Startup Sends Bluetooth Into Low Earth Orbit

A recent Bluetooth connection between a device on Earth and a satellite in orbit signals a potential new space race—this time, for global location-tracking networks.Seattle-based startup Hubble Network announced today that it had a letter of understanding with San Francisco-based startup Life360 to develop a global, satellite-based Internet of Things…

Video Friday: Robot Bees

Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please send us your events for inclusion.ICRA 2024: 13–17 May 2024, YOKOHAMA, JAPANRoboCup 2024: 17–22 July 2024,…

The New Shadow Hand Can Take a Beating

For years, Shadow Robot Company’s Shadow Hand has arguably been the gold standard for robotic manipulation. Beautiful and expensive, its ability to mimic the form factor and functionality of human hands has made it ideal for complex tasks. I’ve personally experienced how amazing it is to use Shadow Hands in…

5 New Ways to Maximize Your Hardware Security Resilience

Connected vehicles offer a range of benefits, such as real-time data sharing, app-to-car connectivity, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and critical safety features like location tracking, remote parking, and in-vehicle infotainment systems (IVIs). These advancements aim to enhance the overall driving and riding experience. However, it is crucial to acknowledge…

Brain-Inspired Computer Approaches Brain-Like Size

Today Dresden, Germany-based startup SpiNNcloud Systems announced that their hybrid supercomputing platform, the SpiNNcloud Platform, is available for sale. The machine combines traditional AI accelerators with neuromorphic computing capabilities, using system design strategies that draw inspiration from the human brain. Systems for purchase vary in size, but the largest commercially…

How NASA is Hacking Voyager 1 Back to Life

On 14 November 2023, NASA’s interstellar space probe Voyager 1 began sending gibberish back to Earth. For five months, the spacecraft transmitted unusable data equivalent to a dial tone.In March, engineers discovered the cause of the communication snafu: a stuck bit in one of the chips comprising part of Voyager’s…