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Robotics and automation research in poultry processing featured April 9

The Center for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing will hold its first field day on April 9 to share research on developing new robotic technologies. Researchers will demonstrate tools for deboning, detecting foreign materials and pathogens, as well as using virtual reality to operate equipment remotely.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Personal perception of body movement changes when using robotic prosthetics

Researchers found that participants initially overestimated the awkwardness of their gait but improved as they practiced using the prosthetic device. Despite significant performance gains, participants remained inaccurate in assessing their own body movement, focusing on torso position rather than prosthetic behavior.

Robots that can see around corners using radio signals and AI

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed HoloRadar, a system that enables robots to reconstruct hidden 3D spaces beyond their line of sight using radio waves processed by AI. This capability can improve safety and performance in driverless cars and cluttered indoor settings.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Misleading text in the physical world can hijack AI-enabled robots

Researchers have identified a new vulnerability in AI-powered robots, where malicious text on signs or objects can hijack their decision-making. The study, led by UC Santa Cruz professors Alvaro Cardenas and Cihang Xie, presents the first academic exploration of environmental indirect prompt injection attacks against embodied AI systems.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Reversible, detachable robotic hand redefines dexterity

A team of researchers at EPFL developed a robotic hand that can detach from its arm and 'crawl' to grasp multiple objects, overcoming human asymmetry and limitations. The device can perform 'loco manipulation' with seamless autonomy and has potential applications in industrial, service, and exploratory robotics.

Hydrogel cilia set new standard in microrobotics

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.

World's smallest programmable robot perform tasks

Developed by U-M and Penn, the robots can sense and respond to their surroundings, operate for months, and cost just a penny each. They have applications in monitoring cell health and aiding manufacturing.

RoboCrop: Teaching robots how to pick tomatoes

A new model developed by Osaka Metropolitan University Assistant Professor Takuya Fujinaga enables robots to accurately pick tomatoes, with an 81% success rate. The system evaluates the ease of harvesting for each tomato, taking into account factors such as fruit clustering and stem geometry.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Moth-like drone navigates without AI

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati developed a flapping wing drone that can hover like a moth around a light source using an extremum-seeking feedback system. The drone makes fine adjustments to maintain stability and distance, without relying on AI or complex calculations.

From stiff to soft in a snap

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.

Programming robots with rubber bands

A team of engineers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences designed a proof-of-concept walking robot using only four moving parts connected by rubber bands and powered by one motor. The robot can find its way through mazes, avoid obstacles, and sort objects by mass without electronic control systems.

Frasky, a new robot for vineyard applications

Frasky, developed by IIT, combines robotics and AI to address environmental sustainability and labor shortages in agriculture. The robot can navigate autonomously, map its surroundings, and apply selective treatments to grape clusters with precision.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Humanoid robots are advancing but face a massive ‘data gap’

Robotics experts disagree with claims that humanoid robots will surpass human capabilities in surgery, factory work, and serving as personal butlers. The main limitation is dexterity, making tasks like picking up objects difficult for current robot technology.

A wearable robot that learns

A wearable robot has been upgraded to provide personalized assistance to ALS and stroke patients. The device uses machine learning and a physics-based model to adapt to an individual user's movements, offering more nuanced help with daily tasks.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Researchers at IIT have demonstrated that a humanoid robot can fly

Researchers at IIT have successfully demonstrated the first flight of a humanoid robot, iRonCub3, which can lift off the floor and maintain stability. The robot's AI-powered control system enables it to handle high-speed turbulent airflows, extreme temperatures, and complex dynamics.

Heterogeneous aquatic robot system: architecture and core technologies

The study reviews recent advances in heterogeneous aquatic robot systems, integrating robots to perform coordinated tasks in complex marine environments. Key findings include the development status of communication, sensing, navigation, control, decision-making, and energy management technologies.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Recognizing those who build a vibrant technical community

The Association for Computing Machinery has recognized five individuals with awards for their impactful service to the computing field. Manish Parashar received the ACM Distinguished Service Award for his leadership in furthering the transformative impact of computer science on science and engineering.

Engineering smarter drones: From nature to complex aerial manipulation

Aerial robots are limited to manipulating rigid objects, but Lehigh University researcher David Saldaña aims to expand their capabilities with an adaptive controller and reinforcement learning. His research has potential applications in construction, disaster response, and industrial automation.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Ping pong bot returns shots with high-speed precision

Researchers at MIT created a table tennis bot that can return shots with high-speed precision, achieving a hit rate of 88% in tests. The technology could be adapted to improve the speed and responsiveness of humanoid robots for search-and-rescue operations.

Robotic system zeroes in on objects most relevant for helping humans

A new robotic system uses cues in a scene to determine a human's objective and quickly identify relevant objects, enabling intuitive assistance in household, workplace, and warehouse settings. The approach achieved 90% accuracy in predicting human objectives and 96% accuracy in identifying relevant objects.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Coffee-making robot breaks new ground for AI machines

A new coffee-making robot, developed by the University of Edinburgh, demonstrates cutting-edge AI and motor skills that enable it to adapt to challenging kitchen environments. The robot can interact with objects and people seamlessly, solving complex problems like accessing drawers and measuring ingredients.

A springtail-like jumping robot

The Harvard robot uses latch-mediated spring actuation to jump high and cover long distances relative to its size. It combines walking and jumping modes for effective navigation in natural environments.

How to get a robot collective to act like a smart material

A team of researchers has created a robotic material-like collective that can change shape and stiffness in response to internal signals. The robots, composed of disk-shaped autonomous units, use light sensors, magnets, and force fluctuations to achieve this behavior, reducing power consumption compared to traditional robotic systems.

Influential robotics journal picks UVA paper as Best of 2024

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.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Training AI through human interactions instead of datasets

Researchers developed a platform to help AI learn complex tasks through nuance and real-time instruction, achieving up to a 30% increase in success rates. The GUIDE framework allows humans to provide ongoing, nuanced feedback, fostering incremental improvements and deeper understanding.

Effortless robot movements

Researchers at TUM developed a new tool that makes intrinsic dynamics calculable, enabling robots like BERT to mimic natural oscillation patterns. The method results in effortless and dynamic movement, surpassing conventional movement patterns.

3D robot navigation could enable multi-site medical procedures

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.

For these little robots, two heads are better than one

Scientists at Princeton University develop a system of two robots connected by flexible tether, enabling them to solve complex problems like maze navigation and object gathering. The innovative approach harnesses physical characteristics rather than digital calculation to achieve remarkable abilities.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Versatile knee exo for safer lifting

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.

Texas A&M teams up to advance robotic dexterity

The Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity (HAND) center aims to develop robots capable of enhancing human labor through engineered systems of dexterous robotic hands, AI-powered fine motor skills, and human interface. The center's goal is to make robotic assistance accessible and applicable to a wide range of physical actions.

UMD researchers develop new and improved camera inspired by the human eye

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.

Caterbot? Robatapillar? It crawls with ease through loops and bends

Researchers at Princeton University and North Carolina State University have combined ancient paperfolding and modern materials science to create a soft robot that can bend and twist through mazes with ease. The new design allows the flexible robot to crawl forward and reverse, pick up cargo and assemble into longer formations.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Robots can’t outrun animals. A new study explores why

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.

New privacy-preserving robotic cameras obscure images beyond human recognition

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.

How does AI work?

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University discovered that each filter recognizes small clusters of images, with sharpened recognition as layers progress. This breakthrough can improve AI performance by reducing latency and memory usage while maintaining accuracy.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Intuitive and self-learning robots

Researchers aim to create robots that can change tasks autonomously and explore settings to optimize performance. The project will focus on battery recycling and energy efficiency, with the goal of reducing industrial waste.

Autonomous excavator constructs a 6-meter-high dry-stone wall

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.