Engineering & Technology Mechanical Engineering

Sweet power nanogenerator, Cosmic fossil, Dopamine and Alzheimer's link, Sustainable 3D printing, Quantum dots for brain diseases, Smart trolley and Bamboo and bone. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus SciCom Coffee talk: Inside a University Merger.

Single-Step Plasma Process Produces Optoelectronic Synapse for 3D Stackable Neuromorphic Vision

The JC STEM Lab of Circular Bio-economy (the Lab) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has recently achieved a breakthrough in the field of sustainable development technologies. A research team led by Professor Lee Duu-Jong, Director of the Lab and Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has successfully developed a bio-inspired "all-weather building skin" that cools in sunlight and harvests energy from rain, alongside a "turbocharged" solar hydrogen system powered by low-cost copper ions. These innovations provide a transformative pathway for urban energy conservation and clean energy production, reinforcing the Lab's commitment to translating cutting-edge research into tangible social benefits.

Researchers from The University of Osaka and collaborators proposed the Insect Synergy Circuit (ISC), a new concept for bio-hybrid control that uses AI to interpret internal biological signals from insects. By integrating heartbeat, neural signal features, and body movement data, the team developed a cyborg cockroach system that can estimate environment-associated internal states and guide movement while reducing unnecessary stimulation.

Pioneering Next-Generation Water-Splitting Catalyst Technology

Development of Stevia-PVA Hydrogel-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator Technology

Researchers have succeeded in improving mobility efficiency by having the snake-like robot move using an “undulating motion” on uneven terrain and a “rolling motion” on level ground.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have proposed a compact LED design that directly emits circularly polarized light using a nanoscale GaN metasurface integrated onto the device. This design removes the need for bulky optical components traditionally used to create polarized light and could help enable smaller optical systems for applications such as 3D displays, augmented reality, and photonic technologies.

Scientists from City University of Hong Kong and collaborators from more than 20 countries are taking FIRST steps towards safeguarding communities most affected by climate change.

Researchers from The University of Tokyo have found that single cells in collective chemotaxis act like agents in distributed reinforcement learning, utilizing the environment as an “external memory” and exhibiting highly intelligent behavior.

Self-healing hydrogel, Cool crawler, AI and world's longest crop experiment & Freeze-framing cells. Plus how media interest helps engineers and society. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice

This news article reports on a study revealing the importance of the proboscis monkey's large nose in vocal communication. Researchers used CT scans and computer simulations to demonstrate that the nose's shape modifies the resonant frequencies of calls, creating unique vocal signatures for individual monkeys. This discovery highlights the role of the nose in enhancing vocal identity and provides insights into the evolution of communication, not just in proboscis monkeys but potentially in other species as well. The collaboration between scientists and the Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia opens exciting new avenues for understanding the link between physical traits and social behaviors in the animal kingdom.

Researchers from South Korea engineered a robotic folding sheet that can crawl across a surface as well as grasp and lift various objects.

A collaborative research team from Kanazawa University, the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, and the University of Strathclyde has developed a novel method for forming high-performance high-entropy alloy (HEA) films on various surfaces—without the need for costly alloy targets. By using a proprietary rotating target composed of multiple pure metal segments and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technology, the team successfully demonstrated a cost-effective and versatile approach to HEA film fabrication.

Researchers unveil a bio-intelligent insect system using UV light to guide movement, reducing harm while improving control.

Autonomous driving algorithm for robot using lidar shows promise with high-bed cultivation methods

New AI model explains the basis for its decisions and the intention behind actions

A research team from Osaka University and Diponegoro University, Indonesia has developed two new autonomous navigation systems for cyborg insects to better navigate unknown, complex environments. The algorithms utilized only simple circuits that leveraged natural insect behaviors, like wall-following and climbing, to navigate challenging terrain, such as sandy, rock-strewn surfaces. For all difficulties of terrain tested, the cyborg insects were able to reach their target destination, demonstrating the potential of cyborg insects for surveillance, disaster-site exploration, and more.

Three researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) are pioneering diverse technologies for greener, safer, and more efficient transport.

Ultrasound charging for biomedical devices penetrates the body better and researchers have shown that the receiver’s shape improves energy transfer.

The sticky secret of a gecko’s foot has inspired scientists to develop robots that can pick up and release fragile objects without damage.

Crossing the uncanny valley, Batteries that don’t explode, Tiny climate change fighters, Liver-friendly mushroom & Foetal defence. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Deformation in thin membrane can be measured using simple method

Hokkaido University and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. signed a partnership agreement in June 2022 to address various social issues in Hokkaido and lead the creation of a sustainable society. As part of this collaboration, Hokkaido Air System Co., Ltd. will equip one of its aircraft with an external camera to commence the world's first regular flight-based red tide monitoring starting in the summer of 2025.

Affordable polyethylene rafts found 5 times more durable than usual bamboo ones

SUTD researchers have developed an exceptionally versatile soft gripper that can easily adapt to various food manipulation scenarios. This innovative design earned them the grand prize at the IEEE RoboSoft Manipulation Competition for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023), and more recently, the Best Innovation Award at the Shape Morphing Workshop during the 2024 IEEE RoboSoft conference.

Besting almost 200 teams from over 20 countries, students from Ateneo de Davao University have just become the first ever Filipinos to successfully qualify for the prestigious international Spaceport America Cup.

Calculations consider how a dozen metals such as titanium combine with nitrogen or carbon to form bonds

An international multidisciplinary team of researchers from Singapore, India, Malaysia and Indonesia are breaking boundaries in 3D Printing. They have developed Coir Fiber Polymer Composites with enhanced strength, presenting a new and sustainable way for applications in food and medical packaging.

Magnetic nanorobots delivering nerve cells to targeted tissues could potentially be used to repair damaged brain tissue, as well as other organs.