Scientists in Japan Create the First Ever 3D Printed Wagyu Beef in a Laboratory

Researchers from Osaka University and Japanese printing technologies provider Toppan have successfully produced cultured Wagyu beef using a novel tissue modelling technology based on 3D printing. The technology enabled the researchers to replicate the complex tissue structures of Wagyu beef, including muscle, fat and blood vessel tissue, in order to achieve the meat’s unique marbling structure, which addresses the various limitations of current cultured meat production techniques. The researchers believe their work could also help to address the global increase in food demand, as well as mitigate the impact of contributing factors such as climate change, deforestation and ozone depletion.Research into cultured meat has been underway for some time, and 3D printing is playing an increasing role in aiding not only the research in this area, but also the commercial production of cultured meat products. For instance, 3D printed food start-up Redefine Meat recently launched its first series of 3D printed ‘New-Meat’ products to selected restaurants and hotels in Israel, with the rollout planned to extend to Europe later this year, and to the US and Asia in 2022.

Elon Musk Unveiled that Tesla is Building an AI Humanoid Robot call Optimus

At 2021’s Tesla AI Day, Elon Musk announced that Tesla plans to have a humanoid robot prototype ready next year. The robot, referred to as Optimus temporarily, will be 173 cm tall and weigh 57 kg. Its body will be powered by 40 electromechanical actuators and its face will feature a screen display. Optimus will be able to carry a cargo of up to 20 kg and a deadlift capacity of 68 kg, and it will be limited to a walking speed of 8 km/h. One thing that Tesla has in its favour is its expertise in AI and autonomous systems, because from this perspective the task of self-driving and the task of creating a humanoid robot is not so different. The Tesla Bot could leverage much of the same hardware and software as an autonomous vehicle. The neural nets would need to be reconfigured for the robot's specific tasks and environment however, the underlying network architecture, the camera systems and the computer are likely to stay the same. The robot is still in development, but automation will make physical work a choice in the future, which will have profound implications for the economy and require universal basic income as government policy, said Musk.

Inflatable Robotic Hand May Give a “Sense of Touch” Back to Amputees

Engineers at MIT and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have designed a low-cost neuroprosthetic hand that is soft and lightweight. Amputees tested the artificial limb by performing daily activities such as pouring juice in a glass, petting a cat, and zipping a suitcase and concluded that it worked better than those rigid neuroprosthetics and at the same time it was surprisingly quite durable. Another advantage of the potential new systems is that the total cost of the components used amount to a total of $500, which is half the price of neuroprosthetics available in the market right now. The arm is made with a soft, stretchy material called ‘EcoFlex’ and comprises five balloon-like fingers, embedded with fiber segments which are then connected to a 3D printed hand. It uses a pneumatic system to accurately inflate the fingers and bend them in specific positions rather than controlling the whole finger together. The researchers also added a tactile feedback system which makes it different from the commercial neuroprosthetics. They did this by stiching a pressure sensor to each fingertip which is wired to a specific location on the amputee’s residual limb so whenever it is pressed, it produces an electrical signal which the user can ‘feel’, giving them the sensation of touch. While the smart arm is not available for commercial use yet, the team are hopeful that this low-cost prosthetic arm would have a huge potential for low-income families who have suffered from amputation.