TOKYO — Construction sites in Japan are enjoying a wave of automation amid an increasing shortage of labourers, with the introduction of robots to do the heavy lifting and drones that fly from above and instantly collect data.
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.