http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/computers_math/robotics/ Robotics News. Futuristic robots, robots that manipulate animal behavior and more. Read up-to-date robotics news from research institutions around the world. en-us Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:05:01 EST Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/computers_math/robotics/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203101153.htm Understanding the human mind is the key to social robotics, and researchers describe what we can expect from this field in the future. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203101153.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111122112020.htm The Kilobots are coming. Computer scientists and engineers have developed and licensed technology that will make it easy to test collective algorithms on hundreds, or even thousands, of tiny robots. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111122112020.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107161758.htm Robotics researchers have developed an ingenious technical solution that gives robots a human face. By using a projector to beam the 3D image of a face onto the back of a plastic mask, and a computer to control voice and facial expressions, the researchers have succeeded in creating Mask-bot, a startlingly human-like plastic head. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:17:17 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107161758.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102093053.htm A flying robot as small as a dinner plate that can zoom to hard-to-reach places and a fleet of eco-friendly robotic farm-hands are just two of the exciting projects a robotics team in Australia is working on. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102093053.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027082753.htm A researcher in The Netherlands has developed a smart eye-surgery robot that allows eye surgeons to operate with increased ease and greater precision on the retina and the vitreous humor of the eye. The system also extends the effective period during which ophthalmologists can carry out these intricate procedures. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027082753.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017214919.htm When engineers outfitted a six-legged robotic bug with wings in an effort to improve its mobility, they unexpectedly shed some light on the evolution of flight. The wings nearly doubled the running speed of the 25-gram robot, but was that good enough for takeoff? Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017214919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017214917.htm A six-legged, 25 gram robot has been fitted with flapping wings in order to gain an insight into the evolution of early birds and insects. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017214917.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074641.htm Internauts will be able to connect to 17 telescopes on four continents to share observation time. A world network of robotic telescopes is to be developed as part of a European citizen science project that has just kicked off in Spain. The network, to which any citizen will be able to connect and share observation time, will offer free open access via the Internet. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074641.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074632.htm Researchers in the UK have a goal to build over 30 more KASPAR robots to help children with autism. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110903143032.htm Infants spend their first few months learning to find their way around and manipulating objects, and they are very flexible about it: Cups can come in different shapes and sizes, but they all have handles. So do pitchers, so we pick them up the same way. Now researchers are teaching robots to manipulate objects and find their way around in new environments. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110903143032.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110727083654.htm Robot trading agents, which already dominate the foreign exchange markets, have now been definitively shown to beat human traders at the same game. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110727083654.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725091443.htm Engineers are developing bio-inspired integrated circuit technology which mimics the neuron structure and operation of the brain. Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725091443.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721112624.htm Scientists have develop robots equipped with cameras that can navigate the underground pipes of a nuclear reactor to check for corrosion by propelling themselves with internal networks of valves and pumps. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721112624.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714191539.htm Cognitive scientist have taken a peek inside the brains of people viewing videos of a humanoid robot. The functional MRI study suggests that what may be going on in the "uncanny valley" phenomenon is due to a perceptual mismatch between appearance and motion. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714191539.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110708083312.htm The modern working world is no longer conceivable without robots. They assist humans in manufacturing, laboratories or medicine. In the future, a new projection and camera-based system will prevent collisions between robots and humans working together, German researchers say. Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:33:33 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110708083312.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110629083237.htm Researchers in Spain are working to create a robotic hand that can reproduce the abilities and movements of a human hand in order to achieve the optimal manipulation of objects. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110629083237.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526123331.htm Imagine a robot able to retrieve a pile of laundry from the back of a cluttered closet, deliver it to a washing machine, start the cycle and then zip off to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. This may have been a domestic dream a half-century ago, when the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence first captured public imagination. However, it quickly became clear that even "simple" human actions are extremely difficult to replicate in robots. Now, computer scientists are tackling the problem with a hierarchical, progressive algorithm that has the potential to greatly reduce the computational cost associated with performing complex actions. Thu, 26 May 2011 12:33:33 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526123331.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516091230.htm Scientists are attempting to replicate human attributes and abilities such as detailed vision, spatial perception and object grasping in robots. Mon, 16 May 2011 09:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516091230.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110513112246.htm Move your arm and the robot imitates your movement. This type of intuitive handling is now possible thanks to a new input device that will simplify the control of industrial robots in the future. But that is not all: The sensor system can also help regulate the movements of active prostheses. Fri, 13 May 2011 11:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110513112246.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110509151252.htm Researchers have built a robot that can penetrate and "swim" through granular material. In this study, they show that by varying the shape of the robot's head or by tilting it up or down, they can control the robot's vertical movement in complex environments. Machines able to navigate through complex dirt and rubble environments could help rescuers after natural disasters like earthquakes and landslides. Mon, 09 May 2011 15:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110509151252.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505142736.htm Learning how to program a computer to display the words "Hello World" once may have excited students, but that hoary chestnut of a lesson doesn't cut it in a world of videogames, smartphones and Twitter. One option to take its place and engage a new generation of students in computer programming is a robot called Finch. The robot was designed specifically to make introductory computer science classes an engaging experience once again. Thu, 05 May 2011 14:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505142736.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505142734.htm Urban search and rescue task forces are essential for locating, stabilizing, and extricating people who become trapped in confined spaces following a catastrophic event. Sometimes the search area is too unstable for a live rescue team, so rescuers have turned to robots wielding video cameras. The rescuers control, or teleoperate, from a safe location. Teleoperation can be problematic, as robots frequently become stuck, which can destabilize the search area and hinder rescue operations. Thu, 05 May 2011 14:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505142734.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110503171737.htm Using simple robots to simulate genetic evolution over hundreds of generations, Swiss scientists provide quantitative proof of kin selection and shed light on one of the most enduring puzzles in biology: Why do most social animals, including humans, go out of their way to help each other? Tue, 03 May 2011 17:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110503171737.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426213039.htm Researchers have been examining the diverse behaviors of caterpillars to find solutions for the new generation of search and rescue soft robots. Despite their extreme flexibility and adaptability, current soft-bodied robots are often limited by their slow speed, leading the researchers to turn to terrestrial soft-bodied animals for inspiration. Some caterpillars have the extraordinary ability to rapidly curl themselves into a wheel and propel themselves away from predators. Researchers saw this as an opportunity to design a robot that mimics this behavior of caterpillars and to develop a better understanding of the mechanics behind ballistic rolling. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426213039.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110317131415.htm The University of Greenwich has joined forces with a Kent-based company in the design and manufacture of a bomb disposal robot for use by security forces, including the British Army. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110317131415.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110310131051.htm Researchers are using a new model to learn more about how toe strength can determine how far people can lean while keeping their balance. The results could help in building robotic body parts that will closely imitate human movement, and might lead to a new generation of advanced prosthetics. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:10:10 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110310131051.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110310101349.htm When hospitals acquire surgical robotic technology, men in that region are more likely to have prostate cancer surgery, a new study shows. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:13:13 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110310101349.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110309113036.htm Scientists have developed a programmable "molecular robot" -- a sub-microscopic molecular machine made of synthetic DNA that moves between track locations separated by 6nm. The robot, a short strand of DNA, follows instructions programmed into a set of fuel molecules determining its destination, for example, to turn left or right at a junction in the track. The report represents a step toward futuristic nanomachines and nanofactories. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110309113036.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110309113028.htm Researchers have found people generally had a positive response toward being touched by a robotic nurse, but that their perception of the robot's intent made a significant difference. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110309113028.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110308101455.htm Researchers have found that they can program a robot to understand when it gains a human's attention and when it falls short. Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110308101455.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110308075524.htm Cognitive skills for a new robot which will help people with damaged limbs to walk again are being developed by researchers in the UK. Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110308075524.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307124810.htm Researchers find people can better understand robot movements when robots move in a more human way. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:48:48 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307124810.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301091346.htm Researchers in Europe have developed an antonym-based technique for building maps for mobile robots. This technique can be applied to improve current robot navigation systems. Another advantage of the technique is that the low-cost ultrasonic sensors that it uses are built into almost all robotic platforms and produce a smaller volume of data for processing. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:13:13 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301091346.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110217124913.htm Researchers will place brain-computer interfaces in patients with spinal cord injuries to test if it is possible for them to control external devices, such as a computer cursor or a prosthetic limb, with their thoughts. Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:49:49 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110217124913.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110210111259.htm Robotic-assisted rehabilitation therapy, combined with standard rehabilitation, can improve upper extremity mobility in stroke patients with paralysis on one side. Patients with severe paralysis were more likely to be aided by robotic therapy. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110210111259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110203152548.htm Surgeons of the future might use a system that recognizes hand gestures as commands to control a robotic scrub nurse or tell a computer to display medical images of the patient during an operation. Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110203152548.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110120131542.htm In a first-of-its-kind experiment, a scientist created robots that, like tadpoles becoming frogs, change their body forms while learning how to walk. These evolving robots learned to walk more rapidly than robots with fixed bodies and developed a more robust gait. The research suggests that the quest for adaptive and resilient robots will arrive at better designs by encouraging co-evolution of a robot's body and "brain" (controller) at the same time. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110120131542.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119095045.htm Researchers have created a robotic fish that can move from swimming forward and backward to swimming vertically almost instantaneously by using a sophisticated, ribbon-like fin. The robot -- created after observing and creating computer simulations of the black ghost knifefish of the Amazon River Basin -- could pave the way for nimble robots that could perform underwater recovery operations or long-term monitoring of coral reefs. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:50:50 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119095045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101230114808.htm Researchers are exploring how human thought outwits brute force computing in the real world. Twenty programmable robots allow students to test the real-world performance of computer models that mimic human thought. Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:48:48 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101230114808.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101222112239.htm Two arms, three cameras, finger-tip sensitivity and a variety of facial expressions -- these are the distinguishing features of the pi4-workerbot. Similar in size to a human being, it can be employed at any modern workstation in an industrial manufacturing environment. Its purpose is to help keep European production competitive. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101222112239.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101220163254.htm Less-invasive robotic surgery for upper airway and digestive track malignant tumors is as effective as other minimally invasive surgical techniques based on patient function and survival, according to researchers. Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101220163254.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101214181928.htm The performance of a brain-machine interface designed to help paralyzed subjects move objects with their thoughts is improved with the addition of a robotic arm providing sensory feedback, a new study finds. Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101214181928.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101207121442.htm A group of computer engineers is convinced that the basic technology is now available to create robot assistants that can perform effectively in the often-chaotic environment of the emergency room. The specialists in emergency medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are enthusiastic about the potential advantages. So, the two groups have formed an interdisciplinary team to explore the use of robotics in this critical and challenging setting. Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101207121442.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101123121105.htm Robots do not have to breathe. For this reason they can dive longer than any human. Equipped with the necessary sensor technology they inspect docks or venture down to the ocean floor to search for raw materials. At present, researchers are developing a model which will carry out routine tasks independently, without help from humans. Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101123121105.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115174009.htm A study involving 30 patients suggests that robotic-assisted surgery involving complex pancreatic procedures can be performed safely in a high-volume facility, according to a new report. Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115174009.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115160009.htm Repeated exercise, even in a virtual environment, helped stroke patients improve arm and hand function, according to a new human study of an interactive video game-based therapy. Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101115160009.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101108072502.htm Researchers in Spain have developed a computer program capable of human emotion recognition from automated voice analysis. The software has also been used to program robots participating in the world robot soccer league (RoboCupSoccer). Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101108072502.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101028152510.htm Developmental psychologists and computer scientists are studying infant-mother interactions and working to implement their findings in a baby robot capable of learning social skills. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101028152510.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101025161140.htm Opting for simple elegance, researchers have bypassed traditional designs based around the human hand and fingers, and created a versatile gripper using everyday ground coffee and a latex party balloon. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:11:11 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101025161140.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101019171811.htm In a world first, a completely robotic surgery and anesthesia has been performed at the McGill University Health Centre. The DaVinci surgical robot, which lets surgeons work from remote locations, was put to work this summer, whereas the anesthesia robot, nicknamed McSleepy, has been providing automated anesthesia since 2008. The two combined to perform the first all-robotic surgery on a prostatectomy patient at the Montreal General Hospital. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101019171811.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101014100009.htm Babies are curious about nearly everything, and they're especially interested in what their adult companions are doing. Researchers are studying how infants use social interactions to learn. But what makes something social for a baby? In the new issue of Neural Networks, the researchers report that babies who watched a robot interact socially with people were more willing to learn from the robot than babies who did not see the interactions. Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101014100009.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100928083848.htm A compact surgical robot, which uses 'force feedback' to allow surgeons to feel what they are doing, has just been developed. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:38:38 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100928083848.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100924213430.htm They're mundane, yet daunting tasks: Tidying a messy room. Assembling a bookshelf from a kit of parts. Fetching a hairbrush for someone who can't do it herself. Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100924213430.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100923184453.htm Researchers thought the ease of the using a robotic arm's automatic mode would be a huge hit. But they were wrong -- many participants in a pilot study didn't like it because it was "too easy." Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100923184453.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100921092407.htm 'The Dying Swan' is sometimes moving smoothly and gently, sometimes in a dramatic and fiery manner, as Tchaikovsky's majestic music from the ballet Swan Lake is playing; yet this is no ordinary ballet dancer, but a robot in the form of a swan. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100921092407.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100921084549.htm The first in-human study of a robotically assisted percutaneous coronary intervention system demonstrated that the technique was safe and feasible. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100921084549.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100917111116.htm Designers of robot pets are fighting a never-ending battle with consumers to provide entertaining and realistic gadgets that respond to human interaction in ever more nuanced ways, mimicking the behavior of real pet animals or even people. Researchers in Taiwan are now looking at a new design paradigm that could see the development of a robot vision module that might one-day recognize human facial expressions and respond appropriately. Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:11:11 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100917111116.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100913080952.htm The new Premier League season has begun and in Madrid the World Cup celebrations are barely over, yet according to researchers, the world's best players may soon be facing a new challenge from football playing robots, which their creators claim will be able to play and beat a human team. The research reveals how building robots to play football is driving the development of artificial intelligence and robotic technology which can be used for roles including search and rescue and home help. Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100913080952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100912151550.htm Engineers have developed a pressure-sensitive electronic material from semiconductor nanowires that could one day be used as an artificial skin for robots and prosthetic limbs. Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100912151550.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100909114113.htm Researchers have published what is believed to be the first detailed examination of robot deception. They developed algorithms that allow a robot to determine whether it should deceive and designed techniques that help the robot select the best deceptive strategy to avoid getting caught. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100909114113.htm