The AMRI of the University of Mexico is home to a remarkable research lab that focuses on artificial muscles and ionic polymer gels. Lab Director Mohsen Shainpoor co-created patented soft actuators and artificial muscles. He also created an artificial…
LUCY was created as a result of extensive research into analysis of rigid and flexible mechanical systems, kinematical and dynamical simulations, and the development of new actuators. This robot's joints are powered by an antagonistic pair of pleated…
Mowgli is a Japanese robot which can jump and land autonomously. This air powered robot contains an artificial musculoskeletal system with pneumatic muscles which give it six DOF.
USC is one of the leading robotics universities in the U.S. The USC Robotics Research Laboratory works on projects in service and humanoid robots, among others, for everything from Homeland Security to environmental cleanup. The goal of the lab is to…
The University of Brussels was founded from a different university in the year 1834. With over 10,000 students, the university is currently involved in the international robotics projects, Viactors and Aliz-E. The idea of the project is to analyze and…
BioBiped was developed to study the biomechanics of human locomotion in robotics. It was intended as the first of a planned series of musculoskeletal robotic platforms.
Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of ATR and Kokoro Co. Ltd. developed a realistic humanoid called Geminoid-DK. It has involuntary muscle movements and breathing activity like a human.
Cognitive Interaction Technology developed a hexapod walking robot called HECTOR. This insect robot has algorithm controlled elastic joint drives that imitate muscle movements.
Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a one-legged hopping robot called KENKEN. It has hydraulic actuators as muscles and spring as tendon using which it can hop on one leg.
JSK Laboratory and University of Tokyo created the Kotaro humanoid robot. It is flexible, has reinforced humanoid muscles and has the potential to integrate in people’s life.
Oskar Von Stryk developed a humanoid named LARA. It has artificial muscles, and can recognize language and respond to it. It also converts an idea in a sentence into Meta-grammar.
Max is a 2D robot built at the Delft University of Technology. The robot walks by only using an upper body, hip joints and knees. It makes use of McKibben muscles to offer minimal actuation for waling on a flat floor.
Developed by the Delft University of Technology, Mike is a 2D robot that is pneumatically activated biped and has knees. The prototype makes use of McKibben muscles to offer minimal actuation for walking on a flat floor.
A U. of Tokyo grad student built PIGORASS, a 13-foot robot quadruped with a simulated neural system, ABS resin/carbon fiber body, and both pneumatic and passive muscles.
Pneuborn-13, Pneuborn-7ii's elder sister, explores the role of the musculoskeletal system in bipedal walking. Its knees and ankles are capable of flexion and extension.
Pneuborn-7ii is named for its pneumatic operation and resemblance to a 7-month old infant. It's used for research on the musculoskeletal system and motor development.
Shadow Robot Company developed a wooden humanoid called Shadow Biped. It has muscles and equipment mounted on its skeletal frame which is made up of wood from maple tree.
The National Taiwan University of Science and Technology developed two humanoids called Thomas and Janet. They have silicon facial muscles and can kiss each other realistically.
Zephyrus is a pneumatic robot created to help test powering robots through air. It uses shadow air muscle, which increases its tolerance to air pressure. The internal system is mostly composed of inter-working computer chips. Zephyrus 2 is supposedly…
The iARM (intelligent Assistant Robot Manipulator) is a product of Assistive Innovations that aims at helping people with physical disabilities. It helps perform everyday tasks like drinking and eating, picking things from the ground and even preparing…
Assistive Innovations aims at supplying assistive technology to help people with limited hand or arm functions. The company provides effective and reliable products like arm supports, robotic arms as well as rehabilitation equipment.
BAAT Medical specializes in developing robotic products for orthopedics. It produces Knee Orthosis Joint that replaces the conventional brace, and VirtuRob for rehabilitation purposes.
The CRES is USC’s robotic systems research unit. The center’s research engages over 60 physical robots, with research on mobile, humanoid, molecular, and re-configurable robots. Some of their notable projects include Sony robot dogs, the Beobots Chimp…
Founded by William Chalmers, the Chalmers University of Technology aims at becoming the most attractive universities in the world through internationally acclaimed research and education together with a professional innovation procedure.
With approximately 7400 employees, DLR is the Aerospace Research Center of the Federal Republic of Germany that focuses on the research and development in the fields of aeronautics and space, energy, transport and security.
Dutch company Exact Dynamics develops robotic manipulators. It is involved in developing iArm and DAS robotic arm, which help people suffering from loss of motor function.
Hankamp Rehab specializes in robotic products for rehabilitation. In collaboration with Saebo INC, it has developed SaeboMAS, SaeboFLEX and SaeboREACH rehabilitation systems.
Intespring is involved in product design and technical projects. It advices on motion technique and spring mechanisms. It is involved in projects like X-Arm, LabCoat and SpringUp.
The SSL at the University of Maryland was founded by MIT. The lab is home to a deep water tank that is the only one of its kind housed inside a university, and is utilized to simulate the microgravity environment of outer space. SSL focuses on space robotics…
Based in the Netherlands, the University of Twente (UT) is a Dutch research university that focuses on technical development and its implications for individuals as well as society. UT is involved in two important robotics projects i.e. LOPES and ROBAR.
PLANTOID is a robotics project with the aim to design and build a new generation of robotics hardware and software technologies inspired by plants.
MecklerMedia announced the preliminary agenda for its RoboUniverse Conference and Expo in Seoul taking place at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) on June 24-26, 2015.
The McArm is a Dutch Robotics project that aims aims to develop a smart dynamic arm support system to provide extra support for people without all their strength and motor functions, such as in people who have had a stroke. The McArm is a smart system…
Dutch robotics project Active Therapeutic Devices (ATD) is developing robotic devices to help people with the rehabilitation of the upper extremities without the help of a therapist, easing the burden on health care and improving the motivation of patients.
The Myopro robotics project intends to increase the functionality of the Myoelectric prosthetic by improving the brain-to-mechanism signals. This will increase the degrees of freedom in these mechanisms, improve sensory feedback and help the owner to…
The Robotics project Viactors has a goal to develop a robot that can use actuators to function very similar to a human. Because of this project, the idea of having robots do dangerous jobs with the same results might come true in the near future.
VirtuRob is a Dutch Robotics project to help alleviate the costs of health care by offering arm and hand therapy at home with robotic devices. Training at home gives patients more freedom and encourages them to keep pushing the limits. The devices reduce…
Athlete Robot has flexible legs that allow it to run and jump. Compressed air and elastic prosthetic blades make this robot capable of human-like movement.
Developed at the Delft Biorobotics Lab, Baps is an affordable autonomous 3D Walking robot that is known for its simple, low-power design. Baps is based on the principle of ballistic walking, which involves walking with free, unpowered movements.
The anthropomimetic CRONOS robot displays internal and external human behaviors. It is currently used for research, but will perform various service tasks when completed.
Dany Walker is a true walking robot. Fuzzy algorithms give it smooth balance and lateral plane control. It can even walk on inclined surfaces due to force sensors on its feet.
Denise is a pneumatically powered walking robot. It uses the concept of passive dynamic walking and is a natural looking biped robot. Denise has bending, extending knees.
DEXTER is a dynamically balancing robot with air cylinder-driven joints. This robot moves a little stiffly, but it learns how to walk with a wide range of abilities.
Boston Dynamics has specifically designed the LittleDog robot for doing research on locomotion. Scientists at major institutions use LittleDog for probing the basic relationships among dynamic control, motor learning, environmental perception and rough-terrain…
Conventionally but solidly built, Morph 3 has a duralumin frame and can brace itself for falls. An advanced CPU, 30 servos, and 138 sensors make it highly athletic.
UPPSALA University created a humanoid robot which has large shoulders and can pull 600Kg. It contains many sensors and later will be equipped with a fuel cell to make it self-powered.
Robonova 1 is a 1-foot humanoid robot. Usually sold as a kit that can be assembled in 6-8 hours, it can walk, run, flip, dance, and do cartwheels and one-handed pushups.
The pneumatic powered robot Shadow Walker was developed to help with research on humanoid walking. The goal is to make this robot function in a normal human environment.