The concept of Laika, a life-like robotic dog, has been introduced as a potential AI-powered companion for astronauts during space travel. Named after one of the first animals in space, Laika aims to address the loneliness experienced by astronauts by serving as a pet substitute. Unlike existing robotic dogs, Laika was designed by Jihee Kim […]
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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Hear from top industry leaders on Nov 15. Reserve your free pass Tangram Vision, a startup building software and hardware for robotic perception, unveiled a new 3D depth sensor today called HiFi that packs powerful computer vision capabilities into an off-the-shelf product […]
Read MoreA revolutionary robotic platform named Turing is reshaping the landscape of human-robot interaction by incorporating emotional design principles. Traditionally, robots have faced challenges navigating complex human environments, limiting their applications to controlled spaces within industries like logistics and manufacturing. Turing, however, represents a paradigm shift in robotic technology, aiming to break down barriers and become […]
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China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has revealed ambitious plans to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing efforts to become a global leader in robotics technology. The MIIT’s recently published guideline outlines a comprehensive strategy to develop humanoid robots, emphasizing their potential as a disruptive technology […]
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They’re so commonplace now that they are scarcely worth mentioning, but robotic vacuum cleaners were at one point a revolutionary new device. The idea of a vacuum that could move around a home independently and suck up dust and debris reliably without a human guiding it seemed like sci-fi come to life, back when MIT […]
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Imagine you’re visiting a friend abroad, and you look inside their fridge to see what would make for a great breakfast. Many of the items initially appear foreign to you, with each one encased in unfamiliar packaging and containers. Despite these visual distinctions, you begin to understand what each one is used for and pick […]
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Researchers from Switzerland’s EPFL research institute and the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology have developed an innovative and human-friendly robotic arm that takes inspiration from the flexible and gentle movements of elephant trunks and octopus tentacles. This prototype robotic arm incorporates a unique “trimmed helicoid” structure and a series of electric actuators arranged end-to-end with […]
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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Network and learn with industry peers. Learn More A suspension of Starship Technologies’ autonomous food delivery service at Oregon State University Corvallis campus this week highlights an emerging challenge for companies operating robotics and unmanned vehicles — the potential for misuse and […]
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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Network and learn with industry peers. Learn More In recent months, the field of robotics has witnessed remarkable advancements, largely propelled by the rapid progression in generative artificial intelligence. Leading tech companies and research labs are using generative AI models to address […]
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Figure, a burgeoning robotics company, has introduced its Figure 01 humanoid robot and demonstrated its ability to walk on two legs in a public setting for the first time. Over the past year, Figure has experienced rapid growth, expanding to a team of 60 employees with expertise spanning various engineering domains, including AI, controls, embedded […]
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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Network and learn with industry peers. Learn More Nvidia Research announced today that it has developed a new AI agent, called Eureka, that is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 and can autonomously teach robots complex skills. In a blog post, the company said […]
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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Network and learn with industry peers. Learn More Researchers at Google DeepMind, in collaboration with UC Berkeley, MIT, and the University of Alberta, has developed a new machine learning model to create realistic simulations for training all kinds of AI systems. “The […]
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Anyone who has ever tried to pack a family-sized amount of luggage into a sedan-sized trunk knows this is a hard problem. Robots struggle with dense packing tasks, too. For the robot, solving the packing problem involves satisfying many constraints, such as stacking luggage so suitcases don’t topple out of the trunk, heavy objects aren’t […]
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As autonomous systems and artificial intelligence become increasingly common in daily life, new methods are emerging to help humans check that these systems are behaving as expected. One method, called formal specifications, uses mathematical formulas that can be translated into natural-language expressions. Some researchers claim that this method can be used to spell out decisions […]
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Disney Imagineering, renowned for its innovative entertainment creations, showcased its latest robotic marvel at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Detroit. This bipedal robot, developed in under a year by Disney Research in Zurich, exhibits impressive capabilities that set it apart from previous creations. The robot, primarily 3D printed, can walk independently […]
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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Network and learn with industry peers. Learn More One of the big challenges of robotics is the amount of effort that has to be put into training machine learning models for each robot, task, and environment. Now, a new project by Google […]
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Imagine grasping a heavy object, like a pipe wrench, with one hand. You would likely grab the wrench using your entire fingers, not just your fingertips. Sensory receptors in your skin, which run along the entire length of each finger, would send information to your brain about the tool you are grasping. In a robotic […]
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Imagine you’re in an airplane with two pilots, one human and one computer. Both have their “hands” on the controllers, but they’re always looking out for different things. If they’re both paying attention to the same thing, the human gets to steer. But if the human gets distracted or misses something, the computer quickly takes […]
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NASA’s humanoid robot, Valkyrie, has embarked on its first real-world mission as an oil rig worker in Australia, marking a significant step towards turning science fiction into reality. This endeavor is part of a Space Act Agreement between NASA and Woodside Energy, an energy company based in Perth, Australia, and it’s aimed at testing the […]
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The MIT and Accenture Convergence Initiative for Industry and Technology has selected five new research fellows for 2023-24. Now in its third year, the initiative underscores the ways in which industry and research can collaborate to spur technological innovation. Through its partnership with the School of Engineering, Accenture provides five annual fellowships awarded to graduate […]
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A photo of students in colorful hardhats running across Killian Court is what first drew Sharmi Shah ’23 to the Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE), but a desire to make the world a better place is what inspired her to pursue studies in the field and to focus on robotics. “Coming in, I thought I […]
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Researchers at Cornell University in New York have developed a remarkable frog-like robot that employs tiny explosions as a power source, enabling it to jump 20x its own length and carry a load 22x its weight. Unlike traditional robots relying on electric motors and batteries, this innovative creation harnesses methane as a chemical fuel, offering […]
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An accomplished MIT student researcher in health care robotics, with many scholarship and fellowship awards to his name, A. Michael West is nonchalant about how he chose his path. “I kind of fell into it,” the mechanical engineering PhD candidate says, adding that growing up in suburban California, he was social, athletic — and good […]
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Researchers have developed self-destructing robots that can transform themselves into a puddle of goo when needed. These robots were designed to perform tasks and then dismantle themselves when no longer required, mimicking a form of “robotic death.” The self-destructing robot measures just 1.2 inches in length and can initiate its self-destruction process using internal ultraviolet […]
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At IFA 2023, Aiper unveiled its Surfer S1, the company’s first-ever cordless robotic pool skimmer. One of the standout features of this innovative device is its integrated solar panel, which power the robot and make it energy efficient. Aiper claims the Surfer S1 is a “smart water surface cleaning robot powered by a solar panel […]
Read More At IFA 2023, Aiper unveiled its Surfer S1, the company’s first-ever cordless robotic pool skimmer. One of the standout features of this innovative device is its integrated solar panel, which power the robot and make it energy efficient. Aiper claims the Surfer S1 is a “smart water surface cleaning robot powered by a solar panel […]
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Imagine you want to carry a large, heavy box up a flight of stairs. You might spread your fingers out and lift that box with both hands, then hold it on top of your forearms and balance it against your chest, using your whole body to manipulate the box. Humans are generally good at whole-body […]
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Cellular solids are materials composed of many cells that have been packed together, such as a honeycomb. The shape of those cells largely determines the material’s mechanical properties, including its stiffness or strength. Bones, for instance, are filled with a natural material that enables them to be lightweight, but stiff and strong. Inspired by bones […]
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