Category: Robots
Tip of the iceberg? Vegebot to plug agriculture labour gaps
Engineers have developed a vegetable-picking robot called a Vegebot to complete the challenging task of harvesting lettuces. The prototype Vegebot, developed by a team at Cambridge University, is nowhere near as fast or efficient as a human worker at picking iceberg lettuces. But research published in The Journal of Field Robotics suggests progress in harvesting…
Ai-Da becomes world’s first humanoid robot artist
A humanoid AI android called Ai-Da has been unveiled as the world’s first robot artist ahead of its debut exhibition at the University of Oxford. Named after the mathematician Ada Lovelace, the robot was revealed during a press conference at the university’s Lady Margaret Hall College on Wednesday. Creator Aidan Meller unveils Ai-Da (Jacob King/PA)…
First robot artist, Ai-Da, opens ‘her’ own art exhibition
A humanoid AI robot is set to open its own exhibition of artwork in Oxford, drawn independently using a robotic arm and an inbuilt camera. The robot, called Ai-Da after the mathematician Ada Lovelace, is said to be the first ultra-realistic robot capable of drawing people from life using her eye and a pencil in…
Ford creates Digit, a robot that delivers to the door
Ford is testing a two-legged robot that is able to independently carry parcels from a self-driving delivery vehicle to the front door. Called Digit, the slightly scaring looking humanoid can walk up and down stairs, as well as on uneven ground, holding items weighing up to 18kg, with the aim of one day easing pressure…
Stevie II robot designed to help battle loneliness in the elderly
An Irish University has developed a robot to help battle loneliness amongst the elderly and those living in care homes. Engineers from Trinity College, Dublin, unveiled ‘Stevie II’ on Wednesday, an upgraded version of Ireland’s first socially assistive robot with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features. The new and updated version of ‘Stevie…
Boston Dynamics shows off its nimble warehouse robot
Robot-maker Boston Dynamics has shown off its latest futuristic machinery, which can effortlessly lift and transport packages with more agility than standard handling devices. The American firm has previously revealed the Handle robot jumping around. However, a new video has emerged showing the technology being used in a more practical working environment, carrying boxes weighing…
MIT researchers create Mini Cheetah – first four-legged robot to perform backflip
A four-legged robot named the Mini Cheetah is now able to do backflips, thanks to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The new robot is the first device with four legs to be able to do the trick, after Boston Dynamics’s two-legged Atlas robot pulled off the stunt in November 2017. As well as…
Scientists developing robots to clean train carriages
Robots that can clean train carriages and drones that can inspect railway bridge arches are being developed by scientists in two new research projects. The Heriot-Watt University researchers are working on robotised mobile inspection platforms that can operate in hard-to-reach areas such as between and under the seats of a train carriage. The robot platforms will detect…
Robots and AI will give doctors more time with patients, claims NHS report
Robots, artificial intelligence and smart speakers will unburden doctors to give them more time with patients, according to an NHS report on the pending technological “revolution” in healthcare. Rapid advances will also be spurred on by developments in the ability to sequence individuals’ genomes, the entirety of their genetic data, according to the “groundbreaking” review…
MIT creates Jenga-playing robot which can choose the safest block
It's a problem that many of us have, especially after a few pints! But now scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a robot capable of analysing a Jenga tower and understanding the safest block to remove. It is able to push blocks with different degrees of force and use the data…
