Robots and Artificial Intelligence. From babybots to surprisingly accomplished robots, read all the latest news and research in robotics here.
Updated: 2 days 23 hours ago
Thu, 12/17/2020 - 20:52
Rapid and accurate identification of mosquitoes that transmit human pathogens such as malaria is an essential part of mosquito-borne disease surveillance. Now, researchers have shown the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence system -- known as a Convoluted Neural Network -- to classify mosquito sex, genus, species and strain.
Thu, 12/17/2020 - 19:53
Scientists have trained machine learning software to classify supernovae without the traditional use of spectra. The project -- the first to use real supernovae data to inform its artificial intelligence -- is 82% accurate. Currently, scientists take spectra of 10-percent of the ~10,000 supernovae discovered each year. When the Rubin Observatory goes online, only 0.1-percent of the expected supernovae discoveries will be further studied without the new software.
Wed, 12/16/2020 - 21:52
Getting computers to 'think' like humans is the holy grail of artificial intelligence, but human brains turn out to be tough acts to follow. Now, researchers have used a computational model of brain activity to simulate this process more accurately than ever before. The new model mimics how the brain's prefrontal cortex uses a phenomenon known as 'gating' to control the flow of information between different areas of neurons.
Tue, 12/15/2020 - 20:22
A model based solely on the past 40 years of weather events uses 7,000 times less computer power than today's weather forecasting tools. An A.I.-powered model could someday provide more accurate forecasts for rain, snow and other weather events.
Tue, 12/15/2020 - 19:12
Scientists often look to nature for cues when designing robots - some robots mimic human hands while others simulate the actions of octopus arms or inchworms. Now, researchers have designed a new soft robotic gripper that draws inspiration from an unusual source: pole beans.
Tue, 12/15/2020 - 17:20
Researchers are embracing chaos and nonlinear physics to create insectlike gaits for tiny robots -- complete with a locomotion controller to provide a brain-machine interface. Biology and physics are permeated by universal phenomena fundamentally grounded in nonlinear physics, and it inspired the researchers' work. The group now describes using a system of three nonlinear differential equations as a building block for central pattern generators to control the gait of a robotic insect.
Tue, 12/15/2020 - 15:59
A research team has developed a new range of strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive when measuring minute movements. These sensors are ultra-thin, battery-free and can transmit data wirelessly, making them attractive for a wide range of applications.
Tue, 12/15/2020 - 14:20
Is it possible to read a person's mind by analyzing the electric signals from the brain? The answer may be much more complex than most people think. In a new article, researchers say a prominent dataset used to try to answer this question is confounded, and therefore many eye-popping findings that were based on this dataset and received high-profile recognition are false after all.
Mon, 12/14/2020 - 22:43
Gait training using robotic exoskeletons improved motor function in adolescents and young adults with acquired brain injury.
Fri, 12/11/2020 - 17:54
Combining neuroscience and robotic research has gained impressive results in the rehabilitation of paraplegic patients. A research team was able to show that exoskeleton training not only helped patients to walk, but also stimulated their healing process. With these findings in mind, a professor wants to take the fusion of robotics and neuroscience to the next level.
Fri, 12/11/2020 - 16:06
New research has shown robots can encourage humans to take greater risks in a simulated gambling scenario than they would if there was nothing to influence their behaviors. Increasing our understanding of whether robots can affect risk-taking could have clear ethical, practical and policy implications, which this study set out to explore.
Fri, 12/11/2020 - 16:06
The automation of scientific discoveries is here to stay. Among others, a machine-human cooperation found a hitherto unknown general model explaining the relation between the area and age of an island and the number of species it hosts.
Fri, 12/11/2020 - 14:30
Researchers have built an ultralow-power consumption artificial visual system to mimic the human brain, which successfully performed data-intensive cognitive tasks. Their experiment results could provide a promising device system for the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Fri, 12/11/2020 - 14:30
A new technology, called Artificial Chemist 2.0, allows users to go from requesting a custom quantum dot to completing the relevant R&D and beginning manufacturing in less than an hour. The tech is completely autonomous, and uses artificial intelligence and automated robotic systems to perform multi-step chemical synthesis and analysis.
Thu, 12/10/2020 - 17:20
Robotic animals could be the 'pawfect' replacement for our real-life furry friends, a new study has found.
Thu, 12/10/2020 - 17:20
To develop a more human-like robotic gripper, it is necessary to provide sensing capabilities to the fingers. However, conventional sensors compromise the mechanical properties of soft robots. Now, scientists have designed a 3D printable soft robotic finger containing a built-in sensor with adjustable stiffness. Their work represents a big step toward safer and more dexterous robotic handling, which will extend the applications of robots to fields such as health and elderly care.
Tue, 12/08/2020 - 22:30
Researchers are making key advances with a new type of optical sensor that more closely mimics the human eye's ability to perceive changes in its visual field.
Mon, 12/07/2020 - 16:20
According to a new study, making eye contact with a robot may have the same effect on people as eye contact with another person. The results predict that interaction between humans and humanoid robots will be surprisingly smooth.
Fri, 12/04/2020 - 19:13
Researchers have developed a Bayesian learning model of chemisorption, or Bayeschem for short, aiming to use artificial intelligence to unlock the nature of chemical bonding at catalyst surfaces.
Tue, 12/01/2020 - 20:40
Deep learning neural networks can be massive, demanding major computing power. In a test of the 'lottery ticket hypothesis,' researchers have found leaner, more efficient subnetworks hidden within BERT models. The discovery could make natural language processing more accessible.