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Robots imitate honeybees for aircraft aerobatics

By Damir Beciri
3 December 2010

flower-honeybeeBy allowing aircraft to quickly sense which way is “up” by imitating how honeybees see, engineers and researchers at The Vision Centre, Queensland Brain Institute and the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at The University of Queensland, have enabled planes to guide themselves through extreme maneuvers, including the loop, the barrel roll and… »

Bionics| Robotics»

Genetic robots – computer algorithm designed robots

By Damir Beciri
One Comment30 November 2010

fraunhofer-ipa-genetic-robotsResearchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) in Stuttgart have successfully performed a process of genetic robotics where a moving robot was automatically designed without the intervention of a designing engineer. Genetic Robots are moving robots that can be created by using genetic software algorithms and additive manufacturing. The important role… »

Bionics| Robotics»

Festo Bionic Handling Assistant inspired by elephant’s trunk

By Damir Beciri
25 November 2010

festo-bionic-handling-assistantThe ability of elephant’s trunk to be flexible, transmit large forces, and serve as a precise gripping tool, has inspired researchers to come up with the Bionic Handling Assistant. It was developed by Festo in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) and within the framework of the Bionic Learning Network… »

Bionics| Tech»

Biomimicry of bone formation process achieved in a laboratory

By Damir Beciri
29 October 2010

making-bones-in-a-lab-nico-sommerdijkBone consists of fibers of collagen in which calcium phosphate is deposited in the form of nanocrystals. The team of dr. Nico Sommerdijk (Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry) consisting of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the University of Illinois was able to mimic the growth of calcium phosphate inside the collagen… »

Bionics| Robotics| Tech»

SMU-led research aims to connect brain signals to robotic limbs

By Damir Beciri
19 October 2010

luke-skywalker-handLightning-fast connections between robotic limbs and the human brain may be within reach for amputees. Funded by a Department of Defense initiative dedicated to audacious challenges and intense time schedules, the SMU engineers from Neurophotonics Research Center will develop two-way fiber optic communication between prosthetic limbs and peripheral nerves. Successful completion of the fiber optic… »

Bionics| Robotics»

Berkeley Bionics eLEGS exoskeleton could help paraplegics walk

By Damir Beciri
One Comment9 October 2010

amanda-walk-in-elegs-exoskeletonBerkeley Bionics developed the first practical exoskeleton and the first untethered exoskeleton in the world. Later on, through a licensed agreement with Lockheed Martin Corporation, they came up with HULC exoskeleton which is meant for military use. A few days ago they unveiled similarly looking eLEGS, a wearable, artificially intelligent, bionic device that powers paraplegics… »

Bionics| Robotics»

Raytheon’s second-generation exoskeleton XOS 2

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments30 September 2010

xos-2-exoskeleton-1Raytheon Company unveiled their second generation Exoskeleton named XOS 2 at their research facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a demonstration with Paramount Home Entertainment. The new robotic suit is lighter, faster and stronger than its predecessor, yet it uses 50 percent less power. Its enhanced design also makes it more resistant to the… »

Bionics| Tech»

Fish biomimicry used for bridge stability sensors during floods

By Damir Beciri
5 September 2010

salmonFloods cut down more bridges than fire, wind, earthquakes, deterioration, overloads and collisions combined, costing lives and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The speed and turbulence of an overflowing stream scours away the river bottom that provides the support for a bridge foundation. In order to counter that, researchers at the Case Western… »