Robotics, AI and SmartTech News – Latest Headlines

Novel magnetic spray transforms objects into millirobots for biomedical applications

Researchers have developed an easy way to make millirobots by coating objects with a glue-like magnetic spray. Driven by the magnetic field, the coated objects can crawl, walk, or roll on different surfaces.

November 25, 2020 Read more

Curved origami provides new range of stiffness-to-flexibility in robots

New research that employs curved origami structures has dramatic implications in the development of robotics going forward, providing tunable flexibility - the ability to adjust stiffness based on function - that historically has been difficult to achieve using simple design.

November 19, 2020 Read more

Physics can assist with key challenges in artificial intelligence

A physical mechanism a priori reveals how many examples in deep learning are required to achieve a desired test accuracy. It surprisingly indicates that learning each example once is almost equivalent to learning examples repeatedly.

November 12, 2020 Read more

Robotic AI learns to be spontaneous - Researchers use dynamical systems and machine learning to add spontaneity to AI

Researchers are exploring novel ways for exploiting the dynamics of high-dimensional chaos to implement humanlike cognitive functions.

November 12, 2020 Read more

On the way to lifelike robots

In order for robots to be able to achieve more than simple automated machines in the future, they must not only have their own 'brain'. Researchers postulate that artificial intelligence must be expanded to include the capabilities of a Physical Artificial Intelligence, PAI. This will redefine the field of robotics and the relationship between man and machine.

November 11, 2020 Read more

New 'robotic snake' device grips, picks up objects (w/video)

An invention similar to an elephant's trunk has potential benefits for many industries where handling delicate objects is essential.

November 9, 2020 Read more

Dog training methods help researchers teach robots to learn new tricks (w/video)

With a training technique commonly used to teach dogs to sit and stay, computer scientists showed a robot how to teach itself several new tricks, including stacking blocks. With the method, the robot, named Spot, was able to learn in days what typically takes a month.

October 26, 2020 Read more

Robots that can transform their wheels into legs

A team of researchers is creating mobile robots that can determine, with or without human intervention, whether wheels or legs are more suitable to travel across terrains.

October 26, 2020 Read more

Scientists develop 'mini-brains' to help robots recognize pain and to self-repair

Using a brain-inspired approach, scientists have developed a way for robots to have the artificial intelligence (AI) to recognise pain and to self-repair when damaged.

October 15, 2020 Read more

Robot swarms follow instructions to create art

Study shows that robot swarms can follow instructions to create paintings, suggesting that artists could incorporate such technology into their work.

October 14, 2020 Read more

What is your attitude towards a humanoid robot? Your brain activity can tell us!

Scientists report that attitudes towards robot can be detected from neural activity.

October 1, 2020 Read more

Robotic fabric: A breakthrough with many uses (w/video)

Researchers have developed a robotic fabric, a breakthrough that could lead to such innovations as adaptive clothing, self-deploying shelters, or lightweight shape-changing machinery.

September 30, 2020 Read more

Why human-like robots elicit uncanny feelings

Psychologists studied the cognitive mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.

September 16, 2020 Read more

Aquatic robots monitor how climate change impacts Venice's lagoon

Using a swarm of autonomous aquatic robots, researchers can now take multiple measurements at the same time and from different places, which will be hugely beneficial in the fight against climate change.

September 15, 2020 Read more

Light processing improves robotic sensing

Researchers uncovered how the human brain processes bright and contrasting light, which they say is a key to improving robotic sensing and enabling autonomous agents to team with humans.

September 14, 2020 Read more

By 2050, robotic muscles could turn back body clock

emPOWER is a visionary project that will explore how artificial muscles could radically transform treatment options in the future and effectively turn back the body clock.

September 7, 2020 Read more

Microscopic robots 'walk' thanks to laser tech

Researchers have created the first microscopic robots that incorporate semiconductor components, allowing them to be controlled - and made to walk - with standard electronic signals.

August 26, 2020 Read more

Better robot batteries get inspiration from body fat (w/video)

Like biological fat reserves store energy in animals, a new rechargeable zinc battery integrates into the structure of a robot to provide much more energy.

August 25, 2020 Read more