This week’s list of top data news highlights covers October 10, 2025 to October 17, 2025 and includes articles on detecting lithium-ion batteries in waste streams and using AI to detect the ripeness of avocadoes.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed an AI system that predicts knee joint deterioration over time. Trained using a dataset of nearly 50,000 scans from 5,000 patients, the system analyzes X-ray images to visualize how a patient’s knee will look one year later and assigns a disease risk score. The tool helps clinicians identify high-risk osteoarthritis patients earlier than comparable systems.
Starfront Observatories, a telescope-hosting facility in Central Texas, is operating a large-scale remote astronomy site where people can station and control their own telescopes online. Amateur astronomers, educators, and small research teams ship their equipment to Starfront, and the facility’s staff install their telescopes on secure mounts under dark skies with high-speed Internet access. Owners then log in remotely to operate their telescopes, collect data, and share results. Through Starfront’s online community, participants can combine their images of the same celestial object to produce far sharper images than any single telescope could achieve.
3. Detecting Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lion Vision, a UK software startup, has built an AI-enabled camera system that helps recycling facilities detect and remove lithium-ion batteries before they cause fires or damage heavy machinery. Mounted above conveyor belts that feed discarded electronics into crushers and sorting equipment, the system uses image recognition to scan materials in real-time and pinpoint batteries hidden inside items like phones and toys. When a battery is detected, the software alerts workers to remove it before it reaches the machinery. By preventing batteries from being punctured or crushed, the technology lowers fire risk, improves worker safety, and supports safer recovery of valuable metals.
4. Detecting Military Submarines
Zhejiang University, the China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Ocean University of China are developing China’s “Transparent Ocean” network, a system that collects a continuous stream of data from satellites, ocean buoys, underwater drones, and seabed sensors. That information is sent through underwater cables and relay buoys to AI systems onshore that fuse and analyze it, creating a live 3D map of the ocean. The result is a layered system that gives the Chinese military near-constant visibility of undersea operations, reducing the ability of submarines to operate undetected in the western Pacific.
5. Automating Military Helicopters
Boeing is developing autonomous flight features for one of its military transport helicopters, the CH-47F Block II Chinook, which is used to carry heavy equipment and personnel. The helicopter uses onboard sensors and flight-control software to track conditions such as load weight, altitude, and rotor speed in real-time. The system warns pilots if the helicopter is nearing unsafe operating conditions, like lifting too much weight or flying too steeply, and automatically adjusts controls to keep it stable. As Boeing advances the technology, the Chinook is expected to carry out some missions with minimal pilot input, reducing workload and improving safety during demanding operations.
Turbine Crew, a South Korean startup, has developed an AI-powered drone system to address farm labor shortages caused by an aging workforce. Each drone uses cameras and image analysis to monitor crops, identify early disease signs, and apply pesticides precisely where needed. A team of eight drones can cover up to 10 square kilometers.
7. Advancing Robotic Capabilities
Researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Logistics Robotics have developed two AI-powered robots designed to improve warehouse and retail operations. LY1 is a small, four-legged robot that uses AI to sense and navigate its surroundings, allowing it to move over uneven ground and carry items through tight or cluttered spaces. The dual-arm robot, by contrast, is a stationary system equipped with two mechanical arms and AI vision software that lets it recognize objects, understand basic instructions, and decide how to grasp, sort, or restock items. Working together, the mobile and stationary robots can automate key logistics tasks and reduce manual labor.
8. Training Pilots in Emergencies
Klatt Works, a California-based aviation technology company, has developed a full-face oxygen mask that uses augmented reality to help pilots see during cockpit smoke emergencies. The mask covers the pilot’s entire face and includes built-in miniature displays that overlay live video from the aircraft’s external cameras with key flight data such as altitude, speed, and terrain. By combining oxygen delivery with real-time imaging and information, the mask allows pilots to navigate and land safely even when smoke obscures the cockpit and windshield.
9. Predicting Avocado Ripeness
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed an AI tool that can estimate an avocado’s ripeness and firmness from a smartphone photo. Trained on more than 1,400 images, the model analyzes subtle differences in color, texture, and shape. In tests, the tool reached 92 percent accuracy in predicting firmness and 84 percent in judging freshness. The system could help shoppers choose ripe fruit and enable retailers to better manage inventory.
10. Monitoring Urban Cleanliness
EchoTwin AI, an Abu Dhabi–based startup, has partnered with Tajmee’e, a waste collection company, to pilot an AI system that monitors urban cleanliness in real-time. Cameras mounted on waste collection vehicles feed video into AI software that can interpret what it sees—recognizing problems like overflowing bins, sand buildup, or illegal dumping—and alerts city managers to fix them faster.
