Robots can pre-learn strategies for future unpredicted injuries, claims a French-US team, and cope even when the nature of the damage is unknown. The process is two-step, and dubbed ‘intelligent trial and error’. Step one is performed once for each type of robot: Computer modelling techniques are used to try a huge number of possible behaviours and rate them – ...

The early microcomputer companies existed on a wing and a prayer and boundless self-confidence.

UK researchers have used a phone app for eye tests in Kenyan homes, and found it as good as conventional eye chart test in a clinic. The test – called Peek (portable eye examination kit) Acuity – has been developed by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Strathclyde and the NHS Glasgow Centre for Ophthalmic ...

Google’s lo-fi Cardboard VR kit always causes me do a double-take. Is it really for real? Of course, it is, as numerous developments have shown (see Build your own Google cardboard virtual reality headset and Google makes new folds in Cardboard virtual reality, for example). Indeed, the search giant has already shipped 500,000 units.

Nanotech researchers from around the world will gather at Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus next month for a two-day conference. Called “Advances in nanotechnology 2015“, the conference and workshops will discuss the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale in medicine and healthcare, nanomechanics and industrial applications of graphene. Speakers at the event on June 9th ...

Southampton University, in its Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), is making its next-generation optical fibre available for purchase. Until now, access to the technology was limited to commercial or academic collaborations. The new optical fibre will be used in high-power lasers, high bandwidth communications and visible and infrared sensing. The Southampton University research centre is promoting the fibre technology by granting the wider ...

Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has introduced two GaN FETs that handle 31A continuously – the 200V EPC2034 and the 150V EPC2033. The firm is keen to promote pulse capability, which is 140A for the 200V part, and 260A for the 150V part. Both are 2.6×4.6mm, and can operate with junctions up to 150°C. Typical on-resistance is 7mΩ (200V, 10mΩmax) and ...

Watch out Qualcomm, Avago/Broadcom is coming for you. This is the clear message from the agreed $37bn deal which will see Avago Technologies acquire Broadcom. This has the potential to be the largest and most significant merger in the semiconductor industry since the hiatus of the credit-crunch in 2008/9, perhaps of all-time. It is no surprise it addresses the communications ...

Redux Labs will demonstrate its haptic touch panel technology in San Jose, California at Display Week, 2015. Cambridge-based Redux has developed an haptic touch technology which can also provide audio sound without separate speakers. It will show next week in California a 15-inch demonstrator for its haptic touch technology, called SurfaceSensation, which it hopes will find applications in automotive, computing ...

A highly sensitive resist which could speed up EUV production by 10x has been developed by Japan’s EUVL Infrastructure Development Centre (Eidec).