Soft robots harvest ambient heat for self-sustained motion
A warm hand is enough to drive motion in tiny Salmonella-inspired robots that harness molecular-level dynamic bonding.
Robotics
Page 3 - Feature stories
Engineering
Direct approach can bond and debond 2D semiconductors without any glue-like materials
A key objective of electronics engineers is to further reduce the size of devices, while also boosting their speed, performance and efficiency. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, single-layer and thin materials with a controllable ...
Engineering
Engineers repurpose a mosquito proboscis to create a 3D printing nozzle
When it comes to innovation, engineers have long proved to be brilliant copycats, drawing inspiration directly from nature. But now some scientists are moving beyond simple imitation to incorporating natural materials into ...
Robotics
Microrobots overcome navigational limitations with the help of 'artificial spacetimes'
Microrobots—tiny robots less than a millimeter in size—are useful in a variety of applications that require tasks to be completed at scales far too small for other tools, such as targeted drug-delivery or micro-manufacturing. ...
Engineering
New green homes in the UK put less strain on the grid than models predicted
A study of some of the first net-zero-ready homes in the UK has found that their peak grid power demand is far lower than planners had anticipated. The research confirms that these all-electric homes can significantly cut ...
Robotics
Disney teaches a robot how to fall gracefully and make a soft landing
Bipedal (two-legged) robots are sophisticated machines, but they are not the most graceful when things go wrong. A simple push, fall or an obstacle can send them crashing to the ground, often resulting in expensive damage ...
Robotics
Soft robot powered by edible pneumatic battery and actuator
Using common kitchen ingredients such as citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, scientists have created an edible pneumatic battery and valve system to power soft robots.
Engineering
Perovskite solar cells achieve 27.2% efficiency with improved chlorine distribution
In recent years, perovskite has emerged as a promising solution for cheaper, more efficient solar energy. This advanced synthetic material is made from crystals that mimic the naturally occurring crystal perovskite (calcium ...
Robotics
Nature-inspired navigation system helps robots traverse complex environments without GPS
Robots could soon be able to autonomously complete search and rescue missions, inspections, complex maintenance operations and various other real-world tasks. To do this, however, they should be able to smoothly navigate ...
Robotics
Novel smart fabrics give robots a delicate grip
Robots aren't always the most delicate of machines when handling fragile objects. They don't have the lightness of touch of humans. But that could be about to change thanks to a new development in smart materials.
