Scientists created a shape-changing flying robot named Floaty that can fly efficiently while staying stable in the air. By adjusting its flaps to control air resistance, Floaty balances itself and recovers from disturbances.
Researchers demonstrated a breakthrough in microrobotics: swarms of magnetic microrobots can manipulate objects without physical contact by harnessing fluid-generated torque. The microrobots act as motors to move millimeter-sized passive objects, opening new pathways for precision manufacturing and biomedical applications.
Researchers discovered functional gradients in elephant and cat whiskers, allowing for precise touch sensing. The stiff-to-soft transition enables elephants to navigate their environment with ease, including picking up delicate objects.
A new fabrication method, optofluidic assembly, has been developed to create tiny 3D objects from a variety of materials, including metals, semiconductors and polymers. The technique uses light-driven flow to guide the assembly of micro- or nanoparticles within a confined space.
Scientists created biologically realistic artificial cilia using hydrogel, enabling precise control over their motion. The tiny structures can be powered by low-voltage electrical signals and have shown remarkable durability and versatility.
Researchers investigate how people with disabilities feel when their avatars depict them the way they see themselves. Most participants reported positive feedback when their avatar reflected their disability, and many felt comfortable expressing their identity in virtual reality.
Researchers developed a method to trigger magnetic jamming in materials using wireless magnetic fields, enabling reversible and programmable clumping. This technique allows for the creation of structures that can assemble, stiffen, relax, or break apart under magnetic control.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute developed a magnetisation reprogramming method that allows real-time, in-situ generation and transformation of shapes in soft robots. This technology has potential applications in medicine, particularly in minimally invasive vascular treatments, by reducing friction and contact with vessel walls.
Researchers developed magnetic micro swimmers covered in a thin coating of magnetic nanoparticles, unaffected by the coating. The algae maintained their swimming speed after magnetization and navigated 3D-printed channels using magnetic guidance.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute have created a biorobotic arm with artificial muscles that can mimic and suppress real tremors. The technology has the potential to revolutionize assistive exoskeletons and wearable devices for individuals with tremors, providing a more discreet and effective solution.
A new machine learning algorithm can fully characterize systems of merging neutron stars in under a second, compared to traditional methods which take around an hour. This allows for rapid localization of the source and pointing of telescopes towards the merging neutron stars.
Cutaneous electrohydraulic (CUTE) wearable devices can produce a range of tactile sensations, including pressing and vibrations, with unprecedented control. Users perceive most cues as pleasant, highlighting the technology's potential for assistive technologies and augmented reality.
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.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems developed a novel method for deploying multiple magnetic miniature robots to navigate through complex networks resembling blood vessels. The system allows for simultaneous treatment of multiple locations, saving critical time and enabling localized care.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute developed hexagon-shaped robotic components that can be snapped together into high-speed robots with rearrangeable capabilities. The modules feature artificial muscles and magnets for quick connections, enabling rapid changes in geometry and motion.
Researchers discovered diamond dust's signal-enhancing properties, outperforming gadolinium. Diamond nanoparticles stay in blood vessels and shine brightly in MRI, without leaking into healthy tissue.
Researchers created a robot inspired by pangolins' ability to curl up into a ball, with a soft layer and hard metal components. The robot can emit heat when needed and transport particles like medicines, making it promising for minimally invasive medical procedures.
A team of researchers developed a self-checking deep learning system that accurately extracts information from gravitational-wave data. The algorithm, called DINGO, has been trained to interpret real data and can cross-check its own results for accuracy.
Researchers have developed a jellyfish-like robot capable of collecting and transporting waste particles in the ocean without causing harm to marine species. The robot uses electrohydraulic actuators to swim and create currents, allowing it to trap objects along its path and transport them to the surface for recycling.
A team of researchers has designed fully biodegradable artificial muscles using gelatin, oil, and bioplastics, demonstrating potential for sustainable technology. The new materials system shows outstanding performance and is electromechanically competitive with non-biodegradable counterparts.
Researchers have demonstrated that hydrogen condenses on a surface at low temperatures, forming a super-dense monolayer with a volume of just 5 liters per kilogram H2. This breakthrough could enable more efficient cryogenic hydrogen storage systems for the coming hydrogen economy.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems created a robot dog named Morti that can walk smoothly within an hour. The robot uses a Bayesian optimization algorithm to learn from sensor data and adapts its virtual spinal cord, allowing it to optimize its walking pattern and minimize stumbling.
Researchers have developed bacteria-based biohybrid microrobots that can navigate through viscous tissues and deliver chemotherapy directly to tumors. The microrobots use near-infrared light to melt liposomes containing drugs, triggering release in acidic environments.
Researchers have developed microrobot collectives that can move in various formations, reconfiguring their behavior quickly and robustly. The systems use a combination of magnetic forces, fluid dynamics, and computation to achieve coordinated patterns of motion.
Researchers created BirdBot, a robotic leg inspired by the ostrich's anatomy, which achieves energy efficiency through a mechanical coupling of muscles and tendons. The robot leg requires fewer motors than other machines, making it suitable for large size applications.
A team of scientists developed a soft haptic sensor that can accurately estimate contact points and forces using computer vision and deep neural networks. The sensor is sensitive enough to detect even tiny forces and detailed object shapes.
Researchers create microparticles that can steer through biological fluids and deliver drugs to cancer cells. The swimmers use visible light as propulsion, even in salty liquids, and can release cargo on demand.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems developed an algorithm that analyzes gravitational wave data in seconds, rather than hours or months. The system, called DINGO, uses a deep neural network to infer properties of binary black-hole sources with high accuracy.
Researchers found that geckos' tails act as a fifth leg to stabilize themselves on vertical surfaces, helping them land safely after colliding with trees. A gecko-inspired robot confirmed this finding, showing that the longer the tail, the lower the force pulling the back feet away from the surface.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have developed a new type of joint inspired by spiders' hydraulic actuation mechanisms. The joints use electrohydraulic forces to enable robots to move rapidly and interact with various environments, making them ideal for small-scale robotic systems.