Information & Communication

Would you board a plane knowing that one of the flight crew wasn’t human? This may be a valid concern for those working in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) ALIAS program. ALIAS, in this case, stands for Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System – a robot designed to take part in the control of a plane along human pilots.

You may have heard of advanced Bayesian calculations (ABCs), perhaps in the context of how computers are used to study climate patterns and how these will change in the near future. ABC is the basis for how computers can achieve inference as a result of the data it is fed. Inference is an important part of the process by which predictions that our brains make on an everyday basis match up with the available objective evidence.

There is an emerging trend these days for new hardware materials, designs and standards that seek to defy Moore’s Law and the predicted slowdown in computing evolution and, eventually, the capabilities it represents. It’s a necessary move, particularly in the face of the extensive requirements involved in running some artificial intelligence (AI) platforms.

Quantum computers are hailed as the new wave in the use and processing of big data. They are perceived as much more powerful in terms of decision-making, transfer speeds and complexity of computing tasks. However, there are also several drawbacks that affect the uptake of quantum as a processor standard. Firstly, as a relatively new modality in this sector, it is often more expensive than traditional CMOS-based computing.

Today, data is stored by changing the orientation of magnetized particles on a surface. This determines read and write speeds and, thus, how fast hard drives can work which in turn affects the performance of a computer. Research has shown that a different property of magnetisation can also be used to store data.

Many modern batteries use lithium, an earth metal, as a medium for energy storage. Earth metals were chosen in the course of solid battery development as their ions have many favourable properties for such applications. Lithium has a high specific capacity (3860 mAhg/m) and also has relatively high electronegativity. However, raw lithium for new batteries is mined and used at ever-increasing rates, which may affect its cost in the long run.

Many of us may wish that the audio experience in our living rooms was better. The sound coming through our TVs and stereos can be enhanced by augmenting these devices with various types of speakers. There are speakers out there that can enhance the treble, bass, timbre or ‘surround effect’ included in the soundtracks of our media. Some companies claim to have developed speaker offerings that do a combination of these things.

Devices that can be safely bent out of shape, form curves or even fold up could be the next big thing in electronics. These devices are most likely to take the shape of ergonomic wearables that may even be expected to adhere to and remain on the skin for prolonged periods. Besides this putative trend in health and fitness trackers, there are increasingly credible online rumours that Samsung is working on its first flexible-display phone.

Wouldn’t we all aspire to achieve a perfect 20/20 vision, and have it remained so for the rest of our lives? Well, that dream could just become a reality in the near future! Don’t believe it?

Drones – the flying robots with paired propellers you can fly at home – seem to be capable of more and more things by the day. Scientists have recently published work that shows that they can be used to provide a model for the true flying car; not only that, but they can also demonstrate how these hypothetical vehicles can navigate built-up areas and conform to hybrid air/surface traffic management systems.

You may have heard or read something about Elon Musk’s latest announcement concerning the future of his company SpaceX by now. The famous entrepreneur has detailed his plan that involves bringing humans to the Moon and to Mars in ever greater numbers. However, he was more taciturn concerning the more practical aspects of implementing these ideas, including their costs and how he and SpaceX intended to cover them.

A recent announcement by SpaceX’s eccentric CEO detailed the company’s plans to take humanity into outer space in passenger rockets for the first time. Elon Musk’s latest business plan includes ferrying people to the Moon, as well as to Mars, so that these lucky individuals can lay the groundwork for bases and colonies far away from Earth. These missions will be completed using SpaceX’s newest craft, the BFR (in development at this time).