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Can Pepper the robot be a good playmate?
Pepper the friendly, humanoid robot both looks and behaves much like a human being. But is that enough?
This technology makes it possible to be a seafarer—on land
Uncrewed vessels that navigate themselves and notify operators when they need support from shore-based navigators. However, such ships also require an international regulatory framework. Now, the first version is in place, largely thanks to Norwegian research.
Propelling the world’s giant ships into the future with new sail systems
Modern sails on large ships are becoming increasingly common to save fuel – and also the climate. Now a research team is looking at how to maximize their benefits, and that turns out to be more complicated than anticipated.
Offshore wind: How to lift thousands of tonnes – without a crane
The substructures for fixed offshore wind turbines weigh thousands of tonnes. If you are planning to install them at sea, only about five vessels in the world can lift that much weight. So now researchers are testing a completely new alternative.
Boycott unethical AI companies – and do it now!
In light of recent events, it is time for consumers to start wielding their power to influence the AI giants. Replace ChatGPT with Claude, and do not use the Microsoft Copilot chatbot.
An autonomous “flying” boat
This past winter, people in Trondheim have caught glimpses of a boat that seems to fly over the water out on the fjord. Many have also taken part in test trips. NTNU researchers have investigated what it will take for people to trust a boat that runs almost without a crew on board.
A new “plug and play solution” enables offshore charging for electric ships at sea
Connecting ships to charging stations is a bit of a hassle when you are out at sea. But with a new magnetic charging plug for boats – it is about as easy as putting a cup in a cup holder.
Express ferries: from climate culprits to green champions
High-speed passenger vessels with diesel engines are currently the least environmentally friendly form of passenger transport – but they do not have to be.
Decommissioning old wind turbines generates thousands of tons of new waste
By 2040, up to 20,000 wind turbine blades could be landfilled or incinerated simply because we lack good ways to process them sustainably.
Can Europe create artificial intelligence that we actually understand?
Artificial intelligence is currently controlled by a number of tech giants in the United States and China. One professor believes Europe can choose to take a smarter and more democratic path.
About to emerge: One of the world’s most advanced laboratories
Concrete has never had to meet such high standards. Deviations cannot exceed millimetre level. Even the curvature of the Earth must be taken into account in building the world’s most advanced laboratories.
Helping resolve quantum computers’ memory problem
A major problem with quantum computers is memory, as the information they contain can be quickly lost. We can now see how fast this happens, and much more precisely than before.
Crashing into new railings to test the strength of old bridges
More than 4000 ageing bridges in Norway need to be secured with new railings. NTNU researchers are now crash testing new railings to see if it is safe to install them directly on to the old bridges.
Swapping batteries for hydrogen gives drones a whole new range
Researchers have built a drone that runs on hydrogen. This technology will enable us to fix power outages faster and replace dangerous helicopter missions with the new drones.
A microphone that can sort sounds and measure noise could be coming to a construction site near you
A new AI-based sound metre can distinguish between excavators and seagulls. This is not that easy for artificial intelligence to understand.
A green solution to replace the use of superpotent greenhouse gas
Many large circuit breakers are filled with sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) – a greenhouse gas that is 24 300 times more powerful than CO₂. But an ingenious Norwegian solution could offer us a climate-friendly alternative.
Open-source software can increase security – but a long-term approach is required
The security policy landscape has changed. We are at increasing risk because we are so dependent on large US technology companies.
Here’s why seafarers have little confidence in autonomous ships
Despite its long history as a maritime nation, Norway is struggling to recruit enough seafarers. Increased automation and autonomous ships have been hailed as a solution to this crisis, but seafarers themselves are concerned about safety. A recent study shows that there are 12 specific reasons why confidence in automation is low.
Here’s why you need to charge your EV more often in the cold
When the temperature drops to -20°C, we electric car owners quickly notice it on our wallets. But is it just a matter of driving with the heat on full blast? And what can we do to save the battery as much as possible?
New findings could help develop computers that resemble your brain
Why on earth should you care that physicists have now filmed skyrmion lattices melting? Well, there are actually some very good reasons why.
This special solar cell system produces both electricity and heat
Researchers have developed a solar cell system that uses mirrors to concentrate solar energy. In addition to electricity, it produces heat for a plant that will capture carbon from industrial emissions.
A solution that could reduce aviation emissions by up to 30 percent
Hybrid cars have been successful. Now the aviation industry is following suit and testing out the combination of electricity and fuel.
Betting on floating ports
Building a port on land takes time. On water, the job can be done quickly. Hagbart Skage Alsos and his research colleagues at SINTEF are investigating how to build floating ports.