Technology

Japan banks on 3D mapping deemed crucial for driverless cars

Technology companies are racing to develop ultra-precise digital maps that can guide self-driving cars within inches of where they should be — a hurdle the industry needs to clear if it hopes to deliver on its promise of widespread use of driverless

Boston Dynamics’ scary robot videos: Are they for real?

If you’ve ever watched a YouTube video of a Boston Dynamics robot, you probably remember it. But you may not know what the videos leave out.

TECH TALK June 6th, 2018.

• Georg von Tiesenhausen, the last of the German rocket team that launched the US space programme, has died at his Alabama home. He was 104.

Apple dangling more goodies, while adding tech diet options

Apple will offer more ways for people to limit the time they spend on iPhones while introducing features designed to make its products even more indispensable.

TECH TALK 15th May, 2018

• Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth — err, game.

Walking robot maker prepares to unleash its dog-like machine

A robotics company known for its widely shared videos of nimble, legged robots opening doors or walking through rough terrain is preparing to sell some after more than a quarter century of research.

Race is on to set up Europe’s electric car charging network

Charging an electric car away from home can be an exercise in uncertainty — hunting for that one lonely station at the back of a rest-area parking lot and hoping it’s working.

TECH TALK May 9th, 2018

• NASA and Uber have signed an agreement to explore putting flying taxis in the skies over US cities.

How Google aims to make your gadgets smarter with AI

Google put the spotlight on its artificial intelligence smarts at its annual developers conference yesterday, announcing new consumer features imbued with machine learning.

WALL-E and EVE on their way to Mars

NASA’s next Mars explorer is going to have company all the way to the red planet: a couple of puny yet groundbreaking sidekicks.

China auto show highlights industry’s electric ambitions

The biggest global auto show of the year showcases China’s ambitions to become a leader in electric cars and the industry’s multibillion-dollar scramble to roll out models that appeal to price-conscious but demanding Chinese drivers.

Enigma machine collection recalls computer science victory

Carnegie Mellon University will hire a researcher from the Library of Congress to help it decode a collection that includes two WWII German Enigma machines.