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Robot performs laparoscopic surgery without guiding hand of a human

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By Catherine Graham, Johns Hopkins University

In four experiments on pig tissues, the robot excelled at suturing two ends of intestine – one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in abdominal surgery

A robot has performed laparoscopic surgery – also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery – on the soft tissue of a pig without the guiding hand of a human.

The people responsible say this is “a significant step toward fully automated surgery on humans”.

Designed by a team of Johns Hopkins University researchers, the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot, or STAR, is described today in Science Robotics.

Senior author Axel Krieger, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins’ Whiting School of Engineering, says: “Our findings show that we can automate one of the most intricate and delicate tasks in surgery: the reconnection of two ends of an intestine. [Read more…] about Robot performs laparoscopic surgery without guiding hand of a human

Pretentious method-acting humanoid robot to star in $70 million Hollywood blockbuster film

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A humanoid robot developed by Japanese scientists is to star in a $70 million budget Hollywood film.

The name of the robot is Erica, and it was created by famed humanoid roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, along with fellow scientist Kohei Ogawa.

The two creators are said to have programmed Erica in the art of “method acting”, in which an actor aspires to complete emotional identification with a part. [Read more…] about Pretentious method-acting humanoid robot to star in $70 million Hollywood blockbuster film

Russians demonstrate robocop for security work

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It’s probably not the best time for the Russians to be unveiling a “robocop”, what with all the paranoia about Russians meddling in previous US elections and influencing candidates for future ones, but that is what a Perm-based company called PromoBot has done, according to Daily Star. 

The authoritative news outlet, which mainly features pictures if buxom women on its home page, says the new Russian robotic cop will be used for fingerprinting and background checks.

However, since it’s a humanoid robot, it’s flexible enough to be reconfigured for a variety of uses, including carrying firearms. [Read more…] about Russians demonstrate robocop for security work

Nasa telescope reveals largest batch of Earth-size, habitable-zone planets around single star

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new planet

Nasa’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.

The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water – key to life as we know it – under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.

“This discovery could be a significant piece in the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.” [Read more…] about Nasa telescope reveals largest batch of Earth-size, habitable-zone planets around single star