Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Instantaneous mode switching can help smooth transitions between different servo motor control modes in complex motion applications. In closed-loop servo control systems, there are three essential control modes, torque, speed, and position. Each of these parameters can be individually controlled depending on the application. While a single control mode may be enough for some applications, other more advanced applications may require multiple control modes within the same motion operation. In most traditional servo control systems, a given motion must be completed before switching between different control modes. Otherwise, the drive signal may experience a spike or significant drop in winding current that can adversely affect the performance of the motion profile. This creates complications for designs that require using multiple control modes without interruption. Instantaneous mode switching One solution to this challenge is servo motors and controllers with instantaneous mode sw...

A smoother experience for robotic prosthetic leg users is the aim of a University of Michigan project that has received renewed support from the National Institutes of Health. The R01 grant of $3 million will also enable the implementation of the researchers’ improved control program on a commercially available robotic prosthetic leg. Sit to stand, stand to walk, up and down stairs and inclines — the human body shifts among these activities almost thoughtlessly. But these transitions are hard for robots, and robotic prosthetic legs have the additional challenge of not being hooked into the human user’s central nervous system to stay synchronized with their body. Working on the problem since 2013, principal investigator Robert Gregg, an associate professor of robotics, saw early success controlling the position of the knee and ankle joints through a model that continuously represents all stages of the gait cycle. Previously, robotic prosthetic legs used separate controllers for ea...

Tomtec Inc. , an automated liquid handling instruments company based in Hamden, Conn., has been acquired by Hudson Robotics , a New Jersey-based designer laboratory automation solutions. Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. Hudson said the acquisition expands its liquid handling capabilities by adding an additional 96-head automated liquid handler and provides an entry point into the sample preparation segment for bioanalytic segments within the life sciences research and development (R&D) market. The combined company of Tomtec and Hudson will leverage a larger liquid handling instrumentation portfolio and additional engineering expertise to help automate more customer workflows in new markets. “We are thrilled to partner with Tomtec,” said Andrew Witschi, CEO of Hudson. “The acquisition aligns with our vision of expanding our liquid handling portfolio both in terms of capabilities and new addressable markets to enable us to bring Hudson’s core strength in integratio...

This image was created using Microsoft Bing Image Creator. It’s time to reflect upon the trends from the past 12 months while looking ahead at what 2024 has in store for the world of robotics. 2023 was an exciting year for innovation. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including generative AI, captured global attention and dominated headlines. However, the adoption of generative AI for businesses is still very much in its early stages and questions around how best to harness this technology remain at the forefront of many minds. Digital transformation is an ongoing process, so we can expect to see this year’s breakthrough trends continuing to shape society into next year. But how will these trends impact robotics and what can the manufacturing industry expect to see next year? 1. AI will set a new pace of development in robotics AI is transforming the world of software development, making it cheaper, faster, and more effective. Software is a key compone...

Top row, from left to right: the Ella smart stroller, Soft Robotics’ food packer, and the TM25S. Bottom row: Salidrone, M4, and Zipline’s delivery drone. | Source: NVIDIA Outside the glare of the klieg lights that ChatGPT commanded this past year, a troupe of autonomous machines nudged forward the frontiers of robotics, according to NVIDIA. Here are six that showed promise, swimming, diving, gripping, seeing, strolling and flying through 2023.   Ella smart stroller makes a splash at CES Ella — a  smart stroller from  Glüxkind Technologies , a startup in Vancouver, Canada — kicked off the year when it was named an honoree in the CES 2023 Innovation Awards . The canny carriage uses computer vision running on the  NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform  to follow parents. Its AI-powered abilities, like smart braking and a rock-my-baby mode, captured the attention of media outlets like  Good Morning America  and  The Times of London  as well a...

Noteworthy robots from Apptronik, Figure, and Boston Dynamics, among others, dominated 2023 robot news. If you’ve been keeping tabs on the robotics industry in 2023, you won’t be surprised to see that six out of our top 10 articles this past year were about humanoid robots. From a slew of companies announcing their humanoids and Boston Dynamics showing off Atlas’ latest capabilities to looks at how the technology enabling such robots has advanced, it has been an impossible subject to avoid. In between all of the humanoid news of 2023, you’ll find stories about major acquisitions and new product releases.  Here are the top 10 most popular stories on The Robot Report this year. Subscribe to The Robot Report  Newsletter  or listen to  The Robot Report Podcast  to stay updated on the robotics stories you need to know about. 10. Apptronik unveils Apollo humanoid robot Apptronik launched its long-awaited Apollo humanoid robot in 2023. The company joins a ...

The original Ultrasound-on-Chip technology. | Source: Butterfly Network Butterfly Network Inc. announced this week that it has partnered with Mendaera to commercialize a new surgical robotic system. It will combine Butterfly’s portable ultrasound sensors and software with Mendaera’s robot technology, said the companies. “Mendaera’s robotic system is perfectly suited to leverage Butterfly’s proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip by benefiting from the wide array of ultrasonic sensing applications that only our chip can offer,” said Darius Shahida, chief strategy officer of Butterfly Network, in a release . “We are excited to welcome the Mendaera team as a ‘Powered by Butterfly’ partner and believe our joint solution will expand Butterfly’s reach and clinical impact into the interventional space.” In 2011, Dr. Jonathan Rothberg founded Butterfly Network, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with Longview Acquisition Corp. The company said its mi...