Robotics

Every minute counts during water rescue operations. Whether responding to a person swept away by strong currents or someone struggling after a boating accident,...

Robots designed for industrial inspection or emergency response often face a tradeoff. Wheeled platforms can move quickly and efficiently over long distances but struggle...

Underwater environments are notoriously demanding for electronic systems. Sensors used by divers and underwater robots must withstand pressure, moisture and constant mechanical stress while...

Collapsed buildings, flooded tunnels, and debris-filled drainage systems are among the most difficult environments for search-and-rescue teams to access after natural disasters. Small ground...

Robots are increasingly being used for inspections, emergency response, and field operations in locations that are difficult or dangerous for people to reach. However,...

Building temporary infrastructure on water is often slow, expensive and labor-intensive. Whether the goal is creating a floating bridge after a natural disaster, deploying...

Collecting data at sea often requires researchers to choose between two very different types of vehicles. Aerial drones can quickly survey large areas but...

Most robots rely heavily on cameras and external tracking systems to understand their surroundings and control movement. But in cluttered, dark, or visually degraded...

Collecting data in the Arctic is often as challenging as the research itself. Beneath seemingly solid snow can lie hidden pools of icy water,...

One of the biggest challenges facing autonomous vehicles and robotic vision systems is adapting to rapidly changing lighting conditions. Cameras that perform well during...

Legged robots have become increasingly capable in recent years, but most advanced quadruped systems remain expensive, complex, and difficult for students, hobbyists, and researchers...

Designing underwater robots that can move efficiently and adapt to changing currents remains a complex challenge. Traditional systems rely on external sensors and pre-programmed...

Firefighters frequently operate in environments where collapsing structures, intense heat, toxic smoke, and rapidly changing conditions pose significant risks. Entering these areas to extinguish...

Traditional robots are typically built around rigid frames, motors, gears, and joints. While this design works well in structured environments, it becomes less effective...

Amphibious assaults are among the most dangerous military operations. Landing forces on a hostile shoreline typically exposes troops to artillery, machine-gun fire, mines and...

Small autonomous drones have enormous potential for inspecting tunnels, warehouses, industrial facilities, and disaster zones. However, one limitation continues to hold them back: creating...

Explosive ordnance disposal teams, special operations units, and emergency responders often face a difficult dilemma: gaining information about a potentially dangerous area without exposing...

Maintaining large electrical grids is a difficult and often dangerous task. Power lines stretch across vast distances, pass through hard-to-reach terrain, and require regular...

Smartphone LiDAR sensors have become common in high-end devices, mainly supporting augmented reality features and depth sensing for photography. But despite their growing capabilities,...

Engineers have long looked to origami and kirigami for inspiration when designing lightweight structures that can transform shape without relying on complex mechanical systems....

Integrating heavy weapons onto compact robotic ground vehicles has become a growing focus for modern militaries, but the engineering challenge is significant. Small unmanned...

Controlling insect-based robots has long been an area of interest for researchers looking to combine the mobility and efficiency of living organisms with the...