China's transforming secret fighter jet, Russian satellite sends ISS crew scrambling for cover, Humanoid robot gains employment to move underwear boxes

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China has reportedly tested a revolutionary stealth fighter jet that can transform midair by detaching its wings, which then operate as independent drones.

This aircraft, seeming right out of a sci-fi movie, was tested at a secret location in the Mu Us Desert, and has a blended-wing design optimized for high-speed stealth operations.

During the test, the jet demonstrated its wing sections separating into two autonomous flying drones, each powered by electric ducted fans. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior Engineering Consultant
> Principal Engineer

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MUST READ

🛦 China’s secret fighter jet’s wings transform into deadly drones midair

Although the transformation into the two drones caused some instability initially, the main aircraft and drones quickly stabilized, showcasing the jet’s aerodynamic efficiency and automatic control systems prowess.

This new aircraft will enable China to overcome common issues in manned/unmanned collaborative combat, such as speed mismatch and range limitations.

Chinese scientists are also testing other technologies including replacing physical rudders with airflow and plasma stealth equipment. These advancements could also be next-gen-fighter-bound.

🛰️ 150+ bones of dead Russian satellite scatter in space, scare ISS astronauts

A defunct Russian satellite’s unexpected disintegration in low Earth orbit has sent the International Space Station crew scrambling for cover.

The Resurs P1 shattered into over 180 trackable pieces on June 26, creating a debris cloud and concern over space debris and its potential impact on active missions.

The cause of the satellite’s disintegration remains unclear, with some even speculating about a potential anti-satellite weapons test. However, no official statements have confirmed this theory. This event could prompt discussions for international cooperation in space debris management.

🤖 Digit: Humanoid robot employed to move underwear boxes at Spanx warehouse

Humanoid robots are now being used at a Spanx warehouse in the US, thanks to a new agreement between GXO Logistics and Agility Robotics, marking the first formal commercial use of humanoid robots in the industry.

Digit, Agility Robotics’ human-centered bipedal robot, stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and can lift up to 35 pounds.

GXO will utilize Agility Arc, a cloud platform, to control and deploy fleets of Digit robots as part of their Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) agreement. This collaboration aims to reduce repetitive tasks for human workers, allowing them to focus on more valuable activities instead.

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