🔋 Hair-thin battery, Australia's 'useful' quantum computer, Six-arm bot

Plus: Drone saves lives at sea using flotation devices                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 01, 2024 | [Read Online]( In Coordination with Military Mechanics Delve into the intricate world of powerful defence technology & innovations [Subscribe to youtube channel now.]( A team has created a thin foil-like solid-state battery featuring coatings so delicate that its final thickness is thinner than a human hair. They claim their innovation facilitates ultra-fast recharging, completing in approximately one minute. Moreover, the battery’s unique structure ensures a lifespan of approximately ten times longer than its conventional counterparts. For more on the tech behind this battery, check out today’s [Must-Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Cybersecurity Engineer]( > [Electrical Engineer]( 🎙 New podcast [Â]([Redefining astronomy with smart telescopes]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🔋 Hair-thin battery that charges in a minute unveiled by ETH Zurich spin-offs Recyclable and [sustainable batteries]( are a prerequisite for a green energy revolution, as the rapidly increasing demand for batteries is driving up the consumption of rare raw materials like lithium. BTRY, an ETH spinoff, has created a [hair-thin solid-state battery]( that can significantly reduce charging times. The researchers completely avoid using liquids in the battery's components and production method. According to the BTRY team, the main benefit of its solid-state batteries is their extreme temperature resistance. As a result, they can be employed in applications that require them to function at extremely high or low temperatures, such as sensors that identify vapor leaks or during [medication delivery.]( 🖥️ Australia to build world’s 1st commercially ‘useful’ quantum computer The Australian federal government and the state government of Queensland have invested nearly a billion Australian dollars (US$600 million) in quantum computing startup PsiQuantum to build the [world’s first ‘useful’ quantum computer.]( Although companies engaged in building quantum computers suggest that the next generation of computers will rapidly solve problems, their initial attempts to demonstrate its workings are[quite far]( from real-world problems. Cathy Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist, told ABC Radio Brisbane that quantum computers would soon be a part of our everyday lives and revolutionize how we solve problems like finding routes for trucking, organizing ports, or handling logistics for the [Olympics scheduled for Brisbane in 2032.]( 🦾 Meet Stickbug, the new six-arm pollinating bot living in greenhouses To address the issue of [endangered pollinators](, particularly bees and certain types of moths, butterflies, and flies, researchers from West Virginia University developed a precision pollination robot named Stickbug. According to the study, Stickbug is a [six-armed](, multi-agent, precision pollination robot that combines the accuracy of single-agent systems with swarm parallelization in greenhouses. It can easily navigate narrow rows by employing a compact holonomic Kiwi drive. It is also equipped with a detection model and classifier that identifies targeted flowers for contact-based pollination using a felt-tipped end-effector. Each of the bot’s arms functions independently to reduce the complexities in planning and increase the effectiveness of the [tasks at hand.]( 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]( A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR 🤖 We aim to uncover the latest scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and the cutting edge machines that protect our world. ⚙️ Diving into the top technologies used today, the innovations for the future as well as the legacy machines that dominated the world we seek to discover and understand the inner workings of these technologies and the source of their power. Warfare is more that attack, it the art of defence, power of technology and human innovation come together. In this channel you will see both the past and the future of the military craft - helping you understand the machines that work together with our armies. Don’t miss the new videos uncovering the fascinating engineering of warfare 👉 [Subscribe TODAY!]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > A team of scientists led by Heriot-Watt University developed a new type of porous material comprising hollow, cage-like molecules that can store greenhouse gases. ([More]() > Researchers at Purdue University’s College of Engineering have revealed a novel method that could expand the use of ceramics in industrial applications. It involves making them ductile. ([More]() > Scientists have devised a new way of treating fracking wastewater by infecting two types of present bacteria with a special type of virus. ([More]() ENERGY > Sweden's Polestar and Israel's StoreDot have teamed up to achieve a record 10-minute EV charging time on a Polestar 5 prototype EV. ([More]() > The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) explains how a team of its experts is currently working on the definition of new standards for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics. ([More]() > Scientists design super-battery made with cheap, readily affordable chemical element, sodium (Na). The salt-based cell has surprisingly good energy density and charge in seconds. ([More]() INNOVATION > A Chinese company has revealed a remarkable drone that aims to save lives by fusing flotation devices and technology. It’s been dubbed the TY-3R, an Air-Water Rescue Drone system. ([More]() > Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a shipbuilder with more than 150 years of experience in the industry, has collaborated with Brunvoll, a Norwegian engineering firm, to supply the world’s largest sailing ships. ([More]() > Festo, the master in developing bionic flying objects, has unveiled ultra-light, delicately designed robotic bees called BionicBees. It is part of the German automation company’s Bionic Learning Network (BLN) known for developing products inspired by nature. ([More]() VIDEO > Northwestern Robotics has presented a novel way of getting robots to swarm. The method involves using image moments - various polynomials - to quickly gather robots. ([More]() > Two lifeforms have merged into one organism for the first time in a billion years. The last time that happened, the world developed plant life. This time, the hope is that the organism can revolutionize agriculture. ([More]() > How do flies...fly? A team at Caltech is working on breaking down fly flight mechanics. Their work may yet prove vital to future biomimetic robot design. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, What is the missing number? The answer is: The firs row is 17×17=289, The second row is 18×18=324 The third row is 19×19=361. So the missing number is 1 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Robot masters terrain with animal-like gait [transitions]( > World-first AI car race grinds to halt, coming too soon for autonomous [tech]( > Running around a 'wall of death' could keep moon settlers [fit]( > Scientists predict when ‘triple whammy’ extinction event will wipe out humans and most life on [Earth]( > New observatory in Chile—the highest in the world—aims to reveal origins of planets, galaxies and [more]( > World's biggest 3D printer whirs into [action]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. [🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros:]( The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge. [🧠AI Logs:]( Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence. [🎬 IE Originals:](Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos. [🟩 Sustainability:]( Uncover green innovations and the latest trends shaping a sustainable future for the tech industry. [⚡Electrical:]( From AI to smart grids, our newsletter energizes you on emerging tech. --------------------------------------------------------------- Want to share your feedback? 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