Day: July 20, 2020

AI helps drone swarms navigate through crowded, unfamiliar spaces

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Drone swarms frequently fly outside for a reason: it’s difficult for the robotic fliers to navigate in tight spaces without hitting each other. Caltech researchers may have a way for those drones to fly indoors, however. They’ve developed a machine learning algorithm, Global-to-Local Safe Autonomy Synthesis (GLAS), that lets swarms navigate crowded, unmapped environments. The Read more about AI helps drone swarms navigate through crowded, unfamiliar spaces[…]

The Physical Traits that Define Men and Women in Literature

Posted on by Robin Edgar

After slogging through that book, I began paying attention to similarly stereotyped descriptions of bodies in other books. Women are all soft thighs and red lips. Men, strong muscles and rough hands. I was frustrated by this lazy writing. I want to read books that explore the full humanity of their characters, not stories that Read more about The Physical Traits that Define Men and Women in Literature[…]

Firefox on Android: Camera remains active when phone is locked or the user switches apps after streaming

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Mozilla says it’s working on fixing a bug in Firefox for Android that keeps the smartphone camera active even after users have moved the browser in the background or the phone screen was locked. A Mozilla spokesperson told ZDNet in an email this week that a fix is expected for later this year in October. Read more about Firefox on Android: Camera remains active when phone is locked or the user switches apps after streaming[…]

Mozilla offers trusted VPN services – good timing!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Starting today, there’s a VPN on the market from a company you trust. The Mozilla VPN (Virtual Private Network) is now available on Windows and Android devices. This fast and easy-to-use VPN service is brought to you by Mozilla, the makers of Firefox, and a trusted name in online consumer security and privacy services. See Read more about Mozilla offers trusted VPN services – good timing![…]

Seven ‘no log’ VPN providers accused of leaking – yup, you guessed it – 1.2TB of user logs onto the internet

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A string of “zero logging” VPN providers have some explaining to do after more than a terabyte of user logs were found on their servers unprotected and facing the public internet. This data, we are told, included in at least some cases clear-text passwords, personal information, and lists of websites visited, all for anyone to Read more about Seven ‘no log’ VPN providers accused of leaking – yup, you guessed it – 1.2TB of user logs onto the internet[…]

Issue with Cloudflare’s DNS service and crappy router shuts down half the web. Again.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Scores of websites and services went down Friday afternoon due to problems with Cloudflare’s DNS service, sparking rampant speculation about the cause. After all, a global DDOS attack would totally fit the real-life apocalypse movie that 2020 is increasingly turning into. The outage, which started shortly after 5 p.m. ET, brought down popular sites and Read more about Issue with Cloudflare’s DNS service and crappy router shuts down half the web. Again.[…]

Solar+battery in one device sets new efficiency standard

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The drop in battery prices is enabling battery integration with renewable systems in two contexts. In one, the battery serves as a short-term power reservoir to smooth over short-term fluctuations in the output of renewable power. In the other, the battery holds the power for when renewable power production stops, as solar power does at Read more about Solar+battery in one device sets new efficiency standard[…]

United Arab Emirates’ Mars probe successfully launched and phones home

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The United Arab Emirates has successfully launched a Mars probe. The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) aims to orbit the red planet with a probe named “Hope” that will gather data to help humanity build a proper Martian weather map, characterise the planet’s lower atmosphere and offer an explanation of why Mars is losing Hydrogen and Read more about United Arab Emirates’ Mars probe successfully launched and phones home[…]