Important Innovations

Controlled by "Magnetic Tweezers" Source:  University of Toronto's Magnetic Tweezers Controlling New Nanobot Bot 100 Times Smaller Than Width of Human Hair This medical breakthrough is from a team of roboticists at the University of Toronto.  They've developed a tiny, magnetic nanobot - a nano-bead - that can explore inside a human cell. The  nanobot is precisely controlled by what the team calls "magnetic tweezers" while inside a living human cell.  The control is 3 dimensional and the precision is unprecedented. The nanobot is 100 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Great Potential The technology has already been used to study the properties and structure of cancer cells.  It may lead to new treatment methods and diagnoses.  The magnetic control through the tweezers enables the nanobot to make much more precise movements without damaging the cells. Twenty Year Robotic Journey Members of the U Toronto team have been building robots t

CO² into Plastic with No Greenhouse Gas Emissions Source:  Stock Image - Green Plastic University of Toronto Green Research University of Toronto scientists have created a copper catalyst that converts CO² into ethylene to produce plastic.  There are no greenhouse gases, such as methane, output and emissions.  This new technique could lead to the green production of commonly used plastics along with sequestering greenhouse gas through carbon capture technology. How It Works - The "Magic Metal" At the heart of the process is the CO² reduction reaction.  An electrical current converts CO² into other chemicals.  The chemical reaction is triggered by a catalyst composed of copper. Copper is the key to this.  Scientists call it the "magic metal".  Only copper can produce ethylene which is used to produce the most common form of plastic - polyethylene plastic. "Green" Plastic Future This is a promising, new, green and sustainable way to make plastic.

VirtualHome AI System Virtual Agent in VirtualHome A new VirtualHome Artificial Intelligence system has been developed to help household robots complete their household chores.  Scientists from the University of Toronto and MIT have developed "VirtualHome".  The AI system has virtual agents completing simple household tasks in a simulated environment like a video game. It's the AI-robotic version of the British comedy Bertie and Jeeves and is paving the way for robots to take care of your home. Coffee Please, Jeeves They're training the system using nearly 3000 programs of tasks and interactions such as making coffee along with getting the cup to put it in.  The system's AI agent can complete 1000 different tasks and interactions in 8 different locations ranging from the kitchen to home office.  The very detailed programs the team is developing can instruct robots to perform the tasks. Step-by-Step, Methodical Proces s To accomplish this, the team fir