New simulation tool helps robots handle fluids

Imagine you're enjoying a picnic by a riverbank on a windy day. A gust of wind accidentally catches your paper napkin and lands on the water's surface, quickly drifting away from you. You grab a nearby stick and carefully agitate the water to retrieve it, creating a series of small waves. These waves eventually push the napkin back toward the shore, so you grab it. In this scenario, the water acts as a medium for transmitting forces, enabling you to manipulate the position of the napkin without direct contact.