Articles tagged with Robots
Researchers at Washington State University developed an algorithm that enables non-expert users to train virtual robots, mimicking animal training methods. The system uses user feedback to improve robot performance and adapts to different teaching styles.
Researchers found that screens alone could convince participants of a robot's femininity, eliminating the need for physical shape changes. This discovery may help develop customized robots for specific roles and populations, enhancing user experiences.
Bhounsule plans to create algorithms enabling legged robots to balance on difficult terrain. His goal is to make a versatile robot with efficient balance and navigation capabilities.
University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers developed a biologically inspired artificial eye that can see in the dark using a lobster-inspired fish-eye design. The system improves image-taking through lenses rather than sensor components, resulting in fourfold sensitivity improvement.
Scientists developed a simpler and less costly smart skin that boosts sensitivity without increasing costs, enabling robots to feel and sense their environment. The skin harnesses mechanical energy and turns it into an electric current, eliminating the need for external power sources.
Researchers found that robot avatars using multi-modal communication, combining speech and iconic hand gestures, are as easily understood as human actors. The study demonstrated that avatars can convey their message more effectively when using gestures with speech.
A study by Penn State researchers found that older adults who recalled more robots in films had lower anxiety toward robots. The researchers suggest that incorporating features reminiscent of Hollywood portrayals, such as human-like interfaces and sympathetic designs, may ease apprehension toward robots.
A team of UTA engineering and business school graduates has designed a Build-Teach-Play Robots package to stimulate STEM learning in kindergarten through 12th grades. The project aims to expose students to pathways in science, technology, math and engineering fields.
Researchers have developed an 'octopus-like' skin that can stretch, sense pressure, and emit light. The hyperelastic, light-emitting capacitor (HLEC) device outperforms previous models in terms of elasticity and versatility.
A team of Cornell graduate students has developed a hyper-elastic light-emitting capacitor (HLEC) that can stretch up to six times its original size while emitting light. The material allows robots to change their color in response to mood or environment, enabling human-robot interactions.
Researchers at University of Sheffield developed an automated programming method for swarm robots, reducing human error and increasing reliability in complex tasks. The method uses supervisory control theory to ensure predictable behavior, making it suitable for safety-critical applications such as driverless cars.
A new study from BSMS shows that computers can detect boredom by monitoring non-instrumental movements. The research has the potential to develop more engaging online tutoring programs and companion robots. By tracking subtle changes in body language, computers can adapt to a user's level of interest.
Using stories to teach human values to artificial agents is a technique developed by Mark Riedl and Brent Harrison at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The method aligns an AI's goals with human values by training robots to read stories, learn acceptable sequences of events and understand successful ways to behave in human societies.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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 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.