Robotics, AI and SmartTech News – Latest Headlines

Researchers design 'soft' robots that can move on their own (w/video)

Using sensors, actuators and artificial muscle, robots could be used in medicine, rescue and defense.

April 18, 2018 Read more

Invertebrates inspire first fully 3-D printed active materials for robots

To overcome the material rigidity and actuation limitations in current robotic systems, a research project sought inspiration from invertebrates.

April 17, 2018 Read more

Gecko-inspired adhesives help soft robotic fingers to get a better grip

A team of researchers has developed a robotic gripper that combines the adhesive properties of gecko toes and the adaptability of air-powered soft robots to grasp a much wider variety of objects than the state of the art.

April 9, 2018 Read more

Robotics takes mass spec to the third dimension for forensics, pharma applications

Scientists report that by combining a robotic arm and mass spectrometry, they can analyze the surface of irregularly shaped 3-D objects, potentially opening up new branches of forensics and pharmaceutics.

April 5, 2018 Read more

Robot-mounted vacuum grippers flex their artificial muscles

The novel vacuum gripper enables robot arms to pick up objects and move them around freely in space.

March 23, 2018 Read more

Sherlock Drones - automated investigators tackle toxic crime scenes

Scientists are developing robot and remote-sensing technology to provide safe ways to assess crime or disaster scenes and begin gathering forensic evidence.

March 15, 2018 Read more

Origami-inspired self-locking foldable robotic arm

Researchers have developed an origami-inspired robotic arm that is foldable, self-assembling and also highly-rigid.

March 14, 2018 Read more

Six-legged robots get closer to nature

A study has uncovered new ways of driving multi-legged robots by means of a two-level controller. The proposed controller uses a network of so-called non-linear oscillators that enables the generation of diverse gaits and postures, which are specified by only a few high-level parameters.

March 9, 2018 Read more

A singing robot helps to study human-robot interactions (w/video)

Meet ROVER. If you?re lucky - and trigger its heat sensors - it'll roll up to you and sing a song.

March 7, 2018 Read more

Robotic spiders and bees: The rise of bioinspired microrobots

Jumping robot spiders and swarms of robotic bees sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but researchers are already working on such projects and aiming to lead the world in micro robotics.

March 1, 2018 Read more

Human-in-the-loop optimization improves the function of soft, wearable robots

Researchers have developed an efficient machine learning algorithm that can quickly tailor personalized control strategies for soft, wearable exosuits.

February 28, 2018 Read more

Snake-inspired robot uses kirigami to move (w/video)

As the robot stretches, the flat kirigami surface is transformed into a 3D-textured surface, which grips the ground just like snake skin.

February 21, 2018 Read more

Can a cockroach teach a robot how to scurry across rugged terrain? (w/video)

Bug research paves the way for search-and-rescue and exploration tasks.

February 13, 2018 Read more

Researchers help robots think and plan in the abstract (w/video)

Researchers have developed a method for helping robots plan for multi-step tasks by constructing abstract representations of the world around them. Their study is a step toward building robots that can think and act more like people.

February 8, 2018 Read more

Researchers publish first experiments of robotic fish that can 'see' and mimic live fish

Researchers have tapped advances in real-time tracking software and robotics to design and test the first closed-loop control system featuring a bioinspired robotic replica interacting in three dimensions with live zebrafish.

February 7, 2018 Read more

Integration of AI and robotics with materials sciences will lead to new clean energy technology

International experts outline new methods to accelerate development of clean-tech materials by 10x.

January 25, 2018 Read more

Nature-inspired soft millirobot makes its way through enclosed spaces (w/video)

Researchers have invented a magnetically controlled soft robot only four millimeters in size, that can walk, crawl or roll through uneven terrain, carry cargo, climb onto the water surface, and even swim in it.

January 25, 2018 Read more

Robot dexterity will be the next big breakthrough in smart machines

While drones and driverless cars dominate the headlines, another breakthrough - robot dexterity - is likely to have an even greater impact in both business and everyday life.

January 24, 2018 Read more