They grow up so fast, don’t they? It seems like only yesterday that Boston Dynamics’ AlphaDog (aka LS3 ) robot was finding its legs , and yet it has already gone out on training exercises with the US Marine Corps for the first time. The cargo-hauling machine dutifully trotted behind a Marine squad traversing a simulated combat zone in Hawaii, proving that it could both navigate rough terrain and resupply other platoons that would otherwise have to wait for an ATV. As you can see in the clip below, this mechanized pup is still going through some growing pains. There are occasionally places LS3 can’t go, and it’s still pretty noisy. It won’t be jogging around the front line any time soon. However, the semi-realistic test run will help Boston Dynamics refine the ‘bot and get it truly battle-ready. And besides, it’s clear that the Marines are already warming up to their new companion — they’ve affectionately nicknamed it “Cujo.” [Image credit: Sgt. Sarah Dietz, US Marine Corps ] Filed under: Robots , Google Comments Via: Sploid Source: DVIDS

Follow this link:
Watch an AlphaDog robot venture into (simulated) battle for the first time

Samsung has announced that it has suspended dealings with one of its manufacturing partners after an activist organization found “serious and persistent” labor violations at a facility in China. China Labor Watch investigated Dongyang Shinyang Electronics and found multiple instances where at least three underage girls were hired to work 12-hour shifts making parts for Samsung’s phones. The report also alleges more widespread issues at the factory, including a lack of safety training or equipment, refusing to hire male workers and forcing employees to work up to 120 hours of overtime — more than three times the legal limit. Samsung has issued a public statement saying that it will no longer source parts from the factory pending a full investigation. For its part, Dongyang Shinyang claims that a local employment agency is responsible for hiring its personnel, and would have intervened if they “had any idea what was going on.” For now, however, Chinese authorities are involved, and if the claims are found to be true, then Samsung will sever ties with its former partner for good. [Image credit: China Labor Watch] Filed under: Cellphones , Samsung Comments Via: NY Times , (2) Source: China Labor Watch (.PDF) , Samsung Tomorrow

Continued here:
Samsung cuts ties with factory following child labor findings

Researchers from the University of Stanford have developed a microchip that could make it much less costly to diagnose type-1 diabetes. The debilitating disease often strikes children, and the quicker it’s detected, the easier it is to treat. The current test, however, is a time-consuming, costly burden for both hospitals and patients, requiring radioactive materials and several days of time. The new chip uses gold nanoparticles that cause fluorescent materials to glow when telltale antibodies are detected. Unlike the old tests, only a pinprick of blood is required, and the $20 chip can be reused up to 15 times. Such diagnostics could compliment other diabetes research, like Google’s glucose detecting smart contacts , along with potential treatments or even cures . Researchers said the test will be particularly useful in countries where the standard test is too expensive, and are now working to launch it globally. [Image credit: Stanford University/Norbert von der Groeben] Filed under: Science , Alt Comments Source: Stanford University

Read the article:
$20 reusable chip detects type-1 diabetes quickly and cheaply