Volkswagens’ Autonomous Car Charging Robot
In the future, robots will be able to charge our cars in restricted areas. Take Volkswagens’ Mobile Charging Robot for instance: it operates autonomously and independently steers the vehicle to be charged. It takes care of opening the charging socket flap, connecting the plug, and removing it.
IceBot: Robots Made From Ice
We have seen robots made of all kinds of materials in the past. IceBot explores the idea of making robots from ice. The challenge is to isolate the amount of heat generated while protecting waterproof sensitive components.
Makeblock Codey Rocky Programmable Robot
Here is another cute robot designed to teach your kids basics of coding. The Makeblock Codey Rocky Programmable Robot is ready for Python programming. It also connects to the mBlock app on iOS and Android to teach beginners basics of coding with building blocks.
Milrem Robotics’ Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle
Milrem Robotics has rolled out a new unmanned combat vehicle, ready to take on challenging missions. Milrem Robotics’ Type-X RCV can be fitted with a cannon up to 50mm. It is also air droppable with a 30mm cannon. The Type-X weighs 12 tons, 3/4 lighter than a conventional IFV.
Zeus: Bionic Hand by Aether Biomedical
Meet Zeus: a multi-action bionic hand that makes life easier for upper limb amputees. It has 12 selectable and 2 user configurable grip patterns. Zeus can be used without any additional cover or a silicone glove. EMG electrodes are used to provide signal processing and wireless gain adjustment.
The Zeus bionic hand has 5 motorized articulating digits for dexterity in movement. It has various grip modes.
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Exo-Glove Power Robotic Glove for First Responders
Here is a robotic glove that augments the grasping force to make life easier for first responders. The Exo-Glove Power is controlled with a single EMG sensor. It supports continuous and repetitive power grasping.
Robo Wunderkind Explorer Pro Robot Kit for Kids
Meet the Robo Wunderkind Explorer Pro: a robot kit designed to teach kids basics of coding. This 38-piece set is LEGO compatible. It has in-app instructions for 15 robots that can be controlled with a remote or with loops, conditions, and functions.
This particular set comes with distance/light/motion sensors, LED display push button, big wheels, smart motors, 3-axis accelerometer, line follower, and everything you need to build a smart robot.
Nuro’s R2 Last-mile Delivery Autonomous Vehicle
Meet Nuro’s R2: an autonomous vehicle designed for last-mile delivery of packages, groceries, and everything in between. It uses 360-degree overlapping cameras, a thermal imaging camera, LiDAR, short/long range radar, and emergency vehicle audio detection. Lights and signals, redundant braking, and a sound generator are built-in for safety.
Smellicopter: This Drone Uses Live Moth Antenna to Seek Out Smells
Here is a robot that uses live moth antenna to seek out smells. Developed by University of Washington researchers, this autonomous drone navigates towards smells and avoids obstacles along the way. As lead author Melanie Anderson explains:
By using an actual moth antenna with Smellicopter, we’re able to get the best of both worlds: the sensitivity of a biological organism on a robotic platform where we can control its motion.
Antennae from the Manduca sexta hawkmoth were used for this drone. Once removed, they stay biologically and chemically active for up to four hours. Wires were inserted into either end of the antenna to connect it to an electrical circuit and measure average signal from all the cells. You can find out more about the Smellicopter here.
