Daily Innovation News

December 11^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇬🇧 UK researchers develop shape-shifting haptic device for equal navigation by visually impaired

Scientists at Imperial College London and MakeSense Technology have unveiled Shape, a haptic navigation device enabling visually impaired users to navigate as effectively as sighted individuals. The device communicates directional cues through shape changes rather than vibrations, enhancing comfort and reducing cognitive load. Tested in virtual environments, Shape outperformed traditional aids and matched sighted navigation abilities, marking a breakthrough in mobility assistance. The research is published in Nature Scientific Reports.

🦾 Robotics

🇨🇳 China unveils AI-powered spherical robot cop for urban crime prevention and public safety

The RT-G, an AI-enabled spherical robot by China’s Logon Technology, can patrol streets autonomously, identifying and immobilizing criminals using tools like a net gun, tear gas, and sound-wave dispersers. Designed to operate on both land and water, it withstands extreme conditions and collaborates with human officers. This innovation represents a leap in integrating robotics into law enforcement for enhanced efficiency and safety.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇰🇷 South Korean startup unveils AI-based therapy for ADHD and cognitive rehabilitation

InTheTech has introduced EYAS, a digital therapy platform designed to enhance cognitive functions for individuals with ADHD and mild cognitive impairment. Leveraging neuroscience and patented eye-tracking technology, EYAS provides personalized training for children and adults, improving attention and spatial awareness. With global interest growing, the company plans to expand internationally and compete at CES 2025 with its innovative healthcare solutions.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop MovieNet AI, decoding video with human-like accuracy at 82%

Scientists at Scripps Research have developed MovieNet, an AI model that processes moving images like the human brain, achieving 82.3% accuracy in recognizing motion patterns. Inspired by tadpole visual neurons, MovieNet excels in identifying subtle changes in video sequences, outperforming humans and existing AI models like GoogLeNet. This efficient and eco-friendly technology, published in PNAS, holds promise for applications in medical diagnostics and autonomous systems.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US scientists use fungi to revolutionize recycling of carbon-fiber materials for industrial reuse

Researchers have developed a biotechnological process that uses genetically modified fungi to break down carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), recovering carbon fibers with properties comparable to new materials. The process also produces a valuable byproduct, octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid (OTA), with potential applications in medicine. This dual-recovery system, published in the Journal of American Chemical Society, addresses challenges in recycling tough carbon-fiber composites and adds value by repurposing waste into industrial and pharmaceutical compounds.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers develop gene therapy reversing heart failure in animal models with unprecedented success

A novel gene therapy targeting the protein cBIN1 has shown remarkable potential to reverse heart failure in large animal models, a breakthrough published in Nature Cardiovascular Research. Delivered via a single intravenous injection, the therapy restored heart function by improving blood-pumping efficiency and reversing damage to heart muscle. This approach addresses heart failure directly by repairing critical cellular mechanisms, unlike current treatments that only slow disease progression. Researchers are preparing for human clinical trials, aiming to transform care for millions worldwide.

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