Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Science

ETH researchers develop magnet-controlled microrobot that swims through blood vessels to deliver drugs directly to stroke-related clots

by

ETH Zurich researchers have developed a magnet-controlled microrobot capable of navigating the human vascular system to deliver drugs directly to stroke-related clots, marking a significant step toward targeted, minimally invasive therapies. (Full story here.)

The technology, published in Science, represents one of the most advanced demonstrations to date of controlled microrobot navigation inside complex anatomical environments.

The experimental microrobot consists of a tiny spherical capsule made of a soluble gel loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic control and tantalum nanoparticles for X-ray visibility. [Read more…] about ETH researchers develop magnet-controlled microrobot that swims through blood vessels to deliver drugs directly to stroke-related clots

KAUST startups raise over $1 billion as Saudi deep-tech ecosystem gains global momentum

by

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) startup portfolio has successfully raised more than $1 billion in investments, co-investing with a diverse network of local and global venture capital firms.

KAUST’s says this “significant milestone” underscores the organization’s growing impact on the global deep-tech landscape.

As a leading international graduate-level research university in Saudi Arabia, KAUST’s startup portfolio has celebrated its best year yet in growing not only Saudi Arabia’s high-tech and deep-tech sectors but also contributing to global innovation. [Read more…] about KAUST startups raise over $1 billion as Saudi deep-tech ecosystem gains global momentum

Technology company NaturePlast invents biodegradable plastic fishing nets

by

In the heart of Normandy, where fishing and industry have long shaped the regional economy, NaturePlast is using artificial intelligence and digital innovation to build a more sustainable future.

The Caen-based company is proving that even traditional sectors like fishing and construction can benefit from cutting-edge technology by applying advanced digital modeling and AI-based tools from the EU-funded DiMAT project to design stronger, greener, and more sustainable materials faster than ever before.

NaturePlast, a French leader in bio-based and biodegradable plastics, is developing new-generation bioplastic formulations for the production of technical filaments used in fishing and construction nets. [Read more…] about Technology company NaturePlast invents biodegradable plastic fishing nets

ETH researchers develop novel artificial muscles that ‘move with sound’

by

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed artificial muscles that contain microbubbles and can be controlled with ultrasound. In the future, these muscles could be deployed in technical and medical settings as gripper arms, tissue patches, targeted drug delivery, or robots. (See video below.)

It might look like a simple material experiment at first glance, as a brief ultrasound stimulation induces a thin strip of silicone to start bending and arching.

But that’s just the beginning. A team led by Daniel Ahmed, Professor of Acoustic Robotics for Life Sciences and Healthcare, has developed a new class of artificial muscles: flexible membranes that respond to ultrasound with the help of thousands of microbubbles. [Read more…] about ETH researchers develop novel artificial muscles that ‘move with sound’

University of Waterloo-led researchers develop ‘artificial muscles’ for robots

by

An international team led by researchers at the University of Waterloo has developed material that can be flexible “artificial muscles” to replace rigid motors and pumps in robots and allow them to move more naturally and fluidly.

Soft robots differ from hard robots in that they are pliable and flexible, making them safe for interaction with people, but the materials currently used for components enabling their movement aren’t strong enough to be effective.

The Waterloo-led research group found a way to dramatically strengthen smart, rubber-like materials by mixing liquid crystals (LCs) – commonly found in displays for electronics and sensors – into promising building blocks for soft robots known as liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). [Read more…] about University of Waterloo-led researchers develop ‘artificial muscles’ for robots

Agentic science and the rise of the self-driving lab at Virginia Tech

by

Agentic science. A quick glance at the term and you might think of something very complex, but the end goal is to use artificial intelligence (AI) “agents” to advance scientific research with ease. And while these agents aren’t top secret, they are highly skilled and trained.

Hongliang Xin, Virginia Tech chemical engineering professor, along with collaborators John Kitchin from Carnegie Mellon University and Heather Kulik from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published a commentary in Nature Machine Intelligence exploring the foundation and frontiers of agentic science, outlining its emerging uses, limitations, and pathways for responsible integration into scientific practice.

In a recent conversation, Xin, Kitchin, and Kulik discussed the emerging paradigm of “agentic science” and what it means for the future of research. [Read more…] about Agentic science and the rise of the self-driving lab at Virginia Tech

Robotic skin allows tiny robots to navigate complex, fragile environments

by

UC San Diego researchers have developed a soft robotic skin that enables vine robots that are just a few millimeters wide to navigate convoluted paths and fragile environments.

To accomplish this, the researchers integrated a very thin layer of actuators made of liquid crystal elastomer at strategic locations in the soft skin. The robot is steered by controlling the pressure inside its body and temperature of the actuators.

The researchers showed that a robot equipped with this skin could successfully navigate a model of the arteries in a human body. The robot also was able to navigate a model of the interior of a jet engine. [Read more…] about Robotic skin allows tiny robots to navigate complex, fragile environments

Opinion: AI and robotics poised to transform scientific discovery, say global experts

by

A globally connected ecosystem of autonomous laboratories could redefine how science is conducted, accelerating discovery while lowering barriers to participation, according to a new expert viewpoint published in Science Robotics, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The article titled, “Accelerating Discovery in Natural Science Laboratories with AI and Robotics: Perspectives and Challenges”, brings together leading voices from academia, industry, and government to explore how artificial intelligence, robotics, and laboratory automation can drive breakthroughs in chemistry, biology, and materials science.

With authors from Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Technical University of Munich (TUM), University of Toronto and other world-leading organizations, it highlights both the transformative potential and the technical and societal challenges of these technologies. [Read more…] about Opinion: AI and robotics poised to transform scientific discovery, say global experts

Scientists to study how nanoplastics transmit from mothers to babies

by

You can’t see nanoplastics with the naked eye, but they’re everywhere – including your body.

Tinier than the better-known microplastics, these plastic particles range from one nanometer to one micrometer in size; a human hair, by comparison, is about 100 micrometers thick.

“Nanoplastics are present in drinking water, food and the air, and have been detected in both tap water and bottled water,” explained Binghamton University assistant professor of chemistry Huiyuan Guo. “They are widely detected in the environment.” [Read more…] about Scientists to study how nanoplastics transmit from mothers to babies

Georgia Tech team designs robot guide dog to assist the visually impaired

by

People who are visually impaired and cannot afford or care for service animals might have a practical alternative in a robotic guide dog being developed at Georgia Tech.

Before launching its prototype, a research team within Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing, led by Professor Bruce Walker and Assistant Professor Sehoon Ha, is working to improve its methods and designs based on research within blind and visually impaired (BVI) communities.

“There’s been research on the technical aspects and functionality of robotic guide dogs, but not a lot of emphasis on the aesthetics or form factors,” says Avery Gong, a recent master’s graduate who worked in Walker’s lab. “We wanted to fill this gap.” [Read more…] about Georgia Tech team designs robot guide dog to assist the visually impaired