Automated helpers in industry today are usually enclosed by protective barriers. Industrial safety regulations permit contact between people and robots only under certain conditions, since the risk of injury to humans is too great. In order to allow safer collaboration, researchers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaf are developing a projection and camera-based system able to prevent potential collisions ... »

A researcher from the University of Leeds has drawn inspiration from nature to build a robotic worm that can wiggle its way around obstacles. Dubbed worm-bot, the robot is modeled after the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode – a minuscule  free-living worm that uses a very simple nervous system of just over 300 neurons to control the ... »

Although termites represent one of the peskiest household pests, they could prove to be beneficial for biofuel production. Enzymes in termite guts are instrumental in the insect’s ability to break down the wood they eat, and a group of researchers from Purdue University have applied their knowledge of termites to develop a cocktail of enzymes ... »

Researchers at Technical University of Munich (TUM) are developing an artificial skin for robots to help them navigate in their environments. It will provide important tactile information to the robot and thus supplement its perception formed by camera eyes, infrared scanners and gripping hands. They have built a single robotic arm equipped with sensors to ... »

A while ago we wrote about Cornucopia – a printer for food, which works by storing, precisely mixing, depositing and cooking layers of ingredients. A group of researchers came up with their twist on food printing technology and made a 3D chocolate printer. In the long term, the technology could be used by customers to ... »

Scottsdale-based Forever Resorts formally announced the development of its new marina building at Nevada’s Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina on Lake Mohave, just outside Searchlight, Nevada. The marina building replaces the old 30-year-old structure and moorage for more than 220 vessels, and it is the first floating structure that has applied for LEED Gold certification. ... »

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, with over 48% of world blindness caused by age related cataracts. Existing diagnostic methods require Slit-lamps, which require a trained physician to interpret the  results and aren’t affordable. Researchers from MIT have developed a simple device that can clip onto an ordinary smartphone or a tablet and ... »