An Arizona State University research team is working to develop stronger, lighter and more versatile robots. The researchers are working to refine actuators — the muscles that robots use.
The bio-inspired muscles differ from traditional robot joints, which are motor-based and have limitations.
The researchers are working to develop lightweight robots that can operate in adverse conditions, like boiling water, and still lift up to 100 times their own weight.
Eric Weissman is a graduate student at ASU.
“It'll comply to its environment and we'll be able to reach and inspect areas that traditional robots wouldn't be able to," he said.
ASU researchers are also working to develop robots that will be able to bend into complex shapes, making them effective resources to use in cluttered or confined spaces.
ASU assistant professor Jiefeng Sun says as robots become more complex and powerful, safety remains a top goal.
“One of our goals — to develop biomimetic and artificial muscles. Eventually, those muscles will be able to power robots that [are] safe and also compliant to us," he said.
Research took place at the university’s Robotic Actuators and Dynamics Lab.
-
Mexico’s economy minister said representatives from the firm Foxconn will visit Hermosillo this month. -
Waymo and Waze announced a pilot program to collect pothole location data and share it with cities. The data, which is already collected by Waymo, will be uploaded to the free Waze For Cities platform. Cities can then download the data into their own systems. -
As AI-related demand continues to surge, TSMC has been expanding chip fabrication plants in the U.S., Japan and Taiwan, with a focus on making more advanced 3-nanometer semiconductors that are used in smartphones and AI products. -
Some lawmakers shared concerns the measure would be too broad. -
Researchers running a scientific experiment to make the largest 3D map of the universe finished the planned survey Tuesday night, observing 47 million galaxies and black holes. That went well beyond the original goal.
