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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.

New ultra-low-cost technique could slash the price of soft robotics

Researchers at Oxford University developed an ultra-low-cost technique for manufacturing soft robots, using common lab equipment. The new method enables rapid and affordable production of soft robotic actuators, with a material cost of less than $0.10 per unit, and demonstrated strong mechanical performance and durability.

NASA robot’s 10-year mission complete as uni marks rare feat

Researchers have advanced humanoid robot control, motion planning, and perception using Valkyrie, a 10-year mission robot developed by NASA. The university will continue research with Talos, a 1.75-metre-tall robot, to study human-robot cooperation and adapt to changing environments.

Evolved robots are born to run and refuse to die

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed AI-designed robots called 'legged metamachines' that can combine and recombine in the wild, recover from injury and transform into new shapes. The robots can adapt to the environment, survive catastrophic damage and even recover from being chopped in half or cut into pieces.

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.

Eye-inspired artificial skin lets robots feel before they touch

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.

Photonic chips advance real-time learning in spiking neural systems

Researchers developed photonic computing chips that enable fast, all-optical learning and decision making, overcoming key limitations for photonic spiking neural systems. The new chips could improve autonomous driving technologies and enable robotic systems that learn through real-world interactions.

3D printing soft robots

Researchers at Harvard's John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new fabrication method for printing robotic devices with long filaments featuring precisely placed hollow channels. This allows the device to bend and deform in predetermined ways, enabling the creation of soft robots with predictable s...

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.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Programmable Lego-like material emulates life’s flexibility

Researchers at Duke University have created a programmable Lego-like material that can change its stiffness and damping in response to temperature changes. The material, made from gallium and iron, can be programmed to mimic various commercially available soft materials.

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.

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.

Penn and UMich create world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots

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.

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.

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.

Can AI read humans’ minds? A new model shows it’s shockingly good at it

A breakthrough AI system called OmniPredict can predict human pedestrian behaviors with unprecedented accuracy, revolutionizing self-driving cars and urban mobility. The model combines visual cues with contextual information to anticipate pedestrians' next moves, reducing the risk of accidents and improving traffic safety.

AI advances robot navigation on the International Space Station

Researchers at Stanford University have successfully used machine-learning-based control to operate a robot on the International Space Station, allowing for faster and more efficient navigation while maintaining safety. The system, which includes a warm start feature, enables robots like Astrobee to move through complex environments wi...

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New funding to develop technology for first robots to weld in space

The University of Leicester, in partnership with TWI Ltd, has secured £560k to develop a robot-mounted arc-welding system for in-space repair and manufacturing. The project aims to overcome the challenges of welding in space by developing a new, space-qualified robotic welding capability.

Artificial tendons give muscle-powered robots a boost

MIT engineers developed artificial tendons made from hydrogel to connect lab-grown muscles with robotic skeletons. The tendons improved the robot's motion and force output by three times, enabling faster and more efficient biohybrid robots.

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.

Are we ready for robot caregivers? The answer is a cautious “yes, if...”

A survey of 4,890 participants found that people are open to using home-care robots as long as they view them beneficially. Collaboration between users and developers is crucial for adoption, with emphasis on ethical considerations. Robots may play a significant role in addressing Japan's aging population and social healthcare challenges.

Ingestible capsule robot: integrated diagnosis and treatment platform

A novel multichamber magnetic capsule robot has been developed to selectively open specific chambers for targeted liquid sampling or drug release, revolutionizing digestive tract diagnosis and treatment. The robot's modular design allows for flexible adjustment of the number of chambers as demand requires.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Spider-inspired robot crawls the gut to deliver precision therapy

A team of researchers has developed a tiny, spider-inspired robot that can navigate the digestive system with ease, delivering therapy precisely where it's needed. The soft robot overcomes challenges faced by traditional endoscopes, showcasing its adaptability in traversing complex environments.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Fidget-controlled robots show the power of metastability

Researchers at Purdue University have developed fidget-controlled robots that utilize metastability to create soft robotic systems. These robots use bistable domes to perform tasks such as grasping and classifying objects, demonstrating the potential for physical systems to replace electronic components in challenging environments.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

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.

How tiny fossils are leading to smarter robots

Researchers create a technique to model organic objects, creating photorealistic 3D images of complex shapes for autonomous sorting. This method improves robotic systems that sort microscopic marine fossils used in climate research.

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.

New tool gives anyone the ability to train a robot

MIT engineers developed a versatile demonstration interface that allows users to teach robots new skills in three intuitive ways: remote control, physical manipulation, or demonstration. This innovation expands the type of users and 'teachers' who interact with robots, enabling robots to learn a wider set of skills.

Robot performs 1st realistic surgery without human help

A robot trained on videos of surgeries performed a lengthy phase of a gallbladder removal without human help, responding to and learning from voice commands. The robot performed unflappably across trials with the expertise of a skilled human surgeon, even during unexpected scenarios.

The robot will see you now

New humanoid surgical robots offer a solution to the growing healthcare labor shortage, allowing for more efficient surgeries and reduced burnout among doctors. By taking on routine tasks, these robots can free up surgeons to focus on more complex procedures.

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.

Robotic probe quickly measures key properties of new materials

A fully autonomous robotic system developed by MIT researchers can measure important material properties like photoconductivity, increasing the speed and precision of research. The system uses machine learning and robotics to analyze new semiconductors and optimize the development of more powerful solar panels.

How game-play with robots can bring out their human side

A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that interacting with robots through social games makes them seem more human-like. The researchers used a box-shaped robot called Cozmo and found that participants who played games with it considered it more human-like, whereas those who interacted mechanically did not.

New imaging technique reconstructs the shapes of hidden objects

A new imaging technique developed by MIT researchers leverages reflections from wireless signals like Wi-Fi to create accurate 3D reconstructions of objects blocked from view. This approach achieved 96 percent reconstruction accuracy on everyday objects with complex shapes.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Finding the enzymatic needle in the database haystack

A Kobe University team developed a technique to classify thousands of enzymes, allowing for rapid evaluation and identification of highly active and versatile enzymes. The approach enabled the discovery of an enzyme with up to 10 times higher productivity than industry standards.

Seeing through a new LENS allows brain-like navigation in robots

Researchers developed a new robot navigation system called LENS, which uses brain-inspired computing to set a low-energy benchmark for robotic place recognition. The system combines a spiking neural network with a special camera and low-power chip to enable fast and energy-efficient location tracking.

Magnetic microrobot mechanically mixes microscopic materials

A Chinese research team developed a magnetic microrobot capable of manipulating small droplets in the presence of magnetic fields. The robot achieved speeds 20 times faster than previous models and could interact with highly corrosive compounds without damage.

Robots made of linked particle chains

Researchers at Harvard developed link-bots, centimeter-scale robots composed of V-shaped chains with notched links, capable of coordinated movements and emergent collective behavior. The team demonstrated link-bots' ability to move forward, stop, change direction, squeeze through gaps, and cooperate on tasks.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Nebraska engineers develop self-healing muscle for robots

Researchers created a soft robotics technology that can identify damage, pinpoint its location, and autonomously initiate self-repair. The system uses a multi-layer architecture featuring liquid metal microdroplets, thermoplastic elastomer, and electromigration to melt and seal damaged areas, effectively self-healing the wound.

World first soft robots walk off 3D printer that makes them

Scientists have created the first soft robots that can walk out of the machines that make them using a new 3D printing system. The flexible devices were developed to overcome challenges in manufacturing and design, making them suitable for various industries like nuclear decommissioning and space exploration.