Weekly Piece of Future #119
From Superhuman Lenses to Real-Time Robot Control and Quantum-Resistant Encryption
Hey there, fellow future-addicts!
Welcome to this week's edition of Rushing Robotics, your weekly dose of the most exciting and game-changing innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, biotech, and industry. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a professional, or just curious about the future, we’ve got cutting-edge breakthroughs and tools that will inspire you
🤯 Mind-Blowing
This week, dive into revolutionary AI and robotics breakthroughs that are reshaping the boundaries of what machines can do. From Stanford and Simon Fraser’s TWIST system enabling real-time humanoid robot mimicry, to superhuman contact lenses that let us perceive infrared light, these advances open new doors for telepresence, wearable tech, and beyond. Explore how AI language models autonomously form social norms and haptic devices are empowering workers with robotic precision. Plus, discover smart textiles that bring sensing capabilities right into your clothes.
🔊 Industry Insights & Updates
Catch up on the latest moves from industry leaders and startups alike. NVIDIA’s new quantum-AI supercomputing center in Japan is pushing the limits of computational power, while RoboForce launches Titan — an AI-powered industrial robot with unparalleled dexterity. Learn how Duke University’s WildFusion framework is advancing robot perception in complex environments, and get the scoop on China Telecom’s breakthrough quantum-resistant cryptography securing tomorrow’s communications.
🧬 BioTech
Explore cutting-edge research that’s transforming healthcare and longevity. Scientists have uncovered how aging affects blood stem cell diversity and inflammation, while a rapid DNA sequencing test now slashes brain tumor diagnosis times from weeks to hours. Plus, see how AI-powered nursing robots like Foxconn’s Nurabot are easing healthcare workloads, promising better care and less burnout.
💡 Products/Tools of the Week
Discover powerful new AI platforms designed to boost productivity and user engagement. From Aurora AI’s seamless knowledge and workflow management, to Vetris.ai’s customizable conversational agents, and Urbiverse’s urban mobility simulations — these tools are helping businesses and governments make smarter decisions. Real estate pros will love PropZella, which turns property photos into immersive virtual tours with just a few clicks.
🎥 Video Section
Watch the future come alive with highlights including Elon Musk’s Tesla Optimus robot reveal, Stanford’s TWIST in action, Sanctuary AI’s Phoenix robot at Messe 2025, and a glimpse at the world’s first robot fighting competition in China. Plus, check out CMU’s FALCON humanoid learning advanced loco-manipulation skills.
The future is in motion, and you’re part of the revolution. Keep exploring, innovating, and pioneering what’s possible. Stay hungry, stay futurish!
🤯 Mind-Blowing
Stanford University and Simon Fraser University have jointly developed a cutting-edge AI system called TWIST (Teleoperated Whole-Body Imitation System), designed to let humanoid robots mirror human movement in real time. This system enables individuals to remotely guide robots by performing full-body motions, which are tracked and replicated with exceptional fidelity. TWIST is built for deployment in real-world environments and utilizes a hybrid approach that combines motion capture data with reinforcement and imitation learning to handle complex robotic behaviors. Researchers point to TWIST as a significant advancement in telepresence and collaborative robotics. The system uses motion capture (MoCap) to gather detailed human motion data and applies reinforcement learning to train a controller that faithfully translates human movement into physically stable, full-body robot motion—allowing for lifelike mimicry.
Researchers have created innovative contact lenses that enable humans to perceive infrared light without the need for any external power source, even when their eyes are closed. This breakthrough represents a significant step forward in the development of wearable superhuman technology. These lenses have been successfully tested on both mice and humans, allowing the simultaneous detection of visible and infrared light. Potential uses for this technology include enhanced security measures and assistance for individuals with visual impairments. “Our research paves the way for non-invasive wearable devices that can provide people with extraordinary vision capabilities,” explains Tian Xue, a neuroscientist at the University of Science and Technology of China and senior author of the study.
A recent study has revealed that artificial intelligence language models are capable of developing social norms autonomously, highlighting new dimensions of emergent behavior in AI systems. Conducted by City St George’s, University of London and the IT University of Copenhagen, the research demonstrates that large language models, when placed in interactive group environments, can spontaneously form shared conventions without explicit programming. These AI agents, through repeated interaction, reached consensus on naming conventions and communication norms—reflecting the decentralized, bottom-up manner in which human societies form cultural standards. The findings offer critical insights for future multi-agent AI systems, particularly in scenarios involving negotiation, cooperation, and autonomous decision-making.
POSTECH researchers have developed cutting-edge haptic technology that gives factory workers enhanced control over robots, effectively granting them robotic superpowers for high-risk industrial environments. Led by Professor Keehoon Kim and Ph.D. candidate Jaehyun Park from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the team created two innovative haptic devices that combine force feedback, augmented reality (AR), and digital twins. These devices allow humans to safely and precisely operate robots remotely by transmitting real-time tactile sensations. The POstick-KF (Kinesthetic Feedback) device relays detailed force information such as pushing or pulling, enabling subtle and accurate manipulation of objects. Meanwhile, the POstick-VF (Visuo-tactile Feedback) merges visual and tactile cues for wider workspace applications. Both devices are designed to resemble real tools, helping even beginners quickly adapt and select the right device based on the task and their expertise.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed innovative smart textiles that use acoustic waves and glass fibers to enable precise measurements. These fabrics are lightweight, breathable, and affordable, making them ideal for applications in medicine, sports, and daily life. Led by Professor Daniel Ahmed, the team created a T-shirt that monitors breathing and gloves that convert hand movements into computer commands. Their breakthrough technology, called SonoTextiles, transforms regular fabrics into sensors capable of detecting touch, pressure, and motion by transmitting acoustic waves through glass fibers. Possible uses include monitoring asthma patients’ breathing, enhancing athletic movement, and translating sign language.
🔊 Industry Insights & Updates
NVIDIA has unveiled the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT), marking a significant milestone in supercomputing innovation. Situated in Japan, G-QuAT is home to ABCI-Q—the world’s largest supercomputer fully dedicated to quantum computing research.
ABCI-Q is built to address some of the most complex global challenges, spanning healthcare, energy, and finance. By integrating quantum processors with AI-accelerated supercomputers, the platform is poised to significantly speed up advancements in fields requiring intensive computation. Delivered by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), ABCI-Q is powered by 2,020 NVIDIA H100 GPUs and interconnected through NVIDIA’s high-speed Quantum-2 InfiniBand network, enabling researchers to process large-scale data with high efficiency and performance.The robotics startup RoboForce has unveiled its inaugural AI-powered robot, Titan, specifically designed for tough industrial settings. Engineered to operate in challenging outdoor environments, Titan combines advanced domain-specific intelligence with a tightly integrated AI-hardware system and a modular build. Currently, Titan is offered with either wheeled or tracked base models, with plans to introduce more variants soon. The robot is capable of performing five essential industrial tasks—picking, placing, pressing, twisting, and connecting—that serve as the foundation for various manufacturing and field applications. Titan demonstrates exceptional fine motor skills, with manipulation accuracy as precise as one millimeter. It can carry payloads weighing up to 88 pounds (40 kilograms) and boasts an extended arm reach of 43 inches (1100 millimeters), allowing it to navigate complex layouts with ease. Designed for durability, Titan can work continuously for up to eight hours, making it ideal for intensive production environments.
Researchers at Duke University have created an innovative framework called WildFusion that enables robots to perceive objects in outdoor environments much like humans do. This framework allows robots to sense not only visual information but also vibrations and touch, integrating these sensory inputs to guide their movements effectively. WildFusion marks a significant advancement in robotic navigation and 3D mapping, enabling robots to confidently operate in complex, unpredictable settings such as forests, disaster zones, and rugged off-road terrain. To achieve this, specialized encoders process the diverse sensory data, merging it into a coherent understanding within the robot’s “mind.” The system is further enhanced by a deep learning model based on implicit neural representations, which strengthens the robot’s ability to interpret and respond to its surroundings.
In response to the growing threat that quantum computing poses to traditional data security, China Telecom Quantum Group has announced a major breakthrough: the world’s first commercial cryptographic system designed to resist even quantum computer-level attacks. The new distributed encryption system combines two cutting-edge technologies: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). QKD enables the secure exchange of keys using quantum mechanics, while PQC uses advanced mathematical constructs to safeguard data. In a milestone achievement, the company successfully conducted the first cross-regional quantum-encrypted phone call, spanning over 600 miles between Beijing and Hefei. This dual-layer approach creates a robust, end-to-end quantum-secure framework for high-value use cases such as encrypted communications, data integrity, and trusted digital identity.
🧬 BioTech
Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have uncovered how blood stem cells change as we age, leading to reduced diversity and increased inflammation. In young people, tens of thousands of blood stem cells work together to produce billions of blood cells daily. But over time, a small number of stem cell clones outcompete others and dominate blood production. These dominant clones tend to produce myeloid cells, immune cells linked to chronic inflammation. Using a new technique called EPI-Clone, which tracks DNA methylation patterns in single cells, researchers were able to map the lineage of hundreds of thousands of blood cells in humans and mice. This revealed how stem cell diversity shrinks with age, making the blood system less resilient to stress and disease. “This loss of diversity is harmful because diverse stem cells help the body respond to challenges,” said Dr. Lars Velten, group leader at CRG. “With EPI-Clone, we can now identify which clones become problematic, opening the door for precise anti-aging therapies targeting blood stem cells.”
A revolutionary DNA test has been developed that reduces the time needed to diagnose brain tumors from eight weeks down to just two hours. This breakthrough could significantly cut waiting times for patients with brain tumors. Scientists have introduced a novel testing technique capable of identifying tumor types within hours—and, in some cases, even before the patient leaves the operating room. Currently, patients often endure a wait of up to eight weeks after surgery for comprehensive genetic test results, which are essential for confirming diagnoses and determining subsequent treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The new approach utilizes nanopore sequencing technology, which rapidly analyzes tumor DNA by passing strands through a minuscule device containing microscopic holes called pores. As the tumor’s genetic material moves through these pores, the DNA strands are separated and pulled through one by one, enabling swift reading of the genetic code.
By 2030, the global healthcare system is expected to face a shortage of 4.5 million nurses, largely due to burnout and overwhelming workloads. To help address this, Foxconn has developed NVIDIA-powered solutions such as Nurabot, a collaborative nursing robot that takes over time-consuming and physically exhausting tasks like transporting medication and samples within hospitals. Nurabot is part of a suite of smart hospital technologies deployed in Taiwan’s leading medical centers, including AI-driven patient health monitoring and digital twins of hospital facilities to aid management in design and planning. Powered by NVIDIA physical AI, these technologies combine training on supercomputers, simulations with digital twins, and edge computing to enable rapid AI inference on robots and sensors. Foxconn estimates that Nurabot can reduce nurses’ workloads by up to 30%. Future improvements will allow the robot to communicate with patients in multiple languages, recognize individuals for personalized care, and assist nurses in moving patients.
💡Products/tools of the week
Aurora AI serves as a productivity-centric AI workspace designed to unify organizational knowledge, foster effective team collaboration, and optimize workflows for businesses of any scale. This SaaS web application integrates effortlessly into existing systems using a no-code approach, delivering AI-generated insights tailored to the company’s specific context rather than relying on generalized data. Businesses adopt Aurora AI to dissolve knowledge silos, ensure consistency through intuitive SmartFlows, and consolidate tools into a single streamlined platform—all while upholding high standards of data protection through AES-256 encryption and robust security protocols.
Vetris.ai is a comprehensive platform designed to build AI assistants that can engage users via web interfaces, phone calls, or video conversations. By using natural language descriptions, users can effortlessly create custom agents suited for roles such as customer support, sales outreach, or personal fitness coaching. These AI agents are capable of understanding spoken language, holding meaningful conversations, making intelligent decisions, and executing tasks across various communication channels. The platform also provides complete transparency into the assistant’s decision-making processes, enabling users to track and optimize behavior effectively. With a no-code approach, Vetris.ai empowers anyone to launch advanced virtual assistants for real-world applications.
Urbiverse leverages AI-powered simulations and synthetic data modeling to support smarter urban mobility and logistics decisions for businesses and government agencies. The platform enables the creation of high-fidelity, realistic city datasets to test a range of scenarios, such as identifying ideal locations for micromobility hubs and EV charging stations. By incorporating fleet data, Urbiverse simulates the outcomes of potential changes, delivering actionable insights that enhance decision-making. Users can optimize fleet sizing, infrastructure deployment, and operational strategies, achieving more cost-efficient solutions and ensuring better alignment with long-term objectives.
PropZella is an AI-driven platform that quickly converts standard property photos into immersive virtual tours, enabling real estate professionals to produce high-quality video presentations in just minutes. The platform supports custom branding and multilingual voiceover capabilities, eliminating the need for technical expertise or advanced equipment. Real estate agents and property managers turn to PropZella to streamline their workflow, boost listing engagement, stand out in a crowded marketplace, and accelerate the sales process—all while ensuring consistent brand messaging across their marketing materials.
The Independent: Elon Musk showcases ‘biggest product ever’ Tesla Optimus robot
Sanctuary AI: Sanctuary AI Brings Phoenix to Messe 2025 with Microsoft
Business Today: Humanoid Robots Set To Compete In World's First Robot Fighting Competition In Hangzhou City, China
LeCAR Lab at CMU: FALCON: Learning Force-Adaptive Humanoid Loco-Manipulation