Articles tagged with "MIT-research"
Artificial tendons give muscle-powered robots a boost - Robohub
Researchers at MIT have developed artificial tendons made from tough, flexible hydrogel to enhance the performance of muscle-powered biohybrid robots. By attaching these rubber band-like tendons to either end of lab-grown muscle tissue, they created a "muscle-tendon unit" that significantly improves robotic actuation. When connected to a robotic gripper, the muscle-tendon unit enabled the robot to pinch its fingers together three times faster and with 30 times greater force compared to designs without the artificial tendons. This innovation addresses previous limitations in motion and power output in biohybrid robots that combine living muscle with synthetic skeletons. The team envisions these artificial tendons as modular, interchangeable connectors that can be broadly applied across various biohybrid robotic designs, from microscale surgical tools to autonomous exploratory machines. Lead author Ritu Raman highlights the advantages of muscle actuators, including their scalability to small sizes, ability to strengthen with use, and capacity for self-healing. These properties position muscle-powered robots
roboticsbiohybrid-robotsartificial-tendonsmuscle-powered-robotssoft-roboticsrobotic-actuatorsMIT-research5,000-year-old ‘slag’ reveals earliest metal working processes with CT scanning method
MIT researchers have developed an innovative application of CT scanning technology to study 5,000-year-old slag from an ancient metallurgical site in Tepe Hissar, Iran—one of the earliest known centers of copper extraction and metalworking. By using industrial and conventional CT scanners alongside traditional analytical methods such as X-ray fluorescence and electron microscopy, the team was able to non-invasively examine the internal structure of the slag, revealing details about the pores, composition, and traces of materials involved in early metal production. This approach marks the first time CT scanning has been applied to ancient slag, providing new insights into the technological processes of early metallurgy. The study not only sheds light on how ancient civilizations processed metals but also raises new questions about the role of elements like arsenic in early smelting practices, a topic that has sparked debate among researchers. The CT scanning method offers a powerful tool for archaeologists to better understand the complexity of ancient materials, corrosion effects, and the long-term stability of artifacts.
materialsmetallurgyCT-scanningancient-technologyarchaeometallurgymetalworkingMIT-researchMIT gets first 'direct view' of exotic superconductivity in graphene
MIT physicists have achieved a major breakthrough by obtaining the first direct measurement of unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle twisted tri-layer graphene (MATTG), a material made of three stacked and twisted atom-thin carbon sheets. Using a novel experimental platform that combines electron tunneling with electrical transport measurements, the team directly observed MATTG’s superconducting gap, which exhibits a distinctive V-shaped profile unlike the flat gap seen in conventional superconductors. This finding confirms that the superconducting mechanism in MATTG is fundamentally different and likely arises from strong electronic interactions rather than lattice vibrations, marking a crucial step toward understanding and designing new superconductors. This research advances the global pursuit of room-temperature superconductors, which could revolutionize technology by enabling zero-energy-loss power grids, practical quantum computers, and more efficient medical imaging devices. The study, led by MIT physicists including Jeong Min Park and Shuwen Sun and senior author Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, builds on the emerging field of “twistronics
materialssuperconductivitygraphenequantum-materialsenergy-efficient-technologyroom-temperature-superconductorsMIT-researchPhysicists see heat move as a wave after 90 years of theory
Physicists at MIT have, for the first time, directly observed and filmed the quantum phenomenon known as "second sound," a theory predicted in 1938 but never before visually confirmed. Unlike normal heat diffusion, second sound occurs in superfluid states where heat propagates as a wave, similar to sound, with the surrounding fluid remaining stationary. The team overcame significant experimental challenges by cooling gases to near absolute zero and using lithium-6 atoms, whose resonance frequency shifts with temperature, allowing them to track heat movement via radio wave-induced resonance. This breakthrough enabled real-time visualization of heat waves in a superfluid, marking a major advance in studying quantum states of matter. The ability to observe second sound has important scientific and technological implications. It offers new insights into extreme states of matter such as those found in neutron stars, potentially improving astrophysical models. On Earth, the findings could advance research into high-temperature superconductors, which are crucial for energy-efficient technologies like lossless power transmission and magnetic levitation.
energyquantum-physicssuperfluidityheat-transfersuperconductivitythermal-imagingMIT-researchNew 3D print method reduces plastic use without losing strength
MIT researchers from CSAIL and the Hasso Plattner Institute have developed SustainaPrint, a hybrid 3D printing system that significantly reduces plastic waste without compromising structural strength. The method uses simulations to identify stress-prone zones in a 3D model and selectively reinforces these areas with high-performance plastics, while printing the rest of the object with biodegradable or recycled filament. This targeted reinforcement approach cuts down plastic use and maintains durability, addressing the common trade-off between eco-friendliness and strength in 3D printing materials. In tests using Polymaker’s eco-friendly PolyTerra PLA and Ultimaker’s stronger PLA, SustainaPrint required only 20% reinforcement to regain up to 70% of the strength of fully reinforced prints. In some cases, the hybrid prints matched or even outperformed fully strong prints, demonstrating that strategic material mixing can enhance performance depending on geometry and load conditions. The system includes an open-source software interface for uploading models and running stress simulations, along with
3D-printingsustainable-materialsplastic-waste-reductionmaterial-sciencestructural-engineeringeco-friendly-manufacturingMIT-researchShape Changing Antenna Secures Signal
MIT researchers have developed a novel flexible antenna that can maintain a strong signal connection by altering its shape. This innovation addresses the common problem of signal loss caused by movement or changes in the environment, which typically affect traditional rigid antennas. The shape-changing capability allows the antenna to adapt dynamically, ensuring consistent connectivity. The new antenna design leverages advanced materials and engineering techniques to enable flexibility without compromising performance. This technology has potential applications in various fields, including wearable devices, mobile communications, and Internet of Things (IoT) systems, where maintaining reliable signal strength is crucial despite physical deformation or movement. The research highlights a significant step forward in antenna technology by combining adaptability with robust signal transmission.
IoTflexible-antennasignal-strengthwireless-communicationMIT-researchshape-changing-technologysmart-devicesHumanoid robots could soon see through walls with MIT’s imaging tech
MIT researchers have developed an advanced imaging technique called mmNorm that enables robots to see through walls and other obstructions like cardboard boxes by using millimeter wave (mmWave) signals. These signals, similar to those used in Wi-Fi, can penetrate materials such as plastic, interior walls, and cardboard, reflecting off hidden objects to allow sensors to capture detailed 3D reconstructions. In testing, mmNorm achieved a 96 percent accuracy rate in reconstructing complex objects like silverware and power drills, significantly outperforming current state-of-the-art systems that reach about 78 percent accuracy. The key innovation behind mmNorm lies in its ability to estimate the surface normal—or the direction a surface reflects signals—by leveraging the property of specularity, where mmWave signals reflect like light off a mirror. Traditional radar systems often miss such reflections when surfaces are angled away from the sensor. By incorporating this directional information into its algorithm, mmNorm produces highly accurate 3D models of hidden objects. Potential applications include
roboticsimaging-technologymillimeter-wavewarehouse-automationquality-controlMIT-research3D-reconstructionMIT builds new superconducting chip to power future quantum computers
Researchers at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center have developed a superconducting diode (SD)-based rectifier chip that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) at cryogenic temperatures, aiming to streamline power delivery in superconducting classical and quantum computers. This innovation addresses a critical challenge in quantum computing: reducing thermal and electromagnetic noise caused by numerous wires connecting ultra-cold components to ambient temperature systems. By integrating four superconducting diodes on a single chip, the team achieved efficient AC to DC conversion, potentially enhancing qubit stability and reducing interference, which is vital for the practical realization of quantum computers. Beyond quantum computing, the superconducting diode technology has broader applications, including serving as isolators or circulators to protect qubit signals and playing a role in dark matter detection circuits used in experiments at CERN and Berkeley National Laboratory. This advancement promises to make superconducting electronics more energy-efficient and practical, potentially revolutionizing computing power in the era of increasing demands from technologies like artificial intelligence. The
energysuperconducting-electronicsquantum-computingsuperconducting-diodepower-efficiencycryogenic-technologyMIT-research