Dubai Police have revealed their first robot officer, giving it the task of patrolling the city’s malls and tourist attractions. People will be able to use it to report crimes, pay fines and get information by tapping a touchscreen on its chest.
Robots clean rivers and sort waste, monitor ecosystems, and inspect renewable-energy infrastructure. But even the greenest robot has an environmental footprint.
EPFL engineers have designed acoustic cavities that convert sound waves into thrust, propelling small robots and ultralight aerial vehicles without on-board actuators or electronics.