We may earn a commission from links on this page.Roborock introduced three new models this year from their upper-mid tier line, QRevo: the Curv, Edge, and Slim. The Curv and Edge only differ in the design of their docking stations, and the Slim has a shorter profile designed to go under more furniture. While all these models share the latest features, if you prefer the look of a curvy dock, youd choose a Curv; if you like hard edges, youd choose the Edge; and if you have a specific need for a robot with a shorter profile, youd choose the Slimbut you would give up a third of your suction power and some space in the water and dust bin capacity. It's worth noting that the Qrevo Slim is dramatically less expensive at $1,000 compared to the $1,600 Curv and $1,300 Edge. But the Curv has already become one of my favorite robot vacuums on the market. Its cutting-edge features include a chassis that can lift itself, and I was surprised how effective the Curv could be during a winter where my floors were being destroyed by muddy paw prints and constant debris. Roborock QRevo Curv Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,599.99 at Best Buy Shop Now Shop Now $1,599.99 at Best Buy Why the Curv is one of my favorite new robot vacuums Credit: Amanda Blum The first thing I noticed about the Curv is that it's far more compact than most docking towers. The Dreame L40, which I recently reviewed, was almost two feet tall, but the Curv stands at barely a foot tall, and it isnt any wider than any other model Ive seen lately, either. The soft arcs of the tower differentiate it from any other robot Ive tested this year, and if youre looking for something softer than the usual block-y robot towers, this is it.The tower comes more or less put together and ready to go, and it paired seamlessly to the app on the first try. It's also light and easy to move, and it comes with two hefty water containers, one for dirty and one for clean water. Unlike most docking towers Ive seen, the face of this dock doesnt come off; instead, everything is accessed through the lid. If I had to register any complaint about the docking tower, it would be that the design doesnt accommodate a place for cleaning fluid, which many contemporary docking towers do. Youll need to add it to your clean water each time you fill up.The most extendable vacuum sweep and a split roller design Credit: Amanda Blum There's a lot of new design under the robot vacuum itself, and I was immediately struck by the vacuum sweep. Most people don't think about vacuum bristles often, but the silicone bristles that grab debris are one of the most functional parts of a vacuum. Some models have added multiple sweeps, while others allow the sweep to extend farther from under the robot, but the Curv was the first to reduce the sweep arms from three to two, andto put the sweep on a protruding limb that can extend out to hug a wall. The result is a better job at clearing debris close to a wall. I only wish the Curv had a soft, immobile cloth on its bumper to clean baseboards like the Narwhal.The Curv features magnetic mop heads, which means the machine activates the magnet when it's running, but when the robot returns to the dock, the magnet drops the mop heads so they can be more thoroughly cleaned by the dock. To go one step further, these mop itself is actually detachable and can be thrown in the washing machine and reattached. Credit: Amanda Blum The Curv has a liftable chassis to get unstuckOne of the new design highlights is that the entire robot itself can lift itself by the front roller, and not just a little. When it runs into something like a rug or cord, the robot looks like its doing a pushup to get over the obstacle, and the back wheels have some bounce to them to help. The feature helped the robot navigate the mess of cords and dog toys under my couches, but it also meant the robot repeatedly tried to get into spaces beyond its scope. Instead of navigating around obstacles, the Curv occasionally tries to climb them instead, like when I watched it struggle around a lamp base and try to overcome an abandoned dog puzzle. In all cases, the robot recovered and went on its way.Many expensive robot vacuums do a middling job at overcoming obstacles, but the Curv handled them well, and the extending sweep did a great job of getting into corners and alongside walls.The bottom lineI used to think that two spinning mops, as featured on the QRevo models and most current robots, aren't as effective as one solid vibrating mop pad, but the Curv made me reevaluate my opinion. The Curv cleans well with the amount of water it uses, the pressure on its spinning disks, and the discs' reach. It isn't as good a job as the vacuum, but for most people and in most situations, this is going to be as good as it gets.The Roborock app alsos continues to be great, and while there weren't new innovations in this model that I could see, I continue to appreciate features like Pin and Go, where you put a pin on the map and the robot goes directly there; and remote control, which allows you to control the robot from your phone (mostly an aid in rescuing your robot vacuum from under your couch or other furniture).Id still love to see Roborock innovate a solution to sweep baseboards as the robot is moving along, and Id also like to see a receptacle for cleaning solution in the dock. But until theres a new S8 model, Id say this is the top of the line at Roborock, and worth the $1599 price tag.

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Capitol buildings are almost always an imposing presence. The seat of government, they tend to be elegant and stately and frequently capped by a dome.Visitors to Pennsylvanias Capitol in Harrisburg are drawn to its priceless artwork, polished marble and intricate carvings, but hidden behind the doors of some of its most ornate offices and chambers are another treasure: hundreds of antique clocks that were part of its original design.The 273 working clocks include many that are integrated into fireplace mantels and other building features.They are not low maintenance, requiring regular oiling and occasional mechanical overhauls.And every week, in a throwback to a time before wristwatches and cellphones, clock winders roam the halls ensuring the century-plus-old timekeepers keep ticking.On a recent morning, Bethany Gill demonstrated how its done going room to room with an array of ladders and custom tools. She opens the glass covers, rotates the mechanisms enough to keep them going for about a week and checks their accuracy before moving on to the next one.Gill is a former art student who works for Johnson & Griffiths Studio, a Harrisburg firm that just received a five-year, $526,000 winding and maintenance contract renewal from the Capitol Preservation Committee.Shes also a lifelong clock lover who looks forward to the semiannual transitions between daylight saving time and Eastern Standard Time.Why?My dad was a clock collector growing up, Gill said. And every Sunday we would go around the house and wind the clocks. And that was always just a nice thing that I did with my dad.Pennsylvanias Capitol was crafted by architect Joseph M. Huston, who won its design competition in 1901 with a vision for a temple of democracy a palace of art that would be as fancy as what could then be found in Europe.Among countless other fine touches, Huston designed at least 180 custom clock cases, including smaller so-called keystone clocks that are shaped to remind people of Pennsylvanias early and critical role in the formation of the United States, leaving it with the nickname of the Keystone State.The clocks are just part of why the buildings so unique and so intricate, said Capitol Preservation Committee historian Jason Wilson. The mantels surrounding the clocks are all custom designed.Every so often the clocks, most of them built from mahogany or stained mahogany, are carefully removed from their spots around the Capitol and taken to a facility for cleaning, maintenance and repair. They seem to run better when kept wound.Huston, the architect, achieved his goal. The Capitol is a showpiece that draws thousands of visitors every year to where 253 state lawmakers convene to debate and pass legislation.While the buildings and the clocks are his lasting legacy, Huston was convicted of a conspiracy to defraud the state during the Capitol construction project and spent several months in another Pennsylvania landmark, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.Mark Scolforo, Associated Press

The United States won a ruling on Friday in a trade dispute with Mexico, which had sought to ban imports of genetically modified corn for human consumption.U.S. growers, who had worried about the potential loss of the single biggest export market for U.S. corn, welcomed the decision, calling it a major win.Mexicos Economy Department said it disagreed with the ruling by a panel of experts convened under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, known as the USMCA, but said it would abide by it.The Mexican government does not agree with the panels finding, given that it considers that the measures in question are aligned with the principles of protecting public health and the rights of Indigenous communities, Mexicos Economy Department said. Nonetheless, the Mexican government will respect the ruling.Mexico has been importing genetically modified corn from the U.S. for years, buying about $3 billion worth annually. The corn is mainly used to feed livestock in Mexico but the country announced plans for a ban on human consumption in 2020, including a possible future ban on GM corn for livestock as well.The U.S. government formally requested the dispute settlement panel over Mexicos limits on genetically modified corn in 2023. Mexico had long claimed the measures under debate had no effect on trade, and did not violate the trade agreement.The U.S. Trade Representatives Office, or USTR, objected to Mexicos ban on GM corn for human consumption and plans to eventually ban it as animal feed.The USTR said Friday that the panel agreed with the U.S. on all legal claims, finding that Mexicos measures are not based on science and undermine the market access that Mexico agreed to provide in the USMCA.The decision was met with praise from the U.S. National Corn Growers Association. This outcome is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country, said the associations president, Kenneth Hartman Jr.Mexico is the leading importer of U.S. yellow corn, most of which is genetically modified. Almost all is fed to cattle, pigs and chickens in Mexico, because Mexico doesnt grow enough feed corn.Corn for human consumption in Mexico is almost entirely domestically-grown white corn, though corn-meal chips or other processed products could potentially contain GM corn.Mexico argues biotech corn may have health effects, even when used as fodder, but hasnt yet presented proof. It had previously appeared eager to avoid a major showdown with the U.S. on the issue but not eager enough to completely drop talk of any ban.In early 2023, Mexicos Economy Department issued new rules that dropped the date for substituting imports of GM feed corn. The new rules say Mexican authorities will carry out the gradual substitution of GM feed and milled corn, but sets no date for doing so and says potential health issues will be the subject of study by Mexican experts with health authorities from other countries.Under a previous version of the rules, some U.S. growers worried a GM feed corn ban could happen as soon as 2024 or 2025.While the date was dropped, the language remained in the rules about eventually substituting GM corn, something that could have caused prices for meat to skyrocket in Mexico, where inflation is already high.

U.S. investors are preparing for a swathe of changes in 2025, from tariffs and deregulation to tax policy, that will ripple through markets as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, putting the focus on whether the U.S. economy can continue to outperform.The changing of the guard in Washington has big implications for how stocks, bonds and currencies fare in the new year and may require investors to rejig portfolios.Forecasts call for another buoyant year for stocks, the dollar to maintain its recent strength over the coming months and Treasury yields to march higher.Here is a chart-based overview of key market themes and segments that investors are closely monitoring:U.S. exceptionalismInvestors largely expect U.S. economic exceptionalism to persist in the new year, as robust consumer spending and a resilient labor market put U.S. growth on a firmer footing than that of many of its developed market peers.The U.S. economy is expected to find further support from any potential tax reform, including a reduction in the corporate tax rate. Such tax cuts which would need to pass Congress could support company earnings and sentiment on stocks.In contrast, although the euro-zone economy grew faster than anticipated in the third quarter, its outlook remains weak due to potential large tariffs from the Trump administration, escalating trade tensions with China and low consumer confidence.We do expect U.S. growth to outperform the rest of the world in 2025, on the back of potentially favorable monetary and fiscal policy, said Sonu Varghese, global macro strategist at Carson Group.The FedFront and center for investors in 2025 is how rapidly or deeply the U.S. Federal Reserve can cut rates. The Fed cut rates in December, continuing reductions after a period of aggressive rate hikes, but indicated it would slow the pace of further cuts.Stocks have been buoyed by expectations of easier monetary policy. But with benchmark Treasury yields rising sharply after the Fed meeting, the rate outlook threatens to undermine the momentum for stocks.King dollarDollar bears have taken a battering this year and most FX market strategists forecast continued strength for the greenback.Many of the factors that powered a 7% gain for the currency against a basket of peers this year, including relatively robust U.S. economic growth and rising Treasury yields, are expected to continue supporting the dollar.Trumps tariffs and protectionist trade policies are also likely to bolster the buck.Prospects of heightened inflation could also hinder the Fed from keeping up with interest-rate cuts, even as other central banks proceed with cuts, further lifting the dollar.Getting the dollars trajectory right is crucial for investors, given the currencys central role in global finance.A strong dollar could weigh on the outlook for U.S. multinationals as well as complicate other central banks efforts to fight inflation as it makes their currencies cheaper.Another year of spectacular gains in the dollar might break something in the global economy but with major uncertainties clouding the horizon and another round of American exceptionalism largely priced in, further outperformance could be difficult to achieve, said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at payments company Corpay.Volatility watchInvestors got a taste on Wednesday of how quickly market stability can shift to turmoil. U.S. stocks fell sharply after the Federal Reserve projected fewer interest-rate cuts than expected and as concerns grew about a potential partial government shutdown.Global financial markets may extend generally tranquil trading conditions into the new year but analysts warn that a volatility shock is overdue.Analysts at BofA Global Research said they do not expect a repeat of the record-low stock-market volatility levels set in 2017, the beginning of Trumps first term.FX markets could be in for higher volatility next year as the twin forces of tariffs and central-bank actions come to bear.The shock absorber in financial markets is going to be foreign exchange next year, said Fredrik Repton, senior portfolio manager with the global fixed income and currency management teams at Neuberger Berman.Crypto feverThe speculative fever that gripped bitcoin and crypto-related stocks in 2024 is unlikely to abate in the new year, strategists said.2024 was a banner year for speculation, which had morphed into a self-fulfilling frenzy in recent weeks, Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers.While these trades have sometimes run into trouble, most recently after the Feds December meeting, investors have been willing to buy the dip.When something has been working for so many people for so long, they are loath to give it up, Sosnick said.And work the trades have. Bitcoin hit a record high above $100,000 in December on expectations that Trumps election will usher in a friendly regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies.Crypto-related stocks have also been on a tear, with software company and bitcoin stockpiler MicroStrategy leading the charge with a more than 400% rise for the year.Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Reuters

Local studio 5468796 Architecture has renovated an early 20th-century utilities building in Winnipeg, Canada, showcasing the industrial equipment while updating the structure for contemporary usage.Originally built in 1901 on railway land to help the city's water supply, the James Avenue Pumping Station in Winnipeg forms the centrepiece of the development.5468796 Architecture has added residential buildings to the siteThe station closed in 1986 and was slated for demolition. 5468796 Architecture preserved the structure by converting it into an office and restaurant, while additional residential buildings were added to the site."The project approaches the existing pumping station as a 'found object', integrating an office and restaurant within, while flanking the heritage building with two residential blocks that push the potentials of multi-family housing," said the studio.Inside the brick pumphouse, much of the historical machinery was maintainedFor the brick pumping station building, the studio utilised the capacity of the gantry crane structure to create a "floating floor" in the large central hall, above the original machinery.These elevated floors were framed with steel and glass and accessed via a series of walkways that traverse the floor of the building, where the equipment lies relatively untouched.Offices were suspended inside the pumphouseOffice space and a restaurant fill the steel-and-glass structures, which have polished concrete flooring and open up directly to the original industrial roof and its new skylights, providing the structure with plentiful natural light."The commercial spaces are grounded in the straightforward industrial quality of the place," said the studio."The walls are defined by steel studs and stiffening bars that cut the required glazing thickness in half and eliminated the need for skilled installers, which in turn sped up the construction, made it more affordable, and reduced the building's embodied carbon by half."Elevated walkways connected the three buildings on the siteOutside, two new residential buildings were placed in the narrow conditions of the site. Each of the buildings is suspended with columns similar to those found in the Pumphouses's gantry structure, echoing the industrial language and creating visual consistency throughout the site.The residential buildings were created using dark metals and black-painted wood. The floors and ceilings were made using nail-laminated timber, a homage to the industrial construction in the area.The residential buildings are narrow and lifted off the ground to accommodate foot traffic5468796 Architecture said that it turned the typical Winnipeg apartment building "inside-out"."Open-air egress transforms nondescript interior corridors into vibrant exterior passageways," said the studio.Read: 5468796 Architecture wraps Winnipeg house in weathering steel veil"The walkways weave within and around the new and existing buildings and become an extension of the suites, creating communal space for neighbourly interaction," it continued."Both buildings employ a 'skip-stop' configuration, where access to suites on every second floor is provided within the unit itself, significantly increasing efficiency and embodied energy by essentially halving the corridor footprint, as well as enabling through-suites with ventilation and natural light from two directions."Nail-laminated timber was used for the floors and ceilings in the residential buildingsThe separation of the residential buildings from the pumphouse also created a continuation of the winding roads of the historical area, allowing for pedestrian access and, the studio hopes, a continued social vibrancy to the project.Other renovations of industrial buildings include Swiss architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron' restoration and conversion of a power plant on an industrial site along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.The photography is by James Brittain.Project credits:Landscape architect: Scatliff + Miller + MurrayStructural engineer: Lavergne Draward & AssociatesMechanical & electrical Engineer: MCW ConsultantsCivil engineer: MCW ConsultantsSurveyor: Barnes & DuncanBuilding code consultant: GHL ConsultantsEnergy consultant: FootprintThe post 5468796 Architecture adds "floating" office floor within preserved pumphouse appeared first on Dezeen.

If youve ever tried charging your phone on a wireless charging mat only to realize after an hour that it never charged because it was just mildly misaligned, youll understand the frustration of car-makers whove been wanting to wirelessly charge EVs. You see, its sure easy to plug an EV into a charging port, but nobody really likes the effort of stepping out, finding a cable, plugging it in, and waiting for your car to charge. Its a lot easier to just drive onto a wireless charging mat and have your car charged while its parked (and while youre sitting comfortably inside).The problem, however, is that alignment. Wireless charging is only efficient when the coils on the charger and the receiver align perfectly. Lose the alignment and the energy gets lost too, resulting in a battery that isnt charged. The problem may be minor, but its implications are massive when you consider how large a car battery is (especially compared to your phone). The solution according to South Korean designer Lee Dong Ju is fairly simple a robot that drives to your car and autonomously aligns the coils beneath your EV for efficient charging.Designer: Lee Dong JuA winner of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept for the year 2024, EV.BUDDY is a sleek little autonomous robot that can drive around, sliding right under an EV with a low battery. The platform-shaped robot is slim enough to easily slip underneath any EV (no matter how little the ground tolerance), using a series of sensors to detect the wireless charging zone on the EVs underside. Once it does so, the EV.BUDDY raises its coils upwards to ensure they come in contact with the car, and the charging process begins.The EV.BUDDY houses its own battery, although given how slim it is, one wonders what the battery capacity would be. Instead of you stepping out and configuring anything, the EV.BUDDY drives up to your car on-demand and begins the charging process, no muss no fuss. Sure, its just a concept for now, but Id imagine it would work rather well in the future, where you could just park your car at a Target or an IKEA or even at work and have the EV.BUDDY autonomously drive up to your car, initiate the charging protocol, and juice your cars battery without you doing anything at all!Once its done, the EV.BUDDY slides out and drives back to its own station, where its battery gets replenished so it can charge the next car.The post This Robot Wirelessly Charges Your EV By Driving Under It And Aligning The Charging Coils first appeared on Yanko Design.

As much as I love the fidget-aspect of bubble-wrap, theres this overwhelming sense of guilt every time I pop an individual bubble, knowing that Im slowly making the wrap useless. In fact, only a small percentage of bubble-wrap actually gets reused, which means the worlds left with a lot of plastic film (which cant get recycled) just lying out there, waiting to either be popped or turned into waste. The solution, however, is a bubble-wrap WITHOUT bubbles. Made from folded paper, this origami-inspired bubble-wrap alternative offers a classier, more sustainable approach relying on gorgeously geometric pleated paper.The brilliance of this idea lies in its roots: the Miura fold. Think of it as the origami equivalent of a Swiss Army knifesleek, efficient, and endlessly versatile. By applying this precise folding pattern to traditional cardboard, researchers have found a way to create lightweight, strong, and flexible three-dimensional structures. Its the kind of innovation that feels both wildly creative and beautifully logical. Cardboard, the unsung hero of shipping and storage, gets a striking upgrade without altering its core material.Designers: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland & Aalto UniversityThe Miuras design allows for enhanced durability and flexibility, all while maintaining a lightweight profile. Picture food containers, electronics packaging, or even luxury goods boxes that are sturdy enough to do their job but also light enough to reduce shipping emissions. Thats the beauty of itbetter function with less environmental impact. The material itself is still familiar paperboard, meaning the shift doesnt require a seismic change in production methods. Plus you dont need virgin paper either, opening up doors for using recycled paper.The material relies on fibers, often recycled, making it a serious contender against plastics and foams. And while were on the topic of alternatives, the team behind this isnt stopping at cardboard. Theyre experimenting with folding other materials, like aluminum foil and felt, hinting at a future where this technology might influence everything from packaging to interior design.The project, aptly named FOLD and its successor FOLD2, has brought together 13 organizations to push this concept forward. The first phase laid the groundwork for refining the technology, while FOLD2 is taking things up a notch, exploring compatibility with a broader range of materials, and readying it for large-scale commercial use. Early tests show that the folding process works on materials as diverse as aluminum foil, plastic films, and felt, hinting at future applications far beyond packaging.And thats the exciting partit doesnt stop at boxes or cartons. The technologys flexibility has caught the eye of designers in other fields. Decorative interior panels? Check. Functional architectural elements? Why not? Theres even potential for food packaging thats as sustainable as it is innovative. When something this versatile comes along, its not hard to imagine the ripple effects across industries, from consumer goods to luxury interiors.This kind of multidisciplinary magic doesnt happen in a vacuum. Its the result of engineers, materials scientists, and designers collaborating to solve real-world problems with solutions that are both creative and practical. The Miura fold, chosen for its efficiency, is just one example of how ancient techniques can meet modern needs. Its geometry brought to lifenot in textbooks, but in products that well encounter in stores, homes, and maybe even our kitchens.Looking ahead, the next three to five years will determine how this technology scales. Industry giants like Walki Group and Stora Enso are already testing the waters, exploring how these folded materials might replace less sustainable options. But this isnt just about the companies; its about all of us as consumers. With demand for greener options growing louder, innovations like origami-inspired packaging might just become the new normal.For now, the folding revolution is still taking shape, but if this is the future of packaging, were ready to unbox it. Literally.The post Origami-inspired Bubble Wrap ditches Plastics for Pleated Paper first appeared on Yanko Design.