It’s one small step for man — and one giant, badass layup for robot kind.

Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have programmed a Unitree G1 humanoid robot to play basketball, almost perfectly mimicking the skills of a human athlete.

A video shared by HKUST PhD student Yinhuai Wang shows the robot dribbling, taking jump shots, and even pivoting on one of its feet to evade the student’s attempts to block it from taking a shot.

Wang called it the “first-ever real-world basketball demo by a humanoid robot,” boasting that he “became the first person to record a block against a humanoid.”

It’s an impressive demo, showcasing how far humanoid robotics has come in a matter of years. Unitree, in particular, has stood out in an increasingly crowded field, with its G1 rapidly picking up new skills.

We’ve seen the four-foot-four-inch humanoid perform impressive kung fu moves and easily shrug off a direct flying dropkick from an adult human. We’ve even seen two of them take each other on in a head-to-head kickboxing contest.

Wang and his colleagues are teaching robots how to play basketball through a system they’ve dubbed “SkillMimic,” which is described on his website as a “data-driven approach that mimics both human and ball motions to learn a wide variety of basketball skills.”

“SkillMimic employs a unified configuration to learn diverse skills from human-ball motion datasets, with skill diversity and generalization improving as the dataset grows,” the writeup continues. “This approach allows training a single policy to learn multiple skills, enabling smooth skill switching even if these switches are not present in the reference dataset.”

While netizens were generally impressed by the robot’s basketball skills, others were a little more skeptical.

“Love that the programmer focused on showboating rather than fundamentals,” one wrote.

“Robots will do everything but fill the dishwasher,” another joked.

Others imagined a future in which bipedal robots dominate sports.

“Man, I hope I get to see proper robotics basketball leagues,” another Reddit user mused.

More on the Unitree G1: 

• Unstoppable Martial Arts Robot Can Take a Direct Dropkick Without Falling Down

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{ https://futurism.com/category/science-energy }

30-11-2025 om 18:10 geschreven door peter  

Kan AI ooit echt bewustzijn bereiken?

Key takeaways

De vraag of artificiële intelligentie (AI) bewustzijn kan bereiken, is al lange tijd onderwerp van intens debat tussen wetenschappers, filosofen en technologen. Een recente studie, Consciousness in Artificial Intelligence? A Framework for Classifying Objections and Constraints, probeert die complexe discussie te verduidelijken door een gestructureerd model te ontwikkelen voor het categoriseren van de verschillende bezwaren rondom digitaal bewustzijn.

Soorten bezwaren

Het onderzoek erkent dat argumenten tegen AI-bewustzijn vaak overlappen of verkeerd zijn gericht. Sommige bezwaren komen voort uit de overtuiging dat bewustzijn niet verklaard kan worden door louter computationele processen, terwijl andere het principe van computationeel bewustzijn wel accepteren, maar stellen dat huidige digitale systemen niet beschikken over de noodzakelijke architectuur. Weer andere argumenten verwerpen de mogelijkheid van digitaal bewustzijn juist op basis van inzichten uit de fysica of biologie, in plaats van uit de computatietheorie.

Analytische structuur op drie niveaus

Om die complexiteit te adresseren, stellen de auteurs een analytisch kader met drie niveaus voor, geïnspireerd op het cognitieve wetenschappelijke model van David Marr. Het eerste niveau richt zich op bewustzijn als een input-outputcorrespondentie, gestuurd door berekenbare functies. Het tweede niveau behandelt de specifieke algoritmen, architecturen en representatiestructuren die nodig zijn om bewustzijn te realiseren. Het derde niveau richt zich op de bezwaren dat het fysieke substraat zelf essentieel is voor bewuste ervaring.

Dit kader stelt onderzoekers, beleidsmakers en filosofen in staat om overeenkomsten en verschillen te identificeren, met een duidelijk onderscheid tussen argumenten tegen computationeel functionalisme en argumenten tegen digitaal bewustzijn.

Niet-berekenbare functies

Sommige critici beweren dat bewustzijn niet-computeerbare processen omvat die buiten het bereik van Turing-machines liggen, terwijl anderen stellen dat elk computationeel model van bewustzijn te complex zou zijn om op grote schaal te implementeren. De studie benadrukt tevens het belang van dynamische koppeling en suggereert dat bewustzijn mogelijk real-time interactie met omgevingen vereist—iets wat digitale systemen moeilijk kunnen nabootsen.

Algoritmische organisatie

Op algoritmisch niveau draait het debat om de organisatie van algoritmen. Theorieën onderzoeken of symbolische architecturen, neurale netwerken of hybride systemen in staat zijn bewuste toestanden te genereren. Sommigen benadrukken de noodzaak van analoge processen met continue waarden, die digitale systemen niet volledig kunnen emuleren. Anderen leggen de nadruk op synchronisatie en representatievormen die essentieel zijn voor subjectieve ervaring, maar die in de huidige digitale architecturen ontbreken.

Dit niveau omvat ook discussies over belichaming en enactivisme, waarin wordt gesteld dat bewustzijn uitsluitend voortkomt uit lichamen die handelen binnen een omgeving. Volgens die zienswijze kunnen grote taalmodellen, ondanks hun ogenschijnlijke intelligentie, de interactieve eigenschappen missen die essentieel zijn voor bewuste toestanden.

Fysieke substraat

Bezwaren met betrekking tot het fysieke substraat leggen de strengste beperkingen op. Die argumenten richten zich op de unieke eigenschappen van biologische hersenen die digitale hardware niet kan repliceren. Theorieën in deze categorie beweren dat bewustzijn afhankelijk is van informatie die in biologische netwerken is ingebed, de dynamica van elektromagnetische velden in de hersenen, of zelfs kwantumprocessen.

Volgens deze bezwaren zijn digitale AI-systemen fundamenteel niet in staat bewustzijn te bereiken door de cruciale rol van het fysieke substraat. Het onderzoek benadrukt dat deze beweringen eerder op het niveau van natuurkunde en biologie liggen dan op dat van de computerwetenschap, waarvoor nog empirisch bewijs nodig is over hoe bewustzijn in natuurlijke systemen ontstaat.

Evaluatiesysteem met drie niveaus

Om de kracht van elk bezwaar beter te verduidelijken, hanteert de studie een evaluatiesysteem op drie niveaus. Sommige bezwaren suggereren dat machinebewustzijn mogelijk is, mits bepaalde mogelijkheden of architecturen worden toegepast. Andere wijzen op praktische obstakels die bewuste AI onwaarschijnlijk maken met de huidige technologie. De sterkste bezwaren stellen dat digitale systemen, ongeacht technologische vooruitgang, nooit bewust kunnen worden.

Dit classificatiesysteem maakt onderscheid tussen conceptuele, technologische en metafysische bezwaren. Het benadrukt bovendien de gebieden waar empirisch onderzoek de meningsverschillen zou kunnen oplossen, evenals de domeinen die verder filosofisch onderzoek vereisen.

Kader voor bestuur, ethiek en AI-ontwikkeling

De studie sluit af met een bespreking van de praktische implicaties van het kader voor bestuur, ethiek en AI-ontwikkeling. Nu AI-modellen steeds vaker cruciale beslissingen beïnvloeden en op geavanceerde manieren met mensen interageren, is het essentieel het volledige spectrum van argumenten rondom digitaal bewustzijn te begrijpen. De voorgestelde classificatie kan beleidsmakers helpen bij het ontwikkelen van weloverwogen regelgeving, het opstellen van ethische richtlijnen en het ondersteunen van AI-ontwikkelaars bij verantwoorde uitspraken over de mogelijkheden van hun systemen. (fc)

{  Business AM }

29-11-2025 om 15:36 geschreven door peter  

28-11-2025 om 18:00 geschreven door peter  

Disney has brought one of its most legendary characters to life – and he's seriously worth melting for. 

Measuring just three feet (one metre) tall, Olaf the robot can walk and talk just like the delightful eternally optimistic snowman from the Frozen movies. 

The high-tech device can move around through a combination of remote operation and AI that's programmed to adapt to surroundings. 

Video shows him curiously shuffling around Disneyland Paris just like he does in the films – and visitors will soon be able to meet him.

Kyle Laughlin, product and technology leader at Disney, called it 'one of the most expressive and true-to-life characters built'. 

'From the way he moves to the way he looks, every gesture and detail is crafted to reflect the Olaf audiences have seen in the film,' he said. 

On Instagram, Frozen fans were sent into delirium, calling the creation 'incredible', 'perfect' and 'so good it's making my tummy hurt'. 

Another fan said: 'It's like he jumped right off the screen into real life.' 

Some people are worth melting for: The walking, talking bot, unveiled at Disneyland Paris on Monday, has movements just like in the film, as well as detachable arms and nose 

In a nod to one of his most famous lines, another person said: 'I need a warm hug please Olaf.'

Olaf was built by Disney Imagineering, the multi-billion-dollar company's research and development arm based in Glendale, California. 

To make the snowman's movements as authentic as possible, engineers relied on a type of AI called reinforcement learning.

This is where a robot learns to make intelligent decisions through trial and error by interacting with its environment. 

But the technology allows Olaf the robot to practice thousands of motions inside a computer simulation until his real-life movements look natural. 

'It takes humans years to perfect our motor skills for walking, and it takes additional years of practice to perform acrobatic motions that only a few of us can master,' Laughlin said. 

'Deep reinforcement learning is a technology that helps robots acquire such skills in a shorter amount of time. 

'To make this technology scale well, we need fast and parallel simulation.' 

Olaf talking about the new World of Frozen, inside the Disney Adventure World (former Walt Disney Studios) in Disneyland Paris, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris on November 24, 2025

A hidden operator remotely controls the robot using joysticks, but it is AI programmed to adapt to surroundings 

To make Olaf as authentic as possible, the team used a branch of artificial intelligence called reinforcement learning

Despite this feat, Olaf is still ultimately operated by a Disney staff member holding a remote control, Tech Radar reports. 

Other nice touches are Olaf's exterior 'snow' made from light-catching iridescent fibres, which is a striking contrast to the hard shells of other robotic characters. 

And just like in the film, his twig arms and carrot nose are removable and pop right back on. 

Most importantly, Olaf can fully articulate his mouth and engage in Frozen-related conversations with park guests, Disney claims. 

As yet, it's unclear how sophisticated these conversations will be or if they'll be powered by a generative chatbot akin to ChatGPT. 

Olaf is similar to the Star Wars BDX Droids, the free roaming robotic characters that victors can see at Disney attractions. 

'However, BDX Droids in the films are literally robotic characters,' Laughlin said. 

'Olaf is an animated character that is far more challenging to bring to life in the physical world.'  

Olaf at the new World of Frozen, inside the Disney Adventure World (former Walt Disney Studios) in Disneyland Paris, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris on November 24, 2025. The Disney Adventure World will open on March 29, 2026

Read More

• Chefs, your jobs are safe for now! Humanoid robot tries to cook a stir-fry - with disastrous results 

Early next year, Olaf the robot will start shuffling around at World of Frozen, a new immersive world at Disneyland in Hong Kong and Paris. 

The creation has been detailed further in a new episode of Disney's YouTube series We Call It Imagineering. 

While undoubtedly impressive, Olaf's chunky legs make keeping his balance an easier task compared to some of the long-legged humanoids in development. 

Earlier this month, a Russian robot called AIDOL wobbled and face-planted during an on-stage unveiling event, leaving attendees stunned. 

Another recent clip shows a Unitree G1 robot chef attempting to cook a stir-fry – but ending up flinging the food on the floor and slipping over the mess. 

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

25-11-2025 om 20:26 geschreven door peter  

Automation is getting a little out of control these d

ays. Recent advances in the world of robotics have unleashed autonomous bodegas, sock-puppet style robo-servants, and even AI-powered dinosaurs.

For the most part, robotics developers have kept their projects on the lighter side, even if they occasionally creep us out. But that might be changing thanks to the Chinese automotive company XPeng, which just released a clip showcasing its “Iron” humanoid robot.

The clip, which circulated on social media, show a robotic exoskeleton strapped to a harness walking in a straight line. While XPeng’s Iron units are usually clad in a sleek white skin, this one is totally nude — and it looks like something straight out of the post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout, or like the titular antagonists from the “Terminator” franchise.

The bot also cleans up nicely. During an event this week, the company showed it off dressed in a cloth bodysuit that gave it a distinctly feminine profile.

Iron’s gait was so impressive that some observers wondered if it was a human inside a suit — a con Elon Musk once pulled — but XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng put that suggestion to rest when he unzipped the outfit, showing the robot inside.

The bot displayed some pretty slick motion, swaying its hips as it walks.

“We’re at a point now where robots can move more sensually than Taylor Swift,” one Redditor commented.

“I am kind of blown away that they can get motors to work in such an elegant way. I assumed it was soft body mechanics,” wrote another. “Wow.”

Iron made its first debut on Wednesday, when XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng introduced the unit as the “most human-like” bot on the market to date. Per Humanoids Daily, the robot features “dexterous hands” with 22 degrees of flexibility, a “human-like spine,” gender options, and a digital face.

According to He, the bot also contains the “first all-solid-state battery in the industry,” as opposed to the liquid electrolyte typically found in lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state batteries are considered the “holy grail” for electric vehicle development, a design choice He says will make the robots safer for home use.

More on robots: 

• Neuralink Head of Surgery Says Robot-Human Interface Happening “Very Soon”
  

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{ https://futurism.com/category/robots-and-machines }

13-11-2025 om 15:50 geschreven door peter  

Robotics Company Builds Straight-Up Terminator

10-11-2025 om 17:46 geschreven door peter  

A humanoid robot has reached new depths of the uncanny valley with its smooth, humanlike movements.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, Xpeng, revealed its latest robot dubbed the Xpeng IRON, at an event last week.

The bot proved so eerily lifelike that its inventors were forced to cut it open on stage to prove there wasn't a person hiding inside.

Luckily for the assembled crowds, all this bold stunt revealed was sophisticated synthetic muscles, rather than real flesh and blood.

Xpeng says IRON's creepily realistic walk is a result of its unique AI, which enables it to physically react to its surroundings.

Each robot is also coated with a 'full coverage' synthetic skin, which supposedly makes it 'feel warmer and more intimate'.

On social media, fans have been blown away by the impressive design, with commenters hailing IRON as 'beyond belief'.

One amazed commenter wrote: 'For the first time in human history, a robot needs to prove that it is a machine.'

Xpeng, a Chinese EV manufacturer, has unveiled a humanoid robot which is so realistic that the company was forced to cut the bot open live on stage

People were so convinced that the new IRON robot was human that the engineers cut off its skin to reveal the robot beneath

Xpeng unveiled its new humanoid robot at the company's 2025 XPENG AI Day in Guangzhou, China.

And, after facing a series of claims that its robots are fake, Xpeng decided to settle the debate once and for all.

In front of the assembled crowd, an engineer took a large pair of scissors and carefully cut through the outer layer of synthetic skin.

Rather than revealing a hidden human as some critics had suspected, the engineer only revealed a sleek metal limb.

The company says that its robot's 'cat-like' gate was produced by a hidden system of artificial muscles, flexible bones, and a synthetic spine.

The robot is powered by three custom AI chips that allow it to make a combined total of 2,250 trillion operations per second (TOPS), making it one of the most advanced humanoid robots in existence.

This allows it to move with unnervingly human-like balance and poise.

However, IRON's true uncanny factor comes from its lifelike endoskeleton, which gives its body shape, and a layer of flexible skin.

After cutting away the synthetic skin, the inventors revealed the powerful artificial muscles below. These are what give the IRON robot its human-like walk

IRON is made especially creepy by its synthetic skin and 'endoskeleton', which gives the robot a realistic body shape

In the future, Xpeng says that customers will be able to customise the build and skin tone of their robots, choosing slimmer or stockier designs.

He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors, said at the event: 'In the future, robots will be life partners and colleagues.

'I suspect that, just like when you buy a car, you can choose different colours, exteriors, and interiors. In the future, when you buy a robot, you can choose the sex, hair length, or clothing for your desired purpose.'

On social media, some tech enthusiasts flocked to share their amazement at the innovation.

One impressed commenter wrote: 'It's a compliment to the engineers that people thought it was a disguised human.'

'An engineer should be proud if people call their work fake or a hoax,' another chimed in.

While one added: 'This robot's movement is too human to believe it is actually a robot.'

However, even though Xpeng cut its robot open on stage, not everyone was convinced.

Even after the demonstration, some social media users were not convinced. Claiming that there was an amputee with a metal leg inside the suit

Xpeng says that its robots will be available to work in factories from 2026, but it has ruled out providing them for domestic settings 

'It's a woman with a prosthetic leg,' one commenter wrote.

Another added: 'I laughed so hard when they started cutting out the part that was hiding the prosthetic leg.

Another demanded: 'Cut open all of it! It could be an amputee!'

Of course, there is no evidence to suggest Xpeng has faked their robot, and IRON is actually the second generation of humanoid bots made by the company.

Read More

• Chefs, your jobs are safe for now! Humanoid robot tries to cook a stir-fry - with disastrous results 

Mr Xiaopeng says that the first IRON robots will start appearing at Xpeng locations in 2026.

The company didn't confirm how much each robot would cost, and did not respond to Daily Mail's request for additional information.

However, these humanoid bots won't be folding your laundry or doing the dishes for you quite yet.

Xpeng has ruled out offering its robots for domestic settings, noting that a powerful autonomous robot in a cluttered, unpredictable environment poses obvious safety risks.

WILL YOUR JOB BE TAKEN BY A ROBOT? PHYSICAL JOBS ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK

Physical jobs in predictable environments, including machine-operators and fast-food workers, are the most likely to be replaced by robots.

Management consultancy firm McKinsey, based in New York, focused on the amount of jobs that would be lost to automation, and what professions were most at risk.

The report said collecting and processing data are two other categories of activities that increasingly can be done better and faster with machines. 

This could displace large amounts of labour - for instance, in mortgages, paralegal work, accounting, and back-office transaction processing.

Conversely, jobs in unpredictable environments are least are risk.

The report added: 'Occupations such as gardeners, plumbers, or providers of child- and eldercare - will also generally see less automation by 2030, because they are technically difficult to automate and often command relatively lower wages, which makes automation a less attractive business proposition.'

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{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

10-11-2025 om 15:46 geschreven door peter  

Watch: Chinese company's new humanoid robot moves so smoothly, they had to cut it open to prove a person wasn't hiding inside

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng has unveiled a new humanoid robot with such lifelike movements that company representatives felt compelled to slice it open onstage to prove a human wasn't hiding inside.

Fortunately for the audience, there wasn't. Instead, the robot, named "IRON," features a flexible, humanlike spine, articulated joints and artificial muscles that allow it to move with a model-like swagger.

This is thanks to Xpeng's custom artificial intelligence (AI) robotics architecture, which enables it to interpret visual inputs and respond physically without needing to first translate what it sees into language

Speaking during IRON's unveiling at Xpeng's AI Day in Guangzhou on Nov. 5, China, He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors, suggested that IRON's appearance was designed to be recognizably human — if slightly unsettling.

The machine is equipped with 82 degrees of freedom, including 22 in each hand, allowing it to bend, pivot and gesture at multiple points throughout its body, representatives said in a statement.

It's powered by three custom AI chips that give it a combined 2,250 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of computing power, which Xpeng says makes it one of the most powerful humanoid robots developed to date. For comparison, Intel's Core Ultra 200V series processor, fitted into some of the best laptops, can achieve just 120 TOPS.

IRON man

IRON is based on what its creators call a "born from within" design, a concept that reflects the robot’s design mimicking the human body from the inside out.

The robot features an internal endoskeleton and bionic muscle structure capable of supporting different body types, ranging from slim to stocky, which users can customize. Its outer layer is also made from "full-coverage" synthetic skin, He said during the presentation, making the robot "feel warmer and more intimate."

"The next generation has very flexible bones, solid bionic muscles, and soft skin. We hope it can have a similar height and proportions to human beings," He said. "In the future, robots will be life partners and colleagues. I suspect that, just like when you buy a car, you can choose different colors, exteriors, and interiors. In the future, when you buy a robot, you can choose the sex, hair length, or clothing for your desired purpose."

According to Xpeng, IRON is also the first humanoid robot in the world to run on an all-solid-state battery. Solid-state batteries use ceramics or polymers instead of the flammable liquids in conventional lithium-ion batteries, making them safer for the enclosed environments where the robot is designed to operate.

IRON is destined for mass production, although Xpeng ruled out household chores for the immediate future, pointing out that a humanoid robot operating in messy or unpredictable households could pose safety risks. Instead, it will debut in commercial settings such as stores, offices and company showrooms, with the first models expected to appear in Xpeng locations in 2026.

The announcement forms part of Xpeng's broader push into "physical AI," which aims to bring together robotics, autonomous vehicles and AI development under a unified platform. Earlier this year, the company revealed a prototype flying car designed to launch from a Cybertruck-style mobile base.

Humanoid robots have been having something of a moment in recent months. In October, Chinese robotics startup Unitree debuted its pirouetting, karate-kicking H2 model. Unlike IRON, Unitree's bot has yet to be given an official release date, meaning Xpeng's bot may well beat it to the shop floor (or office reception).

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{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

08-11-2025 om 20:41 geschreven door peter  

Bizarre robotic chair concept looks like a crab and can carry you around the house — it can even help you into your car

Described as an "autonomous wheelchair," the bot is packed with a number of features that allow it to navigate difficult terrain by mimicking the movement of four-legged animals like crabs. These include LiDAR systems that use laser light to measure distances and create highly accurate, detailed three-dimensional representations of objects and environments, which the robot utilizes to dodge obstacles or deal with uneven surfaces.

When climbing stairs, the unit first tests the height with its front legs before pushing upward with its rear limbs. There are also built-in collision radars to avoid contact with people or objects.

Additionally, the Walk Me has built-in weight sensors to ensure that the user remains in a stable, seated position. Toyota's engineers studied the way people naturally navigate stairs and how they distribute their weight when moving around or over obstacles. If the robot senses an imbalance, it can adjust both its legs as well as the tilt of the seat itself to ensure the user is comfortable and secure.

{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

08-11-2025 om 20:21 geschreven door peter  

Chinese Firefighters Using Robot Dogs With Huge Hoses Attached

Since Boston Dynamic first teased its BigDog robot in 2004, four-legged hound automatons have exploded in popularity. There are now dozens of robot dogs in development, ranging from military and surveillance applications to companionship models that can carry groceries and talk back to their human owners.

One of the most distinctive uses for a quadrupedal robot we’ve seen yet is coming out of China, where the company Unitree has been hard at work developing robodogs that can assist firefighters at the site of dangerous blazes.

Called “Fire Rescue” units, the robots are essentially beefed up models of the Unitree B2. According to Unitree’s website, they Fire Rescue platform allows public safety officials to kit out their B2s with modular components, allowing them to spray water and foam, fight wildfires with air cannons, transmit data and video from inside burning structures, and carry equipment for rescuers.

Trial footage of the B2 Fire Rescue bot in action quickly made the rounds on Chinese and Western social media. The short clip shows a firefighter attach a high-pressure hose to the back of a unit, which springs up and advances toward a brush fire.

Controlled by a teleoperator, the device positions itself in front of the fire, dousing it in a stream of water.

On the Chinese-language app RedNote, one user commented that “this is the direction of technological development: to help people, not replace them.”

Whether these units make their way to the rest of the world remains to be seen. On Reddit, Western netizens wondered if the devices would weigh enough to withstand the high pressure typical of US handlines, the hoses firefighters carry by hand to directly attack fires.

“I’m hoping dog has some heavy weight, but if not you’ll need several dogs to hold down the hose,” one Redditor commented. “Those things ain’t no joke, the pressure is insane.”

According to the Unitree website, the B2 Fire Rescue module is rated for a water flow rate of 40 liters per second, though it’s not known what kind of water flow or pressure is used in the video. (For reference, the Fire Department of New York uses an angled hose nozzle for high-rise fires which flows at 16.7 liters per second.)

Either way, it’s a fascinating look at a new use for robot dogs, which until now were looking more like weapons of war than tools for the good of humanity.

More on robots:

• Hundreds of Robots Competed in the World’s First Robot Olympics. The Results Were Unintentionally Hilarious

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{ https://futurism.com/category/robots-and-machines }

08-11-2025 om 15:59 geschreven door peter  

AI models refuse to shut themselves down when prompted — they might be developing a new 'survival drive,' study claims

Some analysts criticized the study, arguing that the apparent disobedience likely stemmed from poor training incentives and ambiguous instructions, rather than being seeds of an upcoming AI uprising. So the researchers issued an update on X, describing how they tweaked the shutdown instructions to make them "unambiguous."

{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

03-11-2025 om 21:57 geschreven door peter  

Humanoid robots could lift 4,000 times their own weight thanks to breakthrough 'artificial muscle'

By Bobby Hellard 

Researchers have developed a chemical structure for an artificial muscle that can lift up to 4,000 times its weight, and they say it could be used in future humanoid robots.

(Image credit: Ociacia/Getty Images)

Researchers in South Korea have built an artificial muscle that can lift approximately 4,000 times its own weight. They say it can be used in future humanoid robots.

A key breakthrough with the muscle's design is its ability to be flexible or taut when needed, which is a first for this field of research. The scientists outlined their findings in a study published Sept. 7 in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

"This research overcomes the fundamental limitation where traditional artificial muscles are either highly stretchable but weak or strong but stiff," lead study author Hoon Eui Jeong, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), said in a statement. "Our composite material can do both, opening the door to more versatile soft robots, wearable devices, and intuitive human-machine interfaces."

Artificial muscles are often limited by an inability to be flexible or taut; they need to be stretchable while still offering enough energy output, or else their work densities are limited. But soft artificial muscles are believed to be transformative because they're lightweight, mechanically compliant, and capable of multidirectional actuation (movement).

When the researchers say "work density," they refer to how much energy per unit volume the muscle can deliver. Achieving high values alongside high stretchability is where the challenge lies for artificial muscles.

Do you even lift, robo?

The scientists described their artificial muscle as a "high-performance magnetic composite actuator," which means it's a complex chemical combination of polymers that link together to mimic the pull and release of muscles.

One of these polymers can have its level of stiffness altered and sits in a matrix that has magnetic microparticles on the surface that can also be controlled. This enables the muscle to be animated and controlled through the tunable stiffness, thus allowing it to be moved.

The researchers' new design integrates two distinct cross-linking mechanisms. The first is a covalently bonded chemical network (two or more atoms that share electrons to achieve a more stable configuration) and a reversible, physically interacting network. The two mechanisms, developed in this way, provide the durability for the muscle to work long-term, the researchers said in the study.

The trade-off between stiffness and stretchability is effectively solved by a dual cross-linking architecture, and the physical network is further reinforced by incorporating a type of microparticle (NdFeB) on the surface of the muscle that can be given a function via a colorless liquid (octadecyltrichlorosilane). The particles are dispersed throughout the polymer matrix.

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• Scientists create ultrapowerful, squishy robotic 'eye' that focuses automatically and doesn't need a power source
• Watch new humanoid robot pirouette, pose and pull off deft karate moves with eerily lifelike movement

The composite muscle becomes stiff when bearing heavy loads and softens when it needs to contract. In its stiffened state, the artificial muscle, which weighs just 0.04 ounce (1.13 grams), can support up to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) — roughly 4,400 times its own weight.

A human muscle contracts at approximately 40% strain, but the synthetic muscle achieves a strain of 86.4% — over double that of the human muscle, the researchers said in the study. This enables a work density of 1,150 kilojoules per meter cubed — 30 times higher than human tissue is capable of.

The researchers used a uniaxial tensile test to measure the strength of their artificial muscle. A type of mechanical test that applies a pulling force to a subject until it fractures – the elongation is measured against the applied force to find its ultimate tensile strength.

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{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

03-11-2025 om 21:43 geschreven door peter  

It might look a bit like a spaceship, but this small steel pod takes mankind one step closer to living at the bottom of the sea.

Designed to operate at a depth of 50m (164ft), it consists of a living chamber, a dive centre and a foundational base.

The habitat, named Vanguard, will allow up to four 'aquanauts' to live and work in the murky depths of the ocean.

Living there will give researchers the opportunity to dive for hours at a time, carrying out studies that would be otherwise impossible.

The main part of the pod, measuring 12 metres (40 feet) long by 3.7 metres (12 feet) wide, is where scientists would eat, sleep and work.

It comes equipped with individual bunks, a galley to cook food and a toilet. The dive centre, meanwhile, is where people can change into their dive gear and exit into the ocean through the 'moon pool'.

A surface support buoy provides air, water, waste removal, electricity and communications to the steel habitat, where visitors can stay for a week or more.

'Beneath the surface of the ocean lies a vast, largely unexplored frontier that has fascinated humans for centuries,' DEEP, the company behind the design, said.

Vanguard was unveiled this week in Miami, Florida, and will open up 'a whole new realm of science'

The underwater pod features a galley, seating area and table. 'Aquanauts' could live on board for a week or more

When the beds are 'down', they provide sofas for up to four people to sit, eat, socialise and work

'DEEP is setting out to change this by pioneering a new era of underwater living. Their ambitious mission – to make humans aquatic – begins with Vanguard and represents a major step forward in how people can live and work beneath the waves.'

Vanguard was unveiled this week in Miami, Florida, and will open up 'a whole new realm of science', experts said.

Currently, normal surface diving methods only allow humans to spend limited time deep in the ocean.

Spending time on Vanguard will mean divers will be able to explore at depth for hours on end before returning to the habitat, DEEP said.

By allowing teams to remain submerged for extended periods, the pod will enable more comprehensive research and real-time observation of marine life.

This could revolutionise areas such as coral reef restoration, climate monitoring and even astronaut training for future space missions.

DEEP said it has a larger vision – to have 'a global network of underwater habitats that could give humans a permanent presence in the ocean'.

For now, the pod is situated only 20 metres (65ft) underwater, but the prototype is designed to sit comfortably at 50m (164ft).

The dive centre (left) is where people can change into their equipment. The image on the right shows the toilet facilities on-board

The seating area can be easily transformed into a bedroom, with visitors having individual bunks

This artist's impression shows two people scuba diving next to the pod. The idea behind Vanguard is to allow for much longer diving expeditions and research

Read More

• Stunning treasures pulled from Titanic's forgotten sister ship more than 100 years after it exploded 

It has been designed with safety in mind, and has the capability of withstanding the subsurface effects of a category 5 hurricane.

Once all systems have been tested and approved, Vanguard will be properly deployed for the first time so engineers can run drills, operational and emergency procedures.

There is not yet a fixed date for when that will be, but DEEP say it will be revealed – along with the location - by the end of the year.

The company is also working on another design, a 'hotel-like' base called Sentinel, which is set to one day be located 200m (660ft) below the surface off the coast of Wales.

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{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

03-11-2025 om 20:30 geschreven door peter  

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

30-10-2025 om 22:33 geschreven door peter  

After nearly a decade in development, NASA's supersonic jet dubbed 'Son of Concorde' has successfully completed its first test flight.

The 100-foot, $247million plane, built by Lockheed Martin for NASA, took off from Palmdale Regional Airport in California at about 10:15 EDT on Tuesday. 

After about an hour performing oval-shaped loops, the plane landed safely at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center 25 miles further northeast. 

Its peak altitude during the flight was 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) – which is under half that of a commercial plane at cruising altitude – but experts hope it will be able to reach 55,000 feet (16,800 metres). 

Officially known as X-59, the manned aircraft is designed to pave the way for faster air travel at 'supersonic' speeds of up to 925mph. 

At such as speed, it could transport paying passengers from London to New York in under four hours – revolutionizing the industry and freeing up time for busy businesspeople and holidaymakers.

'We are thrilled to achieve the first flight of the X-59,' said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division. 

'This aircraft is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our joint team, and we are proud to be at the forefront of quiet supersonic technology development.' 

Lockheed Martin, in partnership with NASA, successfully completed the first flight of the X-59, a quiet supersonic aircraft designed to pave the way for faster commercial air travel

The 100-foot, $247million plane, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, took off from Palmdale Regional Airport in California at about 10:15 EDT on Tuesday

According to Lockheed Martin, X-59 performed 'exactly as planned' prior to its safe landing at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. 

However, the single-engine jet only reached speeds of 230mph, which is nowhere near its top speed of 925mph – much faster than the speed of sound (767mph). 

Further test flights in the coming months will 'expand the X-59's flight envelope' and get closer to the plane's top flying speed, the aerospace company said. 

Despite being short of the all-important speed threshold, experts hailed this latest milestone as 'a new era in supersonic flight'. 

Sean Duffy, Secretary of the Department of Transportation and acting NASA administrator, called the experimental plane 'a symbol of American ingenuity'. 

He said: 'The American spirit knows no bounds. It's part of our DNA – the desire to go farther, faster, and even quieter than anyone has ever gone before. 

'This work sustains America's place as the leader in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies.' 

X-59 is dubbed 'Son of Concorde' because it would be the first passenger plane to fly at supersonic speeds (faster than the speed of sound) since the days of the retired Anglo-French liner over 20 years ago. 

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On its first flight, NASA's experimental quiet supersonic X-59 aircraft takes off from Runway 7 at Palmdale USAF Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, October 28

Once airborne, the single-engine jet reached speeds of 230mph, which is nowhere near its top speed of 925mph - faster than the speed of sound (767mph)

Further test flights in the coming months will 'expand the X-59's flight envelope' and get closer to the plane's top flying speed

One of the issues with Concorde that led to its retirement in 2003 was the 'sonic booms' it emitted as it flew. 

Described as sounding somewhere between a thunderclap and an explosion, sonic booms happen when shock waves from an object travelling through the air faster than the speed of sound merge together before they reach the ground. 

Concorde's sonic booms were often described as unsettling by members of the public on the ground below, which meant Concorde never replaced slower, more conventional aircraft. 

In contrast, X-59’s thin, tapered nose accounts for almost a third of its length and breaks up the shock waves that usually result in a sonic boom, instead producing a quieter 'thump'. 

Due to X-59's odd configuration, the cockpit is located almost halfway down the length of the aircraft – and the craft does not have a forward-facing window. 

Instead, it's fitted with the 'eXternal Vision System', a series of high-resolution cameras feeding a 4K monitor in the cockpit.

Eventually, NASA – which will be the primary user – will fly the aircraft over cities across the US, which are yet to be selected. 

It will collect feedback about the sound the X-59 generates and how people perceive it before providing the data to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Dubbed 'son of Concorde', the agency's new 100-foot-long plane is capable of cruising at 1.4 times the speed of sound, or 925 miles per hour

X-59 has been developed by American aerospace firm Lockheed Martin after being awarded the $247.5 million design contract by NASA in 2016 

NASA stresses that X-59 is one of its experimental crafts and is not a commercial airliner designed to carry passengers 

However, if supersonic flight proves to be feasible, bulkier next-gen versions fitted out with passenger seats could transport paying passengers just like Concorde did. 

For 50 years, the US prohibited supersonic flights because of disturbance caused by sonic booms to communities below, which was why Concorde was largely restricted to flights over the Atlantic – namely Paris to New York and London to New York.

Read More

• China is testing supersonic jet that's even faster than 'Son of Concorde': NYC to London in 2 hours 

The legendary plane was the world’s first supersonic airliner and operated for 27 years, but it was grounded in October 2003 largely due to high fuel costs, concern over its noise and a preference for lower fares over speed.

Ever since, no government or manufacturer has since been able to build a commercial plane that can travel faster than the speed of sound – although Lockheed Martin is not the only one trying. 

Another American company called Boom Supersonic is working on its own supersonic craft, called Overture, which is eyeing commercial passenger flights in 2029. 

Meanwhile, China is working on its own experimental supersonic plane, called Yunxing, which could go at three times that of X-59.  

The history of Concorde  

Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet that was operated from 1976 until 2003.

It had a maximum speed over twice the speed of sound at Mach 2.04 (1,354mph or 2,180k per hour at cruise altitude) and could seat 92 to 128 passengers.

It was first flown in 1969, but needed further tests to establish it as viable as a commercial aircraft. Concorde entered service in 1976.

It is one of only two supersonic transports to have been operated commercially. The other is the Soviet-built Tupolev Tu-144, which ran as a passenger aircraft only for a few years in the 1970s due to safety issues.

Concorde was the world’s first supersonic airliner and operated for 27 years, but it was grounded in October 2003. Pictured is British Airways Concorde G-BOAB taking off with its landing gear still extended over the Cotswolds town of Fairford, Gloucestershire on July 20, 1996, during the annual RAF Fairford airshow

Concorde was jointly developed and manufactured by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) under an Anglo-French treaty. Concorde's name, meaning harmony or union, reflected the cooperation on the project between the UK and France.   

Concorde was retired in 2003 due to a general downturn in the commercial aviation industry after its only crash in 2000, the September 11 attacks in 2001, and a decision by Airbus, the successor to Aérospatiale and BAC, to discontinue maintenance support. 

It wasn't the first plane to break the sound barrier, however; that achievement was managed by the Bell X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager, in October 1947.

The legendary rocket engine-powered aircraft, designed and built in 1945, achieved a speed of 700 miles (1,127 kilometers) per hour.

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{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

29-10-2025 om 00:00 geschreven door peter  

Artikel door businessam.be

China ontwikkelt geavanceerde militaire AI om de Verenigde Staten in te halen

Key takeaways

• Het Chinese leger ontwikkelt actief AI-mogelijkheden om de prestaties op het slagveld te verbeteren en wil de Verenigde Staten op dit gebied overtreffen.
• Ondanks inspanningen om binnenlandse hardware te gebruiken, vertrouwt het Chinese leger nog steeds op Nvidia-chips voor geavanceerde AI-toepassingen.
• DeepSeek, een toonaangevend Chinees AI-model, domineert het AI-landschap van de PLA, wat de nadruk van Peking op binnenlands ontwikkelde oplossingen toont.

China is actief bezig met de ontwikkeling van geavanceerde artificiële intelligentie (AI) voor militaire doeleinden, met als doel de Verenigde Staten in te halen in de aanhoudende wapenwedloop. Deze ontwikkeling wordt gestimuleerd door DeepSeek, een toonaangevend Chinees AI-model, en weerspiegelt het streven van Peking naar “algoritmische soevereiniteit”, waarbij de afhankelijkheid van westerse technologie wordt verminderd en de controle over kritieke digitale infrastructuur wordt versterkt.

Uit een overzicht van talloze onderzoekspapers, patenten en aanbestedingsdossiers blijkt dat China systematisch probeert om AI voor militaire doeleinden te gebruiken. Hoewel specifieke details over de functionaliteit van deze wapens van de volgende generatie vertrouwelijk blijven, geven aankoopdocumenten en patenten inzicht in de vooruitgang op gebieden zoals autonome doelherkenning en realtime beslissingsondersteuning op het slagveld, die de vooruitgang van de VS weerspiegelen.

Gebruik van Nvidia-chips houdt aan

Het Chinese leger blijft Nvidia-chips gebruiken, waaronder modellen die onder Amerikaanse exportcontroles vallen, hoewel het onduidelijk is of deze chips werden aangeschaft voordat de beperkingen werden opgelegd. Recente patentaanvragen suggereren dat militaire onderzoeksinstituten Nvidia-hardware blijven gebruiken. Nvidia beweert dat het recyclen van kleine hoeveelheden oude chips geen risico vormt voor de nationale veiligheid, maar de Amerikaanse overheid heeft geen commentaar gegeven op deze bevindingen.

Als reactie op de druk vanuit Peking, schakelt het Chinese leger steeds meer over op het gebruik van in eigen land geproduceerde hardware, zoals de AI-chips van Huawei. Deze ontwikkeling is duidelijk zichtbaar in PLA-aankoopberichten en patentaanvragen, hoewel onafhankelijke verificatie moeilijk blijft.

DeepSeek domineert landschap

De populariteit van DeepSeek binnen de PLA weerspiegelt zijn dominantie in het nationale AI-landschap. Een dozijn aanbestedingen die dit jaar zijn uitgeschreven door PLA-entiteiten refereerden aan DeepSeek-modellen, terwijl er slechts één melding maakte van Qwen van Alibaba, een rivaliserend AI-platform. Deze trend suggereert dat China de voorkeur geeft aan binnenlands ontwikkelde oplossingen.

Chinese militaire onderzoekers ontwikkelen diverse AI-toepassingen, waaronder robothonden die autonoom verkenningswerk in groepen uitvoeren, zwermen drones die zelfstandig doelen opsporen, en geavanceerde oorlogssimulaties. Eerder zette de Chinese fabrikant Unitree bewapende robothonden in tijdens militaire oefeningen, wat de vooruitgang van het land op het gebied van robotica illustreert.

Autonome technologieën voor het slagveld

Het PLA investeert ook in steeds meer autonome technologieën voor het slagveld. Octrooiaanvragen onthullen pogingen om AI in drones te integreren voor doelherkenning, tracering en gecoördineerde operaties met minimale menselijke tussenkomst. Hoewel Chinese defensiefunctionarissen aandringen op het behoud van menselijke controle over wapensystemen, blijft er bezorgdheid bestaan over de mogelijkheid van ongecontroleerde inzet van AI-munitie.

China blijft vertrouwen op chips van Nvidia, ondanks pogingen om binnenlandse alternatieven te vinden. Hoewel de aankoopgegevens wijzen op een verschuiving naar Huawei Ascend chips, wordt Nvidia hardware nog steeds vaak genoemd in onderzoek dat wordt uitgevoerd door academici die aan het leger gelieerd zijn. Dit duidt op een voortdurende afhankelijkheid van geavanceerde westerse technologieën, zelfs als China ernaar streeft om zelfvoorzienend te zijn. (uv)

{ https://businessam.be/ }

28-10-2025 om 21:14 geschreven door peter  

Most of us recognize only three types of precipitation: rain, snow, and sleet. However, scientists have long felt that this list needs to be expanded and refined. A group of researchers from the University of Michigan and NASA decided to apply the power of machine learning to reveal the true diversity of types of precipitation falling from the sky. The result of their years of work is a revolutionary classification system that not only improves the accuracy of forecasts but also has the potential to save lives.

Why are forecasts wrong?

The classic idea that snow only falls when temperatures are below zero and rain only falls when temperatures are above zero is simplistic. In fact, in the range from -3°C to +5°C, both rain and snow are equally possible—it all depends on the conditions inside the clouds and the surrounding environment. This is why even the most advanced weather models often fail to accurately predict precipitation. Satellites can see clouds clearly from space, but they cannot determine exactly what will fall to the surface.

How a machine was taught to see rain

To fill this gap, scientists installed a special camera system called the Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP) at strategic locations in the United States, Canada, and Europe. This system, equipped with a high-speed camera, has collected data over the past nine years. The result is a collection of 1.5 million measurements, supplemented by information from ground-based weather stations.

Such a large amount of information can only be processed using artificial intelligence. Researchers created two machine learning models: a simple linear one and a more complex nonlinear one. The latter took into account the complex interactions between particles and ultimately prevailed, reducing the number of errors in determining the type of precipitation by 36% compared to the linear method.

Nine types of precipitation

The final system developed by the scientists was named UMAP. It not only simplifies complex data, but also identifies three key factors that determine precipitation: particle characteristics, intensity, and phase. Thanks to this, UMAP identified nine types of precipitation:

1. Drizzle — light, steady rainfall
2. Heavy rainfall — intense rainfall with numerous small drops
3. Light rain-to-mix transition — light sleet with dense ice pellets
4. Heavy rain-to-mix transition — intense sleet with dense ice pellet
5. Light mixed-phase — a low volume of slushy, partially frozen particles
6. Heavy mixed-phase — a high volume of slushy, partially frozen particles
7. Heavy snow-to-mix transition — large snowflakes and aggregate particleLight snowfall — light, fluffy snowfall
8. Heavy snowfall — an intense, heavy snowstorm

As climatologist and co-author of the study Claire Pettersen explains, the benefits of the new system are both immediate and long-term.

“In the short term, better forecasting can help people adjust their daily commute or prepare for big events like floods or an ice storm,” she noted. “On longer time scales, it can help predict how snowpack or runoff timing will change fresh water availability for a region.”

To make their discoveries accessible not only to scientists, the researchers created an interactive graph and an easy-to-understand interface for all weather enthusiasts. All information is also published in the Deep Blue Data repository for those who want to delve deeper into the details.

We previously reported on how climate swings could become more severe by 2028.

• According to popsci.com

• Posted in Science

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 { https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

27-10-2025 om 21:47 geschreven door peter  

It sounds like a scene right out of the latest science–fiction blockbuster.

But flying car races are now a reality, as the 'Formula One of the skies' holds its first–ever event. 

Incredible footage shows four flying cars head–to–head in a winding race around an aerial track, as part of the 'Jetson Air Games'. 

Each pilot was driving a Jetson One, a personal electric aircraft with a terrifying top speed of 63 miles per hour (102 km/h) and a range of up to 20 miles (32 km). 

In a video of the race, the cars lift off at the starting line before careening into the course, executing tight turns and perilous overtakes. 

Jetson says this first race was just a proof of concept for what a competitive format might look like for their futuristic flying machines. 

But on social media, fans are already demanding to see more. 

'Hell yes! This is what we were promised back in the 80s. We need more of this,' one fan enthusiastically wrote. 

It sounds like a scene right out of the latest science–fiction blockbuster. But flying car races are now a reality, as the 'Formula One of the skies' holds its first–ever event 

The race took place at the UP.Summit in Texas, where Jetson demonstrated its flying car's abilities.

In addition to hosting the very first race, pilots also took part in the first four–person formation flight.

Tomasz Patan, Jetson's co–founder, who also took part in the race, says: 'The energy from the crowd was incredible.

'It was a proud moment for our team and a clear signal that Jetson is ready to lead the next chapter in aviation.'

The company is yet to confirm when or where it will be hosting its next race, or to provide details about its plans for the Jetson Air Games.

However, fans have already begun to clamour for more races.

On YouTube, one commenter wrote: 'Never could have thought this became reality in my lifetime ... What a time to be alive!!!!'

'This is something I thought was a thing of sci–fi when I was a kid! It's now a reality,' another commenter wrote.

The 'Jetson Air Games' is the brainchild of Jetson, a startup which produces single–person electric vertical take–off and landing (e–VTOL) aircraft

The race saw four pilots go head–to–head to be the first through a winding aerial track. Each racer was driving a Jetson One personal flying vehicle, with a terrifying top speed of 63 miles per hour (102 km/h)

Another chimed in: 'I remember the first time I saw one of these I thought it was a miracle. Now it's becoming something attainable it's crazy.'

However, many tech enthusiasts were also extremely concerned about how safe this kind of race might be.

One concerned fan wrote: 'When and if this becomes a genuinely competitive sport then this will be more lethal than F1!'

Another wrote: '5000rpm propellers with open cockpit and no propeller guards giving me shivers.'

While one commenter joked: 'The words 'Everyone is a pilot' should scare the heck out of everyone who actually is a pilot.' 

The Jetson One is a single–passenger e–VTOL vehicle which uses eight powerful rotors to provide lift. 

With a carbon fibre and aluminium frame, the octo–copter weighs just 115 kg, 60 kg of which comes from the massive batteries. 

That allows the Jetson One to provide about 20 minutes of flight time up to a height of 1,500 feet (457 metres) above ground level.

Jetson says that this first race was just a proof of concept of what a competitive format might look like for their flying vehicles

Although Jetson hasn't announced plans to run more races, fans on social media are already clamouring to see more action 

In order to keep the pilot safe, Jetson says that the vehicle can safely fly with only one propeller and automatically land in case of an emergency. 

Each Jetson One is also fitted with a ballistic parachute, which can shoot out of the roof to slow a potentially dangerous fall.

However, this performance doesn't come cheap – the vehicle currently costs $128,000 (£95,380) with prices planned to rise to $148,000 (£110,290) on November 3. 

Perhaps the most surprising feature is that you don't need a pilot's licence to fly one of these craft in the US. 

The company's motto is 'everyone is a pilot', and its extremely easy–to–use and lightly regulated aircraft are helping make that a reality. 

After launching in October 2021, the first available models immediately sold out, and the company is now accepting orders for delivery in 2028.

The company delivered its first commercial model in September to the defence–tech entrepreneur Palmer Luckey.

According to Jetson, Mr Luckey was able to complete the ground training in just 50 minutes and was then free to fly. 

Jetson says it has 550 outstanding orders for the Jetson One, having made the first delivery in September to the defence–technology entrepreneur Palmer Luckey (pictured)

Jetson recently conducted trials with the Polish Mountain Rescue Service, testing the aircraft in real–life emergency situations as an option for reaching remote regions 

Jetson says it currently has nearly 550 outstanding orders and has total future sales reaching $75 million (£55.9 million).

Recently, the company completed a series of trials with the Polish Mountain Rescue Service, testing the aircraft in real–life emergency situations.

Despite winds gusting up to 36 miles per hour, the Jetson One was able to deploy and manoeuvre through the remote Tatra Mountains.

Read More

• World's first mass-produced flying car will go on sale within months - for $1 MILLION 

The vehicle is still subject to flying restrictions, which vary from country to country, meaning it can't currently be flown in cities. 

But the founders believe this will change as people open their minds to travel by flight, not road.

Co–founder Peter Ternström previously told Daily Mail: Going forward, we want to make big cities better places to live.

'For our children, the cities can be greener — there won't be space needed for loads of parking and roads because it's all going up in the air.

'People think it's crazy, but believe me, evolution happens quickly. Our goal is to make everyone a pilot within a decade.' 

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{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

17-10-2025 om 20:27 geschreven door peter  

Imagine an air defense system that does not launch missiles or fire shells, but hits drones with an invisible energy pulse. Similar to how a microwave oven heats food, this weapon “heats” the drone’s electronics – only much more powerfully and from a distance. Such electromagnetic weapons can instantly disable a drone or even a swarm of drones, effectively frying their electronic brains in flight. This technology is developing rapidly around the world, as it allows drones to be shot down at the speed of light and at minimal cost per shot.

How a “microwave cannon” shoots down drones

An electromagnetic weapon (EMW) is a device that generates a short pulse of ultra-high-power electromagnetic radiation. When such a pulse is directed at a drone, currents are induced in its wires and microchips, which can disable the electronics. The drone immediately loses control and crashes. Importantly, this happens at a distance and without physical contact – the invisible wave hits the target in a fraction of a second. One shot can cover several drones at once, as the beam has a certain angle of dispersion.

Unlike radio jamming, which only disrupts communication, such a “microwave cannon” causes real damage to the drone’s electronic systems. And unlike a laser, which must target each drone individually, an electromagnetic pulse acts more broadly – dozens of drones can be disabled with a single strike. According to the American classification, modern systems are already capable of hitting groups of small drones (1-2 units) at a range of up to 1-2 km with a short, powerful pulse lasting several nanoseconds. This is true “electromagnetic air defense” – a new type of countermeasure against air threats.

Energy balance assessment of a single shot

Let’s estimate the conditional shot of an electromagnetic cannon at 1 km. To obtain a sufficient effect on the target’s unshielded electronics equal to ≈300 V/m, a dish with a diameter of 3 m at 3 GHz (≈37 dBi) requires a peak power of about 0.56 MW. If the pulse lasts 100 ns, the energy of the shot is only ~0.056 J. This is ~6.2 million times less than what is needed to boil 1 liter of water in a kettle (~350 kJ). 1 kWh is equivalent to approximately 64 million such shots, and a full charge of a Tesla Model 3 (~75 kWh) is ~4.8 billion shots.

At a rate of $0.15/kWh, one shot costs literally nano-dollars (even taking into account ~1% efficiency, this is micro-cents). The paradox is that the energy is negligible, but a huge aperture, peak power, and fast pulse circuits are required – hence the size and power consumption of such installations.

Engineering challenges: energy, antennas, and dimensions

Creating such a “cannon” is not an easy task. To burn electronics at a distance, you need a super-powerful energy pulse. In practice, this means enormous power requirements: the system needs a generator or batteries and capacitors capable of storing and delivering a pulse wave of lightning-level energy. For example, a prototype of the American Phaser device is powered by a diesel generator. Other prototypes use pulse generators and even special explosive devices.

The antenna is another critical element. Electromagnetic waves need to be directed, so a large parabolic dish or phased array is usually installed to focus the energy in the desired direction. The dimensions of such antennas are measured in meters, so the entire installation is still quite cumbersome. Most existing systems are housed in a truck bed or a standard container, similar to laser systems. This, in turn, complicates mobility and deployment – transportation, installation time, and power supply are required.

However, the speed of electromagnetic air defense is impressive – the beam reaches the target almost instantly, as it travels at the speed of light. But for the system to be effective in the dynamics of combat, it needs to be integrated with radars and optical sensors that will detect and track targets. Modern systems combine radar for detecting drones and electromagnetic pulses for shooting them down. A wide microwave beam even has an advantage over a laser – it is easier to hit a maneuvering target with it, and it is less dependent on weather conditions. However, such pulses are not very selective: there is a risk of collateral damage. High-power radiation can affect the target’s own communication systems or electronics if they are not protected. Therefore, engineers are tasked not only with amplifying the pulse but also with learning how to direct it accurately and shield friendly objects.

Currently, electromagnetic weapons are still in the prototype and testing stage. No country has yet established mass production, despite significant advances in technology. The main obstacles to practical electromagnetic air defense can be summarized as follows:

• Enormous energy demand and risk of hitting yourself
• Bulky and complex
• Limited series production

Examples of modern electromagnetic “shields” and “cannons”

Despite the challenges, there are already several working models of electromagnetic air defense systems in the world. Most of them are being designed and tested in the United States. Let’s take a look at the most famous ones and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses:

• Phaser (USA) – an experimental high-energy system from Raytheon. Phaser is installed in a container with a diesel generator and a large antenna. In tests, it has demonstrated the ability to shoot down drones in a matter of seconds. Its power and range are kept secret. According to estimates, Phaser can destroy the electronics not only of drones, but also of cars and other objects.

Its strength is its instantaneous effect on multiple targets (the pulse lasts milliseconds), while its weakness is its large size and the need for a powerful energy source in the field.

• THOR (USA) – Tactical High-Power Operational Responder, a US Air Force project for protecting military bases. It is also a high-power microwave device, designed to be relatively portable. THOR is designed to combat swarms of small drones: during tests in April 2022, it successfully destroyed an entire group of UAVs. The system works on the principle of rapid deployment to protect, for example, an airbase from an invasion of drones.

Its advantages are mobility and wide coverage. Its disadvantage at present is its experimental status: THOR is not yet in service as a serial system, and its effectiveness against larger targets or in different weather conditions is still being tested.

• Leonidas (USA) –  the latest system from Epirus. Unlike older models, which used tube generators, Leonidas uses semiconductor amplifiers (such as GaN transistors), which have significantly reduced its size and increased its reliability. The system attracted attention after it destroyed a swarm of 49 drones with a single pulse during a demonstration firing in Indiana in August 2025.

Epirus has already manufactured several such systems for the US Army and has been awarded a contract for an upgraded version, Leonidas Gen II (with double the range to ~2 km and higher power). There are several modifications: stationary for bases, mobile on armored vehicles (for example, it is planned to be installed on Stryker armored personnel carriers), and even an aviation “capsule” Leonidas Pod for installation on aircraft and drones.

Prospects: from protecting cities to military bases

Electromagnetic weapons are on the verge of widespread recognition, and the next few years are expected to be pivotal. In the military sphere, high-power microwave systems are expected to become part of multi-level air defense systems. For example, the US Army is already deploying prototypes in training exercises. In 2025, during the Balikatan exercises in the Philippines, the Americans successfully used an HPM system to neutralize drones in the jungle. In the next 2-3 years, it is planned to deliver the first pre-production Leonidas installations to US air defense units for evaluation in real conditions. Similar systems are likely to appear in the armies of other advanced countries – Israel, Germany, and China are actively experimenting with these technologies. Given the rapid growth of the threat of kamikaze drones and swarm attacks, electromagnetic shields may become a common element of protection for bases, airfields, and cities. They will be deployed where conventional air defense is overloaded or where it is risky to use missiles (for example, over densely populated areas).

There are also many prospects in the civilian sector. Protecting airports and critical infrastructure from unauthorized drones is one of the first potential niches. An electromagnetic system installed on the roof of the terminal could bring down an intruding drone in seconds without risking the safety of aircraft. Such systems can be used to protect mass events: instead of jamming the signal (which does not work on autonomous drones), it is better to immediately neutralize the enemy drone with a pulse, for example, if the UAV is carrying dangerous cargo. It is only important to ensure that the fall of the downed aircraft does not harm people – for this purpose, combined solutions are being considered (first, the pulse disables the drone, and then a net or interceptor drone gently catches it).

Law enforcement agencies are also looking into EM weapons. Police often encounter criminals in cars or with potentially explosive devices. A microwave engine jammer could stop cars by disabling their electronics without shooting at the wheels. Or it could neutralize radio-controlled bombs from a distance by burning out their receivers before bomb disposal experts get close. Such solutions are already being tested: for example, the British RF Safe-Stop system emits directional radio waves that jam a car’s engine ignition. With the development of technology, such devices could become more compact – even portable guns capable of disabling surveillance drones or other criminal electronics with a single pulse.

Despite all these prospects, the technology needs improvement. The efficiency of microwave emitters is not yet very high: a significant part of the energy is scattered, and the effective range is limited to a few kilometers. Therefore, work is continuing on new generators (for example, Chinese scientists have tested an HPM cannon based on compact Stirling engines and superconducting magnets, which reduces energy consumption to 20% of current analogues). Improvements in the component base – from power sources to antennas – will make the installations smaller, more economical, and more reliable. It is expected that in the next 5-10 years, we will see a new generation of electromagnetic weapons: with the ability to operate for long periods (several hours without overheating), automatic targeting of dozens of targets, and integration into unified troop control systems.

Electromagnetic air defense is no longer science fiction and is entering the phase of practical application. Spectacular tests – where entire swarms of drones fall from the sky at the push of a button – demonstrate that this technology has the potential to change the rules of the game. Of course, it is not a panacea and will not replace all other types of weapons. But in combination with traditional means (missiles, anti-aircraft guns) and the latest lasers, electromagnetic “cannons” can fill the niche where the enemy tries to win with quantity and cheapness. When dozens of inexpensive drones fly simultaneously, it is economically and technically more advantageous to shoot them down with a pulse for pennies than to waste expensive missiles and risk missing some of the targets. That is why armies around the world are rushing to test such systems, and developers are improving their design. It is possible that very soon electromagnetic air defense will become as commonplace as radar once was: invisible to the naked eye, but reliably guarding the skies, with complex engineering solutions working simply and unobtrusively to protect us all.

• Posted in Articles, Tech

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17-10-2025 om 15:54 geschreven door peter  

A Lantern That Comes to Life

The researchers started with a thin polymer sheet, cut into a diamond-shaped parallelogram. Evenly spaced slits were then added to form narrow ribbon patterns connected by solid strips at the top and bottom. When the ends were joined, the sheet folded into a hollow, spherical structure that resembled a paper lantern.

“This basic shape is, by itself, bistable,” said Jie Yin, one of the study’s authors and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State. “It’s stable in its lantern form, but when compressed, it suddenly snaps into a second stable shape that resembles a spinning top.”

When returning to its original form, the structure rapidly releases stored elastic energy, a process the researchers call snapping morphogenesis. By combining twisting and folding, the team produced a variety of additional shapes, including some with four stable states.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/tech/ }

15-10-2025 om 17:59 geschreven door peter