Articles tagged with Robotic Sensors
A startup collaboration between Silly Surfacing and the University of Pittsburgh's IDEA Lab has led to the development of a pothole-filling robot, utilizing 3D scanning, mapping, and computer vision to repair road damage. The system uses a time-of-flight camera and can fill a pothole at full scale.
Researchers developed an AI-guided laser technique to carve micro-pyramids for robots to sense soft surfaces gently. The technique enables the creation of flexible conductive skins with high sensitivity and linearity, outperforming conventional designs.
Researchers have developed a new 3D-printable cellulose hydrogel that defies freezing temperatures, maintaining ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. The hydrogel exhibits shear-thinning behavior, allowing it to flow through a 3D printer nozzle and hold its shape.
Researchers developed a water-retaining hydrogel electrode that stabilizes insect antennae, enabling odor sensing for up to seven hours. The biohybrid sensor supports disaster response, environmental monitoring, and hazardous chemical detection.
A new color-changing tactile sensor, developed by Queen Mary University of London, allows robots to map contact, strain, and pressure in high resolution. This technology has the potential to improve robotic grippers for precision manufacturing and prosthetic limbs for better sensing capabilities.
Researchers create custom-fit prosthetic hands with soft magnetic sensors that capture subtle changes in muscle shape and pressure. The system performs consistently and reliably, translating intent into control of a dexterous robotic hand with up to 90% accuracy.
A new underwater mapping technique, Sonar-MASt3R, combines sonar and visual data to generate detailed 3D maps of environments in real-time. The system enables vehicles to navigate through cloudy water by quickly mapping the general shape of their surroundings using sonar.
Researchers at UCSF built a robotic system to treat thousands of mini tumors, identifying shared features among persister cells that could help explain why cancer comes back. Nine drugs consistently weakened persister cells, suggesting common vulnerabilities.
Researchers developed piezoelectric patch sensors that track finger movements to play rock-paper-scissors, promoting self-motivated healthcare and entertainment. The sensors provide quantifiable data and objective feedback, improving patient outcomes through accessibility, independence, and motivation.
The CIRTESU at Universitat Jaume I develops an experimental modular robotic fish prototype for aquaculture, reducing fish stress. The UJIFISH-I platform demonstrates high manoeuvrability and reliable target detection accuracy in controlled tests.
Researchers at Saarland University are developing smart implants that can continuously monitor and visualize the healing process of fractures. These customized implants can dynamically adapt to the healing process by becoming stiffer or more compliant as required, promoting bone regeneration through micromechanical stimulation.
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive electronic 'skin' using tiny devices that can measure force applied over an area. This technology has the potential to improve prosthetic limbs and robotic manipulation, allowing robots to accurately track hand movements and grasp delicate objects.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute developed a palm-sized aerial robot that uses ultrasound sensors and AI to navigate through fog, smoke, and other difficult conditions. The drone achieved a success rate of 72% to 100% in navigating challenging courses during 180 tests.
Seal whiskers are highly sensitive, but the benefit of active whisking was unclear until new research revealed that it improves sensing. Seals keep their whiskers pulled back and actively move them to detect subtle water vibrations.
The new dynamic shielding layer allows the sensor to focus on specific areas when needed, achieving a 104.56% increase in detection depth. The sensor can also detect approaching objects from over 90mm away, providing a vital split-second for robots to avoid collisions.
A hierarchical 3D LiDAR localization method improves robot positioning in large outdoor spaces even after seasonal changes. The method integrates deep learning techniques to extract discriminative local features from 3D point clouds, making it robust to environmental variability.
A team of EPFL roboticists has designed a modular robot that shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its individual units, significantly increasing its resistance to failure. The approach, called hyper-redundancy, allows the robot to continue functioning even if one module fails, by compensating with neighboring modules.
Researchers at Penn and UMich created microscopic swimming machines that can independently sense and respond to their surroundings, operate for months, and cost just a penny each. The robots are powered by light and can be programmed to move in complex patterns, sense local temperatures, and adjust their paths accordingly.
Researchers developed soft robots inspired by manta rays, utilizing magnetic fields to move, recharge power supply, and perform tasks autonomously. The magnets stabilize electrochemical reactions in flexible batteries, enhancing performance and efficiency.
A study by Queen Mary University of London and University College London found that humans possess a form of remote touch, allowing them to detect objects buried in sand without direct contact. This sense is comparable to that of shorebirds, such as sandpipers, and has implications for robotics and assistive technology applications.
Professor Paul Motzki is developing ultra-flat, compact, and lightweight cooling units using shape memory alloys and dielectric elastomer actuators. He aims to create climate-friendly and energy-efficient alternative to conventional systems.
A flexible skin-mounted haptic interface can replicate diverse motions using a single actuator, providing rich tactile feedback and versatility. The technology aims to assist humans in various applications, including wearable human-machine interfaces and medical operations.
Researchers have developed a catalyst-free ionogel made from cellulose and an ionic liquid that exhibits exceptional strength and conductivity, outperforming synthetic analogues. The gel is also eco-friendly and low-cost, making it suitable for fully compostable high-performance electronics.
Researchers created a machine vision sensor that adapts to extreme changes in light faster than the human eye, using quantum dots to mimic key behaviors. The device can respond dynamically to bright and dim lighting, outperforming existing systems by reducing redundant data and computational burden.
Scientists created a low-cost, durable, highly-sensitive robotic 'skin' that can detect various types of touch and pressure. The technology senses multiple physical inputs simultaneously, allowing robots to interact with their environment in a more human-like way.
Researchers developed novel haptic devices to enable precise robot control with tactile feedback, reducing collisions and improving user proficiency. The devices integrate digital twin technology and augmented reality for enhanced immersion.
Researchers created cyborg insects with sensors and electronic circuits to aid in disaster relief and navigation. The insects demonstrated ability to overcome obstacles in complex environments, achieving objectives with less effort than purely mechanical robots.
Researchers found that silkworm moths scan pheromone sources by rotating their bodies while fanning, helping them detect odor plumes. The study offers valuable design principles for aerial robots, enabling more efficient search and localization of targets.
Researchers at UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science developed artificial compound eyes that mimic praying mantis vision, offering improved depth perception and reduced power consumption by over 400 times compared to traditional systems.
Researchers at Osaka University use a robotic system to automate key experimental processes, accelerating the search for new materials. They evaluate 576 thin-film semiconductor samples using photoabsorption spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and time-resolved microwave conductivity analyses.
Researchers discovered a wide range of organisms, including microbes and humans, exhibit similar movement patterns to navigate their surroundings. These patterns are thought to be linked to uncertainty management in the brain.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a system that can adjust the size, shape, and refractive index of microscopic lenses in real-time. The design uses hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane to create a dynamic platform for soft robotics and liquid optics applications.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia developed a stretchable, transparent display that can change color in real-time, opening doors for potential uses in wearable devices and disposable applications. The device's low power consumption and cost-effectiveness make it attractive for integration into everyday devices.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists conducted a comprehensive study to understand the sources and sinks of plastic debris in the Southern North Sea. Local citizen scientists played a crucial role in tracking the distribution pathways of plastic particles, revealing that two-thirds were washed ashore within 25km of their release site.
A new HMI system, Robotic VR, allows users to teleoperate robots with precision and feel, enabling complicated tasks such as Covid-19 swab tests and patient care. The system provides immersive feedback via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the internet.
Researchers developed a soft, stretchable, self-powered thermometer that can be integrated into stretchable electronics and soft robots, enabling new human-machine interfaces and applications. The sensor has high sensitivity and quick response time, and can measure temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius or as cold as -100 degrees Celsius.