Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering have developed an innovative heat-activated robot using a common nuisance: a knotted string. This groundbreaking project, unveiled recently, showcases the potential of transforming everyday materials into advanced robotic systems. The team aimed to explore new avenues in robotics by harnessing the unique properties of strings that can change shape and function when exposed to heat. By strategically manipulating the knots and applying thermal energy, the researchers were able to create a robot capable of performing various tasks, demonstrating versatility and efficiency. This advancement not only highlights the ingenuity of the engineering team but also opens up new possibilities for the application of soft robotics in diverse fields, including medicine and manufacturing. The research reflects a growing trend in the engineering community to utilize unconventional materials for innovative solutions, emphasizing the importance of creativity in technological development.
US’ heat-activated knot robots leap hundreds of times their height without electronics
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
IMTS 2026 Showcases Industrial AI and Automation Transforming Manufacturing
IMTS 2026 is set to highlight the advancements in industrial AI, automation, additive manufacturing, and digital technologies that are transforming the manufacturing landscape. As U.S. manufacturing orders, output, and productivity continue to rise, this event will provide manufacturers with a unique opportunity to explore these innovations firsthand. The...
IMTS 2026 Preview: Record Orders and the Automation Story
IMTS 2026 opens in Chicago with 1,788 exhibitors and record H1 machine tool orders. What the USMTO data says about automation, and the booths to see.
Market and Business News
ROBOTTODAY WEEKLY September 7 – 11, 2026
This week in robotics: JD.com plans to deploy three million robots across its logistics network, XPeng commissions its IRON humanoid production line, FANUC and Google launch an AI arc-welding agent, and Unitree shares fall 53% from their post-IPO high. September 7–11, 2026.
RobotToday Weekly
Anthropic Disrupts Five Cases of Claude Misuse for Potential Bioweapons Research
Anthropic reported that it intervened in five instances where researchers misused its AI model, Claude, in ways that could have facilitated biological weapons development. These incidents occurred between December 2025 and August 2026, highlighting the challenges of distinguishing legitimate scientific research from potentially harmful activities. The sig...
AI and Robotics
Sixth Graders Program Robots to Breakdance, Highlighting Shift in Robotics Education
At Punahou School in Hawaii, a group of sixth graders successfully programmed wheeled robots to perform breakdancing moves. This project involved translating complex physical movements into sequences of commands that machines can understand, encompassing concepts like coordinate transformation and feedback control. With the right educational tools, these ...
Robotics Education Programming Algorithm Development
Ailoys Brings Acoustic Industrial AI to IMTS 2026
Berlin's Ailoys brings acoustic industrial AI to IMTS 2026, Booth 237629. Edge sensors catch process drift on existing machines before scrap appears.
Market and Business News
Inbolt's Robotics Solutions Address Precision Challenges in Electronics Manufacturing
Inbolt is addressing the growing need for automation in electronics manufacturing, particularly in the assembly of complex data center infrastructure. With their control platform, which includes CAD-based programming and real-time control, Inbolt has installed over 200 robot arms across more than 100 factories, powering over 40 million robot cycles last y...
Zhejiang University Professor Secures Hundreds of Millions for Flying Robot Development
Recently, the flying robotics company Weifen Zhifei announced the completion of hundreds of millions in Series A2 funding. This round was led by PwC Capital, with participation from Honghui Fund, Yangtze River Delta Smart Cultural Fund, and existing investors including Wuyuan Capital and Shenchuang Investment. Founded in July 2024, Weifen Zhifei has compl...
Flying Robots Autonomous Technology Robotics
NOAA Selects Mississippi State University to Lead New Northern Gulf Research Institute
NOAA has appointed Mississippi State University to host the Cooperative Institute in the Gulf of America (CINGA), aimed at enhancing research collaboration on Gulf ecosystems. This initiative builds on a 20-year partnership with NOAA, focusing on science-based decision-making for the northern Gulf region. The establishment of CINGA is significant as it co...
noaa mississippi state university northern gulf research institute
Teledyne Webb Research Secures U.S. Navy Contract for APEX Profiling Floats
Teledyne Webb Research has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for the provision of APEX profiling floats. This contract highlights the Navy's commitment to enhancing oceanographic research capabilities through advanced technology. The APEX profiling floats are designed to collect critical ocean data, which is essential for various applications, incl...
teledyne webb research contract award u.s. navy
LG Electronics Focuses on Robotic Actuators and B2B Appliances for Growth
LG Electronics is positioning its robotic actuators as a key growth engine, nearing a potential major order from a global technology leader. Baek Seung-tae, head of LG's home appliance division, announced that the company has developed efficient, lightweight, and cost-competitive actuators, with plans for mass production. A final meeting with a prospectiv...
All News
China’s Dexterous Hand Industry, 2026 Part 3 — The Players
Five vendor archetypes, MIR’s composite top ten, eight company profiles and six field deployments — every firm linked to the RobotToday supplier directory.
Components and Hardware Humanoids
BioRobotics Laboratory, Korea University of Technology and Education
Korea, Republic of (South)
South Korean university research laboratory focusing on haptics, exoskeletons, rehabilitation robotics, and autonomous ground vehicles.
Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL)
United States
VA–Univ. of Pittsburgh research center founded 1994, developing wheelchair robotics and assistive mobility tech for veterans and people with disabilities.
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
United States
The REC Foundation is a US nonprofit that runs VEX-based robotics and drone competitions reaching 1.1 million students across 70 countries.
SAISON ROBOT/LingYu Robotics 灵御智能
China
LingYu Robotics to Showcase Teleoperation and Embodied AI Solutions at Automate 2026 Subscribe for the Latest Automate Show Updates Copyright © 2013-2026 A3 Automate.
Yuanqi Innovation (Xiamen) Robot Co., Ltd. 元启创新（厦门）机器人有限公司
China
yuanqirobot.com resolves to a Xiamen-based robot company; directory lists it as Qingdao YuanQi Intelligent Robot Tech — city mismatch requires verification.
OM Robot Technology Co. Ltd. 东莞全向机械科技有限公司
China
Chinese manufacturer of mecanum wheels, omnidirectional wheel bases, and mobile robotic platforms for AGV applications.
Da Shiang Automation Industrial Co. Ltd. 達詳自動化工業股份有限公司
Taiwan
Taiwan-based robotic system integrator founded 2013; 1,000+ robot projects in automotive, aerospace, and metal manufacturing.
Janome Industrial Equipment Europe GmbH
Germany
German sales subsidiary of Janome Industrial Equipment (Japan), distributing servo presses and desktop/Cartesian robots in Europe since 1984.
Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) 工業技術研究院
Taiwan
Taiwan's leading government-backed applied R&D institute driving industrial and robotics innovation.
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