Robotics - General News

[Grey Havoc]

Via Slashdot:

A robot begins removal of melted fuel from the Fukushima nuclear plant. It could take a century

A small robot entered a damaged reactor at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant on Tuesday, beginning a two-week, high-stakes mission to retrieve for the first time a tiny amount of melted fuel debris from the bottom.

apnews.com

 

[Michel Van]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836893160934359433

View: https://twitter.com/DailyLoud/status/1836893160934359433

 

[publiusr]

It's the T-0/2...human and robot there operating at very low capacity.

Other finds

Magnetic micro spinbots can perform ultraprecise surface polishing and cleaning

A research team has unveiled an innovative technology for ultraprecision surface polishing and cleaning using simultaneously operating magnetic micro spinbots. These tiny robots, capable of nanometer-scale contaminant removal and polishing, offer a lightweight, scalable, and cost-effective...

phys.org

Computational approach could continually teach robots new skills via dialogue

While roboticists have introduced increasingly sophisticated robotic systems over the past decades, most of the solutions introduced so far are pre-programmed and trained to tackle specific tasks. The ability to continuously teach robots new skills while interacting with them could be highly...

techxplore.com

Algorithm used on Mars rover helps scientists on Earth see data in a new way

A new algorithm tested on NASA's Perseverance Rover on Mars may lead to better forecasting of hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that impact millions globally.

phys.org

Team develops versatile knee exoskeletons for safer lifting

A set of knee exoskeletons, built with commercially available knee braces and drone motors at the University of Michigan, has been shown to help counteract fatigue in lifting and carrying tasks. They helped users maintain a better lifting posture even when tired, a key factor in defending...

techxplore.com

Tiny robots and AI algorithms could help to craft material solutions for cleaner environments

Many human activities release pollutants into the air, water and soil. These harmful chemicals threaten the health of both people and the ecosystem. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated 4.2 million deaths annually.

phys.org

Combining soft artificial muscles with a rigid, magnetic exoskeleton to create building blocks for versatile robots

Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) have developed hexagon-shaped robotic components, called modules, that can be snapped together LEGO-style into high-speed robots that can be rearranged for different capabilities.

techxplore.com

As strong as a feather: New insights into optimal muscle design

Are the biggest and most bulging calf muscles necessarily the most powerful? The scientists behind new research into muscle architecture say it's not the size of a muscle that delivers the most force, but rather its layout—in particular, a feathered layout called "pennate."

phys.org

Task planning framework supports human-robot collaborative furniture assembly

Ensuring that robots can smoothly collaborate with humans in real-world environments is a crucial step towards their large-scale deployment. While some robotic systems are already engaging daily with human agents, for instance at partially automated industrial and manufacturing facilities...

techxplore.com

Study sheds light on trade-off between noise and power in nanoscale heat engines

Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing noise is crucial.

phys.org

Synthetic mini-motor: Researchers convert chemical energy into rotational energy at the supramolecular level

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed an artificial motor at the supramolecular level that can develop impressive power. This wind-up motor is a tiny ribbon made of special molecules. When energy is applied, this ribbon aligns itself, moves like a small fin and...

phys.org

Waldo

https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/1fmz1qu/a_remotecontrolled_surgical_robot_skillfully

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/1fmz1qu/a_remotecontrolled_surgical_robot_skillfully/

 

[Flyaway]

Spot has been upgraded:

View: https://youtu.be/0hrYzgP_Lg4?si=ndHC6vXcPGZj1xC0