🦇 A 'syllabus' for robots, bat blood may enable human hibernation, WWII-like bunker revival

Plus: 200-million-year-old dinosaur poop reveals diet secrets of early ecosystems                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 November 28, 2024 | [Read Online]( 👕 [Discover IE Shop's Unisex Tee:]( ["Trust Me I'm An Engineer"]( Engineer your style with our ["I'm An Engineer"]( tee, inspired by construction zone safety. This 100% cotton shirt isn't only comfortable but also makes you feel like the most stylish engineer. [Get yours from IE Shop now!]( Engineers have created an innovative framework that enables robots to share skills across models autonomously. Named RoVi-Aug, it eliminates the need for human intervention in the learning process, simplifying robotic training. Physical tests reveal that RoVi-Aug trains on enhanced data to work instantly with new robots, regardless of camera angles. Unlike others, it skips extra test-time steps, adapts policies, and learns multi-robot tasks. This boosts skill transfer efficiency and raises success rates by up to 30 percent. According to the UC Berkeley team, the approach marks a significant step toward developing more independent and adaptable robots. Dive deeper into this [Must-Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Lead Product Software Engineer - Engineering Leader]( > [Software Engineer - AI Trainer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST-READ 🤖 [US creates ‘syllabus’ for robots to swap skills at will without human need]( Research shows that scaling up data improves robots’ ability to learn general and reliable skills. However, robot data is far smaller than those used in advanced AI models for vision and language. Collecting diverse and useful [real-world robot data]( is slow, labor-intensive, and challenging to balance for adaptable training. Existing models like the [Open-X Embodiment (OXE) project]( combine data from 60 robot datasets to enhance cross-robot learning. This approach helps robots share experiences, improving their capabilities. According to researchers, the dataset needs to be more balanced, dominated by specific robots like [Franka]( and [xArm](, and needs diverse camera angles. This causes models to overfit and require adjustments when used with different robots or viewpoints. 🦇 [Interstellar dreams: Bat blood may enable human hibernation for long space travels]( As humanity dreams of becoming a star-faring civilization, the challenges of long-duration space travel loom large. One potential solution to this challenge is [hibernation](, which scientists believe could help astronauts endure long journeys between stars. NASA has been investigating this idea for years, even studying the hibernation patterns of Arctic ground squirrels. However, recent research from a team in Germany, led by Gerald Kerth at the University of Greifswald, has focused on [bats]( for insights into effective hibernation. The study explores the role of erythrocytes, a specific type of red blood cell, in the hibernation process. The researchers conducted extensive analyses of the erythrocytes from both hibernating bats (specifically, [Nyctalus noctula]() and non-hibernating bats ([Rousettus aegypticus](), as well as human blood samples. 💣 [Buildings into bomb shelters: Germany eyes WWII-like bunker revival amid Russia threat]( Germany is taking significant steps to bolster its [civil defense capabilities]( by identifying public and private buildings that can be repurposed as bunkers if needed. The country’s [Interior Ministry]( confirmed the plan emphasizing that this extensive project would include car parks, underground train stations, state-owned facilities, and private properties. The German government is compiling a list of structures that could be converted into bunkers if necessary. According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the initiative will also include a [phone app]( featuring a digital directory of these emergency shelters. 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 > An international team led by researchers at Uppsala University has analyzed fossilized dinosaur droppings—known as coprolites—to uncover details about the diets and ecological roles of dinosaurs 200 million years ago. ([More]() > Anew method has been demonstrated for turning harmful greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, into valuable resources. U.S. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed a new catalyst that can boost the chemical reaction called “dry reforming of methane.” ([More]() > Researchers from the University of Gothenburg are the first to prove that painful stimuli are sent to the brain of shore crabs providing more evidence for pain in crustaceans. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers at Monash University in Australia have developed ultra-fast-charging lithium-sulfur batteries that could soon power long-range electric vehicles and flying air taxis. The newly developed batteries deliver twice the energy density of a conventional lithium-ion battery, according to a university press release. ([More]() > Aikido Technologies, an offshore floating wind technology startup based in San Francisco, California, has successfully demonstrated the assembly of its unique folding platform in under 40 hours. ([More]() > Honda's in-house solid-state batteries will be 50 percent smaller. ([More]() INNOVATION > Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new method that significantly improves the process of harvesting water from the air, and also dehumidifying spaces. ([More]() > Inspired by a cat’s ability to twist and land on its paws, Chinese researchers have created an AI-powered robot dog capable of leaping across the rugged, low-gravity surfaces of asteroids. ([More]() > Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and their industry partners have advanced the technology available to measure carbon dioxide in the ocean. ([More]() VIDEO > For over a century, the Panama Canal has stood as a monumental conduit for maritime trade, linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Yet, nestled in southern Mexico, another ambitious pathway, the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, seeks to challenge this maritime supremacy. ([More]() > The world is watching Ethiopia’s Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt risks losing vital Nile water, and Sudan could flood. China benefits from Ethiopia’s loan. How significant is the dam’s impact? ([More]() FROM THE WEB > A first for China, Huawei unveils homegrown OS for smartphones to compete with iOS, [Android]( > Antimatter to be transported outside a lab for first time — in a [van]( > Nerve cells of blind mice retain their visual [function]( > World’s oldest lizard wins fossil [fight]( > World’s most common heart valve disease linked to insulin resistance in large national [study]( > Female astronaut goes to space but can’t escape online sexism by ‘[small men](’ Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. [🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros:]( The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge. 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