🦾 Vacuum-mounted robot dog to battle cigarette butts, FBI cracks Trump shooter's phone with unreleased tech, Ukraine's Sea Baby drones get new upgrade

Plus: MIT alumni-founded startup is transforming hygiene with self-lifting toilet seat                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 July 20, 2024 | [Read Online]( Explore more of our exciting channels [Interesting Engineering]( [Military Mechanics]( [Crafty Engineers]( Researchers from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa have revealed a novel autonomous robot to take on litter, specifically cigarette butts. Named VERO (Vaccum-cleaner-equipped RObot), the robot aims to clean parks, beaches, and other hard-to-clean areas that conventional wheeled robots struggle with. Cleanup efforts are often limited by the necessity for manual labor. The IIT team’s quadruped robot, built on the AlienGo platform, addresses this issue by offering an autonomous and sustainable solution. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Network Engineer]( > [Kubernetes Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🦾 [New vacuum-mounted robot dog battles cigarette butt litter on the beaches]( VERO features four legs, each equipped with [3D-printed vacuum nozzles]( connected to an onboard vacuum cleaner via hoses. This approach allows the robot to gather litter while navigating challenging terrains efficiently. A key feature of VERO is the use of a [convolutional neural network]( to identify litter. The system then employs a planner to determine the most efficient way to gather the detected objects. A visual-servoing system guides the vacuum nozzle over the identified cigarette butts. In the team’s tests across various outdoor scenarios, VERO demonstrated its prowess, collecting nearly [90 percent]( of cigarette butts. 📱[Unreleased Israeli tech helps FBI crack Trump shooter’s phone in 40 mins]( Following the [attempted assassination]( of former President Donald Trump, the FBI employed unreleased technology to unlock the phone of the shooter, Thomas Crooks. The agency sought assistance from [Cellebrite](, an Israeli digital intelligence company known for its sophisticated phone unlocking technologies after initial attempts to access his Samsung phone failed. Within [40 minutes]( of receiving a new software update from Cellebrite, the FBI successfully unlocked Crooks’ phone. ☠️ [Ukraine’s Sea Baby drones get deadlier with 1-ton payload, 620-mile reach]( Amid conflict with Russia, Ukraine has upgraded its [Sea Baby unmanned surface vehicle]( (USV) to enhance its maritime capabilities in the Black Sea. The Sea Baby, manufactured by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), now has the ability to carry [over a ton of explosives]( across a distance of over 620 miles and will focus on defending against Russian ships. A spokesperson for the SBU revealed that the upgraded USVs have already been used in [successful strikes against 11 Russian ships](, including missile carriers and reconnaissance ships. 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 > Researchers have developed OptoGPT, an AI algorithm that leverages the architecture behind ChatGPT to rapidly design optical multilayer film structures. ([More]() > Astronomers have detected two gases in Venus’ atmosphere that could be signs of life. ([More]() > A new framework will enable robots to learn via online human demonstration videos. ([More]() ENERGY > HorsePower to get new a dimension after researchers find a way to generate electricity from horse manure. ([More]() > A new study has revealed that federal regulations aimed at enhancing heavy-duty trucks’ energy efficiency could be less effective than initially anticipated. ([More]() > Engineers eliminate surface concavities to produce more efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. ([More]() INNOVATION > A new type of vibration-damping technology using electro-permanent magnets aims to keep delicate equipment safe and become an upgrade to image stabilization systems. ([More]() > MIT alumni-founded startup is transforming bathroom hygiene with antimicrobial agents and a toilet seat that lowers and lifts by itself. ([More]() > A new type of cochlear implant claims to let you hear without any external components. ([More]() VIDEO > The nuclear power industry is slowly shifting focus to small modular reactors (SMRs). Is bigger not always better? ([More]() > Grenade launchers are truly fantastic machines. Meet the single-shot MK19 and fully automatic M203, innovations that have revolutionized infantry capabilities. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, In which direction does the orange gear rotate. The answer is: Clockwise Ready for more brainy challenges? 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