👀 MIT combines 3D printing and machine vision with stunning results

Plus: MIT also created a new form of graphene, Xiaomi enters autos, wearables that listen to your bodily sounds. In Coordination with Smartasset [Find your perfect financial advisor with Smartasset.]( Navigate retirement confidently and unlock your financial future by taking the Smartasset Retirement Quiz. [Read more.]( Combining computer vision and 3D printing appears to be very powerful. MIT’s new printer uses cameras and lasers to scan each layer and deposit the optimal quantity of resin in real-time, eliminating the need for cumbersome mechanical rollers. This takes 3D printing to a new level of capability and precision. MIT’s new approach unlocks the possibility of using elastic polymers and hydrogels for tasks like bioprinting and robotics fabrication. Complexity is no longer an obstacle for this nimble manufacturing marvel. Objects that once required meticulous post-printing assembly can now emerge fully formed, layer-by-layer, from its high-resolution nozzles. Continue to today’s [Must Read]( to see some of the results and to learn more about what happens when a 3D printer is able to see what it’s doing, think on its feet, and print accordingly. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s take a deeper look! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Are wind sails making a comeback? The innovative inflatable wing sail system, developed by Wisamo, aims to reduce CO₂ emissions and combat maritime pollution on cargo ships. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. 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Must Read [👀 Machine vision takes the blinders off 3D printing]( Researchers from MIT and ETH Zurich created an advanced 3D printer that uses computer vision instead of mechanical components to smooth deposited resin. Four high-speed cameras scan the print surface, allowing the printer to deposit exactly the right amount of material at each location. This contactless approach enables printing with a wider range of material properties. This “vision-controlled jetting” technique uses real-time depth sensing and feedback to guide the printer’s 16,000 nozzles. Eliminating the need for mechanical flattening opens up new possibilities for the use elastic, durable polymers and hydrogels. In tests, the team 3D printed intricate robotic hands, legs, and other devices that were not possible before. Combined with its speed and precision, the visually-guided 3D printing technique provides a new platform for manufacturing complex multimaterial objects. The research team see potential to print medical devices, robots, and consumer products with the expanded palette of materials. The ability to print integrated components could transform prototyping and production across many industries. Learn more about the vision-based printing revolution. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [📱 Xiaomi shifts gears Into EV market with debut models]( Xiaomi, known for smartphones, is entering China's electric vehicle space with its first models - the SU7 and SU7 Max. The EVs boast speeds up to 164.66 mph (265 kph) and could integrate Xiaomi’s HyperOS for a unified user experience. Xiaomi faces challenges competing with Tesla and local brands in China’s crowded EV market, but its electronics expertise and ecosystem integration could disrupt the auto landscape. Discover Xiaomi's transition from phones to futuristic electric cars. 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[[Read More]( [Science]( [🖍️ MIT transforms graphite into exotic new graphene material]( An MIT team isolated a special form of 5-layer graphene from ordinary graphite, the material in pencils. Stacked in a specific order, the graphene exhibits three exotic properties - insulating, magnetic, and topological. The breakthrough was enabled by an advanced microscope that identified the rare configuration within graphite. Finding new phenomena in abundant raw materials like graphite expands graphene’s potential for electronics and quantum computing. Learn how pencil lead yielded a physics goldmine. [[Read More]( [Health]( [🩺 Body sounds monitored 24/7 with wireless skin devices]( Northwestern University researchers created soft, wireless devices that stick to the skin and continuously monitor internal body sounds. Using tiny microphones, they captured lung, heart, and gut noises that provide health insights. In tests on surgical patients and infants, the gadgets mapped respiration and digestion patterns. The technology enables continuous, noise-corrected monitoring to detect emerging health issues. Learn about the wearable breakthrough in acoustics sensing. [[Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Sr. R&D Medical Device Engineer]( at Carl Zeiss Meditec Cataract Technology Inc. Reno(US) [Systems Engineer 3 - 645-Systems Engineering Engineer-General]( at Blackstone Technology Group Oklahoma City(US) [Senior Software Engineer - Cloud Engineering Infrastructure]( at Oracle -(US) [Senior Software Engineer II (Performance Engineering)]( at DigitalOcean Remote(US) [IT Support Engineer]( at Merge IT Greer(US) QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you think 3D printers will become a household appliance that most people own? [Yes, that seems likely]( [Only if they can print food]( [No, most people won't need them]( [They'll be more common, but not universal]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS The second Starship launch attempt is imminent. Yesterday, we asked you what you expect to happen this time. 51% All the way to orbit 39% Launch will be delayed 9% It will explode during ascent 1% It will explode on the pad “Nature has plenty of surprises. In this case, we never realized that all of these interesting things are embedded in graphite.” Assistant Professor of Physics Long Ju, MIT ENGINEER'S ARSENAL [Engineer's Toolcase]( [$154.90]( [Cordless Cartridge Caulking Gun]( [$154.95]( [Ultra-Lite Flooring Cutter]( [$148.99]( [Laser Distance Measure]( [$129]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Cosmic mishap: NASA’s misplaced tool bag rides the celestial currents]( - [In a first, dual-atom quantum gases produced in space thanks to NASA]( - [Are cat qubits the key to reliable quantum computing?]( [premium] - [Cambridge team grows blood vessels to investigate brain diseases]( - [New study decodes how some plants endured dinosaur mass extinction]( - [Microsoft hints at AI revolution with two new custom chips]( - [China: World’s first quantum tech for vision health could help millions]( - [Core-powered mass loss possibly caused exoplanet shrinkage]( - [China revealed to rank first in the world in ‘ChatGPT’ searches]( - [This new wearable can image a bodily organ as well as an ultrasound]( Need help with advertising? 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