soft robotics

Researchers have developed a continuous artificial muscle that allows soft robots to move with far greater dexterity, according to Tech Xplore. The advance could help soft robots perform precise, lifelike motions that rigid robotic systems struggle to achieve, with potential uses in handling delicate objects and working safely around people.

Researchers have unveiled a bio-inspired airborne robot capable of making a soft landing on water and then converting into an autonomous sailboat. The hybrid design allows the craft to fly to a target, set down gently on the surface, and continue operating as a sailing vessel, combining aerial mobility with water-based endurance in a single vehicle.

Engineers at MIT have designed a small swimming robot propelled by living muscle cells, according to Forbes. The biohybrid device uses biological tissue as its power source rather than a conventional motor, pointing to a growing field of robotics that merges synthetic structures with living cells for soft, agile movement.

Researchers have equipped an ultra-thin, paper-like robot with living muscle tissue, giving the tiny machine far greater strength and mobility than conventional actuators allow. The biohybrid approach suggests new possibilities for soft robotics, minimally invasive medical devices and delicate manipulation tasks. Coverage highlights how integrating living cells into flexible machines could reshape the field of small-scale robotics.

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a new material inspired by the Venus flytrap that can sense objects and grasp them when exposed to light. The finding points to soft robotic hands that respond to stimuli without complex electronics, and it is drawing attention in robotics and materials science circles.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore's College of Design and Engineering report that a single artificial muscle can drive dexterous motion in soft robots, a capability usually requiring multiple actuators. The announcement, carried via EurekAlert, suggests simpler, cheaper designs for soft robotics with applications in manipulation and delicate tasks. Details of the underlying mechanism and peer review status are not yet widely reported.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore's College of Design and Engineering report that a single artificial muscle can drive dexterous motion in soft robots. The finding, announced via a science news release, suggests simplified actuator designs could make soft robotic systems cheaper and easier to build, with potential uses in grippers, medical devices and adaptable machines.

Researchers have unveiled a paper-thin robot driven by living muscle cells that can swim its way through an underwater maze. The biohybrid device, reported by Tech Xplore, demonstrates how engineered muscle tissue can be used to propel soft microrobots through complex aquatic environments, a step with potential applications in medicine and targeted delivery.