Latest news with #HERA
Newsweek
11-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Voice Assistant Tech for Spacecraft Anomaly Detection, Resolution Tested
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A research team at Texas A&M University is studying the use of Siri-like virtual assistant technology for use in space. The technology, known as Daphne-AT, could be used to help drive decision-making that requires large amounts of real-time and previously learned data. On Earth, virtual assistants (VA) are typically humans working remotely who provide administrative, technical or creative support to executives utilizing shared technology platforms. Daphne-AT allows for less human interaction. "Daphne-AT uses a mix of logic and data-driven decision-making to help astronauts make informed decisions when a problem arises on a spacecraft," said Dr. Daniel Selva, an associate professor of aerospace engineering at Texas A&M's Department of Aerospace Engineering. "The VA uses spacecraft data in real time to detect anomalies, hypothesize what is causing the issue and give astronauts information on how to solve the problem." The VA tool uses real-time data streams of a spacecraft's environmental controls and life support systems, determining what is within and outside of baseline tolerances. When there is a level that is outside the established tolerances, Daphne-AT could alert astronauts and command, giving them the information to solve the problem. Researchers at the school used a mix of virtual reality (VR) and laboratory simulations to study the effectiveness of Daphne-AT. During VR trials, researchers tested the amount of time it took engineers to resolve five anomalies with and without Daphne-AT's assistance, finding that using the VA, participants were able to solve anomalies faster, with less mental workload. Old Glory on the Red Planet, a close-up view of the United States flag plate on NASA's Perseverance was acquired on June 28, 2025 (the 1,548th day, or sol, of its mission to Mars), by... Old Glory on the Red Planet, a close-up view of the United States flag plate on NASA's Perseverance was acquired on June 28, 2025 (the 1,548th day, or sol, of its mission to Mars), by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) imager on the turret at the end of the rover's Mars robotic arm. More NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Additionally, researchers took their trial on the road, testing NASA engineers at the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Eight crews of four participants stayed in HERA for 45 days each and the results differed from those at the university, showing that Daphne-AT's assistance did not significantly affect the participants' timing in resolving anomalies. "Part of the difference is likely due to the differences in training and experience levels of participants," said Selva. "There are only so many anomalies we can present to participants, and the trained professionals had more time with the VA and more opportunities to resolve different anomalies." The technology is still in development, the result of Selva's lifelong fascination with space. "For the longest time, I have been fascinated by two things: space exploration, and intelligence (both human and artificial)," he told Newsweek. "I became particularly interested in human-AI teaming during my dissertation (2008-2012), when I worked on intelligent decision support systems to help NASA engineers design and plan space missions. I continued with that idea as an Assistant Professor at Cornell, where we developed our own language models to serve as natural language interfaces for our AI assistants. These were ridiculously small models by today's standards, with hundreds to thousands of parameters instead of hundreds of billions. They were very reliable for our particular problem but limited in scope and with a mechanistic feel in their responses, due to the use of pre-coded answer templates," he continued. Selva is working on the project with Dr. Ana Diaz Artiles, his wife: "We wrote the original proposal to NASA to study AI assistants to support astronauts with spacecraft anomaly resolution. Both Ana and I worked for Arianespace for several years as members of the Ariane 5 launch campaign – that is when we started dating! So we were very familiar with anomaly resolution in high-stakes operational environments. "Moreover, the environment at Texas A&M University was perfect to develop this project, as it enabled us to leverage the amazing experience of former astronaut and Professor Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, a co-I in the project. We were also able to recruit a top-notch statistician to help us make sure we are analyzing our data correctly. It was one of those proposals where all the pieces fell together nicely. And luckily, it was funded. We started the project in 2019, and the field has evolved tremendously since then, particularly with the disruption of large language models, which have enabled immensely better interfaces for our AI assistants. The experience we have gathered over the last 6 years will help NASA develop guidelines for future development of similar AI assistants." The results of the initial Daphne-AT study were published in the Journal of Aerospace Information Systems by Selva and Diaz Artiles. Co-authors include Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, an aerospace engineering professor at Texas A&M and former NASA astronaut and Dr. Raymond Wong, an associate professor of statistics at Texas A&M.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
EU aims to stockpile critical medical supplies for future crises
Brussels: The European Union aims to stockpile critical medical equipment and vaccines in case of future health crises and to set up a network to ease coordination among EU countries, European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said on Wednesday. The 27-country bloc is scarred by the memory of the COVID-19 pandemic when it faced a shortage of vaccines and protective masks. "We need a long-term strategy to make sure that essential supplies that keep society running are always available," European Commissioner Lahbib told a news conference. Under the EU Stockpiling and Medical Countermeasures Strategies, the EU will draw up a priority list of medical equipment to be stockpiled in Europe, including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment. The EU will double investments in the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, known as HERA for short, to 200 million euros ($234 million) by 2027, Lahbib said. The scheme funds research and development projects. She said the European Commission will also launch a Medical Countermeasures Accelerator to serve as a one-stop shop to help companies access financing to develop health technologies. A European and Global Wastewater Sentinel System will be set up to collect samples from European airports to detect disease hotspots and monitor in real time the evolution of outbreaks. Under a measure called the Medifence initiative, the EU will collaborate with NATO's Joint Health group to draw up a list of dual-use medical countermeasures - usable for both military and civilian purposes - such as antidotes and chemical protections. As part of the Stockpiling Strategy, the EU will develop a Stockpiling Network with member states to coordinate their initiatives and avoid duplicate funding. "We know that some countries are stockpiling on their own, but we don't know who has what. The first step is to exchange information," Lahbib said. ($1 = 0.8536 euros)
Reuters
09-07-2025
- Health
- Reuters
EU aims to stockpile critical medical supplies for future crises
BRUSSELS, July 9 (Reuters) - The European Union aims to stockpile critical medical equipment and vaccines in case of future health crises and to set up a network to ease coordination among EU countries, European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said on Wednesday. The 27-country bloc is scarred by the memory of the COVID-19 pandemic when it faced a shortage of vaccines and protective masks. "We need a long-term strategy to make sure that essential supplies that keep society running are always available," European Commissioner Lahbib told a news conference. Under the EU Stockpiling and Medical Countermeasures Strategies, the EU will draw up a priority list of medical equipment to be stockpiled in Europe, including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment. The EU will double investments in the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, known as HERA for short, to 200 million euros ($234 million) by 2027, Lahbib said. The scheme funds research and development projects. She said the European Commission will also launch a Medical Countermeasures Accelerator to serve as a one-stop shop to help companies access financing to develop health technologies. A European and Global Wastewater Sentinel System will be set up to collect samples from European airports to detect disease hotspots and monitor in real time the evolution of outbreaks. Under a measure called the Medifence initiative, the EU will collaborate with NATO's Joint Health group to draw up a list of dual-use medical countermeasures - usable for both military and civilian purposes - such as antidotes and chemical protections. As part of the Stockpiling Strategy, the EU will develop a Stockpiling Network with member states to coordinate their initiatives and avoid duplicate funding. "We know that some countries are stockpiling on their own, but we don't know who has what. The first step is to exchange information," Lahbib said. ($1 = 0.8536 euros)
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
EU aims to stockpile critical medical supplies for future crises
The European Union aims to stockpile critical medical equipment and vaccines in case of future health crises and to set up a network to ease coordination among EU countries, European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said on Wednesday. The 27-country bloc is scarred by the memory of the COVID-19 pandemic when it faced a shortage of vaccines and protective masks. "We need a long-term strategy to make sure that essential supplies that keep society running are always available," European Commissioner Lahbib told a news conference. Under the EU Stockpiling and Medical Countermeasures Strategies, the EU will draw up a priority list of medical equipment to be stockpiled in Europe, including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment. The EU will double investments in the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, known as HERA for short, to 200 million euros ($234 million) by 2027, Lahbib said. The scheme funds research and development projects. She said the European Commission will also launch a Medical Countermeasures Accelerator to serve as a one-stop shop to help companies access financing to develop health technologies. A European and Global Wastewater Sentinel System will be set up to collect samples from European airports to detect disease hotspots and monitor in real time the evolution of outbreaks. Under a measure called the Medifence initiative, the EU will collaborate with NATO's Joint Health group to draw up a list of dual-use medical countermeasures - usable for both military and civilian purposes - such as antidotes and chemical protections. As part of the Stockpiling Strategy, the EU will develop a Stockpiling Network with member states to coordinate their initiatives and avoid duplicate funding. "We know that some countries are stockpiling on their own, but we don't know who has what. The first step is to exchange information," Lahbib said. ($1 = 0.8536 euros) (Reporting by Milan Strahm; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
EU aims to stockpile critical medical supplies for future crises
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, attends the London Sudan conference, marking the two-year anniversary of the Sudan conflict, at Lancaster House, in London, Britain April 15, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/Pool/File Photo BRUSSELS - The European Union aims to stockpile critical medical equipment and vaccines in case of future health crises and to set up a network to ease coordination among EU countries, European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said on Wednesday. The 27-country bloc is scarred by the memory of the COVID-19 pandemic when it faced a shortage of vaccines and protective masks. "We need a long-term strategy to make sure that essential supplies that keep society running are always available," European Commissioner Lahbib told a news conference. Under the EU Stockpiling and Medical Countermeasures Strategies, the EU will draw up a priority list of medical equipment to be stockpiled in Europe, including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment. The EU will double investments in the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, known as HERA for short, to 200 million euros ($234 million) by 2027, Lahbib said. The scheme funds research and development projects. She said the European Commission will also launch a Medical Countermeasures Accelerator to serve as a one-stop shop to help companies access financing to develop health technologies. A European and Global Wastewater Sentinel System will be set up to collect samples from European airports to detect disease hotspots and monitor in real time the evolution of outbreaks. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Asia Malaysia confirms existence of document central to ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid, reports say Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification Asia Amid handshakes and familiar friends, Asean navigates tariffs and tension in KL Under a measure called the Medifence initiative, the EU will collaborate with NATO's Joint Health group to draw up a list of dual-use medical countermeasures - usable for both military and civilian purposes - such as antidotes and chemical protections. As part of the Stockpiling Strategy, the EU will develop a Stockpiling Network with member states to coordinate their initiatives and avoid duplicate funding. "We know that some countries are stockpiling on their own, but we don't know who has what. The first step is to exchange information," Lahbib said. REUTERS
