Earlier this week the Australian Research Council (ARC) awarded Monash University $4.8 million in funding to develop a new training centre for optimal ageing. The centre will focus on developing emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, digital health apps, and sensors to improve and maintain overall quality of life among the elderly. Students and academics from engineering, health, data and information technology faculties will work in partnership with industry partners and community organisations. "Our approach is to shift from a reactive to a proactive model of ageing, from the diagnosis and treatment of isolated diseases of ageing to a more complete, preventative and consumer-empowered system," said training centre director, associate professor Yen Ying Lim. Digital innovation has been recognised as a leading solution to address the needs of the growing ageing population.

He might look like an extra member of Daft Punk, but Russia's robot humanoid is set to be joining astronauts aboard the International Space Station as early as next year. Scientists at the Gagarin Cosmonauts' Training Centre in Star City Centre, just outside Moscow, have shown off their creation, called SAR-401. Russia is working on its own version of Nasa's Robonaut, which is already lending a hand on the International Space Station – so the two robots might work together in the future. Russia's SAR-401robot humanoid could be joining astronauts aboard the International Space Station as early as next year A slightly earlier model called SAR-400 is scheduled to be blasted into space in 2014. Russia's robonaut is similar to Nasa's as it is not designed to be completely autonomous but is operated remotely from the ground, Spectrum reported.