<p>[Image Source: Behance] Vehicles in the trucking industries really haven&#8217;t changed in the last 50 years, but a group of designers are seeking to bring some sleek engineering to Audi Trucks. Truck for Audi, is the name of the project, and the team devised two different designs of possible avenues the company could take. Both, [&hellip;]</p>


Designers Envision the Future of Audi Trucks

<p style="text-align: center;"><img decoding="async" class="img-responsive lazy" itemprop="image" src="https://images.interestingengineering.com/images/import/2016/06/iteration-of-new-semi.jpg" alt="iteration of new semi" />[Image Source: <em><a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/37932461/TRUCK-FOR-AUDI"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Behance</a></em>]</p>
<p>Vehicles in the trucking industries really haven&#8217;t changed in the<strong> last 50 years</strong>, but a group of designers are seeking to bring some sleek engineering to Audi Trucks. <a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/37932461/TRUCK-FOR-AUDI"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Truck for Audi</a>, is the name of the project, and the team devised two different designs of possible avenues the company could take. Both, look quite futuristic.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img decoding="async" class="img-responsive lazy" itemprop="image" src="https://images.interestingengineering.com/images/import/2016/06/audi-concept-truck.jpg" alt="audi concept truck" />[Image Source: <em><a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/37932461/TRUCK-FOR-AUDI"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Behance</a></em>]</p>
<p>The first truck was designed as a fully autonomous shipping vehicle, something that will likely put many in the transportation industry out of work in the coming years. The second black and red vehicle was designed as a show truck for Audi Trucks, and its jet pilot cockpit is the clear giveaway of this intended use. Artem Smirnov and Vladimir Panchenko are the designers behind this project, and it is reshaping what people think of in terms of ugly semis.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img decoding="async" class="img-responsive lazy" itemprop="image" src="https://images.interestingengineering.com/images/import/2016/06/audi-truck-concept.jpg" alt="audi truck concept" />[Image Source: <em><a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/37932461/TRUCK-FOR-AUDI"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Behance</a></em>]</p>
<p>Above, you can see the cockpit of the show truck that the duo designed, and it features the drivers wearing fighter jet style helmets who&#8217;s only obvious use is to keep the bugs out of their faces. The most important thing to note about these trucks is that, unfortunately, they are just designs at the moment. It seems unlikely that Audi will move forward with building them, but if they continue to get the uproar that they are, we might soon see one on the road.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img decoding="async" class="img-responsive lazy" itemprop="image" src="https://images.interestingengineering.com/images/import/2016/06/drivers-on-roof.jpg" alt="drivers on roof" />[Image Source: <em><a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/37932461/TRUCK-FOR-AUDI"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Behance</a></em>]</p>
<p>If you are interested in this product, you can take a look at more of the design and engineering process on <a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/37932461/TRUCK-FOR-AUDI"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Behance</a>, here. You can also watch the video below which delves into all of the futuristic designs of these Audi trucks.</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KH8qafcsiM</p>
<h2>SEE ALSO: <a href="http://interestingengineering.com/audi-spent-a-year-building-this-custom-a8-limo/"  rel="dofollow">Audi Spent a Year Building this Custom A8 Limo for a Mysterious Customer</a></h2>


<p>The team trained the robot using computer simulations, then used detailed maps and scans to help it navigate in the real world.</p>


ETH Zurich&#8217;s wheeled-legged robot masters urban terrain autonomously

ETH's Zurich ANYmal robot undergoing testing. 


<p>ETH Zurich researchers have developed a locomotor control that can enable wheeled-legged robots to autonomously navigate various urban environments.</p>



<p>The robot was equipped with sophisticated navigational abilities thanks to a combination of machine learning algorithms. It was tested in the cities of Seville, Spain, and Zurich, Switzerland.</p>



<p>With little assistance from humans, the team&#8217;s <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/anymal-robot-tackles-tricky-terrains-powered-by-eth-zurichs-new-system"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">ANYmal</a> wheeled-legged robot accomplished autonomous operations in urban settings at the kilometer scale. </p>



<p>It made its way past a variety of obstacles, including pedestrians, uneven steps, stairs, and natural terrain.</p>



<p>The team claims the autonomous navigation system helped the robot navigate new areas, recall previous locations to assist in making decisions in real-time, and respond quickly to changing circumstances, such as pedestrian obstructions.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T130915.089.jpg" alt="Deployments of the ETH Zurich's robot in urban environments. " class="wp-image-60733" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T130915.089.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T130915.089.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T130915.089.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T130915.089.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Deployments of the ETH Zurich&#8217;s robot in urban environments.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-robust-urban-navigation-achieved">Robust urban navigation achieved</h3>



<p>The <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/experts-crafts-waterproof-low-voltage-artificial-muscles-for-bot-motion"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">ETH Zurich</a> team engineered a sophisticated autonomous navigation system for wheeled-legged <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/lists/top-7-robotics-stories-of-2023-interesting-engineering"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">robots</a>, seamlessly integrating navigation and locomotion controls. </p>



<p>Its method combined hybrid locomotion control, developed through model-free reinforcement learning (RL) and privileged learning, with a navigation controller optimized via hierarchical RL (HRL).</p>



<p>According to the team, the training involved simulated data, with controllers then integrated into a global navigation system using digital-twin models and high-resolution laser scans for experiment planning and onboard localization.</p>



<p>&#8220;Current work on wheel-legged platforms has gone beyond bioinspiration, but simultaneously opens new questions on how inspiration from animals can further improve human-made systems,&#8221; said Krzysztof Walas from Politechnika Poznanska in a statement.</p>



<p>According to researchers, its controllers facilitated adaptive gait selection, efficient terrain negotiation, and responsive navigation, adeptly avoiding static and dynamic obstacles. </p>



<p>Practical assessments highlighted the potential of wheeled-legged robots for achieving efficient and robust autonomy in real-world scenarios. </p>



<p>The claims that additional comparative studies also affirm the superiority of its tightly integrated navigation controller over traditional systems.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advanced-autonomous-mobility">Advanced autonomous mobility</h3>



<p>The autonomous navigation system for wheeled-legged robots integrates multiple payloads for localization, terrain mapping, and safety, including LIDAR sensors, a stereo camera, a delivery box, a 5G router, and a GPS antenna.</p>



<p>The stereo camera, equipped with high-frequency object detection, enables real-time tracking of people within a 20-meter range, enhancing safety.</p>



<p>To address dynamic obstacles, the team buffers the elevation map around detected human positions. </p>



<p>The navigation system employs a hierarchical approach, extracting waypoints from a global navigation path. It also uses a pure-pursuit-inspired algorithm for waypoint tracking.</p>



<p>The low-level controller (LLC), commanded by a high-level controller (HLC), guides the robot along intermediate waypoints. </p>



<p>Both controllers are neural networks trained via reinforcement learning (RL), with the HLC representing a novel contribution. This helps to integrate local navigation planning and path-following control.</p>



<p>The locomotion controller (LLC), based on recurrent neural networks (RNNs), autonomously selects gaits and transitions between walking and driving modes. It is trained using privileged learning in simulation environments.</p>



<p>The team&#8217;s training environment, inspired by navigation graphs from computer games, provides diverse challenges such as detours, dynamic obstacles, and rough terrains. </p>



<p>Kilometer-scale autonomous deployments in the urban environments of Zurich and Seville demonstrate the system&#8217;s capability, covering (5.15 miles or 8.29 kilometers) in Zurich with minimal human intervention.</p>



<p>A handheld laser scanner captures dense point clouds of the area, which are georeferenced and converted into a mesh representation for creating a navigation graph. </p>



<p>The robot localizes itself using onboard sensors and navigates toward goal points autonomously, with paths converted into robot-relative coordinates for navigation policy guidance.</p>



<p>Researchers claim that multiple long-distance experiments validate the system&#8217;s robustness. The experiments required navigation through diverse obstacles to reach distant goal points manually selected to maximize coverage.</p>



<p>The system showcases advanced autonomy and adaptability in complex urban environments, offering promising applications in various real-world scenarios.</p>



<p>The details of the team&#8217;s <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.adi9641"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">research</a> were published in the journal <em>Science Robotics</em> on April 24.</p>



<p></p>



<p></p>


<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<ul>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/anymal-robot-tackles-tricky-terrains-powered-by-eth-zurichs-new-system">ANYmal: Robot tackles tricky terrains powered by ETH Zurich’s new system</a></li>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/experts-crafts-waterproof-low-voltage-artificial-muscles-for-bot-motion">Experts craft waterproof, low-voltage artificial muscles for bot motion</a></li>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/lists/top-7-robotics-stories-of-2023-interesting-engineering">Top 7 robotics stories of 2023 — Interesting Engineering</a></li>
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<p>The signature comes after the US Senate approved the bill with a 79-18 majority on April 23.</p>


US President Joe Biden signs TikTok ban bill into law

President Joe Biden signed into law the divestiture of TikTok from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a national ban.


<p>Hammering the final nail in the coffin, US President Joe Biden signed a bill that includes the ban on the popular social media platform <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/tiktok-beat-google-to-become-the-most-visited-site-of-2021"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">TikTok</a> in the country.</p>



<p>The signature comes after the US Senate approved the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act with a 79-18 majority on April 23. With the recent development, TikTok, the popular short-video-sharing application with over 170 million users, now faces a nationwide ban in the US.</p>



<p>The ban arrives amidst warnings from agencies such as the FBI, cautioning that TikTok&#8217;s Chinese owner ByteDance could potentially share users&#8217; sensitive data with China&#8217;s authoritarian government. </p>



<p>Despite these concerns, ByteDance consistently asserts that it has never engaged in such actions and would not comply if requested to do so. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-requirement-to-divest-chinese-ownership">Requirement to divest Chinese ownership</h3>



<p>The stage was set as the law <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/tiktok-divest-or-ban-bill"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">first got approval</a> in the House of Representatives on April 20. The law mandated a national prohibition of TikTok in the event that its Chinese proprietor, ByteDance, declines to sell the platform.</p>



<p>In favor of a revised divestment or ban bill against TikTok, the House voted 360 to 58. ByteDance will have nine months, with a three-month extension, to find a US buyer for the video-sharing application. That would mean that TikTok could face a complete ban by January 2025. </p>



<p>“This bill protects Americans and especially America’s children from the malign influence of Chinese propaganda on the app TikTok. This app is a spy balloon in Americans’ phones,” said Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and author of the bill, reported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-20/tiktok-divest-or-ban-bill-expected-to-become-us-law-within-days?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=bd&amp;cmpId=google"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Bloomberg</em></a>.</p>



<p>The company is likely to challenge the bill in court, which may extend the deadline set by the US lawmakers. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-claims-of-selective-targeting">Claims of selective targeting</h3>



<p>The company has claimed that TikTok is an independent platform, with its own leadership team, including a CEO based in Singapore, a COO based in the US and a global head of trust and safety based in Ireland.</p>



<p>In a statement, TikTok claimed that it&#8217;s &#8220;unfortunate&#8221; the US is &#8220;using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.&#8221;</p>



<p>The developers claim that by focusing only on TikTok, the US government is acting hypocritically. They draw attention to the fact that the government gives other tech giants like Google and Meta, which are also inspected for data safety, a free ride.</p>



<p>The ban comes as a <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/tiktok-ban-would-kill-businesses"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">significant setback</a> those who create content and small businesses that rely on TikTok for revenue. Experts worry that if the app is taken down, their wages and jobs will collapse. Even the creators claim that their right to free speech is violated by the new law.</p>



<p>&#8220;We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you,” said TikTok’s chief Shou Zi Chew last month after the House passed an order against the platform.</p>



<p></p>


<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">
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 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/tiktok-ban-would-kill-businesses">TikTok ban would cause businesses to ‘shrivel and die,’ warn US users</a></li>
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<p>MIT CSAIL conducted virtual training programs  at five facilities for prisoners to improve their self-efficacy and digital literacy.</p>


Brave behind bars: MIT program empowers inmates with computer skills

The Stata Center, an architectural masterpiece, which houses MIT's CSAIL. 


<p>Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology&#8217;s (MIT) Computer Science &amp; Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) conducted a 12-week college-accredited web design class for inmates of five correctional facilities in the US. The training program, which was conducted virtually, aimed to improve the inmates&#8217; self-efficacy and digital literacy.</p>



<p>The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with an estimated 0.7 percent of its population in prison. While the rest of the population reaps the benefits of broadband internet, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/us-prisons-creating-massive-database-of-prisoners-voices"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">inmates of correctional facilities</a> are denied access to basic internet, a United Nations&#8217; declared human right.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Researchers suggest that denial of the internet and digital tools effectively serves as a second punishment for prisoners serving their sentences, leading to their incapacitation and social exclusion post-release. As the world moves technologically forward, the lack of digital skills also impedes access to social services available to formerly incarcerated people.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Studies have shown that academic accomplishments during prison time improve inmate self-efficacy, increase the likelihood of finding employment post-release, and reduce the chances of returning to prison. Therefore, researchers at MIT CSAIL conducted 12-week courses to improve digital literacy among inmates, dubbed Brave Behind Bars.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Details of the program&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The program was accredited by three renowned educational institutes in the US &#8211;&nbsp;Georgetown University, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, and Washington County Community College &#8211; and conducted synchronously via Zoom across five correctional institutes in the US. Over two years, the MIT CSAIL team trained 102 students.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The course curriculum included six weeks of the basics of HTML, CSS, and Javascript taught in two-hour classes twice a week. Each class consisted of a 30-minute lecture followed by 90 minutes of a breakout session with a teaching assistant.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The teaching assistants included a mix of computer science graduates from MIT CSAIL and formerly incarcerated graduates, who also helped align the course to students&#8217; needs. In the breakout sessions, each TA helped 2 to 4 students implement the code and debug any issues they faced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the following six weeks, each student worked on a project using their skills to design a website on a social issue that impacted their community. A sample of this is shown below.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Samples.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60846" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Samples.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Samples.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Samples.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Samples.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A sample of six websites designed by prison inmates at various correctional facilities in the US, after being virtually trained by MIT CSAIL. Image credit: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642717"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">CSAIL</a></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-the-program">Impact of the program</h3>



<p>Through surveys conducted before and after the course, the participants reported increased self-confidence after <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/finnish-startup-turns-to-cheap-prison-labor-to-train-its-ai"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">learning a new skill</a>. Since students came from various backgrounds, the learning experience differed for each.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A female student who had not previously interacted much with the opposite gender in the almost 22 years of her incarceration found that the mixed-gender classes helped her confidence in interacting with the opposite sex as well.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For others, the teaching curriculum was a &#8220;welcoming learning environment&#8221; with a &#8220;non-judgemental inclusive atmosphere.&#8221; Breakout rooms were a huge hit, and they provided students with the help they needed to understand concepts and solve the obstacles they faced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The program also achieved a few firsts during its two-year period. It was the first mixed-gender course undertaken at a correctional facility in the US. One of the facilities required providing an internet connection to the inmates for the first time in its history, which they plan to continue in the future, too.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While a lot of research is focused on technological biases that lead to the incarceration of individuals from marginalized and minority communities in the US, this study focuses on interventions that enable successful reentry for those who have finished their sentences.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research findings will be presented at the <em>CHI Conference</em> <em>on Human Factors in Computing Systems</em>, to be held in Honolulu next month.</p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/worlds-tallest-jail-nyc">‘Jailscraper’: NYC plans for world’s tallest jail has Chinatown worried</a></li>
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<p>Mojave was equipped with two of Dillon’s DAP-6 Gun Pod Systems for the artillery tests. </p>


In a first, minigun-wielding Mojave drone pounds 6,000 rounds a minute

GA-ASI's Mojave drone equipped with pair of DAP-6 gun pods and various missiles under its wings.


<p>General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has successfully tested the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/general-atomics-unveils-its-mojave-drone-that-can-carry-16-hellfire-missiles"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">Mojave drone</a> to demonstrate its utility in combat. </p>



<p>On April 13, 2024, the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) destroyed static targets during live-fire testing, marking another achievement for the demonstrator aircraft.</p>



<p>In a video released by the firm, the drone is seen lighting up a Chevrolet truck, its target, in seconds. The live-fire demonstration, funded by GA-ASI&#8217;s internal research and development budget, occurred at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.</p>



<p>Unveiled in 2021, Mojave is a new offering from the UAS&#8217;s Predator series family. It is being pitched as an ideal equipment for armed overwatch, attack, and reconnaissance missions.</p>



<p>In August 2023, GA-ASI successfully tested the Mojave <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/general-atomics-mojave-can-now-takeoff-and-land-on-dirt"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">drone on a dirt strip</a> to widen its range of operations. The test demonstrated Mojave&#8217;s ability to complete short takeoffs in as little as 586 feet and short landings in 335 feet.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="GA-ASI Mojave Lights Up the Yuma Desert in Live-Fire Demonstration" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dc2ntbfiScU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-capable-proposition"><strong>A capable proposition</strong></h3>



<p>GA-ASI collaborated with Dillon Aero to equip the Mojave aircraft with two of Dillon’s DAP-6 Gun Pod Systems for the artillery tests. </p>



<p>In the demonstration, Mojave conducted seven passes over two flights, firing approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition as it effectively engaged and destroyed a range of targets.</p>



<p>&#8220;Seeing our Mojave perform this live-fire demo really emphasizes the versatility of the Mojave UAS and what it can do,&#8221; said David R Alexander, president of GA-ASI, in a <a href="https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-mojave-lights-up-the-yuma-desert-in-live-fire-demonstration"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p>



<p>&#8220;Mojave has the ability to act as a sensor, shooter, and sustainer while mitigating threat environments and vulnerabilities and safeguarding human lives.&#8221; </p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.twz.com/air/minigun-armed-mojave-drone-now-blasting-targets-at-6000-rounds-per-minute"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">The War Zone</a> (TWZ), the Minigun in a DAP-6 pod fires at 3,000 rounds per minute. With two pods on Mojave, the combined rate is 6,000 rounds per minute. A DAP-6&#8217;s max magazine holds 3,000 rounds, giving it 60 seconds of firing time. It can be loaded with less ammo to reduce weight. An empty DAP-6 weighs 162 lbs (73.5 kg), growing to around 350 lbs (158.8 kg) when fully loaded.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="GA-ASI Mojave STOL UAS Completes First Dirt Operations" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w3SQ50wxvCY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>The military and aerospace communities have shown great interest in Mojave due to its short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. Mojave can perform STOL while &#8220;retaining significant advantages in endurance and persistence over Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) and human-crewed aircraft,” said Alexander, president of GA-ASI, in a blog&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-mojave-stol-uas-completes-first-dirt-operation"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">post</a> earlier. </p>



<p>According to GA-ASI, Mojave is a special kind of <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/technology-enables-drones-to-autonomously-navigate"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">UAS</a> as it allows for operations in areas once considered unsuitable for such drones. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>An evolution of GA-ASI&#8217;s UAS technology</strong></h3>



<p>The company launched the MQ-1 Predator drone 25 years ago, and since then, it has released more advanced models, including the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ1C-Gray Eagle. Its drone fleet claims to have operated for over 7 million hours, most of which were spent in battle.</p>



<p>Mojave, designed according to Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) principles, incorporates GA-ASI’s Grey Eagle 25M program&#8217;s updated avionics, data connections, sensor fusion, and laptop-based ground control station. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T172219.084.jpg" alt="The Mojave drone undergoing testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona." class="wp-image-60860" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T172219.084.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T172219.084.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T172219.084.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-2024-04-24T172219.084.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Mojave drone undergoing testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Additionally, Mojave boasts larger wings equipped with high-lift devices, a battle-tested 450-HP turbine engine, and robust landing gear, rendering it well-suited for operations in semi-improved environments with minimal ground support.</p>



<p>Mojave can land, re-arm, and take off from harsh locations near non-permissive environments with speed and carry twice as much cargo as aircraft from previous models. </p>



<p>According to GA-ASI, owing to its larger wing area, it can carry up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire or comparable missiles at 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg). Mojave can also be outfitted with an array of sensors, such as EO/IR, SIGINT, and Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI), to facilitate land or marine missions.</p>



<p>According to TWZ, the completion of the tests comes as the firm is looking to pitch a hybrid model that combines features of Mojave with the MQ-1C Gray Eagle to the US Army. This proposed platform aims to serve as a new armed reconnaissance solution, especially after the recent cancellation of the Army&#8217;s armed scout helicopter program.</p>


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<p>The US space agency is looking for industry partners to deploy its Hall-effect thruster technology in space.</p>


NASA’s new Hall-effect thruster could unlock small spacecraft revolution


<p></p>



<p>NASA has revealed an all-new electric propulsion system for small spacecraft.</p>



<p>The new propulsion system, the NASA-H71M sub-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster, will be used for planetary exploration as well as for increasing the lifespan of existing satellites.</p>



<p>The system is part of NASA’s broader plan to commercialize specific technologies. By allowing private industry partners to test and develop the technology, they could eventually rely on those partners for future missions.</p>



<p>Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics will soon put the technology to the test via its NGHT-1X Hall-effect thruster.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nasa-s-new-hall-effect-thruster">NASA’s new Hall-effect thruster</h3>



<p>A Hall-effect thruster is a type of ion thruster that accelerates propellant using an electric field. The technology is already widely used in satellites in low Earth orbit.</p>



<p>NASA’s H71M sub-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster takes the technology to the next level. It is well-suited to long-duration missions and was designed to enable small spacecraft to reach escape velocity as well as capture orbits.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As such, it could form a crucial part of NASA’s future plans to explore our solar system, the US space agency explained on its website.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="474" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hall-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60969" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hall-1.jpg 1000w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hall-1.jpg?resize=300,142 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hall-1.jpg?resize=768,364 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The NASA-H71M Hall-effect thruster on the Glenn Research Center Vacuum Facility 8 thrust stand. Source: <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-technology/pushing-the-limits-of-sub-kilowatt-electric-propulsion-technology-to-enable-planetary-exploration-and-commercial-mission-concepts/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NASA</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Scientists at NASA’s Glenn Research Center engineered the propulsion system to operate efficiently on low power (sub-kilowatt) while having a high-propellant throughput, meaning that the system can use a high total mass of propellant over its lifetime.</p>



<p>This is crucial for the types of maneuvers required in deep space missions. Most commercial spacecraft today don’t have the capacity to travel from low Earth orbit to the moon or Mars. They typically require a helping hand from the launch vehicle that fires them into space.</p>



<p>NASA’s technology would enable this type of mission flexibility, meaning future missions could take on a whole host of new scientific objectives. In fact, the technology will soon be used by SpaceLogistics, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary. </p>



<p>The company aims to use the technology in its Mission Extension Pod, which will increase satellite lifespans by adjusting their trajectory in geosynchronous Earth orbit. SpaceLogistics will use the NGHT-1X Hall-effect thruster, which is based on the NASA-H71M.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-solar-system">Exploring the solar system</h3>



<p>The technology’s state-of-the-art capabilities also means spacecraft will be able to enter orbits around distant moons and planets. Once there, they would also be able to alter their own orbits, which would be a massive improvement over previous missions with brief flyby periods.</p>



<p>Hall-effect thrusters are already widely used in today’s satellites. They are efficient for orbital adjustment maneuvers as well as increasingly necessary <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/russian-debris-almost-destroys-nasa-satellite"  rel="dofollow">collision avoidance</a> maneuvers. </p>



<p>However, according to <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-technology/pushing-the-limits-of-sub-kilowatt-electric-propulsion-technology-to-enable-planetary-exploration-and-commercial-mission-concepts/"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NASA’s post</a>, its design extends operational lifetimes, offering over 15,000 hours of operation.</p>



<p>NASA’s work with its H71M sub-kilowatt Hall-effect thruster technology will help it continue to build its vast network of private sector partners. In recent years, it has leveraged this strategy for some of its most ambitious missions, including the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/lists/artemis-iii-historic-2026-lunar-landing"  rel="dofollow">Artemis</a> moon missions.</p>


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<p>The Freeman Lab developed cells with functional cytoskeletons using a novel approach that bypasses natural proteins.</p>


Researchers create first artificial, modifiable cells with programmable DNA

Synthetic cells created by UNC-Chapel Hill researchers


<p>Researchers at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have successfully engineered functional artificial cells in the lab which behave like living cells.</p>



<p>Ronit Freeman and her team have revealed their success in manipulating DNA and proteins, which are fundamental components of life, to engineer artificial cells that closely resemble those found in the human body. </p>



<p>As per Freeman, the synthetic cells were stable even at 122<strong>°</strong> Fahrenheit (50° Celsius). This opens up the &#8220;possibility of manufacturing cells with extraordinary capabilities in environments normally unsuitable to human life.”</p>



<p>Instead of creating materials that are made to last, Freeman says their materials are made to task — perform a specific function and then modify themselves to serve a new function. </p>



<p>This achievement holds significant promise for advancements in regenerative medicine, drug delivery methods, and diagnostic technologies.</p>



<p>&#8220;With this discovery, we can think of engineering fabrics or tissues that can be sensitive to changes in their environment and behave in dynamic ways,&#8221; states Freeman.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-generating-artificial-cells">Generating artificial cells</h3>



<p>Cells and tissues rely on proteins to carry out various tasks and construct vital structures. One such structure, the cytoskeleton, serves as the framework of a cell, enabling it to function properly. </p>



<p>The cytoskeleton is crucial for maintaining cell shape and facilitating responses to the surrounding environment.</p>



<p>The team developed artificial cells with functional cytoskeletons using a novel approach that bypasses natural proteins. They developed a cutting-edge technology called programmable peptide-DNA technology. </p>



<p>This method orchestrates a collaboration between peptides, the basic building blocks of proteins, and repurposed genetic material to construct a cytoskeleton.</p>



<p>As a result, these engineered cells can adapt their shape and respond to environmental cues, showcasing the remarkable potential of synthetic biology.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-practical-applications">Possible practical applications</h3>



<p>&#8220;DNA does not normally appear in a cytoskeleton. We reprogrammed sequences of DNA so that it acts as an architectural material, binding the peptides together,&#8221; Freeman said. &#8220;Once this programmed material was placed in a droplet of water, the structures took shape.&#8221;</p>



<p>This never-before-seen capability to program DNA empowers scientists to design cells tailored for specific purposes and even regulate how these cells respond to external stresses. </p>



<p>While synthetic cells crafted by the Freeman Lab lack the complexity of living cells, they offer a level of predictability and resilience to harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures.</p>



<p>Rather than focusing on creating enduring materials, Freeman emphasizes the adaptability of these cells—they are engineered to perform specific functions and then adapt to new tasks. </p>



<p>By incorporating different peptide or DNA designs, these materials can be customized to program cells within fabrics or tissues. This versatility opens up possibilities for integration with other synthetic cell technologies, potentially revolutionizing fields like biotechnology and medicine.</p>



<p>&#8220;This research helps us understand what makes life,&#8221; Freeman says. &#8220;This synthetic cell technology will not just enable us to reproduce what nature does, but also make materials that surpass biology.&#8221;</p>



<p>This study was published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-024-01509-w"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Nature Chemistry</a>.</em></p>


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<p>With new technology, researchers decipher 1000 words from the Herculaneum papyri that includes details about Plato&#8217;s final resting place.</p>


Plato&#8217;s final resting place revealed using &#8216;bionic eye&#8217;


<p>Three years ago, a University of Pisa research team set out to decipher the Herculaneum papyri with new technology at their disposable known as a &#8220;bionic eye.&#8221; </p>



<p>Since the scrolls were discovery in the 18<sup>th</sup> century, many papyrologists have tried and succeeded in parts in the past. However, the majority of the priceless document remains shrouded in mystery, or carbon.</p>



<p>After all, Vesuvius destroyed the 1,800 scrolls at the site of Herculaneum in the eruption in 79 CE that also buried Pompeii. The volcanic eruption turned these scrolls into carbonized charcoal that researchers have been attempting to read for a couple of centuries now. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-technology-deciphers-part-of-the-legendary-herculaneum-papyri">Innovative technology deciphers part of the legendary Herculaneum papyri</h3>



<p>In the 18th century, archeologists found the Herculaneum papyri in the Villa dei Papyri, which belonged to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law. He owned the only classical library that survived the Greco-Roman period.</p>



<p>Thought to have housed works by Sophocles, Epicurus, and Aristotle, the loss of these scrolls almost holds a similar significance as the works destroyed by the great fire in the Library of Alexandria.</p>



<p>Papyrologist Graziano Ranocchia from the University of Pisa announced at the Naples Biblioteca Nazionale some promising mid-term results from their “Greek Schools” research project.</p>



<p>A “bionic eye” enabled his research team to read about 1,000 words from the history of the Academy by Philodemus of Gadara, an Epicurean poet and philosopher. With this new technology, they penetrated layers of carbon with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and infrared hyperspectral <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/ep-enhanced-optical-sensors"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">imaging techniques.</a></p>



<p>The emerging technology known as OCT performs high-resolution cross-sectional imaging commonly used to take pictures of the back of an eye using reflected light. Infrared hyperspectral imaging has a variety of subsets from near to mid to far. Simply put, it can reveal hidden features of an object that may not be visible to the naked eye. These techniques brought 2,000 year old text to the surface. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-details-from-plato-s-life-uncovered">Details from Plato&#8217;s life uncovered</h3>



<p>Researchers believe that they have identified the location of Plato’s burial site.</p>



<p>According to their findings, his final resting place appears to be in a private area in a garden in the academy, near a shrine to the Muses. Roman dictator Sulla destroyed the Platonic Academy in 86 BCE, but <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/alps-huge-roman-walls-100years"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">archeologists</a> rediscovered it in the 20<sup>th</sup> century. Currently open to the public, archeologists have thoroughly examined the site, but we always seem to <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/brazils-oldest-skeleton-builders-disappearance"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">uncover something else</a>.</p>



<p>“The text also speaks of Plato&#8217;s last night, <a href="https://www.ansa.it/amp/english/newswire/english_service/2024/04/23/ansaherculaneum-papyri-reveal-platos-burial-place_31291e5e-a5d3-4e31-b9dc-8bc6736f0786.html"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Ranocchia said.</a> &#8220;He was running a high fever and was bothered by the music they were playing.&#8221;</p>



<p>Furthermore, Plato was either sold as a slave on the island of Aegina in 404 BCE when the Spartans conquered the island or after the death of Socrates which contradicts previous beliefs that he was sold in 387 BCE in Syracuse, Sicily.</p>



<p>The research project will continue until 2026. The new bionic eye technology might just penetrate the carbon as we&#8217;ve never been able to before.</p>


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<p>Little is really known about China&#8217;s planned H-20 stealth bomber, but it could be able to carry 45 tons of bombs over 6,200 miles. </p>


China&#8217;s top-secret H-20 stealth bomber &#8216;not a concern&#8217; for U.S. officials

Artist's rendering of China's planned H-20 stealth bomber


<p>It has been reported that U.S. officials have been rather dismissive of China&#8217;s yet-to-be-unveiled H-20 stealth bomber. According to reports, the new Chinese bomber is &#8220;not really a concern.&#8221; </p>



<p>&#8220;They want to show that they&#8217;re a great, you know, military power,&#8221; a U.S. defense official said during <a href="https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/china-bomber/395972/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">a press conference</a>. But &#8220;that doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean it actually delivers them the kind of capability that they would need or at the quantity that they would need,&#8221; they added.</p>



<p>Called the Xi&#8217;an H-20, the sixth-generation bomber is China&#8217;s answer to America&#8217;s B-2 &#8220;Spirit&#8221; and upcoming B-21 &#8220;Raider&#8221; stealth bomber fleet. However, after reviewing some preliminary information on the bomber, it is not all it is hyped up to be. </p>



<p>“The thing with the H-20 is when you look at the system design, it&#8217;s probably nowhere near as good as US LO [low observable] platforms, particularly the more advanced ones that we have coming down,” a Pentagon intelligence official said, according to <em><a href="https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/chinas-new-h-20-stealth-bomber-not-really-a-concern-for-pentagon-says-intel-official/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Breaking Defense.</a></em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-h-20-is-nothing-to-worry-about">H-20 is nothing to worry about</h3>



<p>Little concrete detail is known about the H-20, but according to <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/19/2003323409/-1/-1/1/2023-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">official Pentagon investigations</a>, it probably has a range of around 6,214 miles (10,000 km). It will carry conventional and nuclear payloads and should be capable of mid-air refueling.</p>



<p>Depending on sources, the H-20&#8217;s payload is expected to be more than 45 tons, but this is speculation. Critical for all concerned, however, is that the bomber has not yet been publicly unveiled.</p>



<p>This has been promised for <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-h-20-stealth-bomber-all-we-know"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">several years,</a> but nothing has materialized as yet. </p>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="How dangerous is China&#039;s H-20 stealth bomber?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p4s_sgb27T8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s coming soon, just wait,&#8221; People&#8217;s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Deputy Commander Wang Wei told <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/chinas-b-21-raider-xian-h-20-stealth-bomber-coming-209973"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Hong Kong Commercial Daily</em> </a>in March, adding that &#8220;it is worth the excitement.&#8221;</p>



<p>In U.S. officials&#8217; view, the new H-20 probably is nowhere near as capable as the nation&#8217;s existing B-2 or planned B-21 stealth bombers. This is, in part, due to the sophisticated engineering required to make these things a reality.</p>



<p>“They’ve run into a lot of engineering design challenges in terms of how to actually make that system capability function in a similar way to a <a href="https://www.twz.com/air/majority-of-the-b-2-spirit-fleet-took-to-the-skies-in-a-mass-launch"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">B-2</a> or a B-21,” the official added.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nothing-to-lose-sleep-over">Nothing to lose sleep over</h3>



<p>However, America is leagues ahead of its competition in this area, and the planned B-21 is one of the world&#8217;s most advanced aircraft. </p>



<p>&#8220;As the world&#8217;s first six-generation aircraft, B-21 forms the backbone of the future for US air power, delivering a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors, and weapons, and is rapidly upgradable to outpace evolving threats,&#8221; Northrop Grumman explained earlier this year. </p>



<p>This is not the first time U.S. officials have publicly been nonplussed with Chinese military technology claims. In a <a href="https://breakingdefense.com/2022/09/china-should-worry-about-tawian-timeline-j-20-is-just-ok-fighter-pacaf-chief/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">recent statement</a>, another Pentagon official stated that the J-20 stealth fighter, a key part of China&#8217;s plan, is &#8220;still a highly capable system,&#8221; but did not fully meet China&#8217;s original parameters.</p>



<p>In September 2022, former Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kenneth Wilsbach told reporters that the J-20 is not &#8220;anything to lose a lot of sleep over.&#8221;</p>


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<p>The new fuze will now be integrated into the United States&#8217; nuclear weapons arsenal one produced. </p>


Sandia&#8217;s new fuze for US nuclear stockpile enters full production


<p>Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) has reported that its Mark 21 fuze for the United States&#8217; nuclear weapons stockpile have now entered full production. This follows a crucial development milestone that was reached with the aid of the Kansas City National Security Campus.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.sandia.gov/news/publications/labs-accomplishments/article/2019/nuclear-deterrence-3/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Mark 21 Replacement Fuze</a> is used with the W87-0 warhead to arm the Minuteman III and the Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). The new fuze integrate Sandia-designed logic and sensing devices that tell each nuclear warhead when to detonate.</p>



<p>The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) approved the first production unit of the replacement fuze in March of this year through their Quality Assurance Inspection Procedure.</p>



<p>“Sandia’s role is to deliver a fuze that meets the Air Force’s requirements. Completing the first production unit is a visible milestone in maintaining a credible deterrent,” said Brad Boswell, a director of Sandia’s nuclear deterrence modernization program. </p>



<p>“It demonstrates that we are providing the necessary capability for the U.S. nuclear deterrent into the future,&#8221; he added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-u-s-nukes-get-new-fuze">U.S.&#8217; nukes get new fuze</h2>



<p>Work on the new fuze began in 2011, with Sandia given the task of incorporating Air Force requirements into a form, fit, and functional package. The fuze also had to fit into the Mark 21 aeroshell, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/northrop-grumman-tests-sentinel-rocket"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">Minuteman III missiles</a>, and W87-0 warheads.</p>



<p>“The early engineering work takes a lot of time. While some of it is done in parallel, much of the work must be sequential,” said Bob Oetken, a former program manager for the fuze program. </p>



<p>“We’re doing a very specific job that requires, in many cases, custom parts,&#8221; he added.</p>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Mk21 Fuze Thunderpipe Explosive Blast Testing in Slow Motion" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EM0oRPcEO6c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Sandia explains Pre-production testing of the fuze included analysis through testing and other engineering tools to ensure the fuze would function as intended.</p>



<p>“Qualification involves significant resources and time. We are in a very rigorous business. Some of the qualifications are used to verify that we are meeting requirements and take as long as three years from concept to delivery,” Oetken added.</p>



<p>To this end, the new fuze underwent various tests, including environmental, ground, and flight tests, to ensure its strength, durability, and endurance during missile launch and ballistic reentry. With the fuze now in full production, Sandia&#8217;s role will now be changed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sandia-s-role-will-now-change">Sandia&#8217;s role will now change</h2>



<p>“As the design agency, Sandia is responsible for the component until the weapon is retired. Sandia is accountable for ensuring that the weapon with the fuze attached is safe, secure, and reliable,” Boswell said.</p>



<p>As part of the stockpile assessment, <a href="https://newsreleases.sandia.gov/fuze_milestone/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Sandia </a>will use modeling and simulation, as well as flight and ground testing, to ensure that the fuze continues to function as intended. The fuze will now enter full production.</p>



<p>“This first production unit marks a significant milestone not just for Sandia but the broader nuclear security enterprise, particularly our partners at the Kansas City National Security Campus,” Boswell said. </p>



<p>“While we stop to recognize this achievement, we must also acknowledge this is the start of the next phase of our partnership as we work to meet key production milestones to deliver the [number] of fuzes needed to meet the needs of the stockpile,&#8221; he added.</p>


<ul>
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 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-nuke-capable-missile-passes-critical-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US nuke-capable missile passes critical shroud shedding, vibration test</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Tesla envisions limited production of Optimus robots for internal use by this year&#8217;s end. </p>


Tesla&#8217;s Optimus robot could be on sale next year, says Elon Musk


<p>Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made a bold prediction regarding humanoid robots. The tech billionaire said his company expects to start selling its Optimus robots by the end of the next year. </p>



<p>While disclosing the anticipated release date, Musk claimed that Optimus robots could become Tesla’s most valuable asset. </p>



<p>&#8220;I think Optimus will be more valuable than everything else combined,&#8221; Musk said stressing on the financial side of things. </p>



<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;ve got a sentient humanoid robot that is able to navigate reality and do tasks at request, there is no meaningful limit to the size of the economy.&#8221;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commercial-production-of-humanoid-robots">Commercial production of humanoid robots</h3>



<p>Musk&#8217;s announcement comes at a time when a large number of companies are investing in <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/israel-unveils-menteebot-humanoid-robot"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">human</a><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/israel-unveils-menteebot-humanoid-robot"  rel="dofollow">o</a><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/israel-unveils-menteebot-humanoid-robot"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">id robots</a>. </p>



<p>Several firms, including Honda, Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics, and Figure, have been actively developing their own variants. </p>



<p>However, Musk believes Tesla is uniquely positioned to lead the commercial production of such robots. According to Musk, the prototype of Optimus already performs simple tasks within Tesla factories.</p>



<p>The announcement regarding Optimus becomes more important considering the falling sales of Tesla’s electric vehicles.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The larger vision for Tesla</h3>



<p>The company recently reported a 9% year-over-year drop in quarterly revenue, which is its largest fall since 2012. Moreover, the sales of Tesla vehicles dropped by more than 20% in Q1 of 2024, compared to the previous quarter.</p>



<p>It is in this context that Musk is making announcements regarding the ambitious robotics program to reassure investors. His emphasis on humanoid robots signals a calculated effort to reposition Tesla. </p>



<p>He envisions robot sales eventually becoming a large part of Tesla&#8217;s business.</p>



<p>&#8220;We should be thought of as an AI or robotics company,&#8221; Musk <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/tesla-could-start-selling-optimus-robots-by-end-next-year-musk-says-2024-04-24/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">asserted</a> to investors, urging them to shift their perception of Tesla beyond its traditional image as a carmaker.</p>



<p>&#8220;If you value Tesla as just like an auto company, fundamentally, it&#8217;s just the wrong framework, and if you ask the wrong question, then the right answer is impossible.&#8221;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Progress is evident</h3>



<p>Meanwhile, the Optimus robot is undeniably progressing at a steady pace. A recent video showcased a newer version of Optimus performing tasks like folding a T-shirt at Tesla&#8217;s facility. </p>



<p>The company unveiled the first generation, named Bumblebee, in September 2022.</p>



<p>However, Musk&#8217;s announcements should be taken with a pinch of salt as he has overpromised quite a few times in the past. For example in 2019, Musk claimed Tesla would have a million robotaxis on the road by 2020.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A fierce competition</h3>



<p>Tesla faces fierce competition in this burgeoning field. Figure, backed by Microsoft and Nvidia, recently announced a partnership with German automaker BMW to deploy humanoid robots within BMW&#8217;s United States-based facility. </p>



<p>The video released by Figure in February demonstrates its 01 robot performing tasks like making coffee. </p>



<p>Similarly, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/boston-dynamics-electric-atlas-robot"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">Boston Dynamics</a> unveiled its Atlas humanoid robot last week in a video where it is seen performing acrobatic maneuvers, transitioning from lying down to standing and walking.</p>



<p>The race towards commercially viable humanoid robots is heating up. Tesla&#8217;s entry, with Elon Musk&#8217;s latest bold predictions, adds a new dimension to this rapidly evolving technological landscape.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While the timeline for Optimus entering the market might be ambitious, the impact Musk foresees highlights the potential for robots to revolutionize how humans work and live.</p>


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</ul>

<p>Monkeypox, recently renamed mpox to avoid stigma, is a zoonotic disease that can cause painful, fluid-filled lesions and, in severe cases, death. </p>


New monkeypox strain with sexual transmission potential raises global concerns

Colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox virus particles


<p></p>



<p>A new strain of the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">monkeypox virus</a>, named clade Ib, has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that appears to transmit more readily through sexual contact. This development has caused alarm among researchers, who fear a reprise of the devastating global mpox outbreak of 2022.</p>



<p>Clade I has long been known to cause localized outbreaks in Central Africa, but these were typically limited and rarely involved sexual transmission. However, the new clade Ib strain appears to have mutated, potentially allowing it to spread more efficiently through sexual contact. This raises concerns about a wider outbreak, especially considering the challenging conditions in the DRC.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-of-the-past-and-unheeded-warnings">Echoes of the past and unheeded warnings</h3>



<p>Monkeypox, recently <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/congos-mpox-outbreak-threatened-by-stigma-against-gay-men"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">renamed mpox </a>to avoid stigma, is a zoonotic disease that can cause painful, fluid-filled lesions and, in severe cases, death. The virus is endemic in wild animals in parts of Africa and occasionally spills over to humans.</p>



<p>The first major human-to-human outbreak occurred in Nigeria in 2017, and researchers warned at the time that the virus might be adapting for sexual transmission. These warnings were largely ignored, leading to the global outbreak of 2022 that infected over 94,000 people and caused over 180 deaths. This outbreak, primarily driven by clade II, a less lethal strain, prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A storm in the DRC</h3>



<p>While <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/optimal-allocation-of-vaccines"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">global mpox</a> cases have declined since 2022, the DRC has seen a concerning rise. In 2023 alone, the country reported over 14,600 suspected cases and 650 deaths. The emergence of clade Ib in South Kivu province is particularly worrying as it appears concentrated among sex workers, suggesting efficient sexual transmission. This could lead to faster spread, potentially with minimal symptoms, according to Nicaise Ndembi, a virologist at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.</p>



<p>The situation is further complicated by the limited testing capacity in the DRC. Only 10% of suspected cases in 2023 were confirmed, leaving a significant blind spot for health officials. Additionally, South Kivu is a conflict-ridden region facing humanitarian challenges, creating fertile ground for further viral spread, as warned by the WHO.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Vaccines, treatment, and surveillance</h3>



<p>During the 2022 outbreak, wealthy nations offered smallpox vaccines, which also protect against mpox, to high-risk individuals. However, these vaccines have been slow to reach Africa, where the disease burden is highest. The DRC is currently considering regulatory approval for these vaccines, while the US and Japan have pledged limited doses. However, a large-scale vaccination campaign would require hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of doses.</p>



<p>The effectiveness of these vaccines against clade Ib remains unknown, although animal data is promising. Researchers are also conducting trials of tecovirimat, an antiviral drug thought to be effective against mpox. Results are expected within the next year.</p>



<p>To improve the situation, the WHO and CDC have helped equip the DRC with rapid diagnostic tools for mpox, particularly in rural areas. This, combined with the swift response from African health officials, offers some hope for controlling the outbreak before clade Ib spreads further.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01167-5"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Source: Nature</a></em></p>


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</ul>

<p>Inaccurate clocks, flipped reflections, changing faces: Is AI being made to do too much too soon?</p>


‘Next Stop Paris’: Trailer of first ever AI-generated movie gets trolled


<p>It is no surprise that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the field of arts has evolved from the generation of stills and graphics for adorning your online content into a full-fledged motion picture. </p>



<p>That&#8217;s right, the trailer for the first-ever fully AI-generated film dropped recently and, well, netizens think it does leave a lot to be desired.</p>



<p>Titled <em>Next Stop Paris</em>, the film, produced by TCLtv+ Studios, is positioned as a unique romantic tale blending professional voice acting and an original script with AI-generated imagery. </p>



<p>Set to debut this summer, the film follows Claire&#8217;s journey to Paris where she encounters a mysterious man aboard a train, setting into motion what&#8217;s dubbed as an &#8220;AI-powered love story.&#8221;</p>



<p>TCLtv+ Studios, a division of TCL, a Chinese conglomerate known for its consumer electronics like televisions and mobile phones, spearheads this project. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Next Stop Paris Trailer Digital" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KhQnnISdDIU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-stop-paris-trailer-reactions">Next Stop Paris &#8211; Trailer reactions</h3>



<p>People think that the film&#8217;s supposed synopsis doesn&#8217;t sound much different from a myriad other romantic films available on every streaming service imaginable.</p>



<p>Netizens have taken to X to critique the film&#8217;s seeming lack of originality, calling the storyline &#8220;<a href="https://twitter.com/white_lenka/status/1780258922147819799"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">mediocre</a>&#8221; and the characters &#8220;cold and withdrawn&#8221;.</p>



<p>However, script issues seem to be the least of this film&#8217;s worries. The AI-generated images themselves do not seem to have a lot going for them and are proof of the limitations currently present in the technology. </p>



<p>People have pointed out how the clock face shows out-of-order Roman numerals, the reflections are flipped. They also point out that the characters routinely change their appearance, have a distantly un-human quality to them, so much so that it triggered the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">uncanny valley effect</a> in some viewers.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First AI-Generated Romance Film Looks Like Crap<a href="https://t.co/1lbIC1lCvS"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://t.co/1lbIC1lCvS</a> <a href="https://t.co/TMkukzC9lP"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/TMkukzC9lP</a></p>&mdash; Kotaku (@Kotaku) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kotaku/status/1778878791701409892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-studio-s-response">The studio&#8217;s response</h3>



<p>Chris Regina, TCL&#8217;s chief content officer, spoke to <em><a href="https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/first-ai-generated-rom-com-is-due-this-summer-and-the-trailer-puts-hallmark-channel-to-shame"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Tom&#8217;s Hardware</a></em> about the trailer of Next Stop Paris. &#8220;It is a first for a trailer and for an entertainment company. There is tremendous curiosity around AI. It&#8217;s a marketing differentiator,&#8221; he said.</p>



<p>Regina emphasized how consistency in the creation of people and characters is a rampant, omnipresent problem in AI, one that they are &#8220;working to solve along with film shot selection and performance.&#8221;</p>



<p>&#8220;The work is never finished until delivered, much like all film and TV production. With rapid technology advancement, we could easily keep shaping before the release, but we wanted to announce our AI studio and our entrance into original programming,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Releasing the trailer provided a glimpse into what we&#8217;ve been working on.&#8221;</p>



<p>While film producers, writers, and actors needn&#8217;t shake in their boots for the time being (especially after last year&#8217;s SAG-AFTRA strike and the following negotiations), what certainly cannot be denied is that the involvement of <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/poetry-camera-ai"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">AI</a> in film production is here to stay.</p>


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</ul>

<p>How did a rare condition first discovered in Japan almost 70 years ago changed the life of a Belgian man? </p>


Belgian man with auto-brewery acquitted of drunk driving

A Belgian man proved that he has auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), which causes carbohydrates in his gut to be turned into alcohol


<p>A Belgian man had no idea that his gut could produce alcohol until he got arrested. </p>



<p>After consuming carbohydrates, he was arrested due to a high level of alcohol in his blood, showing signs of intoxication. The cause was not drinking; it was all due to auto-brewery syndrome. It is a rare disease that causes the gut to produce alcohol. </p>



<p>Auto-brewery syndrome is a highly unusual condition; only about 20 people in the world have been officially diagnosed with it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-guilty-as-charged">Not guilty as charged</h3>



<p>The 40-year-old man was arrested after police pulled his vehicle over and administered a breathalyzer test. The test showed a reading of 0.91 milligrams of alcohol per liter. He was arrested again a month later when his breathalyzer reading showed 0.71 milligrams. </p>



<p>However, the charges against him were dismissed when he proved that he had auto-brewery syndrome. His lawyer, Anse Ghesquiere, also confirmed this and added that the number of ABS cases in the world is underestimated.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sugar can make you feel drunk?</h3>



<p>Auto-brewery syndrome, also known as gut fermentation syndrome, is a rare medical condition where ethanol, the type of alcohol found in beverages, is produced within the body. This happens as a result of fermentation by fungi or bacteria that can be found in the gastrointestinal system or even the urinary system. </p>



<p>Individuals with auto-brewery syndrome often experience symptoms typically associated with alcohol intoxication, such as impaired coordination or slurred speech. Here, a diet rich in sugars and carbohydrates is the one to blame. It serves as fuel for the microorganisms responsible for ethanol production within their bodies.</p>



<p>The syndrome occurs more in people with co-morbidities like diabetes, obesity, and Crohn&#8217;s disease but can also happen in healthy individuals. Also, it has been diagnosed in both males and females, as well as in children.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-this-rare-condition-be-cured">Can this rare condition be cured?</h3>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513346/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">the data</a>, its treatment includes dietary carbohydrate control, antifungal or antibiotic therapy, general antibiotic avoidance, and probiotics. Most patients can resume a normal <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/fatty-foods-before-surgery-may-hinder-memory-and-cognitive-function"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">diet</a> and lifestyle after one treatment. </p>



<p>However, the syndrome can have a profound effect on patients and families, as it gets mistaken for alcohol consumption, which can cause both social and legal issues.</p>



<p>The first such cases were reported in <a href="https://vdocuments.net/intragastrointestinal-alcohol-fermentation-syndrome-report-of-two-.html?page=1"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Japan</a> as early as the 1950s. There were certain assumptions that the Japanese population is predisposed to it.  For example, genetic variation leads to reduced ability of the liver to break down ethanol.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What can be done?</h3>



<p>According to <a href="https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/6/1/e000325"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">a study</a> published in 2019, the earliest symptoms may be mood changes, delirium, and brain fog. In such cases, a multidisciplinary approach with early psychiatrist involvement is suggested. “Any patient denying alcohol ingestion with elevated blood alcohol levels or positive breathalyzer results should be investigated,” the study concluded.</p>


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<p>The 3D printed wind turbine can help save time and energy spent on transportation of components since it can be printed on-site. </p>


New US method to 3D-print massive recyclable wind turbine blades on-site

Stock photo: Wind turbine blades waiting to be transported at the port.


<p>Researchers at Virginia Tech&#8217;s College of Engineering have turned to 3D printing with recyclable material to give wind turbine blades a much-needed sustainable boost. <br><br>The effort required the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams consisting of researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and TPI Composites, an Arizona-headquartered company that has been building composite blades for over two decades. <br><br>Researchers have created &#8220;novel 3D printing methods and new recyclable materials to improve the environmental footprint of wind turbine blade production,&#8221; read a university press release from last week.  </p>



<p>According to the US Geological Survey, an average wind turbine working for just 46 minutes can generate sufficient energy to power an American household for an entire month. <br><br>The technology has already surpassed hydroelectric power stations as the country&#8217;s largest producer of renewable energy. </p>



<p>Although <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/this-new-recyclable-wind-turbine-is-the-worlds-first-to-use-elium-resin"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">wind turbines</a> generate carbon-free energy, the technology is far from green. Wind turbine blades are made from non-recyclable material, resulting in large quantities of waste at the end of their lifetime. <br><br>Moreover, current production methods require turbine components to be manufactured at locations far away from the installation site and fossil-fuel-powered transport before they can be brought together to begin generating clean, green energy. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How can 3D printing help?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is poised to transform various industries by enabling the design and printing of difficult-to-manufacture products. <br><br>Interesting Engineering has previously reported on how this technology is used to make components for space rockets or even housing units in record time. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3D-printer.jpg?w=1920" alt="Virginia Tech researchers with the 3D printer that can print wind turbine blades. " class="wp-image-60744" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3D-printer.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3D-printer.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3D-printer.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3D-printer.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Virginia Tech researchers with the 3D printer capable of printing massive wind turbine blades. </figcaption></figure>



<p>As part of the Department of Energy&#8217;s initiative to make renewable energy production more sustainable, the researchers at the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) laboratory developed a new approach to 3D printing and computational design for making turbine blades using high-strength thermoplastic material.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The new approach allows the printing of objects that are larger than the printer itself. More importantly, the printing can be carried out closer to installation sites, reducing the time and energy spent transporting components from large production facilities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Under the guidance of Chris Williams, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the team also used design optimization techniques to improve the strength and efficiency of the printed material.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WT-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60745" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WT-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WT-1.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WT-1.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WT-1.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Representational stock image of wind turbines that do not just generate green energy but are also green in their production. Image credit: <a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/pespiero?mediatype=photography"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">pespiero/iStock</a></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-recyclable-polymer">The recyclable polymer</h3>



<p>Equipment manufacturers like <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/siemens-makes-worlds-first-recyclable-wind-turbine-blade"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">Siemens</a> have begun using recyclable components in their blade production processes to make wind turbines more sustainable. Researchers at Virginia Tech, however, have gone a step ahead and used a novel material that is wholly recyclable.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#8220;So if the blades get damaged or reach their end of life, we can break them down, reprocess them, and 3D print them again into new blades,&#8221; said Michael Bortner, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, in a press release. <br><br>The team&#8217;s novel polymer composite material has the properties of glass fiber-reinforced composites but is also recyclable. </p>



<p>The group is working with NREL and TPI to explore how the technology can be translated into real-world applications and make it possible to 3D print wind turbine blades in the US. The university&#8217;s Wind Stability Tunnel will also aid in taking aeroacoustic measurements of the turbine blades. </p>



<p>The collaborations are not just meant to improve the sustainability of wind turbine technology. &#8220;We need to start identifying more practical and less expensive ways to harness renewable energy resources. By identifying technologies to reduce energy costs, those cost savings will eventually trickle down to the average consumer,&#8221; Bortner added in the <a href="https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/04/wind-turbine-blades-get-a-sustainable-upgrade.html"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">press release</a>.&nbsp;</p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/company-transforms-wind-turbines-concrete">A startup transforms abandoned wind turbines into useful concrete</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/recycling-turbines-into-bridges">Engineers are building bridges with recycled wind turbine blades</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-impending-wind-turbine-waste">China’s green energy boom faces waste crisis: 12.9 million tons by 2050?</a></li>
</ul>

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