Daily Innovation News

October 2^nd 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 World's first 3D-printed hotel being constructed in Texas desert by US innovators

The El Cosmico project in Texas aims to build the world's first 3D-printed hotel, featuring camping areas, vacation homes, and permanent residences designed to blend with the natural landscape. Using advanced 3D printers and a proprietary cement-like material called Lavacrete, the basic structures are printed and later finished by human builders. This innovative construction method allows for fluid, curvilinear designs and includes affordable housing for the local community. The project is set for completion in 2026.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop squid-inspired fabric that adjusts to the user’s body temperature

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have created a new fabric that can adapt to the wearer's temperature, inspired by the color-changing properties of squid skin. The material consists of a polymer base coated with copper islands that change their arrangement when stretched, affecting how the fabric interacts with infrared light to regulate warmth. The fabric is breathable, washable, and suitable for integration into various clothing items, making it ideal for cold-weather apparel like jackets and gloves. The research was published in APL Bioengineering.

🚘 Transport

🇺🇸 🇫🇷 US and French firms collaborate on the world’s first hydrogen WIGE vessel, 10x faster than boats and 10x more fuel efficient than planes

Miami-based Sea Cheetah Corporation and Toulouse's H3 Dynamics are developing the first hydrogen-electric wing-in-ground effect (WIGE) vessel. These vessels travel just above the water at speeds of 155 mph, promising three times the payload capacity, ten times the speed of traditional boats, and ten times the fuel efficiency of aircraft. Utilizing ground effect lift and a hybrid hydrogen powertrain, they aim to revolutionize coastal and island transport. The partnership will also introduce decentralized hydrogen fueling hubs to support rapid vessel refueling.

🦾 Robotics

🇨🇳 Chinese humanoid robot GR-2 offers enhanced flexibility and 2x battery life

Fourier Intelligence has introduced its new humanoid robot, GR-2, featuring 53 degrees of freedom and a 3 kg single-arm load capacity for handling complex tasks with greater precision. Building on the success of the GR-1, GR-2 offers a detachable battery with double the capacity, extending runtime by an hour. It also includes 12-DoF dexterous hands equipped with tactile sensors, enabling real-time adjustments for dynamic object manipulation. With integrated AI, improved actuators, and an enhanced software development kit, GR-2 aims to advance human-robot collaboration.

💊 Healthcare

🇩🇪 German miniature robot convoy successfully performs first endoscopic surgery

Researchers in Germany have developed millimeter-sized robots called TrainBots to perform minimally invasive endoscopic microsurgery, achieving a medical first. These robots work together to overcome limitations of traditional miniature robots by combining their strength, allowing them to carry and maneuver surgical instruments. In tests using pig organs, the robotic convoy successfully guided an endoscopic instrument with a wire electrode to remove bile duct obstructions through electrocauterization. This technology promises more precise, less invasive procedures in the future. The findings were reported in Advanced Science.

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