AI
1Rollo one-wheeled AI security robot plans commercial launch in 2027
1Rollo uses AI, 360-degree vision and one wheel to patrol property while human operator stays ready to respond
Avnet and Weston Robot partner to launch edge AI inspection platform
Tech distributor Avnet and robotics integrator Weston Robot are bringing edge-based artificial intelligence to the factory floor. The companies are creating a new real-time autonomous inspection platform powered by quadruped robots.
Up to $27.2 million awarded for AI-powered micro-robot
The robot’s spinning motion both propels it through the bloodstream and shrinks clots in place. The multi-year ARPA-H award could bring this non-invasive approach to millions of stroke patients worldwide.
Innovation
New system makes building robots a snap
What do ketchup bottle caps have to do with origami and robotics? At Princeton Engineering, the answer is geometry. Engineers found that the same hinge that keeps a ketchup cap open also explains how curved, folded shells can hold multiple stable shapes, a discovery that led them to build a robot that shifts shape and motion using magnets alone, no motors required.
Technology
US scrutiny of foreign robots, parts likely to benefit Korean makers
LG Innotek, Samsung Electro-Mechanics poised to gain as robot makers seek alternatives to Chinese suppliers
University of Florida opens new robotics lab dedicated to industrialized construction
The University of Florida (UF) has opened a robotics lab dedicated to industrialized construction, funded by a $1 million donation from Autodesk. The lab will aim to address Florida’s housing shortage and an impending surge in retirements among the construction workforce.
USU Launches New Robotics Degree in Partnership with Tech Colleges
A new collaboration means technical college robotics and automation students can transfer credits and complete a bachelor's degree online in a few semesters to build management skills and advance their careers. (Photo courtesy of Bridgerland Technical College)
Research
An Expressive Robot Has More to Lose When It Makes Mistakes
In the first study to measure brain activity, hormones, self-reported attitudes and behavior simultaneously to assess trust during interactions with a humanoid robot, a team led by researchers at Drexel University found that people tend to develop a more immediate bond with a robot that is interactive and engaging, but that trust can quickly dissolve if it begins making mistakes. The findings, which help to explain how humans build and lose trust through collaboration with humanoid robots, could inform social robot design as the technology expands into healthcare, customer service, education and the home.
Developing Humanoid Robot That Learns Construction Skills From Human Workers
The research breakthrough, developed by professor Yizhi Liu and Ph.D. student Yanxi Liu, is believed to be among the first of its kind in the construction field.
Policy
Trump’s AI protectionism has come for robotics
The FCC has banned foreign-made humanoids, making a fragile, nascent sector part of America’s AI industrial policy.