The University of Utah has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of optics. Researchers led by Weilu Gao and Jichao Fan have developed a chiral photonic device that can adjust on the fly to give light different degrees of circular polarization. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the way information is processed, as it combines light manipulation with memory capabilities.

Chiral light refers to electromagnetic waves that exhibit handedness, either left-handed or right-handed. The researchers’ device utilizes a heterostructure consisting of multiple thin films, including aligned carbon nanotubes and phase-change material. This unique combination enables the device to selectively reduce the amount of left- or right-circularly polarized light passing through it, depending on the state of the PCM layer.

The key to this breakthrough lies in the ability to modify the circular dichroism of the device in real-time using electrical pulses. This allows researchers to control which direction circularly polarized light twists, effectively utilizing its “handedness” as memory in an optical circuit.

Unlike traditional chiral optics, which were like carved stone – beautiful but frozen – this device is a reconfigurable component that can evolve with electrical pulses. The aligned-carbon-nanotube-phase-change-material heterostructure has merged light manipulation and memory into a single scalable platform.

This innovation holds immense potential for the development of optical computing systems, where information is processed in parallel using properties like amplitude or wavelength. By adding circular dichroism as an independent parameter, researchers can create an orthogonal information channel that does not interfere with other properties.

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation through various grants, and its impact has far-reaching implications for the future of optics and computing.

In conclusion, the development of a chiral photonic device with memory capabilities is a significant breakthrough in the field of optics. Its potential to revolutionize the way information is processed, combined with its scalability and real-time control, makes it an exciting innovation that could shape the future of optical computing systems.

Rewritten Article:

In a breakthrough that’s straight out of science fiction, a team of engineers at Caltech has developed a real-life Transformer that can morph in mid-air, allowing it to smoothly transition from flying to rolling on the ground. This innovative technology has far-reaching implications for commercial delivery systems and robotic explorers, making it an exciting development in the field of robotics.

The new robot, dubbed ATMO (aerially transforming morphobot), uses four thrusters to fly but can transform into a ground-rolling configuration using a single motor that lifts its thrusters up or down. This unique design allows ATMO to change its shape and function seamlessly, enabling it to adapt to various environments and situations.

According to Ioannis Mandralis, the lead author of the research paper published in Communications Engineering, “We designed and built a new robotic system inspired by nature – by the way that animals can use their bodies in different ways to achieve different types of locomotion.” For example, birds fly and then change their body morphology to slow themselves down and avoid obstacles. Mandralis adds, “Having the ability to transform in the air unlocks a lot of possibilities for improved autonomy and robustness.”

However, mid-air transformation also poses challenges due to complex aerodynamic forces that come into play both because the robot is close to the ground and because it is changing its shape as it morphs. Mory Gharib, the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Medical Engineering, notes that “Even though it seems simple when you watch a bird land and then run, in reality this is a problem that the aerospace industry has been struggling to deal with for probably more than 50 years.”

To better understand these complex aerodynamic forces, the researchers ran tests in Caltech’s drone lab using load cell experiments and smoke visualization. They fed those insights into the algorithm behind a new control system they created for ATMO, which uses advanced model predictive control to continuously predict how the system will behave in the near future and adjust its actions accordingly.

“The control algorithm is the biggest innovation in this paper,” Mandralis says. “Quadrotors use particular controllers because of how their thrusters are placed and how they fly. Here we introduce a dynamic system that hasn’t been studied before. As soon as the robot starts morphing, you get different dynamic couplings – different forces interacting with one another. And the control system has to be able to respond quickly to all of that.”

The potential applications of ATMO are vast and exciting, from commercial delivery systems to robotic explorers. With its unique ability to transform in mid-air and adapt to various environments, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the field of robotics and beyond.

The article “Navigating Attitudes: The Crucial Role of Emotional Responses in Adopting Self-Driving Cars” reveals that public attitudes toward self-driving cars are not solely determined by understanding how they work, but also by emotional responses and social benefits. A study published in Transportation Research surveyed 323 people on their perceptions of autonomous vehicles, finding that considerations like trust, excitement, and curiosity about the technology’s potential impact on society play a significant role in shaping attitudes.

According to Wei Peng, an assistant professor at Washington State University, “We found that some of the non-functional aspects of autonomous vehicles are also very important,” including emotional value associated with using the cars, beliefs about broader social impact, and curiosity about learning how the technology works. The study also revealed that respondents would want to give the technology a test drive before adopting it, suggesting that hands-on experience is crucial in building trust.

The research highlights the complexity of attitudes towards self-driving cars, which depend heavily on individual circumstances and can be nuanced in surprising ways. For example, those with a strong “car-authority identity” may be more likely to believe the cars would be easy to use, but less likely to view them as useful. Other considerations, such as disability or concerns about heavy traffic or inclement weather, also play a role in shaping attitudes.

As fully self-driving vehicles approach commercial availability by 2035, widespread adoption is crucial for achieving safety benefits and improving mobility for people with limited access to transportation. However, the rollout of “robotaxies” has been bumpy, with some high-profile accidents and recalls, indicating that public attitudes towards these vehicles remain persistently negative.

The study’s findings open new questions for future research, such as: “What is it about thinking the car is easy to use that makes people trust it less?” and how individual circumstances can influence attitudes towards self-driving cars. Ultimately, understanding these complexities will be essential in developing effective strategies for promoting widespread adoption of this emerging technology.