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Categories: Ecology: Invasive Species, Engineering: Robotics Research
Published Feathered friends can become unlikely helpers for tropical coral reefs facing climate change threat
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Tropical coral reefs are among our most spectacular ecosystems, yet a rapidly warming planet threatens the future survival of many reefs. However, there may be hope for some tropical reefs in the form of feathered friends. A new study has found that the presence of seabirds on islands adjacent to tropical coral reefs can boost coral growth rates on those reefs by more than double.
Published Plant nurseries are exacerbating the climate-driven spread of 80% of invasive species
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have provided detailed maps of how 144 common invasive plants species will react to 2° Celsius of climate change in the eastern U.S., as well as the role that garden centers currently play in seeding future invasions.
Published Artificial intelligence makes gripping more intuitive
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Artificial hands can be operated via app or with sensors placed in the muscles of the forearm. New research shows: a better understanding of muscle activity patterns in the forearm supports a more intuitive and natural control of artificial limbs. This requires a network of 128 sensors and artificial intelligence based techniques.
Published Exposure to soft robots decreases human fears about working with them
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Seeing robots made with soft, flexible parts in action appears to lower people's anxiety about working with them or even being replaced by them. A study found that watching videos of a soft robot working with a person at picking and placing tasks lowered the viewers' safety concerns and feelings of job insecurity. This was true even when the soft robot was shown working in close proximity to the person. This finding shows soft robots hold a potential psychological advantage over rigid robots made of metal or other hard materials.
Published Underwater vehicle AI model could be used in other adaptive control systems
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) are used around the world to conduct difficult environmental, remote, oceanic, defense and rescue missions in often unpredictable and harsh conditions. A new study has now used a novel bio-inspired computing artificial intelligence solution to improve the potential of UUVs and other adaptive control systems to operate more reliability in rough seas and other unpredictable conditions.
Published In hotter regions, mammals seek forests, avoid human habitats
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source As the climate warms, preserving forest cover will be increasingly important for wildlife conservation, finds a study of North American mammals.
Published Snail-inspired robot could scoop ocean microplastics
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Inspired by a small and slow snail, scientists have developed a robot protype that may one day scoop up microplastics from the surfaces of oceans, seas and lakes.
Published Crocodile family tree mapped: New light shed on croc evolution
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Around 250 million years ago, 700 species of reptiles closely related to the modern-day crocodile roamed the earth, now new research reveals how a complex interplay between climate change, species competition and habitat can help explain why just 23 species of crocodile survive today.
Published A color-based sensor to emulate skin's sensitivity
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In a step toward more autonomous soft robots and wearable technologies, researchers have created a device that uses color to simultaneously sense multiple mechanical and temperature stimuli.
Published Public gardens contribute to invasives problem
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Some nonnative plants cultivated in public gardens or arboretums are escaping to become invasive in wild forests.
Published Unlocking the secret strength of marine mussels
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source How do you create strong, yet quick-release connections between living and non-living tissues? This is a question that continues to puzzle bioengineers who aim to create materials that bond together for advanced biomedical applications. Looking to nature for inspiration, this research zeroed in on the marine mussel byssus, a fibrous holdfast, which these bivalve mollusks use to anchor themselves in seashore habitats.
Published Researchers develop novel deep learning-based detection system for autonomous vehicles
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Autonomous vehicles require object detection systems to navigate traffic and avoid obstacles on the road. However, current detection methods often suffer from diminished detection capabilities due to bad weather, unstructured roads, or occlusion. Now, a team of researchers has developed a novel Internet-of-Things-enabled deep learning-based end-to-end 3D object detection system with improved detection capabilities even under unfavorable conditions. This study marks a significant step in autonomous vehicle object detection technology.
Published Rare ant species rediscovered in North Carolina trees
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source There's a species of ant that is so rare, only a handful of records exist from across the entire eastern United States. North Carolina State University researcher Michelle Kirchner not only found these ants in the Triangle region of North Carolina, she is the first to document an entire colony for scientists, taxonomists and ant-thusiasts everywhere. It is the first time males of the species have been collected or photographed.
Published Blasts to clear World War II munitions could contaminate the ocean
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source World War II concluded decades ago, but live mines lurking on the ocean floor still pose threats, potentially spewing unexpected geysers or releasing contaminants into the water. Experts conduct controlled explosions to clear underwater munitions, but concerns have arisen over the environmental impacts from these blasts. New results show that the contamination produced by detonation depends on the blast type, with weaker explosions leaving behind more potentially toxic residues.
Published Nearly 400,000 new compounds added to open-access materials database
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New technology often calls for new materials -- and with supercomputers and simulations, researchers don't have to wade through inefficient guesswork to invent them from scratch.
Published Network of robots can successfully monitor pipes using acoustic wave sensors
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An inspection design method and procedure by which mobile robots can inspect large pipe structures has been demonstrated with the successful inspection of multiple defects on a three-meter long steel pipe using guided acoustic wave sensors.
Published How do you make a robot smarter? Program it to know what it doesn't know
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Engineers have come up with a new way to teach robots to know when they don't know. The technique involves quantifying the fuzziness of human language and using that measurement to tell robots when to ask for further directions. Telling a robot to pick up a bowl from a table with only one bowl is fairly clear. But telling a robot to pick up a bowl when there are five bowls on the table generates a much higher degree of uncertainty -- and triggers the robot to ask for clarification.
Published Researchers engineer a material that can perform different tasks depending on temperature
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers report that they have developed a new composite material designed to change behaviors depending on temperature in order to perform specific tasks. These materials are poised to be part of the next generation of autonomous robotics that will interact with the environment.
Published New method uses crowdsourced feedback to help train robots
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new technique enables an AI agent to be guided by data crowdsourced asynchronously from nonexpert human users as it learns to complete a task through reinforcement learning. The method trains the robot faster and better than other approaches.
Published The Fens of eastern England once held vast woodlands
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The Fens of eastern England, a low-lying, extremely flat landscape dominated by agricultural fields, was once a vast woodland filled with huge yew trees, according to new research. Scientists have studied hundreds of tree trunks, dug up by Fenland farmers while ploughing their fields. The team found that most of the ancient wood came from yew trees that populated the area between four and five thousand years ago.