Using diamonds to recharge civilian drones in flight

Published:07.11.18 — A small lab-grown diamond measuring a few millimeters per side could one day enable civilian drones to be recharged in mid-flight through a laser. Thanks to the diamond, the laser beam can remain strong enough over a long distance to recharge photovoltaic cells on the drones’ surface. This system, which poses no threat to human health, is being developed by EPFL spin-off LakeDiamond. It could also be used to transmit both power and data to satellites and has just been included in the ten projects supported for two years by of the Swiss Space Office.

The Technion joins EuroTech Universities Alliance

Published:07.11.18 — Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, will join the EuroTech Universities Alliance as of 1 January 2019. Made public on the occasion of the Alliance’s annual High Level Event in Brussels on 6 November, the announcement follows the accession of France’s École Polytechnique to the Alliance in June 2018. This step increase in the Alliance’s membership base – composed also of EPFL, TU Eindhoven (Netherlands), DTU (Danemark) and TUM (Germany) and will further strengthen its position as pioneer for inter-university collaboration.

TWIICE One exoskeleton is a step towards independence

Published:06.11.18 — The new version of the TWIICE walking-assistance system is not only lighter, more comfortable and more powerful, but patients can also put it on and use it themselves – giving them greater independence. It has been tested by handcycling champion Silke Pan.

New material cleans and splits water

Published:05.11.18 — Researchers at EPFL’s Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering have developed a photocatalytic system based on a material in the class of metal-organic frameworks. The system can be used to degrade pollutants present in water while simultaneously producing hydrogen that can be captured and used further.

VRTIGO lets you test your nerves in virtual reality

Published:05.11.18 — EPFL researchers have developed a virtual-reality program that examines how users – equipped with a headset and sensors – react to a vertiginous stroll. The system will be presented at the Geneva International Film Festival on 5–10 November.

New ArtLab exhibition showcases machines that think

Published:02.11.18 — EPFL ArtLab’s new exhibition, titled “Thinking Machines. Ramon Llull and the ars combinatoria,” explores a bold approach to acquiring scientific and artistic knowledge. It opens to the public on 3 November.

Andrea Ablasser wins the 2018 National Latsis Prize

Published:01.11.18 — The medical researcher and EPFL professor Andrea Ablasser, who studies how cells defend themselves against viral and bacterial attacks, has won the 2018 National Latsis Prize in recognition of her excellent research work on immunity.