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April 2^nd 2025

🚘 Transport

🇨🇳 Chinese company receive approval for first commercial pilotless air taxi flights in major cities

EHang has received regulatory approval to begin commercial flights of its EH216-S pilotless electric air taxis in Guangzhou and Hefei. The two-seater eVTOLs will offer sightseeing flights along preset low-altitude routes, marking the first paid human-carrying drone services in China. Using 5G connectivity and autonomous navigation, the EH216-S represents a key step toward scalable urban air mobility.

🚀 Space

🇺🇸 US scientists test Moon ‘force field’ that clears deadly dust from spacecraft surfaces

NASA has successfully tested an Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) on the Moon, using electric fields to sweep away harmful lunar dust without moving parts. The system, flown aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, uses high-voltage electrodes to generate waves that repel dust from sensitive surfaces like visors, solar panels, and radiators. This innovation could protect future lunar missions from the abrasive, equipment-damaging dust that plagued Apollo astronauts.

🦾 Robotics

🇩🇪 🇺🇸 German and US researchers enhance robot-human factory teamwork using AI-powered digital twin simulations

Accenture and Germany's Schaeffler AG are using NVIDIA's Omniverse platform to simulate and optimize human-robot collaboration in industrial settings. By creating digital twins of factory environments, the system improves robot deployment, material flow, and layout design while training humanoid robots like Digit and Phoenix through real-world motion capture. The initiative integrates AI tools from Microsoft and NVIDIA to boost productivity, decision-making, and flexibility in future smart factories.

🇺🇸 US engineers unveil humanoid robot that adapts to workplaces with minimal training or setup

US-based RobotLAB has introduced BroBot, a humanoid robot designed to operate across education, logistics, and hospitality with minimal training and infrastructure changes. It features autonomous task handling, environmental awareness, and a modular interface, allowing users to quickly deploy and customize it for diverse settings. Pilot programs begin in mid-2025 to evaluate its real-world performance and impact across industries.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers use virtual reality to reduce cancer pain and reshape brain activity

A study from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center shows that virtual reality can reduce cancer-related pain by over 30%, while also altering brain activity linked to pain processing. Patients immersed in underwater VR scenes experienced significant relief, supported by real-time brain imaging using near-infrared spectroscopy. Published in Scientific Reports, the research highlights VR’s potential as a non-invasive, drug-free alternative to opioids for managing chronic cancer pain.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop smart insoles and socks that detect foot injuries before symptoms appear

New wearable technologies like sensor-equipped insoles and socks are transforming foot care by detecting pressure, temperature, and walking abnormalities to prevent injuries before pain occurs. These tools, powered by AI, are especially useful for diabetics and athletes, reducing complications such as ulcers and improving performance through real-time feedback. Studies show they can lower ulcer and amputation rates significantly, marking a shift toward proactive, personalized foot health monitoring.

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See you soon,

Max

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