Robotics

XPeng Iron: Why This Robot Might Be Tesla’s Next Big Rival

The XPeng Iron isn’t just another robot—it’s a personal assistant with supercomputer-level processing power, and it’s shaping up to be a serious contender in the robotics race.The competition to develop humanoid robots is intensifying, and China has just raised the stakes. While Tesla continues to promote the revolutionary potential of its Optimus bot (which...

Robots Complete a Half Marathon — at a Very Slow Pace

Image Credits:Kevin Frayer / Getty ImagesHumanoid robots still have a lot of ground to cover before they can match human runners. On Saturday, Beijing’s E-Town tech hub held what it called the world’s first half-marathon for humanoid robots, featuring 21 robotic participants running alongside thousands of human competitors.According to Bloomberg, the race’s top-performing robot,...

Bee Robot Now Lands Better Thanks to Crane Fly-Inspired Legs

The RoboBee sporting its crane-fly-inspired legs – future versions of the robot may find use in search and rescue operations, or the pollination of crop plantsHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesCreating an advanced, insect-inspired micro air vehicle (MAV) is impressive, but it’s not very practical if it can’t land properly....

Watch: Skillful Robotic Gripper Uses Measuring Tape As Fingers

The GRIP-tape gripper extends its measuring-tape fingers to grasp an orangeUC San DiegoSteel measuring tape is a fascinating material: it can maintain its shape when extended, yet it’s flexible enough to bend under pressure. Researchers have harnessed this unique combination of stiffness and flexibility to create an innovative new robotic gripper, ideal for handling...

Watch: Crafty Robot Uses Wings to Hop Where Others Fear to Tread

Because of its energy-efficient design, it is estimated that the robot could carry 10 times the weight of a same-sized conventional flying robotMelanie Gonick, MITFlying robots have several advantages over ground-based ones, but they typically consume a lot of energy. A new experimental robot offers a clever solution: instead of walking or flying traditionally,...

$299 Mini Rover Can Be Controlled From Anywhere on Earth Via 4G

The EarthRover Mini, doing its best to look hugeFrodoBotsAlways wanted to drive a Mars rover? Well, unfortunately, that's not possible. However, you can buy and operate a four-wheeled rover that can be controlled from anywhere on the planet through 4G cellular networks. And, aptly enough, it's called the EarthRover.Built on Advanced Technology from Leading...

Kawasaki Reveals a Hydrogen-Fueled Robot Horse that You Can Ride

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has unveiled the Corleo, a ride-on robot horse, in OsakaKawasakiKawasaki Heavy Industries has just unveiled one of the wildest concept vehicles to date: the Corleo, a two-seater, four-legged robot that you control using body movements. Equipped with AI vision, it can navigate challenging terrain with ease.Sure, you could stick with a...

Record-breaking Tiny Robot Offloads Electronics To Fly By Magnetism

This is claimed to be the world's smallest untethered flying robot – two minuscule magnets get inserted in the ring visible at the topAdam Lau/Berkeley EngineeringScientists claim to have developed the world’s smallest untethered flying robot, using a unique approach to its design. To minimize size and weight, they moved the robot’s power and...

Air-powered Hexapod Robot is 3D-printed in One Soft and Flexible Piece

Yichen Zhai and his six-legged creationDavid Baillot/University of California San DiegoWhile most people imagine robots as complex electronic devices, made up of several parts that need to be assembled in factories, a new experimental non-electronic robot has been designed to be 3D-printed in one single piece and is powered entirely by air.The soft-bodied robot...

People in Japan Respect Robots and AI More Than Those in the West Societies

Credit: PixabayPicture an automated delivery vehicle racing to complete a grocery drop-off as you rush to meet friends for a long-anticipated dinner. You both reach a busy intersection simultaneously. Do you pause to let it navigate the turn, or do you expect it to yield, even if traffic rules suggest it should go first?Navigating...