A self-healing elastomer forms the flexible membrane of the gripper, which can heal from scratches and punctures in approximately nine minutes. The gripper's design enables recyclability, allowing for a sustainable option for universal grippers and soft robotics.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed an autonomous excavator called HEAP to construct a 6-meter-high and 65-meter-long dry-stone wall. The excavator uses sensors, machine vision, and algorithms to place stones in the desired location, achieving a high level of precision and speed.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that conical shells made from soft materials are vulnerable to buckling at much smaller loads than previously predicted. This finding has implications for designing soft robots and mechanisms, as free unclamped edges can weaken thin structures in a surprising manner.
The team developed a set of 11 actions allowing the robotic arm to pick up a wide variety of foods, including soups and pre-cut pizza. The system uses user-input images to identify foods and applies unique trajectories for scooping motions or wiggling inside food items.
Researchers used a robotic system to test the repeatable healability of a self-healing actuator, finding that it can endure up to 53 cycles before suffering permanent damage. The study aims to prevent soft robot actuators from being disposed due to permanent damage.
A research group led by Professor Kaspar Althoefer has been awarded a €10m ERC Synergy grant to develop a revolutionary new system for screening and treating colorectal cancer. The system, which combines medical robotics, artificial intelligence, and minimally invasive surgery, aims to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
A team of engineers at the University of Michigan and Google has designed a simple touchscreen interface for programming exoskeleton assistance settings. Users can provide feedback on two pre-programmed profiles and receive personalized recommendations based on machine learning algorithms.
Lerrel Pinto aims to create robots that can perform a variety of tasks using algorithms and data collection methods. He seeks to address the trade-off between dexterity and generality in robotics.
The company will use the funding to develop a novel method to produce high-accuracy optical encoders, which are crucial for modern automation and robotics systems. The goal is to enable the manufacturing of complex next-generation products with precision positioning and motion control.
Researchers introduce a game-changing technology that enables fabrication of high-resolution, transformable 3D structures at the micro/nanoscale using Two-photon polymerization-based (TTP-based) 4D printing. The technology has vast potential for applications in biomedicine, flexible electronics, soft robotics, and aerospace.
The center will establish a national presence in cutting-edge research areas like Human-AI Collaboration and Responsible AI. Researchers aim to develop natural language interfaces for robots like Boston Dynamics' Spot, increasing its useful tasks and navigating environments on its own.
Researchers discovered that insects evolved ultrafast flight from a single common ancestor, with asynchronous beating and synchronous activation modes. They used physics models and robotics to test how these transitions could occur, finding that evolution can turn on and off this particular mode of flight.
Researchers from SUTD successfully applied reinforcement learning to a video game problem, creating complex movement designs that outperformed top human players. The study's findings have the potential to impact robotics and automation, ushering in a new era of movement design.
A joint research team published a review on in-sensor visual computing, a three-in-one hardware solution that overcomes high latency, power consumption, and privacy risks. The SCAMP chip is a key device, enabling general-purpose, programmable, and massively parallel systems for robotics and computer vision.
Researchers aim to access ocean waters hidden beneath ice shelves, where critical information about climate change is stored. An intelligent mothership and coordinated marine robots will communicate data from under-ice cavities, optimizing sampling and configuration.
GlowTrack, a non-invasive movement tracking method using fluorescent dye markers, improves the capture of diverse movements in laboratories. This technique enables easier comparison of movement data between studies, increasing scientific discovery and advancing fields like biology, robotics, and medicine.
The National Science Foundation has added Worcester Polytechnic Institute to its Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center, a collaboration between universities and industry. WPI will leverage its expertise in fire protection to study new fire detection methods, robotics solutions for first responder safety, and fire suppression systems.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a wearable device that can objectively measure the intensity of scratching, which could help evaluate the efficacy of medications meant to reduce itching. The device uses a contact microphone and accelerometer to detect high-frequency vibrations and correlates them with scratch i...
A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences explores how plants regulate motion speed and proposes potential strategies for biomimetic actuators. They draw inspiration from plant tissues with unique structures and compositions to develop artificial actuators responsive to humidity, solvents, heat, light, and electricity.
The new system allows robots to push objects multiple times until a sequence of images are collected, segmenting all the objects in the sequence. This reduces the potential for mistakes by learning more about each item with its RGB-D camera.
Researchers at University of Galway and MIT have developed an intelligent implantable device that can sense its environment, adapt to release drugs as required, and bypass scar tissue buildup. The device uses AI to tailor drug delivery to individual patients, reducing fibrotic encapsulation and ensuring consistent dosing.
Researchers at the University of Bristol developed a novel Bi-Touch system enabling robots to perform manual tasks with human-like dexterity. The system uses simulation-based training for AI agents, which are then applied to real-world scenarios, achieving precise sensing, gentle interaction, and effective object manipulation.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed an innovative thermal imaging method called HADAR, which enables artificial intelligence to perceive physical attributes and recover textures in pitch-dark environments. The technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as autonomous vehicles and robotics.
A team of researchers led by ICM-CSIC has successfully applied reinforcement learning to underwater robots, enabling them to track and locate marine objects with high accuracy. This breakthrough technology will allow for deeper study of ecological phenomena such as migration patterns and movement at various scales.
A new sensor developed by Queen Mary University of London enhances robots' sense of touch, allowing them to accurately measure interaction forces and geometry. This breakthrough could pave the way for more advanced and reliable robotics in the future, enabling better handling and manipulation of objects.
A team of roboticists developed a 3D printed soft robotic gripper that can pick and release objects without electronics. The device is printed in one go and features built-in gravity and touch sensors.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have developed a suite of robotic systems and planners enabling robots to explore more quickly, probe the darkest corners of unknown environments, and create more accurate maps. The systems allow robots to do all this autonomously, finding their way and creating a map witho...
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have developed flexible magneto-resistive sensors with unprecedented sensitivity, detecting low-frequency magnetic fields smaller than 200 pico-Tesla. The breakthrough offers new opportunities for flexible sensor integration in medical devices, soft robotics, and other applications.
ROSE, a novel soft gripping robotic gripper, boasts remarkable durability, scalability and effectiveness in handling fragile objects, with potential applications in harvesting, sorting and cluttered environments.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have created a new type of electric variable-stiffness artificial muscle with self-sensing capabilities, revolutionizing soft robotics and medical applications. The innovative technology enables rapid reactions and force sensing, making it ideal for integration into intricate robotic systems.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has developed a compact, soft pump that can power soft robots in various applications. The pump uses dielectric elastomer actuators and can control pressure, flow rate, and flow direction, making it suitable for biomedical settings.
Researchers examine whether robots and AI can replicate the ethical concepts attributed to human nurses, including advocacy, accountability, cooperation, and caring. While AI can inform patients about medical errors and present treatment options, it questions its ability to truly understand and empathize with patients' values.
A new type of ferroelectric polymer holds promise as a high-performance motion controller, offering a promising avenue for the development of soft actuators. The research demonstrates the potential of ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites to overcome limitations of traditional piezoelectric polymers.
A soft robotics glove with integrated sensors and AI can aid patients in relearning daily tasks after neurotrauma, including playing music. The glove provides hand guidance, amplifying dexterity and motor skills.
Researchers at Imperial College London developed a heat-resistant drone called FireDrone that can withstand temperatures of up to 200°C for ten minutes. The drone provides crucial first-hand data from danger zones to inform emergency response and help save lives.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a new model, Vision-Robotics Bridge, which enables robots to learn from observing humans complete tasks in any environment. The robots successfully learned 12 tasks, including opening drawers and picking up objects, with minimal practice time of just 25 minutes.
Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology created the smallest glass structure by 3D printing with sub-micrometer resolution. The new method eliminates thermal treatment requirements, enabling customized applications in medical machinery, robotics, and telecommunications.
Maynooth University is establishing a state-of-the-art robotics lab with a €150,000 donation from Intel Ireland. The lab will provide students with hands-on learning experiences using cutting-edge robotic technologies and equipment used by engineers from Intel.
Researchers developed a new method for controlling lower limb exoskeletons using deep reinforcement learning, enabling more robust and natural walking control. The system has the potential to benefit users with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other neurological conditions.
The Mori3 robot is a polygon shape-shifting robot designed for space travel, capable of morphing into any 3D object and adapting to various environments. Its versatility makes it an ideal candidate for communication and external repairs in spacecraft.
EPFL researchers used Chat-GPT to design a working robotic tomato harvester, showcasing the AI tool's potential for collaborating with humans in robotic design. The study highlights opportunities and risks of applying artificial intelligence to robotics, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of LLMs' role in design.
Loris Fichera's $599,663 NSF CAREER Award project aims to develop new surgical robots that can accurately deliver focused energy without cutting or touching human tissues. The project will enhance a surgical robot's perception using virtual palpation and create research opportunities for WPI undergraduates.
A new study integrates robotics into wildlife conservation, enhancing predator deterrents through automated movement and adaptiveness. The findings demonstrate improved survival times and increased efficacy of protection against livestock predation.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have created a fabric and sensing system, RobotSweater, that allows machines to better interact with humans. The knitted textile 'skin' can sense contact and pressure, enabling robots to move in response to human gestures.
Washington State University researchers developed a robotic bee that can fly fully in all directions, including twisting motion. The Bee++ prototype achieves six degrees of free movement and is controlled by an artificial brain that acts like an insect's brain.
The study presents a novel, deployable electrode array for minimally invasive craniosurgery, featuring spiraled arms that unfold over sensitive brain tissue. The device's eversion mechanism allows for arbitrary size deployment with minimal compression on the brain.
Researchers at Oregon State University are part of a $5 million NSF effort to accelerate robotics research by providing standardized humanoid robots. The project will build on an earlier success that designed and tested 10 prototype Quori robots, incorporating lessons learned to improve the robot's design and distribution.
Researchers have developed a simple metallic coating treatment for clothing that can repair itself, repel bacteria, and monitor electrocardiogram heart signals. The conductive circuits created by liquid metal particles transform wearable electronics, opening doors for human-machine interfaces, soft robotics, and health monitoring systems.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a self-driving laboratory called Polybot, which automates electronic polymer research and frees scientists' time to work on tasks only humans can accomplish. The tool combines AI and robotics to streamline experimental processes and accelerate discovery.
Researchers at University of Sydney demonstrated nanowire networks can exhibit short- and long-term memory, mirroring human brain function. The network outperformed in tasks requiring recognition and recall, showcasing its potential to enhance robotics and sensor devices.
Researchers at Arizona State University have designed a drone with an inflatable frame that can absorb impact forces and provide collision resilience. The drone's stiffness is tunable, allowing it to physically interact with its surroundings and accomplish tasks like perching, which involves controlled collisions.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have designed a four-legged robotic system that can walk on a narrow balance beam, enhancing quadruped agility and balance. The system employs reaction wheel actuators to provide independent control of the body's orientation, allowing the robot to recover from sudden impacts and disturbances.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a method for creating molecular robots using artificial multicellular-like bodies made of phospholipids and synthetic surfactants. The technique allows for the assembly of micron-sized compartments that can combine to form heterogeneous structures with multiple functionalities.
A team of researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has developed a totally edible and rechargeable battery cell, utilizing riboflavin and quercetin as anode and cathode. The battery can provide current for small electronic devices and may have applications in health diagnostics, food quality monitoring, and edible soft robotics.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge designed a soft robotic hand that can grasp a range of objects using passive movement and tactile sensors. The hand successfully grasped 11 of 14 objects in tests, including a peach, computer mouse, and roll of bubble wrap, demonstrating its ability to predict when it might drop an object.
A brain-inspired intelligent robotic system is constructed to deal with current limitations, introducing core neural mechanisms and corresponding algorithms. The simulation platform integrates brain-inspired algorithms in vision, decision-making, and movement control, providing efficient tools for researchers.
The University of Huddersfield has launched a smart rolling stock maintenance research facility to investigate cutting-edge technologies for improving the efficiency and reliability of train maintenance. The facility aims to reduce costs, increase reliability, and make rail travel more affordable.
A team of experts at the University of Manchester has received €2.5million funding to design smarter robots that can understand humans' inner feelings through language. The project aims to develop robots that can engage meaningfully with older generations, helping them in everyday life.
Assistant Professor Reza Ahmadzadeh at UMass Lowell has been awarded a $500,000 NSF CAREER grant to develop new algorithms for robots to learn complex tasks. The project aims to improve robot performance in everyday tasks, enabling them to assist older adults with daily chores and automate difficult duties in the workplace.
The caterpillar-bot uses a novel pattern of silver nanowires to control its movement, with the ability to steer in both directions and navigate through tight spaces. The robot's movement is driven by heating and cooling cycles that allow it to 'relax' before contracting again.