Robo Tonics – Page 2 – TechieTonics

Lizard Inspired Four-legged Robot: Biomimicry

February 4, 2023February 4, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Technological advancement has opened-up exciting possibilities for research in space and celestial bodies beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The use of robots in space exploration has greatly increased our understanding of other planets, especially Mars, and its possibility for supporting life. The exploration of Mars and its surface for extra-terrestrial life has always been a fascinating undertaking for astronomers. Additionally, the discovery of resources on Mars, such as water and minerals, could be an asset in future human missions.

Butterfly Robots with Bistable Wings: Biomimicry

November 24, 2022January 11, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

In an effort to create faster and more energy-efficient soft robots, researchers at North Carolina State University have created a prototype of swimming soft robots based on manta rays. The team got inspired from the biomechanics of the marine animal. Rate of swimming for most of the (swimming) soft robot is one body length per second, manta rays, however, glide at much faster rate. Their swimming efficiency triggered the scientists to look into the potentiality of creating a similar robot, biomechanically.

Crab Inspired all weather Vision System: Biomimicry

August 4, 2022August 4, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

To improve the imaging component in robotics, researchers have been trying to create various types of highly performing cameras, sensors and artificial vision systems. Most of the vision systems are bio-inspired that is, they have been emulated from the systems and elements of nature including humans, animals, insects and fish. These systems, however, have their own restrictions because they operate in limited environment respectively. For instance, majority of (bio-inspired) existing sensors and cameras works either one of the following scenarios: on the ground like biomimetic eye with a hemispherical…

Shapeshifting Nanobots to Brush and Floss Teeth: Toothbrushing Microbots

July 14, 2022July 14, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Toothbrush, or the heads per say, have not much evolved since ages, from rectangular they have only graduated to diamond shaped geometry. I really doubt how far does the new shape has been able to reach the teeth in the back. In the dental hygiene sequence floss, brush and rinse go hand in hand. And each step is an important and at times, cumbersome task especially for people with disabilities. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have put in an effort to combine these three steps in one with the…

New Microbot Scuttle like a Crab: Biomimicry

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Engineers at Northwestern University have developed nano-scale robots that scuttle like small peekytoe crab. The tiny crab-bots measure around half-millimeter wide. Like the decapod crustaceans, the bot can bend, twist, crawl, walk, turn and even jump. Not only the nano crab like devices, engineers have also created same sized robotic inchworms, crickets and beetles. Researchers envision that their technology will explore practical tasks inside tightly confined spaces.

SQuRO, Quadruped Robotic Rat: Biomimicry

April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Nature has always inspired robotics engineers to design bots with the same agility and efficiency. And this is also one of the reasons why researchers look up to biomimicry to solve human design challenges. When it comes to navigate tight and congested arenas wouldn’t rodents be the best options to design a device? Researchers at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) thought the same. According to Qing Shi, a Professor at BIT, legged robots have limitations when operating in narrow spaces. Micro quadruped robots too can face performance issues due to…

Magnetic Tentacle Robot for Autonomous Endoscopy: Soft Catheters

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Magnetic tentacle robot, strange it may sound but researchers at STORM Lab at the University of Leeds have come up with a tiny canular form of robot that can explore the smallest bronchial tubes in the lungs. The nano tubiform bot measures around 2 millimetres in diameter. That happens to be two times the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. The tentacle robot will be guided from the outside with the help of (external) magnets.

Insect sized Flying Robot with Flapping Wings: Micro air Vehicle

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the University of Bristol, U.K. have fabricated a flapping-wing microrobot that can produce more power than a similar-sized insect. The micro-air vehicle is a product of biomimicry, inspired from bees and other flying insects.

Wireless RF Powered Insect Scale Aerial Vehicle: Miniature UAV

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at Toyota Central R&D Labs have developed a wireless radiofrequency power based tiny aerial robot.

Biomimicry: LEONARDO, the Bipedal Robot can Walk and Fly

October 7, 2021October 7, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Nature not only inspire poets, artists, painters but also engineers. In an attempt to simulate the locomotion of birds, researchers at Caltech have developed a bipedal robot that has a movement that is between walking and flying.

Swimming is Dynamics of Two Nervous System: AgnathaX

August 16, 2021August 17, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Starting in the early 1900s, one of the problems that baffled neuroscientists worldwide was the role of central and peripheral nervous systems in swimming locomotion. In other words, how swimming locomotion is generated and how vertebrates synchronize the rhythm that is required for the locomotion.

Chameleon Inspired Next-Generation Artificial Camouflage: Biomimicry

August 13, 2021August 15, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

To depict natural camouflage characteristics via artificial camouflage at device level has remained a challenge since decades. However, researchers at Seoul National University have developed an artificial camouflage that can adapt and blend with its surroundings. A defense strategy as seen in the case of chameleon that changes its appearance to avoid predators.

Fruitflies Inspired Tiny Drones To Locate Gas Leak Source: Biomimicry

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Biomimicry is not only shaping sustainable designs but it’s also revolutionizing the robotic technology. Researchers today are picking up learning from animal and insect kingdom to develop locomotion and structures in their labs.

Electronics Free Quadrupedal Robot: Pneumatic Efficiency

March 31, 2021May 26, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have come up with an innovative approach in creating soft bot that is devoid of any electronics. Rather it is an air powered robot. All its controls and locomotion are done with the help of pressurized air.

Soft Artificial Tactile Sensor for Robots: Electronic Skin

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

In a collaborative research co-led by City University of Hong Kong scientists have created an innovative tactile sensor that resembles the characteristics of human skin. Mounted at the fingertip, the sensor is capable of holding delicate objects and thread a needle.