News

Page 1 of 606
1 2 3 606

Digital twins to rescue robots: What faster 3D point cloud processing enables

What if technology, such as self-driving cars, drones, or intelligent navigation systems, could understand the world the way we do—not just seeing shapes, but recognizing meaning? A person waiting at a crosswalk, a bicycle left on the pavement, or a dog running across a yard—for us, these distinctions are instant. For systems that rely on data, they have long been a challenge.

Video-based AI gives robots a visual imagination

In a major step toward more adaptable and intuitive machines, Kempner Institute Investigator Yilun Du and his collaborators have unveiled a new kind of artificial intelligence system that lets robots "envision" their actions before carrying them out. The system, which uses video to help robots imagine what might happen next, could transform how robots navigate and interact with the physical world.

Video-based AI gives robots a visual imagination

In a major step toward more adaptable and intuitive machines, Kempner Institute Investigator Yilun Du and his collaborators have unveiled a new kind of artificial intelligence system that lets robots "envision" their actions before carrying them out. The system, which uses video to help robots imagine what might happen next, could transform how robots navigate and interact with the physical world.

AI system learns to prevent warehouse robot traffic jams, boosting throughput 25%

Inside a giant autonomous warehouse, hundreds of robots dart down aisles as they collect and distribute items to fulfill a steady stream of customer orders. In this busy environment, even small traffic jams or minor collisions can snowball into massive slowdowns. To avoid such an avalanche of inefficiencies, researchers from MIT and the tech firm Symbotic developed a new method that automatically keeps a fleet of robots moving smoothly.

Bat-inspired ultrasound helps palm-sized drones navigate fog and smoke

A team led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researcher Nitin J. Sanket has shown that ultrasound sensors and a form of artificial intelligence (AI) can enable palm-sized aerial robots to navigate with limited power and computation through fog, smoke, and other challenging conditions during search-and-rescue operations.

Deepfake X-rays are so real even doctors can’t tell the difference

Deepfake X-rays created by AI are now convincing enough to fool both doctors and AI models. In tests, radiologists had limited success identifying fake images, especially when they didn’t know they were being shown. This opens the door to risks like fraudulent medical claims and tampered diagnoses. Experts say stronger safeguards and detection tools are critical as the technology advances.

Robots take the heat for humans maintaining our biggest solar farms

AI-powered robots are set to track across thousands of kilometers of baked, uneven ground, reducing the danger for maintenance workers on Australia's large-scale solar farms. A successful trial by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, repurposed autonomous robots originally designed for the mining industry. Without robots, the work is done on foot, bringing significant cost and safety risks.

A robotic hand without motors? How a sub-second shape-shifting actuator could work

While space structures and robotic arms require lightweight actuation devices capable of repetitive movement, conventional motor-based systems face limitations due to their heavy weight and complex structures. A KAIST research team has developed a smart material-based actuation technology that operates rapidly in less than a second without a motor, suggesting new possibilities for next-generation robotics and space deployable structures.

Wristband enables wearers to control a robotic hand with their own movements

The next time you're scrolling on your phone, take a moment to appreciate the feat: The seemingly mundane act is possible thanks to the coordination of 34 muscles, 27 joints, and over 100 tendons and ligaments in your hand. Indeed, our hands are the most nimble parts of our bodies. Mimicking their many nuanced gestures has been a longstanding challenge in robotics and virtual reality.
Page 1 of 606
1 2 3 606