Robotics

If you're an emergency response worker who needs a robot to inspect a hazardous setting, it would be best if you could quickly just throw that bot in there. A new robot was designed with that in mind, as it automatically lands on all four wheels.

Scientists at Purdue University have developed a back-flipping microbot that can tumble its way through the colon to release its payload when desired, all while being controlled externally by a magnetic field.

Walking, legged robots may excel at climbing over obstacles, but wheels are still more efficient for travelling over smooth ground. That's why engineers at ETH Zurich have added powered wheels to their existing ANYmal quadruped robot.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has welcomed aboard a new member of the team. The Thermite RS3 is a rover capable of pumping out thousands of gallons of water a minute, with these capabilities tested on its very first day on the job.

When most people picture swarms of collaborating robots, they generally think of applications such as search and rescue operations. A new study, however, suggests that such swarms could also be used to help artists put paint to canvas.

A highly efficient “Squidbot” has been developed by engineers at the University of California (UC) San Diego, which uses a combination of soft and rigid materials to propel itself through the water much like the real thing.

Scientists at Purdue University have developed a mobile docking station that enables underwater robots to stop by for a recharge and offload their data at the same time, offering a way for them to operate for far longer periods without human input.

Robots are an increasingly common sight in stores, and now they’re getting a bit more hands-on. Japanese company Telexistence has begun trials in convenience stores of a robot shelf-stacker that can be controlled by a human via VR.

Last year, we got our first look at an ambitious take on high-tech exoskeletons in the Guardian XO from Sarcos Robotics, which has just gathered US$40 million in new funding to bring its full-bodied suit to market in 2021.

Researchers in Australia have succeeded in developing an artificial skin that responds to painful stimuli, heat and pressure like real skin does, which they see as an important step towards intelligent machines and prosthetics.

As the population increasingly moves towards tech jobs, there's now a shortage of coconut harvesters in India. That's why scientists there have built a tree-climbing coconut-harvesting robot, that could perhaps someday take up the slack.

Boston Dynamics’ dog-like robot has now been turned into a tiny mobile doctor, able to remotely measure patients’ vital signs from a distance of over six feet. Dr Spot is being touted as a way to safely triage potentially contagious COVID-19 patients.