Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

humanoids

Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions

by Leave a Comment

Performing human-like motions that involve multiple contacts is challenging for robots. In this regard, a researcher from the Tokyo University Science has envisioned an interactive cyber-physical human (iCPH) platform with complementary humanoid (physical twin) and simulation (digital twin) elements.

iCPH combines human measurement data, musculoskeletal analysis, and machine learning for data collection and augmentation. As a result, iCPH can understand, predict, and synthesize whole-body contact motions.

Humans naturally perform numerous complex tasks. These include sitting down, picking something up from a table, and pushing a cart. These activities involve various movements and require multiple contacts, which makes it difficult to program robots to perform them. [Read more…] about Interactive cyber-physical human: Generating contact-rich whole-body motions

Things You Should Know About Humanoids

by Leave a Comment

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

Our Cyborg Future: 16-nation study finds support for human augmentation

by Leave a Comment

Research says most of us would change something about ourselves if we could. But many fear human augmentation could be reserved for the rich – and that our bodies could even be the target for cybercriminals.

New research released today has uncovered widespread enthusiasm for human augmentation – the process of augmenting or improving the human body with technology.

The research – commissioned by security firm Kaspersky – found that 92 percent of us would change a physical aspect of ourselves if we could while nearly two thirds (63 percent) of us would consider augmenting our bodies with technology to improve them – either permanently or temporarily. [Read more…] about Our Cyborg Future: 16-nation study finds support for human augmentation

Boston Dynamics bring its canine robot to market

by

Boston Dynamics is making its canine robot, Spot, available to the market in limited numbers and to select customers. (See video.)

This is the first time Spot will be on sale and most of Boston Dynamics’ robots are still in various stages of research and development, most famously perhaps its humanoids, but also its unusual “Handle” material handling robot, which is basically a robotic arm on two wheels.

Boston Dynamics describes Spot as “a nimble robot that climbs stairs and traverses rough terrain with unprecedented ease, yet is small enough to use indoors”. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics bring its canine robot to market

Biology and robotics enter into an unholy union to bring forth nightmare creatures from the very depths of hell

by

The worlds of biology and robotics are increasingly merging and the end result will inevitably be the creation of hellish creatures that will be called “androids”, “cyborgs” or even simply “robots”. 

And with the growing capabilities of additive manufacturing or 3D printing which use sophisticated materials and techniques, the knowledge and the tools will be more widely available to create these creatures more easily than ever before.

In a recent development, a brand new, combined biomedical engineering and robotics centre was opened in Australia.  [Read more…] about Biology and robotics enter into an unholy union to bring forth nightmare creatures from the very depths of hell

Briefing – Products and Markets: Humanoid robots struggle to find a place in today’s society

by

Humanoids are probably the type of robots that the general public finds most fascinating. 

Yes, industrial robotic arms have their own attractions – the way they move so precisely and can work endlessly – but humanoids, for obvious reasons, possess the ultimate allure.

And if they take the form of your favourite person in the world – perhaps that film star you’ve had a crush on all your life – well, you’re practically in heaven.  [Read more…] about Briefing – Products and Markets: Humanoid robots struggle to find a place in today’s society

Robotic clones of dead family members on the way

by

Swedish scientists are developing robotic clones to replace family members who have died, according to a report on Sputnik News.

It might sound macabre to some, but to others, it might seem a natural thing to want to hold on to whatever they can of loved ones they have lost.

Sputnik cites a report in Dagen daily which adds that the scientists plan to use artificial intelligence to make the androids speak like the dead people they replace, using their voices and mannerisms.  [Read more…] about Robotic clones of dead family members on the way

Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

by

If we were to think of robotics and automation as one industry – which we at this website in fact do – we could argue that it’s one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now.

Certainly if we were to include software automation systems – such as robotic process automation – it would probably be the biggest.

But Robotics and Automation News tends to concentrate on physical machines – such as robotic arms or autonomous vehicles – which can be seen in a typical manufacturing or logistics facility.

And we try and understand what other sectors are most closely related to robotics and automation – manufacturing and logistics being two obvious ones.

[Read more…] about Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

Top celebrities most likely to be remade as robots and androids

by

There’s probably an awful lot of lonely people out there who yearn for companionship, for intimacy, comfort, or for whatever reason.

And at least some of those people may be more than happy to buy a walking, talking, physical likeness of whoever is the most desirable celebrity of the day perhaps.  [Read more…] about Top celebrities most likely to be remade as robots and androids