🦾 NASA robot uses LEGO-like metamaterials to build space habitat

Plus: South Korea cracks carbon and drinking water problem, new ultrafine brain sensors                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 January 18, 2024 | [Read Online]( NASA researchers created a robotic system that can autonomously build resilient structures from modular hollow blocks, then efficiently rearrange components as needed. Using simple robots and lattice-based “metamaterials,” the autonomous assembly process constructed a sturdy 256-unit shelter. The complexity of this software’s programmable matter algorithms allows for simplicity in the hardware, and this demonstration showcases how scalable robotic structures could print on-demand structures from composite materials in extreme environments. Learn more about how NASA designed robots to achieve this feat in today’s [Must Read](. 📺 [Subscribe to IE Originals]( for our weekly pick of the best science, tech, and engineering videos from around the world. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! Reading time: 5 minutes Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe ✉](  VIDEO OF THE DAY Why are advanced materials the future? Venture into the world where advanced materials redefine the ordinary, crafting lighter vehicles, smart mobility and even propelling us deeper into space. Here’s how Sabancı Holding, one of the largest Turkish conglomerates that operates on a global scale is translating the magic of advanced materials into real-world marvels. With Cevdet Alemdar. IE+ SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest In Science And Engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [Subscribe]( HOT TOPICS - 🌱 [FiloBot: Plant-inspired bot self-assembles, shoots up like vine]( Revolutionary bio-inspired robots, like FiloBot and EELS 1.0, redefine climbing and exploration, offering adaptability in unstructured environments. - 🕵️‍♂️ Your phone’s light sensor can spy on you without a camera MIT researchers demonstrated how hackers could use this algorithm to spy on hand gestures, such as scrolling, swiping, or sliding, and infer how you interact with your phone while watching videos. - 🦅 [Dutch firm unleashes ‘Evolution Eagle,’ a covert military spy drone]( Guard From Above introduces the Evolution Eagle, a revolutionary covert drone mimicking nature's design. MUST READ 🧱 [Robots construct resilient structures with LEGO-like ‘metamaterials](’ By coordinating robots to transport and connect interlocking thermoplastic blocks or “voxels,” NASA built customizable habitats with radiation shielding that outperform their conventional counterparts in strength-to-weight. Rather than rely on intricate sensors, path planning algorithms allowed multiple agents to collaborate on manipulating the material as programmable matter. The resulting shelter construction served as a resilient space habitat prototype. NASA also foresees various terrestrial applications, such as disaster relief shelters, modular infrastructure, and adaptive architecture. With ultra-light buildings printable remotely then assembled by swarms, logistic challenges are greatly reduced. And by enabling robotic disassembly for component reuse, the technology sustains material life cycles rather than scrap waste. Click below to see how NASA’s researchers achieved this. [Read more >]( [INNOVATION]( ♻️ [‘World first’: South Korea to tackle CO₂ and saltwater with clever tech]( South Korea plans the world’s first facility that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while generating fresh water from the sea, tackling the issues of regional drought and carbon emissions simultaneously. By creatively using the brine waste produced by the process, the project succeeds at realizing circular sustainability for the petrochemical industry. [Read more >]( [SCIENCE]( 🧠 [Researchers use wireless sensor 5 times thinner than hair to map brain]( UC San Diego researchers created flexible brain sensors 5 times thinner than a human hair for recording neurological activity deeper than previously possible. This major enhancement in precision enables better resolution that assists diagnosis and treatment across a range of neurological diseases. It’s also minimally invasive, which gives it a major clinical advantage over less precise techniques. Learn how these tiny sensors open up new clinical possibilities. [Read more >]( A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR In today's rapidly evolving world, advanced materials are the beating heart of groundbreaking innovations. These revolutionary substances are redefining industries, enhancing our daily experiences, and crafting a roadmap to a sustainable tomorrow. As we witness this transformation, one intrepid pioneer stands out. Enter [Sabancı Holding](, a global titan, meticulously harnessing the potential of these materials. From partnering in the global aerospace industry by providing fabrics for NASA’s next-generation spacecraft, the Orion capsule to developing Battery Management System (BMS) for Li-Ion battery packs, Sabancı and its subsidiaries are weaving the fabric of the future. By championing advanced materials, they're not just setting industry benchmarks but shaping the legacy that will impact generations to come. Discover how Sabancı is translating the magic of advanced materials into real-world marvels. Dive in now! Question of the Day Do you think advances in robotics will be outpace artificial intelligence in 2024 [Yes, a lot appears to be happening]( [They’re two sides of the same coin]( [AI and robotics together, yes]( [No, AI will make astonishing progress]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked if you how you would feel about having radioactive isotope batteries run your personal gadgets. Here are the results. 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 Relaxed — it's a brilliant solution (35%) 🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ A little nervous (18%) 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Nowhere near me, thanks (10%) 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'll wait and see how it works out for other people (37%) “All that the user needs to do is tap on the menu of their choice on the touch panel, and I-Robo will do the cooking process for you.” Yuji Shiraki, founder of I-Robo THINGS WE LOVE [[Auto Face Tracking Phone Holder] Auto Face Tracking Phone Holder $35.99]( [[MACTREM Camera Tripod] MACTREM 80" Camera Tripod $78.99]( [[TESLYAR Wood Phone Docking Station] TESLYAR Wood Phone Docking Station $39.80]( [[Magnetic Levitating Globe] Magnetic Levitating Globe $38.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [New bot tech yields high-res 3D shots of deep-sea creatures in minutes]( - [Arctic Ice ships 100,000-year-old ‘purest ice on Earth’ from Greenland]( - [Webb telescope detects oldest black hole dating back 13 billion years]( - IE+ [Here’s how a galaxy with no dark matter could prove dark matter exists]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter+Sponsorship) what else? ⚙️ To explore the wonders of mechanical engineering, get your [Mechanical]( 🔷 For all the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to the [Vital Component]( 🛩️ For the latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more, subscribe to [Aerospace]( 🧑🏻‍🔧 For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( 🧠New: To get the latest AI news every Monday, subscribe to [AI Logs]( 🎬 For a weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos, subscribe to [IE Originals]( For our weekly premium newsletter and an ad-free experience, [sign up for IE+]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Give Feedback](mailto:tim.snaith@interestingengineering.com?subject=User%20feedback%20for%20the%20Blueprint) --------------------------------------------------------------- //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/gIGIpUF6d1hGqcQjHe437kyVA6g1LfBq9HXC1ZND4y_KHdNGtW9Rjemv5T9JZONn9N6kE9FabNy8ENARvywendjBQSc8nkjJI3Jm-fN-jt97HCIFeLuaqvPij5Yj0LHjilTDSYJrwUtaG644J9qFkYtiC8DpaSOKaiPghzxB5H8MoZ_wdgVKklrwpkmiizrEmwtXYNcZAfKG0XgBgRDOSCwLX-DmkXuD3_Y_EWrsRFwVYjsiLg3U3MitgTqq0qYik1U7KJ6DoA4kFYakzMgczw/433/HVRHxYehQRCwIpvG5phb7w/h39/hKxegz4fl5Jnm7sQJelL9jVXzXmx6JJiFED_VbFfkV4//link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/oI2ds1eY3zrDzwM4HveOVRmeJ5i_p5i5KNVinJHZlhSkOHNfWq__msc9VRtNfnHyXddq6vzr5t6T6GYW7KJXdUpzzfGanFORrMI8zWICIfEjm4EeiJq4Bt8OPeELuqlXrJmS9s8Y30WqEmDFAZ00pWabmLaOKdZM36PQCfEtIcx5ZcmjDhc6CYV3_WTiZhP8kJwwpdlEeieKvt6L_MIO9M7cimnqnyPV3T4t5pyg60os_TZIjnmzcj2EOGJENbia/433/HVRHxYehQRCwIpvG5phb7w/h41/8hiq37naInWEx65RpXUxkvYnF4NW9sdivPjFYXTVaMM//link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/gIGIpUF6d1hGqcQjHe437oAWXHY86pFVzUigyeO7aWaLPmh4WUXCw0RjhsSC7o2NbU_ca_kYL8MJJVyxd9lLLHnpv384io7Db-FZ5RsZytiT-YlGVF8fbTbGPt28XyPQwBGQ2AGbTq_P7JGGRajS4TUj-AlNkw9k9ssxW0KQT2cCFAqjfquqz8HSOYdaO0VOOhNrsY_grOXn3Wyyxqe9PCnvISpb29cNyp2fRlHs37uMEmoMZC-pBheZy16oAKQJ/433/HVRHxYehQRCwIpvG5phb7w/h43/aqqVnbPjdFmkXV96oh8Kmch2HF5GtCqDgoBPxWfLLIE Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 The Blueprint 530 5th Ave New York, New York 10036, United States of America