Topics

[Life Sciences]

Figure 1:　A newly developed 51 degrees of freedom humanoid robot, CBi.(Computational Brain -interface)

World's First Bipedal Locomotion with a Humanoid Robot Controlled by Cortical Ensemble Activity with a Real-time Network Brain Interface (By relaying monkey’s brain activity from USA to Japan, we were able to control our humanoid robot in Japan to walk in similar manner as the monkey in USA)
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has succeeded to make a humanoid robot locomote via data detected from cortical brain activity that transmitted through an internet interface between U.S.A and Japan in real time. Recent studies of how the brain generates behaviors are progressing rapidly. While at the same time as, development of humanoid robots that act like humans is now part of the focus of robotic research.
...[more]

Figure 2:　Experimental overview Detecting walking related information from a monkey's brain activity while walking on a treadmill, we were able to relay these data from Duke university in USA to the Advanced Telecommunication Research (ATR) in Japan in real time. We then were able to control our humanoid robot in Japan to locomote in a similar manner as the monkey (visual feedback of the robot is presented to the monkey.)

JST Press Release No.461
http://www.jst.go.jp/pr/info/info461/index_e.html

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html

Scientific American
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=monkey-think-robot-do

[Nanotechnology and Materials]

Figure 1:　Time-series of Laue diffraction images of shock-induced lattice deformation processes of cadmium sulfide (CdS) single crystal. Each diffraction image was obtained only by a single-bunch X-ray pulse with duration of 100ps.

Lattice dynamics of materials under high strain is a field of great interest in material physics. Scientists at KEK, along with a team at TITECH and JST have managed to observe time-series of shock-induced lattice deformation processes of cadmium sulfide (CdS) single crystal by 100-ps time-resolved single-shot Laue diffraction method.
...[more]

High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, KEK
http://www.kek.jp/intra-e/index.html

[Frontiers-Outer Space and the Oceans]

Pic.1:　Scientists picking up samples to be studied in the laboratory on Chikyu © JAMSTEC/IODP

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC; Mr. Yasuhiro Kato, President) is pleased to announce that the Deep-sea Drilling Vessel Chikyu has just completed IODP^*1 expedition, "Expedition 315" of the "Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE)" as of December 18th.
...[more]

[JAMSTEC Press Release]Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) Expedition 315 Successfully Completes the Coring Operation
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/press_release/20071219/
CHIKYU Information Portal
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/index.html
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/index.html