Articles tagged with Robots
Researchers have developed a network of unmanned, autonomous robots called SnoMotes to collect data on ice sheets and glaciers in the Arctic. These toy-like robots can navigate treacherous terrain and capture real-time measurements of barometric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.
Researchers at Tufts University are developing chemical robots called chembots that can enter confined spaces and perform tasks such as landmine detection and biomedical diagnosis. The robots will be soft, squishy, and biodegradable, allowing them to access areas with openings of arbitrary size and shape.
Jacob Whitehill, a UC San Diego Ph.D. student, has developed a proof-of-concept system that uses facial expression recognition to control video playback speed in real-time, allowing robots to adapt to individual learning needs.
Brian Scassellati's grant will fund development of prosody-recognition software, allowing untrained users to provide feedback to robots. This technology enables robots to recognize and respond to the rhythms, patterns, and intonation of speech.
The Springer Handbook of Robotics presents the latest research in robotics, covering foundations to social and ethical implications. Edited by renowned experts Bruno Siciliano and Oussama Khatib, the handbook sets new standards for future developments and challenges in this scientific discipline.
Scientists from Durham University are exploring the Mid-Atlantic Ridge tectonic plate boundary using robots to map individual volcanoes and collect rock samples. The research aims to shed light on the timescales behind Earth's crust formation and related tectonic plates.
Roberta, a German robotics project, aims to encourage high school girls to pursue technical trades and university programs. The program has been successful, with 22 regional centers in Germany and plans for European expansion.
The LIREC project aims to develop emotionally intelligent companion technology that can engage humans in the long term. Researchers will study people's perceptions of robots and explore how humans bond with synthetic companions, inspired by human-pet relationships.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that geckos rely on their active tails to prevent falling off vertical surfaces and navigate through mid-air. The study has implications for designing better climbing robots and may aid in space exploration.
The project aims to develop an artificial immune system that can protect individual robots and the larger collective organism from faults. By sharing information and energy, the robots form a single artificial life-form with enhanced capabilities, such as rescuing earthquake victims.
The SMErobot project aims to develop cost-effective, modular, and interactive automation solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises. The new robot cells will present examples of automation solutions in various branches of industry, including machining operations, general handling tasks, and cooperative assembly and handling.
A Cornell researcher has developed a system that generates power for nanoscale robots based on the energy-producing mechanism of sperm cells. The technology could enable longer-lasting and task-regulated nanomedical devices, including nanoscale pumps for targeted drug delivery.
A computer simulation created by Georgia Tech and Emory researchers sheds light on how the nervous system adapts to sensory loss, enabling patients to regain balance despite impaired sensory information. The findings could lead to better diagnosis and rehabilitation for patients with balance problems.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that robotic telerounding significantly reduced the length-of-stay for patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. The robot-assisted care reduced hospital stay by 34% and saved $219,578 per year.
Researchers at USC are training a new breed of robotic dog, called LittleDog, to navigate challenging terrain. After 15 months of experimentation, the dogs can now move, albeit slowly, and will be trained to run faster in the next phase of the study.
A team of researchers successfully linked surgeons to robots via a 4,000-mile satellite connection, improving the quality of minimally invasive surgery. The study found that virtual reality prediction would greatly aid this type of surgery, paving the way for new efficient healthcare services.
Kansas State University researchers are developing robots to search for weapons of mass destruction and improvised bombs, using intelligent sensor networks and autonomous capabilities. The robot teams will be able to adapt to changing environments and team goals.
Researchers at NIST found that multiple robots' radio transmissions can interfere with each other, degrading search and rescue performance. The study identified ways to improve urban search and rescue wireless communications, including changes in frequency coordination and transmission protocols.
Researchers used virtual robots to study the evolution of communication in social organisms, finding that genetically similar individuals and group-level selection drive rapid communication evolution. In contrast, low-relatedness colonies with individual-level selection led to deceptive communication signals and decreased colony perfor...
Researchers at USC have developed SuperBot, a modular and multifunctional robot system that can reconfigure into different configurations for various tasks. The system consists of Lego-like autonomous robotic modules with internal and external sensors, enabling flexible bending, docking, and continuous rotation.
Researchers at Tufts University are developing soft-bodied robots inspired by biology, which could revolutionize medical diagnosis and treatment, as well as space exploration. The project aims to create devices that can adapt to different environments and perform tasks such as climbing and burrowing.
A new study by Olaf Sporns and Max Lungarella provides insight into how the brain operates and sheds light on its evolution. The researchers created a mathematical framework that quantifies the relationship between neural and behavioral processes, revealing that the brain and body are interconnected.
Researchers are using a robot named Eliza to provide specialist medical care to children in rural areas via video-link consultations with Brisbane specialists. The robot project aims to deliver high-quality clinical care and professional support to regional health staff.
Ghrist's technique involves replacing a complex physical system with an abstract space for easier analysis. He can then use algebra and calculus to break down the abstract space into pieces, figure out their structure, and reassemble them to gain insight into the physical system.
The SWAN system uses robotic technology and auditory signals to guide users through unknown territory, providing real-time audio cues to aid the blind and firefighters. Researchers have developed a wearable computing system consisting of a small laptop, tracking chip, and bone-conduction headphones.
Researchers at MIT are testing kayak-based robots called SCOUTs, which use surface navigation to communicate wirelessly. The goal is to create a team of robots that can work seamlessly together with minimal human direction.
A fleet of underwater robots will work together to make detailed observations of the ocean without human aid. The project has potential implications for ocean forecasting, marine conservation, and exploration of other environments.
In a modified trap-tube task, rooks show capacity for physical cognition through rapid learning and transfer test performance, suggesting understanding of physical rules. The results indicate that these birds have the ability to solve problems using rule abstraction, paving the way for future research.
A mechanical engineer at Purdue University and a civil engineer at Tel Aviv University have created new theorems that improve structure and machine design by combining kinematics and statics. This knowledge enables engineers to create safer structures and machines with better stability, potentially at lower cost.
Researchers from Pitt and Carnegie Mellon demonstrate virtual hazardous environments for search-and-rescue robots. The simulation provides realistic graphics and accurate physics to duplicate the problems faced by operators of real search and rescue robots.
Artificial tactile sensors are being developed to mimic human fingers, providing detailed information on object shape and texture. The new technology could enable robots to handle delicate objects with increased precision and force control.
The University of Manchester is developing a state-of-the-art Vision Chip that will enable robots to respond to events and multitask like humans. The chip, based on the retina of the human eye, will process complex images at rapid rates, allowing robots to react in real time.
Researchers found that nanotubes are stiff from the ends but soft from the middle, with larger tubes becoming softer. The study's findings are important for developing nanoelectronics and could lead to more efficient nanowires.
NIST's special test arena is used to train bomb and drug sniffing dogs as well as robotic rescue systems. The arenas provide a challenging environment for dogs to find hidden explosives or narcotics, while robotics experts observe police techniques.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have observed octopuses walking on two arms, using the outer halves as 'tank treads' for locomotion. This bipedal behavior may be a strategy for backing away from predators while maintaining camouflage.
Researchers unveiled a new breed of energy-efficient bipedal robots with a human-like gait. The robots use passive-dynamic walking devices to reduce power consumption, enabling applications in prosthetic devices and robotic control.
Researchers at Cornell University and their colleagues have built robots that mimic the human gait, consuming energy comparable to a human walker. The robots use simple control programs, suggesting that steady-state human walking might require only simple control as well.
Researchers built robots with sensors and programming similar to rat pups' basic senses and motor skills. The robots showed a new behavior in an arena, favoring one wall over another, displaying emergent behavior. Understanding this simple system's biology may inform the design of more sophisticated robots.
Researchers found that large groups can make accurate decisions even when no individuals are leaders and few have information. The study's results may be useful in understanding human behavior in crowds and designing robots for remote exploration.
Researchers developed control methods for self-reconfigurable robots that can change shape and perform different tasks without falling apart. The methods ensure guaranteed correct behavior, enabling robots to adapt to various environments and tasks.
Researchers will create mechanical systems with one or two motors to accomplish tasks currently done by robots. The goal is to provide a cheaper and lower maintenance alternative for assembly line designers.
A Kansas State University computer science professor aims to develop autonomous cooperative robotic teams that can work together without human intervention. He hopes to create robots that can adapt and reorganize to accomplish their mission, enabling more efficient and cost-effective operations in various industries.
The study by ASU researchers could lead to smarter robots and a better understanding of how humans process patterns. Oscillatory associative memory networks have been shown to have high memory capacity, similar to the Hopfield network, but with oscillatory units instead of discrete states.
Graduate student Sommer Gentry investigates haptic communication in swing dancing and its potential applications in robotic surgery, human-robot collaboration, and urban warfare. Her research has shown that pure haptic communication is sufficient for humans and robots to move in coordination.
The PERs will allow museum visitors to search for organo-fluorescent evidence of life in a Martian terrain, mimicking the role of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers. The robots are powered by Intel technology and can move at 1.6 inches per second, providing an interactive experience for visitors.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon developed a smart system that improves darkened photographs by digitally adding light to shadows. The tool, called Shadow Illuminator, uses principles based on human vision processes to enhance details within shadows.
Researchers conduct simulations of collapsed buildings using arena environments, focusing on advanced algorithms, sensors, and mechanisms for improved robot performance. The competition aims to increase the relevance of events for real emergencies by incorporating new limitations and sensor identifications.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed a new computer model that accurately reflects how the brain uses experience to improve motor control. The brain creates a map of forces expected in the world by multiplying electrical signals from nerve cells.
Researchers will test semi-autonomous, interactive robots in a simulated disaster environment. The goal is to develop robots that can autonomously navigate and find victims by 2050.
Howie Choset's snakebot technology can navigate through three-dimensional terrains with enhanced flexibility and 'reach' ability. The robot's hyper-redundant mechanisms enable it to thread through tightly packed spaces without disturbing the surrounding areas.
Researchers aim to compress images for small mobile agents, reducing power requirements and enabling wireless data transmission in confined spaces. Successful technology advances could benefit search and rescue operations, soldiers' field communications, and micro-air vehicles.
Researchers are developing robots inspired by cockroaches' legs using biomimetics and Shape Deposition Manufacturing. The study found that a cockroach leg's response to displacement inputs can be modeled as a viscoelastic material, enabling the design of stable and compliant robot legs.
Researchers at Duke University's Center for Neuroengineering will develop brain-controlled prosthetic limbs and apply brain-mapping technologies to aid surgeons in distinguishing healthy tissue from tumors. The center aims to increase resolution in mapping brain regions and enable control of complex robotic actions.
Researchers at UC Davis's Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) center are developing high-tech machines to improve safety in highway construction zones. The center has created innovative solutions such as automated debris removal vehicles, crack sealers, and traffic cone-laying robots.
A recent study by IBM and researchers found that software-based robotic trading agents ('bots') made seven per cent more cash than people in a commodities market test. The bots used basic strategies to maximize their profit, while humans were given an upper spending limit and minimum sale price.
A U of T engineer has devised a method to control vibrations in robots assembling or repairing objects in outer space. By entering a 'corrected' equation into the system, scientists can reduce deformations and complete tasks more quickly.
Gavin Miller's robotic snakes replicate slithering and sidewinding motions, paving the way for advanced robotics. The designs' potential applications extend beyond toys to include planetary exploration and handling diverse terrains.
A robotic caterpillar, Moccasin II, has been developed to navigate through gas, water, and sewerage pipes in buildings damaged by earthquakes or explosions. The robot can successfully navigate multiple 90-degree bends and is equipped with lights, a video camera, and microphones to detect survivors.
A new MIT software has significantly improved the accuracy of a robotic system used in cancer treatment, reducing errors from 7-8mm to under 1/3mm. This breakthrough technology has potential applications beyond cancer therapy, including inspection and repair work in nuclear power facilities.
The Personal Roving Presence (PRoP) is a small, affordable robot that allows users to explore environments remotely. With a PC and internet connection, users can control the robot's movement, see what it sees, listen to its audio, and even gesture with its arm.