News and events

Bike-and-ride, an innovative opportunity for the Lake Geneva region

Published:13.10.20 — As part of his Master's project at EPFL's Urban Sociology Laboratory (LASUR), Felix Boesch conducted a survey on the combined use of bicycles and trains in the Lausanne and Nyon urban agglomerations. Based on the assumption that supply creates demand, Boesch has formulated several proposals for boosting the modal share of this type of transportation, which is still underused in the region.

EPFL tests out self-driving delivery service

Published:12.10.20 — Starting on 12 October, EPFL’s Lausanne campus will serve as a testing ground for a high-tech delivery service that uses a self-driving van. A pioneering initiative that is set to develop further.

Alain Azzi: public transport, puzzles and praise

Published:28.09.20 — Alain Azzi – a recent mechanical engineering graduate from EPFL – has won the 2020 LITRA Award for his Master’s thesis on making Lausanne’s bus system fully electric by 2030. And he’s grateful to EPFL for the experience.

Microbes working together multiply biomass conversion possibilities

Published:27.08.20 — Non-edible plants are a promising alternative to crude oil, but their heterogenous composition can be a challenge to producing high yields of useful products. Scientists from EPFL, the University of Cambridge, and the Bern University of Applied Sciences have developed a platform that combines different microorganisms that can make a dramatic difference.

New and improved drone mapping software

Published:22.05.20 — For his thesis, an ENAC PhD student has enhanced the accuracy and reliability of drone mapping – a technique that is gaining traction across many sectors of society.

Our carbon footprint is highly impacted by how we live

Published:05.02.20 — Swiss households have excessively large carbon footprints. However, that footprint depends more on socio-economic status than location – whether the household is in the countryside or the city – because people travel more in the country but consume more in cities.

A summer of speed for EPFL Racing

Published:04.02.20 — EPFL and its electric single-seater racing car will take part in Formula Student motor racing competitions in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany this summer.

EPFL spin-off's tiny robots turn heads in Las Vegas

Published:07.01.20 — Yesterday evening, tiny robots developed by EPFL spin-off Foldaway Haptics were the center of attention at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 33 “bionic flaps,” installed on a concept car from German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, moves bodywork parts in response to the driver’s decisions and interacts with the public.

Capturing CO2 from trucks and reducing their emissions by 90%

Published:23.12.19 — Researchers at EPFL have patented a new concept that could cut trucks’ CO2 emissions by almost 90%. It involves capturing CO2 within the exhaust system, converting it into a liquid and storing it on the vehicle. The liquid CO2 would then be delivered to a service station and where it will be turned back into fuel using renewable energy.

A three-year journey to break the world speed sailing record

Published:20.12.19 — A team of EPFL alumni and students, working under the name SP80, are developing an innovative sailboat that could reach speeds of 150km/h.