Roboticists have struggled to get humanoid robots to effectively replicate athletic sports skills, such as those needed for tennis. These sports require highly dynamic motion, quick reactions, and high precision that robots are not usually equipped to handle. Past research attempted to use kinematic data and video-based extraction of human motion data, but these approaches were complex and often physically infeasible. Some robots have been trained to play sports like table tennis or football, but with limited agility and realism.Roboticists have struggled to get humanoid robots to effectively replicate athletic sports skills, such as those needed for tennis. These sports require highly dynamic motion, quick reactions, and high precision that robots are not usually equipped to handle. Past research attempted to use kinematic data and video-based extraction of human motion data, but these approaches were complex and often physically infeasible. Some robots have been trained to play sports like table tennis or football, but with limited agility and realism.[#item_full_content]

NUS researchers have developed a platform that lets lab-grown muscle tissues train themselves to record-breaking strength, with no external stimulation required. By mechanically coupling two muscle tissues so they continuously pull against each other, their own natural contractions become a round-the-clock workout. The resulting muscles powered OstraBot, an ostraciiform (a type of fish locomotion) swimming robot that reached 467 millimeters per minute—the fastest speed reported for any skeletal muscle-driven biohybrid robot.NUS researchers have developed a platform that lets lab-grown muscle tissues train themselves to record-breaking strength, with no external stimulation required. By mechanically coupling two muscle tissues so they continuously pull against each other, their own natural contractions become a round-the-clock workout. The resulting muscles powered OstraBot, an ostraciiform (a type of fish locomotion) swimming robot that reached 467 millimeters per minute—the fastest speed reported for any skeletal muscle-driven biohybrid robot.[#item_full_content]

MIT researchers have spent more than a decade studying techniques that enable robots to find and manipulate hidden objects by “seeing” through obstacles. Their methods utilize surface-penetrating wireless signals that reflect off concealed items. Now, the researchers are leveraging generative artificial intelligence models to overcome a longstanding bottleneck that limited the precision of prior approaches.MIT researchers have spent more than a decade studying techniques that enable robots to find and manipulate hidden objects by “seeing” through obstacles. Their methods utilize surface-penetrating wireless signals that reflect off concealed items. Now, the researchers are leveraging generative artificial intelligence models to overcome a longstanding bottleneck that limited the precision of prior approaches.[#item_full_content]

Sheepdogs, bred to control large groups of sheep in open fields, have demonstrated their skills in competitions dating back to the 1870s. In these contests, a handler directs a trained dog with whistle signals to guide a small group of sheep across a field and sometimes split the flock cleanly into two groups. But sheep do not always cooperate.Sheepdogs, bred to control large groups of sheep in open fields, have demonstrated their skills in competitions dating back to the 1870s. In these contests, a handler directs a trained dog with whistle signals to guide a small group of sheep across a field and sometimes split the flock cleanly into two groups. But sheep do not always cooperate.[#item_full_content]

The rapid proliferation of robots and electronic devices is placing the world under a new and growing environmental burden. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global electronic waste (e-waste) reached approximately 62 million metric tons in 2022, a significant portion of which was neither properly collected nor recycled but instead landfilled or incinerated.The rapid proliferation of robots and electronic devices is placing the world under a new and growing environmental burden. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global electronic waste (e-waste) reached approximately 62 million metric tons in 2022, a significant portion of which was neither properly collected nor recycled but instead landfilled or incinerated.[#item_full_content]

For the first time, researchers at Leipzig University have shown that tiny synthetic microswimmers can perceive their surroundings directly through their own body shape and autonomously adapt to rapidly changing fluid flows. The study, now published in Science Advances, establishes a new paradigm for autonomous microsystems whose control functions reliably in challenging environments where conventional sensors fail. This opens up new prospects for autonomous medical microrobots, for example for the targeted delivery of medication in the bloodstream.For the first time, researchers at Leipzig University have shown that tiny synthetic microswimmers can perceive their surroundings directly through their own body shape and autonomously adapt to rapidly changing fluid flows. The study, now published in Science Advances, establishes a new paradigm for autonomous microsystems whose control functions reliably in challenging environments where conventional sensors fail. This opens up new prospects for autonomous medical microrobots, for example for the targeted delivery of medication in the bloodstream.[#item_full_content]

Current vision systems for robots and drones rely on 3D sensors that, although powerful, do not always keep up with the fast-paced, unpredictable movement of the real world. These systems often struggle to measure speed instantly or are too bulky and expensive for everyday use. Now, in a paper published in the journal Nature, scientists report how they have developed a 4D imaging sensor on a chip that creates 3D maps of an environment while simultaneously tracking the speed of moving objects.Current vision systems for robots and drones rely on 3D sensors that, although powerful, do not always keep up with the fast-paced, unpredictable movement of the real world. These systems often struggle to measure speed instantly or are too bulky and expensive for everyday use. Now, in a paper published in the journal Nature, scientists report how they have developed a 4D imaging sensor on a chip that creates 3D maps of an environment while simultaneously tracking the speed of moving objects.[#item_full_content]

Whether in the kitchen or on a workshop floor, robot assistants that can fetch items for people could be extremely useful. Now, a team of Brown University researchers has developed a way of making robots better at figuring out exactly which items a user might want them to retrieve.Whether in the kitchen or on a workshop floor, robot assistants that can fetch items for people could be extremely useful. Now, a team of Brown University researchers has developed a way of making robots better at figuring out exactly which items a user might want them to retrieve.[#item_full_content]

A robot that can locate lost items on command, the latest development at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), combines knowledge from the internet with a spatial map of its surroundings to efficiently find the objects being sought. The new robot from Prof. Angela Schoellig’s TUM Learning Systems and Robotics Lab looks like a broomstick on wheels with a camera mounted at the top. It is one of the first robots that not only integrates image understanding but also applies it to a clearly defined task.A robot that can locate lost items on command, the latest development at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), combines knowledge from the internet with a spatial map of its surroundings to efficiently find the objects being sought. The new robot from Prof. Angela Schoellig’s TUM Learning Systems and Robotics Lab looks like a broomstick on wheels with a camera mounted at the top. It is one of the first robots that not only integrates image understanding but also applies it to a clearly defined task.[#item_full_content]

Experienced human cyclists can perform a wide range of maneuvers and acrobatics while riding their bicycle, from balancing in place to riding on a single wheel or hopping over obstacles. Reproducing these agile maneuvers in two-wheeled robots could open new opportunities both for entertainment or robot sports and for the completion of complex missions in rough terrain.Experienced human cyclists can perform a wide range of maneuvers and acrobatics while riding their bicycle, from balancing in place to riding on a single wheel or hopping over obstacles. Reproducing these agile maneuvers in two-wheeled robots could open new opportunities both for entertainment or robot sports and for the completion of complex missions in rough terrain.[#item_full_content]