[ad_1] The fibers can range from just a few micrometers in thickness to a few millimeters, and they can be hundreds of meters of long. You can weave other elements into the fiber, too, such as nanowires (as researchers did to measure tension), electrodes or optical fibers. A robotic limb wouldn’t need external, bulky heat […]
Category: robotics
NASA backs demo that will 3D-print spacecraft parts in orbit
[ad_1] Made In Space has already 3D-printed beams in 2017, when it used a NASA location that simulated some of the conditions of space. This, of course, is another challenge entirely — it’s introducing microgravity along with a lack of human support if things go wrong. This is the start of a second phase of […]
Tiny ‘walking’ motor could help robots build other robots
[ad_1] It’s powerful, too. The initial design can lift seven times its own weight, but you can add more components for extra strength or to handle complex movements. And notably, you can scale the size of the parts to tackle very large or very tiny projects. Until now, you typically needed specialized methods to make […]
Amazon funds STEM programs in Seattle schools
[ad_1] FIRST, which was co-founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen, encourages young people to get involved in science and technology through mentor-based initiatives and robotics programs in schools. It provides the curriculum for the robotics grants. Amazon is already supporting 100 schools across 22 states through the Future Engineer program, with which it aims to […]
Carnegie Mellon will help Ford advance its self-driving vehicle tech
[ad_1] Argo AI has pledged $15 million over five years, and the funding will support five faculty, along with a group of doctoral candidates. The center will work to advance autonomous vehicle tech as a whole, but it will also help Argo AI develop its next-generation technology and push into more cities. According to Argo, […]
Scientists make a lifelike robotic fish using multipurpose ‘blood’
[ad_1] While typical robots carry bulky single-purpose parts to provide power, such as a battery or gears, the newly-developed lionfish has a unique circulatory system that provides both power and propulsion. The “blood” pumped around the system comprises an electrolyte solution that acts as both hydraulic fluid and energy storage. The result? A more lifelike […]
Simpler, air-powered soft robots could help with space exploration
[ad_1] Soft robots promise a kinder, gentler approach to automation, but they’re frequently hamstrung by complexity, costs and the need for wires. Thankfully, Harvard researchers have found a way to simplify matters. They’ve developed a softrobot driven by pressurized air that doesn’t need the multiple control systems that frequently guide these machines. A lone input […]
MIT’s sensor-packed glove helps AI identify objects by touch
[ad_1] The “scalable tactile glove,” or STAG, is a simple knit glove packed with more than 550 tiny sensors. The researchers wore STAG while handling 26 different objects — including a soda can, scissors, tennis ball, spoon, pen and a mug. As they did, the sensors gathered pressure-signal data, which was interpreted by a neural […]
Scientists create a four-winged robot insect that flies with grace
[ad_1] The tiny flier can follow paths, dodge obstacles, perch and land. It’s even simpler to build than There’s still much, much more work to be done before there are robotic insects in service. Bee+ flies tethered, since that saves the team from factoring a battery into the design. Size is also a concern. While […]
Anki is closing the doors on its toy robot business
[ad_1] The news comes as a surprise, given that things seemed to be going well for Anki. Since its launch in 2010, the startup has raised more than $200 million in venture capital. Its main products Cozmo and Vector seemed to be successes. Vector launched last fall after a $2 million Kickstarter campaign, and most […]