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...
These robots could move your couch
To train robots how to work independently but cooperatively, researchers at the University of Cincinnati gave them a relatable task: move a couch. If you’ve...
This rescue robot gets a speed upgrade for rough terrain
A new algorithm speeds up path planning for robots that use their arms to make their way across treacherous terrain such as disaster areas...
Leaping squirrels could help develop more agile robots
Understanding the split-second decisions squirrels make as they jump from tree branch to tree branch will help scientists develop more agile robots. Researchers at University...
This inflatable robotic hand gives amputees real-time tactile control
For the more than 5 million people in the world who have undergone an upper-limb amputation, prosthetics have come a long way. Beyond traditional mannequin-like...
Want to swim like a fish? Engineers uncover the secrets of fish fins
Peer into any fishbowl, and you'll see that pet goldfish and guppies have nimble fins. With a few flicks of these appendages, aquarium swimmers can...
How can robots regain human trust after a blunder?
When robots make mistakes—and they do from time to time—reestablishing trust with human co-workers depends on how the machines own up to the errors...
Do robots need clothes? Yes, for form and function
There’s no shortage of people who dress up their babies, bunnies or puppies. But what about robots? Besides a stray feline Roomba, very few people are...
This air-powered computer memory could help soft robot control movements
Engineers at UC Riverside have unveiled an air-powered computer memory that can be used to control soft robots. The innovation overcomes one of the biggest...