Robotics & Automation News

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Millions of microscopic robots could be used to fight diseases inside the body

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By David Nutt, Cornell University

Millions of tiny little robots, like the ones unveiled by scientists at Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania, could be used to fight diseases inside the human body.

The researchers have built microscopic robots that consist of a simple circuit made from silicon photovoltaics – essentially the torso and brain – and four electrochemical actuators that function as legs.

When laser light is shined on the photovoltaics, the robots walk. [Read more…] about Millions of microscopic robots could be used to fight diseases inside the body

Origami-inspired miniature robot could open new era of surgical robotics

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By Lindsay Brownell, Wyss Institute, Harvard University

Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, in which a surgeon uses tools and a tiny camera inserted into small incisions to perform operations, has made surgical procedures safer for both patients and doctors over the last half-century.

Recently, surgical robots have started to appear in operating rooms to further assist surgeons by allowing them to manipulate multiple tools at once with greater precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with traditional techniques.

However, these robotic systems are extremely large, often taking up an entire room, and their tools can be much larger than the delicate tissues and structures on which they operate. [Read more…] about Origami-inspired miniature robot could open new era of surgical robotics

Mecademic releases new firmware for its tiny little industrial robot

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Mecademic has released new firmware for its tiny little industrial robot, the Meca500, dubbed “the world’s smallest six-axis industrial robot arm”.

Though minuscule, the machine has six axes and is said to be essentially the same in movement and articulation to a large industrial robot. The Mecademic robot features 5 micron repeatability and has a price tag consistent with industry-standard robots.

Mecademic, a Canadian startup, says the new firmware 8 is “an entirely new software product”, and will be the base for all future Mecademic robots. [Read more…] about Mecademic releases new firmware for its tiny little industrial robot

Sharp sends 36 tiny humanoid robots to Japanese hotel to help guests

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Electronics company Sharp has sent 36 tiny humanoid robots to a hotel in Osaka, Japan to help guests with various information requirements.

The Henn na Hotel Kansai Airport took delivery of the three dozen communication robots called “RoBoHoN”.

Each room has a seating type “RoBoHoN lite”, which provides information on hotel facilities and guest rooms. [Read more…] about Sharp sends 36 tiny humanoid robots to Japanese hotel to help guests

Tiny swarm robots could become first responders after earthquakes

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It seems obvious now that in the event of an earthquake, tiny, swarm robots would be the most effective way of locating survivors in huge piles of rubble through which human emergency workers and first responders cannot make their way or even see.

So obvious that you wonder why they haven’t been developed and even deployed for that purpose already. Certainly the technology seems to be advanced enough – research into the area has been going at an accelerated pace for some time.

Looking at pictures of the collapsed building in Taiwan after the earthquake there on Saturday, there looks to be no way to go in for the emergency workers trying to rescue the survivors. The magnitude-7.6 quake is reported to have killed at least 41 people and more than 100 are said to be trapped in the rubble in that building alone. [Read more…] about Tiny swarm robots could become first responders after earthquakes

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