In the context of visual perception, the optical signal from a scene is transferred into the electronic domain by detectors in the form of image data, which are then processed for the extraction of visual information. In noisy and weak-signal environments such as thermal imaging for night vision applications, however, the performance of neural computing tasks faces a significant bottleneck due to the inherent degradation of data quality upon noisy detection. Here, we propose a concept of optical signal processing before detection to address this issue. We demonstrate that spatially redistributing optical signals through a properly designed linear transformer can enhance the detection noise resilience of visual perception tasks, as benchmarked with the MNIST classification. Our idea is supported by a quantitative analysis detailing the relationship between signal concentration and noise robustness, as well as its practical implementation in an incoherent imaging system. This compute-first detection scheme can pave the way for advancing infrared machine vision technologies widely used for industrial and defense applications.

Honeybees use a classy dance to inform their sisters in regards to the location of close by flowers. This phenomenon varieties the inspiration for a type of robot-robot communication that doesn't depend on digital networks. A current research presents a easy approach whereby robots view and interpret one another's actions or a gesture from a human to speak a geographical location. This method may show invaluable when community protection is unreliable or absent, similar to in catastrophe zones. The place are these flowers and the way far-off are they?

Honeybees use a sophisticated dance to tell their sisters about the location of nearby flowers. This phenomenon forms the inspiration for a form of robot-robot communication that does not rely on digital networks. A recent study presents a simple technique whereby robots view and interpret each other's movements or a gesture from a human to communicate a geographical location. This approach could prove invaluable when network coverage is unreliable or absent, such as in disaster zones. Where are those flowers and how far away are they?

As you leave for work, your car accesses your phone calendar to determine the destination you're headed for and already knows the shortest and fastest route to take. In case you encounter heavy traffic, the car automatically notifies your office that you are running late! While this might seem like a clip from a futuristic movie, scenarios like these are already taking shape. Enter the world of Internet of Things, popularly referred to as IoT. So far the internet had mostly connected people to information, people to people, and people to business.

Some interesting M&A is afoot in the world of hardware and software that's aiming to improve the quality of audio and video communications over digital networks. GN Group -- the Danish company that broke new ground in mobile when it inked deals first with Apple and then Google to stream audio from their phones directly to smart, connected hearing aids -- is expanding from audio to video, and from Europe to Silicon Valley. Today, the company announced that it would acquire Altia Systems, a startup out of Cupertino that makes a "surround" videoconferencing device and software called the PanaCast (we reviewed it once) designed to replicate the panoramic, immersive experience of vision that we have as humans. GN is paying $125 million for the startup. For some context, this price represents a decent return: according to PitchBook, Altia was last valued at around $78 million with investors including Intel Capital and others.

En route to a recent conference on how procurement networks are reshaping the aviation industry, I realized how amazing it was to be arriving in the historic city of Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. My enthusiasm owes not only to the city's timeless beauty, though that's reason enough to visit. Athens, it turns out, is ideally suited for such a gathering because it holds a unique place in the imagination for all of us who've ever wanted to fly. When you're fortunate enough to have as many Greek family members as I do, you learn about the ancient legends. So the fable of Icarus is well known to me.