A new level of artificial touch
Imagine being able to control a bionic limb with just your thoughts.?
Thanks to groundbreaking research, volunteers with spinal cord injuries have done just that. Using a brain-computer interface (BCI), the participants moved and manipulated a new bionic hand using only their thoughts.?
To make this possible, researchers implanted sensors in the sensory and motor regions of the brain that control the hands and arms. The sensors relayed information like motion, curvature, and orientation straight to the brain.?
The result? The volunteers could feel and respond to what they touched, allowing them to perform tasks more accurately and even experience a sense of natural touch.
“In this work, for the first time, we conveyed tactile sensations related to orientation, curvature, motion, and 3D shapes for a participant using a brain-controlled bionic limb,” explained Giacomo Valle, a bionics researcher at Chalmers University of Technology.?
Over in the maritime sphere, researchers are also making robots smarter and more sensitive to their surroundings.?
A team at UCLA has developed a waterproof artificial skin that can detect the direction, amplitude, and shape of vibrations, while an artificial skin is being used to help a robot recognise the difference between inanimate objects and living sea creatures as it operates underwater to pick up things.?
Marine resources are challenging to access due to factors like hypoxia, corrosion, and the high-pressure environment of the ocean. According to Jun Chen, the leader of UCLA's Wearable Bioelectronics Research Group, UCLA’s newly developed haptic sensing system represents significant progress toward enabling safer and more sustainable exploration of these resources.?
If you’re curious to learn more about robotics and advanced technologies in maritime, check out Thetius’ free articles and research here.
LATEST NEWS
In shipping and maritime news this week, HD Hyundai Marine Solutions’ artificial intelligence-based route optimisation system, OceanWise, will be deployed for the first time on vessels operated by South Korean shipping companies, SK Shipping and Hyundai Glovis.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has acquired 72% of the shares of its equity method affiliate Gearbulk Holding, a Swiss shipping company. The transaction took place on 20 January 2025. The Japanese shipping company has had a 34-year collaboration with Gearbulk, beginning with its equity investment in 1991.
BASS Software has launched BASSnet Web 3.0, a new web solution designed to transform ship management operations.?
Capital Group has developed what it claims to be Europe’s first Extended Reality (XR) Full Mission Bridge simulator. This will be housed at its new training facility at the port of Chios Island, Greece, slated to open in 2025. The company worked in partnership with FORCE Technology to develop the system, with the aim of improving seafarers’ skills through the integration of new training technologies such as XR headsets.
Shippeo has announced a $30 million strategic funding round led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, with participation from existing investors.
The Klaip?da State Seaport Authority has commissioned the move of the first ever green hydrogen and electricity-powered ship in Lithuania from a shipyard into the water.
If you would like to stay on top of the latest maritime headlines, check out Thetius IQ. It’s a one-stop shop for all maritime news, research, and in-depth articles, and features a comprehensive organisation database.
The latest insight from the Thetius team
Free report:? The Great Divide: Closing the communication chasm between terminals and shippers
In the fast-paced world of global logistics, the ability to track and share cargo status information is critical. Yet, despite technological advancements, shippers and Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs) often experience a lack of transparency once their cargo reaches marine terminals. This communication gap explored in our latest research, has been described as “The Great Divide,” and it remains a significant challenge for the industry today.
Our latest thought leadership report commissioned by Kaleris explores some of the factors behind this visibility disconnect and its impact on the wider supply chain efficiency. By examining the interplay between technology, incentives, and the value of collaboration, it provides actionable insights to help bridge this divide and foster a more transparent logistics ecosystem.
领英推荐
Are you joining us for our next webinar??
We are just days away from launching our second thought leadership of 2025 created in partnership with?Danelec.
To support this launch, we are hosting a webinar to discuss the main research findings and share our recommendations to the industry. Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, 29th January, from 3 pm to 4 pm (GMT).
We'll explore how to overcome barriers to digital adoption and harness the transformative power of High-Frequency Data (HFD) to enhance maritime safety and performance. The event will also feature the release of our collaborative report,?From Data to Action: Unlocking the Value of HFD to Enhance Safety and Achieve Ship Performance.
New articles released since the last edition of The Brief
Exploring the opportunities for safer navigation that the S-100 framework brings
S-100 marks a new era in navigation, accommodating a wider range of hydrographic digital data sources, products, and users. This article explores how S-100 will help to overcome some of the navigational challenges outlined previously. The areas discussed below are a snapshot of some of the benefits that S-100 is expected to deliver.?
For further insight into the areas highlighted in this article, download our latest thought leadership report, ‘New Waters’, created in partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office.?You can download a copy of the full report here.?
Recommendations for successful digital transformation in maritime
Every business is different and our report, The Benchmark: Measuring the Progress of Digital Transformation in Ship Operations, intends to highlight one thing in particular: the most critical part of any digital transformation is the customised ideation process. Identifying individual use cases and building solutions that account for the budget, resources, and expertise available to the business is vital and serves as a reminder that one size does not fit all.?
To learn more about measuring digital maturity and transforming information, read our thought leadership report, produced in collaboration with?Lloyd’s Register,?The Benchmark: Measuring the Progress of Digital Transformation in Ship Operations.?This report provides a deep dive into the journey towards digital maturity for maritime businesses.?You can download a copy here.?
The Role of Terminal Operating Systems in Driving Efficiency and Cost Reduction
Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) can drive cost efficiencies through vessel and berth management. Instead of manually allocating berths, a TOS enables the terminal operator to receive the vessel plan from the ship operator before it arrives. Real-time data from various sources, such as AIS and cargo information, is integrated to automatically schedule, assign and adjust berths based on continuous feedback.
For a more detailed understanding and exploration of the topics covered in this article, refer to our report, commissioned by?Kaleris.?Gateways of Tomorrow: Exploring the business value of digital transformation for general cargo terminals.
Subscribers to the Thetius Intelligence Platform can access all of our reports and content here.
If you are not subscribed and would like to find out more about our research and reports, request a callback with our team.