Researchers develop film-balloon (FiBa) soft robots with novel fabrication approach, enabling lightweight, untethered operation and advanced biomimetic locomotion capabilities. The breakthrough enhances the operational capabilities of soft robots for diverse applications.
Researchers at UCLA developed a new class of tunable dynamic material that mimics the inner workings of push puppets, enabling precise control of structural shape and flexibility. The material has potential applications in soft robotics, reconfigurable architectures, and space engineering.
Researchers developed a learning-based approach called LVWS to schedule robots and enable voluntary waiting, resulting in faster task completion. This method outperformed other approaches by up to 23% suboptimality, demonstrating its potential to improve manufacturing, agriculture, and warehouse automation.
Researchers have developed AI systems that use photos or videos to create simulations for training robots in real settings. The RialTo system generates highly accurate simulations of specific environments, while the URDFormer system creates generic simulations quickly and cheaply. These advancements aim to lower costs and increase acce...
Researchers have developed electrically powered artificial muscle fibers (EAMFs) with exceptional mechanical properties and integration flexibility. These fibers mimic biological muscle movements, enabling biomimicry in soft robotics and other technologies.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new fabrication technique called solid knitting, which allows machines to knit furniture using yarn. The technology has the potential to produce solid three-dimensional chairs, tables, and other objects, and could revolutionize the way we approach design and manufacturing.
Researchers have developed a complex algorithm to choreograph the movement of two robotic arms, ensuring a clear space between them and maintaining a consistent magnetic field. This innovative system uses two robotic arms to steer magnetic medical devices, such as vine robots, with precise control and accuracy.
Researchers warn that bio-hybrid robots, which combine living tissue and synthetic components, present novel ethical dilemmas. The technology raises questions about sentience, moral value, and environmental impact, highlighting the need for proper governance and public awareness.
Researchers created RoboFabric, a wearable fabric that can stiffen on demand for medical applications and soft robotics. The technology reduces muscle activity by up to 40% when assisting joints while lifting loads.
Scientists have created a new type of battery that is soft and stretchable, making it suitable for wearables and medical implants. The 'jelly batteries' use hydrogels to deliver an electric current and can be stretched up to ten times their original length without losing conductivity.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University's PAI Lab developed groundbreaking multifunctional material-sensors that emulate natural systems, advancing Physical AI. The sensors can process diverse signals concurrently through ions and electrons, enabling versatile and lifelike interactions in fields like robotics and healthcare.
Surgical robots have become more intelligent and efficient through image-guided methods, enabling precise surgical operations and reducing trauma. Modern systems can acquire and process high-precision images in real-time during surgery, providing intuitive operational guidance.
A new partnership has developed a functional safety sensing platform based on 3D ultrasound, providing an additional layer of safety and reliability for autonomous vehicles. The technology complements existing systems and enables vehicles to detect their surroundings in real-time, even in extreme conditions.
Researchers developed a flexible-yet-sturdy morphing structure inspired by the starfish skeleton with 4D morphing features. The structure exhibits self-locking, continuous bending, self-healing, and shape memory features, making it suitable for industry applications in robotics, aviation, and biomedical devices.
The University of Maryland team created a camera mechanism that mimics the involuntary movements of the human eye, resulting in sharper and more accurate images. The Artificial Microsaccade-Enhanced Event Camera (AMI-EV) has implications for robotics, national defense, and industries relying on accurate image capture.
The team, led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi, created a layer of skin that can bind to complex forms of humanoid robots, granting them increased mobility and self-healing abilities. The research has potential applications in the cosmetics industry, medical research, and robotics.
Researchers from Shinshu University have developed a strategy to up- and down-convert terahertz signals using dynamic conductivity modification, creating temporal boundaries. This approach could pave the way for faster data transmission and enhanced telecommunications in fields like deep learning and robotics.
Researchers from Shinshu University have created a novel composite material with exceptional capabilities for motion and physiological sensing. The new sensor design showed significant performance and stability improvements, enabling practical use in wearable applications.
A novel mechanical metamaterial, 'Chaco,' exhibits history-dependent behavior, allowing it to remember the sequence of actions performed on it. This property enables potential applications in memory storage and robotics.
The team created a prediction model that generates sustainable products with high accuracy and explores the vast design space of aerogel assembly. Their strong and flexible aerogels have programmable mechanical and electrical properties, opening up new possibilities for green technologies.
The hybrid-driven origami gripper, showcased in a recent study, demonstrates unprecedented versatility and precision in grasping objects. Its adjustable finger stiffness and variable finger lengths enable it to handle diverse materials without causing damage.
The article discusses the integration of actuation and sensing technologies in soft robotics, allowing for more adaptable and safe robots that can perform complex tasks autonomously. Key findings include advancements in actuation methods, sensing techniques, and integration methodologies, as well as challenges and future directions for...
Researchers at Zhejiang University have developed a wrist-inspired soft actuator capable of bidirectional torsion, surpassing existing models with up to 239.5 degrees of rotation. The innovative design combines magneto-pneumatic hybrid systems and Kresling origami structures for efficient and compact functionality.
A Virginia Tech researcher has developed a new tool that uses robotics and acoustic energy to move small targets, such as cells and medicine, within the body without cutting or invasive procedures. The 'invisible tweezers' have potential applications in various fields, including engineering, biology, and chemistry research.
Researchers developed a shoulder actuation testbed for rehabilitation, integrating pneumatic and electromagnetic forces for high precision and transparency. The system allows for natural-like interaction forces during disturbances, making rehabilitation experiences more natural and effective.
Researchers at IIT developed HybriBot, a biohybrid robot that uses a flour-based capsule and oat fruit appendages to disperse seeds, promoting reforestation. The device has been tested with tomato, chicory, and willow herb seeds in various soils, showing promising results.
A comparative analysis of robot-assisted language learning systems and human tutors found that robots can improve English-speaking skills through repetitive practice. However, human interaction is still essential for developing real-life language use. The study used a table-top humanoid robot to teach 26 university students, showing si...
The new approach combines central pattern generators (CPGs) with deep reinforcement learning (DRL), generating human-like movements for walking, running, and adapting to frequencies where motion data is absent. This breakthrough sets a new benchmark in robotics, offering unprecedented environmental adaptation capability.
Researchers developed a new AI algorithm called Maximum Diffusion Reinforcement Learning (MaxDiff RL) to improve robot reliability. The algorithm enables robots to learn complex skills more efficiently by encouraging exploration of their environments.
Researchers used deep-learning decoders to enhance a non-invasive brain-computer interface's performance in tracking virtual objects. The system allowed users to control a fast and continuously moving computer cursor using only sensor-space brain waves, demonstrating promising results for neuro-assistive robotics.
A recent study published in Science Robotics found that robots struggle to outperform biological organisms in foot races. The researchers analyzed data from dozens of studies and concluded that the failure of robots to outrun animals is not due to shortfalls in individual components, but rather inefficiencies in system design.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking new design paradigm for smart fibrillar adhesives, surpassing the limits of traditional gecko-inspired designs. These innovative adhesives boast unprecedented strength, exceptional switchability, and scalability, enabling applications in robotics, manufacturing, and medicine.
An interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers compared various aspects of running robots with their equivalents in animals, finding that biological components performed poorly compared to fabricated parts. However, animals excel in integrating and controlling these components.
Eric Markvicka is developing a manufacturing approach to produce novel liquid metal mixtures with enhanced properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity. These mixtures can be used in additive manufacturing and accelerate momentum toward 4D printing, enabling the creation of machines that mimic biological organisms.
The WVU Research Experience for Undergraduates program aims to solve real-world problems in Appalachia using mobile robotics. Students will conduct independent research in areas like drone navigation and swarming behaviors, focusing on enabling change with robotics tools.
Researchers will study wearable robotic assistance for chronic SCI, new assessment tools for spatial neglect, and a web-based job interview training tool for autistic youth. The studies aim to improve upper extremity movement function and employment outcomes for individuals with autism.
Researchers at the University of Sydney and Queensland University of Technology have developed a new approach to designing cameras that process and scramble visual information. The approach, known as 'sighted systems,' creates distorted images that can still be used by robots to complete tasks but do not compromise privacy.
The CEC researchers have received funding to transform Eagle Bank Arena into a one-of-a-kind robotics experimentation and competition venue. This unique facility will enable the study of multi-robot systems in adversarial settings, advancing the state-of-the-art in heterogeneous multi-robot technologies.
A team of Columbia engineers created Emo, a robotic face that makes eye contact and uses AI to anticipate and replicate human smiles. The robot can predict facial expressions and execute them simultaneously with humans, reducing disingenuous interactions.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature. The model could help reduce energy waste and improve throughput for elastomer-based components manufacturing, enabling more efficient soft robotics design.
Researchers from UNIGE have developed an AI that can learn a task solely based on verbal instructions, then describe it to another AI, which reproduces the task. This breakthrough is promising for robotics and understanding human language.
EPFL researchers have developed a haptic device called SORI that can accurately recreate the softness of various materials, from marshmallows to beating hearts. This technology has potential applications in medicine, such as training medical students to detect cancerous tumors and providing sensory feedback to surgeons using robots.
Nõo Meat Factory partners with University of Tartu to test AI and robotics solutions for enhanced production optimization and quality control. The cooperation aims to identify possibilities for using artificial intelligence in the food industry, making it more competitive globally.
A breakthrough metamaterial has been developed to enable real-time shape and property control, surpassing existing materials' limitations. The material's adaptable capabilities make it suitable for applications in robotics and other fields requiring flexibility.
Researchers created a soft robot mimicking 500-million-year-old pleurocystitids, suggesting a sweeping motion helped them glide through the ocean floor. The design also indicates longer stems enabled faster movement without increased energy expenditure.
Researchers developed an unmanned forestry machine that can safely pick up logs using computer vision, autonomous navigation, and manipulator control algorithms. The machine reduces labor costs while minimizing environmental impact, promoting sustainable forestry.
A groundbreaking study explores how humans perceive and interact with a pneumatically-driven edible robot. The research reveals that the dynamic movement of the robot intensifies perceptions, including emotion, animateness, and guilt, while altering texture experiences during consumption.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a robotic sensor that reads Braille at twice the speed of humans, achieving 87% accuracy. The breakthrough uses machine learning algorithms to 'deblur' images and recognize letters, paving the way for potential applications in robotics and prosthetics.
Researchers in Japan have developed a two-legged biohybrid robot that uses muscle tissues to achieve fine movements and efficiency. The robot can walk, stop, and make precise turning motions, paving the way for future advancements in robotics.
Princeton researchers create a system to control the growth of microtubule branches, enabling precise chemical transport and potential applications in soft robotics, new medicines, and biomolecular transport. The technique harnesses cellular scaffolding to build novel materials and technologies.
A research group from Tohoku University Graduate School of Engineering has replicated human-like variable speed walking using a musculoskeletal model steered by a reflex control method reflective of the human nervous system. The breakthrough in biomechanics and robotics sets a new benchmark in understanding human movement.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a metal-free magnetic gel that can power soft robots and guide medical capsules. The gel's strong, non-toxic magnetism enables flexible robotics applications, while its biodegradable properties make it suitable for medical operations.
Researchers from HKUST developed a sensor array design inspired by the human auditory system to optimize application in fields like robotics, aviation, healthcare, and industrial machinery. The design addresses traditional challenges such as complex wiring, limited reconfigurability, and low damage resistance.
Dr. Hambuchen's affordance template innovation allows remote humans to interact with robots as supervisors, guiding them to complete tasks while maintaining autonomy. This technology has significant implications for NASA's space exploration and deep-sea exploration, overcoming the challenge of time delays.
A study redevelops a framework for teaching artificial intelligence and robotics to preschool children, providing five big ideas that can be grasped by young kids. The framework aims to prepare children to understand and use AI tools effectively, promoting healthy and responsible learning in the rapidly developing digital society.
Researchers developed a technological platform inspired by the blue-ringed octopus's ability to change skin markings. The devices feature adjustable fluorescent properties, ease of manufacturing, and potential for self-repair, benefiting fields like military, medicine, robotics, and sustainable energy.
A NSF-funded project, MABLE, is developing a digital app using crowdsensing, AI, and robotics to empower individuals with responsive maps and turn-by-turn instructions. The app aims to improve accessibility and navigation for persons with visual or mobility impairments, such as those with low vision and wheelchair users.
Researchers at EPFL report on controlling a third arm with diaphragm movement, enhancing human cognition and exploring nervous system limitations. The study demonstrates intuitive control of an extra limb and potential applications in rehabilitation protocols.
ChromoSense uses a translucent rubber cylinder with colored sections to detect changes in bending, stretching, compression, and temperature. The device has potential applications in wearable technologies and soft robots, offering a more targeted and information-dense sensing solution than traditional camera-based systems.
A new composite material, engineered using computer algorithms and 3D printing, can change its behavior in response to temperature changes. The material is designed to perform specific tasks depending on the environment, enabling future generations of autonomous robotics.