AI Unlocks Cosmic Secrets and Powers Next-Gen Robotics

Jan 28, 2026

NASA’s Juno Measures Thickness of Europa’s Ice Shell

NASA’s Juno mission has provided the first direct measurement of the ice shell encasing Jupiter’s moon Europa, estimating it to be approximately 18 miles thick. Using the spacecraft’s Microwave Radiometer, scientists determined the shell's structure and identified irregularities like cracks and pores extending hundreds of feet deep. This finding helps researchers understand the moon's internal workings and its potential to support life in the subsurface saltwater ocean. The data provides critical context for upcoming missions like NASA’s Europa Clipper and ESA’s Juice. Understanding the ice thickness is essential for determining how nutrients might travel from the surface to the ocean below.

AI Unlocks Hundreds of Cosmic Anomalies in Hubble Archive

Astronomers have utilized a new AI tool called AnomalyMatch to discover over 1,300 rare astronomical objects within 35 years of archived Hubble Space Telescope data. The AI-assisted technique identified more than 800 previously undocumented anomalies, including interacting galaxies, gravitational lenses, and jellyfish galaxies, in just two and a half days. This systematic search demonstrates how machine learning can significantly enhance the scientific return of massive archival datasets that are too large for manual review. The tool mimics human visual processing to recognize unusual patterns that might otherwise be overlooked by traditional methods. This advancement paves the way for analyzing even larger datasets from future missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

Richtech Robotics Collaborates with Microsoft to Advance Agentic AI

Richtech Robotics has announced a collaboration with Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Labs to integrate agentic artificial intelligence into its ADAM robot. The partnership leverages Azure AI to enhance the robot's vision, voice, and autonomous reasoning capabilities for real-world commercial applications. By incorporating environmental signals like time of day and weather, the ADAM robot can now perform more contextual and natural interactions with customers. This development aims to improve operational efficiency and service quality in retail, hospitality, and manufacturing settings. The collaboration highlights a growing trend of combining physical robotics with cloud-based AI models to create more intelligent and adaptive automation solutions.

Apera AI Accelerates 4D Vision Deployments with Apera Vue 9.52

Apera AI has launched Apera Vue 9.52 and upgraded its Apera Forge platform to significantly speed up the deployment of 4D Vision-guided robotics. The new release features Programmable Autopilot for multi-step collision-free path planning and a 4X acceleration in AI training speed, reducing asset training time to as little as six hours. These enhancements provide manufacturers with greater control over robotic motion and deeper diagnostic insights into performance. By bridging the gap between advanced AI and the factory floor, Apera AI aims to increase uptime and reliability for industrial automation. The update also includes new tools for TCP visualization and range finding to optimize complex picking tasks in unstructured environments.

LightIC Technologies Announces New FMCW LiDAR for Automotive and Robotics

LightIC Technologies has partnered with indie Semiconductor to launch a new Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR architecture that significantly reduces power consumption and cost. The integration of indie’s iND83301 SoC has resulted in an 80% reduction in power use and a 40% decrease in the overall size of the LiDAR system. This breakthrough enables the commercialization of high-performance sensing for automotive, robotics, and humanoid applications. LightIC also introduced the FR60, the world's smallest FMCW LiDAR, which is approximately the size of a tennis ball and designed for physical AI. The new technology offers superior range and sunlight immunity, meeting critical OEM requirements for global deployment.

Agri Spray Drones and WinField United Partner to Advance Drone-Based Crop Application

Agri Spray Drones and WinField United have entered a co-marketing agreement to accelerate the adoption of drone-based applications in U.S. agriculture. The partnership combines ASD’s spray drone systems with WinField United’s agronomic expertise and adjuvant products to improve crop protection and nutrition. Both companies will collaborate on coordinated training, field demonstrations, and research to generate data-driven insights for drone operators and ag retailers. This initiative aims to provide growers with more flexible and precise aerial application solutions that enhance efficiency and consistency. By integrating drone technology with proven crop input resources, the collaboration supports the growing demand for modern, scalable farming tools.

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