Nature is brimming with animals that collaborate in large numbers. Bees stake out the best feeding spots and let others know where they are. Ants construct complex hierarchical homes built for defense. Flocks of starlings move across the sky in beautiful formations as if they were a single entity.Nature is brimming with animals that collaborate in large numbers. Bees stake out the best feeding spots and let others know where they are. Ants construct complex hierarchical homes built for defense. Flocks of starlings move across the sky in beautiful formations as if they were a single entity.[#item_full_content]

Solving a Rubik’s Cube is a challenge for most people. For a team of students from Purdue University’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, it became an opportunity to redefine the limits of speed, precision and automation—and officially make history.Solving a Rubik’s Cube is a challenge for most people. For a team of students from Purdue University’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, it became an opportunity to redefine the limits of speed, precision and automation—and officially make history.[#item_full_content]

The ability to remotely control robots in real-time, also known as teleoperation, could be useful for a broad range of real-world applications. In recent years, some engineers have been trying to develop teleoperation systems that allow users to guide the actions of humanoid robots, which have a body structure resembling that of humans, getting the robots to precisely imitate their whole-body movements.The ability to remotely control robots in real-time, also known as teleoperation, could be useful for a broad range of real-world applications. In recent years, some engineers have been trying to develop teleoperation systems that allow users to guide the actions of humanoid robots, which have a body structure resembling that of humans, getting the robots to precisely imitate their whole-body movements.[#item_full_content]

Scientists inspired by the octopus’s nervous system have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment.Scientists inspired by the octopus’s nervous system have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment.[#item_full_content]

At less than one and a half inches tall, roughly the same height as a LEGO minifigure, the world’s smallest self-contained bipedal robot can self-start from standstill, walk faster than a half mile per hour, turn, skip, and ascend small steps with just the power of its on-board battery, actuator, and control system.At less than one and a half inches tall, roughly the same height as a LEGO minifigure, the world’s smallest self-contained bipedal robot can self-start from standstill, walk faster than a half mile per hour, turn, skip, and ascend small steps with just the power of its on-board battery, actuator, and control system.[#item_full_content]

A robotic hand developed at EPFL can pick up 24 different objects with human-like movements that emerge spontaneously, thanks to compliant materials and structures rather than programming.A robotic hand developed at EPFL can pick up 24 different objects with human-like movements that emerge spontaneously, thanks to compliant materials and structures rather than programming.[#item_full_content]

The United States population is older than it has ever been. Today, the country’s median age is 38.9, which is nearly a decade older than it was in 1980. And the number of adults older than 65 is expected to balloon from 58 million to 82 million by 2050. The challenge of caring for the elderly, amid shortages of care workers, rising health care costs, and evolving family structures, is an increasingly urgent societal issue.The United States population is older than it has ever been. Today, the country’s median age is 38.9, which is nearly a decade older than it was in 1980. And the number of adults older than 65 is expected to balloon from 58 million to 82 million by 2050. The challenge of caring for the elderly, amid shortages of care workers, rising health care costs, and evolving family structures, is an increasingly urgent societal issue.[#item_full_content]

Phase-change actuation has been revived for the era of untethered, electrically driven soft robots. Our team at the University of Coimbra have developed a phase transition soft actuator designed to power electric soft robots that require high force and precision. Our innovation leverages the liquid-to-gas phase transition of water to generate mechanical motion in a way that is simple, scalable, and remarkably powerful.Phase-change actuation has been revived for the era of untethered, electrically driven soft robots. Our team at the University of Coimbra have developed a phase transition soft actuator designed to power electric soft robots that require high force and precision. Our innovation leverages the liquid-to-gas phase transition of water to generate mechanical motion in a way that is simple, scalable, and remarkably powerful.[#item_full_content]

A joint research team from Seoul National University and Harvard University has developed a next-generation swarm robot system inspired by nature—capable of movement, exploration, transport, and cooperation, all without the need for precise sensors or centralized control.A joint research team from Seoul National University and Harvard University has developed a next-generation swarm robot system inspired by nature—capable of movement, exploration, transport, and cooperation, all without the need for precise sensors or centralized control.[#item_full_content]

For a robot, the real world is a lot to take in. Making sense of every data point in a scene can take a huge amount of computational effort and time. Using that information to then decide how to best help a human is an even thornier exercise.For a robot, the real world is a lot to take in. Making sense of every data point in a scene can take a huge amount of computational effort and time. Using that information to then decide how to best help a human is an even thornier exercise.[#item_full_content]