What are the next key advancements in robotics? Experts explain
Mar 18, 2026 · Autonomous robots have moved from labs to real-world industry, operating at scale in ports, warehouses and factories. In a recent episode of Radio Davos and in a session at the World …
What is a robot? - New Scientist
The word “robot” was coined by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a 1920 play called Rossum’s Universal Robots, and is derived from the Czech robota, meaning “drudgery” or “servitude”.
Robotics | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5 days ago · Generative AI improves a wireless vision system that sees through obstructions With this new technique, a robot could more accurately detect hidden objects or understand an indoor scene …
New system enables robots to solve manipulation problems in seconds
Jun 5, 2025 · A new system enables a robot to “think ahead” and consider thousands of potential motion plans simultaneously, allowing the robot to solve a multistep problem in a few seconds.
Robot, know thyself: New vision-based system teaches machines to ...
Jul 24, 2025 · A vision-based control system called Neural Jacobian Fields enables soft and rigid robots to learn self-supervised motion control using only a monocular camera. The system, developed by …
The 25 best fictional robots – according to New Scientist
Jul 23, 2025 · From R2D2 to the Terminator via Bender and Johnny-5, we choose our favourite robots from books, films and television series
A flexible robot can help emergency responders search through rubble
Apr 2, 2025 · SPROUT is a flexible robot built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Notre Dame researchers to assist in disaster response. Emergency responders can use the robot to navigate and map areas …
Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if they ...
May 13, 2025 · The robot consists of a heavy, 220-pound base whose dimensions and structure were optimized to support the weight of an average human without tipping or slipping. Underneath the …
Hopping gives this tiny robot a leg up - MIT News
Apr 9, 2025 · A hopping, insect-sized robot can jump over gaps or obstacles, traverse rough, slippery, or slanted surfaces, and perform aerial acrobatic maneuvers, while using a fraction of the energy …
MIT engineers design an aerial microrobot that can fly as fast as a ...
Dec 3, 2025 · MIT researchers developed an aerial microrobot that can fly with speed and agility comparable to real insects. The research opens the door to future bug-sized robots that could aid in …