At just one year old, a baby is more dexterous than a robot. Sure, machines can do more than just pick up and put down objects, but we're not quite there as far as replicating a natural pull towards exploratory or sophisticated dexterous manipulation goes.
Robots can deliver food on a college campus and hit a hole in one on the golf course, but even the most sophisticated robot can't perform basic social interactions that are critical to everyday human life.
For people with motor impairments or physical disabilities, completing daily tasks and house chores can be incredibly challenging. Recent advancements in robotics, such as brain-controlled robotic limbs, have the potential to significantly improve their quality of life.
A robotic boat has been used for the first time to survey fish populations around oil platforms in the North Sea.
The sheer expanse of the deep sea and the technological challenges of working in an extreme environment make these depths difficult to access and study. Scientists know more about the surface of the moon than the deep seafloor. MBARI is leveraging advancements in robotic technologies to address this disparity.
Over the past decade or so, many roboticists and computer scientists have been trying to develop robots that can complete tasks in spaces populated by humans; for instance, helping users to cook, clean and tidy up. To tackle household chores and other manual tasks, robots should be able to solve complex planning tasks that involve navigating environments and interacting with objects following specific sequences.
Picking up a blueberry or grape without squishing it isn't hard, but try teaching it to a robot. The same goes for walking on ice, turning a key to unlock a door or cooking a favorite dish.
Researchers from the Institute of Engineering and Technology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University have developed an algorithm that will allow mobile robots to escape blind alleys and avoid obstacles.
Currently, most robots are seen in industry where they support repetitive tasks, such as in the assembly lines of cars or in the production of microchips. However, in the near future the robot should find his way in less structured environments as well, to be able to work in healthcare or in hazardous environments, such as disaster areas. Researcher Wouter Houtman investigated the interaction of robots with their environment and developed algorithms to improve their movements in "the real world." He will defend his Ph.D. thesis at the department of Mechanical Engineering on Thursday 4th of November.
Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. But you may not see it in your neighborhood anytime soon.
The team at robotics company Boston Dynamics has released a video promoting itself while also honoring the Rolling Stones—this year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the song 'Start Me Up.' The release of the song was notable also for the video that accompanied the song, with the members of the group playing their instruments and lead singer Mick Jagger strutting around on stage.
Legged robots have numerous advantageous qualities, including the ability to travel long distances and navigate a wide range of land-based environments. So far, however, legged robots have been primarily trained to move in specific environments, rather than to adapt to their surroundings and operate efficiently in a multitude of different settings. A key reason for this is that predicting all the possible environmental conditions that a robot might encounter while it is operating and training it to best respond to these conditions is highly challenging.
Researchers from The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science find that drones may be the next generation of communication bases to monitor the ocean and seafloor because of their high-speed positioning, stability, and efficiency.
Baseball fans know the bitter heartbreak of calls that don't go their way—especially, a ball that should've been a strike. And, with advances in technology including computer vision, artificial intelligence, and the ubiquity of Wi-Fi, it would be easier than ever for baseball officials to replace humans with robotic umpires.
The number of collaborative mobile robots introduced in real-world settings is gradually increasing, with approximately 20,000 new installations per year. For their use to increase further, however, roboticists should ensure that these robots are both efficient and safe to use around humans.