Robotics - General News

[publiusr]

Still slower than Fido

Why can't robots outrun animals?

Robotics engineers have worked for decades and invested many millions of research dollars in attempts to create a robot that can walk or run as well as an animal. And yet, it remains the case that many animals are capable of feats that would be impossible for robots that exist today.

techxplore.com

Look out

Study explores why human-inspired machines can be perceived as eerie

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and robots are becoming increasingly advanced, exhibiting capabilities that vaguely resemble those of humans. The growing similarities between AIs and humans could ultimately bring users to attribute human feelings, experiences, thoughts, and sensations to...

techxplore.com

Automated machine learning robot unlocks new potential for genetics research

University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have constructed a robot that uses machine learning to fully automate a complicated microinjection process used in genetic research.

phys.org

Built-in bionic computing: Researchers develop method to control pneumatic artificial muscles

Creating robots to safely aid disaster victims is one challenge; executing flexible robot control that takes advantage of the material's softness is another. The use of pliable soft materials to collaborate with humans and work in disaster areas has drawn much recent attention. However...

techxplore.com

Robotic nerve 'cuffs' could help treat a range of neurological conditions

Researchers have developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them.

medicalxpress.com

People, not design features, make a robot social

It takes a village to nurture social robots. Researchers who develop social robots—ones that people interact with—focus too much on design features and not enough on sociological factors, like human-to-human interactions, the contexts where they happen, and cultural norms involving robots...

techxplore.com

Sub-aquatic drones?

Underwater robot pioneers new energy-efficient buoyancy control

A remotely operated underwater robot built by a team of Rice University engineering students pioneers a new way to control buoyancy via water-splitting fuel cells. The device, designed and constructed at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen over the course of a year-long senior design capstone...

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[publiusr]

The body electric sings?

Organic electrochemical transistors: Scientists solve chemical mystery at the interface of biology and technology

Researchers who want to bridge the divide between biology and technology spend a lot of time thinking about translating between the two different "languages" of those realms.

phys.org

Marriage of synthetic biology and 3D printing produces programmable living materials

Scientists are harnessing cells to make new types of materials that can grow, repair themselves and even respond to their environment. These solid "engineered living materials" are made by embedding cells in an inanimate matrix that's formed in a desired shape. Now, researchers report in ACS...

phys.org

Bacteria 'nanowires' could help develop green electronics

Engineered protein filaments originally produced by bacteria have been modified by scientists to conduct electricity. In a study published recently in the journal Small, researchers revealed that protein nanowires—which were modified by adding a single compound—can conduct electricity over short...

phys.org

For inspection

A miniature wireless robot that can effectively move through tubular structures

Robots have already proved to be promising tools to complete complex and demanding maintenance tasks. While engineers have developed a wide range of robots that could help to maintain and repair infrastructure, many of these robots need to be plugged into external power sources, which limits...

techxplore.com

Random robots are more reliable: New AI algorithm for robots consistently outperforms state-of-the-art systems

Northwestern University engineers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm designed specifically for smart robotics. By helping robots rapidly and reliably learn complex skills, the new method could significantly improve the practicality—and safety—of robots for a range of...

techxplore.com

Leveraging robots to help make wind turbine blades

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have successfully leveraged robotic assistance in the manufacture of wind turbine blades, allowing for the elimination of difficult working conditions for humans and the potential to improve the...

techxplore.com

An affordable miniature car-like robot to test control and estimation algorithms

The development and testing of algorithms for robotics applications typically requires evaluations in both simulated and physical environments. Some algorithms, however, can be difficult to deploy in simple hardware experiments, due to the high costs of robotics hardware or to difficulties...

techxplore.com

Computational workflow engine, matched with robotic platform, used to drive experiments for the first time

Computational and experimental methods in materials science are often described as entirely separate affairs. On one side, computer simulations are used to explain and predict the properties of materials, including novel ones that were not yet synthesized. On the other, experiments test the...

techxplore.com

Stretchable e-skin could give robots human-level touch sensitivity

A first-ever stretchy electronic skin could equip robots and other devices with the same softness and touch sensitivity as human skin, opening up new possibilities to perform tasks that require a great deal of precision and control of force.

techxplore.com

Sea slugs inspire highly stretchable biomedical sensor

The revolution in personalized medicine is well underway—with wearable devices and DIY home testing, it's easier than ever to track everything from heart rate, to glucose levels, to microbiome diversity.

medicalxpress.com

Robots can't outrun animals. A new study explores why

The question may be the 21st century's version of the fable of the tortoise and the hare: Who would win in a foot race between a robot and an animal?

phys.org

Trotting robots reveal emergence of animal gait transitions

A four-legged robot trained with machine learning by EPFL researchers has learned to avoid falls by spontaneously switching between walking, trotting, and pronking—a milestone for roboticists as well as biologists interested in animal locomotion.

techxplore.com

A six-armed robot for precision pollination

Over the past decades, dozens of animal species have become extinct, while thousands of others are now at risk of disappearing. Endangered species include various pollinators, including bees and some types of moths, butterflies, and flies.

techxplore.com

Tractor-trailers with no one aboard? The future is near for self-driving trucks on US roads

On a three-lane test track along the Monongahela River, an 18-wheel tractor-trailer rounded a curve. No one was on board.

techxplore.com

 

[shin_getter]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5mdW1yPXIg

 

[publiusr]

The Moravec Barrier is shattering.

The video above makes me understand the reason early sci-fi heroes were philologists, from Morbius to C. S. Lewis characters.

Where Tegmark thinks everything is math—I think everything is language.

LLM to provide proprioception? Who would have thought?

Maybe Boston Dynamics needs to quit kicking them.

Robots are patient—for now…

In the news

A better way to control shape-shifting soft robots

Imagine a slime-like robot that can seamlessly change its shape to squeeze through narrow spaces, which could be deployed inside the human body to remove an unwanted item.

techxplore.com

Teaching robots to move by sketching trajectories

Getting robots to perform even a simple task requires a great deal of behind-the-scenes work. Part of the challenge is planning and executing movements, everything from turning wheels to lifting a robotic arm. To make this happen, roboticists collaborate with programmers to develop a set of...

techxplore.com

Robotic system feeds people with severe mobility limitations

Cornell researchers have developed a robotic feeding system that uses computer vision, machine learning and multimodal sensing to safely feed people with severe mobility limitations, including those with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

techxplore.com

Scientists create robot snails that can move independently using tracks or work together to climb

A team of roboticists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has created a robot snail with a helmet-like shell that moves by rolling around on bulldozer-like tracks. They have published a paper on their research in Nature Communications.

techxplore.com

Engineers create a caterpillar-shaped robot that splits into segments, reassembles, hauls and crawls

Engineers at Princeton and North Carolina State University have combined ancient paper-folding and modern materials science to create a soft robot that bends and twists through mazes with ease.

techxplore.com

Team compares robot-assisted language learning systems and human tutors in English conversation lessons

Advancements in large language models, robotics, and software such as text-to-speech, have made it possible to develop robots that can understand language, interact physically, and communicate verbally. These breakthroughs have opened up possibilities for robots to be used for educational...

phys.org

Video shows how swarms of miniature robots simultaneously clean up microplastics and microbes

When old food packaging, discarded children's toys and other mismanaged plastic waste break down into microplastics, they become even harder to clean up from oceans and waterways. These tiny bits of plastic also attract bacteria, including those that cause disease.

techxplore.com

Multiplexed neuron sets make smaller optical neural networks possible

Seeking to improve the practicality of optical neural networks that use wavelength division multiplexing, a research team developed a structure called multiplexed neuron sets and a corresponding backpropagation training algorithm.

techxplore.com

 

[shin_getter]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzX1qOIO1bE


The pricetag is the surprising part in a world of intense competition in this domain. Light weight is also neat.

 

[publiusr]

Robo-vancements

Robotic 'superlimbs' could help moonwalkers recover from falls

Need a moment of levity? Try watching videos of astronauts falling on the moon. NASA's outtakes of Apollo astronauts tripping and stumbling as they bounce in slow motion are delightfully relatable.

phys.org

Biohybrid robotic hand may help unravel complex sensation of touch

Brain-machine interfaces are devices that enable direct communication between a brain's electrical activity and an external device such as a computer or a robotic limb that allows people to control machines using their thoughts.

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New compound eye design could provide inexpensive way to give robots insect-like vision

A team of engineers and roboticists at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has developed an electronic compound eye design to give robots the ability to swarm efficiently and inexpensively.

techxplore.com

Physicists propose path to faster, more flexible robots

In a May 15 paper released in the journal Physical Review Letters, Virginia Tech physicists revealed a microscopic phenomenon that could greatly improve the performance of soft devices, such as agile flexible robots or microscopic capsules for drug delivery.

phys.org

Scientists develop a soft robot that mimics a spider's leg

Researchers Indrek Must and Kadri-Ann Valdur of the Institute of Technology of the University of Tartu have created a robot leg modeled after the leg of a cucumber spider. The soft robot created in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Technology could, in the future, move where humans cannot.

techxplore.com

Researchers uncover how jelly sea creatures might shape modern robotics

Scientists at the University of Oregon have discovered that colonies of gelatinous sea animals swim through the ocean in giant corkscrew shapes using coordinated jet propulsion, an unusual kind of locomotion that could inspire new designs for efficient underwater vehicles.

phys.org

Artificial tactile system study: Robots' sense of touch could be as fast as humans

Research at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet could pave the way for a prosthetic hand and robot to be able to feel touch like a human hand. Their study has been published in the journal Science. The technology could also be used to help restore lost functionality to patients after a...

techxplore.com

New snail-inspired robot can climb walls

A robot, designed to mimic the motion of a snail, has been developed by researchers at the University of Bristol.

techxplore.com

Biohybrid robot made from flour and oats could act as a biodegradable vector for reforestation

Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in collaboration with the University of Freiburg have developed a biohybrid robot, which consists of a flour-based capsule created using 3D microfabrication techniques, and two natural appendages from oat fruit...

phys.org

Retrofitting robotics increases efficiency of neutron experiments

Robots revolutionized the manufacturing industry by automating assembly lines. Now, more and more, they are being used to expedite the pace of scientific discovery.

phys.org

A better way to control shape-shifting soft robots

Imagine a slime-like robot that can seamlessly change its shape to squeeze through narrow spaces, which could be deployed inside the human body to remove an unwanted item.

techxplore.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Watch The W1 Quadruped Robot Evolving To Stand And Walk Upright

LimX Dynamics, a robotics company based in China, has unveiled a remarkable advancement in their W1 quadruped robot. Originally designed with four leg

wonderfulengineering.com

 

[publiusr]

Centaur-bots are what comes next…part Terminator, part Cossack.

Heavy equipment in the back to counter-balance the clawed, four armed torso up front.

small bots

Droplets that swim toward dissolution could inspire fluid microbots

Researchers discovered that microscopic liquid droplets swim toward solvent conditions that favor their dissolution. This mechanism may underlie some transport processes within living cells, and could be exploited to develop fluid micro robots.

phys.org

Researchers use hydrogel chemistry and microfabrication to miniaturize and integrate components into bioelectronics

Figuring out a better way to connect nerve cells to bioelectronics will be the next technological leap in health care, and the Neurobiological Interfaces Lab at Binghamton University is at the forefront of research on the topic.

phys.org

Bigger

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbYv7-7LvlQ


I wonder if this is actually a Waldo

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TEFLwstYC0

Skin and fiber tech

Imperceptible sensors made from 'electronic spider silk' can be printed directly on human skin

Researchers have developed a method to make adaptive and eco-friendly sensors that can be directly and imperceptibly printed onto a wide range of biological surfaces, whether that's a finger or a flower petal.

techxplore.com

Breakthrough process creates next generation of powered wearable fibers

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, have established new, scalable methods of developing battery- and solar-powered fibers, making it theoretically possible for electrical energy to be harvested from, and stored in, the clothing people wear.

techxplore.com

Semiconductor advancement could lead to low-cost, flexible electronic devices

The public's appetite for inexpensive and powerful electronic devices continues to grow. While silicon-based semiconductors have been key to satiating this demand, a superior alternative could be wide-bandgap semiconductors. These materials, which operate at higher temperatures and handle...

techxplore.com

Wearable devices get signal boost from new material

A new material that moves like skin while preserving signal strength in electronics could enable the development of next-generation wearable devices with continuous, consistent wireless and battery-free functionality.

techxplore.com

Wearable ultrasound patch enables continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood flow

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that can offer continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the brain. The soft and stretchy patch can be comfortably worn on the temple to provide three-dimensional data on cerebral blood...

medicalxpress.com

Powering wearable devices with high-performing carbon nanotube yarns

With the growth of the Internet of Things, sustainable solutions for powering wireless sensors and devices are considered important. Thermoelectric generators, for example, which have the ability to convert waste heat into electricity, can offer a sustainable solution. Researchers around the...

phys.org

 

[publiusr]

Snakebot

An approach to enable both locomotion and manipulation in a snake-inspired robot

Snake-inspired robots could have various advantages over conventional wheeled or legged robots. For instance, slithering robots can adapt the shape of their body, enter narrow spaces, and move freely in environments that are inaccessible to both humans and other robots.

techxplore.com

Tentacle Robot Wants To Hold You Gently

Human hands are remarkable pieces of machinery, so it’s no wonder many robots are designed after their creators. The amount of computation required to properly attenuate the grip strength and…

hackaday.com

Tabletop Handybot Is Handy, And Powered By AI

Decently useful AI has been around for a little while now, and robotic arms have been around much longer. Yet somehow, we don’t have little robot helpers on our desks yet! Thankfully, [Yifei]…

hackaday.com

Researchers enhance object-tracking abilities of self-driving cars

Researchers at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) have introduced a pair of high-tech tools that could improve the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles by enhancing the reasoning ability of their robotic systems.

techxplore.com

Research team introduces an agile multi-robot research platform

Teams of robots have the potential of tackling far more elaborate missions than individual robots, for instance, covering long distances faster, visiting different sites simultaneously, or monitoring larger geographical areas. Platforms that combine reliable hardware and software for multi-robot...

techxplore.com

Using contact microphones as tactile sensors for robot manipulation

To complete real-world tasks in home environments, offices and public spaces, robots should be able to effectively grasp and manipulate a wide range of objects. In recent years, developers have created various machine learning–based models designed to enable skilled object manipulation in robots.

techxplore.com

Third Thumb: People have no difficulty getting to grips with an extra thumb, study finds

Cambridge researchers have shown that members of the public have little trouble in learning very quickly how to use a third thumb—a controllable, prosthetic extra thumb—to pick up and manipulate objects.

techxplore.com

Bio-inspired cameras and AI help drivers detect pedestrians and obstacles faster

Artificial intelligence (AI) combined with a novel bio-inspired camera achieves 100-times faster detection of pedestrians and obstacles than current automotive cameras. This important step for computer vision and AI achieved by researchers of the University of Zurich can greatly improve the...

techxplore.com

Q&A: How to make sustainable products faster with artificial intelligence and automation

By modifying the genomes of plants and microorganisms, synthetic biologists can design biological systems that meet a specification, such as producing valuable chemical compounds, making bacteria sensitive to light, or programming bacterial cells to invade cancer cells.

phys.org

Designing environments that are robot-inclusive

Humans and robots are increasingly interacting within built environments such as cities, buildings, walkways, and parks. Offering adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, robots are gradually being integrated into various aspects of everyday life, from manufacturing to health care to...

techxplore.com

 

[publiusr]

Robots on the move

Chinese robot developers hope for road out of 'uncanny valley'

A disembodied woman's head mugged and grimaced, aping the facial expressions of a user on a nearby laptop as visitors to the China Humanoid Robot Developer Conference watched in fascinated unease.

techxplore.com

New energy source powers subsea robots indefinitely

When it comes to mapping new territory, NASA's record swamps Lewis and Clark's. And the space agency doesn't only chart other stars and planets—a vantage point from space also allows a great view of Earth. Now a recent NASA invention could allow robots to map our planet's entire seafloor...

techxplore.com

New technique combines data from different sources for more effective multipurpose robots

Let's say you want to train a robot so it understands how to use tools and can then quickly learn to make repairs around your house with a hammer, wrench, and screwdriver. To do that, you would need an enormous amount of data demonstrating tool use.

techxplore.com

Predictive physics model helps robots grasp the unpredictable

When robots come across unfamiliar objects, they struggle to account for a simple truth: Appearances aren't everything. They may attempt to grasp a block, only to find out it's a literal piece of cake. The misleading appearance of that object could lead the robot to miscalculate physical...

techxplore.com

Robots could clear snow, assist at crosswalks, monitor sidewalks for traffic

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that when roboticists and people with disabilities collaborate on robot designs, interesting ideas emerge that could make existing robots more accessible and inspire new uses.

techxplore.com

Researchers create an autonomously navigating wheeled-legged robot

Fast-moving autonomous mobile robots could help to deliver goods to various locations, helping to tackle disruptions to product supply chains. Nonetheless, wheeled or legged robots alone might not be sufficient to complete deliveries both efficiently and independently.

techxplore.com

Robotic device restores wavelike muscular function involved in processes like digestion

A team of Vanderbilt researchers has developed a wirelessly activated device that mimics the wavelike muscular function in the esophagus and small intestine responsible for transporting food and viscous fluids for digestion.

medicalxpress.com

AI and robotics enhance design of sustainable aerogels for wearable tech

Engineers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have developed a model that combines machine learning and collaborative robotics to overcome challenges in the design of materials used in wearable green tech.

techxplore.com

New electronic skin mimics human touch with 3D architecture

Created by nature, the human skin shows powerful sensing capabilities that have been pursued by scientists for a very long time. However, it is challenging for today's technologies to replicate the spatial arrangement of the complex 3D microstructure of human skin.

techxplore.com

Cutting-edge vision chip brings human eye-like perception to machines

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems such as autonomous driving and embodied intelligence are continuously being promoted and applied in real-world scenarios, leading to a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation. Visual perception, a...

techxplore.com

New method could allow multi-robot teams to autonomously and reliably explore other planets

While roboticists have developed increasingly sophisticated systems over the past decades, ensuring that these systems can autonomously operate in real-world settings without mishaps often proves challenging. This is particularly difficult when these robots are designed to be deployed in complex...

phys.org

Waldo

People feel more connected to 'tweezer-like' bionic hands in virtual reality, study shows

Some say the next step in human evolution will be the integration of technology with flesh. Now, researchers have used virtual reality to test whether humans can feel embodiment—the sense that something is part of one's body—toward prosthetic "hands" that resemble a pair of tweezers.

medicalxpress.com

 

[publiusr]

Robots today

A new large-scale simulation platform to train robots on everyday tasks

The performance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including large computational models for natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision algorithms, has been rapidly improving over the past decades. One reason for this is that datasets to train these algorithms have exponentially...

techxplore.com

New robotic gripper for automated apple picking developed

A robotic gripper developed by Washington State University researchers is able to gently grab the majority of apples out of a tree without damaging the fruit.

techxplore.com

3D-printed mini-actuators can move small soft robots, lock them into new shapes

Researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated miniature soft hydraulic actuators that can be used to control the deformation and motion of soft robots that are less than a millimeter thick. The researchers have also demonstrated that this technique works with shape memory...

techxplore.com

An open-source generalist model for robot object manipulation

The public release of ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) has allowed developers worldwide to start experimenting with these models to enhance the interactive capabilities of their own systems. Similar generalizable models for robotic manipulation, however, remain scarce.

techxplore.com

A new large-scale simulation platform to train robots on everyday tasks

The performance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including large computational models for natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision algorithms, has been rapidly improving over the past decades. One reason for this is that datasets to train these algorithms have exponentially...

techxplore.com

A weeding robot that can autonomously remove seedlings

Robotic systems are already being deployed in various settings worldwide, assisting humans with a highly diverse range of tasks. One sector in which robots could prove particularly advantageous is agriculture, where they could complete demanding manual tasks faster and more efficiently.

techxplore.com

Researchers wonder what if you just put a robot in the driver's seat instead of automating the car?

A team of roboticists at the University of Tokyo has taken a new approach to autonomous driving—instead of automating the entire car, simply put a robot in the driver's seat. The group built a robot capable of driving a car and tested it on a real-world track. They also published a paper...

techxplore.com

An open-source robotic system that can play chess with humans

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can play games with humans have become increasingly advanced and have already been deployed by countless videogame developers worldwide. Most of these systems, however, are designed to compete against humans online, on digital platforms and in virtual...

techxplore.com

A fully edible robot could soon end up on our plate, say scientists

A fully edible robot could soon end up on our plate if we overcome some technical hurdles, say EPFL scientists involved in RoboFood—a project which aims to marry robots and food.

techxplore.com

Self-assembling and disassembling swarm molecular robots via DNA molecular controller

Researchers from Tohoku University and Kyoto University have successfully developed a DNA-based molecular controller that autonomously directs the assembly and disassembly of molecular robots. This pioneering technology marks a significant step towards advanced autonomous molecular systems with...

phys.org

AI strategy may promise more widespread use of portable, robotic exoskeletons—on Earth and in space

Safer, more efficient movements for factory workers and astronauts, and improved mobility for people with disabilities could someday become a more widespread reality, thanks to research published June 12 in the journal Nature.

techxplore.com

Advanced underwater robots discover deep-sea squid that broods giant eggs

The deep sea is the largest living space on Earth, but many of the animals and habitats far beneath the ocean's surface remain shrouded in mystery. MBARI's advanced underwater robots, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), are helping survey life in the ocean's depths.

phys.org

New method uses language-based inputs instead of costly visual data to help robots navigate

Someday, you may want your home robot to carry a load of dirty clothes downstairs and deposit them in the washing machine in the far-left corner of the basement. The robot will need to combine your instructions with its visual observations to determine the steps it should take to complete this task.

techxplore.com

Tactile sensing and logical reasoning strategies aid a robot's ability to recognize and classify objects

Today's intelligent robots can accurately recognize many objects through vision and touch. Tactile information, obtained through sensors, along with machine learning algorithms, enables robots to identify objects previously handled.

techxplore.com

 

[bobbymike]

Tesla Optimus Bots Have Started Working Autonomously in the Factory | NextBigFuture.com

2024 Tesla accomplishments highlights two Optimus bots have started working in the factory.

www.nextbigfuture.com

 

[Rhinocrates]

Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem 'Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity' - William of Ockham.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC3_vUPMJzw


...though I suppose it's a way of developing general intelligence for robotics.

 

[bobbymike]

How killer robot dogs could become weapons of mass destruction

Of all the inventions in the dystopian sci-fi series Black Mirror, perhaps none is more terrifying than the robotic guard dogs in Metalhead. In the episode, from the fourth series of the programme in 2017, Maxine Peake plays Bella, a woman who, along with two companions, breaks into a remote...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Antonio]

My two cents

 

[Grey Havoc]

Chinese military’s rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress

Lawmakers want U.S. military officials to examine the threat posed by new Chinese robot dogs armed with rifles.

www.militarytimes.com

 

[Rhinocrates]

My two cents

I'd prefer it if they took this final form.

 

[publiusr]

Safety first

A method to enable safe mobile robot navigation in dynamic environments

To successfully complete missions in dynamic and unstructured real-world environments, mobile robots should be able to adapt their actions in real-time to avoid collisions with nearby objects, people or animals.

techxplore.com

Engineers unlock design for record-breaking robot that could jump twice the height of Big Ben

Engineers at The University of Manchester have unlocked the secrets to designing a robot capable of jumping 120 meters—higher than any other jumping robot designed to date.

techxplore.com

New soft robotic gripper designed with graphene and liquid crystals

Eindhoven researchers have developed a soft robotic "hand" made from liquid crystals and graphene that could be used to design future surgical robots. The new work has just been published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

techxplore.com

A simpler method to teach robots new skills

While roboticists have introduced increasingly sophisticated systems over the past decades, teaching these systems to successfully and reliably tackle new tasks has often proved challenging. Part of this training entails mapping high-dimensional data, such as images collected by on-board RGB...

techxplore.com

New method for orchestrating successful collaboration among robots relies on patience

New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that programming robots to create their own teams and voluntarily wait for their teammates results in faster task completion, with the potential to improve manufacturing, agriculture and warehouse automation.

techxplore.com

AI system successfully operates 16-ton forest machine

For the first time, scientists have succeeded in creating a self-driving forest machine controlled by artificial intelligence. In a study at Umeå University, an AI system was developed that can operate a 16-ton machine without human intervention.

techxplore.com

A new method to achieve smooth gait transitions in hexapod robots

Robots that can navigate various terrains both rapidly and efficiently could be highly advantageous, as they could successfully complete complex missions in challenging environments. For instance, these robots could help to monitor complex natural environments, such as forests, or could search...

techxplore.com

Ugh

Japan scientists make smiling robot with 'living' skin

Japanese scientists have used human cells to develop an equivalent to living skin that can be attached to robotic surfaces to flash a realistic—if creepy—smile.

phys.org

Engineered skin tissue grants robots special properties and abilities

Researchers have found a way to bind engineered skin tissue to the complex forms of humanoid robots. This brings with it potential benefits to robotic platforms such as increased mobility, self-healing abilities, embedded sensing capabilities and an increasingly lifelike appearance.

techxplore.com

Soft, stretchy electrode simulates touch sensations using electrical signals

A team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has developed a soft, stretchy electronic device capable of simulating the feeling of pressure or vibration when worn on the skin. This device, reported in a paper published in Science Robotics, represents a step towards...

phys.org

Biodegradable electronics may advance with ability to control dissolve rate

Biodegradable electronics allow for medical devices—such as drug delivery systems, pacemakers or neural implants—to safely degrade into materials that are absorbed by the body after they are no longer needed. But if the water-soluble devices degrade too quickly, they cannot accomplish their purpose.

phys.org

Self-assembling, highly conductive sensors could improve wearable devices

To advance soft robotics, skin-integrated electronics and biomedical devices, researchers at Penn State have developed a 3D-printed material that is soft and stretchable—traits needed for matching the properties of tissues and organs—and that self-assembles. Their approach employs a process that...

techxplore.com

 

[edwest4]

Mentee Robot. I think I'll pass. I'm waiting for the Terminator to become available.

MenteeBot

Personalized AI-based robot you can mentor

www.menteebot.com

 

[TomcatViP]

The walking motion is very good.

 

[edwest4]

Agility Robotics' Digit humanoids land first official job

GXO Logistics is deploying a small fleet of Agility Robotics' Digit humanoids at a Spanx warehouse under a robots-as-a-service agreement.

www.therobotreport.com

 

[publiusr]

Octobots

From 'CyberSlug' to 'CyberOctopus': New AI explores, remembers, seeks novelty, overcomes obstacles

By giving artificial intelligence simple associative learning rules based on the brain circuits that allow a sea slug to forage—and augmenting it with better episodic memory, like that of an octopus—scientists have built an AI that can navigate new environments, seek rewards, map landmarks and...

techxplore.com

Robotic hand with tactile fingertips achieves new dexterity feat

Improving the dexterity of robot hands could have significant implications for automating tasks such as handling goods for supermarkets or sorting through waste for recycling.

techxplore.com

How scientists build rotatory machines with molecules

Machines have evolved to meet the demands of daily life and industrial use, with molecular-scale devices often exhibiting improved functionalities and mechanical movements. However, mastering the control of mechanics within solid-state molecular structures remains a significant challenge.

phys.org

Balancing act: Novel wearable sensors and AI transform balance assessment

Balance can be impacted by various factors, including diseases such as Parkinson's disease, acute and chronic injuries to the nervous system, and the natural aging process. Accurately assessing balance in patients is important to identify and manage conditions that affect coordination and...

medicalxpress.com

Meet CARMEN, a robot that helps people with mild cognitive impairment

Meet CARMEN, short for Cognitively Assistive Robot for Motivation and Neurorehabilitation—a small, tabletop robot designed to help people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) learn skills to improve memory, attention, and executive functioning at home.

techxplore.com

Robots steal jobs from unions—study shows decline in unionizations

Collective bargaining is a fundamental pillar of the European social model. In Italy, over the decades, unions have ensured wage increases commensurate with productivity growth and a gradual improvement in working conditions. Today, however, they are in decline.

phys.org

Help or hindrance? ER robots have potential to aid health care workers

Amid the unpredictability and occasional chaos of emergency rooms, a robot has the potential to assist health care workers and support clinical teamwork, Cornell and Michigan State University researchers found.

techxplore.com

 

[publiusr]

Robotics meet bionics

Adding audio data when training robots helps them do a better job

A combined team of roboticists from Stanford University and the Toyota Research Institute has found that adding audio data to visual data when training robots helps to improve their learning skills. The team has posted their research on the arXiv preprint server.

techxplore.com

Driverless cars struggle to track objects while moving: So why don't our eyes?

New research may have turned more than 100 years of thinking about the way our brains process visual information on its head.

medicalxpress.com

Portable engine can power artificial muscles in assistive devices

Researchers have developed a lightweight fluidic engine to power muscle-mimicking soft robots for use in assistive devices. What sets the new engine apart is its ability to generate significant force without being tethered to an external power source.

techxplore.com

A prosthesis driven by the nervous system helps people with amputation walk naturally

State-of-the-art prosthetic limbs can help people with amputations achieve a natural walking gait, but they don't give the user full neural control over the limb. Instead, they rely on robotic sensors and controllers that move the limb using predefined gait algorithms.

medicalxpress.com

In Japan

Japan introduces enormous humanoid robot to maintain train lines

The 12-metre high machine has coke bottle eyes and a crude Wall-E-like head, as well as large arms that can be fitted with blades or paint brushes

www.theguardian.com

 

[Michel Van]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1810901258452246624

View: https://twitter.com/Teslaconomics/status/1810901258452246624

 

[publiusr]

Robots small and large

Microscopic vehicles propelled by swimming green algae could assist biological and environmental research

Researchers have created tiny, vehiclelike structures that can be maneuvered by microscopic algae. The algae are caught in baskets attached to the micromachines, which have been carefully designed to allow them enough room to continue swimming.

phys.org

A new model to plan and control the movements of humanoids in 3D environments

Humanoids, robotic or virtual systems with body structures that resemble the human body, have a wide range of real-world applications. As their limbs and bodies mirror those of humans, they could be made to reproduce a wide range of human movements, such as walking, crouching, jumping, swimming...

techxplore.com

New framework enables animal-like agile movements in four-legged robots

Four-legged animals are innately capable of agile and adaptable movements, which allow them to move on a wide range of terrains. Over the past decades, roboticists worldwide have been trying to effectively reproduce these movements in quadrupedal (i.e., four-legged) robots.

techxplore.com

DeepMind demonstrates a robot capable of giving context-based guided tours of an office building

A team of roboticists and AI specialists at Google's DeepMind have demonstrated a robot capable of giving context-based guided tours around its offices. They have posted a paper describing their work, along with demonstration videos, on the arXiv preprint server.

techxplore.com

A chemical claw machine: Vapor exposure enables soft actuator to perform diverse tasks

Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia have developed a tiny "claw machine" that is able to pick up and drop a marble-sized ball in response to exposure to chemical vapors.

techxplore.com

Low-cost actuators offer new twist on artificial 'muscles' for safer, softer robots

Northwestern University engineers have developed a new soft, flexible device that makes robots move by expanding and contracting—just like a human muscle.

techxplore.com

Learning dance moves could help humanoid robots work better with humans

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have trained a humanoid robot to effortlessly learn and perform a variety of expressive movements, including simple dance routines and gestures like waving, high-fiving and hugging, all while maintaining a steady gait on diverse terrains.

techxplore.com

Having a passenger present could improve safety for drivers in semi-autonomous cars

A simulator study shows the presence of a passenger can improve drivers' focus on the road and help them to decide when manual control is needed in self-driving vehicles, but taking back control is still difficult.

techxplore.com

Artificial foot mimics human gait, improves stability on slippery ground

A motorless, flexible, waterproof prosthetic foot inspired by the anatomy of the human extremity is the new SoftFoot Pro bionic foot prototype, designed by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in Genoa. Its design is unique on an international level and aims...

techxplore.com

 

[Michel Van]

This bit off topic
but i beliefe that kind of Foot will be used also on robots

https://twitter.com/x/status/1812413671579976113

View: https://twitter.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1812413671579976113

 

[bobbymike]

New framework enables animal-like agile movements in four-legged robots

Four-legged animals are innately capable of agile and adaptable movements, which allow them to move on a wide range of terrains. Over the past decades, roboticists worldwide have been trying to effectively reproduce these movements in quadrupedal (i.e., four-legged) robots.

techxplore.com

 

[publiusr]

Just call me....Waldo

New system enables intuitive teleoperation of a robotic manipulator in real-time

Imitation learning is a promising method to teach robots how to reliably complete everyday tasks, such as washing dishes or cooking. Despite their potential, imitation learning frameworks rely on detailed human demonstrations, which should include data that can help to reproduce specific...

techxplore.com

New framework allows robots to learn via online human demonstration videos

To be successfully deployed in real-world settings, robots should be capable of reliably completing various everyday tasks, ranging from household chores to industrial processes. Some of the tasks they could complete entail manipulating fabrics, for instance when folding clothes to put them in a...

techxplore.com

TV-bots and more

Open-TeleVision allows VR-type control of remote robot

A combined team of roboticists from MIT and the University of California, San Diego, has developed a new type of remote control for robots called Open-TeleVision that allows for VR-type control. The team has posted a paper describing their robot system on the arXiv preprint server. They also...

techxplore.com

New technique to diagnose cancer metastasis uses origami nanoprobes

Johns Hopkins engineers have created a new optical tool that could improve cancer imaging. Their approach, called SPECTRA, uses tiny nanoprobes that light up when they attach to aggressive cancer cells, helping clinicians distinguish between localized cancers and those that are metastatic and...

phys.org

A walking balloon could one day explore Titan—or Earth's sea floor

Novel ways to move on other celestial bodies always draw the attention of the space exploration community. Here at UT, we've reported on everything from robots that suspend themselves from the walls of Martian caves to robots that hop using jets of locally mined gas. But we haven't yet reported...

phys.org

A hopping robot could explore Europa using locally harvested water

Various forms of hopping robots have crept into development for use in different space exploration missions. We've reported on their use on asteroids and even our own moon. But a study funded by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) in 2018 planned a mission to a type of world where...

phys.org

Sailing

Supercon 2023: [Pierce Nichols] Is Teaching Robots To Sail

Sailing the high seas with the wind conjures a romantic notion of grizzled sailors fending off pirates and sea monsters, but until the 1920s, wind-powered vessels were the primary way goods travele…

hackaday.com

Zzzt! Next time I leave the cigarette alone and put YOU out!

Robot Seeks And Sucks Up Cigarette Butts, With Its Feet

It would be better if humans didn’t toss cigarette butts on the ground in the first place, but change always takes longer than we think it should. In the meantime, researchers at the Italian …

hackaday.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Advancing Bio-Hybrid Robotics Calls for Regulatory Oversight and Public Dialogue

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 23, 2024 - Researchers are advocating for regulations to ensure the responsible and ethical development of bio-hybrid robotics-a field that combines artificial components with living tissues and cells. I

www.robodaily.com

 

[publiusr]

In the news

Shape-shifting 'transformer bots' inspired by origami

Inspired by the paper-folding art of origami, North Carolina State University engineers have discovered a way to make a single plastic cubed structure transform into more than 1,000 configurations using only three active motors. The findings could pave the way for shape-shifting artificial...

techxplore.com

New learning-based method trains robots to reliably pick up and place objects

Most robotic systems developed to date can either tackle a specific task with high precision or complete a range of simpler tasks with low precision. For instance, some industrial robots can complete specific manufacturing tasks very well but cannot easily adapt to new tasks. On the other hand...

techxplore.com

Engineers design new valve to give soft robots resilience boost

A new type of valve that makes soft robots more resilient to damage, has been developed by engineers at the University of Sheffield.

techxplore.com

Foldable pouch actuator improves finger extension in soft rehabilitation gloves

Soft rehabilitation gloves have become popular tools for helping patients with hand function-related disabilities recover finger movement. These gloves often use soft pneumatic actuators that employ air pressure to generate movements. Despite significant design improvements in recent years, many...

techxplore.com

Study shows elephant trunk dexterity can be mimicked with minimal actuators

The trunk of an elephant is among the versatile appendages in the animal kingdom. Now a research team has shown that most of its dexterity can be reproduced with a model using just three "muscles." And they built a physical model to do just that. The findings are published in the journal...

phys.org

New self-powered electrostatic tweezer enhances object manipulation and microfluidics

In a study published in Device has reported a new self-powered electrostatic tweezer that offers superior accumulation and tunability of triboelectric charges, enabling unprecedented flexibility and adaptability for manipulating objects in various working scenarios. The research team was led by...

phys.org

Robots, like animals, can adapt after injuries

Fish fins and insect wings are amazing pieces of natural engineering capable of efficiently moving their owners through water or air. People creating machines to swim or fly have long looked to animals as their models, designing airplanes with wings and boats with fin-shaped rudders. Over the...

techxplore.com

A robot that survives through self-amputation

Self-amputation may seem like a drastic move, but it's a survival tactic that's proved particularly handy for numerous creatures. Yale roboticists have drawn inspiration from lizards, crabs, and other animals who shed parts of themselves without looking back, all for the purpose of moving forward.

techxplore.com

Beetle-inspired robots show improved flight capabilities

An analysis of how rhinoceros beetles deploy and retract their hindwings shows that the process is passive, requiring no muscular activity. The findings, reported in Nature, could help improve the design of flying micromachines.

techxplore.com

A visual-linguistic framework that enables open-vocabulary object grasping in robots

To be deployed in a broad range of real-world dynamic settings, robots should be able to successfully complete various manual tasks, ranging from household chores to complex manufacturing or agricultural processes. These manual tasks entail grasping, manipulating and placing objects of different...

techxplore.com

Researchers introduce novel approach allowing robots to be trained in simulations of scanned home environments

At the top of many automation wish lists is a particularly time-consuming task: chores.

techxplore.com

Self-powered 'bugs' can skim across water to detect environmental data

Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have developed a self-powered "bug" that can skim across the water, and they hope it will revolutionize aquatic robotics.

techxplore.com

Robot Spot configured to find and stun weeds using a blowtorch

A team of computer scientists and roboticists with members from Texas A&M University in the U.S., and the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi, working with a colleague from Boston Dynamics, has configured a robot made by Boston Dynamics to seek out and stun weeds...

techxplore.com

New understanding of fly behavior has potential application in robotics, public safety

Why do flies buzz around in circles when the air is still? And why does it matter? In a paper published in Current Biology, University of Nevada, Reno Assistant Professor Floris van Breugel and Postdoctoral Researcher S. David Stupski respond to this previously unanswered question. Their answer...

phys.org

Bio-inspired lizard robot reveals what's needed for optimum locomotion

Can a robot mimicking a climbing and walking lizard give new insights into the evolution and advantages of different movements in humans and other animals?

techxplore.com

Going deeper for healthy offshore reefs in Storm Bay

Scientists have used high-tech underwater robots to take a closer look at the deep offshore reefs on the east coast of Bruny Island in Tasmania and have revealed the seabed biodiversity there for the first time.

phys.org

Simulations reveal mechanism behind dynamic fish schooling

Schools of fish are able to pull off complex, coordinated maneuvers without ever colliding with one another. They move in unison but don't follow a leader.

phys.org

 

[Graham1973]

A retrospective look at how robots were depicted in the past...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBIuZIDC3HI

 

[publiusr]

In the news

Researcher designs robot to help children cross streets safely

It looks a bit like a small lawnmower, but instead of dual handles, a single black pole with a tablet-sized screen attached rises from the machine.

techxplore.com

DeepMind develops a robot that can play amateur level ping-pong

A team of engineers at Google's DeepMind Project has demonstrated a robot capable of playing amateur-level table tennis (ping-pong). The team has published a paper on the arXiv preprint server describing how they developed the robot, how well it performed at different ability levels and how...

techxplore.com

Picotaur—the unrivaled microrobot

Picture this: hundreds of ant-sized robots climb over rubble, under rocks and between debris to inspect the damage of a fallen building before human rescuers explore on-site.

techxplore.com

A new algorithm to help robots practice skills independently to adapt to unfamiliar environments

The phrase "practice makes perfect" is usually reserved for humans, but it's also a great maxim for robots newly deployed in unfamiliar environments.

techxplore.com

Using photos or videos, these AI systems can conjure simulations that train robots to function in physical spaces

Researchers working on large artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT have vast swaths of internet text, photos and videos to train systems. But roboticists training physical machines face barriers: Robot data is expensive, and because there aren't fleets of robots roaming the world at large...

techxplore.com

A droplet-sensing bionic e-skin that could further enhance robotic perception

In recent years, many research teams have been trying to design artificial skins with electronic properties for humanoid robots, smart prosthetics and other bio-inspired systems. These skins could sense the textures and tactile properties of objects, allowing various systems to plan their...

techxplore.com

Ukraine to unleash robot dogs on its front lines

Ukraine could soon unleash robot dogs on its front lines, replacing soldiers for perilous missions like spying on Russian trenches or detecting mines.

techxplore.com

 

[publiusr]

Robotics today

Transformative FiBa soft actuators pave the way for future soft robotics

Researchers have made groundbreaking advancements in the field of soft robotics by developing film-balloon (FiBa) soft robots. These innovative robots, designed by a team led by Dr. Terry Ching and corresponding author Professor Michinao Hashimoto, introduce a novel fabrication approach that...

techxplore.com

Engineers design tiny batteries for powering cell-sized robots

A tiny battery designed by MIT engineers could enable the deployment of cell-sized, autonomous robots for drug delivery within in the human body, as well as other applications such as locating leaks in gas pipelines.

techxplore.com

Robot planning tool accounts for human carelessness

A new algorithm may make robots safer by making them more aware of human inattentiveness. In computerized simulations of packaging and assembly lines where humans and robots work together, the algorithm developed to account for human carelessness improved safety by about a maximum of 80% and...

techxplore.com

Researchers create new method for orchestrating successful collaboration among robots

New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that programming robots to create their own teams and voluntarily wait for their teammates results in faster task completion, with the potential to improve manufacturing, agriculture and warehouse automation. The study is published...

techxplore.com

A new robotic platform to reproduce and study complex ciliary behavior

Cilia are sensory structures extending from the surface of some cells. These hair-like structures are known to contribute to the sensorimotor capabilities of various living organisms, including humans.

phys.org

Researchers invent intelligent soft robotic clothing for automatic thermal adaptation in extreme heat

As global warming intensifies, people increasingly suffer from extreme heat. For those working in a high-temperature environment indoors or outdoors, keeping thermally comfortable becomes particularly crucial.

techxplore.com

Simplified robotic gripper can still tackle complex object manipulation tasks

In recent years, roboticists worldwide have designed various robotic grippers that can pick up and manipulate different types of objects. The grippers that are most effective in tackling real-world manual tasks, particularly complex object manipulation tasks, are often those inspired by human hands.

techxplore.com

'Killer robots' are becoming a real threat in Africa

The use of drones in the Sahel, a region of Africa that has been plagued by violence driven by jihadist insurgency for much of the past decade, has become a real problem. In April, for example, Al Qaeda's affiliate in the Sahel, Jama'at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen, reportedly carried out an...

phys.org

A light-powered hydrogel launcher

An international team of mechanical engineers has developed what they call a fracture-driven, power-amplified hydrogel launcher. They have published their discovery in the journal Nature Materials.

techxplore.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

China's growing 'robotaxi' fleet sparks concern, wonder on streets

METATEXT

www.spacedaily.com

 

[publiusr]

robotics today

Designing the ideal soft gripper for diverse functionalities

Robotic automation has become a game-changer in addressing labor shortages. While traditional rigid grippers have effectively automated various routine tasks, boosting efficiency and productivity in industries that deal with objects of well-defined specifications, they fall short in sectors like...

techxplore.com

Researchers train a robot dog to combat invasive fire ants

A multidisciplinary research team based across China and Brazil has used a dog-like robot and AI to create a new way to find fire ant nests. Published in the journal Pest Management Science, the study highlights how a "CyberDog" robot integrated with an AI model can automate the identification...

techxplore.com

Engineers develop AI sensor based on dung beetle navigation

An insect species that evolved 130 million years ago is the inspiration for a new research study to improve navigation systems in drones, robots, and orbiting satellites.

techxplore.com

Scalable woven actuators offer new possibilities for robotics and wearable devices

Over the past few decades, electronics engineers have developed increasingly flexible, versatile and highly performing devices for a wide range of real-world applications. Some of their efforts have been aimed at creating smart and sensing textiles, which could be used to fabricate stretchy...

techxplore.com

The future of robotics: Brain-inspired navigation technologies paving the way

In the ever-evolving field of robotics, a groundbreaking approach has emerged, revolutionizing how robots perceive, navigate, and interact with their environments. This new frontier, known as brain-inspired navigation technology, integrates insights from neuroscience into robotics, offering...

techxplore.com

Protecting connected, self-driving vehicles from hackers

Emerging self-driving vehicle networks that collaborate and communicate with each other or infrastructure to make decisions are vulnerable to data fabrication attacks, according to a University of Michigan-led study that also outlines preventive measures for fleet operators.

techxplore.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Tesla's Optimus Robot Can't Even Compete At Trade Shows

The World Robot Conference in Beijing was full of humanoid bots doing impressive feats -- and then Tesla

jalopnik.com

 

[Rhinocrates]

Variable-stiffness–morphing wheel inspired by the surface tension of a liquid droplet​

With their speed and low cost of transport, wheels are a favorable choice of locomotion for robots. However, wheels cannot easily navigate over large obstacles, restricting their use in certain environments. Here, Lee et al. developed a wheel with adjustable stiffness that can be changed in real time, taking on a rigid, circular shape on flat ground and a soft, deformable shape for rolling over large obstacles. A smart chain structure along the outside of the wheel connects to a center hub via a spoke structure. The tension in the spokes can be adjusted to adapt the wheel stiffness, allowing the wheels to move across a variable terrain. The wheel capabilities are demonstrated in a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled wheelchair system.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adl2067

 

[jsport]

Pentagon's autonomous weapons policymaker departs for academia

Michael Horowitz left the Pentagon to work in academia after serving as the first-ever deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities.

defensescoop.com

 

[publiusr]

New humanoid

Researchers develop a new humanoid platform for robotics research

Advancements in the field of robotics are fueled by research, which in turn heavily relies on effective platforms to test algorithms for robot control and navigation. While numerous robotics platforms have been developed over the past decades, most of them have shortcomings that limit their use...

techxplore.com

More

Tiny magnetic robots could treat bleeds in the brain

Researchers have created nanoscale robots which could be used to manage bleeds in the brain caused by aneurysms. The development could enable precise, relatively low-risk treatment of brain aneurysms, which cause around 500,000 deaths globally each year. The medical condition—a blood-filled...

phys.org

Will humans accept robots that can lie? Scientists find it depends on the lie

Honesty is the best policy… most of the time. Social norms help humans understand when we need to tell the truth and when we shouldn't, to spare someone's feelings or avoid harm. But how do these norms apply to robots, which are increasingly working with humans? To understand whether humans can...

techxplore.com

New moves for self defense—how plants can inspire future soft robotic design

For plants, cleaning the air, providing food and medicines, and preserving our ecosystem is just another day's work. In the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, however, plants are being studied in new ways to inspire future biohybrid soft robotic designs.

phys.org

Biohybrid robots controlled by electrical impulses in mushrooms

Building a robot takes time, technical skill, the right materials—and sometimes, a little fungus.

techxplore.com

New two-finger robotic hand tackles everyday manipulation tasks in real-world experiments

To reliably assist humans with daily tasks in a broad range of real-world settings, robots should be able to effectively and dexterously manipulate different types of objects. The development of new cost-effective robotic grippers or other hand-like artificial systems plays a key role in...

techxplore.com

Novel platform for one-step production of sperm-like micro-robots could enhance precise drug delivery

A research team from the School of Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed an innovative magnetic actuation platform that enables the one-step formation of sperm-like "micro-robots," demonstrating excellent motility and efficient performance in...

medicalxpress.com

Advances in optical micronanofiber-enabled tactile sensors and soft actuators

A perfect combination of fiber optics and micro/nanotechnology, optical micro/nanofiber (MNF) is a new type of micro/nano-waveguide structure developed in recent years.

phys.org

Haptics

Improved virtual haptic technology enables uniform tactile sensation across displays

A virtual haptic implementation technology that allows all users to experience the same tactile sensation has been developed. A research team led by Professor Park Jang-Ung from the Center for Nanomedicine within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Professor Jung Hyun Ho from Severance...

techxplore.com

Fingertip device enables realistic touch for a wide range of applications

A fingertip device that closely mimics the sensation of interacting with real objects, developed by a team led by UCL researchers, paves the way for applications in diagnosing loss of touch, video calls, robotic surgery and hazardous waste handling.

techxplore.com

Smart mouthguard allows users to control devices with their tongue and teeth

Recent technological advances have enabled the development of a wide range of electronic devices designed to improve people's quality of life and assist them in completing their everyday activities. Most existing devices are operated via touch screens, keyboards, mouse pads and other hand-based...

techxplore.com

Research team develops the prosthesis of the future, the first in the world with magnetic control

It is the first magnetically controlled prosthetic hand that allows amputees to reproduce all movements simply by thinking and to control the force applied when grasping fragile objects. No wires, no electrical connection, only magnets and muscles to control the movements of the fingers and...

medicalxpress.com

More recently

Teaching robots to use color in moving objects

Research at Michigan State University is focused on teaching robots to use colors to perceive, visualize, and interpret interactions when manipulating objects. A force-interpreting optical system is being developed so robots can distinguish and manipulate soft and fragile objects—which will be...

techxplore.com

Versatile microscale robots can fold into 3D shapes and crawl

Cornell University researchers have created microscale robots less than 1 millimeter in size that are printed as a 2D hexagonal "metasheet," but with a jolt of electricity, morph into preprogrammed 3D shapes and crawl.

techxplore.com

Combining existing sensors with machine learning algorithms improves robots' intrinsic sense of touch

A team of roboticists at the German Aerospace Center's Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics finds that combining traditional internal force-torque sensors with machine-learning algorithms can give robots a new way to sense touch.

techxplore.com

Stretching the possibilities of soft robots with flexible electronics

From search-and-rescue missions to orthopedic therapy and many other applications, soft robots and wearable electronic devices show great promise for many fields. However, designing them to be functional and practical to use has proved challenging.

techxplore.com

Multimodal ultra-thin soft robots can explore narrow spaces for inspection and maintenance

Researchers at Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology at the University of Nottingham have developed ultra-thin soft robots, designed for exploring narrow spaces in challenging built environments. The research is published in the journal Nature...

techxplore.com

Algorithm takes robots a step closer to being able to 'act on intuition'

Researchers from the University of Hertfordshire have developed a new algorithm that will allow robots to function more intuitively—that is, make decisions using their environment for guidance.

techxplore.com

Orchestrating a swarm of robots for exploration of canyon on Mars

An enormous canyon stretches across Mars: Valles Marineris is 3,000 kilometers long, 600 kilometers wide and on average 8 kilometers deep. Its Latin name goes back to the Mars orbiter Mariner, which discovered the valley in the early 1970s.

phys.org

Robot leg powered by artificial muscles outperforms conventional designs

Inventors and researchers have been developing robots for almost 70 years. To date, all the machines they have built—whether for factories or elsewhere—have had one thing in common: They are powered by motors, a technology that is already 200 years old. Even walking robots feature arms and legs...

techxplore.com

Study explores helping vulnerable populations escape from hurricanes with driverless cars

When a hurricane strikes, the most vulnerable are not always able to get out in time. UT Austin scientists are using supercomputers at the Texas Advanced Computing (TACC) to study how shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) can get people who do not have their own car into shelters out of harm's way.

techxplore.com

 

[bobbymike]

Magnetically driven soft robot achieves high-speed jumping

Many animal species, ranging from insects to amphibians and fish, use jumping as a means of moving within their surrounding environment. Jumping can be very advantageous for these animals, for instance, allowing them to reach higher branches of trees, swiftly escape from predators or move faster...

techxplore.com