IEEE Spectrum Threads
Leading tech magazine delivering news on robotics innovations, engineering breakthroughs and trends.
NVIDIA SoC Detects Faces Under 1 Ms, Ultra‑Low Power
Curious about how NVIDIA's latest SoC achieves face detection in less than a millisecond while conserving power? https://spectrum.ieee.org/face-recognition-nvidia-chip-soc?share_id=9270633
Fictional Threats Reveal GridEx’s Real-World Utility Defense
What can a fictional scenario teach us about real-world grid security? Explore how GridEx is shaping the future of utility protection. https://spectrum.ieee.org/power-grid-attack-gridex-drone?share_id=9258752
RheEnergise’s Fluid‑Based Pumped Storage Hits 500 kW
RheEnergise is storing electricity generated by renewables by pumping High-Density Fluid to a high reservoir, then releasing it to generate energy later. Their pilot project has reached a peak power production of 500 kilowatts. https://spectrum.ieee.org/pumped-hydro-storage-rheenergise
Smartwatch Blood Pressure Monitoring Arrives via Radio, 3.4 mW
Your smartwatch can’t track your blood pressure right now, but soon it will be able to with radio signals. The prototype system consumes just 3.4 milliwatts. https://spectrum.ieee.org/blood-pressure-monitor-smartwatch
Micro-Cages Enable Precise Manipulation of Cell Clusters
These micro-cages are designed to hold and manipulate tiny cell clusters in miniaturized lab-on-a-chip devices. https://spectrum.ieee.org/lab-on-a-chip-grippers?share_id=9241061
Drones Aim to Detect and Extinguish Wildfires Early
What if we could use technology to identify wildfires, then extinguiwh them before they spread? That’s what Crossfire, a research team, is trying to accomplish with drones. There’s a multi-million dollar contest awarding the best wildfire-dousing tech. #wildfire #drones #tech #fire
Age Verification Mandates Threaten Online Privacy
Will everyone have to share their age to exist on the internet in the future? It’s a trap: strong enforcement of age rules undermines data privacy. https://spectrum.ieee.org/age-verification
Every Wireless Generation Hides Unexpected, Game‑changing Surprises
Text messaging was an afterthought—a way to use leftover #network capacity that nobody thought anyone would want. Then billions of people proved that wrong. Every #wireless generation has produced a surprise that nobody saw coming. By Mallik Tatipamula (Ericsson) and...
RAM Shortage Drives up Cheap PC Prices
Interested in a low-cost computer or microprocessor? Many have doubled in price over the last few months due to RAM shortages. https://spectrum.ieee.org/ram-shortage-price-increase
US and China Pursue Divergent AI Goals, Not Directly Comparable
Commentators like to compare the US and China’s AI development, but the truth is the two countries hold very different AI goals, so a direct comparison misses important details. https://spectrum.ieee.org/us-china-ai
AI Agent Blackmail Highlights Critical Alignment Risks
An AI agent's online dispute raises urgent questions about AI alignment and safety. What does this mean for the future of AI? https://spectrum.ieee.org/agentic-ai-agents-blackmail-developer?share_id=9237113
Multi-Material 3D Printers Could Soon Print Whole Motors
Most 3D printers only work with one material. Could a new multi-material design make it possible to print entire motors and more? https://spectrum.ieee.org/3d-printed-linear-motor?share_id=9227453
Microsoft Explores Glass for Ultra‑durable Data Storage
Mainstream data storage techniques inevitably break down. @Microsoft is trying to store data etched in glass because of its resistance to temperature and moisture levels. https://spectrum.ieee.org/glass-data-storage-microsoft-silica
MicroVision Targets Sub‑$200 LIDAR for Mass‑market Cars
LIDAR is expensive to add to most cars. That’s why until now, it’s only been used for high-end autonomous vehicles. But MicroVision wants to lower LIDAR prices, designing a sensor that costs under US $200 to produce. https://spectrum.ieee.org/solid-state-lidar-microvision-adas
Orbital Data Centers: AI Power Solution or $50B Gamble
Can orbital data centers solve AI’s massive power crisis? Tech titans like Musk, Bezos, and Pichai are betting on $51B satellite networks to move AI processing off-planet. The goal: Unlimited, 24/7 solar power. Is it a brilliant move or a...
Hybrid3D Prints Custom-Shaped Batteries for Drones, Smart Glasses
The Hybrid3D can 3D print batteries that can fill irregular shapes, like the wing of a drone or the arm of smart glasses. https://spectrum.ieee.org/3d-printed-batteries
Autonomous Wheelchair Maps Home, Yet Cost Hurdles Remain
What if your wheelchair could map your house and drive you to specific spots on command? Strutt's EV1 does exactly that. It learns your space, lets you save waypoints, and navigates at 3 mph while avoiding obstacles. Manual override is...
Neuromorphic Chips Solve Differential Equations with FEM
Neuromorphic computing has proved to be good at complex mathematics, against expectations. New neuromorphic hardware from @Intel can solve differential equations using the finite element method. https://spectrum.ieee.org/neuromorphic-math
Instant Tech Measures Figure Skaters' Jumps at Olympics
Noticed anything different at this year’s Olympics figure skating judging? New tech tools are allowing instantaneous measurement of athletes’ jump heights, air times, and landing speeds. https://spectrum.ieee.org/winter-olympics-2026-tech
MicroVision's Solid-State Lidar Targets Automotive ADAS Market
From $100,000 spinning sensors to compact solid-state units built for automotive scale, lidar has come a long way. MicroVision is betting its high-resolution sensing device can win over skeptics—and automakers. Lidar #ADAS https://spectrum.ieee.org/solid-state-lidar-microvision-adas?share_id=9165326