Robotics
Cyborgs One Step Closer
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have reported making a two-legged “biohybrid robot” after combining an artificial skeleton with biological muscle, which can walk and pivot underwater. Biohybrid Whereas ‘typical’ biohybrid robots can only move in straight lines or perform large turns (making them unsuitable for use in areas with many obstacles), the Tokyo University biohybrid robot…
Read MoreSelf-Healing Skin Developed For Robots
Hmm, where have we seen this before? Stanford University scientists have created a multi-layered, self-healing electronic skin for robots and prosthetics that has a sense of touch and can realign itself autonomously when cut. Layered Polymers The research team created the synthetic skin using thin layers of rubber, latex (natural polymers), and other polymers including…
Read MoreOpenAI Now Exploring Humanoid Robots
A humanoid robotics company (1X Technologies) has announced that it raised $2.5m Series A2 funding led by ChatGPT’s creators OpenAI to pursue producing androids/humanoid robots at commercial scale. Funding The funding round to develop more androids was led by the OpenAI Startup Fund, with participation from Tiger Global and a consortium of Norway-based investors, including…
Read MoreRent-a-Robot
It’s been reported that global logistics firm DHL is using “a good number” of leased robots to help it deal with high demand over the Christmas period. What For … And Where? The Wall Street Journal has reported that DHL is using leased robots for package handling over the Christmas period. Jobs the robots can help with…
Read MoreRobots Now Legally Lethal
The announcement by San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors to allow the city’s police to use robots that can deploy “deadly force” in the fight against crime has been met with concern. What Killer Robots? According to a San Francisco Police Department policy document, the city has essentially approved the use of 17 robots, 5 of…
Read MoreAmazon’s Sparrow Robot Could Replace Humans
Amazon is reported to be testing the machine learning ‘Sparrow’ robot arm that could handle 65 percent of its 100+ million diverse parcels. Challenge Although Amazon already uses robot arms called ‘Robin’ and ‘Cardinal’ to re-direct boxed-up pre-delivery items around its warehouses, the challenge has been to create a robot arm that can detect, recognise,…
Read MoreMusk Presents Humanoid Robot
Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk has introduced a prototype humanoid robot named Optimus to attendees and the cameras at Tesla’s recent AI Day 2022 event. Useful Humanoid Robot Mr Musk told the audience that the idea behind Optimus was simply to “make a useful, humanoid robot as quickly as possible” and that Optimus has…
Read MoreAugmented Vision From ‘Smart’ Contact Lenses?
In this insight, we look at the development, applications, and issues relating to new ‘smart eye’ wearables such as smart glasses and contact lenses. Smart Contact Lenses Smart contact lenses, such as those in development by health and technology company Mojo, use a tiny micro-LED display the size of a grain of sand to display…
Read MoreWorld’s First “Living Robots” Can Now Reproduce
US-based scientists have reported creating “living robots” that can now re-produce. Next Step From Last Year Last year, a team of US scientists reported creating ‘living robots’ which were actually bundles of stem cells from African clawed frogs. The researchers discovered that they could ‘program’ these cells to accomplish certain tasks, hence the robot comparison.…
Read MoreRobot Police Dog Sent Back With Tail Between Its Legs
It has been reported that NYPD has cancelled its contract with the company that supplied its ‘robot dog’ after the robot’s militarised appearance increased tensions with civilians at a difficult time for police relations. What Robot Dog? The robot ‘dog’ nicknamed ‘Digidog’ was ordered last year by the NYPD from specialist robot company Boston Dynamics…
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