robotics

Stimuli-responsive polymers, materials capable of altering their chemical and/or physical properties in response to external stimuli, have changed the game in robotics. Substances like dielectric elastomers, hydrogels (spider warning),…

Untethered soft robots mechanically adapt to their surroundings and tasks and are becoming more agile and controlled. Cornell University researchers led by Kirstin Petersen, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering,…

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…