Researchers used augmented reality to investigate the link between active sensing movement and sensory feedback in weakly electric fish. The study found that subtle active sensing movements are controlled by sensory feedback, enhancing sensory information reception. This discovery may have implications for neuroscience and robotics.
Agricultural technology is transforming food production, but responsible innovation is crucial to address potential environmental, ethical, and social costs. Researchers argue that policy-makers, funders, and innovators must consider the impacts on farming communities and wider society.
Researchers apply biological principles of self-organisation to swarm robotics, enabling robots to grow shapes without predefined plans. The robot swarms adapt to damage and self-repair, making them reliable for real-world applications such as disaster response or temporary structures.
A new hydrothermal vent field, JaichMaat, has been discovered using submarine robotics. The vent field features multiple mounds with unique geological and geochemical characteristics, supporting diverse microbial and animal communities. Detailed maps allow for the quantification of these communities in relation to geologic features.
Researchers developed a new foldable drone that can squeeze itself through narrow passages and navigate tight spaces. The drone's mobile arms can fold around the main frame, allowing it to maintain stable flight while adapting to different configurations.
Osaka University scientists created a new approach to pressure distribution measurement using universal tactile imaging technology. The sensors have no need for pressure-sensitive materials and are simpler to manufacture, making them suitable for various applications including robotics and surgical medicine.
Researchers at Tohoku University create a technique to generate large amounts of giant vesicle (liposome) dispersions using a porous silicone material. The method involves adsorbing lipids into the material and squeezing out buffer solutions, producing giant vesicles with high efficiency.
Researchers at UC Davis and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered a gene network that enables plant roots to efficiently take up and metabolize nitrogen. This breakthrough could lead to the development of crop varieties that need less fertilizer or make better use of it, reducing environmental impacts.
The TIME for Robotics program will use virtual reality and personalized learning to teach students about robotics in advanced manufacturing, addressing fears that robots will take jobs. The program aims to attract diverse students and provide a skills gap solution for the industry.
Researchers at UT Austin successfully demonstrated a novel approach to human-like balance in a biped robot, allowing it to dynamically balance without ankle control. The technique uses whole-body controllers and inverse kinematics to mimic human movement, with implications for robots in emergency response, defense, and entertainment.
The Carnegie Mellon team will leverage its expertise in modularity to develop robots that can adapt to various environments, including small spaces and large structures. The team aims to create robots capable of rapid mapping, exploring, and exploiting complex underground environments.
Yale researchers have developed 'Robotic Skins' technology, enabling users to animate everyday objects and create multi-functional robots on the fly. The skins can perform different tasks depending on the properties of the soft objects and how they are applied, allowing for complex movements.
A Surrey-based team won the top spot in the DCASE 2018 Challenge, a machine learning competition focused on audio classification. The CVSSP's AI-powered system uses artificial intelligence to simulate human auditory function and improve situational awareness of sounds.
Kyungsuk Yum and his doctoral student Amirali Nojoomi developed a process to program 2-D hydrogels for space- and time-controlled swelling and shrinking, enabling the formation of complex 3-D shapes and motions. The technology has potential applications in bioinspired soft robotics and artificial muscles.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a method to transform video content into another style, enabling applications like movie production and self-driving cars. The technique uses generative adversarial networks and incorporates temporal information to produce high-quality results.
A fully autonomous robot, Robat, utilizes a bat-like approach by emitting sound and analyzing echoes to create a detailed map of its surroundings. It successfully navigates through a new outdoor environment and classifies objects using an artificial neural network.
A recent expedition demonstrated how AI can dramatically accelerate exploration of deep sea ecosystems using autonomous robots and high-throughput data analysis. Scientists used unsupervised clustering to analyze seafloor images and identify biological hotspots, which were then surveyed and sampled within days.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a shape-shifting material that can transform into complex, pre-programmed shapes via light and temperature stimuli. The controllable material could have broad applications for manufacturing, robotics, and biomedical devices.
Researchers create nanobot pumps that neutralize nerve agents and administer antidotes, powered by the enzyme's chemical energy. The technology has applications in medicine, manufacturing, robotics, and fluidics, and could be used to treat diseases like diabetes and deliver targeted treatments.
K-FLEX, a flexible endoscopic surgical robot, demonstrates precise control of 3.7 mm diameter robotic arms for minimally invasive procedures. The device successfully manipulated tissue during an in-vivo test on a porcine gallbladder, showcasing its potential for surgery on incipient cancer cells.
A new study suggests robots can play an important role in teaching certain narrow subjects like vocabulary and prime numbers, but their social interaction limitations will keep them as teaching assistants for now. Robots have the potential to support and challenge students, freeing up time for human teachers.
A study at the University of Plymouth found that children aged seven to nine are more likely to give the same responses as humanoid robots, even if they're incorrect. This highlights a potential concern about the influence of robots on vulnerable young children.
Phytoplankton, tiny plant-like organisms, play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The EXPORTS team is studying the pathways, fates, and carbon cycle impacts of phytoplankton and zooplankton using advanced underwater robotics and satellite imagery.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and DeepMotion Inc. developed a physics-based method for controlling animated characters to learn dribbling skills from motion capture data. The system requires millions of trials but produces arm movements closely coordinated with physically plausible ball movement.
Researchers have developed a hybrid origami drone that can switch between stiff and flexible structures depending on the situation. The drone's unique structure allows it to absorb shock upon impact, reducing damage and increasing safety.
A new device inspired by origami design safely traps soft-bodied sea creatures and releases them unharmed. The Rotary Actuated Dodecahedron (RAD) sampler has been successfully tested in the ocean at depths of 1,600-2,300 feet, capturing squid and jellyfish without causing harm.
Researchers at ULB's IRIDIA laboratory have shown that robots can emerge with the ability to correctly order tasks, enabling complex missions such as disaster rescue. This breakthrough demonstrates a complex cognitive skill emerging from group interactions, paving the way for autonomous robot swarms in various applications.
The Rising Sprawl-Tuned Autonomous Robot (RSTAR) is a highly maneuverable search and rescue robot that can creep, crawl and climb over rough terrain. It uses adjustable wheel legs to adapt to different environments and overcome obstacles.
The Rensselaer project aims to develop an operator-guided, semi-automatic assembly process using industrial robots integrated with multiple sensors. The goal is to improve manufacturing productivity by enhancing the operator's capabilities through advanced robotics and appropriately applying technological strengths.
Researchers developed a technique to quickly teach robots novel traversal behaviors with minimal human oversight, enabling autonomous navigation in environments. The goal is to provide reliable robot teammates to the Soldier, allowing for faster task completion and enhanced situational awareness.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a robot called TerraSentia to count corn plants with high accuracy. The robot uses a suite of sensors, algorithms, and deep learning to capture each plant from top to bottom, overcoming challenges such as varying inter-plant spacing.
UMass Lowell researchers aim to develop methods for robots to assess their performance in real-time, enabling better task completion and increased efficiency. The SUCCESS project will utilize humanoid robots like Baxter to evaluate their abilities and limitations, leading to improved human-robot collaboration and trust.
A novel actuating material system, nickel hydroxide-oxyhydroxide, has been developed at HKU Engineering that can be triggered by visible light and electricity. This material can exert a force equivalent to 3000 times its own weight, making it suitable for various applications in micro-robotics, human assist devices, and medical devices.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science have developed a method to integrate living muscle into robots, overcoming previous issues with force and function. The resulting biohybrid robots achieved remarkable movement and continued muscle function for over a week.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a self-healing material that spontaneously repairs itself under extreme mechanical damage. The material, composed of liquid metal droplets suspended in a soft elastomer, can reroute electrical signals without interruption.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed an ultrasound helmet that can create real-time images of the brain during surgery, allowing for more precise control over software and robotics using only thoughts. The technology uses machine learning to account for distortion and integrate electroencephalogram (EEG) technology to pr...
Researchers at TU Dresden are developing intelligent material combinations for autarkic fibre composites with integrated actuators and sensors. These materials can react quickly and precisely to environmental changes, making them suitable for applications in mechanical engineering, robotics, architecture, and orthotics.
Researchers at University of Lincoln develop machine learning algorithms for self-learning robots in hazardous nuclear sites, increasing capabilities in waste handling and site monitoring. The project aims to build systems that can adapt to unique radiation conditions using vision-guided robot grasping, manipulation, and cutting.
Researchers developed a robotic gripper combining gecko toes' adhesive properties with air-powered soft robots, enabling it to grasp various objects, including rough and dirty ones. The gripper's unique design maximizes surface contact area, ensuring a better grip.
Researchers create a new method to analyze irregularly shaped 3D objects using mass spectrometry and robotics. The technique, called RoSA-MS, uses a laser scanner to map the sample's surface and direct a sampling probe to collect trace amounts of material for analysis.
Carnegie Mellon's RadPiper robots will identify uranium deposits on pipe walls at the U.S. Department of Energy's former uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio, saving tens of millions of dollars in completing characterization. The robot's use reduces hazards to workers and increases labor savings by an eight-to-one ratio.
Researchers at Brandeis University have engineered soft materials with embedded chemical networks that mimic the behavior of neural tissue, paving the way for autonomous soft robotics and dual sensors. The breakthrough material may also lead to artificial skins and exoskeletons.
Kessler Foundation joins four sites to investigate optimal timing and methods for intensive hand rehabilitation after stroke, utilizing robotics and game-based virtual reality training.
Researchers at University of Plymouth are developing robots to work alongside farmers in Cornwall, ensuring availability gaps are filled and reducing manual labor costs. The 'ABC project' aims to create small, mobile machines that can perform tasks like harvesting, weeding, and pesticide application with increased efficiency and accuracy.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a 3D printable alloy that enables the rapid manufacture of flexible computer screens, bendable displays, and soft robots. The new alloy, created by adding nickel nanoparticles to galinstan, can be layered into tall structures with good conductivity and self-healing properties.
Scientists at the University of Manchester are creating micro-robots inspired by jumping spiders and flying bees to improve manufacturing efficiency. The goal is to deploy these robots in unknown environments for complex engineering tasks.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a platform for creating soft robots with embedded sensors that can sense movement, pressure, touch, and even temperature. This innovation enables complex sensing motifs to be easily integrated into soft robotic systems, opening new avenues to device design and fabrication.
AutoSaw, a system developed by MIT CSAIL, lets users design and customize furniture templates using expert knowledge and robotics for cutting tasks. The system uses small mobile robots to cut lumber with minimal risk of injury.
The 'microscale magnetic tumbling robot' can traverse uneven surfaces and climb steep inclines in both dry and wet environments. Researchers developed the bot using standard photolithography techniques and explored its performance in fluid media to address unique challenges at the micro-scale.
Engineers have developed wearable tissue paper sensors that can detect human movement, such as a pulse, blink, and finger force. The sensors are light, flexible, and inexpensive, with potential applications in healthcare, entertainment, and robotics.
Researchers at Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed a multi-agent robotic system for flying a swarm of intelligent drones. The drones can synchronize their movements, reconfigure their flightpath, and land with high accuracy, avoiding obstacles up to 5 meters away.
Researchers have made significant advancements in HIV vaccine production, using robotics and gene editing technology to improve yields and reduce costs. The new methods could lead to more effective vaccines with higher efficacy rates, potentially increasing protection against the AIDS virus.
Researchers developed DNA-assisted molecular robots that autonomously swarm in response to chemical and physical signals. The swarm behavior resembles that of fish, ants, and birds, featuring complex structures, distinct divisions of labor, robustness, and flexibility.
Researchers at Rutgers University have created a 4D-printed shape-shifting smart gel that can morph over time and temperatures change. The gel can provide structural rigidity in organs like the lungs and create new applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices, and scaffolds for cell growth.
The proposed integrated Materials Acceleration Platforms (MAPs) could cut the average time for developing a useful new material from 20 years down to one or two years. The report recommends six key areas to create these platforms, including self-driving laboratories, AI for materials discovery, and modular materials robotics.
Researchers developed DroNet, an algorithm that enables drones to safely navigate through urban environments using a normal camera and powerful artificial intelligence. The drones learned to respect safety rules and adapt to new environments, paving the way for fully autonomous drones in various applications.
A new study introduces a fully 3D-printed whisker sensor that detects underwater vortexes with high sensitivity. The sensor's design, made of polyurethane, graphene, and copper tape, mimics the whiskers of a sea animal.
Researchers developed a soft robot that mimics the stingray's flattened body shape and side fins, enabling the creation of bio-electromechanical systems. The robot features living heart cells, biomaterials, and flexible electrodes, allowing it to 'flap' its fins.
Researchers have developed soft, electrically activated devices that mimic the expansion and contraction of natural muscles. These devices can be constructed from low-cost materials, are able to self-sense their movements and self-heal from electrical damage.
A new drone system detects voices and sounds from disaster victims through background noise, helping rescue teams locate them faster. The system combines microphone array technology, sound source localization, and automatic speech recognition.