Resembling a scene from an early Transformers movie, Caltech researchers have showcased how a humanoid robot and a drone can work together to achieve multiple modes of movement, opening fresh avenues for robotic locomotion. “Robots can walk, drive, and fly,” says Caltech professor Aaron Ames. “The challenge is merging them into one system that keeps […]
See this Shape-Shifting Robot Pair Walk, Roll, and Take Flight Read More »
“Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States are developing a robotic bee to transform pollination in environments too hostile for natural life—even on other planets.” Lighter than a paper clip, the robot flaps its wings 400 times per second, flies at two meters per second, spins, and hovers. “We aim
Mechanical Bee may make Off-World Pollination Possible Read More »
Introducing X1: The world’s first multi-robot system combining a humanoid robot with a shape-shifting drone that can launch from its back and later transform to drive independently. Global Collaboration Advancing Multimodal Robotics The new multimodal system is the result of a three-year partnership between Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) and the Technology
Robot Drone ‘Backpack’ Drives, Flies, and Responds To Emergencies Read More »
A key trait of living organisms lies in their cells, which can divide, adapt, and carry out vital functions for the body. Inspired by this, scientists are now working on liquid robots that mimic some cell-like behaviors. The robot, about the size of a grain of rice, is made from water coated with Teflon particles.
The Liquid Robot Functions Similarly to a Living Cell Read More »
When technology malfunctions—like a frozen computer at a crucial moment, a GPS guiding us into traffic, or a washing machine halting mid-cycle—our initial response is usually frustration. These common annoyances often spark irritation. However, a recent study by two Israeli researchers suggests a surprising insight: we tend to extend forgiveness to machines in much the
Study Reveals People Forgive Machines Similarly to Humans Read More »
A petri dish filled with dead bacteria isn’t typically a reason to celebrate—but for Stanford researcher Brian Hie, it marked a breakthrough in his quest to engineer synthetic life. The killer was a bacteriophage, a virus that targets and destroys bacteria while leaving human cells unharmed. These viruses have evolved over millions of years to
AI-Created Viruses are Multiplying and Destroying Bacteria Read More »
Generative AI can also produce robot actions—the core idea behind DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics project. The team has unveiled two new models that work together to let robots “think” before they act. Simulated reasoning has improved language models, and that advance may soon reach robotics. DeepMind argues that generative AI is critical for robots because it
DeepMind Unveils its First Thinking Robot AI Read More »
In 2021, Chinese scientists developed the RoboFalcon, a bird-inspired flapping-wing robot featuring a new mechanism that powered bat-like morphing wings for flight. Although effective at cruising speeds, the robot was unable to fly at lower speeds or take off independently. The same research team has now refined their design, unveiling RoboFalcon 2.0 in Science Advances.
Bird-Like Robot with Novel Wings Achieves Self-Takeoff and Slow Flight Read More »
KAIST’s humanoid robot demonstrates world-class mobility, reaching 12 km/h with excellent stability and performing complex moves like the duckwalk and moonwalk, marking it as a next-generation platform for industrial use. Development of a Human-Like Lower-Body Platform for Next-Generation Humanoids Professor Park Hae-won’s team at KAIST’s HuboLab has developed the lower-body platform for a next-generation humanoid
Advanced Humanoid Robot Performs the Moonwalk Read More »
Robots may be becoming more intelligent, but to genuinely assist people in everyday life, they must also develop greater empathy — the ability to detect and respond to human emotions as they happen. Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Human-Robot Interaction Intelligence alone isn’t enough when interacting with humans in real-world settings; understanding context, mood, and
Building Robots that Adjust Based On Your Feelings Read More »