🐙 Octopus-inspired robot, plasma etching to help build ultra-precise chips, new fibre-optic gyroscope

Scientists have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment. The device is inspired by the octopus’s nervous system to grab items by sensing them.

Developed by researchers from the University of Bristol, the soft robot can use suction flow not just to stick to things, but also to sense its environment and control its own actions—just like an octopus.

Interestingly, a single suction system enables the robot to grab delicate items, sense whether it’s touching air, water, or a rough surface, and even predict how hard something is pulling on it—all at once, without needing a central computer. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

Reading Time: 4 mins

Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? Subscribe here.

MUST-READ

🐙 Octopus-inspired robot can decide how to grip objects with accuracy

The study focused on octopuses that exploit an efficient neuromuscular hierarchy to achieve complex dexterous body manipulation, integrating sensor-rich suckers, in-arm embodied computation, and centralized higher-level reasoning.

Researchers took inspiration from the hierarchical intelligence of the octopus and demonstrated how, by exploiting the fluidic energy and information capacity of simple suction cups, soft computational elements, and soft actuators.

“We can mimic key aspects of the neuromuscular structure of the octopus in soft robotic systems,” said researchers in the study.

𓇲 New DirectDrive plasma etching tech to help build ultra-precise chips

Imagine trying to carve a tiny, complex sculpture into a block the size of your fingernail again and again, billions of times, with nearly no room for error.

That’s what chipmakers do when they etch complex patterns on silicon to make the semiconductors that power most of the gadgets and technology around us.

A​ team of researchers recently unveiled a breakthrough technology called DirectDrive—which brings an unprecedented level of precision to the plasma etching process used in building computer chips.

🧭 China's new fibre-optic gyroscope can withstand temperature changes

Chinese scientists have reportedly developed a new fibre-optic gyroscope that is stable across a wide range of temperatures.

The development could prove crucial for military, deep-sea, or space navigation, where satellite signals can be blocked or are unreliable.

Gyroscopes are critical pieces of equipment used in the navigation of planes, ships, submarines, and oil rigs. A gyroscope measures orientation and rotation. Simply put, it tells you which way you’re pointing, moving, or how you’re turning without the need for GPS or satellites.

Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. Subscribe here

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> A new study analyzed the skeleton of a man who lived with a disability during the Middle Ages to determine what his treatment strategy was. (More)

> Researchers have reanalyzed the long-perplexing “Star Manual of Master Shi” and discovered that it could rightfully be considered the oldest, structured celestial map in the world. (More)

> Scientists have obtained a 150,000-year record of Earth's magnetic field from the analysis of a "tree-ringed African lake.” (More)

ENERGY

> The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has reportedly pushed the boundaries of fusion energy and achieved significant increases in power output in its latest experiments. (More)

> US scientists have used inexpensive store-bought tape to craft a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which is capable of harvesting electrical energy from various sources, including human movement and environmental conditions, to power small devices like wearable biosensors. (More)

> Indian solar manufacturer Premier Energies Limited has partnered with Taiwan's Sino-American Silicon Products Inc. (SAS) to establish a 2 GW solar wafer production facility. (More)

INNOVATION

> Defense scientists have discovered a way to make high-altitude drones more efficient using plasma excitation technology. (More)

> Canada-based aerospace engineering company, Horizon Aircraft, has hit a milestone by becoming the first eVTOL developer to achieve stable wing-borne flight transition with its large-scale prototype aircraft, Cavorite X7, using a fan-in-wing design. (More)

> A government-owned company in China has introduced what it claims to be the world’s first commercial cryptography system resistant to even quantum computer attacks. (More)

VIDEO

> The SVD Dragunov, designed in the 1960s, reflects Soviet military philosophy: not a precision sniper rifle, but a rugged, semi-automatic weapon built for accurate fire alongside advancing infantry. (More)

> Training for tennis takes skill, determination, and lots of ball throwing. Players used to rely on ball launchers to train their stamina and reaction time. But what if the ball launcher could adapt its throwing based on your performance? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Glaciers will take centuries to recover even if global warming is reversed, scientists warn

> UK’s Royal Navy set for overhaul with 24 new vessels - to support nuclear submarines

> China showcases latest anti-stealth technologies at radar expo

> Jiu Tian drone carrier set to extend China’s UAV combat range

> No more sticky patches: 3D-printed wearable monitors health through skin gases

> USC, UCLA complete first-in-human bladder transplant