Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Structured exploration allows biological brains to learn faster than AI      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Neuroscientists have uncovered how exploratory actions enable animals to learn their spatial environment more efficiently. Their findings could help build better AI agents that can learn faster and require less experience.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Highly dexterous robot hand can operate in the dark -- just like us      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers demonstrated a highly dexterous robot hand, one that combines an advanced sense of touch with motor learning algorithms in order to achieve a high level of dexterity. In addition, the hand worked without any external cameras -- it's immune to lighting, occlusion, or similar issues. Because the hand doesn't rely on vision to manipulate objects, it can do so in difficult lighting conditions that would confuse vision-based algorithms -- it even operates in the dark.

Biology: Biochemistry Mathematics: General Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Unraveling the mathematics behind wiggly worm knots      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers wanted to understand precisely how blackworms execute tangling and ultrafast untangling movements for a myriad of biological functions. They researched the topology of the tangles. Their research could inform the design of fiber-like, shapeshifting robotics that self-assemble and move in ways that are fast and reversible.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Speedy robo-gripper reflexively organizes cluttered spaces      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new gripper robot grasps by reflex. Rather than start from scratch after a failed attempt, the bot adapts in the moment to reflexively roll, palm, or pinch an object to get a better hold.

Biology: General Biology: Marine Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ecology: Sea Life Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Jellyfish-like robots could one day clean up the world's oceans      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Roboticists have developed a jellyfish-inspired underwater robot with which they hope one day to collect waste from the bottom of the ocean. The almost noise-free prototype can trap objects underneath its body without physical contact, thereby enabling safe interactions in delicate environments such as coral reefs. Jellyfish-Bot could become an important tool for environmental remediation.

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earthquakes Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Creating a tsunami early warning system using artificial intelligence      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers develop an early warning system that combines acoustic technology with AI to immediately classify earthquakes and determine potential tsunami risk. They propose using underwater microphones, called hydrophones, to measure the acoustic radiation produced by the earthquake, which carries information about the tectonic event and travels significantly faster than tsunami waves. The computational model triangulates the source of the earthquake and AI algorithms classify its slip type and magnitude. It then calculates important properties like effective length and width, uplift speed, and duration, which dictate the size of the tsunami.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: General
Published

Vaccine printer could help vaccines reach more people      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have designed a tabletop-sized vaccine printer that could be scaled up to produce hundreds of vaccine doses in a day and deployed anywhere vaccines are needed. The vaccine doses are contained within microneedle patches that can be stored long-term at room temperature and applied to the skin, avoiding the need for injections.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Mathematics: Modeling Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists have full state of a quantum liquid down cold      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of physicists has illuminated certain properties of quantum systems by observing how their fluctuations spread over time. The research offers an intricate understanding of a complex phenomenon that is foundational to quantum computing.

Mathematics: Modeling Space: Astronomy Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

Researchers use AI to discover new planet outside solar system      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has confirmed evidence of a previously unknown planet outside of our solar system, and they used machine learning tools to detect it. A recent study by the team showed that machine learning can correctly determine if an exoplanet is present by looking in protoplanetary disks, the gas around newly formed stars. The newly published findings represent a first step toward using machine learning to identify previously overlooked exoplanets.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

AI system can generate novel proteins that meet structural design targets      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new machine-learning system can generate protein designs with certain structural features, and which do not exist in nature. These proteins could be utilized to make materials that have similar mechanical properties to existing materials, like polymers, but which would have a much smaller carbon footprint.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Robotics Research Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound Physics: Optics
Published

Versatile, high-speed, and efficient crystal actuation with photothermally resonated natural vibrations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Mechanically responsive molecular crystals are extremely useful in soft robotics, which requires a versatile actuation technology. Crystals driven by the photothermal effect are particularly promising for achieving high-speed actuation. However, the response (bending) observed in these crystals is usually small. Now, scientists address this issue by inducing large resonated natural vibrations in anisole crystals with UV light illumination at the natural vibration frequency of the crystal.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Mathematics: Modeling Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Quantum liquid becomes solid when heated      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Solids can be melted by heating, but in the quantum world it can also be the other way around: An experimental team has shown how a quantum liquid forms supersolid structures by heating. The scientists obtained a first phase diagram for a supersolid at finite temperature.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Team designs four-legged robotic system that can walk a balance beam      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have designed a system that makes an off-the-shelf quadruped robot nimble enough to walk a narrow balance beam -- a feat that is likely the first of its kind.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Multi-compartment membranes for multicellular robots: Everybody needs some body      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

We typically think of robots as metal objects, filled with motors and circuits. But the field of molecular robotics is starting to change that. Like the formation of complex living organisms, molecular robots derive their form and functionality from assembled molecules stored in a single unit, i.e., a body. Yet manufacturing this body at the microscopic level is an engineering nightmare. Now, a team has created a simple workaround.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Research in Japan shows the way toward tactile and proximity sensing in large soft robots      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To make human-robot interactions safer and more fruitful, robots should be capable of sensing their environment. In a recent study, researchers developed a novel robotic link with tactile and proximity sensing capabilities. Additionally, they created a simulation and learning framework that can be employed to train the robotic link to sense its environment. Their findings will pave the way to a future where humans and robots can operate harmoniously in close proximity.