Swarms of bees as models for drones in construction: Empa has tested drones that work in teams under human control to 3D print materials for building or repairing structures.

In the Swiss Smart Factory, the factory of the future is within reach. Here, Swiss industry can find advice on how to tackle the digital transformation. Head of Research Dominic Gorecky knows: There are still many hurdles to overcome on the path towards Industry 4.0.

Speak instead of typing – nowadays, communicating with computers often involves language bots. In his book “Dialogue Robots”, Armin Sieber analyzes the widespread dissemination of these bots. In this interview he describes the advantages – but also urges policymakers and the public to be aware of the dangers.

Robots, journeys into space, and flying cars: Which visions out of science fiction movies have become reality? The classics of the genre in a “reality check”.

Thanks to a navigation algorithm, drones are learning to autonomously perform acrobatic maneuvers. Using simulations, the autonomous aircraft are trained to become faster, more agile, and more efficient.

Every new technology potentially also entails problematic side effects. The technology assessor Armin Grunwald helps identify risks in good time. In this interview, he talks about the consequences of emotionally competent AI. And he explains which new technology will have the greatest impact on our lives.

The number of devices transmitting data, for example in transport logistics, will increase sharply in the future. But the amount of batteries needed for this would have an enormous impact on the environment. A compostable mini-capacitor could solve the problem.

Just a year ago, start-ups working on robotaxis were raising eight times as much money as companies interested in self-driving trucks. In the meantime, the gap has narrowed dramatically.