Robotics
The latest news and reporting on robotics, from cutting-edge research to robovacs.
Latest
These robots move through the magic of mushrooms
Researchers at Cornell University tapped into fungal mycelia to power a pair of proof-of-concept robots. Mycelia, the underground fungal network that can sprout mushrooms as its above-ground fruit, can sense light and chemical reactions and communicate through electrical signals.
Will Shanklin08.29.2024
This vacuum robot dog can find and suck up trash with its feet
A robot dog named VERO can identify and pick up small bits of trash on different terrains.
Danny Gallagher07.30.2024
Amazon pulls the plug on the business version of its Astro robot
After less than eight months, Amazon has discontinued the business version of its Astro security robot. Despite being “fully committed” to its home robotics division, the company has pulled the plug on the model that doubled as a security guard.
Will Shanklin07.03.2024
Apple is developing personal robots for your home, Bloomberg says
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is working on at least two robots at the moment.
Mariella Moon04.03.2024
Agility's Digit warehouse robot understands natural language commands thanks to AI smarts
Agility Robotics shared a demo video Wednesday of one of its Digit robots upgraded with AI smarts. Although that may conjure images in your mind of sentient sci-fi machines taking over the world, the demo video reveals much more plodding, if not boring, work.
Will Shanklin12.14.2023
Amazon says its new AI-powered robots reduce fulfilment time by 25 percent
The company claims the technology will also improve safety, though robots in their warehouses have been previously linked to more injuries.
Sarah Fielding10.18.2023
GE Aerospace is developing a robotic worm to inspect and repair jet engines
GE Aerospace has demonstrated a worm-like robot that could one day inspect and repair jet engines. The Sensiworm (Soft ElectroNics Skin-Innervated Robotic Worm) is designed to serve as “extra sets of eyes and ears” for service engineers and mechanics as they examine the insides of engines.
Will Shanklin09.07.2023
Apptronik’s Apollo is the latest humanoid robot to beat Tesla to market
Apptronik unveiled a new workforce robot today. Named Apollo, the machine is designed to “work in environments designed for, and directly alongside, humans.” The android is initially intended to move and carry cases and totes in logistics and manufacturing settings. But the Austin-based Apptronik sees Apollo expanding into “construction, oil and gas, electronics production, retail, home delivery, elder care” and more. Apollo follows Xiaomi’s reveal of the CyberOne robot last year, which looked remarkably similar to the still-unreleased Tesla Bot.
Will Shanklin08.23.2023
The JumpMod haptic backpack makes virtual leaps more realistic
The untethered device provides a more convincing illusion of vertical movement than today's best VR visual tricks alone.
Andrew Tarantola08.04.2023
Robosen’s auto-transforming Grimlock will set you back about a mortgage payment
Robosen announced a new auto-converting Transformer today. After launching its self-transforming Optimus Prime in 2021, the company set its sights on Grimlock, the Autobot-allied leader of the Dinobots who changes from a robot into a mechanical T-Rex. However, its $1,699 sticker price (a mere $1,499 for pre-orders) also allows it to transform your finances for the worse.
Will Shanklin07.19.2023
Students create robot death machine for invasive spotted lanternflies
The spotted lanternfly may look innocent, but these ravenous creatures have been known to decimate crops, causing more than $500 million in damages to various fruit trees since being accidentally introduced to this country nearly a decade ago. Students at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have developed a plan to battle the insects via a robot death machine that targets eggs.
Lawrence Bonk06.08.2023
A robot puppet rolled through San Francisco singing Vanessa Carlton hits
In 2002, pop star Vanessa Carlton and her piano "made their way downtown" through Newbury Park in Los Angeles. Twenty-one years later, a team of hobbyist roboticists have brought Carlton’s music to the streets of San Francisco.
Andrew Tarantola05.09.2023
The next-gen ‘Digit’ robot gets a head and hands
Agility Robotics announced an updated version today of its bipedal Digits warehouse robot. Designed to take on repetitive or injury-risking tasks, the new version adds a head and hands, and it can handle a wider variety of demanding workloads than its predecessor.
Will Shanklin03.20.2023
MIT’s new modular lunar robot has ‘worms’ for arms
MIT engineers have designed a walking lunar robot cleverly inspired by the animal kingdom. The “mix-and-match” system is made of worm-like robotic limbs astronauts could configure into various “species” of robots resembling spiders, elephants, goats and oxen. The team won the Best Paper Award last week at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Aerospace Conference.
Will Shanklin03.15.2023
The Ghostwriter typewriter brings generative AI to the printed page
"I wanted Ghostwriter to evoke warm feelings and make people comfortable playing with it," Sanjeev told Engadget. "I chose the mental model of the typewriter for this reason."
Andrew Tarantola02.16.2023
FDA clears Wandercraft's exoskeleton for stroke patient rehab
Wandercraft's exoskeleton has received FDA clearance to help stroke patients recover their gait.
Jon Fingas01.22.2023
German Bionic debuts its lightest powered exosuit to date at CES 2023
German Bionic, the robotic exoskeleton startup behind the Cray X, will be showing off two new posture-protecting products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada this week.
Andrew Tarantola01.02.2023
Robots are learning to brace themselves against walls to avoid falling
Robots are learning to prevent falls by propping against a wall, much like a human.
Jon Fingas11.30.2022
Hitting the Books: How Dave Chappelle and curious cats made Roomba a household name
Lowen Liu explores the development of iRobot's Roomba vacuum and its unlikely feline brand ambassadors.
Andrew Tarantola11.20.2022
Boston Dynamics sues rival Ghost Robotics for allegedly copying its robot dog (updated)
Boston Dynamics is suing Ghost Robotics for allegedly duping the design of its robot dog.
Jon Fingas11.15.2022