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Worcester Polytechnic invents robot lizard to ‘sneak into small spaces’

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researchers have partnered with the City of Worcester to develop a lizard-like soft robot that can creep into walls, ductwork, and pipes to perform inspections and three-dimensional mapping tasks that could be dangerous or impossible for humans.

Funded by a $50,000 National Science Foundation grant, the team – Cagdas Onal, Paul Mathisen, Yunus Telliel, and Berk Calli – collaborated with students and city officials to design the slender and deformable robot, which can get into tight spaces much less invasively than current methods allow.

The team built the prototype robot – an “origami” design made of plastic, 3D-printed, and laser-machined parts, custom circuit boards, a miniature computer, sensors, a few metal parts and motors – and tested it in locations across the city that included City Hall and the Worcester Senior Center. [Read more…] about Worcester Polytechnic invents robot lizard to ‘sneak into small spaces’

Toyota Research Institute unveils ‘breakthrough’ in teaching robots new behaviors

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Toyota Research Institute (TRI) says it has achieved a “breakthrough generative AI approach” based on Diffusion Policy to quickly and confidently teach robots new, dexterous skills.

This advancement significantly improves robot utility and is a step towards building “Large Behavior Models (LBMs)” for robots, analogous to the Large Language Models (LLMs) that have recently revolutionized conversational AI.

Gill Pratt, CEO of TRI and chief scientist for Toyota Motor Corporation, says: “Our research in robotics is aimed at amplifying people rather than replacing them. [Read more…] about Toyota Research Institute unveils ‘breakthrough’ in teaching robots new behaviors

WPI researcher receives $600,000 grant to develop 3D printable robots for search-and-rescue operations

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researcher Markus Nemitz is the recipient of a $599,815 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to develop an innovative architecture for low-cost custom robots capable of traversing challenging terrains by swimming, crawling, climbing, and diving through hostile and confined spaces as part of search-and-rescue operations.

Nemitz, an assistant professor in WPI’s Department of Robotics Engineering, will focus on developing small and flexible 3D-printed robots with integrated fluidic circuits that can be rapidly fabricated for specific disasters.

His five-year project will involve testing these robots in a miniaturized model that will be built at WPI and replicate parts of the Tham Luang cave in Thailand where flooding trapped 12 members of a youth soccer team and their coach in 2018. [Read more…] about WPI researcher receives $600,000 grant to develop 3D printable robots for search-and-rescue operations

Electric Future: MIT showcases electric autonomous boat technology

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If you like the idea of zero-emissions travel on the water, an electric autonomous boat might be the right mode of transportation for you.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Senseable City Laboratory, together with Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute) in the Netherlands, have been showcasing the final project in their self-navigating trilogy: a full-scale, fully autonomous robotic boat that’s ready to be deployed along the canals of Amsterdam.

“Roboat” has come a long way since the team first started prototyping small vessels in the MIT pool in late 2015. Last year, the team released their half-scale, medium model that was 2 meters long and demonstrated promising navigational prowess.

This year, two full-scale Roboats were launched, proving more than just proof-of-concept: these craft can comfortably carry up to five people, collect waste, deliver goods, and provide on-demand infrastructure. [Read more…] about Electric Future: MIT showcases electric autonomous boat technology

Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) returns to CES 2023 to push the boundaries of head-to-head autonomous racing and showcase the future of autonomous mobility.

The IAC will have a significant presence throughout CES 2023 with the Autonomous Challenge @ CES at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 7; an exhibit in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in the LVCC West Hall booth #3601; a tabletop at CES Unveiled on January 3 and a press conference at CES Media Days on January 4. [Read more…] about Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES

Hyundai establishes Boston Dynamics AI Institute

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Hyundai Motor Group have launched the Boston Dynamics AI Institute, with the goal of making fundamental advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and intelligent machines.

Hyundai and Boston Dynamics will make an initial investment of more than $400 million in the new Institute, which will be led by Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics.

As a research-first organization, the Institute will work on solving the most important and difficult challenges facing the creation of advanced robots. [Read more…] about Hyundai establishes Boston Dynamics AI Institute

Hyundai and Kia to develops mobile robots for space exploration

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South Korean automotive giants Hyundai and Kia have agreed a partnership to develop robotic technology for space exploration.

The two companies say they “are now expanding their vision beyond the bounds of Earth and into space” are specifically concentrating on robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

Hyundai and Kia recently signed joint research agreements with six Korean research institutes and formed a consultative body to develop mobility solutions to explore the surface of the moon. This follows Korea’s successful launch of a domestically produced rocket in June. [Read more…] about Hyundai and Kia to develops mobile robots for space exploration

Tas Global commercializes ‘world’s first’ ship hull cleaning robot system

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A startup company called Tas Global is commercializing what it says is the world’s only robot capable of cleaning freely on curved surfaces.

The company has registered more than 30 patents in 16 countries including the US on the journey to bringing the robotic system to market.

Selected as a South Korean government project, Tas started by developing technology for processing organisms attached on a ship’s hull. [Read more…] about Tas Global commercializes ‘world’s first’ ship hull cleaning robot system

Founder Institute, NASA Ames and MassRobotics partner to launch AI and robotics accelerator in Boston

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The Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is partnering with NASA Ames Research Center and MassRobotics for the upcoming Founder Institute AI & Robotics Accelerator program in Boston.

Founders working on aerospace/space, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, augmented/virtual reality, voice, drones and related technologies can apply to the program here: http://fi.co/join/AIRobotics. [Read more…] about Founder Institute, NASA Ames and MassRobotics partner to launch AI and robotics accelerator in Boston

Toyota Research Institute reaches ‘new technical milestones in robotics’

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Toyota Research Institute (TRI) says it has reached “new technical milestones in robotics”. The company has unveiled new robotics capabilities aimed at solving complex tasks in home environments.

Specifically, TRI roboticists were able to train robots to understand and operate in complicated situations that confuse most other robots, including recognizing and responding to transparent and reflective surfaces in a variety of circumstances.

As TRI demonstrates in a new video (see below), this robust system allows robots to make generalizations in a range of scenarios, including in different homes. [Read more…] about Toyota Research Institute reaches ‘new technical milestones in robotics’