Chinese scientists claim that lasers mounted on submarines could destroy satellites, including SpaceX’s Starlink system. American experts doubt the feasibility due to the energy demands of such weapons. However, China and other potential adversaries are exploring ways to counter the satellite-based systems that give the US military an edge. Researchers at the Chinese navy’s Submarine Academy believe submarines are the solution, proposing a design where … Continue reading Chinese scientists claim Star Wars-like laser submarines can blast US satellites 

Robot development is rapidly advancing due to the increasing demand for smart machines in various sectors, including warehouses, homes, and medical surgeries. Companies globally are competing to create robots with human-like qualities. Scientists in China, led by Professor Liu Xiaofeng from Hohai University, have developed humanoid robots capable of realistic facial expressions. They created a new algorithm to address the issue of robots’ lack of … Continue reading Robot with human-like, highly expressive facial features developed in China

Medical Microinstruments (MMI) is expanding the use of its Symani surgical system, having completed a successful preclinical study in neurosurgery. Dr. Adnan Siddiqui used the Symani system to repair a brain blood vessel in an animal model, demonstrating its effectiveness for delicate procedures. The system, which replicates human hand movements on a small scale, received FDA de novo clearance in April 2024 for soft tissue … Continue reading MMI successfully trials Symani surgical robot in neurosurgery

Purdue University and INDOT are advancing a pioneering project to create an “Electrified Roadway” in West Lafayette that will charge electric vehicles as they drive. Since 2019, the teams have been installing electric coils beneath US 231, which are now being covered with concrete. The technology will enable electric semi-trucks to charge while driving at 65 mph via a magnetic field transferring energy from the … Continue reading ‘Electrified roadway’ getting closer to being a reality in West Lafayette, Indiana

On July 30, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) demonstrated its new laser weapon designed to neutralize enemy drones. The public display, held at a test site in Taean County, showcased the weapon’s capability to down drones with an invisible directed-energy beam. During the test, a DJI Phantom 4 drone was destroyed within seconds of being targeted by the laser, which emitted no visible … Continue reading South Korea Fires Laser Weapon To Shoot Down UAV During Demo

An AI-controlled autonomous robot has successfully completed its first full dental procedure on a human patient, performing it approximately eight times faster than a human dentist. Developed by Perceptive, the robot utilizes a hand-held 3D volumetric scanner that creates detailed models of the mouth using optical coherence tomography (OCT), eliminating the need for harmful X-ray radiation. The robot accurately detects cavities and, once the treatment … Continue reading Fully-automatic robot dentist performs world’s first human procedure

China is considering a new proposal that would shift online user verification from companies to the government, introducing a national internet ID for all citizens. This ID would streamline the verification process and reduce the collection of personal information by online platforms, according to the Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China. While the proposal aims to enhance privacy and combat online … Continue reading China Wants to Start National Internet ID System

Yum Brands plans to implement artificial intelligence in drive-thru lanes at hundreds of Taco Bell locations by the end of the year. The company announced its expanded rollout of voice AI technology in the U.S., with aspirations to introduce it globally. This move follows similar efforts by competitors like Wendy’s and White Castle, though Yum Brands’ approach is notably ambitious. The technology aims to improve … Continue reading Taco Bell to roll out AI drive-thru ordering

MIT researchers are working on a robotic system designed to automate the grocery bagging process at self-checkout stations. The system combines cameras, artificial intelligence, and specialized grippers to handle items efficiently. The robot uses its cameras and AI to identify products on a conveyor belt. Grippers equipped with pressure sensors then assess the nature of each item, distinguishing between delicate produce like grapes and sturdier … Continue reading MIT designing AI-powered robot that bags groceries

Figure’s humanoid robot, which has been in development with BMW for nearly six months, is showing impressive progress in its manufacturing training. A new video highlights its evolving capabilities, underscoring its potential in industrial applications. The robot, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 132 pounds, can carry up to 44 pounds and operates for up to five hours at a speed of 2.7 … Continue reading Humanoid robot gets to work in BMW assembly plant

Hiking enthusiasts with deep pockets might be interested in the MO/GO exoskeleton hiking pants, which cost $4,500 for early buyers and $5,000 later. Developed by Arc’teryx and tech startup Skip, these pants are designed to enhance hiking performance by making each step feel lighter and more efficient. The MO/GO features carbon fiber exoskeletal braces and a power pack that work to reduce impact and aid … Continue reading $5,000 Exoskeleton Pants Promise to Make You a Better Hiker

Plans by Police Scotland to introduce live surveillance cameras for scanning faces have been criticized as “deeply intrusive” and dangerous by a coalition of international privacy groups. The cameras are intended to help catch shoplifters and people violating bail conditions, with images monitored from police vans and checked against a database. Privacy advocates, including Big Brother Watch, Liberty, Privacy International, and others, have urged Justice … Continue reading Police use of ‘deeply intrusive’ facial recognition cameras sparks warning over privacy

This month, a hackathon in Orange County highlighted the battle to protect U.S. critical infrastructure. Over a dozen students from Arizona State University, UC Santa Barbara, and Purdue University worked intensively to develop a program capable of scanning and fixing security flaws in millions of lines of open-source code without human help. Sponsored by DARPA, the contest underscores the government’s view that flaws in open-source … Continue reading Hackers race to win millions in contest to thwart cyberattacks with AI

According to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, Iran has provided Hezbollah and other proxies with electromagnetic ordnance capable of disabling communication systems and shutting down radars. Rotem Mey-Tal, CEO of Asgard Systems, likened this technology to an extreme power outage that affects all electrical and electronic systems, including critical medical equipment. Mey-Tal speculated that the technology might be used in low-flying UAVs, similar to recent attacks by … Continue reading New EMP weapon: ‘Even cockroaches won’t survive’

On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled a prototype of its search engine, SearchGPT, designed to provide “fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources.” Currently being tested with a select group of users, the tool is intended to integrate with ChatGPT in the future. This development could challenge Google’s dominant search engine, raising concerns among Alphabet investors about potential market share losses since the launch of … Continue reading OpenAI announces a search engine called SearchGPT;

Crime-fighting robots are now being utilized in various settings like hotels, casinos, malls, and police departments, thanks to technology from Knightscope. These robots, designed to “deter, detect, and report,” were demonstrated by co-founder Mark Santana Li and Jonathan Carroll of X9 Intelligence at Northside Baptist Church in Baltimore. X9 distributes Knightscope’s robots and is seeking to engage with the Baltimore Police Department. The robots are … Continue reading Baltimore tech company demonstrates AI-powered crime-fighting robot

For the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, advanced anti-drone systems will be employed to ensure security, including the Helma-P laser system from Compagnie industrielle des lasers (CILAS). The PARADE system, developed by Thales and CS Group, has been refined and is now ready after overcoming initial challenges and passing critical reviews. Helma-P, a key component, uses directed energy to neutralize small drones quickly, either by … Continue reading France to Deploy High-Tech Helma-P Laser Counter-Drone System to Secure Paris Olympics

The Department of Homeland Security plans to deploy four-legged robots, similar to Boston Dynamics’ creations, in raids on suspects. These robots, equipped with capabilities to jam networks, disable devices, and provide video and audio feedback, will act as “walking denial of service attacks” to enhance tactical operations. The robots, such as the NEO model, can disable “Internet of Things” devices like cameras, which is particularly … Continue reading Department of Homeland Security to use robot dogs in raids

Galbot, a robotics start-up from Beijing, plans to challenge major tech giants in the global humanoid robot market. Backed by the Hong Kong government, Galbot aims to use Hong Kong as a gateway to enter developed markets with high labor costs. Co-founder Yao Tengzhou shared this strategy following a partnership announcement with the Hong Kong Investment Corp. The company will face competition from established firms … Continue reading Hong Kong-backed humanoid robot maker wants to take on tech giants

Minnesota is set to enter a new era of transportation with the implementation of the “Jetsons law” on August 1. This legislation officially defines a “roadable aircraft” as a vehicle capable of both flying and driving on public highways. The law streamlines the registration process for these dual-purpose vehicles, allowing them to use tail numbers instead of traditional license plates. While on the road, these … Continue reading New ‘Jetsons law’ paves the way for flying cars starting August 1

Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have successfully created livermorium (element 116) using a titanium particle beam for the first time. This breakthrough brings researchers closer to reaching the “island of stability,” a theoretical point where superheavy elements might be more stable and easier to study. Reiner Kruecken, director of nuclear science at the lab, noted that while producing element 120 will be more challenging, … Continue reading Physicists Just Created an Element Using a Particle Beam

Major League Baseball (MLB) is considering testing robot umpires in spring training next year, with a potential full rollout in the 2026 season. The automated ball-strike system (ABS) has been in use in minor leagues since 2019, but MLB is still refining the strike zone parameters. Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that spring training in 2024 could be used to trial the technology, with a 2026 … Continue reading Robot umpire challenge system could be tested next spring training

Robotics and AI specialist Vayu has introduced its new autonomous delivery robot, the One, which can navigate stores and streets at speeds of up to 20 mph. The company has also secured its first major order for the robots. Founded by former Velodyne, Apple, and Lyft professionals, Vayu focuses on advanced AI technology for autonomous deliveries, Electrek has reported. The company, which has raised $12.7 … Continue reading Vayu unveils ‘first-of-its-kind’ LiDAR-free delivery robot

Raytheon UK, in partnership with the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), has successfully tested the High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) on a British Army Wolfhound armored vehicle at Dstl’s Porton Down range. This test, the first of its kind in the UK, demonstrates the HELWS’s ability to track and engage targets while mounted on a vehicle. Designed to … Continue reading UK successfully tests Raytheon’s laser gun

Elon Musk has postponed the rollout of the Tesla Optimus humanoid robot. Initially, Musk projected that Optimus would be in use at Tesla factories by the end of 2024 and available for consumer purchase by late 2025. However, the updated timeline now targets “low production” for internal use in 2025 and “high production” for external customers in 2026, marking about a one-year delay, Electrek has … Continue reading Musk delays Tesla Optimus humanoid robot timeline