This robotic hand has a gecko-inspired grip
Across a vast array of robotic hands and clamps, there is a common foe: the heirloom tomato. You may have seen a robotic gripper deftly...
This light-powered soft robot could clean drinking water or suck up oil spills
A floating, robotic film designed at UC Riverside could be trained to hoover oil spills at sea or remove contaminants from drinking water. Powered by...
This robot could perch and carry objects like a bird
Like snowflakes, no two branches are alike. They can differ in size, shape and texture; some might be wet or moss-covered or bursting with offshoots. And...
Scientists develop a flexible new system for creating soft robots
Princeton researchers have invented bubble casting, a new way to make soft robots using "fancy balloons" that change shape in predictable ways when inflated...
This bio-inspired robot could move like water bugs
For centuries, humans have looked to nature to draw inspiration for innovation. From birds in the sky to fish in the sea, by studying what...
New system could help four-legged robots jump across uneven terrain in real-time
A loping cheetah dashes across a rolling field, bounding over sudden gaps in the rugged terrain. The movement may look effortless, but getting a robot...
This bipedal robot could ride a skateboard and walk a slackline
Researchers at Caltech have built a bipedal robot that combines walking with flying to create a new type of locomotion, making it exceptionally nimble...
This cell-size robot was propelled by air bubbles and ultrasound
Some engineers find inspiration in the mechanics of bird flight and the architecture of bee nests. Others think much smaller. A team led by Mingming...
New shape memory polymer could someday help robots flex their muscles
When stretched or deformed, shape memory polymers return to their original shapes after heat or light is applied. These materials show great promise for soft...
New super-stretchy wormlike robots could feel their surroundings
Super-stretchy wormlike robots capable of 'feeling' their surroundings could find applications in industry and prosthetics, scientists say. A team of engineers from the University of...