Articles tagged with Robots
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 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 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.
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 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...
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.
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.
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 Tokyo Institute of Technology developed an ultraviolet laser-processing technique for fabricating complex microstructures, enabling the creation of biohybrid actuators capable of complex, flexible movements. The method involves forming curved microgrooves on a substrate and aligning muscle cells in an anisotropic manne...
The USC team created a low-cost, customizable learning kit for students to build their own 'robot friend' using the Blossom robot. The three-part module provides hands-on experience and instruction on various AI aspects, including robotics, machine learning, and software engineering.
Researchers developed a way for robots to recognize objects even when partially obscured, using a visual perception system and topology. The THOR (Teaching Humans Object Recognition) method outperforms current state-of-the-art models in cluttered spaces, including warehouses and homes.
A groundbreaking study explores how humans perceive and interact with a pneumatically-driven edible robot. The research reveals that the dynamic movement of the robot intensifies perceptions, including emotion, animateness, and guilt, while altering texture experiences during consumption.
A study found that people prefer social robots speaking the same dialect as them, and those who are comfortable with a local accent trust robots that speak it more. The researchers suggest that this is because familiarity and similarity contribute to trustworthiness and competence perceptions.
Researchers in Japan have developed a two-legged biohybrid robot that uses muscle tissues to achieve fine movements and efficiency. The robot can walk, stop, and make precise turning motions, paving the way for future advancements in robotics.
Researchers used a robot dinosaur named Robopteryx to test the hypothesis that small dinosaurs flapped their primitive wings to scare prey. The results showed significant positive associations between the use of proto-wings in display behavior and the likelihood of grasshoppers fleeing.
A research group from Tohoku University Graduate School of Engineering has replicated human-like variable speed walking using a musculoskeletal model steered by a reflex control method reflective of the human nervous system. The breakthrough in biomechanics and robotics sets a new benchmark in understanding human movement.
The hip-assist robot EX1 improves walking ability, dynamic balance, and one-leg standing endurance in older adults. The four-week exercise program using EX1 significantly reduces the risk of falls and enhances overall health.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have created a standardized safety test to assess how dangerous robotic lawnmowers are to hedgehogs. The test uses specially designed hedgehog crash test dummies and has found that many models pose a threat to these animals, especially at night when they are most active.
Researchers aim to create robots that can change tasks autonomously and explore settings to optimize performance. The project will focus on battery recycling and energy efficiency, with the goal of reducing industrial waste.
A study redevelops a framework for teaching artificial intelligence and robotics to preschool children, providing five big ideas that can be grasped by young kids. The framework aims to prepare children to understand and use AI tools effectively, promoting healthy and responsible learning in the rapidly developing digital society.
Researchers have developed twisted ringbots that can roll forward, spin like a record, and follow an orbital path around a central point. These devices can navigate and map unknown environments without human or computer control.
Researchers have discovered that whirligig beetles use a lift-based thrust mechanism to achieve record-breaking speeds, challenging previous explanations of their propulsion system. This finding offers valuable insights for bio-inspired robotic ship design and uncrewed boat development.
Researchers developed a robot prototype inspired by a snail's ability to collect food particles at the water-air interface. The device uses an undulating motion to suck in microplastics from the surface of oceans and seas.
Researchers created multicellular bots from human tracheal cells that move across surfaces and promote healing of damaged neurons in a lab dish. The discovery could lead to new therapeutic tools for regeneration, healing, and disease treatment using patient-derived biobots.
A team from the University of Bristol has successfully inspected a steel pipe using a network of robots equipped with guided acoustic wave sensors. The approach achieved 100% detection coverage for defects on a three-meter long pipe, minimizing communication between robots and reducing data transfer costs.
A new technology enables the printing of complex robots with soft, elastic, and rigid materials in one go. This allows for the creation of delicate structures and parts with cavities as desired.
A novel robotic system developed by USC researchers can help clinicians accurately assess a patient's rehabilitation progress. The method generates an 'arm nonuse' metric using machine learning and a socially assistive robot to track how much a patient is using their weaker arm spontaneously.
A team of researchers at Penn State found that a moderate talking speed for digital assistants increases user likelihood to use them. Conversation-like interactions also mitigate negative effects and increase user trust.
A Cornell University-led team used an underwater robot to explore the ocean conditions beneath an Antarctic ice shelf, discovering a new circulation pattern involving a jet funneling water sideways through crevasses. The findings improve modeling of ice shelf melting and freezing rates, which can impact global sea-level rise.
A research group led by Professor Kaspar Althoefer has been awarded a €10m ERC Synergy grant to develop a revolutionary new system for screening and treating colorectal cancer. The system, which combines medical robotics, artificial intelligence, and minimally invasive surgery, aims to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Researchers created a hydrogel mat with magnetic microparticles that mimic the forces of exercise. The team found that regularly exercising muscle cells resulted in longer, aligned fibers, and improved contraction capabilities.
Researchers found that humans who worked with robots were more likely to catch fewer defects later in the task, indicating a 'looking but not seeing' effect. This could lead to safety implications and negative impacts on work outcomes if not addressed in real-world environments.
Lerrel Pinto aims to create robots that can perform a variety of tasks using algorithms and data collection methods. He seeks to address the trade-off between dexterity and generality in robotics.
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a model predicting torque generated from electrical stimulation in stick insect leg muscles, allowing for precise control of insect movement. The study's findings have the potential to refine motor control of tuned biohybrid robots and enable adaptable devices with various applications.
Researchers studied how insects evolved two distinct flight strategies using robots and biophysicists. They found that asynchronous flight evolved together in a common ancestor, but some groups reverted back to synchronous flight.
Researchers discovered that insects evolved ultrafast flight from a single common ancestor, with asynchronous beating and synchronous activation modes. They used physics models and robotics to test how these transitions could occur, finding that evolution can turn on and off this particular mode of flight.
Researchers at Colorado State University have developed three morphing robotic schemes that can change shape on demand, mimicking nature's adaptability. The robots can sense their surroundings, adjust their shape to grasp or navigate obstacles, and potentially aid humans in disaster areas.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London and their colleagues have found that supernumerary robotic arms can be used as effectively as a partner, enabling tasks like opening doors while carrying packages. The study suggests these arms could aid people with various tasks, such as surgery or industrial work.