Robotics & Automation News

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Carnegie Mellon develops Apple-inspired recycling robot

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A researcher from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science is using robotics to improve e-waste recycling.

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing types of waste in the world, with an estimated 62 million tons produced in 2022 alone. But only about 20 percent of that was recycled. As reliance on tech devices grows, finding ways to salvage and recycle their components becomes critical.

Matt Travers, a senior systems scientist in the School of Computer Science’s Robotics Institute, has launched a new company, roboLoop, that uses technology inspired by his e-waste recycling research partnership with Apple to help disassemble flat panel displays. roboLoop’s robot was recently installed at a facility in State College, Pennsylvania. The new robot speeds up e-waste recycling for flat-screen displays. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon develops Apple-inspired recycling robot

CMU scientists contribute to NASA’s autonomous robot snake

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Carnegie Mellon University researchers teamed up with scientists at NASA to develop a robot capable of searching underwater oceans on distant planets for signs of life. (See video below.)

NASA’s Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) is a self-propelled, autonomous, snake-like robot inspired by a desire to one day look for signs of life in the vast ocean beneath the icy crust of Saturn’s Enceladus moon.

The robot can autonomously navigate extreme terrain, enabling it to traverse not only ice but also sand, rocks, cliff walls, deep craters, underground lava tubes and glaciers. [Read more…] about CMU scientists contribute to NASA’s autonomous robot snake

Carnegie Mellon scientists demonstrate head-worn assistive device for robotics

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Researchers say they have learned a lot from in-home test of adaptive robot interface

No one could blame Carnegie Mellon University students Akhil Padmanabha and Janavi Gupta if they were a bit anxious this past August as they traveled to the Bay Area home of Henry and Jane Evans.

The students were about to live with strangers for the next seven days. On top of that, Henry, a person with quadriplegia, would spend the week putting their Head-Worn Assistive Teleoperation (HAT) — an experimental interface to control a mobile robot – to the test. (See video below.)

HAT requires fewer fine motor skills than other interfaces to help people with some form of paralysis or similar motor impairments control a mobile robot and manipulator. It allows users to control a mobile robot via head motion and speech recognition, and versions of the device have featured a hands-free microphone and head-worn sensor. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon scientists demonstrate head-worn assistive device for robotics

CMU Robotics Institute develops system to detect and fix problems in gas pipelines

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Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute are developing a modular robot that can creep inside natural gas pipelines to map where pipes are, detect decrepit or leaking pipes, and, when necessary, repair the pipe by applying a resin coating along its inner wall.

“We don’t even know where all the old pipes are,” says Howie Choset, the Kavčić-Moura Professor of Computer Science, who directs the project in the Biorobotics Lab with research scientist Lu Li.

The confined spaces of pipes, largely inaccessible to people, are a natural place to deploy robots. Over the years, CMU researchers and spinout companies have developed a number of schemes and robots for inspecting sewer, gas distribution and nuclear power plant pipes. [Read more…] about CMU Robotics Institute develops system to detect and fix problems in gas pipelines

Carnegie Mellon researchers demo robotic hand costing less than $2,000

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With prices ranging from $16,000 to $150,000, the cost of robotic hands has stunted progress in manipulation research.

Even as machine learning and artificial intelligence enable robots to acquire more skills and accomplish more tasks, the lack of suitable, reliable and affordable hardware has limited the transfer of these gains out of simulation and into the real world.

For example, robotic hands that can mimic a human’s more closely than the more affordable grippers currently used in labs can operate the same tools as people and accomplish more tasks. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon researchers demo robotic hand costing less than $2,000

Carnegie Mellon builds killer robot to save economy

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A team from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute has developed an autonomous robot to find and kill dangerously spotted lanternflies before they’re even born. Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects known to destroy economically important crops. (See video below.)

TartanPest uses an all-electric tractor, a robotic arm and computer vision to traverse fields and forests while it detects and destroys spotted lanternfly egg masses.

The egg masses – which contain 30-50 eggs and are often found on trees, rocks, outdoor furniture and rusty metal surfaces – are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring, birthing a new generation of the pests each year. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon builds killer robot to save economy

Facebook files patent for robotic eyeball

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Social media giant Facebook has filed a patent for a robotic eyeball, according to a report on Gizmodo.com.

The “mechanical eyeball” is said to feature human-like abilities and can be integrated to humanoid or other types of robots.

Why Facebook, which recently rebranded itself as Meta, is developing a robot eyeball is subject to considerable speculation. [Read more…] about Facebook files patent for robotic eyeball

Carnegie Mellon awarded $150 million to develop robotics research facility

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The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded Carnegie Mellon University $150 million to support science and robotics research through the building of a new facility. 

Farnam Jahanian, CMU president, says: “Pittsburgh’s future – and the future of US innovation and global competitiveness – are inextricably linked to scientific and technological advances, and how well organizations, communities, and industries can stay ahead of the rapid pace of change.

“Carnegie Mellon is positioned at the forefront of science and innovation’s great promise, and this visionary grant will fuel the research and activities that will build this exciting future. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon awarded $150 million to develop robotics research facility

Pittsburgh looks to ‘infinity and beyond’ with $200 million NASA contract win

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Pittsburgh local authorities say they are looking to “infinity and beyond” after NASA awarded a local company, Astrobotic Technology, a $200 million contract to build and send the first-ever US rover to the Moon by 2023.

Specialising in the development of space robotics technology for lunar and planetary missions, Astrobotic was founded in 2007 by Carnegie Mellon University professor Red Whittaker and his associates.

Whittaker is considered the “father of field robotics” for his pioneering work and the company was designed with the specific goal of putting a rover on the Moon. [Read more…] about Pittsburgh looks to ‘infinity and beyond’ with $200 million NASA contract win

Omron developing robotic suitcase with AI to assist visually impaired people

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Omron has joined a consortium which is developing a robotic suitcase with artificial intelligence to assist visually impaired people.

As well as Omron, the consortium includes companies such as IBM Japan, Mitsubishi Motors, and Shimizu Corporation.

The AI suitcase is described as an integrated solution that will help the visually impaired to get around town independently, by supplementing visual information by combining the latest AI with robotics. [Read more…] about Omron developing robotic suitcase with AI to assist visually impaired people