Bots & Brains

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces developed self-propelled microrobots that can swim, attach to plastics and break them down.

Ever since the world’s first ever microscope was invented in 1590 by Hans and Zacharias Janssen –a Dutch father and son– our curiosity for what goes on at the tiniest scales has led to development of increasingly powerful devices. Fast forward to 2021, we not only have optical microscopy methods that allow us to see tiny particles in higher resolution than ever before, we also have non-optical techniques, such as scanning force microscopes, with which researchers can construct detailed maps of a range of physical and chemical properties.

The 2021 “Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation” (IERA) goes to PixelPaint technology of ABB. Two high-precision robots make car painting faster, more sustainable and flexible – helping manufacturers to efficiently respond to individual demands. Two-tone and customized designs are applied in one pass. The technology eliminates overspray benefitting the environment.

Die vom Bundesumweltministerium (BMU) beauftragte Studie »Potenziale der schwachen Künstlichen Intelligenz für die betriebliche Ressourceneffizienz« untersucht konkrete Einsatzmöglichkeiten von KI, um die Ressourceneffizienz vor allem in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen (KMU) zu steigern.

Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) and ASML signed an agreement to collaborate in the field of data science. The partnership brings together academic knowledge, world-class research, international talent and challenging industrial applications. The two partners will initially focus on thesis assignments from JADS students at ASML and a case study within the Data Entrepreneurship in Action program (DEIA).

Artificial intelligence promises to be a powerful tool for improving the speed and accuracy of medical decision-making to improve patient outcomes. From diagnosing disease, to personalizing treatment, to predicting complications from surgery, AI could become as integral to patient care in the future as imaging and laboratory tests are today.

Nobody likes driving in a blizzard, including autonomous vehicles. To make self-driving cars safer on snowy roads, engineers look at the problem from the car’s point of view.

Columbia Engineering researchers use AI to teach robots to make appropriate reactive human facial expressions, an ability that could build trust between humans and their robotic co-workers and care-givers.

Communities benefit from sharing knowledge and experience among their members. Following a similar principle – called “swarm learning” – an international research team has trained artificial intelligence algorithms to detect blood cancer, lung diseases and COVID-19 in data stored in a decentralized fashion.

In a Science Robotics article, researchers of Lehigh University examine current research in learned robot manipulation and offer nine promising areas for future exploration