Blog

Exosuit developed by Harvard can assist with running and walking

Catwell

Wearable robot devices have been developed in the past by researchers at various universities and industry labs to help people in rehabilitation centers with walking or running, but small wearable devices could never seem to do both. Developing a rob...
- 19 Aug 2019
Daimler Set to Deliver First E-Trucks, While UPS has been using Self-Driving Semis for Months

Catwell

A pair of Daimler’s Freightliner eCascadia battery-powered trucks are headed to customers at their research and development center in Portland. (Image credit: Daimler) Electric auto manufacturer Daimler have been hyping their electric trucks fo...
- 19 Aug 2019
NASA’s Astrobee, Bumble, navigates around the international space station

Catwell

In May 2019, NASA launched two tiny robots called Astrobees to the International Space Station. Both robots started their journey on an Antares rocket, arriving to the space station just two days later, with NASA’s astronauts welcoming them aboard. T...
- 15 Aug 2019
Romanian Engineers’ “UFO” merged a Quadcopter and Jet to Create an Impressive Flying Saucer

Catwell

The ADIFO (All-Directional Flying Object) features four ducted fans for VTOL and low-speed maneuvers, and a pair of vectored jets provide thrust and a high degree of agility in horizontal flight. (Image credit: ADIFO) A pair of Romanian enginee...
- 14 Aug 2019
What do Nuclear Power Plants and Electric Guitars Have in Common?

mkeene1

Sometimes we ask young children odd-sounding questions that are word game riddles designed to challenge their typical way of thinking. Every child has probably been asked “What has hands but doesn’t clap?” Eventually, they all know to answer “a...
- 13 Aug 2019
MIT introduces new automated knitting machine - is hand crafting on its way out?

Catwell

The automated knitting system uses a neural network to create garments. Gloves created by the automated knitting system. (Image credit: MIT CSAIL) Knitting is a craft that takes a certain amount of skill, finesse, and patience. But these require...
- 12 Aug 2019
Wearable tail gives the wearer a boost with balance and agility

Catwell

Wearable tails are a fashion trend that humans enjoy wearing for entertainment events or cosplay, but none of them have the ability to maintain their balance. Researchers at Keio University in Japan have developed a wearable tail named the Arque tail...
- 9 Aug 2019
Try out OpenPLC on a Raspberry Pi

Jan Cumps

I'm checking if I can use OpenPLC on small Linux devices.The software is known to work on a Raspberry Pi. I'll try it out on that first.I can focus on the functionality instead of installation and dependency resolution.It 'll also give me...
- 9 Aug 2019
Japan demonstrates a flying vehicle that can deliver goods

Catwell

On August 5th, Japanese electronics firm, NEC Corporations, a global technology company, developed a “flying car” prototype that was able to hover in the air for just one minute during demonstrations in Abiko, Japan, 22 miles away from Tokyo. The new...
- 8 Aug 2019
Submarine that creates icebergs can be used to help rebuild the polar ice cap

Catwell

Faris Rajak Kotahatuhaha and his team came up with a submarine prototype that can help fight off climate change. The submarine would be stationed in the Arctic, re-freezing sea water to produce mini modular icebergs that eventually merge together to ...
- 7 Aug 2019
Roach-like robot to be used in search and rescue operations

Catwell

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a robot bug that imitates the way a cockroach moves around on the floor. That may be more than enough to make some people writhe as they stare down at the robot, anticipating its ev...
- 6 Aug 2019
Avoiding Connector Failures with a Multiple-Beam Floating Contact Design

rscasny

The failure mechanisms of electrical connectors have become more complex, as connector technology has evolved and downsized into fine pitch packages for high speed applications. These mechanisms can be obvious to the naked eye, as well as subtle, req...
- 31 Jul 2019
Prosthetic arm, LUKE, imitates human sensation with touch

Catwell

Prosthetic wearers all have a common goal in mind – to regain the functionality of an amputated limb. While their prosthetics may restore some degree of movement, it doesn’t carry the feeling of touch when it’s worn. Now scientists at the University ...
- 29 Jul 2019
LightSail 2 successfully sends data back from space

Catwell

The LightSail 2 spacecraft developed by Planetary Society is now operational, without any issues in orbit, while the mission team at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California follows procedures to ensure the LightSail 2 spacecraft is ready for sail depl...
- 26 Jul 2019
NASA’s LEMUR robot successfully traverses Death Valley

Catwell

NASA’s four-limbed robot LEMUR has successfully climbed a cliff in Death Valley and is now inspiring future climbing robots. LEMUR has four limbs and 16 fingers equipped with hundreds of tiny fishhooks. (Image credit: NASA) NASA has been sending...
- 25 Jul 2019
Jumping robots work together to tackle large obstacles

Catwell

These jumping robots were inspired by real-life ants in terms of their movement and how they work together. These bots use infrared and proximity sensors to communicate with one another. (Image credit: EPFL) Size isn’t necessarily a disadvantage...
- 17 Jul 2019
The current space treaty doesn’t cover future space exploration

Catwell

The 1967 U.N. Outer Space Treaty appears to be outdated when thinking about where space exploration is headed next. Is it time to update the space treaty? Probably. (Image credit: pixabay) When man first landed on the moon 50 years ago, no one c...
- 15 Jul 2019
Vegebot uses machine learning to pick iceberg lettuce

Catwell

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed an iceberg lettuce harvesting robot dubbed the ‘Vegebot.’ Using machine learning algorithms, the robot can learn how to recognize and harvest the lettuce despite any challenges it may face. No...
- 12 Jul 2019
Jaco, a robotic arm helps those in powered wheelchairs find their independence

Catwell

Canadian tech company Kinova Robotics’ Jaco arm is the newest addition to robotics for those with accessibility needs. The new lightweight, carbon fiber arm attaches to a power wheelchair, giving the user a transformative life experience by using the...
- 12 Jul 2019
Harvard’s updated RoboBee X-Wing can now fly on its own

Catwell

The new solar-powered RoboBee uses four wings to propel itself without a tether. The newly updated RoboBee X-Wing. (Image credit: Harvard University) A few years ago, Harvard University introduced RoboBee, a flying robot that took inspiration fr...
- 11 Jul 2019
Scientists Create a Circulatory System to Power Robotic Fish

Catwell

The synthetic circulatory system pumps an energy-dense hydraulic liquid that stores energy, transmits force, and actuates the fins of the robotic fish. (Image credit: Cornell University) Scientists from Cornell University and the University of ...
- 21 Jun 2019
Drone motors can create synth music, and other alternative devices

Catwell

www.youtube.com/watch I’ve been on a synthesizer kick lately. Check out my Micro:bit WAV Sound player, and from there all the other synth project. When it comes to synthesizers, people generally think of analog or digital technologies. Th...
- 19 Jun 2019
Robot algorithm by MIT predicts human movement

Catwell

In 2018, MIT researchers teamed up with BMW to closely observe how human workers and robots might work alongside each other when it comes to assembling car parts. On a factory floor mock-up, the team put together a robot on rails that deliver car par...
- 18 Jun 2019
SIRSLaB’s new Soft ScoopGripper can be readjusted to handle different objects

Catwell

The Soft ScoopGripper’s has an under scoop that allows for more precise grips (Photo from SIRSLaB) When it comes to soft robotics, typically the robotic hands adjust its shape to the object it’s trying to grab. But since most of the grasps are o...
- 17 Jun 2019
Planetary Society Prepares to Launch LightSail 2

Catwell

An artist rendition of the LightSail 2 above Earth (Image credit: Josh Spradling / The Planetary Society) Back in 2015, LightSail, the Planetary Society’s Carl Sagan inspired solar sailer, took flight. The kite-like aircraft was proposed as a wa...
- 14 Jun 2019