Robotics & Automation News

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Science

Opinion: The fundamental automation systems driving our universe

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It was Nikola Tesla who said that if you want to understand the universe, “think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration”.

That statement, in itself, doesn’t really explain anything at all to the average person like me. Maybe a scientist can make something of it, but even for scientists, such answers are incomplete. In fact, I would argue that the biggest questions all remain unanswered.

I mean questions such as, for example, What happened before the Big Bang? [Read more…] about Opinion: The fundamental automation systems driving our universe

Can robots learn from ‘machine dreams’?

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Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory used AI-generated images to train a robot dog in parkour, without real-world data.

Parkour is a non-competitive physical discipline where participants move through an environment using their bodies to overcome obstacles – basically like navigating an obstacle course.

CSAIL’s LucidSim system demonstrates the potential of GenAI – generative AI, or generative AI – for creating relevant robotics training data, enabling expert-level performance in complex tasks like obstacle navigation and stair climbing. [Read more…] about Can robots learn from ‘machine dreams’?

Scientists build drone to follow and film bees

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A team at the University of Freiburg has built a drone capable of following and filming bees over a distance of more than 100 metres.

The data is intended to provide information about the behaviour of insects in their national surroundings. The researchers developed a new tracking technology for this purpose.

Scientists’ understanding of how insects behave in their natural surroundings is very limited. This is due, among other things, to technological difficulties attempting to follow and record the movements of bees, for example. [Read more…] about Scientists build drone to follow and film bees

Scientists discover how silkworm moth’s odor detection may improve robotics

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Researchers from Japan explore how the domesticated flightless silkworm moth (Bombyx mori), a prominent insect model in olfactory research, uses wing flapping to manipulate airflow, enhancing their ability to detect distant pheromones.

These findings highlight how moths guide pheromones to their odor sensors in antennae, and suggest potential applications for designing advanced robotic systems for odor source localization.

This could inspire future innovations in drones and provide design guidelines for robots to locate odor sources.

[Read more…] about Scientists discover how silkworm moth’s odor detection may improve robotics

Scientists develop ‘cat’s eye-inspired vision system’ for autonomous robotics

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Researchers led by Professor Young Min Song from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) have unveiled a vision system inspired by feline eyes to enhance object detection in various lighting conditions.

Featuring a unique shape and reflective surface, the system reduces glare in bright environments and boosts sensitivity in low-light scenarios.

By filtering unnecessary details, this technology significantly improves the performance of single-lens cameras, representing a notable advancement in robotic vision capabilities.

[Read more…] about Scientists develop ‘cat’s eye-inspired vision system’ for autonomous robotics

Comau to build automated lab test system for chemistry insitution in Slovenia

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Comau has secured a public tender with the National Institute of Chemistry in Slovenia, to industrialize flexible machines for advanced cell formation and testing.

The collaboration aims to develop and industrialize flexible machines for the formation and testing of advanced cell technologies at varying working temperatures. The project was started in June, and is expected to end by the end of 2025.

The scope of the project is to deliver a technology path (from design to installation and commissioning) for the industrialization of flexible machines that manage both the formation and testing of various cell formats. [Read more…] about Comau to build automated lab test system for chemistry insitution in Slovenia

Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

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Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed a robotic leg with artificial muscles. Inspired by living creatures, it jumps across different terrains in an agile and energy-efficient manner.

Inventors and researchers have been developing robots for almost 70 years. To date, all the machines they have built – whether for factories or elsewhere – have had one thing in common: they are powered by motors, a technology that is already 200 years old.

Even walking robots feature arms and legs that are powered by motors, not by muscles as in humans and animals. This in part suggests why they lack the mobility and adaptability of living creatures.

[Read more…] about Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

Opentrons launches no-code robot pipette with versatility of liquid handler

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Opentrons Labworks, a specialist in lab automation and accessible robotics, has launched its Opentrons Flex Prep robot, paired with new no-code software that allows users to “quickly set up a pipetting task and to execute that workflow all through the Flex Prep touchscreen”.

This innovative system integrates seamlessly into laboratory workflows, allowing users to set up pipetting tasks via an intuitive touchscreen interface.

Flex Prep combines the simplicity of a pipette with the power and versatility of a liquid handler, providing scientists with both ease of use and enhanced capability. With the touchscreen software, users can develop, visualize, and run pipetting tasks in as little as a minute. [Read more…] about Opentrons launches no-code robot pipette with versatility of liquid handler

Breakthrough in tremor treatment: Robotic therapy developed by GIST researchers ‘improves daily activities’

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Individuals with neurological disorders often experience tremors, posing various challenges. To address this, researchers from Korea developed SPINDLE, a pioneering robotic rehabilitation system.

Combining virtual reality (VR) with customized resistance training, SPINDLE offers personalized therapy to enhance strength and dexterity for activities of daily living (ADLs).

Its adaptability and potential for home use represent a major advancement in tremor rehabilitation, with broader healthcare implications. [Read more…] about Breakthrough in tremor treatment: Robotic therapy developed by GIST researchers ‘improves daily activities’

Consortium presents TraceBot at Future Labs Live

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A consortium of companies and organisations has presented TraceBot at the Future Labs Live event.

The aim of the TraceBot project is to develop laboratory robots that fulfil the criterion of traceability and are therefore suitable for use in laboratory environments and other fields of application with high safety and flexibility requirements.

On 26-27 June 2024, representatives of the TraceBot consortium presented the project at the international trade fair Future Labs Live in Basel. [Read more…] about Consortium presents TraceBot at Future Labs Live