Discover the Latest at Robotics Edition

When most of us think of freshly poured concrete, we picture a material that should be left to dry as smooth as possible. A new wheeled robot drives right over the stuff, however, gouging its surface to make structures stronger yet also cheaper to build.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Concrete, Construction, Autonomous

When disaster strikes, drones and robots can be sent into danger zones to scout for survivors. The RoBoa from a student team at ETH Zurich is designed to snake its way through debris that would stop other solutions in their tracks.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Soft Robotics, ETH Zurich, Rescue, Monitoring, Mapping, Disasters, Biomimicry

Various groups are now growing baby corals for transplantation into the world's disappearing reefs, but they need a hand. A new robotic hand has been created to help, by carefully and efficiently transferring the li'l corals between tanks as they grow up.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Ecology, CSIRO, Coral, Soft Robotics

China's DEEP Robotics is about to add a new quadruped to its kennel called the Lynx. But rather than go for walkies on pads, the mid-sized pup rolls on four wheels and is built for all-terrain shenanigans – as you can see in the pre-launch promo.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Quadruped, Terrain, Off-road, Robots, Wheel, Agility

It takes years of intense study and a steady hand for humans to perform surgery, but robots might have an easier time picking it up with today's AI technology.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Artificial Intelligence, Surgery, Surgical robot

From washing urinals to tidying up the beach, we can already see a future where our robot servants help keep our world a little cleaner. Now, a robotic arm has mastered the surprisingly complex task of sink washing, showing off its ability to learn.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Robot, Automation, TU Wien, Cleaning

The Harmonic Drive is a key part of countless robotic applications. Incredibly simple yet quite odd to watch, this gear system is extremely precise with an impressive torque-to-weight ratio, even if it does wobble. So how does it work?Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Transmission, Robots, Mechanical, Engineering

Emerging startup Physical Intelligence has no interest in building robots. Instead, the team has something better in mind: powering the hardware with the continuously learning generalist 'brains' of AI software, so existing machines will be able to autonomously carry out a growing amount of tasks that require precise movements and dexterity – including housework.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Physical Intelligence, Open AI, Artificial Intelligence, LLM (Large Language Model), Robots

Exoskeletons have been helping paraplegic patients to walk for years, but the latest development from KAIST is a little different. The WalkON Suit F1 can amble over to a patient seated in a wheelchair, wrap itself around the legs and body, and get the user up and walking.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Exoskeleton, KAIST, Assistive Technologies

The spraying of orchards and vineyards certainly isn't an eco-friendly process, with tractors spewing exhaust as they douse crops in herbicides and pesticides. That's one of the main reasons the electric, autonomous Prospr robot was created.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Agriculture, Crops, Farming