Researchers at Rice University create programmable fluidic fuses that protect devices and enable complex sequencing of actions. The study's findings have far-reaching applications in wearable technology and robotics, promising more resilient and capable systems.
Researchers at UCF aim to create mobile robotic assistants that offer easier control and a better robot-human interface. The project, supported by a $600,000 grant, will focus on testing and user feedback, with initial trials conducted with students and adults with upper body paralysis.
Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology developed Leafbot, a soft robot that uses vibration-driven locomotion to traverse uneven surfaces. The robot's compliant structure and simple motion strategy enable it to overcome complex obstacles, making it valuable for applications such as inspection and exploration.
Lydia Kavraki was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her groundbreaking contributions to robotics, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence. Her work has revolutionized motion-planning algorithms and enabled robots to collaborate with humans safely.
A new type of soft robot can crawl like a worm, climb cables, and suddenly snap into a different shape to move in a new direction. The Snap Inflatable Modular Metastructure (SIMM) system allows the robot to both smoothly deform and rapidly change configuration using just one air source.
A team of researchers found that mammalian tails can form complex curves and enable body rotations in mid-air, challenging the conventional design of robotic tails. The study suggests that tail structure optimized for inertial maneuvering could be applied to robots, improving their performance and efficiency.
AISelf-driving laboratories integrate AI with lab automation and robotics to plan experiments, enhance throughput, reproducibility and safety. Humans play a crucial role in creative tasks and will continue to control the loops, but AIs can optimize within given frameworks.
Two EU-funded projects presented digital, robotic, and other technologies for improved road monitoring and maintenance, emphasizing the need for automation, data-driven solutions, and sustainability. High-level participants highlighted the importance of collaboration and regulation in paving the way for smarter infrastructure management.
Researchers created a 'Hyperelastic Torque Reversal Mechanism' that enables fast and powerful movements in soft robots made from rubber-like materials. The mechanism leverages the characteristics of soft hyperelastic materials to rapidly stiffen as they compress, allowing for rapid and efficient movement.
Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and Imperial College London demonstrate the connection between hand movement patterns and motoneuron control patterns, enabling natural control of bionic limbs. The study reports successful testing of a soft prosthetic hand with individuals with physical impairments.
Researchers develop a human-robot musical band featuring humanoid robots that perform alongside human musicians, achieving natural synchronization through advanced robotic systems. The project showcases the potential of humanoid robots in creative fields like music, highlighting real-time interaction, adaptability, and artistry.
Researchers have developed a cutting-edge solution to create durable and high-resolution conformal circuits, enabling them to withstand extreme conditions. The Template-Constrained Additive (TCA) printing technology achieves high-resolution printing capabilities and supports a diverse range of materials.
Antonio Bicchi's IIT-led project VSoftPro aims to create a transhumeral prosthesis with user-controlled stiffness and passive adaptability. The goal is to replicate the natural appearance and functionality of a human arm, enhancing safe and natural interactions.
Establishing a permanent lunar presence will depend on the use of AI, robotics, and 3D printing to adaptively respond to challenges. The moon's natural resources, such as regolith, can also reduce the need for Earth-launched supplies.
A research team at DGIST developed innovative artificial muscle fibers that can produce and store energy, mimicking real muscles. The fibers, made from eco-friendly poly(lactic acid) and bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane, demonstrated exceptional durability and performance, with applications in advanced textiles, medical robotics, a...
A research team developed semiconductor fibers that emulate the five human senses, measuring changes in light, chemicals, pressure, pH, and mechanical strain. The fibers' unique structure allows precise control of their three-dimensional spiral shape, enabling them to detect a variety of environmental information.
Researchers advise reprogramming and repurposing robots for sustainable use, as current recycling methods are often ineffective. The study aims to challenge the robotics industry to design for a circular economy, addressing challenges such as economic viability and technical capability.
The University of Virginia's AI-powered vision system, mimicking praying mantis eyes, has been selected as the best paper of 2024 by Science Robotics. The innovative system enables machines to track objects in 3D space, addressing limitations in current visual data processing.
Cricket frogs use a combination of underwater push and leg movement to propel themselves out of the water, resulting in a 'belly flop' motion. This discovery could lead to advancements in bio-inspired robotics and water testing systems.
Researchers from Singapore, Japan and US developed an advanced swarm navigation algorithm for cyborg insects that prevents them from getting stuck in challenging terrain. The new algorithm represents a significant advance in swarm robotics and could pave the way for applications in disaster relief and search-and-rescue missions.
Chung-Ang University researchers have developed self-powered tactile sensors for robotics and wearables by introducing novel manufacturing strategies for piezoelectric and triboelectric sensors. These advancements aim to create high-performance sensors capable of multi-modal sensing and real-time interaction.
Researchers create nanosensors that can measure piconewton and micronewton forces remotely using light, enabling multiscale sensing capabilities. These sensors operate in previously inaccessible environments with benign infrared light, revolutionizing technologies from robotics to medicine and space travel.
A new study finds that industrial robots can significantly lower CO2 emissions in manufacturing exports. However, a U-shaped relationship is uncovered, where emissions initially drop before plateauing, highlighting the need for careful integration of robotics into manufacturing systems.
Researchers reviewed robotic and intelligent technologies for inspecting composite materials, highlighting their challenges and benefits. Advanced methods like wave-based inspection, non-contact optical techniques, and vision, force, and touch offer precision, efficiency, and automation capabilities.
A study published in Science Robotics found that diverse and inclusive teams in robotics research achieve higher motivation, commitment, and productivity. The team identified seven main benefits of workforce diversity and inclusive leadership, including increased innovation and reduced bias.
Researchers discover that modifying BallBot's body mass and ball size can significantly improve its balancing abilities, enabling more stable and reliable robots. The study introduces a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controller to fine-tune the robot's movements, allowing for improved balance and stability in dynamic environments.
Professor Gerhard Neumann at KIT has received a EUR 2.4 million ERC Consolidator Grant to improve robots' ability to perform complex tasks in real environments. His SMARTI³ project aims to develop intuitive interfaces and scalable capabilities for complex manipulation tasks.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has won a four-year grant to create hands-on curriculum about AI-related technologies for future farmers and leaders. Selected students will test the curriculum in drones, robotics, and other smart agriculture technologies, gaining skills in coding, drone-work, and robotics.
The Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics develops advanced underwater robots and autonomy algorithms, enabling intelligent operation without human oversight. The research team has received $7.4 million in grants to continue their mission, advancing unconventional marine platforms and enhancing AUV capabilities.
The team's achievement marks a significant advance in robotics, allowing for maneuverable robots that can perform up-close imaging and measure forces at the scale of some body's smallest structures. The new diffractive robots are tiny, measuring 5 microns to 2 microns, and can be controlled by magnetic fields to move independently.
A QUT research team developed a novel place recognition algorithm using Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) to improve robotic navigation efficiency and accuracy. The system achieved an improvement of 41% in place recognition accuracy, enabling robots to adapt to appearance changes over time.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new 3D printing technique that allows for the creation of shape-changing materials with muscle-like properties. These materials can crawl, fold, and snap directly after printing, enabling their use in implantable medical devices, soft robotics, and energy storage applications.
Scientists at the University of Sydney create programmable nanostructures using DNA origami, enabling rapid prototyping of diverse configurations. These custom-designed nanostructures have potential applications in targeted drug delivery, responsive materials, and energy-efficient optical signal processing.
A robotic bird model with real pigeon feathers replicates the continuous adjustments made by birds to stabilize their flight. The robot's algorithm enables rudderless flight, a long-sought innovation in aviation that could lead to more fuel-efficient airplanes and improved jet fighter operations.
A new study introduces a breakthrough approach to detecting fatigue cracks in Orthotropic steel bridge decks using advanced robotics and deep learning. The innovative system automates internal crack identification, streamlining inspections while delivering unprecedented accuracy.
A review paper explores how robots can aid in understanding the human sense of self, including simulating mind and brain processes and testing social capacities. Researchers aim to transfer some features of human self-awareness to robots, which could provide insights into its development and potential applications.
Erdogan Kaya and his team aim to create an AI curriculum for grades 4-5, focusing on emergent multilingual learners and preparing students for AI-intensive careers. The project explores the impact of the integrated curriculum on students' understanding of AI concepts and teachers' AI teaching efficacy beliefs.
Researchers have developed sensitive ceramic sensors that can selectively respond to pressure or temperature, which are integrated into a prosthetic hand and a robotic skin. The goal is to enable safe collaboration between humans and machines, with applications in medicine and industry.
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has successfully developed a robotic suite capable of servicing satellites in orbit, enabling resilience for the US space infrastructure. The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites Integrated Robotic Payload (IRP) will enable satellite upgrades and repairs, reducing complexity and cost.
The university introduces Bachelor of Engineering in Robotics and Double Major Bachelor of Engineering Science in Process Engineering and Synthetic Chemistry to address global demand for roboticists. The programs incorporate AI-related elements and are designed to provide students with a unique skill set.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have developed a robot that can perform surgical procedures with the same skill as human doctors, eliminating the need to program robots with individual moves required during surgery. The 'imagination' model uses imitation learning to train the da Vinci Surgical System robot, enabling it to pre...
A TU Wien-developed robot can learn to clean a sink by watching humans perform the task, adapting its knowledge to different shapes and applying the right amount of force. The technology combines machine learning and robotics, enabling robots to share their parameters through federated learning.
A team of scientists has developed a novel method to explain the behavior of water-responsive materials, which can change shape in response to humidity fluctuations. This breakthrough could advance efforts toward clean energy production, robotics, and bioelectronics.
A research team at SickKids and U of T has developed a robotic system that allows scientists to test numerous potential therapeutics in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young adults. The technology enables the identification of five potential therapies for the condition.
IIT's Omnia prosthetic won the 'Leg Prosthesis' category at Cybathlon 2024, showcasing a novel lower limb prosthetic prototype designed for individuals with transfemoral amputations. The system features a knee and ankle that exchange information to adjust parameters for optimal performance.
Researchers are developing energy-efficient robots inspired by ancient fish and fossils to simulate their anatomy and behavior. The team aims to test hypotheses about how early animals evolved and moved, providing insights into the transition from water to land.
Researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill propose that robotic automation and AI can transform science labs, speeding up experiments and unlocking breakthroughs in health, energy and electronics. Automation reduces human fatigue, increases precision and improves safety, enabling scientists to focus on higher-level research questions.
Researchers at GIST developed a cat's eye-inspired vision system that filters out unnecessary light and improves visibility in low-light conditions. The system promises to elevate the precision of drones, security robots, and self-driving vehicles, enabling them to navigate intricate environments with unparalleled accuracy.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new consensus complementarity control (C3) algorithm that allows robots to react to complex physical contact in real-time. The algorithm enables robots to control the motion of sliding objects, a challenging task previously thought to be impossible for autonomous robots.
Researchers create flexible, lightweight, and durable antennas using kirigami and MXene nanomaterials. The antennas can be adjusted to change transmission frequency by simply pulling or squeezing the shape, making them ideal for soft robotics and aerospace applications.
Researchers developed a light-driven, toroidal micro-robot that can navigate complex environments like medicine and environmental monitoring. The innovation uses liquid crystalline elastomer to overcome viscous forces and enables autonomous movement in low Reynolds number regimes.
Researchers create a complex model of nematode worm behavior, accurately mimicking its movements and offering insights into animal behavior. The findings have significant implications for medical research, particularly in the study of movement disorders like Parkinson's disease, and could also improve robotics.
A new knee exoskeleton has been developed to support the quadriceps muscles during lifting tasks, helping workers maintain better posture even when fatigued. The device, which uses a complex algorithm to predict assistance needs, enabled participants to lift faster and with improved posture.
The KIMM institute developed a variable-stiffness morphing wheel inspired by surface tension, allowing for real-time adjustment of stiffness to overcome obstacles. The technology has been successfully applied to mobile systems, including a two-wheeled wheelchair that can roll over rocks and stairs with stability.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed fungus-controlled robots that can react to their environment better than synthetic counterparts. The biohybrid robots use fungal mycelia to sense chemical and biological signals, enabling them to adapt to unexpected situations.
A team at ETH Zurich successfully conducted the first remote-controlled magnetic endoscopy procedure across a 9,300km distance. The procedure allowed for precise navigation and manipulation of a probe in a live pig's stomach via a joystick controlled by an operator in Zurich.
This new frontier in robotics integrates neuroscience insights to provide robots with unprecedented accuracy and adaptability in complex environments. Brain-inspired navigation systems utilize a multi-layered network model that creates a 'cognitive map' of the surroundings.
The WVU team, led by Yu Gu, is testing Loopy's ability to 'co-design' itself and learn to mark contaminated areas. Inspired by natural phenomena like ant swarms and tree roots, Loopy changes form in response to its environment.
Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design designed a vacuum-actuated hybrid soft gripper to handle delicate objects of varying sizes and shapes. The gripper features soft composite fingers and a palm, enabling wide grasping potential and adaptability to specific tasks.
The new battery can capture oxygen from air and use it to oxidize zinc, creating a current of up to 1 volt. It powers an actuator, memristor, clock circuit, and sensors, making it ideal for robotics and medical applications.