The robotics team at Diocesan Boys' School in Hong Kong has achieved a record-breaking engineering feat, with the design of the world's smallest humanoid robot according to Guinness World Records.
The small robot is only 5.5 inches long, making it about half an inch shorter than the previous record-holder, designed by Zain Ahmed Qureshi from Pakistan.
The robots that hold the record for the smallest humanoid robot should be "more than just a toy", with the ability to move on two legs and have articulating shoulders, elbows and hips.
But the new record-winning robot not only walks and moves its arms, but can be programmed to dance, play kung fu, and play football.
The four-member team, from seventh to twelfth grade, equipped the robot with servo motors that can be controlled via a control panel attached to the back of the robot, which can be operated via the control buttons on the mobile phone application.
The team also designed the robot's acrylic panels (transparent thermoplastic) and 3D-printed components in the school's robotics lab, and it is powered by a 7.4-volt lithium-ion battery.
He said that he decided to make the robot as small as possible to enable its production in large quantities and at a lower cost.
The team members aspire for every family in Hong Kong and beyond, regardless of income, to own a small, programmable and affordable robot as an educational tool.
“We also plan to open source the design and programming code to advance our goals of promoting STEM education,” a team member told Guinness World Records.
Apple warns against the common rice trick if your phone falls into water
It has long been believed that placing a wet phone in rice would absorb the water and help the phone return to its natural state, but this common hack could even damage your mobile phone.
If your iPhone gets wet, there is a new feature that sends an alert warning you that your phone is wet and you must wait for it to dry before charging it.
Apple warned users against putting the phone in rice, saying: “Do not place your iPhone in a bag of rice. Doing so may allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.”
She continued: “Do not dry the iPhone using an external heat source or compressed air. Do not insert a foreign object, such as a piece of cotton or a paper towel, into the connector.”
Apple recommended that you do not attempt to charge your phone, because if you connect your device while it is wet, it may corrode and cause more problems.
How do you dry your phone?
Apple recommends gently tapping your iPhone on your hand to get rid of excess water, then making sure your connector is facing down.
After that, leave the iPhone in a dry area with airflow, wait half an hour and then repeat the process.
If the alert appears again, leave your iPhone in a dry area for up to one day to help it dry completely.
Are there other ways?
BBC Fox suggests that using pure alcohol may be better for drying your mobile phone.
The experts explained: “The rice will draw out moisture, but that does not necessarily mean that your phone will work properly afterward. The water may have already combined with the phone’s circuits or left traces of metal that corrode the electronics. The rice may also get stuck in the headphone jack.” "Soaking the phone in pure alcohol may be a better option, as the alcohol neutralizes the water and removes any mineral deposits. However, pure alcohol is highly flammable and must be treated with the utmost care."
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