News

New Artificial Skin For Robots Allows Them To Feel Things

A groundbreaking new development from a Caltech researcher means that robots will soon be able to “feel” their surroundings, with sensations relayed back to human operators.

Published

11 months ago

June 19, 2023

Nour Nasir

new artificial skin for robots allows them to feel things

Caltech assistant professor of medical engineering, Wei Gao, has developed a new platform for robots and their operators known as M-Bot. When it hits the mainstream, the technology will allow humans to control robots more precisely and help protect them in hostile environments.

The platform is based around an artificial skin that effectively gives robots a sense of touch. The newly developed tool also uses machine learning and forearm sensors to allow human users to control robots with their own movements while receiving delicate haptic feedback through their skin.

The synthetic skin is composed of a gelatinous hydrogel and makes robot fingertips function much like our own. Inside the gel, layers of tiny micrometer sensors — applied similarly to Inkjet printing — detect and report touch through very gentle electrical stimulation. For example, if a robotic hand picked up an egg too firmly, the artificial skin sensors would give feedback to the human operator on the sensation of the shell being crushed.

Also Read: Futuristic Electric Self-Driving Trucks Are Coming To The UAE

Wei Gao and his Caltech team hope the system will eventually find applications in everything from agriculture and environmental protection to security. The developers also note that robot operators will be able to “feel” their surroundings, including sensing how much fertilizer or pesticide is being applied to crops or whether suspicious bags contain traces of explosives.

Abdulmotaleb El Saddik, Professor of Computer Vision at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, has noted that the new development offers even more applications and possibilities: “The ability to physically feel the touch, including handshakes and shoulder patting, could contribute to creating a sense of connection and empathy, enhancing the quality of interactions, particularly for the elderly and people living at a distance or those who are in space [such as] astronauts connecting with their family and children”.

Related Topics:Artificial Intelligence Robotics

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News

Yango Showcases AI Robots Amid Rising Fulfillment Costs

The company is debuting the high-tech solutions at this year’s Seamless Middle East event, where attendees can experience live demonstrations.

Published

10 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Nour Nasir

Yango

Global tech company Yango is debuting its AI-driven warehouse robotics and pick-and-place solutions at the Seamless Middle East event, which is currently running in Dubai (May 14-16). The technologies aim to combat the rising fulfillment costs that are burdening the e-commerce, retail, logistics, and manufacturing sectors.

In e-commerce, fulfillment now represents one-third of all operating expenses. Global giant Amazon saw fulfillment costs rise from 31% of net sales in 2021 to 36% in 2023. Yango’s solutions could provide a much-needed remedy to these escalating figures.

At Seamless Middle East, attendees can experience live demonstrations of Yango’s robotic pick-and-place hardware. This technology leverages “advanced computer vision” to allow stationary robots to perform like human operatives while still managing to move 800 items per hour.

Yango has also introduced stock-taking, goods, and pallet-moving solutions to streamline inventory management and fulfillment. The company’s robots can autonomously navigate warehouses and work together with other machinery to get tasks done faster and more accurately.

Also Read: Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network

Alexei Filippov, Head of Global Business Development at Yango Robotics, said: “As fulfillment costs continue to rise, our warehouse robotics solutions come at a crucial time to help businesses not just survive but thrive. Our new robotics pick-and-place platform, mobile warehouse robotics solutions, and other technologies show Yango’s commitment to innovation and efficiency [and] we’re excited to debut [them] at Seamless Middle East”.

Yango is also showcasing further technologies at the exhibition, including autonomous delivery robots and the AI-powered White Label App and AI Shelf Monitoring System for retail applications.

To learn more about Yango’s solutions and their capabilities, visit the company’s stand (H2-G36) during Seamless Middle East, running until the end of May 16, or find Yango’s thought leaders at one of the event’s panel sessions.