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Aiper Scuba V3 Pool Robot Review: Eye on the Prize

WIRED

Now outfitted with AI computer vision, Aiper's new pool cleaner can actively search for debris. AI vision helps to power excellent cleaning. Charging stand makes topping up the battery easy. Only spends 10 minutes at the waterline after each run before sinking. Cleanup can be a bit of a bear.


How BYD Got EV Chargers to Work Almost as Fast as Gas Pumps

WIRED

The Chinese automaker is racing ahead of global competitors--but don't expect to see those gains in the US anytime soon. Somehow, the whole thing got even faster. Earlier this month, Chinese automaker BYD announced that its Flash Chargers, first rolled out a year ago, can now charge some electric vehicle batteries from around 10 to 70 percent in five minutes, and from 10 to full in about nine. That's more than 600 miles of range in the time it takes to order a cappuccino and leave a nice tip. The new BYD chargers can add miles super quickly because they deliver up to 1,500 kilowatts (kW) per charge.


A very serious guide to buying your own humanoid robot butler

New Scientist

You can now buy a humanoid robot housekeeper for less than the price of a second-hand car. But before splashing out, there's something you need to know Science fiction is strewn with humanoid robots, from bad-tempered Bender in to cunning Ava in . And it has long seemed like that's the natural home for such robots - on the screen and in books. The idea of a walking, talking, functioning robot with two arms and two legs has appeared to be a distant dream. Last year, machines ran, boxed and even played football at China's World Humanoid Robot Games, albeit sometimes falling over in the process . Meanwhile, companies have been readying their own range of humanoids that promise to do something a bit more useful: help around the house .


Should You Leave Your Phone Charging Overnight?

WIRED

Should You Leave Your Phone Charging Overnight? It used to be common wisdom that leaving your phone charging overnight degrades the battery. But handset design has evolved to mitigate the harm caused by constant charging. You may have heard that leaving your smartphone charging overnight--either plugged in or atop a wireless charger --can damage your battery. But is it actually harmful or dangerous to do that?


iGarden M1 Pro Max 100 Review: A Sports Car for Your Pool

WIRED

Managed a perfect cleaning record, if you leave it in the water long enough. Basket is quite difficult to clean. Must be retrieved with a pole when finished. In an aquatic world dominated by robotic pool cleaners that mostly look identical, a company called iGarden has been that breath of fresh air you take after reaching the water's surface. The company's pool cleaners have always featured designs that feel inspired more by high-end automobiles than underwater janitors, and with the new M1 series, its gear is sportier than ever.


An Inside Look at Lego's New Tech-Packed Smart Brick

WIRED

Lego's next release is a digital brick loaded with sensors that add new layers of interactivity to its play sets. WIRED got exclusive access to the Lego labs where the Smart Brick was born. The secretive division of 237 staff based here and in London, Boston, and Singapore is dedicated to thinking up what comes next for the world's largest toy brand. In front of me, on a plain white table, is a batch of prototypes of Lego's new Smart Brick, the final version of which is a small, sensor-laden 2-by-4 black brick with a big brain. No outsider has seen these prototypes, all of which represent stages of a journey Lego has been charting over the past eight years. Lego hopes this innovation, which lands in stores March 1, will safeguard the future of its plastic empire. The diminutive proportions of the finished Smart Brick belie the fact that the thing is exceedingly clever. Inside is a tiny custom chip running bespoke software that can communicate with onboard sensors to monitor and react to motion, orientation, and magnetic fields. It's also likely no exaggeration that the Smart Brick could represent the most radical product Lego has produced since Jens Nygaard Knudsen, the company's former longtime chief designer, created the minifigure nearly 50 years ago.




Thomas Edison's failed rechargeable battery may get a second life

Popular Science

Technology Engineering Thomas Edison's failed rechargeable battery may get a second life The famed inventor's nickel-iron idea isn't suited for EVs, but it could help solar farms and data centers. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. A rechargeable battery based on technology pioneered by Thomas Edison may finally get its due. But while the famous inventor envisioned nickel-iron batteries powering the automobile industry over a century ago, researchers now believe the underlying concepts are more suited for renewable energy centers. According to a study published in the journal, a team including engineers from the University of California, Los Angeles have developed a prototype battery that recharges in seconds and withstands over 12,000 cycles of use--an equivalent to over 30 years of daily activity.


BotsLab 4-Cam W510 System review: This security package doesn't deliver

PCWorld

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. BotsLab 4-Cam W510 System review: This security package doesn't deliver Four 4K cameras, a base station with expandable local storage, and no subscription required, So, what's the catch? This four-camera system impresses with solid video quality and expandable local storage, but only when those cameras are in such close range that they probably won't provide full coverage of your property. Outfitting your home with outdoor security cameras can get complicated--and expensive--quickly. Anyone looking for a shortcut on both fronts might consider one of BotsLab's W510 kits, bundles consisting of up to six 4K outdoor pan/tilt security cameras, solar panels to keep each camera's battery topped off, and a base station with 32GB of onboard storage (expandable up to 16TB with a user-supplied 2.5 hard drive).