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Fishing for a theory of emergent behavior

The study used advanced metrics from information theory to describe the collective behavior of small schools of ayu fish, finding that groups of three or more exhibited noticeably different dynamics. This work may aid in developing cooperative biomimetic swarming robots and help understand fundamental problems in complexity theory.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalEntropy·DateJul 9, 2020

Nanomaterial gives robots chameleon skin

Researchers at UC Riverside developed a new film made of gold nanoparticles that can respond to any type of movement, enabling robots to mimic chameleons. The material's complex patterns can be displayed through programming, opening up various applications such as underwater exploration and authentication features.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 17, 2020

New stretchable, self-healing and illuminating electronic material for wearables and soft robots

Researchers from National University of Singapore developed a new stretchable material called HELIOS that can store more electronic charges at lower voltages, enabling higher brightness and longer operating lifetime. The material has self-healing properties, allowing it to repair itself under ambient environmental conditions.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 30, 2020

Observations of robotic swarm behavior can help workers safely navigate disaster sites

Researchers demonstrate that locally observed robot distribution can correlate with environmental features, such as exits in office-like environments. This approach enables trapped office workers to navigate their way out of a collapsed building, even in scenarios where robots lack communication or sensors.

SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateMay 25, 2020

A soft touch for robotic hardware

Researchers developed soft robotic technology using reservoir computing, enabling flexible control of pneumatic artificial muscles. This innovation may lead to wearable rehabilitation devices, biomedical robots, and remote-sensing applications, all with improved safety and adaptability.

Biorobotics is the future of fish farming

A study published in Royal Society Open Science found that small and slowly moving robots can effectively monitor the behavior of salmon in fish farms without scaring them off. The results suggest that these robots can provide valuable insights into the state of the fish, including their health, parasites, and feeding habits.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateApr 16, 2020

Robots popular with older adults

A study by psychologists at Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena found that older people are more open to robots, particularly those resembling humans. The researchers tested participants with varying levels of autistic traits and found that older individuals with stronger autistic tendencies were more accepting of machines.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateMar 12, 2020

UCLA engineers develop miniaturized 'warehouse robots' for biotechnology applications

The researchers created disc-shaped magnets about 2 millimeters in diameter, called ferrobots, which can move and manipulate droplets of fluid with precision. These robots could transform various biotech-related industries, including medical diagnostics, drug development, genomics, and the synthesis of chemicals and materials.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience Robotics·DateFeb 26, 2020

Team builds the first living robots

A team of scientists has created the first living robots, 'xenobots', by assembling frog embryo cells into new life forms. These biodegradable organisms can move, heal themselves, and even carry payloads, promising advances in drug delivery, toxic waste clean-up, and more.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2020

Bioinspired sonar reflectors

Researchers have developed bioinspired shapes that serve as acoustically conspicuous guideposts for sonar-guided autonomous vehicles. These bioinspired sonar reflectors were tested in experiments and showed promising results, enabling robots to navigate through new environments with improved accuracy.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 6, 2020

Making robots more perceptive

Nader Motee is investigating real-time perception and planning for networks of robots, aiming to improve efficiency and resiliency. His research also focuses on risk-aware planning and control to mitigate effects of local failures in nonlinear dynamical networks.