Autonomous Vehicles to Join the Army 

According to a report at Gizmag, the US army is set to deploy a number of unmanned tactical vehicles. The vehicles have already made a test run at the US Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The convoy of seven different vehicles kept up a pace of over 40 miles per hour. The robotic vehicles utilize two distinct forms of technology. One is known as an “autonomy kit,” and utilizes sensors such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to construct a map of the geographic location and keep the vehicle on course. The other known as “by-wire drive,” is the technology that controls the driving mechanisms. The vehicles should be joining soldiers in the field by 2025.

Nanoparticles to Help Imaging the Intestinal Tract

Researchers at the University of Buffalo have come up with a unique way to help physicians asses intestinal organs. A report at psyorg outlines this new technology which is comprised of nanoparticles suspended in liquid, also known as “nanojuice.” The minute particles contain colorful dyes which, in combination with ultra sound or magnetic resonance imaging, can provide a much more effective means of assessing the intestinal tract. Unlike traditional methods, which reveal any blockages in the intestinal tract, the nanojuice technology allows doctors to watch the organ functioning in real time.

Robots Powered by Real Muscle Tissue

In the not too distant future, robot movement could be made much more efficient by using muscle tissue. Live Science reports that a team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have developed a robot that is 3-D portioned. What makes this “bio-bot” unique is the fact that it is fitted with two sections of engineered muscle tissue, giving it much more precise movement control and a wider range of motion. Though the prototype robot is only 0.2 inches long, this new technology  could one day be used to create smart implants and surgical robots.

Image credits: Stripes.com