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Virginia Tech innovates underwater robotics with support from the Office of Naval Research

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It’s been said that we know more about the surface of the moon than the floor of Earth’s oceans. For more than two decades, Virginia Tech’s Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics has been developing robots that can find what lies beneath the sea surface with the support of the Office of Naval Research.

Bringing together faculty and students from the College of Engineering and the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, the center is developing advanced underwater robots and autonomy algorithms that enable them to operate intelligently without human oversight.

The research team recently was awarded two grants totaling more than $5 million to continue that mission. Two additional grant proposals, totaling about $2.4 million, have been selected by the agency and awards are in process. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech innovates underwater robotics with support from the Office of Naval Research

Mobile robot shipments set to grow from 547,000 to 2.8 million by 2030, says report

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Mobile robot shipments will remain the highest across all robot form factors. ABI Research, a technology intelligence firm, forecasts shipments to grow from 547,000 units in 2023 to 2.79 million by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 24.1 percent.

Mobile robots are most used within warehousing and logistics, but the form factor is increasingly essential in manufacturing, last-mile delivery, agriculture, and healthcare. Mobile robots demonstrate efficiency improvements for diverse applications varying from cleaning to security.

Accordingly, revenue generated from mobile robots will rise from $18 billion to $124 billion by 2030, a CAGR of 23.6 percent. [Read more…] about Mobile robot shipments set to grow from 547,000 to 2.8 million by 2030, says report

How Robotics is Revolutionizing Agriculture

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Farmers across the world are currently faced with some significant challenges, including labor shortages, an increased demand for food, and the need for sustainable solutions.

To address these numerous challenges, farmers are turning to advanced technologies to make their farms more efficient.

As a result, agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation as robotics and automation reshape traditional farming. These technologies are not only optimizing resource usage but also making a smaller impact on the environment. [Read more…] about How Robotics is Revolutionizing Agriculture

Stanford University launches new, multidisciplinary and ‘unified’ robotics centre

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Stanford University’s robotics researchers, once dispersed in labs across campus, now have a unified, state-of-the-art space for groundbreaking research, education, and collaboration.

The basement beneath the Packard Electrical Engineering Building, once a hallway with researchers working behind closed doors, is now a bustling hub for collaboration. After many years of planning, fundraising, and development, the all-new Stanford Robotics Center officially opened its doors with a reception on November 1st.

The new facility is a bright, open, and vibrant space with a number of research bays arranged side-by-side. In one corner, a dancer pirouettes as her movements are digitized and projected on a nearby monitor.

Next door, a pair of robotic arms makes a bed while others prepare a meal. Not far away, a medical student gazes into stereoscopic lenses manipulating hand tools while a machine across the room performs a mock surgery.

[Read more…] about Stanford University launches new, multidisciplinary and ‘unified’ robotics centre

Ports predicted to drive autonomous crane market past $6 billion by 2030

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Ports are receiving significant investment to both optimize and automate daily operations.

According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, revenues for autonomous cranes in ports will surpass $6 billion globally by 2030, with Asia-Pacific (APAC) taking up over half of the market.

Ryan Wiggin, senior analyst at ABI Research, says: “The adoption of advanced technologies in port operations continues to grow in all regions but does vary based on infrastructure maturity and union resistance. [Read more…] about Ports predicted to drive autonomous crane market past $6 billion by 2030

Boston Dynamics and Toyota partner to advance humanoid robotics research

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Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute (TRI) say they are partnering to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence and robotics.

The research partnership aims to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoid robots utilizing TRI’s Large Behavior Models and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot.

Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, says: “There has never been a more exciting time for the robotics industry, and we look forward to working with TRI to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoids. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics and Toyota partner to advance humanoid robotics research

CynLr opens first R&D facility in Switzerland

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Cybernetics Laboratory (CynLr), an Indian deep-tech startup specialising in visual object intelligence robotics and cybernetics, has opened its first “International Design & Research Centre” in Switzerland.

The announcement was made during the Swiss-Indian Innovation Week at Unlimitrust Campus in Prilly, headed by Pascal Marmier.

This Swiss Indian Innovation Week is being organised by Innovaud (Vaud’s Innovation and Economic Promotion Body associated with the Swiss Government) in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise.

[Read more…] about CynLr opens first R&D facility in Switzerland

NASA boosts GoAERO’s mission with Space Act Agreement and university innovation project funding

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GoAERO says its Space Act Agreement with NASA codifies and expands its partnership and marks a “significant leap forward” in its mission to revolutionize emergency response aviation.

In addition, NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) has committed additional funding through its University Innovation Project, specifically targeting US-based university teams participating in the GoAERO Prize competition.

This collaboration, announced at the recent International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) conference, underscores NASA’s dedication to fostering innovation in aviation and emergency response technologies. [Read more…] about NASA boosts GoAERO’s mission with Space Act Agreement and university innovation project funding

Toyota Research Institute and Stanford Engineering achieve ‘world’s first’ fully autonomous tandem drift sequence

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Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and Stanford Engineering have demonstrated what they say is “a world first” in driving research: autonomously drifting two cars in tandem.

For nearly seven years, the teams have collaborated on research to make driving safer. The experiments automate a motorsports maneuver called “drifting”, where a driver precisely controls a vehicle’s direction after breaking traction by spinning the rear tires – a skill transferable to recovering from a slide on snow or ice.

By adding a second car drifting in tandem, the teams have now more closely simulated dynamic conditions where cars must respond quickly to other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. [Read more…] about Toyota Research Institute and Stanford Engineering achieve ‘world’s first’ fully autonomous tandem drift sequence

Is Rice a GMO Crop?

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Many people are increasingly concerned about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their food, and rice is a staple in diets worldwide.

As consumers become more health-conscious and environmentally aware, it’s natural to wonder: Is rice a GMO crop?

Most rice varieties are not genetically modified. Currently, no GMO rice varieties are approved for commercial production or sale in the global market, including in the United States. [Read more…] about Is Rice a GMO Crop?