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Scientists develop “soft valve” to enable human flesh-like robots
The field of soft robotics has achieved some impressive feats in recent years, meaning we are well on our way to life-like robots that possess the very flesh that distinguishes us from our mechanical brethren. Squishy worms, claws, and octopus arms are a few of the machines in development, but they all still have “hard” parts comprising their inner mechanics. Currently, the valves controlling air pressures to manipulate the bots’ movements are rigid, off-the-shelf components. Now, thanks to a new technology created by scientists at the Professor George Whitesides lab at Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University, a squishy valve enabling soft robots is available.
Standard hard pneumatic valves help control the movement of soft robots by pushing air (in most cases) into chambers as directed by the device’s operator or programming. A network of tubes or air bladders are built throughout the robot’s appendages, filling or emptying as needed to effect the desired motion. To provide a soft alternative to the rigid components, there are two concepts the new soft valves were driven by: 1) a fleshy membrane that stretches in two directions, similar to a ‘popper’ vending machine toy; and 2) a soft hose that controls air flow by kinking, similar to how bending a garden hose restricts its water flow.
Soft robots are typically made from silicone. With that in mind, doctoral student Philipp Rothemund and postdoctoral fellow Daniel Preston built their valve into a silicone cylinder, separating it into upper and lower chambers. Each chamber contained soft tubes that would kink depending on whether the membrane was stretched in their direction. As air filled one chamber, the membrane would stretch and kink the air hose in the opposite chamber, shutting off the air flow and thus fulfilling the valve functionality needed for soft robots to work as already designed.
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- The soft valve developed for soft robots. | Credit: Harvard University
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- The soft valve developed for soft robots. | Credit: Harvard University
Soft robots are generally designed to imitate functionality found in living organisms. The ability for hands to grip, for example, seems simple, but without specific data to work with, robots cannot easily repeat that same functionality, nor with the same amount of agility. Adding the ‘soft’ factor provides flexibility and adaptability. Fleshy materials can conform to objects better than rigid ones, enhancing grip, and their shapes can be pushed or pulled, capabilities that are useful for maneuvering in small spaces or preventing major damage from, say, being run over by a vehicle.
As the soft robotics field expands in its development, we can look forward to new solutions in medicine, operational safety, and tasks otherwise difficult for humans to do without high cost, time, or damage considerations. For example, tubing styled after octopus tentacles could maneuver throughout the body during a surgery, minimizing its invasiveness. One could also imagine a search and rescue soft bot pushing through crevices in rubble to find victims of natural disasters.
Combined with advancements in sensor technologies, we could also see fleshy robots that look, feel, and have a sense of touch like ours. On the plus side, robot hugs might actually feel genuine, and robotic workers could operate in outside environments that lack the precision their rigid counterparts need to function properly. Unfortunately, the down sides are plentiful, and movie studios worldwide have entertained us with numerous cyborg dystopias already.
Watch the below video to see the soft valve in action:
Tesla has made two big interior changes to several Model Y vehicles in its lineup, and the changes come just as the new model year begins production.
Last year, Tesla launched the Model Y Standard, which separated the previous models into the “Premium” category. The Standard vehicles lack several features, including more premium interior materials, acoustic-lined glass, and storage.
@teslarati There are some BIG differences between the Tesla Model Y Standard and Tesla Model Y Premium #tesla #teslamodely ♬ Sia – Xeptemper
The Model Y “Premium” trims are now getting several new upgrades, which come after the company launched a seven-seat configuration of the vehicle last night in the North American market for an upcharge of $2,500.
The new Model Y seven-seat configuration did not come with just an additional row of seating; it also came with a slew of other goodies that now come standard and were previously only available on the Model Y Performance, which was launched late last year.
All Black Headliner
The new Tesla Model Y Premium trims will now come standard with a black headliner, something that many owners have been requesting for some time.
The previous grey headliner and trim within the vehicle is now gone; it will be all black on all of the Premium trims from here on out, a welcome change:
Credit: Tesla
Larger and Higher Resolution Center Touchscreen
The center touchscreen in the new Model Y Premium configuration is now larger and has a higher resolution than the previous version.
In last year’s Model Y configurations (apart from the Performance), the center touchscreen was 15.4″. Now, Tesla has decided to go with the 16″ version across all Premium trims, which is a nice step up. It was nice to see this in the Performance, but it is really great to see Tesla include this in the Model Y’s more Premium trim levels.
Tesla Model Y Seven Seater
Tesla launched the latest iteration of the seven-seater for the Model Y on Monday night. Traditionally, the Model Y seats five passengers in total, but there were calls for a more spacious version several years ago.
Tesla released it, but it was extremely tight in the back, basically reserving those back seats for only small people or children.
Credit: Tesla
The new configuration looks to be slightly more spacious in the third row, but not as much space as most would require or want. Instead,
Elon Musk
Lufthansa Group to equip Starlink on its 850-aircraft fleet
Under the collaboration, Lufthansa Group will install Starlink technology on both its existing fleet and all newly delivered aircraft, as noted by the group in a press release.
Lufthansa Group has announced a partnership with Starlink that will bring high-speed internet connectivity to every aircraft across all its carriers.
This means that aircraft across the group’s brands, from Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines to Brussels Airlines, would be able to enjoy high-speed internet access using the industry-leading satellite internet solution.
Starlink in-flight internet
Under the collaboration, Lufthansa Group will install Starlink technology on both its existing fleet and all newly delivered aircraft, as noted by the group in a press release.
Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites are expected to provide significantly higher bandwidth and lower latency than traditional in-flight Wi-Fi, which should enable streaming, online work, and other data-intensive applications for passengers during flights.
Starlink-powered internet is expected to be available on the first commercial flights as early as the second half of 2026. The rollout will continue through the decade, with the entire Lufthansa Group fleet scheduled to be fully equipped with Starlink by 2029. Once complete, no other European airline group will operate more Starlink-connected aircraft.
Free high-speed access
As part of the initiative, Lufthansa Group will offer the new high-speed internet free of charge to all status customers and Travel ID users, regardless of cabin class. Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx shared his expectations for the program.
“In our anniversary year, in which we are celebrating Lufthansa’s 100th birthday, we have decided to introduce a new high-speed internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group is taking the next step and setting an essential milestone for the premium travel experience of our customers.
“Connectivity on board plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers,” Vranckx said.
Elon Musk
Tesla locks in Elon Musk’s top problem solver as it enters its most ambitious era
The generous equity award was disclosed by the electric vehicle maker in a recent regulatory filing.
Tesla has granted Senior Vice President of Automotive Tom Zhu more than 520,000 stock options, tying a significant portion of his compensation to the company’s long-term performance.
The generous equity award was disclosed by the electric vehicle maker in a recent regulatory filing.
Tesla secures top talent
According to a Form 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Tom Zhu received 520,021 stock options with an exercise price of $435.80 per share. Since the award will not fully vest until March 5, 2031, Zhu must remain at Tesla for more than five years to realize the award’s full benefit.
Considering that Tesla shares are currently trading at around the $445 to $450 per share level, Zhu will really only see gains in his equity award if Tesla’s stock price sees a notable rise over the years, as noted in a Sina Finance report.
Still, even at today’s prices, Zhu’s stock award is already worth over $230 million. If Tesla reaches the market cap targets set forth in Elon Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award, Zhu would become a billionaire from this equity award alone.
Tesla’s problem solver
Zhu joined Tesla in April 2014 and initially led the company’s Supercharger rollout in China. Later that year, he assumed the leadership of Tesla’s China business, where he played a central role in Tesla’s localization efforts, including expanding retail and service networks, and later, overseeing the development of Gigafactory Shanghai.
Zhu’s efforts helped transform China into one of Tesla’s most important markets and production hubs. In 2023, Tesla promoted Zhu to Senior Vice President of Automotive, placing him among the company’s core global executives and expanding his influence beyond China. He has since garnered a reputation as the company’s problem solver, being tapped by Elon Musk to help ramp Giga Texas’s vehicle production.
With this in mind, Tesla’s recent filing seems to suggest that the company is locking in its top talent as it enters its newest, most ambitious era to date. As could be seen in the targets of Elon Musk’s 2025 pay package, Tesla is now aiming to be the world’s largest company by market cap, and it is aiming to achieve production levels that are unheard of. Zhu’s talents would definitely be of use in this stage of the company’s growth.
Tesla makes two big interior changes to several Model Y vehicles
Lufthansa Group to equip Starlink on its 850-aircraft fleet
