Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 1002024 witnessed tremendous innovations in robotics, from humanoids achieving human-like dexterity to giant robots working on train lines. Developers focused on problem-solving approaches to make these innovations. Tesla Optimus robot, Figure 02 robot, and Clone Robotics’ ghostly humanoid robot are some of the innovations that stunned enthusiasts of robotics this year. Here, we bring the top 7 robot stories from 2024. 1. Watch: Tesla Optimus robot catches high-speed tennis balls with new hand upgrade Developed by Tesla, Optimus humanoid robot features 40 electromechanical actuators, allowing human-like movement, bipedal walking, and precise object handling. The robot is described as a general-purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive, or boring. Optimus is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. It features a human-like design and uses lightweight yet durable materials for versatility and efficiency. Its 2.3 kWh battery, managed by Tesla’s proprietary system, supports extended operation, balancing energy for light or intensive tasks. 2. China’s humanoid robot sets 4.6-foot record for longest standing jump ever Developed by Unitree Robotics, G1 humanoid robot recently set a new record for the standing long jump, showcasing advanced robotics capabilities in the field of agility and performance. The company claims that the G1 robot can perform a standing long jump of up to 1.4 meters, possibly the longest jump ever achieved by a humanoid robot of its size in the world, standing only 1.32 meters tall. The G1 now sports a sleek visor-like face, upgraded from its earlier air-gap design, and functional three-digit hands, replacing previous stumps. Standing 4.33 feet tall (1.32 meters), the G1 folds down to a compact 27 x 17.7 x 11.8 inches for easy storage, despite weighing 77 lbs (35 kg). Equipped with 3D LiDAR, a RealSense depth camera, and a noise-canceling microphone array, it responds to voice commands and provides audio feedback through a 5-W stereo speaker. 3. Watch: Ghostly white humanoid robot with water-powered muscles unveiled The humanoid robot is developed by Clone Robotics , a Polish robotics company. The robot is capable of human-like movements, although it looks creepy because it is so close to the real thing. The company claims that the Torso has an actuated elbow, a cervical spine (neck), and anthropomorphic shoulders with sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joints. The movements are achieved through a battery-operated system of pumps and valves circulating water. The Torso has a water container and uses a hydraulic system to push water through tubes to achieve the necessary flex and activate the tendons to replicate muscle movements. 4. China’s SEO1 humanoid robot is first to achieve human-like gait Designed with cutting-edge technology and aesthetics, SE01 has set a new benchmark for humanoid robotics, sparking excitement and industry-wide discussions about the future of human-robot interaction. One of SE01’s standout features is its advanced end-to-end neural network system. This breakthrough technology tackles a long-standing challenge in robotics: creating a natural, human-like gait. The SE01 achieves this with unprecedented smoothness and energy efficiency, moving fluidly whether stationary or in motion. The robot is developed by Shenzhen EngineAI Robotics. 5. 40-feet-tall humanoid robot with Wall-E-like head to work on train lines The giant robot with Wall-E-like head is being used by West Japan Railways to maintain train lines and perform other critical tasks. The robot is aimed at filling worker shortages in aging Japan as well as reduce accidents such as workers falling from high places. The giant machine is operated by a person who sits in a cockpit on the truck. Its powerful limbs and hands can be operated easily seeing via robot’s eyes that are equipped with cameras. By synchronizing their movements with the robot, the human operator can use the machinery to perform complex tasks that require both power and finesse. Jinki Ittai Co, a robotics technology developer, and Nippon Signal Co, an IT and electrical infrastructure firm, jointly developed the machine. 6. China’s EV maker XPENG unveils Iron robot with 60 joints to mimic human movements XPENG , known for its EVs, showcased its cutting-edge AI innovations in 2024. One of the standout reveals was the humanoid robot, Iron. Standing 5’8′′ tall and weighing 154 pounds (70 kilograms), Iron is already operational, working on Xpeng’s production lines. This robot is tasked with assembling the upcoming P7+ electric vehicle, highlighting its practical role beyond just display. With more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of flexibility, Iron can precisely handle delicate parts and carry out intricate activities like walking. A key part of Iron’s intelligence is the Turing AI chip, which has a 40-core CPU and is intended for AI-intensive jobs like robots, autos, and even flying automobiles. 7. Humanoid robot Figure 02 impresses at BMW plant with 400% efficiency upgrade Operating on a production line, the Figure 02 robot stunned robotics enthusiasts as it achieved a 400% increase in speed and a sevenfold improvement in success rate. The companies described these developments as a game-changer for autonomous manufacturing systems. The Figure 02 humanoid was also successfully tested earlier this year at BMW’s Spartanburg plant, marking the first time BMW integrated a humanoid robot into its production line. Figure 02 was shown performing up to 1,000 placements per day. This represents a milestone for humanoid robots in industrial applications.The man who ended Nadal's career helps the Netherlands beat Germany to reach the Davis Cup final
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Washington Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekThe Northwestern field hockey team won the NCAA Division I Championship on Sunday with a 5-0 smashing of St. Joseph’s at Ocker Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. The No. 2 ranked Wildcats, fueled by a handful of Pennsylvania natives, got two goals and an assist from Maddie Zimmer, the senior midfielder out of Hershey High School. Sophomore Ilse Tromp also scored two goals and Olivia Bent-Cole (Philadelphia) rounded out the Wildcats' scoring with a single score. Northwestern did all its damage in the first half, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. It was a NCAA championship game record for most goals in a half. “We’ve been here three times before and we wanted to come out like that type of team,” Zimmer told the ESPN broadcast. Ashley Sessa, the USA national team member and Schwenksville, Pa., native, set the program record for points in a season with 67 (24 goals, 19 assists), breaking Chelsea Armstrong’s record set in 2012. “Obviously it’s nice to score in a big game,” Zimmer said. " But none of that happens without my teammates. We knew coming into this game the tone we wanted to set." The Wildcats, who have reached the national championship game in four straight years, compiled their best season in program history finishing with a 23-1 record. Zimmer, who played on Team USA in the Olympics over the summer, and Tromp became the second duo in NCAA history to each score multiple goals in the national title game. Wildcat goaltender Annabel Skubisz recorded her a school-record 14th shutout of the season. Northwestern also features grad student Lauren Wadas (Annville/Palmyra) and Lauren Hunter (Lower Dauphin), plus Pa. natives Eva Nemeth (Great Valley) and Faye Post (Lake-Lehman). St. Joseph’s roster included Alison Buffington (East Pennsboro), Erika Culp (Wilson), Tristan Groff (penn Manor) and Emma Winther (Twin Valley). ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
Former President Jimmy Carter , the 39th president of the United States and a tireless advocate for peace and human rights, has passed away at the age of 100, his office confirmed on Sunday. Carter , who had been under hospice care since February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia, became the first U.S. president to reach the age of 100. His wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter , died just weeks earlier, on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96. Carter ’s milestone 100th birthday in October 2024 was marked by widespread tributes, including a message from President Joe Biden. In a video shared with CBS News, Biden praised Carter as a moral force for the nation and the world, calling him a voice of courage and compassion and a cherished friend to him and his family. Born in Georgia, Carter was elected president in 1976 as a Democrat, defeating the incumbent Republican Gerald Ford in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. His presidency was marked by significant challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis, which persisted for 444 days and contributed to his loss in the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan. Despite leaving office with relatively low popularity, Carter ’s post-presidency efforts earned him widespread admiration, leading many to view him as one of the most impactful former presidents. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his global human rights work, Carter spent decades advocating for peaceful conflict resolution, democratic principles, and social justice. In 1982, he and Rosalynn established the Carter Center at Emory University in Atlanta. Through the center, the Carters traveled to developing nations to monitor elections, strengthen democratic institutions, and campaign for human rights. They also led efforts to eradicate diseases and provided critical support for victims of oppression. Carter was also known for his hands-on involvement with Habitat for Humanity, where he and Rosalynn could often be found building homes for underserved families. His dedication to public service after his presidency transformed his reputation, with many referring to him as " America’s greatest ex-president. " Carter , who became the oldest living former president after George H.W. Bush’s death in 2018, was also the first U.S. president born in a hospital. At 56, he left the White House relatively young, allowing him to dedicate over four decades to humanitarian work, which became the hallmark of his legacy.LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Washington Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas’ TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. CHIEFS 30, PANTHERS 27 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns , Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and Kansas City beat Carolina to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their first five possessions. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. David Moore had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Trailing 27-19, Young completed a fourth-down pass to Adam Thielen to move the chains, then went deep for the veteran receiver, who drew a pass-interference penalty on Chamarri Conner. That set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard. LIONS 24, COLTS 6 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores and David Montgomery added a third touchdown run, leading Detroit to a victory over Indianapolis. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards as the Lions (10-1) extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight. Detroit has its been 11-game record since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1934. Jared Goff continued his sensational season, too, completing 26 of 36 throws for 269 yards. The Colts (5-7) lost their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. Anthony Richardson was 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. While Indy managed to hold the NFL’s highest-scoring offense largely in check Sunday, it was doomed by its inability to finish drives with touchdowns. BUCCANEERS 30, GIANTS 7 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Baker Mayfield catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay’s four rushing touchdowns, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York’s skid to six. The Giants’ decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones did nothing to help the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. DeVito threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South. Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield’s TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor’Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed — seemingly mocking DeVito’s go-to celebration — as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead. DOLPHINS 34, PATRIOTS 15 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, including two scores to running back De’Von Achane, and Miami routed New England. The Dolphins (5-6) have a thin margin for error the rest of the season but have kept themselves afloat with a three-game winning streak. With their win at New England (3-9) in Week 5, the Dolphins have swept their division rivals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Tagovailoa, who moved to 7-0 in his career against New England, entered the game with a league-high 73.4% completion rate and went 29 for 40. Backup Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with about 11 minutes left in what was already a blowout, but a bad handoff on his first play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Christian Gonzalez and returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It cut New England’s deficit to 31-15, and Tagovailoa returned the next drive. TITANS 32, TEXANS 27 HOUSTON (AP) — Will Levis threw for 278 yards and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo put Tennessee on top in the fourth quarter and the Titans held on for a win over the Texans. Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 91⁄2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. Titans coach Brian Callahan held both hands in the air and smiled after watching the miss that allowed his team to win on a day it had three turnovers. The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. VIKINGS 30, BEARS 27, OT CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for 90 of his 330 yards in overtime to set up Parker Romo’s game-ending 29-yard field goal , and Minnesota outlasted Chicago after giving up 11 points in the final 22 seconds of regulation. Darnold threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Addison caught eight passes for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown, and T.J. Hockenson had 114 yards receiving for the Vikings (9-2), who remained one game behind Detroit in the rugged NFC North. Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears (4-7), who lost their fifth straight. Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand, leading 27-16 with 1:56 left after Romo kicked a 26-yard field goal. But the Bears weren’t finished. Deandre Carter made up for a muffed punt that led to a touchdown in the third quarter with a 55-yard kickoff return to the 40. Williams took it from there, capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore made it 27-24 with 22 seconds remaining. The Bears recovered the onside kick and Williams hit Moore over the middle for a 27-yard gain to the 30 before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos made a 48-yard field goal as time expired.