ROBOTIC ANTICS The latest advancements in agricultural technology draw inspiration from the remarkable capabilities of the planet’s most industrious creatures: ants.

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Sheffield have developed innovative robots that are guided by the principles of behaviour exhibited by these social insects.

The scientists sought to create efficient solutions for robotic navigation, and designed an artificial neural network that is based on the sensory and navigational systems found in ant brains.

This robotic creation collects images along unfamiliar routes and employs an algorithm inspired by the sensory processing abilities of ants. When the model was tested in challenging environments – including dense vegetation and uneven terrain – it yielded promising results.

This development holds great promise for applications in agriculture, forestry and environmental monitoring.

Despite their diminutive size, ants excel at complex tasks and engage in systematic division of labour. Their evolutionary success spans millions of years with trillions of these insects living on Earth today.

By emulating the efficiency and effectiveness of ant brains, these ‘insect inspired’ robots are paving the way for more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices, in addition to ushering in a new era of farming technology.

HEAVY LIFTING Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have achieved a remarkable feat with a soft robot gripper that weighs a mere 130 grammes but can lift objects exceeding 100 kilogrammes in weight.

Soft robotic grippers, which are constructed from materials such as fabric, paper and silicone, have been designed to mimic the dexterity of a human hand. This makes them ideal for tasks involving delicate objects or versatile functions in logistics.

However, their limited load capacity and poor grasping stability could be considered drawbacks.

Dr. Song Kahye of the Intelligent Robotics Research Centre at KAIST and Assistant Professor Lee Dae-Young from the Department of Aerospace Engineering have collaborated on this breakthrough.

This is a significant advancement compared to grippers of similar weight that can manage no more than 20 kilogrammes at most.

Researchers envision that the gripper can be adapted to other elastic materials such as rubber and compounds, making it suitable for various industrial and logistics applications that require robust gripping performance or resilience in challenging environments.

ANIMATED EATING Monash University is at the forefront of a culinary revolution where the everyday staples of food items become a canvas for technological creativity.

Food interaction design researcher at the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University Jialin Deng has developed a system that transforms ordinary plates into dynamic canvases.

These innovative plates are equipped with electrodes that can be programmed to move various culinary elements (such as sauces and condiments) autonomously. Consequently, a delightful dining experience awaits.

The project represents a profound fusion of food material properties and computational capabilities. Thanks to this innovation, chefs can now predefine precise locations for food droplets and ingredients, and effectively animate their creations frame by frame – similar to animation.

This technology opens the door to blending solid and liquid components, experimenting with food flavours and even manipulating chemical reactions in a manner reminiscent of molecular gastronomy.

Monash scientist Prof. Florian Mueller – an expert in interaction, and game and play design – believes this research foreshadows a future where food and computing will coalesce into a new frontier.

It promises not only to revolutionise the hospitality sector where interactive food can tell engaging stories but also reshape computer science education.

ENERGY STORAGE Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a revolutionary technology called a ‘structural supercapacitor’ that serves a dual role by providing structural support and energy storage.

This opens the door to exciting possibilities such as smartphones housed in protective casings that also act as energy reservoirs, and electric vehicles using their doors and floors to store power for propulsion – all without adding weight.

While the idea of structural supercapacitors is not entirely new, creating a single device that excels in both supporting mechanical loads and efficiently storing electrical energy has long been a challenge.

Traditional supercapacitors excel at energy storage but lack the mechanical strength required for structural functions. Conversely, structural materials offer support but fall short in terms of energy storage.

Collaborative efforts led by Professors Tse Nga (Tina) Ng and Xinyu Zhang from the university’s electrical and computer engineering department have combined these capabilities to create a new structural supercapacitor.

Researchers aim to increase the supercapacitor’s energy density to compete with some battery packs while maintaining high power density and push the boundaries of energy storage technology.