Robotics

Boston Dynamics announced an expanded product line for its agile mobile robot Spot. The new products include a self-charging Enterprise Spot, web-based remote operations software, Scout, and the Spot Arm. These additions extend Spot's ability to perform autonomous, remote inspections and data collection, and enable the robot to perform manual tasks.

With sensors, the systems and software are a bigger business than the sensors themselves. For example, your body has primitive sensors such as eyes and fingers, but it processes the data in combination, so the whole is greater than the parts. Call it "sensor fusion", something increasingly seen in the automotive, healthcare, and robotic industries.

Strategic Elements Ltd is pleased to report proof of concept work that highlights its printable neuromorphic technology's potential for data processing and self-learning in soft robotics (e.g. touch sensing) and other signal processing applications such as computer vision applications.

GKN Aerospace is to lead a trio of new programs to advance sustainable aviation technology. The UK-based group will be coordinating 15 other organizations in work backed by a £4.5 million investment from the government's Future Flight Challenge fund.

A valuable tool in predicting risk and enduring profitability of businesses is the profitability V curve.

In 1936, Theodore Paul Wright, at Curtiss-Wright in the United States, found that every time total aircraft production doubled, the required labour time for a new aircraft fell by 20%. This has become known as "Wright's law".

In 2017, after four years of setbacks and crashes, Alphabet shut its project flying solar-powered fixed-wing drones in the upper atmosphere to beam the internet to those cut-off. They have now ended their upper-atmosphere balloon version as well.

Robots are widely used to build cars, paint airplanes and sew clothing in factories, but the assembly of microscopic components, such as those for biomedical applications, has not yet been automated. Lasers could be the solution.

Orchards are among the most species-rich biotopes in Central Europe. But many stands are acutely threatened: Since their management is hardly worthwhile from an economic point of view, the vast majority of orchards are not or only poorly maintained. Researchers are working on the development of an autonomous robot that will largely take over tree pruning independently in the future.

EasyMile and Sono Motors are equipping an EZ10 autonomous shuttle prototype with Sono Motors' patented solar technology, testing a new energy concept for electric and driverless shuttles.

Scientists have developed a flexible underwater robot that can propel itself through water in the same style as nature's most efficient swimmer - the Aurelia aurita jellyfish.

Britain and Japan have signed a research and technology deployment collaboration to help automate nuclear decommissioning and aspects of fusion energy production. A world-leading alliance, it will see new robotics and automation techniques applied to both fusion research and to decommissioning nuclear facilities in Japan and the UK.

Cruise and General Motors announced they have entered a long-term strategic relationship with Microsoft to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving vehicles. The companies will bring together their software and hardware engineering excellence, cloud computing capabilities, manufacturing know-how and partner ecosystem to transform transportation.

The world's first robotic kitchen features a dexterous robot integrated into a luxury kitchen, that prepares freshly-cooked meals at the touch of a button.

Fish-inspired robots coordinate movements without any outside control.

Drones are the key technology of the coming two decades. They are used in many different aspects of industry, and commercial use of this technology has never been higher.

Engineers create a robot that learns to visually predict how its partner robot will behave, displaying a glimmer of empathy. This "Robot Theory of Mind" could help robots get along with other robots—and humans—more intuitively.

Inspired by the color-changing skin of cuttlefish, octopuses and squids, engineers have created a 3D printed smart gel that changes shape when exposed to light, becomes "artificial muscle" and may lead to new military camouflage, soft robotics and flexible displays.

This IDTechEx premium article describes the basics of drone software, and some of the major players in the space.

Nala Robotics is opening the world's first state-of-the-art intelligent restaurant. This AI-based robotic kitchen can create dishes from any cuisine around the world, using authentic recipes from celebrated chefs.