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MIT unveils dexterous robotic hands that can ‘manipulate thousands of objects with ease’

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MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has revealed a dexterous robotic hand that scientists say can “manipulate thousands of objects with ease”. (See video below.)

At just one year old, a baby is more dexterous than a robot. Sure, machines can do more than just pick up and put down objects, but we’re not quite there as far as replicating a natural pull towards exploratory or sophisticated dexterous manipulation goes.

OpenAI gave it a try with “Dactyl” (meaning “finger” from the Greek word daktylos), using their humanoid robot hand to solve a Rubik’s cube with software that’s a step towards more general AI, and a step away from the common single-task mentality. DeepMind created “RGB-Stacking,” a vision-based system that challenges a robot to learn how to grab items and stack them.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), in the ever-present quest to get machines to replicate human abilities, created a framework that’s more scaled up: a system that can reorient over two thousand different objects, with the robotic hand facing both upwards and downwards. [Read more…] about MIT unveils dexterous robotic hands that can ‘manipulate thousands of objects with ease’

Top 10 Most Liked and Popular Robotic YouTube Channels

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Robotics remains one of the most popular subjects that individuals like to post videos about on YouTube. You should know that if you want to buy cheap YouTube likes, that is one way to get the engagement numbers you crave as a content creator.

However, if you know about robotics and can develop some interesting videos using those as subject matter, you are likely to find success.

We’ve come up with ten of the most liked and subscribed robotics video channels if you’re interested in seeing what we mean. Maybe you might check out these channels and decide which one you’d like to use as a model for your own robotics-based content. [Read more…] about Top 10 Most Liked and Popular Robotic YouTube Channels

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’

Adopt the Right Growth Mindset for Your Business with These Tips

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Two essential mindsets shape everyone’s life. One of the mindsets is a fixed one where you may have a desire to look smart. Therefore, you will act by avoiding risks and challenges, giving up easily, ignoring valuable critiques, and feeling threatened by people’s success in your life.

If you have a growth mindset, you are more likely to embrace challenges, take calculated risks, accept and learn from negative critiques, view setbacks as opportunities for improvement, and view the success of others as a source of inspiration.

The proper growth mindset goes a long way in helping you achieve great things in life. If you have a business, adopting a growth mindset can significantly boost its growth. [Read more…] about Adopt the Right Growth Mindset for Your Business with These Tips

SAE International launches 12-week robotics for autonomous vehicle systems training ‘Bootcamp’

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Virtual 12-week experience provides career development opportunities for engineers entering the fast-growing autonomous vehicles industry

SAE International has announced the new 12-week Robotics for Autonomous Vehicle Systems Bootcamp for recent graduates and/or entry-level mechanical, electrical and computer science engineers joining the industry to support autonomous vehicle (AV) system development.

In partnership with Clemson University and Argo AI, SAE designed the rigorous, virtual-only workforce development experience to provide participants with an in-depth technical understanding of how to build autonomous systems.

“Companies can spend upwards of 10 months onboarding entry-level AV positions, which in this fast-moving industry can directly hinder the development and deployment cycles. The Robotics for Autonomous Vehicle Systems Bootcamp aims to support both employers and professionals by bridging the training gap through an accelerated 12-week bootcamp,” said Elizabeth Melville, director of learning at SAE International. [Read more…] about SAE International launches 12-week robotics for autonomous vehicle systems training ‘Bootcamp’

Swiss university developing mobile robot that learns on the job

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A team from the Autonomous Systems Lab at the public research university ETH Zurich in Switzerland is creating robots and intelligent systems that are able to learn on the job. (See video below.)

The team’s machine – which consists of a robotic arm mounted on a mobile platform – can “autonomously operate in complex and diverse environments”, says an article on Clearpath Robotics’ website.

Using a Clearpath Ridgeback as a base and equipped with a Franka Emika Panda manipulator arm (called RoyalPanda, that is Ridgeback + Panda), the team is experimenting with a series of different scenarios to develop best practices of how a robot could “learn”. [Read more…] about Swiss university developing mobile robot that learns on the job

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

Jeff Brown’s latest prediction on stock markets: The second wave

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Stock markets are always unpredictable. You can lose money in split seconds or become a millionaire too.

However, Jeff Brown views the stock market differently, and losing is not his portion. He believes in seizing opportunities in current technologies and situations.

Jeff can predict potential brands to invest in for great profits in the future. During his latest prediction (the second wave), Brown feels the current market is not stable and poses a great risk in the near future. [Read more…] about Jeff Brown’s latest prediction on stock markets: The second wave

Webinar: Vision Guided Picking Applications

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Webinar title: Vision Guided Picking Applications
Early registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VY5rD2EJRR26L_p4KYwCcg

IDS is partnering with Robotics and Automation News to bring you a new and insightful webinar about a subject that will be of interest to many people.

Robot Vision helps to automate industrial processes economically. No wonder that robotics is one of the fastest growing technologies in industrial production. Learn about the benefits of 3D vision systems like Ensenso and how it is possible to turn robots into autonomously working colleagues. [Read more…] about Webinar: Vision Guided Picking Applications

4 Solid Reasons Why You Should Buy a 3D Printer for Home Use

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With the advancements of 3D printing technology, many hobbyists and those who are interested in making various projects have gained the tremendous advantage of having a 3D printer in the comfort of their homes.

It also makes for a good tool that your children can learn a lot from just by playing with their imaginations and realizing some of it with the use of these machines. [Read more…] about 4 Solid Reasons Why You Should Buy a 3D Printer for Home Use