Robotics

Remember those toys that sprang up into the air after you pushed them down? They're called poppers, and they've inspired an actuator that could one day allow soft-bodied robots to jump across rough terrain.

Robot toy maker Sphero has turned its Public Safety Division into a brand new company focused on developing robots and AI software for emergency personnel, government and defense clients, and folks with dangerous jobs.

Boston Dynamics’ dog-like Spot robot can now be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world thanks to a partnership with Rocos. To demonstrate its new capabilities the US team remotely monitored the robot working on an isolated farm in New Zealand.

Flexible robotic surgical devices show a lot of promise, as they're able to move through delicate parts of the body without causing damage. Thanks to a new system, it could soon be cheaper, safer and easier to track where they are within the patient.

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have looked to shore up the mobility and freedom of future planetary rovers with a new design that uses some clever trickery to get itself out of tight spots.

In 2017, researchers demonstrated a soft robotic exosuit designed to help stroke patients improve their mobility. Now an untethered version of the lightweight ankle-assisting device has been shown to increase walking speed and distance.

As a recent study indicated, aerial delivery drones aren't always as energy-efficient as ground-based transport. We may therefore be seeing more wheeled delivery robots, such as the rather cool-looking and increasingly in-demand REV-1.

When we think of soft-bodied robots, we tend to picture things that slowly crawl like caterpillars. A new one is able to move much quicker, though, by leaping like a cheetah.

Although we've previously heard about various groups' tiny "microbots," a new one is actually claimed to be the world's smallest microelectronic robot. What's more, it moves by shooting out dual jets of bubbles.

About a year ago, we got a firsthand look at Unitree's Laikago quadruped robot. And while it was impressive, it also packed a US$45,000 price tag. Now, though, the Chinese company has announced a new model that costs less than 10,000 bucks.

Telerobotic systems already allow surgeons in one location to control robotic surgical tools in another, so they can perform operations at a distance. A new proximity-sensing system, however, could make such procedures safer and more precise.

For years Boston Dynamics has developed increasingly sophisticated robots, but their potential uses haven't always been clear. Now, the company has revealed its Spot robot is being deployed in hospitals to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19.