Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

university

Exploring the Future of Robotics Through Advanced Online Education

by

The field of robotics and automation is reshaping many industries, ushering in a pressing need for experts skilled in the latest technological developments.

Institutions like Kettering University Online are responding to this need by offering specialized online Masters in automotive engineering programs and lean manufacturing, which is aimed at preparing students for careers where technology and human expertise intersect.

The importance of advanced online education in the field of robotics cannot be overstated. As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, professionals need to stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive in their careers. [Read more…] about Exploring the Future of Robotics Through Advanced Online Education

Nickelytics and Starship release robots at UCLA and Utah universities

by

Nickelytics, a venture-backed B2B adtech startup, announced a new partnership with Starship Technologies, the world’s leading provider of autonomous delivery services.

This new partnership expands the company’s work in robotics by launching a transformative advertising campaign on two campuses where Starship operates, the University of Utah and UCLA.

This alliance paves the way for brands and advertisers to connect directly with the student population, integrating seamlessly into their daily lives, with the goal of expanding to all 50 campuses that Starship serves. [Read more…] about Nickelytics and Starship release robots at UCLA and Utah universities

Carnegie Mellon scientists demonstrate head-worn assistive device for robotics

by

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

Boston University celebrates grand opening of its Robotics & Autonomous Systems Teaching & Innovation Center

by

An autonomous robot cut the ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of Boston University’s $8.8 million Robotics & Autonomous Systems Teaching & Innovation Center (RASTIC).

Held March 4th, the grand opening included talks from state, industry and university leadership; facility tours; and 16 student demonstrations of robotic projects, spanning smart cities, medical robotics, drones, autonomous driving, smart home applications, and more.

In development over the past year, RASTIC brings together academia and industry to develop the next-generation competitive robotics and autonomous systems workforce. [Read more…] about Boston University celebrates grand opening of its Robotics & Autonomous Systems Teaching & Innovation Center

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

by

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

Starship Technologies celebrates five years of autonomous robot deliveries at George Mason University

by

Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services, and Sodexo, marked a series of milestones and exclusive giveaways to mark five years of autonomous robot deliveries at George Mason University (Mason).

Mason was the first university in the US to offer autonomous robot deliveries provided by Starship. Since the launch on January 22, 2019, Starship’s robots are now serving more than 1.1 million people across 50 US college campuses as well as in local neighborhoods in several other countries.

Mason Dining and Starship will be offering giveaways at select merchants throughout the week to celebrate the milestone. Lucky students will receive exclusive anniversary swag, Starship promo codes, Mason Dining merch, and more. Details of the daily giveaways can be found in the Starship Food Delivery app. [Read more…] about Starship Technologies celebrates five years of autonomous robot deliveries at George Mason University

Healey-Driscoll Administration grants $1.1 million to Western New England University to support advanced robotic welding technologies

by

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced a $1.1 million investment to fund a three-year project at Western New England University (WNE) that fosters the establishment of a research and training cluster in advanced robotic welding technologies.

The award will support a collaborative project between WNE’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (CAMS) that will work with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and local industry partners to grow the advanced welding cluster and deliver new highly skilled workers to employers in the region.

The cutting-edge welding technologies have several applications in high-growth industries, including offshore wind, electric vehicles, aerospace, and manufacturing for national defense capabilities, such as submarines. [Read more…] about Healey-Driscoll Administration grants $1.1 million to Western New England University to support advanced robotic welding technologies

Scientists create new technique to generate holograms faster than any GPU

by

Researchers propose a novel approach that utilizes deep learning to generate three-dimensional holograms from colored two-dimensional images – faster than a “state-of-the-art graphics processing unit”

Holograms have long held the promise of offering immersive three-dimensional (3D) experiences, but the challenges involved in generating them have limited their widespread use.

Capitalizing on the recent developments in deep learning, researchers from Chiba University now propose what they say is “a game-changing approach” that utilizes neural networks to transform ordinary two-dimensional color images into 3D holograms.

The researchers say their proposed approach can simplify 3D hologram generation and can find applications in numerous fields, including healthcare and entertainment. [Read more…] about Scientists create new technique to generate holograms faster than any GPU

Washington university scientists build tiny, self-driving robot powered only by light and radio waves

by

Small mobile robots carrying sensors could perform tasks like catching gas leaks or tracking warehouse inventory. But moving robots demands a lot of energy, and batteries, the typical power source, limit lifetime and raise environmental concerns.

Researchers have explored various alternatives: affixing sensors to insects, keeping charging mats nearby, or powering the robots with lasers. Each has drawbacks. Insects roam. Chargers limit range. Lasers can burn people’s eyes.

Researchers at the University of Washington have now created MilliMobile, a tiny, self-driving robot powered only by surrounding light or radio waves. [Read more…] about Washington university scientists build tiny, self-driving robot powered only by light and radio waves

Purdue thermal imaging innovation allows AI to ‘see through pitch darkness like broad daylight’

by

Researchers at Purdue University are advancing the world of robotics and autonomy with their patent-pending method that improves on traditional machine vision and perception.

Zubin Jacob, the Elmore Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and research scientist Fanglin Bao have developed HADAR, or heat-assisted detection and ranging.

Their research was featured on the cover of the July 26 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Nature. A video about HADAR is available on YouTube. Nature also has released a podcast episode that includes an interview with Jacob. [Read more…] about Purdue thermal imaging innovation allows AI to ‘see through pitch darkness like broad daylight’