Articles tagged with Robots
Researchers at Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and Australian Centre for Robotic Vision unveiled guiding principles for grasp type choice during object handover, facilitating human-robot cooperation. The study demonstrates that humans intuitively leave handles unobstructed to facilitate subsequent tasks.
MIT engineers have developed an algorithm that enables autonomous underwater vehicles to weigh the risks and potential rewards of exploring unknown regions. The algorithm assesses risk levels and reward probabilities in real-time, allowing AUVs to take calculated risks when justified by potential scientific rewards.
A cross-European analysis of public attitudes towards robots reveals growing skepticism, particularly in areas like surgeries and autonomous cars. Men tend to view robots positively, while women are more skeptical, with blue-collar workers and older populations showing more positive views.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed an ambidextrous approach that enables robots to grasp various objects without training, paving the way for faster and more efficient e-commerce fulfillment. The system uses a common reward function for different gripper types, allowing it to rapidly decide which gripper to use for each situation.
Researchers used game theory to programme robots that can anticipate human movements and respond safely. The breakthrough could aid robots in sports training, physical rehabilitation, or shared driving, complementing human capabilities.
Researchers apply biological principles of self-organisation to swarm robotics, enabling robots to grow shapes without predefined plans. The robot swarms adapt to damage and self-repair, making them reliable for real-world applications such as disaster response or temporary structures.
Researchers at IIT found that single plant leaves can generate more than 150 volts of electricity, enough to power 100 LED light bulbs. An 'hybrid tree' made of natural and artificial leaves can convert wind into electricity, providing a new sustainable energy source.
Researchers at NIST made measurements of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) a hundred times faster than before, resolving fine details of transient motions. This breakthrough allows for quicker repetitive testing and assessment of durability in miniature mechanical systems.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that fish constantly adjust their movements to optimize sensory input, a phenomenon also observed in humans. This discovery could lead to the development of smarter sensors in robots, enabling them to interact with their environment more effectively.
Researchers have developed an ultrathin, stretchable electronic skin that can be used for various human-machine interactions. The new method creates a fast, simple, and inexpensive way to produce thin-film circuits with integrated microelectronics.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a system to quantify and control the surface motion of an android's face, enabling it to express a wider range of emotions. The system uses deformation units to measure and adjust facial movements, resulting in more nuanced expressions such as smiling and frowning.
Researchers developed an artificial tactile sensor that detects surface information like shapes, patterns, and structures with high accuracy. The sensor uses piezoelectric materials to mimic the properties of human skin, offering advantages over existing sensors, including detection through touch and sliding.
A new parser developed by MIT researchers can learn language through observation, mimicking a child's process, to improve human-machine interaction and natural language processing. The parser uses captioned videos to associate words with objects and actions, allowing it to accurately predict sentence meaning without direct context.
A Cornell University-led team developed modular robots that can perceive surroundings, make decisions and reconfigure themselves for different tasks. The robots' autonomous behavior and shape changes mark a significant step towards real-world applicability.
Researchers at Stanford University have created two frameworks, RoboTurk and SURREAL, that enable humans to teach robots basic skills more efficiently. The systems allow people to direct robot arms to perform tasks like picking up objects in real-time using a smartphone and browser.
A study on elephant trunk behavior could lead to robot hand designs with flexible hands or grippers. Researchers found that elephants apply more force when picking up small particles due to the weakest link theory, allowing them to stabilize and grasp various-sized food items.
MIT researchers have developed a method to control the fracturing process of atomically-thin, brittle materials, directing it to produce miniscule pockets of predictable size and shape. Embedded inside these pockets are electronic circuits and materials that can collect, record, and output data.
The TIME for Robotics program will use virtual reality and personalized learning to teach students about robotics in advanced manufacturing, addressing fears that robots will take jobs. The program aims to attract diverse students and provide a skills gap solution for the industry.
Researchers at Purdue University are developing a new simulation platform that uses artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and the Internet of Things to simulate factory settings. The platform aims to help manufacturers assess business success and risks, offset costs, and prepare workers for collaborating with robots.
A novel motion-planning model combines a planning algorithm with a neural network to help robots determine how to reach a goal by exploring the environment and exploiting learned experiences. This allows robots to learn from past experiences and adapt to new situations, enabling them to navigate complex environments more efficiently.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a smart technology that enables two robots to work in unison to 3D-print large concrete structures. This allows for unique concrete designs currently not possible with conventional casting, and structures can be produced on demand and in a much shorter period.
The Carnegie Mellon team will leverage its expertise in modularity to develop robots that can adapt to various environments, including small spaces and large structures. The team aims to create robots capable of rapid mapping, exploring, and exploiting complex underground environments.
Researchers found that hummingbirds and nectar bats hover in different ways, with the former generating more lift relative to drag. Nectar bats' hovering form is a blend of fruit bats' and hummingbirds' hovering, with twisted wings on the upstroke.
Yale researchers have developed 'Robotic Skins' technology, enabling users to animate everyday objects and create multi-functional robots on the fly. The skins can perform different tasks depending on the properties of the soft objects and how they are applied, allowing for complex movements.
Researchers emphasize social and trust-building measures for robots in rehabilitation, recognizing the importance of cooperation and adaptability. They highlight the need for robots to recognize patients' aims and motives and be tailored to individual needs to achieve successful therapy.
A new study suggests robots can play an important role in teaching certain narrow subjects like vocabulary and prime numbers, but their social interaction limitations will keep them as teaching assistants for now. Robots have the potential to support and challenge students, freeing up time for human teachers.
A single-celled protozoan achieves incredible acceleration by contracting its body and utilizing supramolecular springs. The creature can shorten its body by 60% in a few milliseconds, reaching speeds of up to 200 meters per second squared.
A study found that more than 70% of tweets about e-cigarettes were posted by robots, while human users showed strong support for vaping. The team analyzed nearly 194,000 geocoded tweets and identified adolescent Twitter users as particularly enthusiastic about e-cigarettes.
Researchers developed an integrated fabrication process to design soft robots on the millimeter scale with micrometer-scale features, enabling changes in structure, motion, and color. The new technology paves the way for a new generation of flexible microrobots for medical and environmental tasks.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a novel substance that can be used to power inexpensive robotic devices, enabling them to grip, expand or change rigidity. The study's findings suggest that popcorn could be used to create miniature jumping robots and edible devices for medical procedures.
Researchers at the University of South Australia used machine-learning algorithms to demonstrate a link between eye movements and Big Five personality traits. The study tracked eye movements of 42 participants and found reliable recognition of neuroticism, extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
Researchers have developed a hybrid origami drone that can switch between stiff and flexible structures depending on the situation. The drone's unique structure allows it to absorb shock upon impact, reducing damage and increasing safety.
Researchers at MIT have developed tiny robots made of electronic circuits coupled to minuscule particles called colloids, which can flow through intestines or pipelines to detect problems. The devices are self-powered, requiring no external power source or internal batteries.
Researchers at ULB's IRIDIA laboratory have shown that robots can emerge with the ability to correctly order tasks, enabling complex missions such as disaster rescue. This breakthrough demonstrates a complex cognitive skill emerging from group interactions, paving the way for autonomous robot swarms in various applications.
Researchers at QUT have developed a real-time, object-independent grasp synthesis method for closed-loop grasping that achieves high accuracy rates of up to 88% in dynamic environments. The approach uses a Generative Grasping Convolutional Neural Network to predict the quality and pose of a two-fingered grasp at every pixel.
Soft robots are enabled by origami mechanisms that transform environmental stimuli into mechanical signals, allowing for basic Boolean logic operations and locomotion. The design uses a polymer actuator that changes shape in response to humidity, paving the way for environmentally responsive soft robotics.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new propulsion concept that exploits water temperature for swimming robots, eliminating the need for engines or power supplies. The robots use bistable propulsion elements triggered by shape memory polymer strips to propel forward.
Researchers at Ohio State University have made a significant breakthrough in controlling DNA-based robots, reducing response time from several minutes to less than a second. This achievement represents the first direct real-time control of DNA-based molecular machines.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science have developed a method to integrate living muscle into robots, overcoming previous issues with force and function. The resulting biohybrid robots achieved remarkable movement and continued muscle function for over a week.
Seoul National University researchers create a skin-like electronic system that wirelessly activates soft robots through a simple lamination process. The e-skin pair features wireless inter-skin communication and can perform four-state control signals over distances of more than 5 meters.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL have developed a system called VirtualHome that can simulate detailed household tasks and train artificial agents to execute them. The system uses natural language descriptions of activities, such as making coffee or setting the table, to instruct robots on how to complete tasks.
Researchers at UCSB have created a new type of actuator that combines speed and softness, enabling faster and more versatile soft robotic systems. The actuator, made from liquid-metal alloy conductors and magnetized polymer composites, allows for fast and low-voltage movement in various applications.
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine developed a robotic system to rapidly produce human mini-organs derived from stem cells, expanding basic research and drug discovery capabilities. The new technology enables mass production of organoids, which resemble rudimentary organs and behave similarly.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a wireless flying robotic insect called RoboFly that can take independent flaps. The insect uses a laser beam to power its wings and is controlled by a microcontroller that mimics the fluttering of a real insect's wings.
Researchers aim to create self-assessing robots that can predict, monitor, and judge their own performance. The goal is to enable robots to work more efficiently with human partners by identifying areas of improvement.
Researchers at University of Lincoln develop machine learning algorithms for self-learning robots in hazardous nuclear sites, increasing capabilities in waste handling and site monitoring. The project aims to build systems that can adapt to unique radiation conditions using vision-guided robot grasping, manipulation, and cutting.
A study by the University of Plymouth found that participants in a motivational interview delivered by a social robot perceived the interaction as enjoyable and helpful. The robot achieved its objective of encouraging participants to articulate their goals and dilemmas, with some sessions lasting up to an hour.
The Gulf of Oman has been found to have a vast and growing oxygen minimum zone, with an area larger than Scotland having almost no oxygen left. Climate change and pollution are exacerbating the issue, threatening marine life and human reliance on the oceans.
Researchers have created soft robots with adaptable bodies, inspired by nature, to aid in search and rescue efforts, surgery, and rehabilitation. These flexible robots can crawl through narrow spaces and respond to environmental changes.
The Large Antenna Positioning System (LAPS) has been developed by NIST to measure transmissions to and from antennas on fast-moving mobile devices, requiring coordination between communication signals and robot motion. The system will help foster the development of 5G wireless and spectrum-sharing systems.
Researchers at UEA are using silent marine robots to record underwater sounds, providing valuable information on sea-surface wind speed and monitoring storms. The robots can also eavesdrop on marine life, such as whales and dolphins, and detect human activities like marine traffic and seismic surveys.
Physicists at FAU have demonstrated that macroscopic particles rotating in opposite directions form homogeneous groups. The researchers used miniature robots manufactured using 3D printing methods for their experiment. After only one minute, single domains were clearly visible, and after 15 minutes, the robots had almost entirely demixed.
The study proposes a biologically-inspired controller that uses non-linear oscillators to generate diverse gaits and postures. The system can adapt to different walking speeds and is controlled by high-level parameters, enabling real-time adjustments using brain-computer interfaces.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a 3D printable alloy that enables the rapid manufacture of flexible computer screens, bendable displays, and soft robots. The new alloy, created by adding nickel nanoparticles to galinstan, can be layered into tall structures with good conductivity and self-healing properties.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a platform for creating soft robots with embedded sensors that can sense movement, pressure, touch, and even temperature. This innovation enables complex sensing motifs to be easily integrated into soft robotic systems, opening new avenues to device design and fabrication.
Researchers discovered that flattie spiders can sense prey approaching from any direction and whip around in one-eighth of a second to strike. They achieve this feat by using their long legs to create leverage and torque, allowing them to spin up to 40% faster than previously thought.
Scientists at Brown University have created a way for robots to learn high-level abstract representations of their surroundings, enabling them to plan and act more autonomously. By using machine learning algorithms, robots can distill complex sensory data into simple, text-based descriptions that facilitate planning and skill execution.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have created a bioinspired robotic replica that can interact in three dimensions with live zebrafish. The system allows the robot to watch and mimic the behavior of live fish in real-time, promoting social interactions.
Researchers at U.S. Army Research Laboratory and University of Texas at Austin developed a new algorithm called Deep TAMER to train robots using human feedback. The algorithm enables robots to learn tasks in a short amount of time with accurate critique, improving performance on complex tasks like Atari Bowling.
Researchers have developed a new method to power nanoscale DNA robots using electric fields, enabling fast and precise movement. This breakthrough enables the creation of digital memory, cargo transfer, and 3D printing of molecules.