Sloth-inspired robot saves power by taking things slow

Because sloths move very slowly – when they move at all – they burn relatively few calories, thus requiring little food. Scientists have now applied that principle to a sluggish but energy-efficient robot, known appropriately enough as the Sl… Continue reading Sloth-inspired robot saves power by taking things slow

Low-cost sensor glove could lead to robots that identify objects by touch

MIT has developed an inexpensive sensor glove that helps researchers put together massive databases that allow an artificial intelligence algorithm to figure out how humans can identify objects by touch. Called the Scalable TActile Glove (STA… Continue reading Low-cost sensor glove could lead to robots that identify objects by touch

Combat robot with over-the-horizon control put through its paces in live-fire exercise

At a recent live-fire exercise in Tapa, Estonia, the latest version of Milrem Robotics and ST Engineering’s ground combat robot showed off its ability to operate under Beyond Line Of Sight (BLVOS) control. In the April tests, the THeMIS Unman… Continue reading Combat robot with over-the-horizon control put through its paces in live-fire exercise

Self-powered micro-submarines sink and swim to deliver drugs in the body

It’s entirely possible that micro-machines could one day be delivering drugs inside the body, with many designs proposed in recent years. The latest comes from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which gets around under its own power us… Continue reading Self-powered micro-submarines sink and swim to deliver drugs in the body

Soft-bodied robot could soon be climbing up to your door

Although we’ve been seeing a lot of robots that are designed to deliver packages to peoples’ homes, most of those bots are stymied by houses’ front steps. Tokyo-based Amoeba Energy is developing a solution, in the form of a tracked robot that… Continue reading Soft-bodied robot could soon be climbing up to your door

Movo robot is armed for research

"What's the big deal?" – the Movo appears to shrug its shoulders, at ICRA 2019

Several years ago, California-based Willow Garage introduced a two-armed wheeled robot known as the PR2. It was designed for use in robotics research, but unfortunately the company has since gone out of business. Quebec-based Kinova Robotics has stepped in to fill the gap, however, with its Movo.

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Category: Robotics

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Unitree's Laikago joins the growing robo-dog pack

Laikago trots across the carpet, at ICRA 2019

If you like unsettlingly animal-like robots, then you’re probably already familiar with Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini. Well, it’s now in for some competition. Last week at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Chinese manufacturer Unitree Robotics showed off its Laikago quadruped.

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Category: Robotics

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Norwegian robot is made to help scientists – and seniors

You might think that most new robots are designed to head off into factories or other workplaces, but the fact is that many of them are made to be used in the lab, by robotics developers. That’s the case with EVE r3, although its successor ma… Continue reading Norwegian robot is made to help scientists – and seniors

HyQReal four-legged robot tows a three-ton passenger plane

Last time we wrote about the HyQ robot, it had just mastered walking and begun venturing into rough terrain. Now, its successor has do so with a three-ton passenger airplane in tow. Granted seven years of research and development have played … Continue reading HyQReal four-legged robot tows a three-ton passenger plane