Satellite House Calls By Robot Space Doctor
ViviSat's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) is designed to dock with the orbiting satellite, securely latch on to it, and serve as a back-up propulsion system. This enables a mission extension for satellites which have run out of maneuvering fuel yet still have plenty of electrical power to operate their payloads.
(May 16, 2012)
Canon Cameras Betting On Robot-only Production
Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs — a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics.
Canon, the world's leader in digital cameras with a 20% market share, is building two automated plants in Oita Prefecture that are expected to be fully online by 2015.
(May 14, 2012)
In-depth Analysis
Soft Materials Robotics: Ready For Prime Time?
Clearly, we are on the verge of a soft robotics revolution. But exactly what type of revolution? Core academic research and accompanying videos are fine, but a revolution, at least for the readers of Robotics Business Review, requires that robotics technologies make for applications and some support for commercialization. In that light, we will review this fascinating subject.
(May 12, 2012)
Robots That Can Reveal the Inner Workings of Your Brain
Using a robotic arm guided by a cell-detecting computer algorithm, the team has discovered a way to identify and record neurons in the living mouse brain with better accuracy and speed than a human experimenter, according to MIT News.
(May 10, 2012)
Swamped By Demand, 3D Printers Hit The Market
All the buzz about 3D printing generating a rebirth of manufacturing and creativity in the U.S. is much more than just hype. It is a practical and achievable goal, one that may soon be a reality for a growing number of start-ups.
(May 09, 2012)
Euro Project Tags $11M On Social Robots For The Elderly
The Robot-Era proposal aims to implement a fully realistic and real experimental setup in urban and domestic environments and with different kinds of citizens: the elderly users, the service providers, the municipalities, and the caregivers.
(May 07, 2012)
In-depth Analysis
Redwood Could Well Be The Apple, Inc. Of Robotics?
Redwood Robotics is questing after one of robotics’ most exclusive and elusive killer apps: robotic arms and hands. And by the look of the triumvirate it has assembled to pursue that challenge, it just might pull it off.
(May 06, 2012)
Robotic Arm Weaves a Structure Like a Spider
The goal of the research is to develop and apply novel processes that will enable and support design of physical matter that can be adapted to its specific environmental conditions.
(May 03, 2012)
In-depth Analysis
Renewable Energy & Zero Emissions: How Robots Are Leveraging Fusion Reactors
Fusion reactions promise cheaper, cleaner energy than that provided by conventional nuclear fission reactor facilities. While fission involves splitting elements, fusion works by overcoming certain elements' natural repulsion to fuse them together, releasing huge amounts of kinetic energy in the process.
(May 02, 2012)
Actuators That Mimic Human Muscles Will Revolutionize Robotics
When the scientists apply low levels of direct current, the material generates as much stress as natural muscle can. It can produce 160 megapascals of stress per gram of material, making it stronger than most polymers.
(May 02, 2012)
Millionaires’ Club to Fund Robotic Space Missions
A group of high-tech tycoons wants to mine nearby asteroids, hoping to turn science fiction into real profits. The mega-million dollar plan is to use commercially built robotic ships to squeeze rocket fuel and valuable minerals like platinum and gold out of the lifeless rocks that routinely whiz by Earth. One of the company founders predicts they could have their version of a space-based gas station up and running by 2020.
(April 26, 2012)
Revolutionary Battery to Power Marine Robots
A revolutionary battery that exploits the reaction between lithium metal and seawater could soon be powering everything from autonomous submarines to buoys and deep-water sensors.
(April 26, 2012)
Robotic Hand for Dangerous Missions
The glove is constructed to perfectly fit the human operator: a scan of the user's hand is made and a 3D printer creates the ExoHand in polyamide plastic. Eight pneumatic actuators move the fingers, so that they can be opened and closed.
(April 24, 2012)
Farm Robots Fill Gaps in Automation and Job Needs
“With agricultural labor shortages all over the world,” reports EUROP, “and demographics showing the average age of farmers steadily climbing, complacency about the security of our food production isn’t an option, he delegates to the European Robotics Forum 2012 were told. In tandem with this future uncertainty, in the Developed World at least, there are growing concerns about product quality and safety, as well as the environmental impact of agriculture.
(April 16, 2012)
In-depth Analysis
The Robots Among Us
An exclusive, year-long Robotics Business Review series “Robots Among Us” tracks the evolution of robots into an ever broader participation with humans. From farming to deep-sea mining to automated transit systems to robot teachers, surgeons and household guardians, to autonomous aircraft, automobiles, freight trains and restaurant wait staff, we’ll report on how these new-age mechanical assistants are slipping into our lives and why—and what they are up to next.
(April 14, 2012)
