Articles tagged with Robots
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.
A new search-and-rescue robot, Scalybot 2, is designed to use less energy and navigate tight spaces like snakes. The robot replicates rectilinear locomotion, a efficient movement method that allows snakes to crawl through crevices with minimal energy expenditure.
Manuela Veloso, a prominent AI and robotics researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, has been named an Einstein Chair Professor by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. As an Einstein Chair Professor, Veloso will present lectures on symbiotic autonomy, a concept she pioneered, which enables robots to proactively ask for help from humans.
Scientists successfully transitioned fundamental research in autonomy to undersea gliders, demonstrating improved decision-making capabilities without human intervention. The new algorithm enables robots to collect more information and adjust their paths autonomously.
The Kilobots are a collective of quarter-sized robots that can be programmed and operated by a single user, making it easy to test collective algorithms on hundreds or thousands of robots. Researchers aim to advance the understanding of collective behavior and its potential to deliver solutions for various challenges.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University developed a computational model that explains how bacteria move in a swarm, enabling the design of intelligent robots. Bacteria's superior survival skills come from their ability to adjust interactions with peers and utilize short-term memory.
Researchers from Rice University and two other universities are developing a new generation of design software to accurately predict robot physical behavior. This tool will enable designers to find key flaws on a computer before building a prototype, reducing expenses and increasing innovation.
The R-one project is a cost-effective way for Rice University to create an inexpensive and sophisticated robot that can be used in classrooms and aftercare programs. The robots are already being used in introductory engineering courses to teach programming, mechanical engineering, and distributed control.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed test methods to evaluate the reliability of wireless alarm beacons for firefighters and emergency responders. The tests found that even weak signals can cause delays or failures, making it essential to ensure these devices operate reliably in realistic conditions.
The WaterBotics program engages kids in solving real-world problems using programmable robots for underwater missions. Students learn key science and engineering concepts, as well as 21st-century skills like teamwork and problem-solving.
Researchers at MIT have developed tiny robots to inspect underground pipes in nuclear reactors, detecting corrosion and radioactive leaks. The robots can withstand extreme environments and transmit images in real-time, enabling safer operation of aged reactors.
Researchers at TUM create an artificial skin for robots that simulates human-like touch and temperature detection, allowing machines to interact with their environment in a more human-like way. The system uses sensors to register movement and detect changes in the robot's surroundings, enabling it to develop self-awareness.
Researchers from Uppsala University have developed a wireless sensor that can stretch to measure intensive body movements, paving the way for new applications in health monitoring and remote control. The sensor's design enables wireless measurement of repeated bending across large areas or moveable parts.
The study shows that varying the shape or adjusting the inclination of the robot's head affects its movement in complex environments. By controlling the vertical motion, the robots can maneuver through debris-filled areas produced by an earthquake or landslide.
Scientists used simple robots to test how altruism evolves over generations. The results matched Hamilton's rule, suggesting that helping relatives increases their chances of passing on genes. This study has implications for swarm robotics and the evolution of cooperation in nature.
Researchers designed a soft-bodied robot, GoQBot, inspired by caterpillar ballistic rolling to achieve fast wheeling behaviors. The robot's unique movement mimics the caterpillar's ability to rapidly curl into a wheel and propel itself away from predators.
A team of researchers has successfully programmed a robot to understand when it gains a human's attention and when it falls short. Using social cues, the robot achieves close to 80% accuracy in detecting whether someone is paying attention or ignoring it. The findings could pave the way for robots to engage with humans more effectively.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that when robots move in a more human-like fashion, people can better recognize what the robot is doing and mimic it themselves. The study used motion-capture technology to program a robot to perform human movements, resulting in improved human-robot interaction.
Researchers characterize snail locomotion and find that mucus properties are not crucial for movement. The study's findings have potential applications in designing biomimetic robots that can move on fluid surfaces.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University are studying the neurological functioning of cockroaches to design more efficient robots with compact builds. The insects' stable tripod gate movement and ability to adapt to terrain inspire robotics engineers to create faster and more robust robots for future space exploration.
Researchers created simulated and actual robots that evolve their body forms while learning to walk, resulting in faster adaptation and improved resilience. The evolving robots developed a more robust gait than fixed-body robots, enabling them to better deal with disruptions.
Scientists from Technical University of Munich are investigating how robots can help workers pack large TV sets, reducing costs and improving competitiveness. The CustomPacker project aims to create a safer and more efficient packaging station through human-robot cooperation.
Vanderbilt University researchers are developing a robot system called TriageBot to assist in emergency room triage, collect medical data, and provide tentative diagnoses. The system aims to reduce wait times, alleviate staff strain, and minimize errors.
Researchers studied infant-mother interactions to develop a baby robot capable of learning social skills. They found that babies and mothers create patterns in their play, which becomes more stable with age.
The researchers aim to understand how animals, including humans, quickly adjust to unexpected events. By studying the sea slug's ability to adjust its eating behavior, they hope to develop mathematical models that can predict how patterns of activity in the nervous system change over time.
Researchers created an artificial bee eye with a fully functional camera, achieving a comparable field of vision to bees. This system could inspire the development of mobile robots and small flying vehicles with enhanced navigation capabilities.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered a novel 'two-body' system of locomotion in the crawling tobacco hawkmoth caterpillar, where its gut moves independently of the surrounding body wall. This finding may offer valuable insights for designing soft-bodied robots and re-examining the role of soft tissues in human biomechanics.
Carnegie Mellon University has launched a $7 million initiative to increase U.S. enrollments in computer science and STEM fields by leveraging students' interest in robots. The program, called Fostering Innovation through Robotics Exploration (FIRE), will develop new tools and competitions to attract more young people to these careers.
Researchers at Oregon State University have made an important fundamental advance in robotics, achieving optimal approach with robotic mechanisms. This breakthrough aims to create robots that can walk and run effectively while using little energy, potentially leading to applications in military missions, prosthetic limbs, and wheelchai...
Dr. Fumin Zhang, a Georgia Tech Savannah professor, has received the 2010 Young Investigator Award from The Office of Naval Research for his research on unmanned robots and mobile sensor networks in oceanography and robotics/control engineering.
A clinical study found that stroke patients can regain limb movement long after an injury through intensive therapy with specially trained personnel and newly created robotic aids. The study showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life, upper-arm function, and everyday activities.
A joint initiative of six European research institutes aims to develop a worldwide database called RoboEarth, where robots can share their experiences and adapt to new surroundings. This will enable robots to perform tasks more quickly and efficiently in healthcare and industry settings.
Researchers developed an autonomous walking robot that flexibly switches between multiple gait patterns by utilizing chaos control. The robot can adapt its movement in response to environmental changes, such as obstacles or slopes, using a single central pattern generator.
Researchers at Oregon State University are developing a legged robot that can run stably over rough terrain using principles found in insects like cockroaches and guinea hens. The goal is to create robots that can perform difficult jobs, such as military operations or space exploration, with minimal computing power.
Researchers at USC's CRES are evaluating robots as exercise coaches for adults of all ages, particularly the elderly. The study examines how physical presence affects robotic exercise motivation in older subjects.
A Kansas State University study found that peripheral vision plays a vital role in grasping the overall scene, not just its details. The researchers suggest that this knowledge can aid in developing more accurate robots with improved visual understanding.
Researchers found that older adults are more willing than younger ones to have a robot perform critical monitoring tasks with minimal interaction. Robots can perform routine tasks like cleaning, but most respondents preferred non-interactive tasks. The study challenges the stereotype that older adults are less accepting of new technology.
By studying how flies process visual signals in their tiny brains, researchers hope to develop robots that can interpret camera pictures and react accordingly. This is crucial for creating safe human-robot interactions and efficient robotic systems.
Engineers propose new laws to rethink human-robot relationships, focusing on human organizations that develop and deploy robots. The laws aim to ensure high safety standards and address the limitations of current AI capabilities.
Researchers at MIT have developed robotic devices that help children with cerebral palsy improve their motor skills and reduce impairment. The therapy uses gentle guidance to rebuild brain connections, showing promising results in pilot studies involving 36 children.
The University of Granada has developed an artificial simulator of the nervous system to analyze functions and test new medicines. The EDLUT simulator allows researchers to study new diseases and improve robots inspired by human bodies.
A computer program using raw observational data teases out fundamental physical laws, particularly for biological systems that have eluded detection. The breakthrough uses a computational process inspired by biological evolution to analyze data sets and identify invariant patterns.
Manuela Veloso, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, has won the Autonomous Agents Research Award for her influential research in artificial intelligence and robotics. Her work on robot soccer has emerged as an important tool for studying autonomous agent cooperation in complex environments.
Researchers found that two small robots weighing 330 pounds each can build a berm around a landing site in under six months to block the sandblasting effect. The hard-surface landing pad using indigenous materials could reduce this need, allowing for more efficient cargo transfer and reducing damage to the outpost.
A new study reveals that robots struggle to traverse sandy terrain due to rotational motion of their limbs. To overcome this, researchers recommend slowing down leg movement, especially when the sand is loosely packed, and adjusting parameters such as limb rotation frequency and angle.
Researchers from Monash University have designed microbot motors powered by piezoelectricity, allowing them to swim up narrow arteries and enhance surgical views. The innovative technology could revolutionize minimally invasive surgeries, making them safer and more effective.
Top robotics expert Professor Noel Sharkey urges setting policy guidelines for the safe and ethical application of robots. Service robots are increasingly used in care settings, raising concerns about social isolation and potential psychological impacts on children and elderly individuals.
Researchers at UC Davis developed a control system that allows robots to pick up on cues and predict where leaders are going, enabling them to follow accurately around corners. The system uses behavioral cues such as head turns and incorporates them into decision-making processes.