Web application helps urban planners design cities

Published:24.01.19 — EPFL researchers have developed a web-based software program that takes a whole new approach to urban planning. Planners simply enter the various objectives they want to achieve – in terms of built density, quality of life, cost, use of renewable energy, etc. – and the program generates the best possible variants for their city. This can help city officials make better decisions, especially when it comes to promoting sustainable development.

More energy-efficient cruise ships

Published:22.01.19 — An EPFL researcher has developed a system based on fuel cells to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of cruise ships, which are increasingly popular among vacation goers around the world.

Smart microrobots that can adapt to their surroundings

Published:18.01.19 — Scientists at EPFL and ETH Zurich have developed tiny elastic robots that can change shape depending on their surroundings. Modeled after bacteria and fully biocompatible, these robots optimize their movements so as to get to hard-to-reach areas of the human body. They stand to revolutionize targeted drug delivery.

A robot recreates the walk of a 300-million-year-old animal

Published:16.01.19 — Using the fossil and fossilized footprints of a 300-million-year-old animal, an interdisciplinary team that includes scientists from EPFL and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin have developed a method for identifying the most likely gaits of extinct animals and designed a robot that can recreate their walk. This innovative study of animal biomechanics using robots can help researchers better understand how vertebrate locomotion evolved over time.

EPFL goes to New Zealand to study melting glaciers

Published:15.01.19 — Four EPFL researchers will explore New Zealand's glacier-fed streams for two months, marking the first step in a global journey that will take them across 15 countries by 2021. Discover more about this unique expedition on the EPFL Out There blog.

EPFL drones draw crowds in Las Vegas

Published:11.01.19 — This week, four EPFL-designed drones are being shown in the Swiss Pavilion at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The spin-offs developing the drones are trying to follow in the footsteps of Flyability and Pix4D by establishing themselves in the international market. Americans may be more familiar with Swiss chocolate than with Switzerland’s “Drone Valley,” but US specialists are keeping a close eye on the technologies being developed here.

EPFL kicks off a year of celebration

Published:10.01.19 — Just over fifty years ago, on 1 January 1969, the Ecole polytechnique de l'Université de Lausanne (EPUL) became a Swiss federal institute of technology under the name EPFL. In his New Year’s address this week, President Martin Vetterli provided a preview of some of the events planned for this jubilee celebration.