robotics

Inspired by sea cucumbers—yes, you read that right—engineers designed mini robots that shift between liquid and solid states. The shape-shifting robots are magnetic and can conduct electricity. Researchers put the robots through an obstacle…

Atlas, Boston Dynamics' most dynamic humanoid robot, is again demonstrating its agility—delivering a tool bag to an absent-minded construction worker on scaffolding. When I watched the video, I couldn't help but feel there must be a person…

When you hear the words "housekeeping robot," what's the first name that comes to mind? We wouldn't be surprised if it's "Rosie," the Jetsons' home assistant. Certainly, the name was on the tongues of many CES 2023 attendees as they…

We've come a long way. Eight years ago, I updated an article series I originally contributed to Digi-Key in 2011. That update, The Five Senses of Sensors—Part I: Smell, Taste, and Hearing, discusses the technology that was available at the…

We've all seen robotic arms swinging and performing various tasks in industrial settings. So, what about miniature robots? There are tiny systems that transport minuscule amounts of liquid through fine capillaries. Developed s an aid for…

Based on the findings of a recent study by Lund University in Sweden, the efficiency of bird flight (and bird-like dinosaur flight before it) is at least partially a result of their ability to fold their wings during the upstroke. This may…

EPFL researchers developed a method that allows a flapping-wing robot to land autonomously on a horizontal perch using a claw-like mechanism. The act of perching is a delicate balance of timing, high-impact forces, speed, and precision.…

A study by MIT economists suggests an optimal policy would include a (modest) tax on robots to combat the effects of automation on income inequality in the U.S. Favored by Bill Gates, the rationale is that taxing the companies using…

Approximately 190 million people around the globe have conditions that impair their ability to move and function independently. Assistive robots can give them more freedom while reducing the need for caregiving. These robots are not widely…

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new material that changes its electrical behavior based on previous experience—gaining a form of adaptive memory. Scientists could use these materials in next-gen medical and environmental…