Important Innovations Collection

New Fast Acting Soft Robots Expandable with High Speeds Source:  Purdue University Bioinspired by Chameleons, Salamanders and Toads Researchers at Purdue University have invented a new class of high speed, soft robots and actuators. They are bio-inspired by the high speed, elastic motions of salamanders, chameleons and toads that launch their tongues in a tenth of a second to catch an insect.  Purdue's new soft robot can catch a live, flying beetle in the same way, in a blink of an eye.  This robotic innovation is big for potential use in accelerated automation. New Class of Soft Robots The Purdue scientists' new innovation is a new class of entirely soft robots and actuators.  They are capable of recreating bioinspired high powered, high speed motion using stored elastic energy.  They're composed of stretchable polymers like a rubber band with channels that expand with pressurization. Amazing Robotics This robot expands five times in length and c...

New Autonomous Paradigm on the Ground, Underwater, in the Air - Based on Brain Research Source:  Stock Image of the Brain Boston University Leading Global Scientific Research Team The US Department of Defense just awarded $7.5 million to a team of scientists from Boston University, MIT and Australian research universities.  The funding is to utilize neuroscience research  to better control and organize engineered systems for the development of the next generation of autonomous systems for driverless vehicles. The systems would be new bioinspired control systems to mimic how living organisms' brains successfully navigate their spacial environments. Brain Power What's fascinating about this project is that the autonomous systems they develop will have applications across driverless vehicles on land, sea and air.  The team is led by Boston University Professor of Engineering Yannis Paschalidis, who specializes in biomedical, systems, electrical and computing...