Toyota’s new soft humanoid picks things up with its whole body

Most humanoid robots pick things up with their hands – but that’s not how we humans do it, particularly when we’re carrying something bulky. We use our chests, hips and arms as well – and that’s the idea behind Toyota’s new soft robot.Continue ReadingC… Continue reading Toyota’s new soft humanoid picks things up with its whole body

Breakthrough could see robots with ‘fingertips’ as sensitive as humans

Researchers have overcome a major challenge in biomimetic robotics by developing a sensor that, assisted by AI, can slide over braille text, accurately reading it at twice human speed. The tech could be incorporated into robot hands and prosthetics, pr… Continue reading Breakthrough could see robots with ‘fingertips’ as sensitive as humans

Smart sensor uses color to monitor deformation and temperature

Soft robotic devices often need to sense both mechanical deformation and changes in temperature, requiring multiple integrated sensors. ChromoSense technology, however, combines both functions in one simple, robust, color-changing device.Continue Readi… Continue reading Smart sensor uses color to monitor deformation and temperature

Prehistoric sea creature gets reborn as a soft-bodied robot

Pleurocystitid was a marine organism that existed almost 450 million years ago, long before the first dinosaurs. Scientists have now built a soft-bodied robotic replica of it, which could inspire new methods of locomotion for future robots.Continue Rea… Continue reading Prehistoric sea creature gets reborn as a soft-bodied robot

Kinder, gentler robotic arm channels its inner elephant and octopus

In order to function safely alongside human workers, robotic arms shouldn’t be hard and unyielding. An experimental new arm was designed with that fact in mind, as it mimics soft n’ squishy elephant trunks and octopus tentacles.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Kinder, gentler robotic arm channels its inner elephant and octopus

Versatile Tetraflex robot changes shape to move in different manners

If a robot is trying to traverse rugged, irregular terrain, it’s limited by having just one body shape. The Tetraflex robot was designed with this fact in mind, as it can change shape to adopt different modes of locomotion.Continue ReadingCategory: Rob… Continue reading Versatile Tetraflex robot changes shape to move in different manners

Bio-inspired Sensiworm is made to inch(worm) its way into jet engines

It goes without saying that it is very important for airliners’ jet engines to be regularly inspected. Such inspections could soon be easier and more thorough than ever before, thanks to a robot that moves like an inchworm.Continue ReadingCategory: Rob… Continue reading Bio-inspired Sensiworm is made to inch(worm) its way into jet engines

Drug-delivery implant thwarts scar tissue by being a moving target

While we’ve heard about a number of drug-dispensing medical implants, most of them have the same drawback – they end up getting covered in scar tissue. An experimental new one avoids that problem by changing shape as the tissue starts to form.Continue … Continue reading Drug-delivery implant thwarts scar tissue by being a moving target

Kirigami-inspired robotic grippers combine strength & a delicate touch

Using a novel design inspired by the Japanese art of paper cutting, researchers have developed gentle yet strong robotic grippers that can fold clothes, grasp a drop of water and ultrathin microfibers, lift 16,000 times their own weight, and turn the p… Continue reading Kirigami-inspired robotic grippers combine strength & a delicate touch

Soft robotic gripper uses nothing but air to grasp and release objects

As is the case with any other electrical device, the less energy that a robot uses to perform its assigned duties, the better. A new soft robotic gripper was created with this fact in mind, as it grasps and releases objects without using any electricit… Continue reading Soft robotic gripper uses nothing but air to grasp and release objects