April 17, 2025
Tech News
Cosmic Robotics has announced a breakthrough in solar panel installations with its developed robot, Cosmic-1A, which assists workers on-site. As the U.S. struggles with a labor shortage in solar farms, these robots are designed to ease the physical strain and enhance installation efficiency.
This eight-wheeled robot, equipped with a robotic arm, helps workers by lifting heavy solar panels and placing them with precision, requiring less physical exertion from human staff. With high-accuracy GPS and cameras, Cosmic-1A can install a solar panel every 30 to 40 seconds, matching human workers’ speed while reducing their fatigue.
In tech policy news, Alphabet’s Google faces a significant lawsuit in the UK, potentially costing the company up to £5 billion (approximately $6.6 billion). The class action alleges that Google abused its dominant market position in online search, hindering competition and inflating advertisement costs for businesses.
The lawsuit claims that Google has manipulated its search algorithms and partnered with device manufacturers to ensure its services remain the default, thereby restricting alternatives for users and advertisers. In response, Google labeled the suit speculative and pledged to contest the allegations vigorously.
Meanwhile, a security breach has made headlines as the personal X account of British minister Lucy Powell was hacked. The hackers used her verified account to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency called “House of Commons Coin ($HCC),” leading to a significant number of transactions that resulted in profits for the scammers.
Following the hack, immediate actions were taken to secure Powell’s account and eliminate false posts. This incident underscores the rising issue of cybercriminals impersonating public figures to facilitate moves in shady cryptocurrency ventures, leveraging the perceived legitimacy of these accounts.
Tech Explained
Solar Panels – Solar panels are devices that convert sunlight into electricity. They are pivotal in renewable energy production and increasingly being deployed at scale in various locations, especially to power facilities like data centers in response to global energy demand.
Robotic Arm – A robotic arm is an automated, programmable mechanical device designed to perform specific tasks. In the context of solar installations, such arms can perform precise tasks like lifting heavy panels, thereby enhancing worker productivity and safety on construction sites.
High-Accuracy GPS – High-accuracy GPS refers to Global Positioning System technologies that provide location information with much greater precision than standard consumer GPS devices. This technology is crucial for the accurate placement of solar panels, ensuring optimal alignment upon installation.
Class Action – A class action lawsuit allows a group of people with common interests to sue a defendant collectively. This legal approach is often utilized in cases involving numerous individuals affected by the same issue, such as allegations against a corporation for anti-competitive practices.
Cybercrime – Cybercrime encompasses illegal activities conducted via computers or the internet, including hacking. This type of crime has become increasingly prominent, reflecting a surge in schemes that target public figures’ social media to facilitate scams, particularly in the cryptocurrency domain.
