Robotics
"Robots help us to understand humans"
It was a moving experience, in every sense of the expression, when a paraplegic Brazilian man kicked off the first ball of the tournament at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Soccer World Cup in Brazil. The young man was wearing an exoskeleton controlled with his thoughts. Two years later the researchers of the "Walk Again" project published a spectacular study: Training at the human-machine interface helped the patients' healing process.
New possibilities for the automotive industry in parallel kinematics
Industry is looking for new forms of robotics. In particular the automotive industry is searching for alternatives and additions to the classical industry robots. For many years, hexapods were considered to be exotic in automation but now, many applications are beginning to confirm the capabilities of the parallel-kinematic six-axis positioning systems.
Moorebot: the cute robotic personal assistant and entertainer
A technology startup specialising in product design for connected home automation, Pilot Labs, have launched Moorebot on IndieGoGo. Moorebot is a very unique animated robot for homes, businesses and office use. It combines robotic technology and cloud intelligence with a unique 'one eyed' camera design that can abstractly mimic human eye expressions.
Police report rapid rise in drone crime
It seems that for every ‘good news story’ on the use of UAVs, or drones, there is another involving more sinister uses for their capabilities. Only last week Electronic Specifier reported that Amazon had begun trialling its delivery drone service where customers could potentially make an order and have it delivered to their door, by drone, within 30 minutes.
Flying robots could help artists create outdoor murals
You may have heard of plans to use drones for delivering packages, monitoring wildlife, or tracking storms. But painting murals? That's the idea behind a project in Paul Kry's laboratory at McGill University's School of Computer Science. Prof. Kry and a few of his students have teamed up to program tiny drones to create dot drawings - an artistic technique known as stippling. It's no simple feat.
SAW robot produces a pure wave motion
The first SAW (Single Actuator Wave-like Robot) that produces a pure wave motion using a single motor has been developed at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The SAW robot is designed for medical applications, maintenance, search and rescue and security scenarios. The unique robot was developed by Dr. David Zarrouk, a senior lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department and a member of the ABC Robotics Initiative. He is head of the Bio...
Drone technology supports whale research in Hawaii
Federal researchers returning from a 30-day expedition to study whales and dolphins around the Hawaiian Islands said they are looking for clues to help sustain healthy populations of the marine mammals. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists told reporters that gathering data on the animals is often difficult, especially around the windward coasts of the Hawaiian Islands.
Robotic device gives at-risk babies a chance to explore
Children at risk of cerebral palsy may get help for crawling and walking thanks to a robot assistant, in the form of a motorised device worn by the baby. Four researchers, Andrew Fagg, Lei Ding, Thubi Kolobe, and David Miller report on their development, with its potential to reduce functional limitations and potential deficits in cognitive development. If a young baby shows no signs of successful crawling, there are considerable risks ...
Robot chains can decouple and reconnect in magnetic field
Using a rotating magnetic field, Drexel University researchers, led by MinJun Kim, PhD, a professor in the College of Engineering, show how multiple chains of microscopic magnetic bead-based robots can link up to reach impressive speeds swimming through in a microfluidic environment. Their finding is the latest step toward using the so-called "microswimmers" to deliver medicine and perform surgery inside the body.
Two-time major winner unveils golf’s first jetpack
Today marks the start of golf’s final major of 2016, the US PGA Championship, this year taking place at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey. Among this year’s hopefuls will be two time US Masters champion, and big hitter, Bubba Watson. His eccentric swing and trademark pink driver, makes Watson one of the most unique and popular players on the US PGA tour.