EP.20 JAPANESE ROBOT THAT LOOKS LIKE A RHINO

A robot inspired by origami, a rhino-bot, an autonomous wheelchair & much more...

NEW SPONSOR ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

MATLAB has become a sponsor of a new section 'Scripting Stories' in my newsletter, which will feature software related to robotics and news related to simulation, and modeling — key topics in robotics.

That’s it! You can find the first edition by reading this newsletter release! ✉️

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A robot that looks like a rhino 🦏

Tech enthusiasts were treated to a dazzling showcase of futuristic gadgets and innovations at this year's Japan Mobility Show, a widened iteration of the Japan Motor Show. Among the remarkable exhibits, the SR-02, a minivan-sized, rhinoceros-like walking robot by Japanese manufacturer Sansei Technologies, stood out.

With a design reminiscent of an AT-AT walker from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," this quadrupedal robot is not just eye-catching; it's a prototype for an amusement park ride. Capable of carrying up to four passengers, the SR-02 offers a novel experience of dynamic motion, allowing riders to feel the unique sensation of walking on four legs.

At approximately 11 feet in length and just over five feet in width, this remotely controlled or rider-operated robot exemplifies the exciting possibilities showcased at the expo, where companies also presented electric excavators, delivery robots with expressive LED eyes, and rugged buggies designed for extraterrestrial environments. The convergence of creativity and technology at the Japan Mobility Show paints an intriguing picture of the potential future of personal mobility.

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Origami-inspired polymorphic robot 🧩

Swiss researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have unveiled Mori3, a groundbreaking origami-inspired robot capable of shape-shifting for diverse applications, particularly excelling in space missions. Comprising triangular modules forming a 3D mesh, Mori3 can transform into various shapes, showcasing the innovative concept of physical polygon meshing in robotics.

The development required a comprehensive reevaluation of traditional robotics design, combining computer systems, mechanical, and electronic elements. Beyond its utility in space, Mori3's adaptability holds unseen potential for applications like repairing spacecraft or enhancing communication.

This polymorphic robot, conceived by reconfiguring its structure for different functions, highlights the transformative capabilities of physical polygon meshing, making it a versatile asset across a spectrum of tasks, from space exploration to interactive personal devices.

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Meme of the week 🤖

Watch yourselves people — they are among us.

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Robot learns new skills through curiosity 💡

Mastering intricate robotic tasks often involves extensive engineering, like fine-tuning reward functions for Reinforcement Learning (RL). A recent paper from ETH Zurich suggests using intrinsically motivated RL to minimize task-specific engineering. In this approach, the desired task is encoded in a sparse reward system, and intrinsic motivation guides exploration toward the sparse reward signal.

The paper applies Random Network Distillation (RND) to teach holistic motion control policies for simultaneous locomotion and manipulation. The method is tested on opening doors and manipulating packages, demonstrating successful execution on a wheeled-legged robot in biped mode, with no reported failures. This hints at the potential efficacy of the intrinsically motivated RL approach for complex robotic tasks.

Nice to see a robot getting an upgrade with wheels! 🛞

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14 years old tech is still impressive 🔥

14 years ago, ABB introduced new motion control in their industrial robots. In the first FANTA Can Challenge, they created a test that stumped all their competitors.

The space between the cans and the pin is now just 1mm. ABB robots always deliver what you program, no matter how fast they're moving – showcasing the incredible pace of innovation over the years.

This solution lets you synchronize the movements of these robots to perform tasks simultaneously, resulting in a seamless coordination effect. The tool behind the magic is MultiMove — a feature that allows you to set up a control system for up to four robots.

Admit it — it’s impressive!

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🚨 ROBOTICS SUCCESS STORY

AI-powered wheelchair 👨🏼‍🦽

A robotics student from the Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences in India has developed an autonomous wheelchair using AI and the NVIDIA Jetson platform.

Equipped with depth and LiDAR sensors, along with cameras, the wheelchair can perceive its surroundings and navigate obstacle-free paths to user-specified destinations. KB (creator of this solution), who became interested in AI and robotics during the pandemic, envisions the technology helping people with disabilities who may struggle with manual or motorized wheelchairs, particularly those who cannot afford electric wheelchairs in India.

His project, funded by the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, highlights the potential of AI in enhancing accessibility and mobility for individuals with disabilities.

Such a great use case in robotics! 🦾

Source: A student built an autonomous wheelchair 👨🏼‍🦽

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Learn how mobile robots see the world 🌍

In this course, you'll learn how to make maps for robots using different sensors and tools like ROS, MATLAB, and Simulink. This will help robots navigate on their own. After finishing the course, you'll know how to create maps using numbers, pictures, or lidar scans, and use these maps for better robot navigation.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Create maps for robots from different kinds of data, like numbers, pictures, and lidar scans.

• Use ROS, MATLAB, and Simulink to build maps that help robots move and find their way.

• Understand why these maps are important for robots and how they work with navigation and control.

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Build a palletizing app in minutes with Pally

In this tutorial, you will be guided through the entire process of using the pallet builder to create efficient palletizing patterns and demonstrate how to seamlessly integrate them into your workflow by programming a Universal Robots (UR) robot with our user-friendly palletizing software.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newcomer to automation, this tutorial will empower you to optimize your palletizing operations for increased efficiency and productivity.