New Atlas

Robotics Audio available

Robotic fossil shows off the swagger of ancient animals

Michael Irving January 16, 2019

It can be hard to picture a living creature from dusty bones and old footprints, but now that might require a little less imagination. Researchers at EPFL and the Humboldt University of Berlin have built a robot to figure out just how a 300-million year-old ancestor of ours might have moved around.

The OroBOT is a robotic version of a 300-million-year-old animal called Orobates pabsti that was designed ...

Robotics Audio available

Creepy Velox robot uses undulating fins to skate over solid ice

Nick Lavars December 9, 2018

We’ve seen quite a few interesting robot designs over the years that allow adventurous machines to negotiate difficult terrain, but few with the distinct style of the Velox robot from New York engineering firm Pliant Energy Systems.

The Velox robot recently learned how to ice skate

Drones

Amphibious drone performs belly landings on the water

Ben Coxworth October 18, 2018

Ordinarily, fixed-wing mapping drones either just perform a traditional landing on the ground, or they parachute down to it. However, what if they're being used over the water? Well, that's where Aeromao's new Aeromapper Talon Amphibious drone comes in.

The Aeromapper Talon Amphibious drone can make belly landings on the water, or parachute down to ...

Marine

Sealegs goes electric with E4 amphibious boat

Ben Coxworth October 10, 2018

Wouldn't it be neat if there were a boat with three retractable wheels that allowed it to get in and out of the water on its own? Well there is, and it's made by New Zealand-based Sealegs. Now, the company has unveiled a new electric-drive model, the Electric E4.

The Sealegs Electric E4 can travel on land at up to 10 km/h (6 mph)

Drones

Spry drone flies through the air – and under the water

Ben Coxworth August 28, 2018

If you're looking for a quadcopter that can land on the water's surface to shoot underwater video – well, that would be Urban Drones' Splash Drone. Now, the company has joined forces with tech firm SwellPro to create the Spry drone, which can actually make short "flights" beneath the surface.

Military

BAE awarded US Marine Corps next-gen Amphibious Combat Vehicle contract

David Szondy June 19, 2018

A year and a half after accepting the first prototypes, the US Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems and its partner Iveco Defence Vehicles a US$198 million contract to deliver the first 30 of the Corps' next-generation Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV).

One of the 16 ACV prototypes that have already been built and tested

Marine

Iguana's ingenious amphibious seven-seat cabriolet taxi

Mike Hanlon March 28, 2018

The Iguana amphibious seven-seat taxi incorporates the signature retractable caterpillar tracks, at the same time as adding an adjustable retractable hardtop and shock-mitigating seats to complete the most civilized amphibious vehicle on the planet.

The seven-seat amphibious Iguana Commuter Limousine combines the company's signature retractable caterpillar tracks, with an adjustable ...

Automotive

"Frankenhooker" producer plans global amphibious rally in production 4x4 SCG Boot

Loz Blain March 18, 2018

A multi-millionaire man-child, a raging obsession with performance cars and racing, a tall volcano, a gruelling desert race, a ridiculous round-the-world amphibious jaunt, a nasty go-anywhere off-roader and a pinch of Steve McQueen … This has got to be a story worth following.

SCG Boot in amphibious mode. The company plans to cross the Bering Strait like this

Automotive

Hyundai's electric Kite concept allegedly transforms from dune buggy to jet ski

Loz Blain March 15, 2018

This wacky concept vehicle from Geneva looks kind of cool, in a KTM X-Bow kind of way, and demonstrates how electric drivetrains could make multi-mode vehicles much easier to build. We've got to be honest, though, we've got no idea how it's supposed to work.

Hyundai Kite: looks pretty rad as a dune buggy

Biology

Axolotl genome sequenced, revealing regeneration genes

Michael Irving January 24, 2018

Scientists have now sequenced the genome of the Mexican axolotl, and have identified a few key genes hidden amongst its extremely complex genetic blueprint that shed some light on its remarkable regeneration capabilities.

The axolotl's genome has been sequenced, which could potentially unlock its limb regeneration secrets