Robotics
The Lead
Engineering Answers: The Bionic Dragonfly
May 13, 2013 2:39 pm | by Melissa Fassbender, Associate Editor, PD&D | Articles | Comments
The Bionic Learning Network takes its design inspiration from nature. A partnership between Festo, various colleges and universities, and development companies, the network has produced a variety of intriguing products throughout the years. After successfully mimicking bird flight with the SmartBird, the developers at the Bionic Learning Network took on their next big challenge, modeling the dragonfly at a technical level.
The Missing Piece of Einstein's Theory
May 17, 2013 1:43 pm | by Mike Wolterbeek, University of Nevada, Reno | News | Comments
A new window into the nature of the universe may be possible with a device proposed by...
Is It Possible to Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.?
May 17, 2013 9:33 am | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | News | Comments
Several factors come into play when manufacturers make the decision to move or reshore (see...
Students in Ghana Launch Mini-Satellite
May 15, 2013 2:33 pm | by Robbie Corey-Boulet, Associated Press | News | Comments
Their project might not sound like much: The college students on Wednesday launched a tiny model...
Robots Learn to Take a Proper Handoff
May 20, 2013 1:35 pm | by Jennifer Liu, Disney Research | News | CommentsA humanoid robot can receive an object handed to it by a person with something approaching natural, human-like motion thanks to a new method developed by scientists at Disney Research, Pittsburgh in a project partially funded by the International Center for Advanced Communication Technologies (interACT) at Carnegie Mellon University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
ERA President: EDS 2013 ‘Very Productive’
May 17, 2013 11:07 am | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | News | CommentsAfter the dust had settled, and most of the industry had returned to their native lands, ERA President Paul C. Nielsen of Brainard-Nelsen Marketing was able to put EDS 2013 in perspective. “I thought EDS was great,” Nielsen said. “It had a very high energy level with a lot of productive professional and personal meetings.”
After EDS: Q&A with John Knight
May 17, 2013 10:53 am | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | Orion Fans | News | CommentsAccording to John Knight, Vice President of Knight Electronics/Orion Fans, EDS 2013 proved to provide an excellent venue for networking within the electronics industry, and it continues the highlight the trends in the ever-evolving electronics distribution industry. After the event, Knight had a chance to reflect on the event.
Photo of the Day: Webb Undergoes Eye Surgery
May 16, 2013 12:38 pm | by NASA | News | CommentsMuch like the inside of an operating room, in the clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., engineers worked meticulously to implant part of the eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope. They scrubbed up and suited up to perform one of the most delicate performances of their lives.
Technique Helps Robotic Vehicles Find Their Way, Help Humans
May 14, 2013 1:45 pm | by Wayne State University | News | CommentsA Wayne State University researcher understands that the three most important things about real estate also apply to small ground robotic vehicles: location, location, location. Weisong Shi, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science in the College of Engineering, describes his development of a technique called LOBOT that provides accurate, real-time, 3D positions in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Photo of the Day: Webb's MIRI Thermal Shield
May 10, 2013 10:31 am | by NASA | News | CommentsNASA engineer Acey Herrera recently checked out copper test wires inside the thermal shield of the Mid-Infrared Instrument, known as MIRI, that will fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The shield is designed to protect the vital MIRI instrument from excess heat.
Obama Administration Launches Competition for 3 New Manufacturing Innovation Institutes
May 9, 2013 6:36 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Obama Administration today announced that it is launching competitions to create three new manufacturing innovation institutes with a Federal commitment of $200 million across five Federal agencies - Defense, Energy, Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.
Engineering Newswire 37: Boeing Makes Hypersonic History
May 9, 2013 10:22 am | by Eric Sorensen, Coordinator of Multimedia Development | Videos | CommentsToday on Engineering Newswire, brought to you by Pivot Point, the leading designer and manufacturer of non-threaded fastener solutions, we’re improving Artificial Intelligence with sensors, flying robotic bees, making hypersonic history, and getting ready to launch GOES-R.
Wearable Robots Getting Lighter, More Portable
May 9, 2013 3:26 am | by Carla K. Johnson, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsWhen Michael Gore stands, it's a triumph of science and engineering. Eleven years ago, Gore was paralyzed from the waist down in a workplace accident, yet he rises from his wheelchair and walks across the room with help from a lightweight wearable robot.
HotSpot Episode 11: Biometric Payment Terminal
May 6, 2013 1:32 pm | by Eric Sorensen, Coordinator of Multimedia Development | Videos | CommentsThis week on the HotSpot, texting on Smartwatches, a biometric payment terminal, putting your kids in smart pajamas, and miniature medical devices that tap the power of the smartphone.
Robot Uses Arms, Location, and More to Discover Objects
May 6, 2013 1:11 pm | by Byron Spice, Carnegie Mellon | News | CommentsA robot can struggle to discover objects in its surroundings when it relies on computer vision alone. But by taking advantage of all of the information available to it — an object's location, size, shape and even whether it can be lifted — a robot can continually discover and refine its understanding of objects, say researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute.
Controlling Robots with Your Thoughts
May 3, 2013 1:48 pm | by SINTEF | News | CommentsAngel Perez Garcia can make a robot move exactly as he wants via the electrodes attached to his head. "I use the movements of my eyes, eyebrows and other parts of my face", he says. "With my eyebrows I can select which of the robot's joints I want to move" smiles Angel, who is a Master's student at NTNU.
New Research Could Let Vehicles, Robots Collaborate with Humans
May 3, 2013 1:26 pm | by Helen Knight, MIT | News | CommentsYou get into your car and ask it to get you home in time for the start of the big game, stopping off at your favorite Chinese restaurant on the way to grab some takeout.But the car informs you that the road past the Chinese restaurant is closed for repairs, so you will not make it home in 30 minutes unless you choose a different food outlet.
Bielefeld Robots Take Part in a Space Simulation
May 3, 2013 1:22 pm | by Universitaet Bielefeld | News | CommentsThe two robots Flobi and Nao worked full time for three weeks in an isolation study in Cologne. Researchers from Bielefeld University’s Research Institute for Cognition and Robotics (CoR-Lab) were studying how these intelligent assistance systems can help astronauts to keep fit – both physically and mentally.
UN Report Wants Moratorium on Killer Robots
May 3, 2013 1:08 pm | by Peter James Spielmann, Associated Press | News | CommentsKiller robots that can attack targets without any human input "should not have the power of life and death over human beings," a new draft U.N. report says. The report for the U.N. Human Rights Commission posted online this week deals with legal and philosophical issues involved in giving robots lethal powers over humans, echoing countless science-fiction novels and films.
Navy Unveils Squadron of Manned, Unmanned Craft
May 2, 2013 4:59 pm | by Julie Watson - Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Navy on Thursday inaugurated its first squadron with both manned and unmanned aircraft. Military officials launched the effort by reactivating the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 35, known as the "Magicians" or HSL-35, which served for 19 years before being deactivated in 1992. "The...
Measurement Tool Is on Target for Fast-Growing MEMS Industry
May 2, 2013 1:25 pm | by Mark Bello, National Institute of Standards and Technology | News | CommentsAs markets for miniature, hybrid machines known as MEMS grow and diversify, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has introduced a long-awaited measurement tool that will help growing numbers of device designers, manufacturers, and customers to see eye to eye on eight dimensional and material property measurements that are key to device performance.
Seahorses Give Engineers Insight into Robotics Designs
May 2, 2013 1:21 pm | by Daniel Kane, UCSD Jacobs | News | CommentsMcKittrick and Meyers had sought bioinsipiration by examining the armor of many other animals, including armadillo, alligators, and the scales of various fish. This time, they were specifically looking for an animal that was flexible enough to develop a design for a robotic arm.
Photos of the Day: Rover Prototype Set To Explore Greenland
May 2, 2013 1:16 pm | News | CommentsThe robot known as GROVER, which stands for both Greenland Rover and Goddard Remotely Operated Vehicle for Exploration and Research, will roam the frigid landscape collecting measurements to help scientists better understand changes in the massive ice sheet. This autonomous, solar-powered robot carries a ground-penetrating radar to study how snow accumulates, adding layer upon layer to the ice sheet over time.
An Affordable, Adaptable, Resilient, Robust Robotic Hand
May 2, 2013 9:53 am | by DARPA | Videos | CommentsThe ARM-H track of DARPA's Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program focuses on development of robust, low-cost and dexterous robotic hand hardware. DARPA funded performers to design and build hand mechanisms that could replace the claw-like hands currently used on robots with hands incorporating 3-4 fingers and useable palms.
Seahorse's Armor Inspires Better Robotic Designs
May 2, 2013 9:30 am | by Laboratory Equipment | Videos | CommentsThe tail of a seahorse can be compressed to about half its size before permanent damage occurs. Researchers are hoping to use a similar structure to create a flexible robotic arm equipped with muscles made out of polymers.
People May Welcome Talking Tissue Boxes and Other Smart Objects
May 1, 2013 12:56 pm | by Matthew Swayne, Penn State | News | CommentsJust as people have embraced computers and smart phones, they may also give their blessing to talking tissue boxes and other smart objects, according to Penn State researchers. "Smart objects will become more and more a part of our daily lives," said S. Shyam Sundar, Distinguished Professor of Communications and co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory.
Robots with Whole-Arm Tactile Sensing
May 1, 2013 12:53 pm | by Liz Klipp, Georgia Tech | News | CommentsWhether reaching for a book out of a cluttered cabinet or pruning a bush in the backyard, a person’s arm frequently makes contact with objects during everyday tasks. Animals do it too, when foraging for food, for example.
Obama: U.S. Could Lose Years of Research
April 30, 2013 10:52 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsPresident Barack Obama says the U.S. could lose years of scientific research as a result of automatic spending cuts that have hit federal agencies. He says instead of racing ahead to the next cutting edge, American scientists are wondering whether they'll be able to develop any new products at all.
Welcome to My Nightmare
April 29, 2013 4:03 pm | by David Mantey, Executive Editor, PD&D | Articles | CommentsEd Edmunds and his wife Marsha Taub-Edmunds have been in the fright business since 1978. The heads of Distortions Unlimited, and current stars of Making Monsters on the Travel Channel, started with horror-themed masks and props, but in 1995 they designed Shake n Bake, an animatronic electric chair that was unlike anything the industry had ever seen.
