Robotics, AI and SmartTech News – Latest Headlines

State of the art in soft microrobotics materials, fabrication and actuation

The field of soft microrobotics is entering a new era driven by advances in polymeric materials, 3D microprinting, and magnetic guidance systems enabling futuristic diagnostic and therapeutic biomedical interventions.

December 4, 2023 Read more

Soft robotic arm mimics octopus' agility with stretchable electronics

Researchers develop a soft robotic arm that mimics octopus agility using stretchable electronics, achieving dexterous functionality previously difficult for fully soft robots.

December 3, 2023 Read more

A color-based sensor for soft robots to emulate skin's sensitivity

In a step toward more autonomous soft robots and wearable technologies, researchers have created a device that uses color to simultaneously sense multiple mechanical and temperature stimuli.

December 2, 2023 Read more

Brainstorming nanomaterials with a domain-specific chatbot

By leveraging a document-retrieval method, this chatbot is knowledgeable in areas of nanomaterial science that other bots are not.

December 2, 2023 Read more

Scientists build tiny biological robots from human cells

The multicellular bots move around and help heal 'wounds' created in cultured neurons

December 1, 2023 Read more

2D material reshapes 3D electronics for AI hardware

Researchers demonstrated monolithic 3D integration of layered 2D material into novel processing hardware for artificial intelligence (AI) computing. They envision that their new approach will not only provide a material-level solution for fully integrating many functions into a single, small electronic chip, but also pave the way for advanced AI computing.

December 1, 2023 Read more

Google DeepMind adds nearly 400,000 new compounds to open-access Materials Project

The Materials Project, an open-access database founded in 2011, computes the properties of both known and predicted materials. The new dataset includes how the atoms of a material are arranged (the crystal structure) and how stable it is (formation energy).

November 29, 2023 Read more

Beetle-mimicking flapping smart wings overcome key barriers in insect-scale drones

New research demonstrates advanced flapping-wing aircraft with collision-sensing, energy-harvesting wings that enable sustained flight and environmental monitoring, overcoming key barriers towards autonomous, agile, insect-scale robots.

November 29, 2023 Read more

Reprogrammable bistable structure makes soft grippers faster

Compared with existing bistable actuators, the proposed actuators could be controlled to perform diverse sensitivities and therefore exhibit multiple gripping modes and various response speeds by simply reprogramming this structure.

November 29, 2023 Read more

Artificial intelligence paves way for new medicines

Researchers have developed an AI model that can predict where a drug molecule can be chemically altered.

November 29, 2023 Read more

Researchers engineer a material that can perform different tasks depending on temperature

Researchers report that they have developed a new composite material designed to change behaviors depending on temperature in order to perform specific tasks. These materials are poised to be part of the next generation of autonomous robotics that will interact with the environment.

November 28, 2023 Read more

Unlocking the secrets of cells with AI

Researchers developed a new program that provides a more accurate understanding of the peptide sequences in cells. They use machine learning to help analyze the makeup of unfamiliar cells, which could lead to more personalized medicine in the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.

November 28, 2023 Read more

New method uses crowdsourced feedback to help train robots

Human Guided Exploration (HuGE) enables AI agents to learn quickly with some help from humans, even if the humans make mistakes.

November 27, 2023 Read more

Ultrasensitive multifunctional electronic skin mimics spider skin to enable resilient robotics

Researchers develop flexible electronic sensor skins with extreme resilience that maintains accurate strain and temperature measurements when submerged in harsh acids or swung between scorching heat and subzero icy seawater.

November 27, 2023 Read more

Smart textile breakthrough enables intuitive and dynamic haptic feedback for immersive VR experiences

Ingenious auxetic shape-memory alloy wire lattice textile realizes zone-specified actuation to convey readily discerned complex tactile sensations, enabling intuitive navigation when immersed in virtual environments.

November 25, 2023 Read more

Bubble-driven microrobots for remote biological sampling and waste clean-up

Researchers design a new acoustically actuated microrobot using microbubbles arranged akin to an acoustic metamaterial, boosting performance. The hovering bots enable contactless debris clearance and biological sampling, holding promise for microfluidic and clinical applications.

November 24, 2023 Read more

Synthetic microbots mimic plankton to achieve 3D motion

A novel approach to microbotic movement utilizes a dual-actuation strategy to replicate the 3D locomotion of plankton, paving the way for complex maneuvers in microrobotics.

November 23, 2023 Read more

Biomimetic soft robotic design mimics plant twining behavior

Researchers develop a soft continuum arm that replicates a climbing plant's structural adaptability and tactile reflexes using only a single sensor and actuator, demonstrating the power of biomimetics.

November 23, 2023 Read more