Researchers printed a robotic hand with bones, ligaments and tendons for the first time

Posted on 15/11/2023 by Lawrence Bonk

Researchers at the Zurich-based ETH public university, along with a US-based startup called Inkbit, have done the impossible. They’ve printed a robot hand complete with bones, ligaments and tendons for the very first time, representing a major leap forward in 3D printing technology. It’s worth noting that the various parts of the hand were printed simultaneously, and not cobbled together after the fact, as indicated in a research journal published in Nature.

Each of the robotic hand’s various parts were made from different polymers of varying softness and rigidity, using a new laser-scanning technique that lets 3D printers create “special plastics with elastic qualities” all in one go. This obviously opens up new possibilities in the fast-moving field of prosthetics, but also in any field that requires the production of soft robotic structures.

Basically, the researchers at Inkbit developed a method to 3D print slow-curing plastics, whereas the technology was previously reserved for fast-curing plastics. This hybrid printing method presents all kinds of advantages when compared to standard fast-cure projects, such as increased durability and enhanced elastic properties. The tech also allows us to mimic nature more accurately, as seen in the aforementioned robotic hand.

“Robots made of soft materials, such as the hand we developed, have advantages over conventional robots made of metal. Because they’re soft, there is less risk of injury when they work with humans, and they are better suited to handling fragile goods,” ETH Zurich robotics professor Robert Katzschmann writes in the study.

This advancement still prints layer-by-layer, but an integrated scanner constantly checks the surface for irregularities before telling the system to move onto the next material type. Additionally, the extruder and scraper have been updated to allow for the use of slow-curing polymers. The stiffness can be fine-tuned for creating unique objects that suit various industries. Making human-like appendages is one use case scenario, but so is manufacturing objects that soak up noise and vibrations.

MIT-affiliated startup Inkbit helped develop this technology and has already begun thinking about how to make money off of it. The company will soon start to sell these newly-made printers to manufacturers but will also sell complex 3D-printed objects that make use of the technology to smaller entities.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/researchers-printed-a-robotic-hand-with-bones-ligaments-and-tendons-for-the-first-time-160005103.html?src=rss

iRobot’s Roomba Combo j5+ is $300 off in an early Black Friday deal

Posted on 14/11/2023 by Lawrence Bonk

iRobot's Roomba Combo j5+ robot vacuum is $300 off in an early Black Friday deal via Wellbots. This is a record-low for the appliance, dropping the price to $500 instead of the MSRP of $800. In the past, discounts for the j5+ stalled at around $200 off. As typical with Wellbots deals, there’s a promo code. Just enter “ENGBF300” at checkout and you’ll be good to go.

The Roomba Combo j5+, as the name suggests, is a combination unit that includes both a vacuum and a mopping feature. It can pinpoint no-mop zones, so you don’t have to worry about the robot spraying fluid all over your brand-new carpet. The j5+ can also avoid more than 80 common floor obstacles. As a matter of fact, iRobot will replace the unit for free if it doesn’t avoid pet waste, as part of the company’s “P.O.O.P.” pledge. No, we didn’t make that up. It stands for “Pet Owner Official Promise.”

This is a well-regarded robovac with one obvious downside when compared to pricier models like the Roomba j7+ and the flagship j9+. Despite the combo functionality, you have to manually swap out the bins when switching between vacuuming and mopping. The more expensive robots do this automatically. Still, the j9+ costs $900 and the j5+ is currently on sale for $400. You’ll have to decide if that automation feature is worth the price difference.

Wellbots is also selling the junior-grade Roomba 694 vacuum for $115 off. Just enter “ENGBF115” and grab it for $159. This is your basic workhorse robovac with no mopping functionality. It does one job and it does it well, which is why it ended up on our lists of the best robot vacuums for 2023 and the best budget robot vacuums.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/irobots-roomba-combo-j5-is-300-off-in-an-early-black-friday-deal-150047886.html?src=rss

How Robots Are Expanding Their Fields of Work By Attaining Emotional Designs

Posted on 13/11/2023 by Tanvi Joshi

Robots have long captured our imaginations, from the helpful household robots of science fiction to the industrial machines that streamline manufacturing processes. However, the integration of robots into our daily lives has often been hampered by the challenges they face when navigating complex human environments. These limitations have confined their utility to controlled spaces in industries such as logistics and manufacturing. But now, a groundbreaking design concept known as “Turing” is poised to change the game, bringing a fresh perspective on robotic technology.

Designer: Cambridge Consultants (Tom Shirley, Anya Pivčuka)

Turing is not just another robot; it’s a robotic platform with an emotional design at its core. It was developed by a team of multi-disciplinary experts, including designers, engineers, and researchers, to address a significant challenge in robotics: enabling robots to work in complex human environments while fostering collaboration between humans and machines. Turing’s approach seeks to unlock the untapped potential of human-robot interaction, one of the last remaining barriers to a future where robots become our everyday companions.

In the early stages of UX testing, the team behind Turing discovered that mimicking human emotion was a highly effective means of communicating the robot’s movements and intentions. They employed journey mapping to craft a coherent set of thoughts and emotions for the robot, resulting in a personality and behavior that users could relate to and engage with. By drawing inspiration from well-known characters in animation and film, they could identify the most appropriate personality for a given environment. This adaptability allows Turing to modify its behavior based on the specific context, ensuring it doesn’t seem out of place in various settings.

Turing is designed to work in collaboration with people, capable of navigating through crowded environments using body language, gestures, and emotional cues to communicate with our subconscious. This non-verbal, intuitive communication is significantly faster than traditional speech, enabling the sub-second reaction times necessary to avoid collisions in crowded areas. Moreover, Turing’s modular nature allows it to be adapted to a wide range of industries and customized to address diverse business needs.

The versatility of Turing makes it a game-changer in various industries:

1. Retail: In retail, Turing can assist shoppers with tasks ranging from providing general information to guiding them through the store and even carrying their shopping bags. The emotional and charming personality it displays creates a memorable shopping experience that can be tailored to each venue’s ambiance.

2. Service Industry: Turing comes to the rescue of businesses in the service industry, such as bars and restaurants, which often struggle to recruit enough staff. It can efficiently take orders and deliver food and drinks to customers, enhancing their overall experience. Its adaptability ensures it can seamlessly blend into different restaurant environments, from casual to fine dining.

3. Medical Environments: Turing plays a crucial role in medical settings by reducing the burden on healthcare professionals. It can perform repetitive, time-consuming tasks, such as dispensing medication in low-risk hospital wards. This not only frees up staff to focus on patient care but also helps maintain consistent medication schedules. However, the acceptance of robots like Turing in healthcare settings may take time, as people need to build trust in the accuracy of the tasks performed.

Turing is a groundbreaking development in the world of robotics. By embracing emotional design and a highly adaptable, modular nature, it is pushing the boundaries of human-robot interaction and addressing the limitations that have confined robots to specific industries. With Turing, the future of robotics looks promising, as it promises to bring robots out of controlled environments and into our everyday lives, as social, collaborative, and empathetic companions.

The post How Robots Are Expanding Their Fields of Work By Attaining Emotional Designs first appeared on Yanko Design.

This smart home robot concept is designed to blend with the rest of your furniture

Posted on 08/11/2023 by JC Torres

We’re not that far from the smart homes of science fiction, especially with robots that are literally making their way inside our living spaces. The most common is, of course, the circular vacuums and mops that pick up after our mess, but other kinds of smart robots have started to become part of our way of life as well. They may serve different purposes, but a lot of them share a common motif, one that puts more emphasis on technological marvels over other aspects. While that’s not exactly bad, it also takes for granted how user experiences are also driven by aesthetics and comfort, something that cold, impersonal machines are unable to convey. Taking a cue from smart speakers that masquerade as works of art, this home assistant robot concept bucks the trend and instead portrays an appearance that could easily be mistaken for a side table or some other piece of minimalist furniture.

Designers: Haechan Ryu, Haechan Jeong

Perhaps in a few decades, home designs will have become so futuristic that robots won’t look out of place, even if they look mechanical and clinical. At the moment, however, they not only clash with the more organic and life-filled interiors of most homes, they also look unapproachable and alien from an emotional and psychological perspective. We’re still not used to these kinds of smart appliances, so their unusual appearance further distances them from acceptance.

Cor! is a design concept for a home assistant robot that can help humans with their chores while seamlessly blending with its surroundings inside your abode. Sure, it still looks like an appliance on wheels, but its more minimalist and simpler appearance makes it fit better with other furniture without sacrificing function. In fact, its circular plate on top of a truncated pyramid makes it look no different from a unique side table or movable shelf.

That tabletop actually hides Cor!’s core functionality. In a nutshell, it’s a platform that can be raised or lowered as needed and tilt forward to actually do some work. For example, it can dump the contents of a laundry basket into a washing machine, water plants with a pot sitting on top, or dispense food for pets. Cor! can even automatically fetch these “modules” from a shelf that acts as its base, sliding beneath the shelf so that the object on top magnetically latches on the tabletop. And yes, it can also actually hold items on top like a regular table, such as drinks, phones, books, and anything that can fit on top of it.

Cor! also has other functions, such as hidden containers in its base, a ring mood lighting beneath the tabletop, obstacle avoidance, and even an emergency stop button. The real value of this concept, however, lies not in its smart functions but in its smart design, allowing it to be easily integrated into a home’s existing design and into people’s lives.

The post This smart home robot concept is designed to blend with the rest of your furniture first appeared on Yanko Design.

This colossal rideable robot, resembling a giant rhinoceros gives meaning to the phrase ‘riding in style’

Posted on 06/11/2023 by Gaurav Sood

Have you ever wanted to ride a rhinoceros? I would have never thought of an idea to be even close to reality, but after seeing this rhino-inspired behemoth with four sturdy legs, engineered to walk and transport up to four adventurous passengers, I am sold by the idea!

An amalgamation of entertainment and technology, this larger-than-life creation: the SR-02, a quadruped walking robot, is developed by Sansei Technologies. This is a company renowned for crafting thrilling amusement park rides that set hearts racing at Disney.

Designer: Sensei Technologies

The electric-powered prototype of the four-legged walking robot was debuting at the Japan Mobility Show, previously known as the Japan Motor Show, this year. The SR-02, right to the word, stole the spotlight, hinting at a future where personal mobility takes on an entirely new form.

This ambitious creation isn’t however crafted for a specific client but instead for the pleasure of those who seek unique experiences at amusement parks. Whether you fancy taking control yourself or allowing remote guidance, this marvel of engineering provides both options, ensuring a delightfully dynamic adventure for all its passengers.

The SR-02 stands at around 11 feet in length, slightly over five feet in width, and nearly seven feet in height. Its spacious design ensures that passengers have ample room to sit comfortably, making the entire experience not only thrilling but also enjoyable.

The prospect of riding a colossal, rideable robot might sound like a dream come true for many, and the SR-02 has the potential to transform amusement park experiences into something beyond imagination. However, until further announcements are made, we can only sit back and wait to know when.