Daily Innovation News

November 6^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US scientists develop wearable skin tech to provide touch sensations in virtual and real worlds

Researchers at Northwestern University have created a thin, flexible wearable device that provides precise tactile sensations, from vibrations to twisting, on the skin. Equipped with 19 tiny magnetic actuators, this energy-efficient device can aid in virtual reality experiences and assist visually impaired individuals by providing sensory feedback to help them navigate. The technology has shown promising results in trials, enabling users to sense obstacles and maintain balance. The study was published in Nature.

🚘 Transport

🇪🇺 European Hyperloop test facility sets record for longest vacuum capsule journey

A Hyperloop test facility in Switzerland has achieved the longest-ever journey for a vacuum capsule, covering 11.8 km (7.3 miles) in a scaled-down Hyperloop model. Part of the LIMITLESS project, the test capsule reached a top speed of 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph) in a 1:12 scale model, simulating a 141.6 km (88 miles) journey if scaled up. This achievement renews interest in Hyperloop technology’s potential for ultra-fast, long-distance travel.

🚀 Space

🇨🇳 China unveils Starship-like Long March 9 rocket, signaling shift to reusability

China has revealed a redesigned Long March 9 rocket at the Zhuhai Airshow that closely resembles SpaceX’s fully reusable Starship. This latest version of Long March 9, set for its first flight in 2033, incorporates a two-stage design, reusable first stage, and methane-liquid oxygen engines, mirroring SpaceX’s Super Heavy and Starship system. As China’s space program advances towards reusability, this design marks a significant step in the new global space race toward affordable, long-distance space exploration.

🇺🇸 SpaceX plans first orbital Starship refueling test for March 2025, advancing lunar and Mars missions

SpaceX is set to attempt its first orbital refueling test with Starship in March 2025, where two Starships will launch, dock in orbit, and transfer propellant. This crucial in-orbit refueling capability will enable extended space missions, supporting NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon. If successful, this test will demonstrate the feasibility of using Starship for deep-space travel, marking a major step towards sustainable lunar missions and future Mars expeditions.

🦾 Robotics

🇺🇸 🇨🇭 US and Swiss researchers develop $120 robot arm trained by GPT-4o in four days to autonomously clean spills

Researchers at UC Berkeley and ETH Zurich have created a low-cost robot arm that can autonomously clean spills using a visual language model built with GPT-4o. Trained in just four days with 100 demonstrations, this innovative arm uses multimodal AI to coordinate movement and interact intuitively with humans. The SO-100 robot arm, designed by The Robot Studio, is affordable and easy to assemble, underscoring the potential of open-source technology in making robotics more accessible for everyday automation tasks.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇬🇧 UK scientists create AI-driven robots to revolutionize chemical synthesis efficiency, outpace humans

Researchers in the UK have developed advanced robots that use AI to autonomously handle complex chemical synthesis tasks, drastically reducing research time. These mobile robots, equipped with decision-making AI, can independently conduct reactions, analyze results, and decide on the next steps in seconds, outpacing human researchers. Tested across three chemical challenges, this approach promises to accelerate discoveries in fields like material science and pharmaceuticals. The study was published in Nature.

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