New Atlas Robotics
The latest news and developments in the world of robotics
New 3D Printing Tech Is Set to Give Robots Human-Like Muscles
Researchers at Harvard's John A. Paulson School of Engineering have unveiled a 3D‑printing process that creates artificial muscle‑like filaments capable of bending, twisting and coiling when heated. The method prints side‑by‑side active liquid crystal elastomers and passive elastomers through a rotating nozzle, embedding motion patterns directly into the material. Demonstrations include shape‑morphing lattices and soft grippers that can grasp and release objects without traditional motors. While the approach promises highly customizable soft actuators, it currently relies on heat, limiting speed and energy efficiency.
Versatile Robot Uses Tracked Flippers to Traverse Varying Terrain
Researchers at TU Darmstadt’s SIM Group unveiled Athena, a rugged, autonomous search‑and‑rescue robot that combines tracked mobility with four independently controlled flipper arms. The robot can expand from 28 to 50 inches, climb 16‑inch steps and 45‑degree stairs, and carries...
Robotic Legs Skate, Climb Stairs, and Balance on One Wheel in Demo Video
The Robotics and AI Institute unveiled a demo of its Roadrunner robot, a 15‑kg bipedal platform that combines legs with two wheels. In the video the bot rolls, climbs stairs, skates sideways, and even balances on a single wheel by...
Video: Hyundai's Firefighting Robots Lead the Way Into Burning Buildings
Hyundai Motor Group has donated four autonomous firefighting robots to fire stations across South Korea, built on the HR‑Sherpa unmanned vehicle platform. The robots combine a water cannon, infrared and regular cameras, temperature‑resistant tires, and a self‑spraying cooling system that...
'Stingraybot' Uses Microbubble Muscles Controlled by Ultrasound
ETH Zurich researchers unveiled a 4 cm "stingraybot" that swims by flexing silicone membranes embedded with micro‑bubbles, all controlled wirelessly via ultrasound. The micro‑bubble muscles respond within milliseconds, enabling both simple curvature and complex undulatory motions depending on bubble size distribution....