Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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How modern robots are developed: ‘Human cyborgs will become commonplace’

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Today, neuroscience and robotics are developing hand in hand. Mikhail Lebedev, academic supervisor at HSE University’s Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces, spoke about how studying the brain inspires the development of robots.

Robots are interesting to neuroscience and neuroscience is interesting to robots – this is what the article “Neuroengineering challenges of fusing robotics and neuroscience” was about in the journal Science Robotics.

Such collaborative development contributes to progress in both fields, bringing us closer to developing more advanced android robots and a deeper understanding of the structure of the human brain. And, to some extent, to combining biological organisms with machines, to create cybernetic organisms (cyborgs). [Read more…] about How modern robots are developed: ‘Human cyborgs will become commonplace’

What Happens When Cybercriminals Target Industrial Robots?

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Historically, robots were just dumb pieces of programmable machinery that did the same task over and over again. They had virtually no ability to sense their environment. And they certainly couldn’t make decisions for themselves.

With the advent of machine learning and smart systems, that’s all changing. Now designers are imbuing their mechanical appendages with all manner of intelligence. And it’s only getting better.

For economists, these trends are extremely exciting. We could be looking at a future where robots do the vast majority of manual jobs, freeing up labour for other tasks, boosting productivity like nothing else in human history. [Read more…] about What Happens When Cybercriminals Target Industrial Robots?

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Surveillance Industry

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Like other sectors of our lives, the game-changing impact of artificial intelligence in our security systems cannot be ignored.

Let’s face it, despite several innovative and giant strides in security systems, they still depend on human monitoring and unwavering focus. It is an undeniable fact that the attention span of a typical human is short at best.

The need to keep close eyes on things means more cameras and more critical events likely to be missed in real-time. Browsing through tonnes of boring recorded video data after the fact is not an easy task. [Read more…] about The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Surveillance Industry

Things You Should Know About Humanoids

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Back in the days, it was hard to imagine that we’d be making and using robots and artificial intelligence. But now, it’s 2021, and we’re enjoying the perks of the advancements in our technology.

These creations have made things so convenient for us. We may be far from living like the Jetsons yet, but the innovations we experience today is already something. [Read more…] about Things You Should Know About Humanoids

Savioke says hotels turning to its room service robot

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An increasing number of hotels are making enquiries to Savioke about its room service robots, according to the company.

As the hospitality industry struggles to adapt to changing consumer behavior during the coronavirus pandemic, many hotels are turning to room service robots to help wary travelers feel more at ease.

David Wang, director of sales and marketing at the Crowne Plaza San Jose – Silicon Valley hotel, in Milpitas, says: “Guests now think of it as a perk to not have a person come to their room. [Read more…] about Savioke says hotels turning to its room service robot

Showing robots how to drive a car… in just a few easy lessons

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USC researchers have developed a method that could allow robots to learn new tasks, like setting a table or driving a car, from observing a small number of demonstrations.

Imagine if robots could learn from watching demonstrations: you could show a domestic robot how to do routine chores or set a dinner table. In the workplace, you could train robots like new employees, showing them how to perform many duties. On the road, your self-driving car could learn how to drive safely by watching you drive around your neighborhood.

Making progress on that vision, USC researchers have designed a system that lets robots autonomously learn complicated tasks from a very small number of demonstrations – even imperfect ones. The paper, titled Learning from Demonstrations Using Signal Temporal Logic, was presented at the Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL). [Read more…] about Showing robots how to drive a car… in just a few easy lessons

MMI Micro launches ‘world’s smallest-wristed’ surgical instruments

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MMI Micro, an Italian company specialised in improving clinical outcomes for patients undergoing microsurgery, has launched what it claims is “the world’s smallest wristed surgical instruments”.

The company’s system has been awarded the CE Mark, a standard in Europe, and it has already completed the first human use of its Symani Surgical System for open microsurgical procedures.

The first four robotic surgeries were successfully performed in Florence, Italy, including three complex, post-traumatic lower limb reconstructions as well as a post-oncological reconstruction of the pharynx. [Read more…] about MMI Micro launches ‘world’s smallest-wristed’ surgical instruments

Mattress Automation: Now And In The Future

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The idea of cold, calculating machines helping us get things done might have seemed a little scary a few decades ago, but industries are starting to see computers and machines as more than just lifeless equipment.

There isn’t a single industry that hasn’t made use of automation. We can now get things done faster and in a more efficient way and we can eliminate the risk that comes with human error. From manufacturing equipment, to data collection and even e-commerce. We’re already seeing the impact automation is making in the mattress industry. [Read more…] about Mattress Automation: Now And In The Future

Avnet poised to play key role in next-generation automotive technology

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The automotive industry is undergoing an historic transformation which will fundamentally shift the way vehicles are manufactured as well as change the way we look at and use cars, and possibly all road-going automobiles.

In-keeping with the widespread trend, Avnet, one of the world’s leading distributors of electronic components, is taking a leading position in developing the technologies required to make the future a reality.

A number of predictions are being made for the automotive industry, and many of them may have sounded outlandish in the past, but now that the public at large has accepted driverless cars as a realistic concept, anything is possible – even flying cars. [Read more…] about Avnet poised to play key role in next-generation automotive technology

Ensenso 3D stereo camera system imitates human vision to make robotic inspection cells faster and more accurate

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The new Ensenso 3D stereo industrial camera system “imitates human vision” to make robotic inspection cells “faster and more accurate”, according to Imaging Development Systems (IDS).

Each Ensenso camera system contains two 2D IDS cameras to view the scene from different positions, similar to the way human eyes work, with artificial intelligence processing the data, rather like the human brain does.

“Special matching algorithms compare the two images, search for corresponding points and visualize all point displacements in a disparity map,” explains IDS. “This is then used to calculate depth information for the resulting point cloud.” [Read more…] about Ensenso 3D stereo camera system imitates human vision to make robotic inspection cells faster and more accurate