By Laure-Anne Pessina and Nicola Nosengo Scientists at EPFL have developed a tiny pump that could play a big role in the development of autonomous soft robots, lightweight exoskeletons and smart clothing. Flexible, silent and weighing only one gram, it is poised to replace the rigid, noisy and bulky pumps currently used. The scientists' work has just been published in Nature. Soft robots have a distinct advantage over their rigid forebears: they can adapt to complex environments, handle fragile objects and interact safely with humans. Made from silicone, rubber or other stretchable polymers, they are ideal for use in rehabilitation exoskeletons – such as the ones being developed in the NCCR Robotics "Wearable Robotics" research line – and robotic clothing.

Stationarity is an important concept in time series analysis. For a concise (but thorough) introduction to the topic, and the reasons that make it important, take a look at my previous blog post on the topic. As such, the ability to determine if a time series is stationary is important. Rather than deciding between two strict options, this usually means being able to ascertain, with high probability, that a series is generated by a stationary process. In this brief post, I will cover several ways to do just that.

It may not look like much -- more cute toy than futuristic marvel -- but this robot is at the center of an experiment in France to change care for elderly patients. When Zora arrived at this nursing facility an hour outside Paris, a strange thing began happening: Many patients developed an emotional attachment, treating it like a baby, holding and cooing, giving it kisses on the head. Zora, which can cost up to $18,000, offered companionship in a place where life can be lonely. Families can visit only so much, and staff members are stretched. Patients at the hospital, called Jouarre, have dementia and other conditions that require round-the-clock care.

When it comes to the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions, artificial intelligence is superior to humans. In a study conducted under the supervision of the MedUni Vienna human experts "competed" against computer algorithms. The algorithms achieved clearly better results, yet their current abilities cannot replace humans. The results were published in the journal The Lancet Oncology. The International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) and the MedUni Vienna organized an international challenge to compare the diagnostic skills of 511 physicians with 139 computer algorithms (from 77 different machine learnings labs).

When it comes to the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions, artificial intelligence is superior to humans. In a study conducted under the supervision of the MedUni Vienna human experts "competed" against computer algorithms. The algorithms achieved clearly better results, yet their current abilities cannot replace humans. The results were published in the journal The Lancet Oncology. The International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) and the MedUni Vienna organized an international challenge to compare the diagnostic skills of 511 physicians with 139 computer algorithms (from 77 different machine learnings labs).

Even the most experienced doctors can't catch every tiny polyp during an endoscopy, a screening of the digestive system. But even in routine exams, the stakes are high -- missing an early warning sign of cancer can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, lowering a patient's chances for recovery. To cut down on the rate of missed precancerous lesions, one Japanese endoscopist is turning to AI. His startup, AIM (short for AI Medical Service), is building a GPU-powered AI system that will analyze endoscopy video feeds in real time, spotting lesions and helping doctors identify which are cancerous or at risk of becoming so. AI screening could also help clinicians manage a demanding workload: Japanese endoscopists must check more than 3,000 medical images a day, on average.

SAN FRANCISCO – When Liz O'Sullivan was hired at the New York City-based artificial intelligence company Clarifai in 2017, she felt lucky to find work at the intersection of two of her main interests: technology and ethics. Two years later, she found herself facing a moral dilemma. Clarifai was developing aerial photography and object detection tools as one of several companies working on Project Maven, a Pentagon drone surveillance program. After several conversations with friends and colleagues, O'Sullivan realized this type of technology eventually could be used for autonomous weapons. In January, she wrote to Clarifai CEO Matt Zeiler on behalf of a group of employees, seeking clarification on whether the technology would be used to create weapons and asking him to commit to a series of ethical measures.

BAGHDAD – Two paramilitary fighters were killed on Sunday in an unclaimed drone attack near Iraq's western border with Syria, the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi force said in a statement. The deaths come after a month of mysterious blasts at Hashed al-Shaabi arms depots and training camps that some of the force's top officials blamed on the U.S. "Two unidentified drones targeted a Brigade 45 position belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi in the Anbar district, 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraqi-Syrian border," the statement said. The attack "killed two fighters from the unit, wounded another and burned two vehicles," it added. The statement did not accuse any particular force and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Hashed was established from disparate armed groups and volunteers who united to fight back the Islamic State group's sweep across a third of Iraq in 2014.

NEW YORK – From the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia to the crowded neighborhoods of Beirut, a drone war has taken flight across the wider Middle East, raising the stakes in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. In the year since President Donald Trump withdrew America from Iran's nuclear deal, there's been an increasing tempo of attacks and alleged threats from unmanned aircraft flown by Tehran's and Washington's allies in the region. The appeal of the aircraft -- they risk no pilots and can be small enough to evade air-defense systems -- fueled their rapid use amid the maximum pressure campaigns of Iran and the U.S. As these strikes become more frequent, the risk of unwanted escalation becomes greater. The U.S. military nearly launched airstrikes against Iran after a U.S. military surveillance drone was shot down in June. Meanwhile, Israeli fighter jets attack targets in Syria on an almost weekly basis, including on Saturday night.

After gaining the highest amount of venture funding in 2014, the healthcare industry became a viable target for startups. The US healthcare system is now worth $3,504 trillion and the industry is opening up hundreds of new opportunities for entrepreneurs. Right now, every healthcare practitioner is utilizing at least one mHealth application or medical tracking device to perform his or her duties faster and more efficiently. It won't be long until older technologies for patient monitoring and data gathering are replaced by healthcare apps with AI and machine learning functions. As they say, starting a business in the healthcare industry will require more preparation and bravery compared to venturing into other types of industries.