Articles tagged with Robots
Developed using lightweight shape memory materials, the gripper systems function without additional sensors, reducing energy consumption and increasing flexibility. They can be controlled in real-time with short pulses of electric current, enabling safe human interaction and minimizing production costs.
The use of robots in kitchens could help alleviate labor shortages and provide a better work-life balance for employees. Robots like Flippy can assist with tasks such as frying, while also reducing costs and improving customer experience.
The Harvard robot uses latch-mediated spring actuation to jump high and cover long distances relative to its size. It combines walking and jumping modes for effective navigation in natural environments.
Larval zebrafish rapidly learn to recognize and avoid predator robots in a novel simulation system. The fish's brain utilizes multiple regions, including the noradrenergic system and forebrain, to encode and recall predator avoidance memories.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are developing a lightweight, flexible robotic arm that enables wheelchair users to safely grasp and carry objects out of reach. The project builds on origami-inspired designs and novel fabrication methods for modules made of lightweight plastics, 3D printed components, and sensors.
A team of researchers found that mammalian tails can form complex curves and enable body rotations in mid-air, challenging the conventional design of robotic tails. The study suggests that tail structure optimized for inertial maneuvering could be applied to robots, improving their performance and efficiency.
The American Physical Society's joint March Meeting and April Meeting will convene more than 14,000 physicists from around the world to present new research in various fields. The conference will be held in person in Anaheim, California and online everywhere March 16-21.
Cutaneous electrohydraulic (CUTE) wearable devices can produce a range of tactile sensations, including pressing and vibrations, with unprecedented control. Users perceive most cues as pleasant, highlighting the technology's potential for assistive technologies and augmented reality.
A recent study from the University of Notre Dame found that robot use in nursing homes is associated with increased employment, improved productivity, and a higher quality of care. The research also suggests that robots may reduce physical strain on workers, allowing them to focus on tasks better suited for human beings.
The Cambridge Handbook of the Law, Policy, and Regulation for Human-Robot Interaction addresses emerging issues in AI and robots, including privacy, safety, and regulation. The book offers valuable insights into ethical dilemmas and proposes solutions to balance enforceability and flexibility.
Researchers reviewed robotic and intelligent technologies for inspecting composite materials, highlighting their challenges and benefits. Advanced methods like wave-based inspection, non-contact optical techniques, and vision, force, and touch offer precision, efficiency, and automation capabilities.
A study published in Science Robotics found that diverse and inclusive teams in robotics research achieve higher motivation, commitment, and productivity. The team identified seven main benefits of workforce diversity and inclusive leadership, including increased innovation and reduced bias.
A study found that user participation and perspective are crucial in developing home-care technology. Common factors across countries include familiarity with robots and a positive impression of them. Japan values convenience, Ireland prioritizes notifying family members, and Finland emphasizes design. These findings highlight the impo...
Researchers created a measurement scale to assess robot human likeness, revealing four key qualities: appearance, emotional capacity, social intelligence, and self-understanding. To seem lifelike, robots must exhibit these traits, with self-understanding being the most challenging aspect to simulate.
Researchers developed a soft robot with fins shaped like manta rays, capable of swimming up and down throughout the water column. The robot uses spontaneous snapping-induced jet flows to achieve high speeds and maneuverability.
Researchers developed a platform to help AI learn complex tasks through nuance and real-time instruction, achieving up to a 30% increase in success rates. The GUIDE framework allows humans to provide ongoing, nuanced feedback, fostering incremental improvements and deeper understanding.
A review paper explores how robots can aid in understanding the human sense of self, including simulating mind and brain processes and testing social capacities. Researchers aim to transfer some features of human self-awareness to robots, which could provide insights into its development and potential applications.
A new study suggests that smart robots can predict waves in real-time, enabling them to work stably in turbulent seas. This technology could reduce the cost of generating renewable energy by up to 50%, making it more competitive with fossil fuels.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems developed a novel method for deploying multiple magnetic miniature robots to navigate through complex networks resembling blood vessels. The system allows for simultaneous treatment of multiple locations, saving critical time and enabling localized care.
Scientists at Princeton University develop a system of two robots connected by flexible tether, enabling them to solve complex problems like maze navigation and object gathering. The innovative approach harnesses physical characteristics rather than digital calculation to achieve remarkable abilities.
MIT researchers developed a versatile technique that combines diverse data from various sources into a shared language for generative AI models. This approach outperformed traditional techniques by 20% in simulation and real-world experiments.
Researchers developed grain-sized soft robots that can transport up to four different drugs, release them in reprogrammable orders and doses, and navigate complex environments inside the human body. The robots' precision functions have the potential to significantly improve therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects.
Researchers are developing energy-efficient robots inspired by ancient fish and fossils to simulate their anatomy and behavior. The team aims to test hypotheses about how early animals evolved and moved, providing insights into the transition from water to land.
A new system dubbed SonicSense allows robots to interpret the world through acoustic vibrations, giving them a richer ability to 'feel' and understand objects. The system, featuring a robotic hand with contact microphones, can identify materials, shapes, and recognize objects in complex environments.
Researchers have developed an octopus-inspired adhesive that can quickly grab and controllably release challenging underwater objects. The adhesive achieves high attachment strength on various surfaces, including rough and curved ones, within a fraction of a second.
Researchers from King's College London have created a new kind of compact circuit that enables robots to receive complex instructions without electricity. This breakthrough could enable the creation of robots with more complex AI-powered software and improve their social awareness and dexterity.
Researchers have identified coupling design methods, composite manufacturing techniques, and future prospects for micro/nanorobots. The review explores three core functions: mobility, controllability, and load capacity, offering insights into designing high-performance MNRs.
A study of 498 participants found that humans disapprove of hidden state deceptions but approve of external state deceptions that protect someone's feelings. The researchers suggest regulation to protect users from harmful deceptions and recommend further experimentation with real-life reactions.
The Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity (HAND) center aims to develop robots capable of enhancing human labor through engineered systems of dexterous robotic hands, AI-powered fine motor skills, and human interface. The center's goal is to make robotic assistance accessible and applicable to a wide range of physical actions.
A new algorithm developed at Washington State University improves safety and efficiency in robots working with humans by accounting for human carelessness. The tool has shown a maximum improvement of 80% in safety and 38% in efficiency compared to existing methods, and the researchers plan to test it in real-world settings.
Researchers developed an air-powered computer that sets off alarms when certain medical devices fail, preventing blood clots and strokes. The device uses air to issue warnings, reducing costs and improving safety in healthcare settings.
A Washington State University study reveals that automatic delivery robots with low carbon emissions can encourage consumers to use them when ordering food. Participants who were more environmentally aware and had less perceived risk of late or spoiled food were more likely to choose the robots.
Researchers developed a learning-based approach called LVWS to schedule robots and enable voluntary waiting, resulting in faster task completion. This method outperformed other approaches by up to 23% suboptimality, demonstrating its potential to improve manufacturing, agriculture, and warehouse automation.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new fabrication technique called solid knitting, which allows machines to knit furniture using yarn. The technology has the potential to produce solid three-dimensional chairs, tables, and other objects, and could revolutionize the way we approach design and manufacturing.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed self-powered aquatic robots that can skim across water and detect environmental data. The devices use ocean bacteria to generate power, with an average output of 1 milliwatt, enough for mechanical movement and sensor tracking.
Researchers from Chiba University developed a foldable pouch actuator that enables finger extension in soft rehabilitation gloves, overcoming the limitation of existing actuators. The FPA facilitates joint-specific movements and has potential applications in telerehabilitation and care facilities.
Researchers warn that bio-hybrid robots, which combine living tissue and synthetic components, present novel ethical dilemmas. The technology raises questions about sentience, moral value, and environmental impact, highlighting the need for proper governance and public awareness.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a lightweight fluidic engine that can power muscle-mimicking soft robots for use in assistive devices. The new engine generates significant force and is untethered to an external power source, making it particularly attractive for improving people's ability to move their upp...
The University of Maryland team created a camera mechanism that mimics the involuntary movements of the human eye, resulting in sharper and more accurate images. The Artificial Microsaccade-Enhanced Event Camera (AMI-EV) has implications for robotics, national defense, and industries relying on accurate image capture.
Researchers from MIT and the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab devised a navigation method that converts visual representations into pieces of language, which are then fed into one large language model. The approach utilizes purely language-based representations, generating synthetic training data to overcome challenges in visual data availability.
Researchers developed a custom-built robot system to treat wet neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), administering radiation followed by injections. The treatment reduced the number of injections needed by about a quarter, potentially saving around 1.8 million injections per year worldwide.
A dog-like quadruped robot equipped with a mechanized arm is developed to detect hazardous gases and volatile organic compounds in hard-to-reach areas. The system uses air samples collected by the robot's arm and analyzed on-site, allowing for safer conditions for scientists and technicians.
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that roboticists and people with disabilities can collaborate to create more accessible and inspiring robot designs. Potential issues sidewalk robots encounter during deployment are proposed to be mitigated, and innovative ideas for robots to clear snow, monitor sidewalks, and...
Researchers combined robotics data from different sources using generative AI models to train better multipurpose robots. The approach, known as Policy Composition (PoCo), enables a robot to perform multiple tool-use tasks and adapt to new tasks in unfamiliar environments.
The hybrid-driven origami gripper, showcased in a recent study, demonstrates unprecedented versatility and precision in grasping objects. Its adjustable finger stiffness and variable finger lengths enable it to handle diverse materials without causing damage.
Researchers developed a novel methodology utilizing digital twins to establish the usefulness of built environment design guidelines for robots. Digital twins allow for real-time monitoring, hazard identification, and training a robot's algorithm before deployment.
A novel electromagnetic driving system is presented for 5-DOF magnetic manipulation in intraocular microsurgery. The system employs an optimized configuration, control framework based on ADRC and virtual boundary, and achieves precise and stable manipulation with reduced errors.
A US Army research collaboration with Boston University's KABlab used an AI machine learning robot to create a record-breaking energy-absorbing shape, breaking the known record of 71% efficiency. The shape has four points, like thin flower petals, and is taller and narrower than early designs.
A Washington State University study found that robot-phobia increases job insecurity and stress among hospitality workers, leading to greater intentions to leave their jobs. The impact is pronounced even for managers, highlighting the need for employers to communicate technology's limitations and human workers' roles.
A novel therapy leverages technology and robots to enhance joint attention and imitation skills in children with autism. The RoboCA3T program showed significant improvements in these areas, indicating a potential cost-effective treatment option.
Researchers developed a new AI algorithm called Maximum Diffusion Reinforcement Learning (MaxDiff RL) to improve robot reliability. The algorithm enables robots to learn complex skills more efficiently by encouraging exploration of their environments.
A recent study published in Science Robotics found that robots struggle to outperform biological organisms in foot races. The researchers analyzed data from dozens of studies and concluded that the failure of robots to outrun animals is not due to shortfalls in individual components, but rather inefficiencies in system design.
Researchers developed a robot that uses machine learning to automate microinjection in genetic research, enabling large-scale experiments. The technology has the potential to expand genetic research capabilities while reducing costs.
A new robotic suction cup mimics the adhesive properties of octopus suckers to grasp complex surfaces like rocks and shells. The device uses a multi-layer soft structure and artificial fluidic system to achieve long-lasting suction with minimal overflow.
The new metafluid can transition between Newtonian and non-Newtonian states, allowing for programmable viscosity and compressibility. The researchers demonstrated the fluid's capabilities in a hydraulic robotic gripper, picking up objects of varying weights without crushing them.
A new type of actuator uses springs and clutches to accomplish dynamic movements with a fraction of the energy used by traditional electric motors. The device has been tested in various motion tests and has shown significant power reduction, making it suitable for robots that need to perform complex tasks.
Researchers developed RedirectedDoors+ to overcome VR door-opening challenges, providing users with realistic haptic feedback and guiding them around real walls. The system has been successfully tested in various environments, reducing physical space size by up to 50%.
Researchers at ETH Zurich taught ANYmal, a quadrupedal robot, to perform parkour and navigate rubble using machine learning. The robot uses its camera and artificial neural network to determine obstacles and perform movements likely to succeed based on previous training.
A new AI model developed by MIT researchers breaks down complex warehouse navigation into smaller chunks, identifying optimal areas for decongesting robots. The technique improves efficiency by nearly four times, opening up potential applications in other complex planning tasks.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University developed an adaptive robot interface called Head-Worn Assistive Teleoperation (HAT) to help people with paralysis control a mobile robot. The device uses head motion and speech recognition, allowing users to manipulate their environment according to their will.