Image by user6702303, from Freepik
Robots That “Feel” With Sound Could Aid Farm Work
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Scientists have created a robotic sensing system which enables machines to detect touch through sound waves instead of sight or pressure.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- It works even in visually blocked or rough environments like dense farms.
- The system localizes touch with less than 0.5 cm error.
- It’s more durable and cheaper than camera or pressure-based sensors.
The system, called SonicBoom , uses sound to detect where and what a robot arm is touching, as first reported by Spectrum . The researchers note that this technology shows particular promise for agricultural applications, where robots typically struggle navigating through vines and bushes.
Many robots today depend on tiny camera-based tactile sensors, explains Moonyoung (Mark) Lee, a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University and co-developer of the system.
These sensors detect touch by looking at how a gel pad deforms, but they can be easily blocked by leaves or damaged in rugged farm environments, as reported by Spectrum. Pressure sensors are another option, but they would have to cover the entire robot to be useful, making them costly and fragile.
SonicBoom works differently. The system contains several tiny microphones embedded in the robot arm which detect the vibrations that occur when the robot makes contact with objects. By analyzing tiny differences in the signals, the system pinpoints where contact occurred—with remarkable precision.
In lab tests, SonicBoom achieved touch detection with an error of less than half a centimeter. The system maintained its performance when detecting new materials, such as plastic and aluminum, even though it had no prior training on these materials.
The researchers trained the system by tapping the robot over 18,000 times with a wooden stick. They’re now working on teaching SonicBoom to recognize what kind of object it touches, a leaf, a branch, or a tree trunk.
Lee noted that, “With SonicBoom, you can blindly tap around and know where the [contact happens], but at the end of the day, for the robot, the really important information is: Can I keep pushing, or am I hitting a strong trunk and should rethink how to move my arm?”
Lee added, that although promising, real-world farm tests are still to come
Image by Phạm Trần Hoàn Thịnh, from Unsplash
AI Is Driving A Surge In Sextortion Scams On Dating Apps
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Artificial intelligence is making it easier for scammers to run sextortion schemes on dating apps, raising urgent concerns for teens , students, and law enforcement officials.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Sextortion scams are rising sharply, especially among teens and students.
- Scammers pose as romantic interests using bots and fake profiles.
- Nearly 8,000 UK sextortion-related blackmail cases were logged in 2023
The practice of sextortion has existed for some time, but AI technology enables criminals to create more believable fake identities. This enables them to speed up victim contact, and produce artificial sexual content through deepfake technology, as reported by Vice .
The FBI defines sextortion as a method where criminals trick minors into sharing explicit photos before demanding additional images or money as payment to prevent the release of these pictures.
Criminals are now using AI-generated profiles to create fake romantic interests , often using deepfake photos and chatbots. The FBI warns that victims usually mistake the scammers for peers who offer romantic connections or gifts, but are instead being manipulated.
Student blackmail scams have increased significantly, according to the National Crime Agency. BBC data reports that the number of blackmail cases involving sextortion increased to 8,000 in 2023, while the total was only 23 in 2014.
BBC reports that Jim Winters, head of economic crime at Nationwide, advised young people not to stay silent: “Blackmail is one of the hardest things to face and it’s happening more often. It’s not easy but if something doesn’t feel right, speak up-”
Scammers now employ deepfake technology to superimpose victims’ facial images onto pornographic content, even though victims never shared explicit material. This new blackmail tactic eliminates the need for victims to share content before blackmail begins.
BBC suggests that a scam can be identified through repeated phrases in messages, flawless profile pictures, and unnatural dialogue patterns. Experts from the BPS suggest using reverse searches to verify suspicious images. However these methods become less effective when dealing with AI-generated content.
Experts emphasize the need for open dialogue, education, and updated prevention strategies, as limited research exists on how AI supports these crimes. These efforts are essential to protect the most vulnerable from digital threats.
