Undesired ice accumulation on infrastructure and transportation systems leads to catastrophic events and significant economic losses. Although various anti-icing surfaces with photothermal effects can initially prevent icing, any thawy droplets remaining on the horizontal surface can quickly re-freezing once the light diminishes. To address these challenges, we have developed a self-draining slippery surface (SDSS) that enables the thawy droplets to self-remove on the horizontal surface, thereby facilitating real-time anti-icing with the aid of sunlight (100 mW cm⁻²). This is achieved by sandwiching a thin pyroelectric layer between slippery surface and photothermal film. Due to the synergy between the photothermal and pyroelectric layers, the SDSS not only maintains a high surface temperature of 19.8 ± 2.2 °C at the low temperature ( −20.0 ± 1.0 °C), but also generates amount of charge through thermoelectric coupling. Thus, as cold droplets dropped on the SDSS, electrostatic force pushes the droplets off the charged surface because of the charge transfer mechanism. Even if the surface freezes overnight, the ice can melt and drain off the SDSS within 10 min of exposure to sunlight at  −20.0 ± 1.0 °C, leaving a clean surface. This work provides a new perspective on the anti-icing system in the real-world environments.

Imbuing light with "structure" adds complexity, mixing properties in exotic ways. In parallel, machine intelligence based on complex deep neural networks complexity for its learning, mimicking the complex connections of neurons in the brain. Now researchers have shown the exciting benefits at the interface of the two, from machines unravelling complexity in light, to optical systems enabling ultrafast learning machines. This symbiotic relationship is set to drive a new revolution in photonics.

Touch is the sense that brings us into direct contact with reality, revealing shape, texture, and resistance. Designing soft sensors to mimic biological fingertips facilitates natural haptic communications in telerobotics and prostheses, but suffers from inaccurate tactile decoding. Scientists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University reported a 3D-architected pressure sensor featuring a hydrogel lattice encapsulated within an origami-inspired framework. The designed linear electro-mechanical responses enable sophisticated pressure input for robotic control and an intelligent fingertip for modulus detection.

A transformative approach to clean hydrogen production is set to take center stage in an upcoming international webinar that bridges molecular innovation with industrial-scale decarbonization.

A research paper by scientists at the City University of Hong Kong proposed a hybrid model-based and online data-driven control method for a tendon-driven continuum robot, which requires no prior dataset collection or training. The method incorporates the Jacobian derived from the piecewise constant curvature model with online Jacobian error compensation using a Kalman filter.

A research paper by scientists at Waseda University presented a bioinspired surface texturing technique that mimics the microstructures of rose petals to enhance wettability, self-cleaning, and ISM sensitivity..

A review paper by scientists at Zhejiang University presented a comprehensive review of recent developments in the structural design of single-legged robots and systematically summarizes prevailing modeling approaches and control strategies..