🦿 Dancing droids: Scientists teach humanoid robot sweet moves, China's deep-sea tank sets new record, Scientists find biology hack to 4x electric aircraft battery life

Plus: Researchers say life may have emerged on Earth 4.2 billion years ago                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 July 13, 2024 | [Read Online]( In Coordination with IE Academy Join IE Academy as an instructor and present your live courses to other engineers Fill out our form and be a part of our digital education platform [Fill the form now]( Researchers at the University of California have trained a humanoid robot to perform a variety of expressive actions. This robot can now dance, wave, high-five, and hug, all while maintaining a steady stride on different surfaces. The robot’s upper body is trained for gestures, while the lower body maintains balance, allowing the robot to perform fluid, realistic actions. Currently the robot’s movements are controlled by a gaming controller operated by a human, dictating speed and direction. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Experienced Software Engineer - Scaled Access]( > [Embedded Firmware Design]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🦿 [Dancing droids: Scientists teach humanoid robot sweet moves, high-fives, hugs]( According to the team, the humanoid robot’s agility and enhanced expressiveness will improve human-robot interactions in scenarios including [factory assembly lines, hospitals, and homes](. The researchers used large-scale human motion capture data in a reinforcement learning framework to train the robot. Additionally, they leveraged [ExBody (Expressive Whole-Body Control)]( to allow the robot’s legs follow a given speed while the upper body imitates human motions. “The main goal here is to show the [ability of the robot]( to do different things while it’s walking from place to place without falling,” said Xiaolong Wang, a professor at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. 🤿 [China’s deep-sea tank dives record 13,460 feet, mines 441 pounds of minerals]( China has made a splash with its new [deep-sea mining vehicle](, Kaituo 2. Developed by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, this tank-like machine has set a national depth record in the western Pacific Ocean. The 14-ton Kaituo 2 can navigate steep underwater mountains, cut through seabed minerals and collect valuable resources. What’s even more remarkable is that the underwater robot can do these at [depths of up to 6,000 meters](. During its trials, the Kaituo 2 gathered over [200 kilograms of minerals]( containing copper, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. 🔋 [Scientists find biology hack to quadruple electric aircraft battery life]( Researchers are using [modern biology methods]( to improve battery performance for electric aircraft. While current batteries work well for road transport, flying demands a battery that can provide both intense power for takeoff and sustained power for flight duration. The team focused on lithium-ion batteries and discovered that the issue lies with the cathode rather than the anode. They created a protective coating around the cathode by mixing [certain salts in the electrolyte](. Besides enhancing its performance, this electrolyte technology also makes it resistant to corrosion. The team is now working to build a [new battery of 100 kWh]( specifically for electric aircraft to carry out a test flight as early as 2025. Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. [Subscribe here]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > Researchers unveil new insights into the Earth’s earliest ecosystem, say life may have emerged on Earth 4.2 billion years ago. ([More]() > Titanic’s wreck set to be explored in never-before-detail in the first commercial mission to the legendary vessel since the OceanGate tragedy last year. ([More]() > Dozens of long-finned pilot whales have beached and died in Scotland, in the biggest mass standing death the country has seen since 1995. ([More]() ENERGY > Scientists leverage omics to better understand cellular system and to quadruple electric aircraft battery life. ([More]() > Rise of EVs means Europe can’t meet energy storage goals unless it gets battery recycling right, says senior energy researcher. ([More]() > Executives in the EU wind sector will soon face personal liability, including criminal sanctions, for cybersecurity failures under the NIS 2 Directive. ([More]() INNOVATION > Cincinnati-based aerospace company unveils a new, cutting-edge hypersonic dual-mode ramjet, that can enable high-speed flight and longer range. ([More]() > Dawn Aerospace’s rocket-powered aircraft, Mk-II Aurora, gets approval to fly at unlimited speeds and up to 80,000 feet altitude. ([More]() > Cornell University researchers have designed a new filtration system for spacesuits that can turn 500ml of urine into clean, drinking water in just five minutes. ([More]() VIDEO > Meet the Seawise Giant, the world’s longest ship that defied the odds and returned to life even after being sunk in an attack ordered by Saddam Hussein. ([More]() > From the battlefields of Vietnam to the Ukraine-Russia War, MANPADS have become a prevalent force, known for their capability to down helicopters, jets, and other low-flying aircraft. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, Which pulley system needs the least amount of effort to lift the black weight? The answer is: Pulley System A. Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Better-performing prosthetic foot replicates the bones of the real [thing]( > Artificial intelligence outperforms clinical tests at predicting progress of Alzheimer's [disease]( > 'Night owls' have 13.5% better brain function than early risers, study [finds]( > Honey can be safe to eat for ages. But does it stay good forever? 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