information. Registered journalists and public information officers will receive daily emails with meeting information.

A springtail-like jumping robot

The Harvard robot uses latch-mediated spring actuation to jump high and cover long distances relative to its size. It combines walking and jumping modes for effective navigation in natural environments.

Teaming up tiny robot swimmers to transform medicine

Ebru Demir aims to study how groups of AI-driven microswimmers move in biological fluids for potential applications in drug delivery, fertility treatments, and other medical fields. Her research combines artificial microswimmers with machine learning to uncover the underlying physics governing their movement.

How to get a robot collective to act like a smart material

A team of researchers has created a robotic material-like collective that can change shape and stiffness in response to internal signals. The robots, composed of disk-shaped autonomous units, use light sensors, magnets, and force fluctuations to achieve this behavior, reducing power consumption compared to traditional robotic systems.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Two Michigan Engineering researchers named 2025 Sloan Research Fellows

Thatchaphol Saranurak and Andrew Owens have been awarded Sloan Research Fellowships for their innovative work on graph networks and machine perception systems. Their research aims to create more efficient algorithms for computing dynamic systems, such as social networks and traffic patterns.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Mammal-like tails most promising for acrobatic robots

A team of researchers found that mammalian tails can form complex curves and enable body rotations in mid-air, challenging the conventional design of robotic tails. The study suggests that tail structure optimized for inertial maneuvering could be applied to robots, improving their performance and efficiency.

MIT engineers help multirobot systems stay in the safety zone

A team of MIT engineers has developed a training method for multiagent systems that can guarantee their safe operation in crowded environments. The method enables agents to continually map their safety margins, allowing them to scale up to any number of agents while maintaining system safety.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Scientists ‘mimic real biological processes’ using synthetic neurons

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel high-performance organic electrochemical neuron that responds within the frequency range of human neurons. The device was integrated with artificial touch receptors and synapses to create a complete perception system, enabling real-time tactile signal sensing and processing.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Influential robotics journal picks UVA paper as Best of 2024

The University of Virginia's AI-powered vision system, mimicking praying mantis eyes, has been selected as the best paper of 2024 by Science Robotics. The innovative system enables machines to track objects in 3D space, addressing limitations in current visual data processing.