Articles tagged with Robotics
Students from three schools will use robotic submarines to map and monitor shipwrecks scuttled by Lord Cornwallis during the Battle of Yorktown. The project aims to conserve these historical sites and introduce students to advanced robotics and marine science.
Researchers developed a tank-like robot that can scale smooth walls using gecko-inspired adhesives, enabling applications in pipe inspection, search and rescue operations, and more. The robot's unique design and sensors allow it to adapt to its surroundings.
A team of scientists has successfully demonstrated a computer's ability to analyze raw experimental data from a biological system and derive the basic mathematical equations that describe its operation. This achievement marks one of the most complex scientific modeling problems solved completely from scratch by a computer.
A Tel Aviv University researcher successfully implanted a robotic cerebellum into a rodent's skull, restoring its movement capacity. The 'robo-cerebellum' enables communication between the brain and body by receiving and transmitting sensory information from the brain stem.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present awards recognizing key achievements in space science and technology, program management, and sustained service. The AIAA Sustained Service Awards will be presented to Guy Jette and Peter Kurzhals for their contributions.
The Gemini-Scout Mine Rescue Robot is equipped with gas sensors, a thermal camera, and can haul food, air packs, and medicine to trapped miners. It can navigate through water, over boulders, and rubble piles ahead of rescuers, providing critical information to aid rescue efforts.
Scientists from Harvard University trained pigeons to fly through an artificial forest, gaining insights into their navigation methods that could inform auto-pilot technology design. The birds' ability to assess obstacles and choose straight routes could lead to more efficient and energy-saving navigation systems.
A study comparing pelvic anatomy after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and open prostatectomy found significant differences in pelvic distances. These findings may impact post-operative radiation therapy for patients requiring this treatment.
Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital shows rapid adoption of newer, more expensive prostate cancer treatments between 2002-2005 without proof of cost-effectiveness. This trend is reflected in increased Medicare spending on these treatment options, which rose nearly $350 million in 2005.
A new high-speed robot screening system has been unveiled to test 10,000 chemicals for potential toxicity, marking a significant advancement in the Tox21 collaboration. The system will provide information useful for evaluating the safety of industrial and consumer products, food additives, and drugs.
A new computational model of the human foot reveals the importance of toe strength in determining body balance. The model's findings support previous studies on real people and could lead to improved robotic body parts and prosthetics.
Robotic surgery shows comparable or superior results to traditional laparoscopic procedures for treating kidney disease, benefiting more patients due to reduced learning curve. More surgeons may master the technique, expanding access to minimally invasive treatment.
Researchers can manipulate the brain's perception of its own body, allowing for new prosthetic limbs and virtual reality experiences. This technology has significant implications for fields like medicine, psychology, and robotics.
Dr. Zavlanos' proposed research develops formal methods for networks of mobile robots, integrating control in the cyber and physical domains. His approach offers a more realistic look at networked robot systems, addressing environmental interference, power management, and robot dynamics.
Research shows that robotic therapy combined with standard rehabilitation can significantly improve upper extremity function in patients after stroke. The study involved 60 stroke survivors who received either robotic therapy or a standard self-training program for six weeks, resulting in improved scores on measures of voluntary arm mo...
Researchers have developed a system that recognizes hand gestures as commands to control a robotic scrub nurse or display medical images during operations. The technology aims to reduce surgery lengths and infection risks, while also having potential applications in emergency response activities.
Researchers at the Jewish General Hospital's Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research in Montreal found that robotic surgery dramatically improves outcomes in patients with uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancer. The procedure also reduces post-operative complications and hospital stays, resulting in cost savings.
In a study, rats weigh their odds of safely retrieving food pellets near a predator to make instinctive safety decisions. Rats with impaired amygdala activity were more cautious and risk-averse when faced with danger, while those with overactive amygdala showed greater fear and avoidance behaviors.
DARPA has awarded Carnegie Mellon a $988,000 contract to develop an autonomous flight system for the Transformer (TX) Program. The TX vehicle would transform into a VTOL air vehicle, enabling increased survivability and versatility in missions like scouting, resupply, and medical evacuation.
A pilot study revealed that patients prefer a robotic arm with manual mode, which requires more thought and interaction, despite performing tasks less well in this mode. The researchers aim to develop a hybrid model with an adaptive interface for individualized use.
A robotically assisted percutaneous coronary intervention system has been shown to be safe and feasible in a first-in-human study, reducing radiation exposure and contrast media usage. The technique allows for technical precision and improved procedural effectiveness compared to manual PCI.
Researchers at North Carolina State University developed a robotic catheter to treat atrial fibrillation, reducing operating times and radiation exposure. The catheter uses smart materials for improved maneuverability, allowing for more effective and efficient treatment.
A Stanford mechanical engineer created a robot that can climb smooth surfaces like glass using the sticky property of a gecko's foot. The robot uses a material with tiny hairs to create directional adhesion, allowing it to stick and unstick from surfaces easily.
A new robotic wheelchair system, ROLY, is being developed to assist young children with disabilities in learning to drive. The system uses a joystick with force feedback assistance to help children develop driving skills at their own pace.
A new case series in European Urology introduces a purely intrafascial approach for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, aiming to avoid damage to critical structures. The study reports promising results with no perioperative major complications, but highlights the need for well-designed studies to evaluate its advantages.
Researchers have created a convincing robotic fish that shoals will accept as one of their own, allowing them to study complex situations such as aggressive and cooperative behaviour. The study found that relative distance between individuals is more important than absolute distance in influencing group dynamics.
Four unmanned autonomous vehicles designed by Virginia Tech engineering students using TORC Robotic Building Blocks product line will be used by the Marine Corps in Hawaii during the RIMPAC war games. The vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors, perception, planning, and control algorithms to navigate complex environments.
A NJIT engineer is developing innovative robotic and virtual reality-based video game therapies to aid stroke patients in regaining hand and arm function. Preliminary results show promising 20-28% positive changes in motor function following therapy.
The Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository is experiencing unprecedented demand for its services, doubling every two to three years, due to the growing need for genetic clues to autism, schizophrenia, and other diseases. The new expansion will turn the repository into a robotics-driven laboratory, allowing for deeper and finer geno...
Researchers developed a 'Braccio di Ferro' robot to assist patients in learning arm movements again. The interactive robot helps patients perform correct movements, promoting motor system learning and improving movement ability.
University of Utah engineers created a computer-controlled hand and arm support to aid precision tasks with less fatigue. The Active Handrest allows users to maintain control while sensing tool position or force, increasing precision in tasks like surgery, painting, and electronics repair.
A new study shows that robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) does not compromise surgical outcomes for patients with prostate cancer. Surgeons can use visual cues to improve clinical outcomes, including the color of tissue, vein locations, and signs of inflammation.
University of Florida urologists have developed a robot-assisted vasectomy reversal procedure that cuts average surgery time by 20 minutes, comparable to traditional microscope methods. The robotic procedure also shows quicker return of sperm count and improved efficiency.
A French team has developed a computerized 3D model that predicts the movement of the heart as it beats, allowing robotic tools to move in concert with each beat. This innovation could enable less invasive surgical procedures with high precision and reduce complications.
Researchers at MIT have created a simple robot that can dig into mudflats at a rate of 1 cm per second, inspired by the burrowing mechanisms of Atlantic razor clams. The robotic clam is small, lightweight, and energy-efficient, making it suitable for underwater applications.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that robotic sacrocolpopexy surgery dramatically reduces patient hospital stay and recovery time. The procedure also shows fewer postoperative complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster postoperative recovery compared to traditional abdominal sacrocolpopexy.
A study at Georgia Tech found that older adults have difficulty recognizing emotions on robots, particularly happiness and disgust. Despite this, they excel at reading sadness. The researchers suggest that the robot's facial features may not be exaggerated enough to overcome age-related recognition challenges.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $360,000 grant to establish a Robotics Crystallization Core Facility on the University of Oklahoma's Norman campus. The grant will provide sophisticated robotics equipment to support collaborative efforts among structural biologists in the state.
A study found that minimally invasive radical prostatectomy with robotic assistance may shorten hospital stays and decrease surgical complications, but increase genitourinary complications. Men of higher socioeconomic status opted for this high-technology alternative despite limited data demonstrating superiority.
Researchers at Penn State have found that machines are unable to recognize distorted images like humans can. This limitation may be overcome in the future as computer programs harness large volumes of online data for knowledge generation and automatic recognition.
Researchers at North Carolina State University are developing robotic bats that mimic nature's small flyers for increased maneuverability and performance. The 'robo-bat' uses smart materials, including shape-memory metal alloys and heat-activated muscle wires, to achieve efficient flapping motion.
The International Journal of Robotics Research is launching a new genre of research paper called 'data papers,' which will facilitate the release of high-quality, peer-reviewed datasets to the robotics community. The launch also includes revamped multimedia services with improved access and quality for supplementary data.
Patients undergoing robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy experience improved outcomes, with faster recovery times and lower blood loss. This minimally invasive approach enables earlier return to normal activity, reducing the delay in treatment for patients with kidney cancer.
A study at UCLA used preoperative MRI to evaluate neurovascular bundles in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). The results showed that preoperative MR assisted surgeons in making more informed decisions about nerve sparing techniques, with less likelihood of causing impotence.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) allows inexperienced surgeons to learn and perform suturing more efficiently than traditional methods. The study showed RALS resulted in shorter procedural times and improved outcomes compared to freehand laparos...
Ross Finman, a junior in electrical and computer engineering, has won the $10,000 National Space Club Award for pursuing studies in science or engineering. The award recognizes his hard work and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge through space research and exploration.
Researchers used a hand-operated robotic device and fMRI to track brain function after strokes, finding that the brain can regain function through rehabilitative exercises even six months post-stroke. The study, which tested five right-hand dominant patients, showed significant increases in cortical activation with hand training.
Scarab, a robotic system designed for lunar prospecting, will simulate a lunar mission to extract water, hydrogen, and oxygen from Hawaii's Mauna Kea. The robot will use a Canadian-built drill to obtain geologic cores, which will be chemically analyzed on-board instruments developed by NASA.
Researchers at Decagon Devices Inc. successfully measured thermal properties of Martian regolith using a short, fat needle technique, expanding understanding and accuracy of climate models. The study's findings have potential applications in improving commercial thermal properties sensors on Earth.
A recent study published in the Journal of Robotic Surgery found that robotic surgery can significantly lower the risk of a rare but serious complication in patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery. The robotic-assisted procedure resulted in zero gastrointestinal leaks, compared to six leaks in the laparoscopic group.
A new study published in European Urology found that patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy experienced higher levels of dissatisfaction and regret, particularly African-American patients. Longer follow-up periods were also associated with increased regret.
Researchers have discovered that the brain uses a forward model to generate predictions about future movements, allowing for rapid and accurate control. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of neural prosthetic devices and could one day enable people with paralysis to control their limbs through thought.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a monkey that can feed itself using only its brain signals. The advancement in brain-machine interface technology could lead to better prosthetics for people with spinal cord injuries and those with locked-in conditions.
Researchers discovered that bats can generate a leading-edge vortex, increasing lift by up to 40%, allowing them to hover in mid-air. This finding challenges quasi-steady state aerodynamic theory and has implications for the design of slow-flying surveillance planes.
Human factors researchers developed a software system that dramatically improves astronauts' ability to perform remote tasks under adverse conditions on the International Space Station. The system uses augmented reality techniques to guide operators during robotic installation tasks, resulting in improved accuracy and efficiency.
The exercise will test robot performance on emerging standard test methods using actual training scenarios for emergency responders. Robots will face challenges such as searching for victims in a simulated structural collapse and investigating a train wreck, utilizing various sensors like laser scanners and thermal imagers.
The Deep Phreatic Thermal Explorer (DEPTHX) mission aims to study the physical dimensions, geothermal vents, and potential life in El Zacatón's depths. Using a 2.5-meter-diameter submarine, the team will collect water samples and core samples from the cenote walls.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a motor that can safely power remote-controlled robotic medical devices for cancer biopsies and therapies guided by magnetic resonance imaging. The motor, dubbed PneuStep, is made entirely out of plastics, ceramics, and rubber and is driven by light and air.
A study shows that a wearable robotic therapy device improved arm function by an average of 23% in severely impaired stroke patients. The device, developed by MIT engineers, uses electrical muscle activity to provide power assistance and facilitate movement.
A team of computer scientists from Texas A&M University and the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a robot called ACONE to scan skies for birds near Brinkley, Ark. The robot uses AI-powered object detection to identify potential ivory-billed woodpeckers.