RSS Feed Source: Science Daily
Scientists have created a robot that can learn tasks like cleaning a washbasin just by watching humans. A special sponge with sensors is used to show the robot how to clean. Using an advanced machine learning system, the robot learns how it is supposed to behave and can apply this knowledge to cleaning different washbasins.
Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.
RSS Feed Source: Science Daily
Mirroring the mechanisms that make human faces and bodies — and those of many multicellular organisms — symmetrical, bee colonies build symmetrical nests when they are placed on either side of a double-sided comb. The finding, published in Current Biology by U.S. National Science Foundation-supported researchers, extends examples of symmetry in biology to the behavior of communities and the architectural structures that they build.
In addition to the simple beauty of the mirrored combs, nest symmetry also helps the colonies adapt better. For example, two-sided nests grow more quickly, rear more brood and have a more stable thermal environment than one-sided nests.
“Akin to the location of plumbing in the construction of an apartment building, which often results in mirrored kitchens or bathrooms across apartments, bees originate their colonies based on a heat source, and thermal cues drive colony organization,” said Michael L. Smith, corresponding author on the publication and assistant professor in the department of biological sciences at Auburn University. “Heat cues direct where the nest is initiated and where the queen begins laying eggs, but the entire nest is symmetrical, including their pollen and honey stores.”
RSS Feed Source: Science Daily
Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Position
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position (assistant/associate/full) in the area of autonomy, navigation and mapping. Specifically, this open-rank position seeks applicants specializing in one or more areas of autonomy, perception, navigation, localization and mapping, and sensor fusion. The ideal candidate will contribute to ongoing research at Virginia Tech and will collaborate with existing faculty in robotics, automotive and aerospace fields in the development of autonomous vehicle/robotic systems. Candidates interested in enhancing navigation in complex environments for multi-agent systems, and ensuring uncrewed vehicle/robotic systems can operate safely and efficiently in diverse and unpredictable settings are encouraged to apply.
This position will have valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary research and fostering innovation across departments. We aim to integrate strengths in robotics, computer vision, machine learning, and control systems to drive forward the
Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.
RSS Feed Source: Science Daily
Tech companies have been funneling billions of dollars into quantum computers for years. The hope is that they’ll be a game changer for fields as diverse as finance, drug discovery, and logistics.
Those expectations have been especially high in physics and chemistry, where the weird effects of quantum mechanics come into play. In theory, this is where quantum computers could have a huge advantage over conventional machines.
But while the field struggles with the realities of tricky quantum hardware, another challenger is making headway in some of these most promising use cases. AI is now being applied to fundamental physics, chemistry, and materials science in a way that suggests quantum computing’s purported home turf might not be so safe after all.
The scale and complexity of quantum systems that can be simulated using AI is advancing rapidly, says Giuseppe Carleo, a professor of computational
Click this link to continue reading the article on the source website.
