Articles tagged with Robots
Researchers developed AI software to teach a quadrocopter to autonomously recognize and follow forest trails. The drone was able to find the correct direction in 85% of cases, outperforming humans who guessed correctly 82% of the time. This breakthrough enables drones to complement rescue teams and accelerate searches for missing people.
A joint team from Kessler Foundation and NJIT is developing new applications for wearable robotic exoskeleton devices to improve mobility and enable safer, more independent functioning for people with spinal cord injuries, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and stroke. Researchers are also evaluating the efficacy of existing robots for resto...
The National Science Foundation has awarded $37 million to fund research on co-robots that can collaborate with people, advancing the development of robots for critical tasks like infrastructure inspection and manufacturing. The awards support projects across various fields, including healthcare and search-and-rescue operations.
Researchers studied three species of snakes to understand how their unique belly shapes aid in climbing. Brown tree snakes have sharp-edged keels that allow them to grip and propel themselves up trees efficiently, a trait also seen in some corn snakes but not boa constrictors.
The National Institutes of Health is funding the development of three innovative robots to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The robots, including a smart-walker for elderly mobility and a hand-worn device for visually impaired grasping objects, aim to enhance independence and quality of life.
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a new probabilistic model that allows robots to learn new skills by watching people and imitating them. The team combined child development research with machine learning approaches, inspired by infants' ability to infer adult intentions through self-exploration.
Researchers discovered army ants form complex bridges without a lead ant, adapting to terrain and optimizing food collection. The collective computation allows them to balance cost and benefit, a phenomenon that could inform the development of swarm robots.
A robotic prosthetic control strategy based on human reflexes has shown promise in simulation and laboratory testing, producing stable walking gaits over uneven terrain and improved balance recovery from trips. The technology will be further developed and tested using volunteers with above-the-knee amputations over the next three years.
Disney researchers developed mobile apps that add computer-generated animation, sound, and visuals to traditional activities like coloring books, scavenger hunts, and team games. The apps aim to create a seamless fusion of the real and virtual worlds, promoting creative play and exploration.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a 'spring-mass' walking system that combines passive dynamics with computer control, allowing robots to blindly react to rough terrain and maintain balance. The technology has the potential to enhance legged robots and enable new roles in industries such as manufacturing and firefig...
The UC3M is investigating a system that replicates human behavior. This technology could be used to predict social crises, create more realistic robots and AI avatars. The project aims to understand individual behavior using experiments with thousands of participants.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied spider crickets' aerial acrobatics, discovering that their limbs stabilize posture during jumps. This knowledge can be applied to designing tiny robots with more efficient locomotion, such as jumping robots for rugged terrain.
Researchers found that using UV robots after room cleaning reduced C. diff infections among cancer patients by 25%, saving approximately $150,000 per year in direct medical costs. The intervention did not adversely impact room turnaround time.
Researchers developed a test-bed to study animal movement on soft ground, revealing key principles for robotic design. The findings, published in Bioinspiration & Biomechanics, suggest that robots can mimic the locomotion strategies of animals, such as sandrunners and forest dwellers, to improve their performance on challenging terrain.
Researchers found that sensory feedback shapes motor variability, allowing for normal behavior and adaptation. The study suggests maintaining variability is essential, contrary to the common view of it as a problem to overcome.
A team of UK scientists has created the first three-dimensional picture of a submarine canyon habitat using marine robotics and ship-based measurements. The expedition used unique robot technology to collect data in hard-to-reach areas, leading to a better understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes.
Researchers at MIT's SMART program conducted a six-day experiment using autonomous golf carts to ferry tourists around winding paths. The system, which used off-the-shelf sensors and dynamic algorithms, demonstrated a 98% user satisfaction rate and showed potential for elderly transportation applications.
Researchers at Harvard have engineered a new soft actuator that utilizes unstable responses to create fast-moving instabilities. These snap-through instabilities can trigger large changes in internal pressure, shape, and exerted force without significant volume change, enabling fast, untethered motion for soft robots.
A team of computer scientists found that mass extinctions can speed up evolution in robots, leading to more efficient and creative problem-solving. The study, published in PLOS ONE, used simulations to demonstrate how extinction events promote the emergence of novel features and abilities.
Scientists used Darwinian selection to evolve robot controllers that enable efficient self-organization of tasks. The new method allows the evolution of complex behaviors, surpassing previous complexity achieved in swarm robotics.
A team of biologists observed and analyzed the jumping behavior of water striders, revealing two phases: a dimple creation phase and a leg movement phase. Mathematical models were created to understand the surface tension forces involved in the jump, predicting optimal jumping performance.
Researchers created a robot that mimics the jumping ability of water striders by controlling the acceleration of its legs. The robot uses a torque reversal catapult mechanism to generate force without exceeding the maximum force that water surface tension can withstand.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have found inspiration in the boxfish's armor, which includes hexagon-shaped scales and sutures. The structure provides a balance between flexibility and strength, making it an ideal design for body armor and flexible electronics.
A Virginia Tech scientist has developed a mathematical model that demonstrates bacteria can control the behavior of robots, opening up new possibilities in ecology, biology, and robotics. The model uses engineered gene circuits in E. coli to create a bacteria-robot system that exhibits unique decision-making behavior.
Researchers designed a more efficient jumping robot using 3D printing techniques and combining hard and soft materials. The robot's unique design, inspired by nature, allows for improved durability and control.
Researchers studied seahorse's unusual skeletal structure and found its square-tail design provides flexibility and strength, allowing for energy-efficient grasping mechanisms and crushing resistance. This discovery may inspire robotics applications in laparoscopic surgery, industrial systems, or search & rescue robots.
The seahorse tail's square shape provides better resistance to twisting and grasping control due to increased contact area. Its resilience is attributed to gliding joints, making it a valuable inspiration for designing search-and-rescue robots and other technologies.
MIT engineers have developed an autonomous mission-planning system that enables underwater robots to plan their own missions, execute, adapt, and re-plan them alone without human support. The system allows robots to make high-level decisions, prioritize tasks, and avoid collisions, freeing engineers to focus on overall strategy.
The project aims to develop individualized robots that can adapt to the special needs of each elderly user, improving their well-being. The robots will be designed to model human-human interaction and adjust to user pace, abilities, and actions in real-time.
Researchers create ultra-sensitive wearable sensors that can detect subtle eye movements and facial expressions, allowing robots to understand human emotions. These advancements could lead to more intuitive interactions between humans and robots, improving their usability and user experience.
Researchers aim to create a computational model for flying robots to detect specific odors in natural environments. Insect behavior and molecular work will focus on separating target odors from background scents.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new method to mass-produce electronic circuits made of liquid-metal alloys using inkjet printing. This technology enables the creation of stretchable garments and pliable robots that can interact with computers or provide therapeutic benefits. The approach involves dispersing liquid met...
Researchers at Stanford University have created a robotic wing that can recover from mid-air collisions using a passive morphing mechanism inspired by bird wings. The mechanism allows the wing to fold and unfold without actuation, making it lighter and more reliable.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a modular robot that can replicate the sharp turns of real sidewinder rattlesnakes. By analyzing the snakes' complex motion, they discovered how to change the phase and amplitude of two wave motions to achieve exceptional maneuverability.
A team of scientists has developed flexible, microscopic hand-like grippers that can perform remotely guided surgical procedures and biopsies. The microhands use hydrogels and magnetic nanoparticles to provide energy and control, enabling the creation of biodegradable, miniaturized surgical tools.
UMass researchers develop a new planning algorithm that enables semi-autonomous systems to handle uncertainty and prioritize human safety. By considering multiple objectives, such as safety and speed, the system can make sequential decisions in complex scenarios.
A new study from Harvard University compares the design of fuel systems for soft robots, assessing various types of pneumatic energy sources and their benefits for specific applications. The study provides a framework for configuring fuel systems in soft robotics.
Sandia National Laboratories is developing technology to improve the endurance of legged robots, enabling them to operate for long periods in disaster response scenarios. The new robots, STEPPR and WANDERER, will demonstrate energy-efficient actuators and biped walking capabilities.
Researchers have developed a robotic fish prototype with advanced flexibility, inspired by Anguilliform fish. The device can swim forward, backward, and turn using artificial intelligence and torques applied to its joints.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $31.5 million to develop and use co-robots that work cooperatively with people, advancing fundamental understanding of robotic sensing and motion. These robots will perform critical tasks safely and resiliently near humans.
Youngsters with diabetes are more inclined to perform tasks related to their condition when prompted by a friendly interactive robot. The ALIZ-E project has shown that social robots can assist children with other medical conditions and act as classroom assistants, improving learning outcomes.
Researchers at Georgia Tech studied mid-air orientation and impact behavior in cats and humans to develop a 'soft roll' landing for robots. The goal is to reduce impact and damage from falls, particularly for search-and-rescue robots in hazardous conditions.
University of Michigan researchers demonstrate how chains of self-assembling particles can form and extend when exposed to an alternating electric field. This innovation could enable electronics that rewire on demand and pave the way for development of tiny, mobile robots with potential applications in medicine and manufacturing.
Researchers studied five bird species and developed a computer model to understand their efficient running behaviors. They found that birds prioritize energy conservation over stability, allowing for dynamic leg motion and adaptability. This study may inspire the development of more agile and efficient robots.
Researchers at MIT have created a new visualization system that projects a robot's intentions in real-time, enabling engineers to better understand and optimize their decisions. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the development of self-driving cars, package-delivering drones, and other autonomous vehicles.
Researchers successfully replicated the sidewinder snake's ability to traverse sandy slopes using a modular snake robot, gaining insights into the animals' unique wave motion. By studying the snakes and physical model simultaneously, they learned general principles that allowed them to improve the robot.
A team led by Nina Mahmoudian has created a tabletop model of a robot team that can bring power to places in need. The robots can link up power cords and batteries to light or set flags, operating independently to choose the shortest path and avoid obstacles.
Researchers developed a new search algorithm that enables robots to find and navigate to tagged household objects using ultra-high frequency radio-frequency identification (UHF RFID) tags. The system allows the robot to play a 'hot-or-cold?' game to determine its direction, reducing complexity and increasing accuracy.
Engineers at Harvard University have created an untethered soft robot, measuring over half a meter in length, which can carry up to 7.5 pounds on its back. The robot, designed using composite silicone rubber and Kevlar fabric, has withstood extreme conditions such as snow, water, flames, and being run over by a car.
Robo Brain is a large-scale computational system that learns from publicly available internet resources. It will process images to pick out objects and connect them with text to recognize patterns and behaviors. The system employs structured deep learning, allowing robots to understand how the world works and interact with humans.
MIT researchers have created an algorithm that enables a drone to monitor its health in real-time, allowing it to take proactive measures during delivery missions. The approach simplifies planning by separating vehicle-level and mission-level tasks, resulting in more efficient and reliable deliveries.
A self-organizing swarm of 1,024 robots creates complex shapes by following simple programmed rules, showcasing collective artificial intelligence. The Kilobots overcomes individual limitations through a smart algorithm, guaranteeing task completion and demonstrating the potential for large-scale robotics.
Researchers developed a way to coax flat sheets of composite materials into complex robots that crawl and turn. The new approach allows for rapid assembly, scalability, and high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for mass production and diverse applications.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered a way to control the stiffness of a sheet material using an origami folding pattern called Miura-ori. By introducing pop-through defects, they can program the material's properties, creating a programmable matter that can snap into place and perform mechanical functions.
A new open-source pipetting system, iPipet, uses an iPad to guide complex pipetting protocols, sharing expertise across research communities. The system has shown promising results in accuracy and efficiency compared to liquid-handling robots.
A new study by Fraunhofer Institute explores the biomechanical loads resulting from collisions between robots and humans. Researchers use a pendulum to measure force, pressure distribution, and impact velocity to identify thresholds for injuries.
University of Washington researchers used crowdsourcing to teach robots how to build models and perform manipulation actions. The results showed that the robot learned faster and produced simpler yet effective models with input from humans and online communities.
Researchers at MIT have developed a system that enables printable robotic components to fold into prescribed three-dimensional configurations when heated, allowing for the creation of fully assembled robots. The technology also includes designs for resistors, inductors, and capacitors, as well as sensors and actuators.
Researchers at Hebrew University discovered how octopuses avoid tying themselves in knots by producing a chemical that temporarily inhibits sucker attachment to their own skin. This unique mechanism enables the arms to maintain flexibility and accuracy despite an infinite number of degrees of freedom.
Penn State researchers found that older adults fear companion robots will negatively affect young people, leading to design challenges for developers. To address this concern, robot designers may need to include parental controls to monitor children's use of robots and prevent dependency.