3 Questions: How automation and good jobs can co-exist
Work of the Future Initiative co-directors Julie Shah and Ben Armstrong describe their vision of “positive-sum automation.”
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3D-printed revolving devices can sense how they are moving
A new system enables makers to incorporate sensors into gears and other rotational mechanisms with just one pass in a 3D printer.
Resilient bug-sized robots keep flying even after wing damage
New repair techniques enable microscale robots to recover flight performance after suffering severe damage to the artificial muscles that power their wings.
Mix-and-match kit could enable astronauts to build a menagerie of lunar exploration bots
Robotic parts could be assembled into nimble spider bots for exploring lava tubes or heavy-duty elephant bots for transporting solar panels.
New “traffic cop” algorithm helps a drone swarm stay on task
By keeping data fresh, the system could help robots inspect buildings or search disaster zones.
Titanic robots make farming more sustainable
MIT alumnus-founded FarmWise uses autonomous machines to snip weeds while preserving crops, eliminating the need for herbicides.
Learning to compute through art
“Introduction to Physical Computing for Artists” at the MIT Student Art Association teaches students to use circuits, wiring, motors, sensors, and displays by developing their own kinetic artworks.
Robot armies duke it out in Battlecode’s epic on-screen battles
The long-running programming competition encourages skills and friendships that last a lifetime.
Custom, 3D-printed heart replicas look and pump just like the real thing
The soft robotic models are patient-specific and could help clinicians zero in on the best implant for an individual.
Nine from MIT named 2023 Sloan Research Fellows
Annual award honors early-career researchers for creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments.
Responsive design meets responsibility for the planet’s future
Senior Sylas Horowitz tackles engineering projects with a focus on challenges related to clean energy, climate justice, and sustainable development.
Learning challenges shape a mechanical engineer’s path
Recent alumnus James Hermus wants to help others overcome barriers to accessibility and full participation.
Inside two MIT students’ historic BattleBots runs
PhD students Lucy Du ’14, SM ’16 and Ginger Schmidt are crushing the competition — and gender barriers — in the world of televised robot combat.
Automating the math for decision-making under uncertainty
A new tool brings the benefits of AI programming to a much broader class of problems.
Engineers devise a modular system to produce efficient, scalable aquabots
The system’s simple repeating elements can assemble into swimming forms ranging from eel-like to wing-shaped.