💻 Japan on edge of EUV lithography chip-making revolution

The 🇯🇵 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) has developed a new type of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment that could revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing.

This breakthrough simplifies the optical system and reduces power consumption significantly, which could lower the cost of producing advanced chips at 7nm and smaller. If successful, this technology might end 🇳🇱 ASML's dominance in EUV lithography, with far-reaching implications for global semiconductor supply chains, especially under current U.S. export restrictions to China.

OIST intends to collaborate with major Japanese corporations, such as Nikon or Canon, to bring this technology to market by 2026. This collaboration could not only revive Japan's role in the semiconductor industry but also reshape the competitive landscape of global chip manufacturing.

⛓ More information...

#news

✈️ On recent events

You might already know about the Telegram's CEO arrest in France. Without a doubt, its bad news for all of us. When I was a teenager, I remember so well all of my peers using 🌐 VK.com, a social network widely popular in post-soviet countries that was founded by Durov. I never really liked it but I also remember the efforts Russian government put into seizing control over it.

Many years passed since then and I'm living in Europe for quite a while now but the recent events gave me a strong feeling of déjà vu. Durov is locked for good and we both know what's the only way out. With that said, I strongly recommend to everybody to get rid of the sensitive information saved on Telegram's servers. Whether we want it or not, the Telegram is going to be as regulated as any other platform out there.

👩‍💻 PI-CI: Dockerized Raspberry Pi Emulator

PI-CI is a Docker-based Raspberry Pi emulator designed to streamline the setup, configuration, and flashing of Raspberry Pi virtual machines (VMs).

Features of the project:
➡️Supports Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5 models.
➡️Includes 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS (24.04, Bookworm).
➡️Operates without requiring root privileges, ensuring safety and reproducibility.
➡️Offers commands like init, start, resize, flash, and export for VM management and image handling.

PI-CI is ideal for developers and sysadmins aiming to automate the setup and deployment of Raspberry Pi configurations. It facilitates tasks such as preconfiguring servers, testing ARM applications in a virtualized environment, and integrating with CI pipelines for continuous deployment.

⛓ More information...

#projects #docker #raspberry

📺 Flexduino: Creating a Flexible Arduino UNO Clone

This video describes a unique ♾ Arduino UNO clone, featuring a flexible PCB substrate instead of traditional rigid materials. While it sacrifices some functionalities like a ground plane due to its flexible nature, it serves as both a practical tool and a demonstration of cutting-edge electronic design.

⛓ https://youtu.be/S9VHnmVI19w

#video #arduino

🤖 Reconfigurable Continuous Track Robot (RCTR)

The RCTR introduces a new approach to robotic mobility by reconfiguring its shape dynamically as it moves. It can lock individual track links at different angles, enabling it to climb steps, bridge gaps, and adapt to various terrains. A small actuator at the front locks the links, while a mechanism at the back resets them, allowing the robot to switch between flexible and rigid states.

Although the RCTR currently lacks steering, adding this capability would be straightforward. Its design showcases a unique ability to handle diverse environments, making it adaptable for a wide range of applications.

⛓ More information...

#robots

📺 Raspberry Pi Pico RP2350 - Massive Performance Boost Trick

This video explores the performance differences between Cortex-M33 and RISC-V Hazard 3 cores on the 🍓 RP 2350 microcontroller. Initially, the RISC-V cores were surprisingly slower than expected due to using suboptimal compiler setups on Windows with 👩‍💻 Visual Studio Code. Feedback from the core designer revealed that the default toolchains lacked important optimizations, especially for floating-point operations.

By switching to 👩‍💻 Linux and manually configuring the toolchain and compilers, significant performance improvements were achieved. The optimized setup showed the RISC-V cores outperforming Cortex-M0 cores and, in some cases, even matching or exceeding the Cortex-M33. The video concludes that to fully unlock the RP 2350's potential, developers should use the right compiler and setup, ideally on Linux, for the best performance.

⛓ https://youtu.be/_O3Aeyv2ILM

#video #raspberry #pico2

🖥 Preparing for C++26: A Look Back at Major Features Since C++11

This article provides an overview of the major features added to C++ from C++11 through to the upcoming C++26. It explains key changes like auto type deduction, lambda expressions, and smart pointers, and covers later enhancements like concepts, ranges, and modules. You'll find examples and explanations that show how these features work and what they mean for modern C++ development.

⛓ More information...

#articles #programming

🧠 American math genius checked out the latest OpenAI's language model

Terence Tao is widely regarded as a math genius. He scored a 760 on the SAT math section at age 8, and became the youngest gold medalist in the International Mathematical Olympiad at age 13. Tao earned his PhD from Princeton at just 20.

Recently on Mastodon he shared his experience with OpenAI's GPT-o1 model, noting its advancements in handling mathematical tasks. In his experiments, the model successfully identified and applied Cramer's theorem, showing clear improvement over past versions. However, when tackling more complex problems, it still needed guidance, resembling the work of a capable but inexperienced graduate student.

Tao believes that with further development and integration of tools like computer algebra systems, AI could soon assist in advanced research. While current models require effort to prompt and verify, he sees potential for broader use in mathematics as they continue to improve.

⛓ More information...

#news #artificial_intelligence

🤖 PythonRobotics: A Comprehensive Repository for Robotics Algorithms

PythonRobotics is a collection of robotics algorithms implemented in 🐍 Python, designed to help users understand core concepts in autonomous navigation. It's beginner-friendly and easy to use.

The repository includes:
➡️Algorithms for localization (Kalman, Particle, Histogram filters)
➡️Mapping techniques (Grid maps, Ray casting, Lidar integration)
➡️SLAM implementations (FastSLAM, ICP Matching)
➡️Path planning (A*, D*, RRT*, Dynamic Window Approach)
➡️Path tracking (Stanley control, LQR, Model Predictive Control)
➡️Minimal dependencies and intuitive animations for better learning

This GitHub repository is perfect for robotics learners and developers who want practical, easy-to-follow implementations of widely-used algorithms.

More information:
😹 The GitHub repository
📚 The main article

#programming #python #robotics

♾ Arduino Power Management Library: Energy Optimization Overview

Arduino has released a new Power Management Library aimed at optimizing power consumption for Arduino Pro modules, including the ✈️ Portenta H7, Portenta C33, and ✈️ Nicla Vision. This library helps developers reduce energy usage in IoT and wearable devices by enabling features like sleep modes and real-time battery monitoring.

Key features of the library:
➡️Real-time tracking of voltage, current, temperature, and battery health.
➡️Fine-tuning of battery charging parameters for safe and efficient charging.
➡️Significant power savings through low-power states.
➡️Control and adjustment of power rails to optimize energy usage.

This library is ideal for developers working on battery-powered IoT devices and wearables who need to balance performance and power efficiency, making it a useful tool for creating long-lasting, energy-efficient projects.

More information:
🔗 The official website
😹 The GitHub repository

#libraries #arduino