Even if an android’s appearance is so realistic that it could be mistaken for a human in a photograph, watching it move in person can feel a bit unsettling. It can smile, frown, or display other various, familiar expressions, but finding a consistent emotional state behind those expressions can be difficult, leaving you unsure of what it is truly feeling and creating a sense of unease.Even if an android’s appearance is so realistic that it could be mistaken for a human in a photograph, watching it move in person can feel a bit unsettling. It can smile, frown, or display other various, familiar expressions, but finding a consistent emotional state behind those expressions can be difficult, leaving you unsure of what it is truly feeling and creating a sense of unease.[#item_full_content]

In recent years, roboticists have developed a wide range of systems that could eventually be introduced in health care and assisted living facilities. These include both medical robots and robots designed to provide companionship or assistance to human users.In recent years, roboticists have developed a wide range of systems that could eventually be introduced in health care and assisted living facilities. These include both medical robots and robots designed to provide companionship or assistance to human users.[#item_full_content]

Imagine trying to move a heavy piece of furniture with a group of people. Everyone’s effort matters, but how do you ensure that each person is pulling their weight? This challenge of fairly distributing the load is a critical issue not only in human teamwork but also for coordinating robotic swarms.Imagine trying to move a heavy piece of furniture with a group of people. Everyone’s effort matters, but how do you ensure that each person is pulling their weight? This challenge of fairly distributing the load is a critical issue not only in human teamwork but also for coordinating robotic swarms.[#item_full_content]

If someone advises you to “know your limits,” they’re likely suggesting you do things like exercise in moderation. To a robot, though, the motto represents learning constraints, or limitations of a specific task within the machine’s environment, to do chores safely and correctly.If someone advises you to “know your limits,” they’re likely suggesting you do things like exercise in moderation. To a robot, though, the motto represents learning constraints, or limitations of a specific task within the machine’s environment, to do chores safely and correctly.[#item_full_content]

A team of mechanical engineers at Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, has developed a way to automate the process of merging live cockroaches and electronics to create cyborg cockroaches, greatly speeding up the process. In their study, available on the arXiv preprint server, the group taught a robot arm to connect electronics to living insects.A team of mechanical engineers at Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, has developed a way to automate the process of merging live cockroaches and electronics to create cyborg cockroaches, greatly speeding up the process. In their study, available on the arXiv preprint server, the group taught a robot arm to connect electronics to living insects.[#item_full_content]

A team of roboticists at the Beijing Institute of Technology, working with a pair of colleagues from the Technical University of Munich, has created a new kind of rat robot—one that was designed to interact in social ways with real rats.A team of roboticists at the Beijing Institute of Technology, working with a pair of colleagues from the Technical University of Munich, has created a new kind of rat robot—one that was designed to interact in social ways with real rats.[#item_full_content]

Like waves sweeping through tiny stadium crowds, microscopic machines engineered by Cornell researchers can autonomously synchronize their movements, opening new possibilities for the use of microrobots in drug delivery, chemical mixing and environmental remediation, among other applications.Like waves sweeping through tiny stadium crowds, microscopic machines engineered by Cornell researchers can autonomously synchronize their movements, opening new possibilities for the use of microrobots in drug delivery, chemical mixing and environmental remediation, among other applications.[#item_full_content]

A team has developed flexible fibers with self-healing, light-emitting and magnetic properties. The scalable hydrogel-clad ionotronic nickel-core electroluminescent (SHINE) fiber is bendable, emits highly visible light, and can automatically repair itself after being cut, regaining nearly 100% of its original brightness. In addition, the fiber can be powered wirelessly and manipulated physically using magnetic forces.A team has developed flexible fibers with self-healing, light-emitting and magnetic properties. The scalable hydrogel-clad ionotronic nickel-core electroluminescent (SHINE) fiber is bendable, emits highly visible light, and can automatically repair itself after being cut, regaining nearly 100% of its original brightness. In addition, the fiber can be powered wirelessly and manipulated physically using magnetic forces.[#item_full_content]

Quadruped robots integrating manipulators could potentially tackle tasks that entail manipulating objects while swiftly moving around in their surrounding environment. These include tasks such as collecting the trash around the house, collecting specific objects and bringing them to humans or depositing target items at specific locations.Quadruped robots integrating manipulators could potentially tackle tasks that entail manipulating objects while swiftly moving around in their surrounding environment. These include tasks such as collecting the trash around the house, collecting specific objects and bringing them to humans or depositing target items at specific locations.[#item_full_content]

A team of roboticists at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, working with a colleague from the University of California, has designed, built and demonstrated a bird-like robot that can launch itself into flight using spring-like legs.A team of roboticists at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, working with a colleague from the University of California, has designed, built and demonstrated a bird-like robot that can launch itself into flight using spring-like legs.[#item_full_content]