Italian Institute of Technology

This nifty little quadruped robot has been trained to seek and eliminate litter by researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology, using a vacuum cleaner backpack with nozzles strapped to its ankles.

Trees such as maples have "fruits" known as samaras, which consist of a seed joined to a papery wing. Scientists have now created artificial samaras, which could be used to quickly and easily monitor soil temperature from the air.

We first heard about the iCub humanoid robot in 2011, when it was nominated to take part in the Olympic Torch Relay. The latest and greatest version, the iCub 3, was the star of a recently-announced (and pretty impressive) telepresence demonstration.

Scientists have successfully bridged the gap between organic and artificial. A team has created biohybrid synapses that let living cells communicate with electronic systems, not with electrical signals but with neurotransmitters like dopamine.

Last time we wrote about the HyQ robot​, it had just mastered walking and begun venturing into rough terrain. Now, its successor has do so with a three-ton passenger airplane in tow.

Plants might not seem like the most exciting thing to model robots after, but they could make for high-tech decorations or house plants that look after themselves. Now, a team of Italian researchers has developed a soft robot that moves like plant tendrils, climbing and curling around objects.

​By now, just about everyone has likely at least heard of graphene. Among other things, it's the world's strongest material. With that in mind, it's only fitting that someone has recently gone and used it in a high-end motorcycle helmet.

Researchers from the Italian Institute of Technology are teaching its resident quadruped robot how to avoid tripping over obstacles in the lead up to more arduous outdoor testing. An animal-like step reflex algorithm has been developed to quickly detect when HyQ's feet run into obstacles.

A robotics group led by Professor Sylvain Calinon at the Italian Institute of Technology is teaching robots how to deal with real-world problems.