Collaborate Disseminate
Robots are great at exploring land, sea, sky and space, but one environment that’s trickier for them to navigate is through the ground. Now, engineers at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Georgia Tech have developed a snake-like robot that uses a range of me… Continue reading Tunneling snake robot takes cues from nature to keep its head in the sand
As honeybees collect pollen and nectar from flowers, they repeatedly bend and straighten their abdomens – yet with a minimal amount of friction. Scientists have now discovered what makes this possible, and it could have applications in human technology… Continue reading Friction-reducing honeybee hairs may inspire longer-lasting devices
Paramecium and certain other microbes move through liquid by whipping back and forth hairlike appendages known as cilia. Scientists have now developed a new type of synthetic cilia, which could find use in micro-robots and more.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Synthetic cilia allow tiny soft-bodied robot to pump and scuttle
Soft robotic grippers have some interesting use cases, but the industrial options are not cheap. [James Bruton] was fascinated by the $4000 “bean bag” gripper from Empire Robotics, so he …read more Continue reading Robotic Gripper From A Squishy Ball
When studying underwater marine life, it helps if you can use a device that doesn’t scare the animals by appearing unnatural to them. MIT scientists have created a robo-starfish with that in mind, utilizing a new rapid development system.Continue Readi… Continue reading MIT system allows robo-starfish to be created in hours, not weeks
From slow-moving machines inspired by sloths to others that burst from the water and soar through the air like flying fish, robots that mimic the behavior of real-world creatures have exciting potential when it comes to environmental monitoring. A new … Continue reading Robotic dragonfly skims across water to detect oil spills and acidity
Fish have a sensory system known as the lateral line, which allows them to detect movements, vibrations and pressure gradients in the water. Scientists have now given a robotic fish its own version of that system, letting it determine the best swimming… Continue reading Robotic fish learns to match its swimming speed to the current
Ordinarily, if you want to build a device that’s highly electrically conductive, you have to use rigid metals. Now, however, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have created a soft and flexible material that fits the bill.Continue ReadingCategory:… Continue reading Conductive hydrogel could find use in soft robotics and more
[James Bruton]’s impressive portfolio of robots has always used conventional rigid components, so he decided to take a bit of a detour and try his hand at a soft robot. Using a couple of few inflatable pool noodles for quick …read more
Continue reading Pool Noodle Robot Shines A Light On The Pros and Cons Of Soft Robots
Things can get very chaotic on the ocean floor, making it difficult for underwater robots to keep from being swept away. New research, however, suggests that by copying the structure of the starfish, they could actually be pressed into place.Continue R… Continue reading A starfish-shaped body could help underwater robots stay put