Robotics News
Path-planning algorithm guides penguin-counting drones
One of the autonomous drones used to survey penguins in Antartica. Credit: Parker Levinson Stanford University researcher Mac Schwager entered the world of penguin counting through a chance meeting at his sister-in-law’s wedding in June 2016. There, he learned that...
Mirmex Motor uses AI in new approach to customizable micromotor winding design
Mirmex provides customized DC micromotors. Source: Mirmex Motor Robots have stringent design requirements for power density, waste heat, and volume. Mirmex Motor last month said it has developed a new method of producing high-power-density electric micromotor...
MIT neural network learns when it shouldn’t be trusted
MIT developed a way for a deep learning neural network to rapidly estimate confidence levels in their output. The advance could enhance safety and efficiency in AI-assisted decision making. Credits: Credit: iStock image edited by MIT News Increasingly, artificial...
Pipeline repair robots deployed to reduce danger for human workers
A Wisconsin company has designed “The Crawler,” a pipeline repair robot that can surface-blast and line midsize to large-diameter pipes. Source: igus Working underground is extremely perilous. Workers face limited natural ventilation and light; difficult access and...
Robots Will Transform Retail Operations in 2021… Here’s Why & How
Prior to the Covid pandemic, robotics deployments in retail environments were growing steadily, proving their efficacy, generating 'value’ and delivering solid ROI in the process. Covid has acted as an accelerant, so much so that in 2021 robotics technologies will...
How pole beans inspired this soft robotic gripper
Illustration of the twining motion in a twining plant (left); Spiral soft robotic gripper before actuation (center); Actuated soft spiral gripper holding a flower. | Credit: University of Georgia College of Engineering Scientists often look to nature for cues when...
The state of industrial robotics: challenges & opportunities
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently released a study called “The State of Industrial Robotics: Emerging Technologies, Challenges, and Key Research Directions” that described challenges of adopting and using industrial robotics. It also made...
Shape-changing robots could create new swarms
The flower-like set of points represents all possible shapes the shape-changing robots can take on. In line with rattling theory, the most common shapes are also the most orderly with the lowest rattling (shown in blue). | Credit: Thomas A. Berrueta) A team of...
The 5 Key Abilities of Mobile Manipulation Systems
The capabilities spectrum for robotics systems has been expanded from fixed manipulators and teleoperated mobile robots to now include their intersection - mobile manipulation systems. To reach their full potential, however, mobile manipulation robots must be able to...
NASA initiative developing wireless charging for lunar robots
Astrobotic’s shoebox-sized CubeRover is heading to the moon aboard the Peregrine lunar lander in 2021. | Credit: Astrobotic Battery life is an issue for many types of robots. But it is especially challenging for robots operating in outer space. A new initiative under...
Teleoperation: indirect control methods for autonomous vehicles
Remote assistance methods such as “path choice” allows the remote operator to make full use of an autonomous vehicle’s capabilities, eliminating the need for direct steering and braking. | Credit: Ottopia Self-driving technology always seems to be just beyond our...
Students teach AI to make beer
Humans have been brewing beer for more than 5,000 years, and the process has only grown more complicated since its beginnings. Now, two students are seeing if an AI is up to the task. The post Students teach AI to make beer appeared first on The Robot Report.