Articles tagged with Robots
A new 3D printer developed by Carnegie Mellon University and Disney Research can turn wool and wool blend yarns into fabric objects. The device produces 3D objects made of a form of loose felt reminiscent of hand-knitted materials.
Researchers have created a system of extremely simple robots that can cluster together without requiring complex computation. This development enables the creation of large numbers of robots to perform tasks collectively, with potential applications in precision farming and healthcare technologies. The robots use minimal information an...
Researchers programmed a robot to use eye gaze as a nonverbal cue, making handovers more fluid. People reached out to take an object sooner in scenarios where the robot used head movements or made eye contact.
A team of researchers from Washington State University developed a novel approach to teaching computers new skills, mimicking the interaction between a human teacher and student. The method involves giving action advice to help students learn complex games like Pac-Man and StarCraft.
Researchers at MIT create a self-contained autonomous soft robot capable of rapid body motion, mimicking the escape maneuver of real fish. The robotic fish uses fluid flow through flexible channels to change direction quickly and explore new advantages in soft robotics.
NASA successfully tested remote robotic oxidizer transfer technology, enabling robots to replenish hazardous propellant in satellites. The technology has the potential to extend satellite life, mitigate orbital debris, and aid commercial satellite servicing.
Heinrich Jaeger will present a lecture on the cyclical nature of his research, which spans from basic science to technological applications and back again. The study of granular materials has led to new insights into jamming, a property that describes the transition from liquid- to solid-like behavior.
Researchers designed algorithms that reflect termite behavior, enabling robots to build complex structures without detailed plans. The robots use simple cues from their environment and each other to complete user-defined structures.
A team of researchers created an autonomous robotic construction crew that builds complex structures without a central command, using collective intelligence and stigmergy. The TERMES system consists of simple robots that cooperate to modify their environment, achieving impressive results in building towers, castles, and pyramids.
Researchers discovered that ants' neck joints can withstand pressures of up to 5,000 times the ant's weight due to a unique combination of soft tissue and hard exoskeleton materials. This finding could lead to the development of micro-sized robots with improved mechanical functionality.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are investigating ways for robots to work alongside humans in settings like manufacturing plants and elderly homes. They aim to develop algorithms that enable robots to collaborate with people on tasks, enhancing productivity without compromising safety.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding human walking by identifying two phases: alleviation and launching. The ankle tendons release stored elastic energy to propel the leg forward with minimal energy loss.
Researchers from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute used underwater robots to survey a marked dump site off the coast of Southern California. The survey revealed numerous 55-gallon drums and other marine debris, but no chemical munitions were detected.
Researchers studied cockroach behavior to develop faster robots, finding that mechanical changes can overcome nervous system limitations. Cockroach antennae bend in response to rough surfaces, allowing for stable navigation during high-speed maneuvers.
Researchers have created an artificial heart that can pump human waste into future robots, powering eco-friendly systems. The device uses shape memory alloys to mimic the human heart's pumping action and is more mechanically simpler than conventional pumps.
Researchers at NYU-Poly used underwater robots to examine how golden shiner fish interact with a robot's coloration, size, and movement. The results show that the fish are drawn to a robot mimicking their natural colors and movement patterns, influencing their swimming behavior.
The MIT researchers' new system of self-assembling robots uses a surprisingly simple scheme to overcome the complexity of traditional modular robot designs. By giving up on static stability and leveraging clever engineering, they create cubes that can climb, roll, and even move while suspended upside down.
A study found that dogs react sociably to robots that behave socially towards them, even if the devices look nothing like a human. The research suggests that designers of social robots should consider how their designs interact with users and animals.
Researchers at the University of Miami discovered a global ecology of interacting robots that trade on global markets at speeds too fast for humans. These ultrafast algorithms create extreme events, such as crashes and spikes, in financial markets.
Rice University's Multi-Robot Systems Laboratory researchers gather data from online game SwarmControl.net to develop new control algorithms for robotic swarms. They demonstrate complex behaviors with simple commands, showcasing potential for massive populations of robots to perform coordinated tasks.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered a novel visual circuit in dragonflies' brains that combines opposite pathways for processing simple dark objects. This finding has implications for improving vision systems in robots and developing neural prosthetics.
The Japanese vehicle delivers new hardware to NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM), enabling the demonstration of satellite-servicing activities and cryogen replenishment. The RRM team will work with the Dextre robot to test intermediate steps leading up to cryogen transfer.
Researchers at NYU-Poly used bio-inspired robots to study fear responses in zebrafish, finding that alcohol can modulate these reactions. The findings may lead to new methodologies for understanding anxiety and developing substances that alter emotions.
Soft Robotics is a new peer-reviewed journal combining advances in biomedical engineering, biomechanics, and materials science to create robotic technology for interactive robots. The journal provides a forum for scientists and engineers across diverse fields to work together to build the next generation of soft robots.
Research suggests that people attribute more mind to entities perceived as targets of harm, including robots and corpses. This finding implies that moral intuitions lead to subjective perceptions of minds, which can influence decision-making on contentious issues like animal rights and end-of-life decisions.
Scientists aim to apply plant-inspired principles to develop cutting-edge technology, such as intelligent robots that can adapt to unknown environments. By investigating gene regulatory networks and self-organisation in plants, the team hopes to create more resilient and efficient robot swarms for applications like space exploration.
Healthcare providers prefer robotic assistants for tasks such as housework and reminding patients when to take medication. However, they prefer human assistants for activities requiring direct physical interactions, like bathing and feeding.
Researchers found that humans exhibit similar emotional reactions when watching videos of robots being treated affectionately or violently, as they do when viewing the same actions towards humans. This discovery has implications for the development of more empathetic and engaging robotic systems.
A research team at Cornell University developed an algorithm that enables virtual creatures to evolve and learn to walk. The creatures' squishy, muscle-like features adapt through generations of evolution, creating counterintuitive designs that surpass human-engineered robots.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a swarm of 40 robots that can carry out simple fetching and carrying tasks, and even organize themselves by order of priority. This technology could play a significant role in future medical applications, military operations, and industrial processes.
Researchers developed a new approach to predict how small legged robots move on and interact with complex granular materials like sand. The technique, called terradynamics, uses equations to describe and predict movement comparable to aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.
A new roadmap for robotics aims to maximize progress in the next decade. Robots have the potential to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, improve logistics and reduce delivery costs, and make first responders safer.
Researchers developed a cloud-computing platform called RoboEarth Cloud Engine to accelerate robot learning and adaptation in complex tasks. The platform allows robots to access enterprise-scale computing infrastructure, paving the way for lighter, cheaper, and more intelligent robots.
Researchers studied cockroaches' gait patterns using kinematic phase analysis, revealing a substantial delay in the nervous system's response time. This finding suggests that periodic feedback systems might lead to more stable walking robots.
Soft robots designed by Harvard researchers can leap up to a foot in the air using small explosions of methane and oxygen. This fast-acting system could aid in search and rescue missions. The robots' jumping ability is made possible by a simple valve system and the brief, high-energy explosion.
A study by MIT researchers found that cross-training humans and robots significantly improves team performance, with a 71% increase in concurrent motion and a 41% decrease in human inactivity. The robots also showed lower uncertainty levels when working with their human teammates after cross-training.
Two ocean-going robots, equipped with acoustic monitoring instruments, detected nine endangered North Atlantic right whales in real-time. The gliders' data helped NOAA establish a dynamic management area, asking mariners to slow their vessel speed to avoid striking the animals.
A method for detecting where people's gazes converge has been developed by Carnegie Mellon researchers, allowing robots to better understand social interactions. The system uses crowdsourcing to provide subjective information about social groups that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for a robot to ascertain.
A robotic laser system developed by Carnegie Mellon University and CTC uses high-powered lasers to remove coatings from fighter and cargo aircraft. The system promises to reduce labor, waste volume, environmental risk, and overall cost, making it an environmentally superior alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a robotic fish that can attract live zebrafish using real-time visual feedback. The study found that zebrafish are more attracted to robots that replicate the behavior of informed fish, demonstrating the effectiveness of real-time visual feedback in influencing live animal ...
A new approach to hysterectomy allows for essentially scar-free surgery using robotic arms in a thin incision. The technique provides improved access for surgeons, enabling clearer views of anatomy and reducing the risk of injury to vital structures.
A study by Georgia Institute of Technology found that older adults (65-93 years) are willing to use robots for tasks like cleaning, laundry, and taking out the trash. However, they tend to prefer human assistance for personal care activities like getting dressed, eating, and bathing.
Two Carnegie Mellon teams, Tartan Rescue Team and Team Steel, have been selected to compete in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, a competition where robots will respond to disaster scenarios in human-engineered environments. The ultimate winning team will receive a $2 million prize and advance robotics development across all fields.
A team led by University of Delaware researchers aims to create a robot that can drive vehicles, navigate environments, use tools, and manipulate equipment in disaster relief scenarios. The robot will focus on key tasks such as getting into and out of vehicles, driving factoring in difficult conditions.
Researchers found that older adults are open to robot assistance with some daily living tasks, such as housekeeping and laundry, but prefer human assistance with others. The study highlights the need for further research on how robots can support older adults in living independently.
Researchers have created a system inspired by nature that allows soft robots to change their appearance, including camouflage against backgrounds or displaying bold colors. This technology could be used in various applications such as search and rescue operations, medical surgeries, and even signaling robots' position.
Remote presence robots enhance critical care physician interactions with patients, leading to improved patient satisfaction. Most surveyed ICU physicians intend to continue using the technology, believing it improves patient care.
Red Whittaker, a pioneer in mobile autonomous robotics, has been awarded the 2012 IEEE Simon Ramo Medal. He has developed over 60 robots that can work in challenging environments, including contaminated nuclear plants, abandoned mines, and active volcanoes.
Researchers at MIT CSAIL discovered brain organizes objects based on size, with distinct regions for big and small objects. This finding has major implications for fields like robotics and could lead to better understanding of brain organization and mapping information.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have created a robot equipped with a tactile sensor capable of identifying natural materials by touch. The robot outperforms humans in identifying textures, enabling potential applications in prostheses and consumer product testing.
Researchers at MIT have developed an algorithm allowing robots to quickly learn an individual's preference for a task and adapt accordingly. This enables robots and humans to work side by side, improving productivity and efficiency in manufacturing plants.
Researchers have identified and characterized a new behavior in geckos and cockroaches, allowing them to run off ledges and execute a pendulum-like motion to swing underneath. This discovery has inspired the development of robots that can also perform this acrobatic move, with potential applications in search-and-rescue missions.
A robotics company, Barobo, has received $500,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation to develop its modular robot technology into a commercial product. The grant aims to make Mobot a useful tool for teaching robotics in schools, potentially starting with third-grade classes.
The research team aims to create automated program-synthesis tools for various applications, including robotic tasks. The goal is to help human programmers write code faster and with fewer errors by leveraging intelligent software agents.
The MIT CSAIL project aims to develop a desktop technology that enables personalized robot design, customization, and printing within hours. Researchers hope to create an end-to-end process for building physical machines using simple printing processes.
A team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and MIT demonstrated that a nonoscillating gel can be resuscitated by mechanical pressure, paving the way for robots to 'feel' like humans do. This discovery could lead to the development of artificial skin with sensory capabilities.
A NASA experiment aboard the International Space Station has demonstrated remotely controlled robots can perform precise satellite-servicing tasks in space, marking a milestone in technology test bed use. The project is expected to reduce risks and encourage future robotic servicing missions, paving the way for satellite repair, refuel...
Professor Chernova will conduct research on general purpose robots capable of adapting to new jobs and responding to human needs. Her system, using crowd-sourcing and active learning, aims to enable robots to operate effectively in natural environments.
A new MIT system allows robots to build and update 3D maps of their surroundings using a low-cost camera, enabling navigation in constantly changing environments without human input. The system can be used for applications such as blind navigation, military mapping, and HazMat team operations.
A team of engineers led by Ioannis Poulakakis aims to create robots that can run like animals, enabling them to access areas inaccessible to conventional vehicles. Using biomechanics research, they seek to develop a family of systematic control strategies that work with the robot's natural dynamics.