From robot insects to human-sniffing sensors, this rescue tech could save lives
Technology like inflatable vine robots and skin-sniffing smart sensors sound interesting, but could they actually save a person's life in a potential disaster zone? That's the hope of their creators, who believe this technology could play a valuable role in future search and rescue missions.
DARPA’s latest endeavor is a tiny robotics challenge called the SHRIMP Olympics
DARPA is seeking proposals for tiny robots, weighing less than a gram and smaller than one cubic centimeter, to compete against one another in a 'series of Olympic-themed competitions.' The hope is to develop new robots which can be used in emergency search and rescue missions.
Rolls-Royce is creating a fleet of robotic snakes and beetles to repair planes
Want to know what the future of airplane engine maintenance is? According to researchers from Rolls-Royce it involves a combination of snake and swarms of insect-inspired robots, designed to crawl inside engines to carry out inspections and perform maintenance. Check out a preview.
From translating hearing aids to sign-language gloves, amazing assistive tech
Think that assistive technology for the deaf community is all about your run-of-the-mill hearing aids here in 2018? Think again! From signing robot arms to mind-reading hearing aids, the next few years are going to be pretty darn amazing for accessibility tech if this list is anything to go by.
7 times Honda’s iconic Asimo robot blew us away (and 1 side-splitting fail)
Asimo is gone, but it won't be forgotten. Honda's talented bipedal bot dazzled and delighted us over the years, and was ahead of its time in many respects. So, as a tribute, we've compiled a collection of some memorable Asimo moments from 2000 when it made its very first appearance.
CanguRo robot is part transport, part best friend
CanguRo is a robot on wheels that cleverly transforms between an autonomous assistant and a self-driving mobility vehicle. The three-wheeler can follow you places, carry heavy loads, and also drive you about. And when the team provides it with speech capabilities, you'll be able to chat to it, too.
It sounds ridiculous, but these beaver bots are designed for disaster zones
Engineers will often look to the natural world to find solutions to problems. That is what a team at the University at Buffalo, New York recently did when it created a beaver-inspired robot which, believe it or not, could turn out to be a lifesaver in a disaster zone.
Watch this robot tiptoe over stepping stones with human-like grace and agility
Walking across irregularly spaced stepping stones is something even a small kid can manage. It turns out that it's pretty difficult for robots, though -- until now at least. Here's how researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon cracked it.
Asimo, Honda’s amazing biped, heads to robot retirement home
Honda is retiring its multitalented Asimo robot. But it's not all bad news as many of its talents will be incorporated into other technology produced by the Japanese company, such as mobility aids and autonomous vehicles. Asimo made its first appearance in 2000 but it was in development for 14 years before that.
Techy sports we will all be watching in the (not-too-distant) future
Science fiction has kind of gotten our hopes up about the future of sport. While we've not yet got a real version of Star Wars' Podracing, that doesn't mean there aren't some impressive high tech sports out there. Here are our picks for the ones we think are going to be everywhere in a few years.
SmokeBot robot can see things human firefighters can’t in smoke-filled rooms
Created by researchers in Sweden, SmokeBot is a firefighting robot designed to see and navigate in smoky areas. It could one day be used by firefighters to help assist in instances such as search-and-rescue missions. Here's how it works, and how it could one day save your life.
Meet the Italian composer who conducts the world’s biggest all-robot orchestra
For his next album, Italian electronic music producer Leonardo Barbadoro is skipping synthesizers for robots capable of playing real instruments, ranging from piano to percussion. Here's why he's decided to shake up electronic music production in favor of a new approach.
Half taxidermy, half robot: Why UC Davis built this crazy realistic robo-bird
Researchers at the University of California, Davis are building taxidermy bird robots on wheels, designed to discover more about the mating habits of the survival-challenged sage grouse. They're part of a long-running research project which dates all the way back to 2003.
Festo’s cuttlefish-inspired robot looks like it escaped an alien aquarium
Built by pioneering German automation company Festo, this cuttlefish-inspired robot may look weird, but it's capable of some pretty impressive feats. It's able to maneuver through the water by undulating its fins. In the real world, the robot could be used for underwater inspection.
Why a 19-year-old Bitcoin millionaire built a working Dr. Octopus suit
What would you do if you were a 19-year-old kid with $3.3 million? There are few people more equipped to answer that than teenaged bitcoin millionaire Erik Finman. His answer? You use some of that cash to build a Doctor Octopus-style exosuit and try and shake up the education system.
Starship Technologies gets the cash to make its delivery robot dream a reality
Drone delivery company Starship Technologies has raised an additional $25 million with the goal of expanding its fast-growing fleet of six-wheeled delivery robots. Next year, it aims to have more than 1,000 of them in action at campuses and neighborhoods around the world.
In Boston’s newest restaurant, all the chefs are robots
Four recent MIT graduates just launched a new fast-food restaurant in Boston called Spyce. Its hook? The fact that all the meals are prepared to order by a kitchen full of robots. Not only does this add novelty, but the automation also keeps the food prices down to $7.50 a meal.
This robot taught itself how to walk and it’s as clumsy as a newborn deer
Created by researchers at the University of Oslo, DyRET (Dynamic Robot for Embodied Testing) is a quadruped robot which has learned how to walk on its own. The results may look clumsy, but there's a good chance that all robots will one day use similar tech to figure out their environments.
Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini robot is slated to go on sale in 2019
Boston Dynamics has unveiled another version of its dog-like SpotMini robot, which once again features a rather terrifying appendage. And now, we're a step closer to being able to see the action of this robot up close and personal.The SpotMini is slated to go on sale to the public in 2019.
Stimulating brains with lasers can create ‘Matrix’-like false experiences
At the University of California at Berkeley, researchers have been busy exploring ways to project holograms directly into the brain -- and that could totally turn out to be a good thing. Think of it like 'Inception' meets next-generation healthcare. Here's how it all works.
Speak to me, robot: Startling Google Duplex demo raises endless concerns
Google Duplex has people (and digital assistants) talking about talking to robots, Google may also be eyeing an entry into the smartwatch market, the latest Boston Dynamics robot is going to need some of those marathoner stickers.
Scared yet? Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot can now jog freely
With every new video, Boston Dynamics impresses us with its robotic creations. Fresh from performing several flawless backflips, its Atlas humanoid robot was recently untethered and allowed to go for a run in the woods. If you're fearful of a robot uprising, you'll now fear it a little more.
The best sci-fi robots
Robots are a hot topic these days, but whether the latest news story is about robots taking factory jobs or robots to do your chores for you, one thing tends to be true: The robots are kind of dull, at least compared to robots in fiction. Here are some of the best sci-fi robots.
A new A.I. can guess your personality type based on your eye movements
Researchers from Australia and Germany have developed a machine learning artificial intelligence system that is able to predict a person’s personality type by looking into their eyes. Or, more accurately, looking at the way their eyes move. Here's how the A.I. system works.
Robotic exosuits will make us better, stronger, faster, right? Not necessarily!
Like Iron Man's amazing armor, the dream of robot exosuits is that they can give human wearers vastly increased strength, speed and endurance with no negative repercussions. A new study from Ohio State University suggests that some of our optimism may be a bit misplaced.
A fleet of delivery robots could soon be coming to a campus near you
Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robot has so far been tested in more than 20 countries, covering some 100,000 miles in the last four years. A recent trial involved taking a fleet of the wheel-based robots to a Silicon Valley campus, allowing workers to order meals from the comfort of their desk.
Pepper the robot’s latest gig is at the Smithsonian
Pepper's latest gig is at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. And there won't be just one or two of them helping out. The museum, research, and education complex is hiring 25 of the diminutive droids to assist at several of its locations, with visitors encouraged to interact with the friendly robot.
The Roomba of the tennis court? Ball-retreiving Tennibot launches on Kickstarter
Tennibot is a robot designed for use on the tennis court. The A.I.-driven device saves coaches and players time by automatically retrieving tennis balls completely on its own. The device has launched on Kickstarter and promises to take the tedium out of cleaning up the court after a practice session.
Robot chefs are the focus of new Sony and Carnegie Mellon research
Sony and Carnegie Mellon University are collaborating on A.I. and robotics research, starting with a focus on optimizing food preparation, cooking, and delivery. Food preparation tasks are complex and varied, so the resulting tech could eventually be applied to a wide range of industries.
By assembling Ikea chairs, robots steal the one job we never wanted
Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have demonstrated how a pair of off-the-shelf robot arms can be used to assemble a flat-packed Ikea chair in just a matter of minutes. Best of all? They can apparently do it without having a massive argument, too.
Forget cloning dogs, A.I. is the real way to let your pooch live forever
Researchers from the University of Washington and the Allen Institute for A.I. have created a deep learning artificial intelligence that’s designed to behave just like a dog. The technology could one day let your family dogs live on forever -- in shiny robot form, of course.
Scientists figure out how to monitor the brain activity of bats in midflight
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have developed technology that lets them study what happens in the brains of bats in flight. It involves a tiny wireless brain signal and a room kitted out with microphones and cameras. And it might just improve future autonomous vehicles.
This trailer-towing robot is like a Roomba on steroids
Ever wanted to park your trailer by remote control? The Trailer Valet RVR is a mini-tracked tank that is capable of pulling remarkably heavy loads.
Amazing software turns 3D scans into knitted objects, no grannies required
Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Textiles Lab have created a new computer system that can turn 3D scans into instructions ready to be knitted by a machine.