Robotics

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a thumb-sized robot designed to hop over tall objects or traverse uneven terrain. Small enough to weigh less than a paperclip, the hopping bot is intended for use in search and rescue operations where the environment may be inaccessible or unsafe for humans.

The West Midlands, a powerhouse of productivity and innovation, is set to undergo a robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) revolution.

Robot dogs are being used for a variety of tasks, ranging from preserving heritage sites to assisting in manufacturing plants.

Like something closer to science fiction than science fact, researchers at Penn State University have designed a miniature, soft-bodied robot that can navigate environments too dangerous or delicate for humans or traditional machines to explore.

AgriRobot has joined the AgRibot project as an official partner. The project, which received a €4.97 million grant from the European Commission, is strategically designed to address some of the most pressing challenges in European agriculture, including labour shortages, unsafe working conditions, and the pressing demands for both enhanced productivity and greater sustainability.

National Robotics Week highlights the influence of robotics on both industry and society, while also encouraging students to explore robotics and STEM fields by sharing the excitement these technologies can offer. Festo is a pioneering presence in this space, pulling together the key ingredients of automation, biomimicry, and education to drive progress. In this profile piece, I’ll take a look at how the company is advancing the boundaries ...

Pick and place robots perform repetitive handling tasks with speed and consistency, making them invaluable across industries.

Spot, the robot ‘dog’, recently assisted colleagues in Dounreay’s Fuel Cycle Area by reactivating a crucial building crane in a reprocessing plant.

There are many places that are difficult or dangerous for humans to reach – from disaster zones to extreme or hostile environments. To help humans with this endeavour, robots have been used as a resource, whether for rescue and recovery, data collection, or to reduce risk to human life. However, the use of robots in these scenarios present their own challenges, such as size, energy demands, and complex construction.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has introduced a prototype hydrogen-powered, four-legged robot designed to carry human riders. The machine, named CORLEO, was presented at a showcase event in the lead-up to the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025.