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ROBOTICS
 SIDE-CHANNEL ATTACKS
Indian researchers have built a low-energy security chip that is
designed to prevent Side-channel attacks (SCAs) on IoT (Internet of
Things) devices.
About
About :

• SCA is a security exploit that aims

to gather information from the
indirect effects of the functioning
of the system hardware rather
than attacking a programme or
software directly.
 SIDE-CHANNEL ATTACKS

• They basically aim to extract sensitive

information like cryptographic keys and
About
parameters by measuring things like
timing information, power consumption
and electromagnetic leaks of a system.
• For example, it can be used on a
smartwatch to extract ECG and heart rate
signals that one wants to keep secret.
 SIDE-CHANNEL ATTACKS
What have the researchers done to prevent SCA attacks?
• Researchers have developed a low-energy
security chip that is designed to prevent Side-
About
channel attacks (SCAs) on IoT (Internet of
Things) devices.
• The chip uses near-threshold computing, a
computing method where the data is split into
separate, unique and random components.
The chip then conducts operations separately
on each component in a random order before
aggregating the results for a final result.
 FIREFLY-LIKE ROBOTS
Inspired by fireflies, researchers from MIT have created insect-scale
robots that show electroluminescence.

About MoU
About
• These firefly-like robots weigh barely
more than a paperclip, and they can be
tracked using the light they emit and
three smartphone cameras. The robots’
wings are controlled by soft actuators or
artificial muscles, which are fabricated
from electroluminescent elastomer
actuators.
 FIREFLY-LIKE ROBOTS

• Using zinc sulphate particles, these

actuators emit colored light during
About
the flight.
• As the zinc particles only light up in
the presence of a very strong and
high-frequency electric field, a strong
electric field is created in the soft
actuator using high voltage.
 FIREFLY-LIKE ROBOTS

• Communication: Like the fireflies, these

robots are said to communicate with
About
each other through the light-emitting
feature (electroluminescence).

• Currently, these robots cannot turn on

and off their light during flight.
 ASTROBEE
For the first time ever, two Astrobee robots have begun working
independently on the International Space Station, side by side with
humans.
About
• Astrobee is NASA’s new free-flying
robotic system.
• They will do tasks such as taking
inventory, documenting experiments
conducted by astronauts with their
built-in cameras or working together
to move cargo throughout the station.
 ASTROBEE

• It also consists of a system that serves

as a research platform that can be
About
outfitted and programmed to conduct
microgravity experiments.
• Three Flying Robots of Astrobee: The
three freeflying robots are named
Honey, Queen, and Bumble. The
Astrobee system consists of three
cubed-shaped robots, software and a
docking station used for recharging.
 ASTROBEE

• The three robots propel themselves

using
About electric fans that allow them to fly
through the microgravity environment of
the International Space Station.
• They “look around” and navigate their
surroundings using cameras and sensors.
 ASTROBEE

• When they are running low on charge, they

can automatically return to their docking
station to begin recharging.
About
• Based on: The Astrobee robots are built on
the knowledge acquired from operating
SPHERES (Synchronised Position Hold,
Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellite)
robots which have been operating on the
International Space Station for over a
decade.
 VYOM MITRA
Recently, the humanoid “Vyommitra” was designed and developed by
the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

About
About:

• It is the ‘female’ AI-enabled robot

astronaut.
• It is a half-humanoid lacking lower
limbs.
 VYOM MITRA

• Characteristics: It has been designed to

resemble a human with facial expressions
About
and speech and sight capabilities.

• Development: IISU was responsible for

the design, development, and integration
of the robot, while ISRO centre Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba
developed its fingers.
 VYOM MITRA

Significance:
• To fly aboard unmanned test missions
ahead of the Gaganyaan human space-
About
flight mission.
• ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) has
successfully integrated it with a computer
‘brain’ which enables it to ‘read’ control
panels aboard the unmanned test flights
and communicate with the ISRO ground
stations.
 MICRO-SWIMMERS
Researchers have developed a microbot made from the two-dimensional
compound poly (heptazine imide) carbon nitride (aka PHI carbon nitride).

About
• Micro-swimmers’ may soon help with
drug delivery.
• These microbots are like miniaturized
humans.
• They range from 1-to 10 micrometres in
size and can self-propel when energized
by shining light.
 CYBER-KNIFE
PM Modi recently laid the foundation stone of various healthcare
facilities in Civil Hospital Asarwa, Ahmedabad.

About

• The new Civil Hospital Asarwa will

be the first government hospital
in the country where stateof-the-
art technology like Cyber-Knife
will be available.
 CYBER-KNIFE

• The CyberKnife System is a non-invasive

About
treatment for cancerous and non-
cancerous tumors and other conditions
where radiation therapy is indicated.
• CyberKnife treatments are typically
performed in 1 to 5 sessions.
 CYBER-KNIFE

• It is used to treat condition s

throughout the body, including the
prostate, lung, brain, spine, head and
About
neck, liver, pancreas and kidney.
• It can be an alternative to surgery or for
patients who have inoperable or
surgically complex tumors.
• It offers several advantages to patients,
including rapid relief from pain and
other symptoms.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
 PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS
Recently, Indian Scientists have devised a new process for increasing
the efficiency and stability of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods
based on Perovskite Solar Cells (PSC).
About
About :

• It is a type of solar cell that includes a

perovskite structured compound, most
commonly a hybrid organic-inorganic
lead or tin halide-based material, as
the light-harvesting active layer.
 PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS

• PSCs have become commercially

About
attractive because of the potential of
achieving even higher efficiencies
and very low production costs.
• However, the challenge lies in its
short- and long-term stability.
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS
Recently, NITI Aayog member and scientist V K Saraswat suggested
that the government should focus on setting up small modular
reactors as it would help meet the country’s energy needs and also in
About replacing aging thermal power plants.
About Small modular reactors:
• Small modular reactors (SMRs) are
advanced nuclear reactors that have
a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e)
per unit, which is about one third of
the generating capacity of traditional
nuclear power reactors.
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS
• The SMR is relatively a nascent concept,
but they can make nuclear energy more
scalable and flexible.
• About
It is projected that up to 21GW of SMRs
could be added globally by 2035, making
up approximately 3% of total installed
nuclear capacity.
• According to the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), more than 70 SMR
concepts are currently under development
in 18 countries.
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS
Advantages of SMRs:
• Smaller footprint: SMRs can be sited on
locations not suitable for larger nuclear
About
power plants.
• Affordable: Prefabricated units of SMRs
can be manufactured and then shipped
and installed on site. This makes them
more affordable to build than large power
reactors, which are often designed for a
particular location, sometimes leading to
construction delays.
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

• Savings: SMRs offer savings in cost and

construction time, and they can be
About
deployed incrementally to match
increasing energy demand.
• Sustainable Development: It can play a
key role in the clean energy transition,
while also helping countries address
the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

• Reduced fuel requirements: SMRs

have reduced fuel requirements.
About
• Power plants based on SMRs may
require less frequent refueling, every 3
to 7 years, in comparison to between 1
and 2 years for conventional plants.
• Some SMRs are designed to operate
for up to 30 years without refueling.
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS
Microreactors:
• Microreactors are small modular nuclear
power plants that have a capacity of
About
fewer than 10 megawatts (MW).
• Although the technology has not been
commercially demonstrated yet, several
designs are moving through licensing in
North America and Europe, with
anticipated demonstrations in the next
few years.
 SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

• They are expected to operate for years

without refueling including the need to
About
generate power on a small scale in
remote locations, at deployed military
installations, and in locations recovering
from natural disasters.
 ROSHINI
It is India’s first Saline Water Lantern which uses sea water as
electrolyte between specially designed electrodes to power the LED
lamps.
About

• Developed by: National Institute of

Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
 ROSHINI

• Technology can also be used in

hinterlands, as any saline/normal
water mixed with common salt can
About
be used to power the lantern

• Significance:

o Cost-effective and feasible to operate.

o Bring ‘Ease of Living’ to the poor and
needy, particularly the fishing
community.
 LEDS
Scientists have developed a material through which we can move
towards bright, stable and affordable light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

About
• LED is a semiconductor device that
emits infrared or visible light when
charged with an electric current.
• However, attaining desired stability
and brightness of LEDs has been
challenging for scientists.
 LEDS

What has been developed now?

• Scientists at the Center for Nano and Soft
About
Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous
research institute under the Department
of Science and Technology (DST) found
that simple plasma treatment of inorganic
material of cesium lead halide nano
crystals can lead to an enhanced
stabilization of many folds showing the
promise of bright and stable LEDs.
 FLEX FUEL

Toyota to launch India's first flex-fuel car.

About
About:

• The initiative will power India's

aim to be among the top global
producers in every segment of
vehicles over the next 25 years.
 FLEX FUEL

About
• Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) have
an internal combustion engine
and are capable of operating on
gasoline and any blend of
gasoline and ethanol up to 83%.
 FLEX FUEL

• E85 (or flex fuel) is a gasoline-ethanol

blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol,
About
depending on geography and season.
• FFVs have one fuel system, and most
components are the same as those
found in a conventional gasoline-only
car.
 FLEX FUEL

• Some special ethanol-compatible

components are required to compensate
About
for the different chemical properties and
energy content in ethanol, such as
modifications to the fuel pump and fuel
injection system.
• FFVs have improved acceleration
performance when operating on higher
ethanol blends.
 HYDROGEN FUEL CELL
Recently, India's first truly indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell
bus was unveiled.

About

• It is a collaboration between the Council of

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
and the private firm KPIT Technologies Ltd.
• A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy
conversion device that uses hydrogen and
air to generate electricity, heat, and water.
 HYDROGEN FUEL CELL

Benefits of Fuel Cell:

About
• Lower operational costs as a
result of hydrogen's high energy
density and efficiency.
• Meet climate change targets by
decarbonizing transportation.
 HYDROGEN FUEL CELL

• Because of its quiet operation and

modular design, it can be used in
About
small residential, automotive, and
portable electronic devices.
• Overcome smog and health issues
caused by air pollution.
• Operating times are significantly
longer than battery life.
 POP-FAME
Scientists in the United States have created a fuel called POP-FAME from
bacteria.

About

• POP-FAME - Polycyclopropanated
fatty acid methyl ester, is a new
fuel molecule composed of seven
cyclopropane rings.
• Cyclopropane is produced naturally
by bacteria in the Streptomyces
family.
 POP-FAME

• POP-FAME has an energy density of more

About
than 50 megajoules (MJ), compared to 32
MJ for gasoline and 35 MJ for RP-1 (a
kerosene-based rocket fuel), making it an
ideal rocket fuel.
 STEEL SLAG
The first six-lane highway road made from steel slag was
inaugurated in Surat, Gujarat, by the Union Minister of Steel.

About
About:
• It is a byproduct of steel production,
formed during the separation of
molten steel from impurities in steel-
making furnaces.
 STEEL SLAG

About
• Steel slags are also used in agriculture
due to their ability to correct soil
acidity.
• It contains nutrients for the plants as
well as silicate fertilizer, which can
provide silicon to the plants.