News EPFL

EPFL houses treasures from Vaud's heritage

Published:12.11.15 — The Archives of Modern Construction at EPFL preserve fundamental documents from the Canton’s history. In recognition of its work, the Archives will be given an award by the Vaud chapter of Patrimoine Suisse.

Tackling a neglected disease with math

Published:11.11.15 — Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. While humanitarian projects have successfully brought down the number of victims, researchers are developing a computer model to achieve a more ambitious aim: to completely eliminate the disease from the region.

Going back in time to locate short circuits in power grids

Published:10.11.15 — EPFL researchers have come up with a method to determine the exact location of short circuits in a power grid. This is an important step towards operating complex power grid topologies that enable the massive integration of renewable energy resources.

Thin walls with potentially fatal consequences

Published:06.11.15 — Given the choice between safer and cheaper construction, many housing design companies in earthquake-prone developing countries see themselves forced to save on expensive construction materials and opt for the latter. EPFL structural engineers have gathered new data on how these structures respond to earthquakes, and in which circumstances they may fail.

EPFL hosts robots from all over Switzerland

Published:05.11.15 — They fly, crawl, swim or sift through rubble after a disaster: robots from all across Switzerland were brought to EPFL on Wednesday for the first ever Swiss Robotics Industry Day (video report).

Autonomous shuttles in the center of Sion

Published:04.11.15 — For the first time in Switzerland, autonomous shuttles could make the rounds of a city center. Researchers at EPFL, in association with the startup BestMile and the public bus operator PostBus, are working on how to integrate these vehicles into the public transport system.

Revealing the mysteries of the Maya script

Published:02.11.15 — Researchers from the Idiap Institute affiliated with EPFL have come up with an algorithm to analyze Mayan writing. This project could one day contribute to translating this complex and still partially unknown language.