Robotics

“Researchers at MIT have created a robotic hand device that, rather than simply replacing one's grip, enhances its reach with two extra fingers,” reports NBC on a new device developed by Professor Harry Asada’s team.

The BBC reports on a new technology from Professor Harry Asada’s team that provides a robotic extension to the human hand responsive to movement. The extension—essentially two extra fingers—can be used to grasp, leaving the hand free for other tasks. 

“The robot, which is a stack of three components allowing the display to swivel freely in any direction, is intended to be a family companion performing a variety of interactive tasks,” writes John Markoff for The New York Times about Jibo, a robot created by MIT Media Lab Professor, Cynthia Breazeal.

NBC News reports on the new phase-changing material developed by MIT researchers. The material could be used to develop shape-shifting robots to be used in surgery and search and rescue operations. 

"We wanted produce something that would produce significant volume change, but something that could still be useful, support payloads and enforce payloads on the environment," says Nadia Cheng of the phase-changing material developed by MIT researchers in an interview with Mashable’s Lance Ulanoff.  

Wired reporter Katie Collins writes that MIT researchers have developed a phase-changing material that could allow robots to shift from solid to squishy. Transformable robots, “would allow surgeons to carry out operations less invasively,” Collins writes. 

Ben Coxworth of Gizmag writes about the new system developed by MIT researchers that allows photographers to achieve rim lighting during photo shoots. “Their system not only does away with light stands, but the light-equipped aircraft automatically moves to compensate for movements of the model or photographer,” writes Coxworth.

In a piece for Fortune, Benjamin Snyder writes about how MIT researchers have developed a new system to help achieve the perfect lighting for photo shoots. Flying robots are programmed to produce rim lighting, which illuminates the edge of the subject in a photograph. 

The Associated Press reports on a new soft robotic fish developed by MIT researchers. The video features footage of the fish, which the researchers developed in an effort to make more lifelike robots. 

BBC News reports on new efforts to integrate robot-assisted training into the rehabilitation process for stroke victims. "The whole concept is revolutionising the practice of rehabilitation medicine by applying robotics that can assist and enhance recovery," explains Dr. Hermano Igo Krebs.

In a piece for New Scientist about teaching robots to communicate like humans, Aviva Rutkin highlights how researchers from MIT developed a new approach to communicating with a robot called inverse semantics. Using this approach, “the robot tries to choose the right words by looking at its environment,” Rutkin writes. 

Professor John Leonard speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek about Google’s new Auto Android and how it compares with the company’s driverless car project. Leonard sees the two projects as part of an overall effort to dramatically transform transportation in our everyday lives.

Michael Farrell of The Boston Globe reports on a robotic ankle created by Professor Hugh Herr’s startup, BiOM. “The BiOM ankle is programmed to replicate all the natural functionality of the foot and ankle,” writes Farrell.

Timothy Aeppel writes for The Wall Street Journal about Professor Erik Brynjolfsson’s belief that advances in automation have the same transformative impact on the economy as inventions of the past. “For the first time in history, we can talk to machines and they talk back to us,” says Brynjolfsson.

Wired reporter Liat Clark writes about how researchers from MIT, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated a self-assembling lamp at the IEEE Conference on Robotics and Automation.