ScienceDaily: Computers & Math News

Researchers have demonstrated 'giant flexoelectricity' in soft elastomers that could improve robot movement range and make self-powered pacemakers a real possibility.

A new formula is leading to new insights on how to build an energy-efficient legged teammate for dismounted warfighters.

Scientists have created a cybersecurity technology called Shadow Figment that is designed to lure hackers into an artificial world, then stop them from doing damage by feeding them illusory tidbits of success. The aim is to sequester bad actors by captivating them with an attractive -- but imaginary -- world. The technology is aimed at protecting physical targets -- infrastructure such as buildings, the electric grid, water and sewage systems, and pipelines.

The myriad processes occurring in biological cells may seem unbelievably complex at first glance. And yet, in principle, they are merely a logical succession of events, and could even be used to form digital circuits. Researchers have now developed a molecular switching circuit made of DNA, which can be used to mechanically alter gels, depending on the pH. DNA-based switching circuits could have applications in soft robotics, say the researchers.

The cheetah is the fastest land animal, but how? Not much is understood about the dynamics underlying its characteristic 'flight' and spine movement. Now, in a new study, a team of researchers propose and validate an analytical model for studying cheetah galloping by comparing its predictions with cheetah data. While improving upon the current understanding of cheetah's locomotion, their findings pave the way for designing legged robots!

It may only be a matter of time until the growing problem of 'deep fakes' converges with geographical information science (GIS). A research team are doing what they can to get ahead of the problem.