Robotics

The latest news and reporting on robotics, from cutting-edge research to robovacs.

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Carnegie Mellon’s latest snakebot can swim underwater
You can now add swimming to the list of things Carnegie Mellon's snake robot can do.
MIT researchers use radio waves to help robots find hidden objects
With a wrist-mounted camera and an RF reader, RF Grasp can find and pick up objects, even if they're initially hidden from sight.
Researchers create a swimming robot that can 'heal' itself
Researchers at UC San Diego created a tiny robot shaped like a fish that could reassemble itself when broken apart.
Origami-like patch could help robot surgeons repair internal injuries
MIT researchers have developed an origami-style medical patch robot surgeons could use to repair internal injuries.
Hitting the Books: AI doctors and the dangers tiered medical care
Frank Pasquale’s 'New Laws of Robotics' shows how the promise of faster, more efficient medical diagnoses from AIs can also be a double-edged sword, cutting off access to the quality care provided by human doctors.
Hyundai confirms its $1.1 billion acquisition of Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics is now officially part of Hyundai Motor Group. The Korean conglomerate has struck a deal with Softbank to acquire a controlling interest — an 80 percent stake — in the robotics company for $1.1 billion. According to their announcement, Hyundai decided to purchase a controlling stake in the robotics firm, because it “possesses multiple key technologies for high-performance robots equipped with perception, navigation, and intelligence.”
SoftBank has reportedly sold Boston Dynamics to Hyundai
Hyundai Motors is acquiring Boston Dynamics, according to The Korea Economic Daily. The publication says Softbank has agreed to sell the robot maker for 1 trillion won (US$917 million) and that the acquisition will be finalized at a board meeting today, December 10th. Boston Dynamics is known for its nightmare-inducing (or oddly adorable, depending on your perspective) robotic dog Spot, which it started selling in mid—2020 for $75,000.
The ExoMy is a programmable $600 Mars rover you can build yourself
From Sojourner to the much bigger Curiosity, robotic rovers tend to come in all shapes and sizes, but few will go down as adorable as the European Space Agency’s new ExoMy rover.
Disney robot with human-like gaze is equal parts uncanny and horrifying
Disney researchers have built a robot with a highly realistic gaze -- and a horrifying look that could haunt your dreams.
A smarter, more capable Flippy robot knows how to fry 19 things
Miso Robotics (makers of Flippy, the burger-flipping robot chef) argue that the path back to financial stability for America’s restaurants will require an autonomous revolution.
This tiny robotic beetle travels for two hours without a battery
This tiny, autonomous robotic beetle runs on liquid methanol.
Pepper the robot can politely suggest you wear a damn mask
Pepper the humanoid robot can now scan face to tell whether or not people are wearing masks.
The Petit Qoobo robotic cat tail pillow is available to pre-order on July 30th
Back in January, we got to meet a smaller, more portable version of the Qoobo cat tail pillow, which is aptly named Petit Qoobo. Today, Yukai Engineering announced that it will be using Indiegogo to take international pre-orders for the Petit Qoobo. Meanwhile, the regular Qoobo with a more realistic cat tail will also be available for $135 instead of the usual $149, in case you want to bring both cat tail cushions home.
Ford deploys Boston Dynamics’ Spot robots to survey Michigan plant
A Ford plant in Michigan has enlisted two Boston Dynamics robots to aid in laser scanning the plant as it’s prepped for updates, Ford announced yesterday. The robots, nicknamed Fluffy and Spot, will roam the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Dearborn, MI on four legs, much like a dog would. Ford is leasing the Boston Dynamics Spot robots (although you can buy them for $75,000) and deploying them in early August.
Researchers built robotic skin with a sense of touch
Using Intel's neuromorphic Loihi chip, researchers created a robotic skin that detects touch more than 1,000 times faster than the human sensory nervous system.
MIT researchers create robotic gripper that can untangle thin cables
Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed a robotic gripper with the dexterity to handle thin objects like ropes and cables, the university announced.
Researchers trained a quadruped robot to cross a balance beam
A team of Italian robotics researchers created a quadruped robot that can balance on two feet.
Autonomous robot uses UVC light to disinfect warehouses
Researchers from MIT have developed a new way to keep shared spaces free of the coronavirus and other pathogens: a UVC light-equipped robot.
AI robot 'Erica' will star in $70 million sci-fi movie 'b'
Erica will be Hollywood's first AI actor.
Qualcomm's 5G RB5 robotics platform will help drones navigate tight spaces
Qualcomm is working on AI computing much like rival chip makers Intel and NVIDIA, but it’s sticking to what it does best: smaller devices and connectivity. It just unveiled the RB5 AI-enabled 5G robotics platform, a follow-up to the RB3 chipset, designed to be used in a wide array of robotic and drone products.

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