University of California

New AI sees like a human, filling in the blanks

Computer scientists have taught an artificial intelligence agent how to do something that usually only humans can do--take a few quick glimpses around and infer its whole environment, a skill necessary for the development of effective search-and-rescue robots that one day can improve the effectiveness of dangerous missions.

BeBop Sensors wins Red Herring's Top 100 North America 2019 Award

BeBop Sensors has won Red Herring's Top 100 North America 2019 Award. BeBop Sensors uses smart fabrics to create elegant sensor solutions for OEMs. BeBop's sensors comprehend force, location, size, weight, bend, twist, and presence across any size, resolution, and geometry.

Cooling and heating patch serves as personal thermostat

Engineers have developed a wearable patch that could provide personalized cooling and heating at home, work, or on the go.

Artificial intelligence tool vastly scales up Alzheimer's research

Researchers have found a way to teach a computer to precisely detect one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue, delivering a proof of concept for a machine-learning approach to distinguishing critical markers of the disease.

OLED materials innovator CYNORA secures US$25M in first closing

Marking the initial closing of its Series C funding round, CYNORA has secured US$25M in financing from investors in Asia, Europe and the US. Germany-based CYNORA is an emerging materials leader with a novel technology to produce ultra-high-efficiency emitter systems required for next-generation Organic Light Emitting Diode displays.

Robots to the rhino rescue

With just two northern white rhinos remaining in the world, both of whom are female, scientists are racing against the clock to rescue the species from the brink of extinction. Decades of poaching and habitat loss have led to their dramatic decline. Hope for their survival now rests on scientists' ability to develop innovative methods for repopulating the species.

Solar cells (like people!) work better with caffeine

Scientists have found that caffeine improves the stability of materials under heat - a property known as thermal stability — of perovskite solar cells, which could someday replace traditional silicon-based solar cells.

Squid skin inspires creation of next-gen material

Drawing design inspiration from the skin of stealthy sea creatures, engineers have developed a next-generation, adaptive space blanket that gives users the ability to control their temperature.

Squishy robots can drop from a helicopter and land safely

New soccer-ball-shaped robots have the remarkable ability to fall from a height of more than 600 feet and be no worse for wear. Built of a network of rods linked by contracting cables, they can also shapeshift in order to crawl from one point to another.

Synthetic speech generated from brain recordings

A state-of-the-art brain-machine interface can generate natural-sounding synthetic speech by using brain activity to control a virtual vocal tract - an anatomically detailed computer simulation including the lips, jaw, tongue and larynx.

Deep learning to assess suicide risks

Researchers are applying deep learning and analytics to electronic health record data to help the Veterans Administration address a host of medical and psychological challenges affecting many of the nation's 700,000 military veterans.

New device paves the way to 3D-printed organs, food

From prosthetics and implants to dental crowns and hearing aids, 3D printers are being used to manufacture a whole host of customized medical devices for patients in need. So, why not organs, too?

Low-cost, human-friendly robot designed for AI

Researchers have created a new low-cost, human friendly robot named Blue, designed to use recent advances in artificial intelligence and deep reinforcement learning to master intricate human tasks, all while remaining affordable and safe enough that every AI researcher could have one. The team hopes Blue will accelerate the development of robotics for the home.

Scientific device creates electricity from snowfall

Researchers have designed a new device that creates electricity from falling snow. The first of its kind, this device is inexpensive, small, thin and flexible like a sheet of plastic.

Printed sensors provide on the spot fentanyl detection

Researchers have developed screen-printed sensors that could offer a faster, convenient and low-cost method to detect the drug fentanyl. The sensors can detect micromolar concentrations of fentanyl in just one minute. They are easy to produce, cost only a few cents apiece, and are disposable.

Near-perfect performance in low-cost semiconductors

Tiny, easy-to-produce particles, called quantum dots, may soon take the place of more expensive single crystal semiconductors in advanced electronics found in solar panels, camera sensors and medical imaging tools. Tiny, easy-to-produce particles, called quantum dots, may soon take the place of more expensive single crystal semiconductors in advanced electronics found in solar panels, camera sensors and medical imaging tools.

Water resistant and self-healing electronic skin

Inspired by underwater invertebrates such as the jelly fish, researchers have created an electronic skin with similar functionality.

Robots to assist dementia caregivers

Building robots that can help people with dementia has been a longtime goal for roboticists. Yet until now, no one has sought to survey informal caregivers, such as family members, about what characteristics and roles these robots should have.

$27 million for hydro power project on Uganda/Tanzania border

100% of the energy generated will be bought by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited, Uganda's single-buyer and transmission company, which will then sell half the energy on to Tanzania.