Erion Plaku, Associate Professor of Computer Science at George Mason University, has received $203,796 in National Science Foundation funding. He will oversee the Robust Intelligence, Foundational Research in Robotics, and National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes programs from August 2020 to August 2021.
Mechanical engineering researchers studied fruit flies' eye movements to improve robotic flight control. The study found that flies use eye movements to quickly coordinate their wings in response to visual cues, with reactions up to four times faster than the body or wings.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed electronic artificial skin that senses pain instantly, mimicking the body's near-instant feedback response. The prototype device combines three technologies to deliver key features of the skin's sensing capability in electronic form.
Portland State University received $901,000 to study how brains interact with their environment. The team will develop new theories and tools to better understand the brain's control systems.
Carnegie Mellon researchers create large dataset capturing interaction between sound, action, and vision to improve robotic perception. The study found that sounds can help robots differentiate between objects and predict physical properties of new objects.
Researchers developed a new family of polymers that can self-heal, have shape memory, and are recyclable. The materials can be fine-tuned to achieve softness like rubber or strength like load-bearing plastics, making them suitable for realistic prosthetics, soft robotics, and military applications.
The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's 17th Annual Meeting will discuss advances in stroke triage and management, artificial intelligence, robotics, and new findings on racial disparities in stroke treatment. The event will also cover the neurologic impact of COVID-19.
Researchers invent new laser inversion technique to overcome SLS limitations, enabling simultaneous printing of multiple materials. The process allows for stronger, denser materials and complex multi-material parts without assembly, expanding industries such as aerospace, automotive, and robotics.
Researchers created origami-built metamaterials that retain shape recoverability, directional mechanical properties, and reversible auxeticity. This breakthrough enables multifunctional applications in soft robotics and medical devices.
A team of Michigan State University engineers has designed a soft-hard hybrid flexible gripper that can generate larger grasping forces than traditional pure soft hands. The new research, published in Soft Robotics, aims to create safer human-robotics interactions for tasks such as fruit picking and medical care.
The QUT Centre for Robotics will train researchers, engineers, and manufacturers with expertise to boost safety, quality, and productivity. The five-year centre will develop collaborative robotics applications to help Australian manufacturers compete globally.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a system that enables robots to pick up transparent and reflective objects using a color camera and depth images. The system outperforms previous methods in grasping these challenging objects, with high success rates in both clean and cluttered environments.
A new method developed at Carnegie Mellon University has improved the accuracy of tracking systems for autonomous vehicles. By training on larger datasets and detecting its own errors, the system can learn to do the right thing without being told what it is.
The Solo 8 robot, designed by NYU Tandon and Max Planck Institute, is a low-cost, easy-to-assemble quadruped that can be upgraded and modified. It enables researchers to perform complex actions like walking, jumping, and navigating terrain, making sophisticated robotics available to all.
SlothBot, a slow-moving and energy-efficient robot, is being tested at the Atlanta Botanical Garden to monitor endangered species and the environment. The robot's unique design allows it to linger in the trees for months or years, providing new insights into critical ecosystems.
Researchers adapt robotics techniques to efficiently assess quantum device performance, stabilizing the emerging technology. This innovative approach outperforms simplistic characterisation in complex simulated environments.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a perception system that considers visibility to improve object detection in self-driving cars. The method outperformed previous techniques, with improvements of up to 18.4% for buses and 16.7% for trailers.
The researchers developed a technology called Artificial Chemist, which combines AI and robotics to conduct autonomous R&D and manufacturing of commercially desirable materials. It can identify the best material for any suite of measurable properties in 15 minutes or less.
A team of engineers at the University of Cambridge has successfully trained a robot chef to prepare an omelette using machine learning, with improved taste and texture. The robot's culinary skills were refined to produce a reliable dish that meets human standards, overcoming the subjective nature of cooking.
Researchers at Harvard have developed a fast-moving jumping soft actuator that harnesses the energy released by buckling to achieve speed. The device uses shell buckling similar to toy poppers, enabling it to catapult itself into the air and navigate safely through uncharted landscapes.
Christoph Keplinger's research focuses on soft robotics, artificial muscles, and medical applications. He aims to rethink robotics by merging soft matter with advanced technologies.
Researchers developed soft robotic technology using reservoir computing, enabling flexible control of pneumatic artificial muscles. This innovation may lead to wearable rehabilitation devices, biomedical robots, and remote-sensing applications, all with improved safety and adaptability.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a new robot rover, the Mini Rover, that can climb sand-covered hills and avoid getting stuck. The rover uses a unique gait that combines paddling, walking, and wheel spinning motions to create a robust and adaptable locomotion system.
The study created flexible single crystal electronic systems by using organic semiconductors that can be stretched over 10%, exceeding the elastic limit of most single crystals. This breakthrough could enable new applications in sensors and robotics.
Researchers developed a new robot called the Mini Rover that can climb hills covered with loose material and avoid getting stuck. Using a complex motion called rear rotator pedaling, the rover combines paddling, walking, and wheel spinning motions to maintain forward progress.
The new soft robotics, called LEAP, have a spring-powered spine that enables rapid switching between stable states, allowing for faster movement and more forceful grasping. This innovation outperforms previous soft robots by reaching speeds of up to three times faster on solid surfaces.
A team of QUT researchers is developing advanced robotic systems to gather data on the Antarctic environment, informing scientific models of climate change responses. The Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future program will provide practical solutions to complex environmental challenges.
LaShanda Korley, a renowned materials scientist at the University of Delaware, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Her work focuses on developing bio-inspired materials with applications in healthcare, sensing, and soft robotics.
Carnegie Mellon University researchers have created a method to build accurate 3D reconstructions of faces from smartphone videos, outperforming other camera-based processes with sub-millimeter accuracy. The digital face might be used in gaming, virtual or augmented reality, animation, biometric identification, and medical procedures.
Researchers outline robots' potential roles in clinical care, logistics, and reconnaissance to combat COVID-19. They suggest robots for disinfection, delivery, and monitoring compliance with quarantines.
Researchers argue that robots can help combat COVID-19 by performing 'dull, dirty and dangerous' jobs such as disinfection and temperature checking. The use of robots in pandemic response could reduce human exposure to pathogens and be essential for future epidemics.
Researchers developed a new kind of soft robot that can change its shape and move freely, combining benefits of soft robots with traditional robotics. The 'isoperimetric robot' has applications in homes, workplaces, disaster response, and space exploration.
The isoperimetric soft robot is a human-scale, pneumatic robot that can move without a tether and navigate unstructured environments. It achieves this by deforming its soft fabric tubes while maintaining its perimeter constant.
Researchers at the University of Manchester developed a robot that uses perceptual control theory to balance and move efficiently. The study found that robots programmed with this theory performed better than those using standard algorithms, demonstrating potential for more lifelike machines.
The use of robots in neuroendovascular procedures could significantly change acute stroke treatment. The advanced technology provides precise control over microcatheters and microwires, reducing radiation exposure for surgeons.
Researchers at USC developed personalized learning robots for children with autism, which could autonomously gauge engagement in long-term therapeutic interventions. The robots achieved 90% accuracy in detecting a child's interest in tasks.
The researchers created disc-shaped magnets about 2 millimeters in diameter, called ferrobots, which can move and manipulate droplets of fluid with precision. These robots could transform various biotech-related industries, including medical diagnostics, drug development, genomics, and the synthesis of chemicals and materials.
A new simple blood test developed by the University of Bristol could help doctors diagnose brain tumors earlier, using fluorescent carbon dots and nanophotonics. The test aims to detect biomarkers such as Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in blood samples.
The UVA Engineering-Virginia Tech team, Team VICTOR, will compete in the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge 2020 with autonomous robots that can work independently. The team aims to develop sophisticated robots for various applications, including construction and space exploration.
NYU assistant professors Anna Choromanska, Christine Constantinople, and Daniele Panozzo have been awarded Sloan Fellowships for their innovative research in machine learning, brain science, and partial differential equations. The fellowships provide $75,000 over two years to support their research.
Stephanie Gil, an assistant professor at Arizona State University, has been awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship for her groundbreaking robotics research. Her work focuses on coordinating control across systems of multiple robots, with implications for search and rescue operations and emergency services.
A team of researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University aims to create AI agents that can infer human thoughts based on behavior. They plan to test these socially intelligent agents in a search-and-rescue scenario within Minecraft to understand what humans are thinking.
Researchers led by Lehigh's Anand Jagota will explore bio-inspired design of near-surface structures to improve friction in soft materials. The project aims to create safer tires, improve robotics and biomaterials, and advance mobility with the support of a $2M NSF grant.
Two new studies uncover the secrets behind birds' precise flight control, paving the way for more agile robotic wings. Researchers found that finger motion initiates stable turn maneuvers and 'directional Velcro' mechanisms lock feathers together during wing extension.
N-Side's smart pet wearable necklace can analyze body temperature, stress level, and sleep quality in real-time. The company plans to receive feedback from 100 people to improve the technology and product quality.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a super-stretchy, transparent and self-powering sensor that records complex human sensations. The 'artificial ionic skin' can measure strain, humidity and temperature changes, generating controlled ion movements that can be measured as electrical signals.
The Journal Healthcare Transformation: Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Robotics explores the challenges and opportunities for integrating technology into consumer healthcare. A recent article found that five telemedicine companies provided nearly half of telemental health visits, highlighting the need for coordinated care.
Researchers are working on a new project to develop transparent and explainable deep-learning AI computing models that make decisions. The project will use adversarial training techniques to understand how neural networks learn and make predictions.
Researchers are developing robotic networks that can work independently but collaboratively to accomplish complex tasks. By using genetic fuzzy logic, they were able to get three robots and then five robots to move a token to a designated spot on a table.
A US Army Research Laboratory team developed new algorithms to integrate context into artificial intelligence, advancing robotics and AI processes in areas like natural language communication and world model development. The research supports the Next Generation Combat Vehicle by integrating context-driven AI within human-autonomy teams.
A new robotic skin called ElectroSkin has been created, which can crawl across surfaces using artificial muscles and electrical charges. This innovative technology could lead to the development of soft robots for environmental monitoring, robot grippers, and wearable technologies.
Scientists at ETH Zurich created quadrupole magnetic building blocks that can be assembled into any two-dimensional shape using attractive south and north poles. These modules have potential applications in soft robotics and could be used to create robots controlled by a magnetic field.
Researchers have developed a stretchable light-emitting device that operates at low voltages and is safe for human skin. The device can be used in smart wearables, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces.
A two-legged robot named Little Hermes has been developed to walk, run, jump and interact with the environment synchronously with a human operator. The robot is guided by a person from a remote location who feels the same physical forces as the robot.
Asrar Damdam, a KAUST Ph.D. student, has developed a silicon-based platform that can change shape and stretch in various directions, exceeding human skin's 20% stretchability limit. Her design has potential for integration into wearable electronics devices and soft robotics.
Trimbot uses cameras and 3D mapping technology to self-navigate gardens and perform precise tasks, including pruning roses and trimming bushes. The robot's advanced algorithms enable it to compare overgrown bushes with ideal shapes and pinpoint exact stem cuts for rose pruning.
The U.S. Army's foundational research program has led to advancements in four critical areas of ground combat robotics, including sensing, movement, and teamwork. The government investment is crucial for ensuring U.S. Warfighters maintain a combat advantage, while also aligning research priorities to defeat near-peer adversarial threats.
A joint research team has successfully designed a swarm of tiny drones to explore unknown environments autonomously. The drones use a novel bug algorithm that enables them to navigate back to a base station while avoiding obstacles and detecting victims, showcasing the potential for swarms in search-and-rescue scenarios.
Researchers developed a technique that enables robots to autonomously support teachers in educational activities, with benefits for pupils and potential applications in eHealth and assistive robotics. The study showed that robots can learn to provide consistent support in just three hours, improving teacher-pupil interactions.
The US Army Research Laboratory's Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance brings together industry-academia researchers to solve military problems with scientific solutions. Students from undergraduate to doctoral levels contribute to the alliance by working on real Army problems in university laboratories.