Robotics, AI and SmartTech News – Latest Headlines

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Soft machines

Researchers develop a fast, low-voltage actuator for soft and wearable robotics.

May 21st, 2018

Albatross robot takes flight

Autonomous glider can fly like an albatross, cruise like a sailboat.

May 17th, 2018

No motor, no battery, no problem (w/video)

New robot concept uses responsive materials to swim through water.

May 15th, 2018

The first wireless flying robotic insect takes off (w/video)

Engineers have for the first time cut the cord and added a brain, allowing their RoboFly to take its first independent flaps. This might be one small flap for a robot, but it's one giant leap for robot-kind.

May 15th, 2018

First robotic system plays tic tac toe to improve task performance (w/video)

Researchers have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of a robotic system that plays Tic Tac Toe with rehabilitation patients to improve real-life task performance.

May 4th, 2018

New AI to develop self-learning robots for nuclear sites

Researchers have secured funding to develop artificial intelligence systems to enable self-learning robots to be deployed in place of humans to hazardous nuclear sites.

May 4th, 2018

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.

Apr 18th, 2018

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.

Apr 17th, 2018

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.

Apr 9th, 2018

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.

Apr 5th, 2018

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.

Mar 23rd, 2018

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.

Mar 15th, 2018

Origami-inspired self-locking foldable robotic arm

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

Mar 14th, 2018

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.