A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Engineering teams are integrating AI rapidly, but compliance requirements have exposed a skills gap in ethics, governance, and auditing. The article describes ethics as principles for governing AI workflows, governance as organizational rules and procedures, and auditing as assessment of safety, fai...
NASA plans to send PROMISE, a nuclear-powered rover, to the Moon’s South Pole as a foundational mission in the Moon Base Program. PROMISE stands for Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration. The rover is depicted in a rendering and is expected to be built largely from existing t...
MIT researchers found that waves of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which help clear waste from the brain during sleep, are significantly smaller in adults aged 60 to 84 than in adults aged 18 to 39. The study, published in Nature Aging, linked the reduced CSF waves to weaker slow brain waves during deep...
Robust AI, co-founded by Anthony Jules and MIT Professor Emeritus Rodney Brooks, developed Carter, a mobile robot designed to work alongside people in warehouses and factories. Resembling a utility cart, Carter has a force-sensitive handlebar, an AI-powered vision system, and holonomic wheels that l...
Researchers at Brown University developed a technique to produce extremely thin films of bismuth ferrite while preserving the material’s electrical and magnetic properties. The work addresses the “dead layer” effect, which has typically caused multiferroics to lose those properties when made thin en...
During the Energizing@MIT conference, Eric Toone, CTO of Breakthrough Energy, highlighted the link between energy demand and global prosperity, emphasizing the need for decarbonization. He noted that while rising prosperity leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, low-carbon technologies provide...
MIT Lincoln Laboratory has received three 2026 R&D 100 Awards for its innovative technologies. These awards highlight significant advancements that have transitioned to practical use or licensing in the past year. The laboratory's technologies focus on enhancing cybersecurity, quantum computing, and...
Agile Robots, a German AI robotics startup, announced on Thursday that it has been valued at $8.5 billion following a new funding round. This significant valuation underscores the company's growth potential and the increasing interest in AI-driven robotics solutions. The funding will enable Agile R...
Researchers at Jeonbuk National University developed a wearable interface that combines hand gestures for sending drone commands with abdominal vibrations that indicate the aircraft’s position relative to the user. The approach is intended to support drone operation without continuous visual feedbac...
Researchers from three institutions, including UC Santa Barbara, demonstrated that a deep learning system can improve the precision of an experimental visual prosthesis and help predict the visual sensations it produces. The system developed electrical stimulation patterns for electrodes temporarily...
In recent years, the tech industry has rapidly integrated AI into various consumer products, from smart toothbrushes to mood-reading robots. However, Savannah Kunovsky, a leader at Ideo, emphasizes that not all AI implementations enhance user experience. Companies often feel pressured to adopt AI du...
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced in October that its X-Labs program will receive support from charities, companies, and investment funds. This initiative aims to provide X-Lab winners with essential resources like laboratory space and expert guidance, enhancing their ability to t...
University of Michigan Engineering has introduced a novel neural network component named PRISM, which re-evaluates the conventional belief that general-purpose neural networks for image recognition can effectively manage physical movement in robots. The development of PRISM is significant as it add...
Recent insights reveal that robots exhibit higher error rates than humans, particularly in simple tasks like household chores and factory operations. This increased error rate can be attributed to their difficulty in recalling and utilizing relevant past experiences in real-time, even when employing...
Recent research published in Science Robotics focuses on dynamic control methods for skid-steer loaders. This study aims to enhance the maneuverability and performance of these machines in various environments. The findings are significant for industries relying on heavy machinery, as improved contr...
Autane, an autonomous crane, has been developed to improve operational efficiency in port environments. This innovation aims to streamline cargo handling and reduce operational costs, addressing the growing demands of global trade. The introduction of Autane is significant as it represents a step fo...
The article discusses how human perception and interaction influence the acceptance of humanoid robots. It highlights the importance of designing robots that can effectively communicate and engage with humans, which is crucial for their integration into society. The findings suggest that enhancing t...
Researchers at Colorado State University have created a flexible robot that mimics the functionality of an elephant's trunk to grip various objects. This innovative design aims to enable teams of these robots to assist in space exploration and tackle a range of complex tasks. The development of su...
The MIT School of Engineering has welcomed a new cohort of faculty members across six academic units in 2026. This group includes experts in diverse fields, such as aerospace engineering, biological engineering, and quantum computing, who will contribute to innovative research and student learning....
China is prominently displaying its technological advancements at the global Web Summit in Lisbon, which commenced on Tuesday. The exhibition features dancing robots and affordable artificial intelligence models, highlighting China's growing capabilities in the tech sector. This event comes amid ong...
A new tensegrity quadruped robot, inspired by the cheetah, has been developed to achieve high-speed galloping and adapt to various terrains. This innovative design utilizes tensegrity structures, allowing for enhanced flexibility and stability during movement. The significance of this development l...
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created EgoThumb, a robotic thumb designed to help individuals perform tasks that typically require two hands using just one. This innovation addresses the challenges faced by those who may have limited use of one hand, enabling them to eng...
The BiCLAW-VC is a novel leg-wheel robot featuring four wheels and symmetric claws designed to follow variable cycloidal trajectories. This innovative design enhances mobility and adaptability in various terrains, making it suitable for diverse robotic applications. The integration of these features...
Teams globally are developing AI agents managed by orchestrators to enhance risk assessment, client profiling, and decision-making. A critical aspect of this development is ensuring that historical data is managed to prevent biased decision-making. However, there are concerns about context recovery...
UC Berkeley and NVIDIA have announced a new approach called agentic robotics, aimed at addressing the data scaling problem in robotics. This method seeks to program robots for practical tasks without relying heavily on vast amounts of training data, which has proven to be a challenge in achieving re...
MIT engineers have created a new artificial intelligence-assisted learning platform called FLEX, which allows robots to interpret human commands beyond their literal meanings. This advancement is significant as it enhances robots' ability to understand and respond to complex human language, making...
In recent months, artificial intelligence agents capable of reasoning, planning, and utilizing external tools have significantly transformed various sectors, including computer coding and online shopping. These advancements allow for the execution of complex multistep tasks, showcasing the versatil...
Drones are increasingly vital in contemporary security and defense operations. The development of technologies that can alter the radar signatures of drones is significant, enabling them to operate undetected near radar systems. This capability not only represents a fascinating scientific advancem...
MIT engineers have introduced FLEX, an AI-assisted learning platform that allows robots to interpret natural language commands beyond their literal meanings. This innovative system enables robots to draw generalizations from human instructions, enhancing their motion-planning capabilities. Demonstra...
Researchers at MIT and the University of British Columbia have developed WorldParticle, a unified deep-learning system designed to simulate various physical phenomena, such as sliding sand and protein folding. This innovative model allows engineers to replace multiple specialized simulators with a s...
A robot waitress is now serving diners at a neon-lit restaurant in Karachi, Pakistan, delivering fresh pizzas to customers. This innovative use of robotics in the food service industry highlights the growing trend of automation in dining experiences. As restaurants seek to enhance customer service a...
Researchers have identified a fundamental limitation known as the 'space-time limit,' which indicates that an electron's location and its behavior over time cannot be precisely determined simultaneously. This discovery, stemming from an international collaboration involving the Regensburg Center for...
The latest edition of Video Friday showcases a variety of innovative robotics videos, including the introduction of Stringman, a cable-driven home robot designed for tidying up. Priced at $795, Stringman represents a unique form factor in household robotics, appealing to consumers looking for practi...
The European Union mandates that AI-generated text must be watermarked for identification. OpenAI's textGrain, designed to comply with this regulation, has shown limitations in tests, particularly with shorter texts and after editing. These challenges raise concerns about its effectiveness in meetin...
A recent study highlights the challenges faced by robotic assistants in accurately identifying objects in emergency situations. For instance, if a robot mislabels a defibrillator as a fire extinguisher, it may fail to retrieve the correct item when needed. This misidentification underscores the impo...
A new deep learning model, driven by Armadillo optimization, has been developed to improve mobile target tracking in wireless sensor networks. This advancement is significant as it enhances the accuracy and efficiency of tracking moving targets, which is crucial for various applications in robotics...
MIT researchers have introduced a new memory system called UQ-DAAAM, designed to improve the accuracy of robotic assistants. This system identifies and corrects mislabeled objects in a robot's memory, enhancing its ability to perform complex tasks. By comparing multiple descriptions of the same obje...
Residents in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are expressing frustration over the noise generated by Amazon's MK30 delivery drones, which began operations nearby in August. The LeComptes, who enjoyed watching local hawks, have been driven indoors by the constant buzzing of drones, leading them to consider re...
Scuba diving imposes significant physical challenges on divers, who must contend with water resistance while managing breathing equipment and other gear. This struggle limits their underwater time, which is dictated by their physical endurance and the volume of breathing gas they can transport. The...
Susumu Tonegawa, a distinguished MIT professor for over 40 years, passed away on July 11. A memorial service held on October 16 brought together colleagues, mentees, and friends who shared heartfelt memories of his contributions to science and his profound humanity. Speakers highlighted Tonegawa's a...
Researchers at Tohoku University have created an innovative reflex module that enables musculoskeletal robots to replicate the knee-jerk reflex without the use of electronic sensors or circuits. This advancement allows for the generation of bipedal walking in robots, mimicking a fundamental aspect o...
The MIT Combat Robotics Club (CRC), founded in 2001 and rebooted in 2023, focuses on building and battling robots, fostering learning through competition. Led by Ryan Duarte, the club's ARES robot competes in the National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) and has undergone significant improvements after pre...
A new robotic hand has been designed to manipulate objects with improved dexterity. This advancement allows the hand to release and re-establish its grip effectively while preventing objects from slipping, even when the palm is oriented downwards. This innovation is significant as it enhances the c...
Mutembei Kariuki, along with co-founders Jude Mwenda and Stephanie Njerenga, established Fastagger to develop AI models tailored for Kenya's small businesses. Their flagship product, Auni, launched in 2024, integrates with M-Pesa, enabling around 6,000 businesses to analyze transaction data and rece...
The 2026 NEMO User Meeting, hosted by MIT.nano on October 5-6, gathered 65 representatives from 25 laboratories to discuss challenges in managing shared research facilities. The focus was on the NanoFab Equipment Management and Operations (NEMO) system, an open-source platform that aids in coordinat...
A new genetically optimized fuzzy logic controller for robotic arms has been detailed in the International Journal of Automation and Control. This innovative system significantly enhances the accuracy and resilience of a three-degree-of-freedom robotic arm during simulations, achieving an impressive...
For over a century, quadcopters have followed a traditional design featuring four arms with propellers extending from a rigid body. This configuration allows for precise and agile flight but is vulnerable to damage from collisions with obstacles. When encountering walls or other barriers, these dron...
Carnegie Mellon University's new Robotics Innovation Center, located in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood, spans 150,000 square feet. This facility symbolizes the university's longstanding legacy in robotics and its dedication to advancing innovation in the field. The establishment of this center...
A new humanoid AI system has been created that learns from distinct locomotion and object manipulation data. This innovative approach enables the AI to perform various stages of a task in sequence without needing complete demonstrations of the entire task. The significance of this development lies...
On Monday, numerous robots ascended over 3,000 steps on a renowned Chinese mountain, transporting eggs and watermelons. This event was organized to evaluate the endurance capabilities of these machines, as reported by state media. The significance of this race lies in its demonstration of robotic t...
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
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