Motion capture (mocap) systems, technologies that can detect and record the movements of humans, animals and objects, are widely used in various settings. For instance, they have been used to shoot movies, to create animations with realistic lip and body movements, in...
Robotics
Researchers introduce a robotic system to manage weeds and monitor crops
Over the past decade, robotic systems have revolutionized numerous sectors, including the agricultural and farming sector. Many tasks that were traditionally performed manually can now be potentially automated, boosting efficiency and reducing the workload of farmers...
A polyamide-based soft jellyfish robot actuated by a shape memory alloy
In recent decades, roboticists have been developing increasingly sophisticated robots inspired by nature and living organisms. By realistically emulating biological processes and animal behaviors, these robots can often navigate different environments and tackle...
Evaluating the energy consumption of flapping-wing flying robots
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have already proved to be highly promising for tackling numerous real-world problems, for instance allowing users to take aerial images, monitor remote or natural environments, deliver parcels, or assisting...
An open-source benchmark to evaluate the manipulation and planning skills of assembly robots
Research in the field of robotics has been booming over the past decade with a view to tackle challenges of real value to industry and the public domain. With new robotic systems appearing every other day, developing reliable tools that can be used to evaluate their...
A multisensory simulation platform to train and test home robots
AI-powered robots have become increasingly sophisticated and are gradually being introduced in a wide range of real-world settings, including malls, airports, hospitals and other public spaces. In the future, these robots could also assist humans with house chores,...
Team creates modular continuous robot based on origami-folded tubes
In recent years, roboticists have created a growing number of autonomous systems based on different structures and designs. Among these are modular robots, which are composed of different elements or "modules" that can be reconfigured to carry out specific tasks more...
Teaching robots to tidy up based on user preferences using large language models
Different people tend to have unique needs and preferences—particularly when it comes to cleaning or tidying up. Home robots, especially robots designed to help humans with house chores, should ideally be able to complete tasks in ways that account for these...
A plant-inspired controller that could facilitate the operation of robotic arms in real-world environments
Many existing robotics systems draw inspiration from nature, artificially reproducing biological processes, natural structures or animal behaviors to achieve specific goals. This is because animals and plants are innately equipped with abilities that help them to...
A worm-inspired robot based on an origami structure and magnetic actuators
Bio-inspired robots, robotic systems that emulate the appearance, movements, and/or functions of specific biological systems, could help to tackle real-world problems more efficiently and reliably. Over the past two decades, roboticists have introduced a growing...