Author: Connected World
As the demand for reliable electricity continues to grow, power grid innovation is becoming increasingly important. With electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and connected technologies placing new demands on the grid, researchers are finding new ways to improve reliability and prepare for future challenges. One example comes out of Stony Brook University in New York, which is developing a new Digital Twin Studio to advance power grid research and resilience. The studio will create virtual models of electrical distribution systems, allowing researchers, students, utilities, and public agencies to test how the grid might respond to extreme weather, outages, equipment failures,…
#Factoftheweek What if the quantum computing market is growing rapidly—but not every company will survive the race? Global quantum computing revenue is projected to reach $1.1 billion in 2027, according to Gartner. That represents a significant milestone for an emerging technology that is beginning to move beyond research and into early business applications. Gartner forecasts global quantum computing revenue will reach $869.9 million in 2026, a 22.9% increase year over year. But while investment is growing, the industry still faces significant challenges. Gartner highlights several developments shaping the market: The bigger picture? Market growth doesn’t guarantee long-term success. As quantum…
Technology like AI (artificial intelligence) is opening new opportunities in healthcare, from analyzing medical images to helping organizations collaborate while keeping sensitive patient information protected. As these technologies continue to advance, researchers are also finding new ways to make sure AI systems are secure, accurate, and reliable. One example comes from Florida Atlantic University, where researchers in the SPEED Lab are studying the security of AI systems used in healthcare. The recent research examined federated AI, an approach that allows hospitals and other organizations to work together to train AI models without directly sharing sensitive patient data. The research found…
#Factoftheweek What if a rebound in home construction doesn’t mean the housing market is recovering? Single-family housing starts increased 7.6% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 918,000 units, according to the NAHB (National Assn. of Home Builders). That sounds encouraging—but builders are still facing significant challenges, with single-family production down 4.7% year to date. NAHB says builders continue to contend with: There are some signs of resilience. Single-family starts were 5.2% higher than August 2025, while single-family permits in the Midwest were up 2.9% year to date through August. But the bigger picture remains complicated. Overall housing…
Technology continues to open new possibilities for ocean research, underwater infrastructure inspection, and search-and-rescue efforts. As underwater missions become more complex, researchers are developing robots that can adapt to changing conditions and mission needs. As one example, researchers at Purdue University have developed a patent-pending underwater robot that can change how it moves during a mission. The robot combines three modes of locomotion—drifting, gliding, and thruster-driven propulsion—allowing it to adapt its mobility strategy based on the mission requirements or environmental conditions. Here is how this can help: Looking to the future, underwater robots could play an even greater role in…
#Factoftheweek What if hospital employees no longer had to manually count inventory? That may sound like a small operational change, but Gartner says AI (artificial intelligence) and computer vision could soon make manual hospital inventory counting obsolete. The technology is moving beyond simply helping employees count supplies faster. Instead, autonomous supply rooms could continuously monitor inventory, predict demand, and trigger replenishment with minimal human involvement. Gartner says autonomous supply rooms could provide: The potential impact is significant. Gartner notes healthcare organizations relying on labor-intensive inventory processes will face increasing difficulty scaling operations and achieving real-time visibility across thousands of inventory…
Technology continues to transform agriculture, as farmers and researchers look for new ways to protect crops, improve efficiency, and reduce losses. As a result, we are seeing the rise of sensors and other advanced technologies that can provide farmers with valuable information before problems become widespread. As one example, researchers at Virginia Tech are using sensors to help detect the early signs of Sclerotinia blight, a fungal disease that can severely damage peanut crops. In recent years, severe outbreaks have caused up to a 50% yield loss. By identifying changes in plants before the disease becomes more difficult to control,…
As AI (artificial intelligence) continues to transform how communities manage critical infrastructure, universities are investing in research and innovation that can help public agencies make smarter, faster, and more cost-effective decisions about road maintenance. As one example, PaveX, a Purdue University-related startup founded by Purdue civil engineering researcher Mohammad Jahanshahi, recently received a $305,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation to advance its AI-powered technology for automating road condition assessments. The technology is designed to help public works departments evaluate road conditions and plan repairs sooner and more efficiently. What makes this technology innovative…
Fact of the week: 63% Investment in technological infrastructure and data center construction in Texas is expected to grow by 63%, reaching $26 billion in direct spending this year. Texas is projected to become a large data center market, surpassing Virginia, and driven by the continued demand for AI infrastructure. There are currently more than 250 data center projects planned or under construction across the state, with 140 already actively being built. The rapid expansion is also driving record energy demand, with more than 6.5 GW of power capacity currently under construction. What are your thoughts? Does Texas seem well…
Technology is transforming transportation by helping researchers better understand why crashes happen and where safety improvements can have the greatest impact. A new research approach uses AI (artificial intelligence) to connect roadway condition data with crash reports, giving transportation agencies clearer insights into road safety risks. Researchers at the University of Houston have developed an AI-powered method that uses large language models to analyze thousands of police crash narratives alongside roadway data, including pavement conditions, road geometry, and surface characteristics. By combining information that has traditionally been evaluated separately, the approach helps identify roadway segments where pavement conditions may contribute…