Robots have been transforming industries for years. In fact, it seems fair to say that the robot revolution happened a few decades ago and now we’re onto the sequel.
The video above features the LOPES (Lower Extremity-Powered ExoSkeleton) developed by Dr. ir Herman van der Kooij and his team at the University of Twente, Netherlands to assist stroke patients who are learning how to walk again. It’s a critical time to invest in projects such as this one as Europeans- and many other populations around the world- are ageing while the number of care giving professionals is dwindling. Continue reading →
From canine companions to cleaning machines, robots are seeing all kinds of new applications
A robotic seeing eye dog has recently been developed by Japan’s manufacturing company NSK. A recent article makes the point that although this seeing eye dog won’t get distracted by squirrels or tasty treats, it looks like this robot needs a bit more work before it can keep up with its furry counterparts. Continue reading →
How can we make robots safe? How can we make them perform their tasks effectively? Although these are among the most critical questions today’s robot engineers must address, recently, researchers have felt the need to delve further into some of the issues pertaining to the use of medical robots. For example, what types of robot-human interaction are people comfortable with, how do we make robots communicate their intentions, and how will people perceive them?
Research bodies around the globe are making an effort to draft laws governing the development of robots as they become increasingly complex and ingrained in our societies.
Squids, snails and other invertebrates can do things that animals with hard skeletons can’t. For example they can squeeze through small cracks and move across rough terrain. Likewise, soft-bodied robots have some important advantages over traditional rigid ones. The video above displays a soft robot developed by George M. Whitesides and his team at Harvard University. Continue reading →