Future robots could soon have a lot more muscle power. Northwestern University engineers have developed a soft artificial muscle, paving the way for untethered animal- and human-scale robots. The new muscles, or actuators, provide the performance and mechanical properties required for building robotic musculoskeletal systems.Future robots could soon have a lot more muscle power. Northwestern University engineers have developed a soft artificial muscle, paving the way for untethered animal- and human-scale robots. The new muscles, or actuators, provide the performance and mechanical properties required for building robotic musculoskeletal systems.[#item_full_content]

When a multimillion-dollar extraterrestrial vehicle gets stuck in soft sand or gravel—as did the Mars rover Spirit in 2009—Earth-based engineers take over like a virtual tow truck, issuing a series of commands that move its wheels or reverse its course in a delicate, time-consuming effort to free it and continue its exploratory mission.When a multimillion-dollar extraterrestrial vehicle gets stuck in soft sand or gravel—as did the Mars rover Spirit in 2009—Earth-based engineers take over like a virtual tow truck, issuing a series of commands that move its wheels or reverse its course in a delicate, time-consuming effort to free it and continue its exploratory mission.[#item_full_content]

For robots to be successfully introduced in a wider range of real-world settings, they should be able to safely and reliably navigate rapidly changing environments. While roboticists and computer scientists have introduced a wide range of computational techniques for robot navigation over the past decades, many of them were found to perform poorly in environments that are dynamic, cluttered or characterized by narrow pathways.For robots to be successfully introduced in a wider range of real-world settings, they should be able to safely and reliably navigate rapidly changing environments. While roboticists and computer scientists have introduced a wide range of computational techniques for robot navigation over the past decades, many of them were found to perform poorly in environments that are dynamic, cluttered or characterized by narrow pathways.[#item_full_content]

A new slip-prevention method has been shown to improve how robots grip and handle fragile, slippery or asymmetric objects, according to a University of Surrey–led study published in Nature Machine Intelligence. The innovation could pave the way for safer, more reliable automation across industries ranging from manufacturing to health care.A new slip-prevention method has been shown to improve how robots grip and handle fragile, slippery or asymmetric objects, according to a University of Surrey–led study published in Nature Machine Intelligence. The innovation could pave the way for safer, more reliable automation across industries ranging from manufacturing to health care.[#item_full_content]

Nature has long served as inspiration for cutting-edge engineering—especially in the realm of underwater propulsion.Nature has long served as inspiration for cutting-edge engineering—especially in the realm of underwater propulsion.[#item_full_content]

While the advent of robotic systems that can complete household chores has been widely anticipated, those commercially released so far are primarily robot vacuums that autonomously clean the floor. In contrast, robots that can reliably clean surfaces, tidy up, cook or perform other tasks in home environments are either too expensive or have not yet reached the market.While the advent of robotic systems that can complete household chores has been widely anticipated, those commercially released so far are primarily robot vacuums that autonomously clean the floor. In contrast, robots that can reliably clean surfaces, tidy up, cook or perform other tasks in home environments are either too expensive or have not yet reached the market.[#item_full_content]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are now widely used worldwide to tackle various real-world tasks, including filming videos for various purposes, monitoring crops or other environments from above, assessing disaster zones, and conducting military operations. Despite their widespread use, most existing drones either need to be fully or partly operated by human agents.Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are now widely used worldwide to tackle various real-world tasks, including filming videos for various purposes, monitoring crops or other environments from above, assessing disaster zones, and conducting military operations. Despite their widespread use, most existing drones either need to be fully or partly operated by human agents.[#item_full_content]

Teaching a robot new skills used to require coding expertise. But a new generation of robots could potentially learn from just about anyone.Teaching a robot new skills used to require coding expertise. But a new generation of robots could potentially learn from just about anyone.[#item_full_content]

While roboticists have introduced increasingly advanced systems over the past decades, most existing robots are not yet able to manipulate objects with the same dexterity and sensing ability as humans. This, in turn, adversely impacts their performance in various real-world tasks, ranging from household chores to the clearing of rubble after natural disasters and the assembly or performing maintenance tasks, particularly in high-temperature working environments such as steel mills and foundries, where elevated temperatures can significantly degrade performance and compromise the precision required for safe operations.While roboticists have introduced increasingly advanced systems over the past decades, most existing robots are not yet able to manipulate objects with the same dexterity and sensing ability as humans. This, in turn, adversely impacts their performance in various real-world tasks, ranging from household chores to the clearing of rubble after natural disasters and the assembly or performing maintenance tasks, particularly in high-temperature working environments such as steel mills and foundries, where elevated temperatures can significantly degrade performance and compromise the precision required for safe operations.[#item_full_content]

A cheetah’s powerful sprint, a snake’s lithe slither, or a human’s deft grasp: Each is made possible by the seamless interplay between soft and rigid tissues. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones work together to provide the energy, precision, and range of motion needed to perform the complex movements seen throughout the animal kingdom.A cheetah’s powerful sprint, a snake’s lithe slither, or a human’s deft grasp: Each is made possible by the seamless interplay between soft and rigid tissues. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones work together to provide the energy, precision, and range of motion needed to perform the complex movements seen throughout the animal kingdom.[#item_full_content]