Category: Robotics

How water vapor is powering the next generation of soft robots Phase-change actuation has been revived for the era of untethered, electrically driven soft robots. Our team at the University of Coimbra have developed a phase transition soft actuator designed to power electric soft robots that require high force and precision. Our innovation leverages the…

Researchers build next-gen swarm robots using simple linked particles A joint research team from Seoul National University and Harvard University has developed a next-generation swarm robot system inspired by nature—capable of movement, exploration, transport, and cooperation, all without the need for precise sensors or centralized control. Go to techxplore

AI model translates text commands into motion for diverse robots and avatars Brown University researchers have developed an artificial intelligence model that can generate movement in robots and animated figures in much the same way that AI models like ChatGPT generate text. Go to techxplore

No brain, no problem: This soft robot ‘thinks’ with its legs A research team from AMOLF in Amsterdam has created a soft robot that walks, hops, and swims—all without a brain, electronics, or AI. Just soft tubes, air, and some clever physics. Go to techxplore

Q&A: How digital twins enhance design and control of off-road autonomy Digital twins are a rapidly advancing area in engineering, going beyond static models to continuously receive data from the physical world and make predictions that go on to affect that reality. They have applications in areas such as energy systems, manufacturing and medicine. U-M’s…

Vote-based model developed for more accurate hand-held object pose estimation Many robotic applications rely on robotic arms or hands to handle different types of objects. Estimating the pose of such hand-held objects is an important yet challenging task in robotics, computer vision and even in augmented reality (AR) applications. A promising direction is to utilize…

Microrobots powered by thin-film actuator can morph, lock shapes and operate untethered A team of roboticists at Tsinghua University, working with a trio of colleagues from Beihang University, all in China, has designed a new type of microrobot that can continuously transform its shape and “lock” into specific configurations. In their paper published in the…

Robot see, robot do: System learns after watching how-to videos Cornell University researchers have developed a new robotic framework powered by artificial intelligence—called RHyME (Retrieval for Hybrid Imitation under Mismatched Execution)—that allows robots to learn tasks by watching a single how-to video. Go to techxplore

Electronic skin with unique fingerprint patterns offers enhanced security features The likelihood of two human fingerprints being identical is extremely low—about 1 in 640 billion. Even identical twins, despite sharing the same genetic information, have unique fingerprints. A new technology now allows us to engrave these unique fingerprint patterns onto electronic skin, with the probability…

Images: Humanoid robots run a Chinese half-marathon alongside flesh-and-blood competitors In one small step for robot-kind—thousands of them, really—humanoid robots ran alongside actual humans in a half-marathon in the Chinese capital on Saturday. Go to techxplore

Humanoid robots stride into the future with world’s first half-marathon Step by mechanical step, dozens of humanoid robots took to the streets of Beijing early Saturday, joining thousands of their flesh-and-blood counterparts in a world-first half marathon showcasing China’s drive to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology. Go to techxplore

AI-powered robots help tackle Europe’s growing e-waste problem EU researchers have developed adaptable robots that could transform the way we recycle electronic waste, benefiting both the environment and the economy. Go to techxplore

Autonomous drone defeats human champions in historic racing first For the first time, a drone has beaten human pilots in an international drone racing competition, marking a new milestone in the development of artificial intelligence. On Saturday April 14, 2025, two drone racing events took place simultaneously: The Falcon Cup Finals for human pilots and…

FLUID: 3D-printed open-source robot offers accessible solution for materials synthesis A team of researchers led by Professor Keisuke Takahashi at the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, have created FLUID (Flowing Liquid Utilizing Interactive Device), an open-source robotic system constructed using a 3D printer and off-the-shelf electronic components. Go to techxplore

Q&A: Fruit flies are a major source of inspiration in robotics Researchers at EPFL’s Neuroengineering Laboratory, led by Pavan Ramdya, aim to replicate the workings of the brain of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. EPFL spoke with Ramdya about the exciting prospects for robotics. Go to techxplore

A flexible robot can help emergency responders search through rubble When major disasters hit and structures collapse, people can become trapped under rubble. Extricating victims from these hazardous environments can be dangerous and physically exhausting. To help rescue teams navigate these structures, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Notre Dame,…

That ‘uhh… let me think’ face you make? Androids need it too Ever asked a question and been met with a blank stare? It’s awkward enough with a person—but on a humanoid robot, it can be downright unsettling. Now, an international team co-led by Hiroshima University and RIKEN has found a fix: giving androids a…

PAWS: Four-legged robot can reproduce animal movement with fewer actuators Many of the robotic systems developed in the past decades are inspired by four-legged (i.e., quadruped) animals, such as dogs, cheetahs and horses. By replicating the agile movements of these animals, quadruped robots could move swiftly on the ground, crossing long distances on various terrains…

Enhanced 6D pose estimation method promises better robotic object handling Recent work in 6D object pose estimation holds significant promise for advancing robotics, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), as well as autonomous navigation. The research, published in the International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering, introduces a method that enhances the accuracy, generalization, and…

Engineers develop hybrid robot that balances strength and flexibility—and can screw in a lightbulb How many robots does it take to screw in a lightbulb? The answer is more complicated than you might think. New research from Northeastern University upends the riddle by making a robot that is both flexible and sensitive enough to handle…

The search for missing plane MH370 is back on: An underwater robotics expert explains what’s involved More than 11 years after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Malaysian government has approved a new search for the missing debris of the aircraft. Go to techxplore

From robot swarms to human societies, good decisions rely on the right mix of perspectives When groups make decisions—whether it’s humans aligning on a shared idea, robots coordinating tasks, or fish deciding where to swim—not everyone contributes equally. Some individuals have more reliable information, whereas others are more connected and have higher social influence. Go…

Coffee-making robot breaks new ground for AI machines An AI-powered robot that can prepare cups of coffee in a busy kitchen could usher in the next generation of intelligent machines, a study suggests. Go to techxplore

An evolving robotics encyclopedia characterizes robots based on their performance Over the past decades, roboticists have introduced a wide range of systems with distinct body structures and varying capabilities. As the number of developed robots continuously grows, being able to easily learn about these many systems, their unique characteristics, differences and performance on specific tasks…

‘Odd’ objects excel at navigating challenging terrains without central control Locomotion, the ability to move from one place to another, is an essential survival strategy for virtually every organism. Adapting to the unpredictable terrain they run into, cells, fungi and microorganisms autonomously move and change shape to explore their environments, while animals run, crawl, slither,…

Developing 3D-printed soft material actuators that can mimic real muscles Empa researchers are working on producing artificial muscles that can keep up with the real thing. They have now developed a method of producing the soft and elastic yet powerful structures using 3D printing. Go to techxplore

Silk-inspired in situ web spinning for situated robots Researchers at the Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, present a robotics concept in which temporary robot embodiments and movement pathways are spun in situ from a polymer solution. They demonstrate an ad hoc gripper for delicate handling and a bridge for crossing debris fields and natural…

Feeling is believing: Bionic hand ‘knows’ what it’s touching, grasps like a human Johns Hopkins University engineers have developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human, carefully conforming and adjusting its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds. Go to techxplore

Soft actuators, smart sensors: Innovative sensor allows real-time monitoring of complex systems Fluidic elastomer actuators (FEAs) are pressurized tubes or membranes that can be easily rearranged into complex mechanical devices. They have gained significant attention for their lightweight, flexible nature, making them ideal for robotics and biomedical devices. Go to techxplore

Morphing robot turns challenging terrain to its advantage From mountain goats that run up near-vertical rock faces to armadillos that roll into a protective ball, animals have evolved to adapt effortlessly to changes in their environment. In contrast, when an autonomous robot is programmed to reach a goal, each variation in its pre-determined path presents…

A springtail-like jumping robot: Diminutive device can leap 23 times its body length Springtails, small bugs often found crawling through leaf litter and garden soil, are expert jumpers. Inspired by these hopping hexapods, roboticists at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have made a walking, jumping robot that pushes…

Turning robotic ensembles into smart materials that mimic life Researchers have engineered groups of robots that behave as smart materials with tunable shape and strength, mimicking living systems. “We’ve figured out a way for robots to behave more like a material,” said Matthew Devlin, a former doctoral researcher in the lab of University of California,…

Flatworm-inspired robot nimbly navigates cluttered water surfaces Swimming robots play a crucial role in mapping pollution, studying aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring water quality in sensitive areas such as coral reefs or lake shores. However, many devices rely on noisy propellers, which can disturb or harm wildlife. The natural clutter in these environments—including plants, animals, and…

Leafbot: A soft robot that conquers challenging terrains Soft robotics is an emerging field in the robotic world with promising adaptability in navigating unstructured environments. Where traditional robots struggle with unpredictable terrains, soft robots are advancing in their navigational skills due to their high-end flexibility. Go to techxplore

Machine learning transforms mini biohybrid ray design, doubling swimming efficiency A new study shows an application of machine-learning directed optimization (ML-DO) that efficiently searches for high-performance design configurations in the context of biohybrid robots. Applying a machine learning approach, the researchers created mini biohybrid rays made of cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) and rubber with a…

Biohybrid hand uses sushi-like rolls of lab-grown human muscle to move objects A biohybrid hand which can move objects and do a scissor gesture has been built by a team at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University in Japan. The researchers used thin strings of lab-grown muscle tissue bundled into sushi-like rolls to give…

Ronaldo’s Siuuu celebration: Whole-body training model allows robots to mimic famous athlete moves A team of AI and robotics researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, working with a pair of colleagues from technology company NVIDIA, has developed a new model for training robots to move like human athletes. Go to techxplore

See SUPER in action: Aerial robot can navigate unknown environments safely at high speeds A team of engineers and roboticists at the University of Hong Kong have designed, built and tested an aerial robot capable of navigating unknown environments safely at high speeds while avoiding obstacles. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics,…

Advancing wearable robotics through open-source innovation Researchers at the University of Twente have developed CEINMS-RT, an open-source platform designed to transform the field of wearable robotics. Go to techxplore

Robots set to move beyond factory as AI advances Today’s robots perform safety checks at industrial plants, conduct quality control in manufacturing, and are even starting to keep hospital patients company. Go to techxplore

Robotic gripper mimics human hand to move multiple objects together A research team from Seoul National University has proposed a gripper capable of moving multiple objects together to enhance the efficiency of pick-and-place processes, inspired by humans’ multi-object grasping strategy. The gripper not only transfers multiple objects at once but also places individual objects at…

Robots can now walk through muddy and slippery terrain, thanks to moose-like feet Roboticists at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) have developed a new class of bio-inspired feet that significantly enhance robot mobility on challenging terrains like mud and wet snow. The findings, published in Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, could expand the capabilities of robots,…

Scientists uncover advanced manufacturing strategies for piezoelectric and triboelectric tactile sensors Piezoelectric and triboelectric tactile sensors are designed to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals, making them critical components in intelligent systems. Piezoelectric sensors leverage voltage generation through mechanical stress in non-centrosymmetric materials, such as quartz and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), while triboelectric sensors operate on…

AI and robots pose new ethical challenges for society Artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-enabled robots are becoming a bigger part of our daily lives. Real-time, flexible interactions between humans and robots are no longer just science fiction. As robots become smarter and more human-like in both behavior and appearance, they are transforming from mere tools…

Robot mimics traditional Chinese massage techniques for therapeutic use In recent years, roboticists have developed a wide range of systems that could eventually be introduced in health care and assisted living facilities. These include both medical robots and robots designed to provide companionship or assistance to human users. Go to techxplore

Autonomous robotics, sensors and advanced computing can now help with harvesting plant data Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated an autonomous robotic field monitoring, sampling and data-gathering system that could accelerate understanding of interactions among plants, soil and the environment. Go to techxplore

Sophia, a famous robot and global icon of AI, wins hearts at Zimbabwe’s innovation fair From answering questions from Cabinet ministers, academics and students on climate change, substance abuse and the law to children’s inquiries about her “birth” and links to God and being described as a talkative feminist, Sophia, the world-famous robot won hearts…

Challenging the traditional approach to human-robot interaction Taylor Higgins, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has co-authored an article that challenges conventional thinking about human-robot interaction. Go to techxplore

Teaching a robot its limits to complete open-ended tasks safely If someone advises you to “know your limits,” they’re likely suggesting you do things like exercise in moderation. To a robot, though, the motto represents learning constraints, or limitations of a specific task within the machine’s environment, to do chores safely and correctly. Go to…

BallBot demonstrates the science behind balance control for robotics The robotics field is advancing rapidly, with a growing emphasis on improving machine autonomy and interaction. As robots are tasked with increasingly complex activities, their ability to operate effectively in dynamic and unpredictable environments becomes crucial. Go to techxplore

A cyborg cockroach factory: Automated assembly speeds up the creation of hybrid robots A team of mechanical engineers at Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, has developed a way to automate the process of merging live cockroaches and electronics to create cyborg cockroaches, greatly speeding up the process. In their study, available on the arXiv preprint…

A single algorithm can help robots make good decisions in real time In 2018, Google DeepMind’s AlphaZero program taught itself the games of chess, shogi, and Go using machine learning and a special algorithm to determine the best moves to win a game within a defined grid. Now, a team of Caltech researchers has developed…

Manta rays inspire the fastest swimming soft robot yet A team of researchers has beaten its own record for the fastest swimming soft robot, drawing inspiration from manta rays to improve their ability to control the robot’s movement in the water. Go to techxplore