The Robioss robotics research team based at Poitiers University has developed a new generation of dexterous robotic hand. With 16 joints and 16 actuators, the robotic hand can reproduce complex human movements such as grasping and fine manipulation. Mounted on a Stäubli robot arm and controlled by the B&R Automation PC 910, this robotic hand is […]
KASPAR, the University of Hertfordshire’s social robot, has been recognised as one of the most important university science research projects in the UK and is being showcased at a high profile science fair in London. KASPAR, who is the size of a small child, is a minimally-expressive humanoid robot designed as a therapeutic toy for […]
New research shows that the majority of the UK public is yet to recognise the potential for robots to improve quality of life for themselves or their ageing relatives. A survey of 2,023 online GB adults aged 16-75 for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) shows that, despite an ageing population and pressure on […]
Friendly and likeable. Invisible when not needed. On call around the clock. The butler of the future – called “Care-O-bot 4″ – was developed by the Frauenhofer IPA in Stuttgart, and celebrates its world premiere at the Schunk Expert Days on Service Robotics. The modular design of Care-O-bot 4 allows diverse configurations and application scenarios. […]
The automation of cleaning windows or inspecting walls has always presented the challenge of vertical or even negative slopes. How can a robotic system deal with this problem? Now the Technical University of Liberec has introduced the second generation of its ROBOTUL Vertical Climber service robot, which uses a unique stepping movement to traverse both […]
A robotic mannequin has been recently developed by a British engineering company, i-bodi Technology, a subsidiary of Crawley Creatures, to help the Ministry of Defence test chemical and biological (CB) protective suits and equipment for its Armed Forces. The ‘Porton Man’ uses state-of-the-art technology to simulate the full leg, arm and head movements of a […]
Active Robots is continuing its visits to universities and colleges to demonstrate the Baxter Research Robot for academic and corporate research laboratories. The Baxter Research Robot is perfectly safe to use around human beings without a safety cage. The Baxter Research Robot will visit Portsmouth University on October 21 and the Technische University, Germany, on […]
Humans and robots will interact in a virtual environment in the new ActiveCube that Virtalis has supplied to Bielefeld University. It is thought that this has never been attempted before anywhere in the world. Interdisciplinary research has been a hallmark of Bielefeld University from its very beginning more than four decades ago. When the University […]
Piccolo, an open-source design for creating a tiny programmable robot, enjoyed the opportunity to introduce thousands of young people to the joy of creation at the first ever Maker Faire in Lisbon, Portugal last weekend. The hand-held robot, created by Diatom Studio, is a 3-axis robot that anyone can build for themselves using specs and […]
Developed at the University of Birmingham, Boris is a robot that can pick up objects he has never seen before. Displayed at the British Science Festival, Boris is able to analyse and subsequently pick up and position objects without the need for prior programming. Looking at an object, he can work out how best to […]
Motion plastics and low-cost automation at MACH 2026
igus returns to MACH with a comprehensive range of engineering innovations designed to improve machine reliability, reduce downtime and deliver long‑term cost savings for manufacturers across all industry. With the UK operation based in Northampton, igus develops lubrication‑free motion plastics that replace traditional metal components, increasing performance while eliminating the need for grease and maintenance. […]
RBTX DOBOT partner launch hailed a success
igus UK marks a major milestone in accessible automation with the successful launch of its RBTX partnership with DOBOT Robotics. The event brought together engineers, system integrators, manufacturers and automation specialists to explore how flexible robotic solutions can be deployed quickly and cost-effectively, without the complexity traditionally associated with industrial automation. Live demonstrations showcased collaborative […]
What role does AI play in art?
The River of Light festival in Liverpool showcased ‘Face Value’, a captivating installation co-created by PhD student Emma Brass from the University of Liverpool and Venya Krutikov, co-founder of The Kazimier and Invisible Wind Factory. Blending artificial intelligence, robotics, and visual art, Face Value invites visitors to confront how technology perceives and redefines reality. The […]
Cobot motion and sensing for extended automation
The latest advances in technologies such as sensing, actuation, and perception are enabling cobots to tackle more complex and delicate processes in manufacturing and logistics activities, as the experts at Yamaha Robotics explain. Companies operating factories and warehouses can now choose from a wide variety of robots, ranging from familiar industrial types like cartesian and […]
ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa cobot family
ABB Robotics is combining the flexibility of cobots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028. “Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands […]
Flexible industrial automation solutions from Delta
Delta showcased its comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation solutions at Hannover Messe 2026, highlighting how its advanced drives, HMI panels, and controller solutions enable smarter manufacturing by improving energy efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability. At the same time, Delta ensures robust protection for customers across a wide range of industries, from machinery and food and beverage […]
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Universal adaptive gripper for faster, gentler picking
Festo has introduced the HPSX Universal Adaptive Gripper, a pneumatic soft gripper engineered to improve speed, hygiene and flexibility in demanding food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications. Combining robust design, food-safe materials and adaptive silicone fingers, the HPSX directly addresses long-standing automation challenges where rapid, precise and gentle product handling is essential. “In developing the HPSX, […]
The beverage palletising shift is accelerating
Martin Ray Winery in Napa Valley has deployed its first lean cobot palletising workcell and achieved a 16-month ROI, with the system installed in just two days. You can find out all about it in a webinar hosted by Robotiq on 19 March. Across Europe and North America, beverage producers, from kombucha and bottled water […]
Robotics, vision and AI combine for dairy processes
Automation solutions provider Eberle Automatische Systeme has developed a breakthrough in quality control with a focus on the cheese-ripening process, combining AI with machine vision software from MVTec. The food industry is experiencing a transformative shift in quality control, due in part to advances in artificial intelligence (AI). When combined with rule-based machine vision, AI […]