In an emergency, a human might someday ask a robotic assistant to fetch a wall-mounted defibrillator located down the hall. But if the robot has incorrectly labeled the defibrillator as a fire extinguisher in its stored memory, it may not know where to find the lifesaving device.In an emergency, a human might someday ask a robotic assistant to fetch a wall-mounted defibrillator located down the hall. But if the robot has incorrectly labeled the defibrillator as a fire extinguisher in its stored memory, it may not know where to find the lifesaving device.[#item_full_content]

Scuba diving places heavy demands on the human body. Divers must constantly overcome water resistance while carrying breathing equipment and other gear, and their underwater time is ultimately limited by both physical endurance and the amount of breathing gas they can carry.Scuba diving places heavy demands on the human body. Divers must constantly overcome water resistance while carrying breathing equipment and other gear, and their underwater time is ultimately limited by both physical endurance and the amount of breathing gas they can carry.[#item_full_content]

When a doctor taps just below your kneecap, your lower leg kicks forward automatically. This knee-jerk reflex is one example of the reflexes that play an essential role in human motor control. Now, researchers at Tohoku University have developed a reflex module for musculoskeletal robots that works without electronic sensors or circuits. Using this module, the team reproduced the knee-jerk reflex in a robot and generated bipedal walking.When a doctor taps just below your kneecap, your lower leg kicks forward automatically. This knee-jerk reflex is one example of the reflexes that play an essential role in human motor control. Now, researchers at Tohoku University have developed a reflex module for musculoskeletal robots that works without electronic sensors or circuits. Using this module, the team reproduced the knee-jerk reflex in a robot and generated bipedal walking.[#item_full_content]

Manipulating an object with one hand is a balancing act. Fingers must release and renew their grip while keeping the object from slipping away, even with the palm facing downward.Manipulating an object with one hand is a balancing act. Fingers must release and renew their grip while keeping the object from slipping away, even with the palm facing downward.[#item_full_content]

For more than a hundred years, quadcopters have been built according to the same basic principle. Four arms, each with a propeller, extend from a rigid central body. This design is ideal for precise, agile flight, but it has one major weakness—the drones are highly sensitive to unexpected contact with their surroundings. If they bump into a wall or another obstacle, they can become destabilized or even break apart.For more than a hundred years, quadcopters have been built according to the same basic principle. Four arms, each with a propeller, extend from a rigid central body. This design is ideal for precise, agile flight, but it has one major weakness—the drones are highly sensitive to unexpected contact with their surroundings. If they bump into a wall or another obstacle, they can become destabilized or even break apart.[#item_full_content]

A moth-shaped robot used an artificial circulatory system to deliver chemical building blocks through its body and grow a light sensor where UV light struck.A moth-shaped robot used an artificial circulatory system to deliver chemical building blocks through its body and grow a light sensor where UV light struck.[#item_full_content]

For decades, event cameras, which emulate the biological retina by continuously monitoring changes in light intensity, have promised to revolutionize how robots perceive the world by allowing them to react faster and operate more reliably than conventional cameras permit.For decades, event cameras, which emulate the biological retina by continuously monitoring changes in light intensity, have promised to revolutionize how robots perceive the world by allowing them to react faster and operate more reliably than conventional cameras permit.[#item_full_content]

Animals have long been one of the primary sources of inspiration for robotics researchers. This is because they rely on sophisticated biological mechanisms and locomotion strategies that could be artificially reproduced in robots to equip them with desired capabilities.Animals have long been one of the primary sources of inspiration for robotics researchers. This is because they rely on sophisticated biological mechanisms and locomotion strategies that could be artificially reproduced in robots to equip them with desired capabilities.[#item_full_content]

A team of University of Toronto Engineering researchers has developed a flexible foot pad for the “Hopcopter”—a one-legged, hopping robot they developed—significantly enhancing its performance on sand, ice and other difficult terrain.A team of University of Toronto Engineering researchers has developed a flexible foot pad for the “Hopcopter”—a one-legged, hopping robot they developed—significantly enhancing its performance on sand, ice and other difficult terrain.[#item_full_content]

Flying insects, such as fruit flies, bees, dragonflies and mosquitoes, can dart through narrow spaces and survive collisions with various objects. In contrast, many flying robots fall, suffer damage or even break down when they hit nearby surfaces or objects.Flying insects, such as fruit flies, bees, dragonflies and mosquitoes, can dart through narrow spaces and survive collisions with various objects. In contrast, many flying robots fall, suffer damage or even break down when they hit nearby surfaces or objects.[#item_full_content]