Content by Adam Zewe
Modular, Scalable Hardware Architecture for a Quantum ComputerA new quantum-system-on-chip enables the efficient control of a large array of qubits, moving toward practical quantum computing
Tue, 06/11/2024 - 12:02
Quantum computers promise the ability to quickly solve extremely complex problems that might take the world’s most powerful supercomputer decades to crack. But achieving that performance involves building a system with millions of interconnected…
Researchers Help Robots Navigate Uncertain EnvironmentsNew algorithm reduces travel time by identifying shortcuts
Tue, 04/02/2024 - 12:03
If a robot traveling to a destination has just two possible paths, it only needs to compare the routes’ travel time and probability of success. But if the robot is traversing a complex environment with many possible paths, choosing the best route…
Method Rapidly Verifies That a Robot Will Avoid CollisionsApproach could be useful for robots that interact with humans or work in tight spaces
Mon, 03/25/2024 - 00:01
(MIT: Cambridge, MA) -- Before a robot can grab dishes off a shelf to set the table, it must ensure its gripper and arm won’t crash into anything and potentially shatter the fine china. As part of its motion planning process, a robot typically runs…
Researchers 3D-Print Components for a Portable Mass SpectrometerMiniaturized mass filters make portable instruments for remote settings possible
Thu, 01/18/2024 - 12:00
(MIT: Cambridge, MA) -- Mass spectrometers, devices that identify chemical substances, are widely used in applications like crime scene analysis, toxicology testing, and geological surveying. But these machines are bulky, expensive, and easy to…
Generative AI ExplainedHow do these systems differ from other AI?
Tue, 11/28/2023 - 12:02
A quick scan of recent headlines makes it seem as if generative artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. In fact, some of those headlines may actually have been written by generative AI such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a chatbot that has…
Finger-Shaped Sensor Enables More Dexterous RobotsMIT engineers develop long, curved fingers that can handle more things
Thu, 10/26/2023 - 12:02
Imagine grasping a heavy object, like a pipe wrench, with one hand. You would likely grab the wrench using your entire fingers, not just your fingertips. Sensory receptors in your skin, which run along the entire length of each finger, would send…
Device Offers Long-Distance, Low-Power Underwater CommunicationSystem could be used to aid monitoring climate and coastal change
Mon, 09/25/2023 - 12:01
(MIT: Cambridge, MA) -- MIT researchers have demonstrated the first system for ultralow-power underwater networking and communication that can transmit signals across kilometer-scale distances. This technique, which the researchers began developing…
New Method Simplifies Construction of Complex MaterialsUser-friendly interface enables researchers to quickly design unique cellular metamaterial structures
Mon, 08/21/2023 - 12:02
Engineers are constantly searching for materials with novel, desirable property combinations. For example, an ultrastrong, lightweight material could be used to make airplanes and cars more fuel-efficient, or a material that is porous and…
A Faster Way to Teach a RobotLay users can understand why it failed, then fine-tune it
Thu, 08/17/2023 - 12:02
Imagine purchasing a robot to perform household tasks. This robot was built and trained in a factory on a certain set of tasks and has never seen the items in your home. When you ask it to pick up a mug from your kitchen table, it might not…
New Tool Helps People Choose the Right Method for Evaluating AI ModelsKnowing how a model behaves helps users interpret its predictions
Tue, 06/20/2023 - 12:02
When machine-learning models are deployed in real-world situations, perhaps to flag potential disease in X-rays for a radiologist to review, human users need to know when to trust the model’s predictions. But machine-learning models are so large…