Robotics

A new class of miniature biological robots, or bio-bots, has seen the light - and is following where the light shines. The bio-bots are powered by muscle cells that have been genetically engineered to respond to light, giving researchers control over the bots' motion, a key step toward their use in applications for health, sensing and the environment. Led by Rashid Bashir, the University of Illinois head of bioengineering, the researchers publish...

Comau continues its growth in the Robotics sector, and for the third consecutive year has recorded a double-digit increase in articulated robot sales. Similarly, the results in individual industries reflect the global growth trend, which is even more significant as it underlines the success of Comau’s market penetration strategies.

Remembering robots from film portrayals may help ease some of the anxiety that older adults have about using a robot, according to Penn State researchers. In a study, older adults who recalled more robots portrayed in films had lower anxiety toward robots than seniors who remembered fewer robot portrayals, said S. Shyam Sundar, Distinguished Professor of Communications and co-director, Media Effects Research Laboratory.

The computerisation of manufacturing, or what is commonly referred to as Industry 4.0, is changing the way we work in the 21st century as smart technologies become increasingly integral to factory processes and supply chain automation.

Imagine a health care robot that could display the patient's temperature and pulse, and even reacts to a patient's mood. It sounds futuristic, but a team of Cornell graduate students, led by Rob Shepherd, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has developed an electroluminescent "skin" that stretches to more than six times its original size while still emitting light. The discovery could lead to significant advances in healt...

In recent months NSK Japan has been working in close conjunction with the Kanagawa Rehabilitation Centre, performing trials of the company´s innovative LIGHBOT autonomous guide robot which features indoor navigation and obstacle avoidance. The product already offers a number of advanced guidance, safety and usability functions, and NSK Japan will now continue its development efforts in readiness for LIGHBOT´s European launch in the au...

Researchers from Sheffield Robotics have applied a novel method of automatically programming and controlling a swarm of up to 600 robots to complete a specified set of tasks simultaneously. This reduces human error and therefore many of the bugs that can occur in programming, making it more user-friendly and reliable than previous techniques. This could be particularly advantageous in areas where safety of using robotics is a concern, for example...

Boston Dynamics unveiled a new humanoid robot. Called Atlas, The Next Generation, the robot has capabilities like walking in snow, picking up objects, opening doors, and even helping itself up off the floor. Boston Dynamics writes that it's designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings.

"That is a ball." "I do believe that is a cone." "Seems like a wonderful book." The voice is mechanical and flat, and anyone offering such banal commentary and sounding so bored would surely bomb in a job interview. But in this case, the observations are impressive. They're made by what looks like a two-foot-tall stack of hors d'oeuvre trays on wheels, careening around the floor and proclaiming its discoveries as its "eye," an attached camera, fa...

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have built a wearable robotic limb that allows drummers to play with three arms. The two-foot long "smart arm" can be attached to a musician's shoulder. It responds to human gestures and the music it hears. When the drummer moves to play the high hat cymbal, for example, the robotic arm maneuvers to play the ride cymbal. When the drummer switches to the snare, the mechanical arm shifts to the tom.