Robotics

Roboshuttles like those from EasyMile and Navya are a new and exciting mobility solution that have grown in interest during the past decade. However, in the past few years, IDTechEx has observed a slump in roboshuttle sales and a reduction in the number of active roboshuttle companies.

Nanoengineers have developed microscopic robots, called microrobots, that can swim around in the lungs, deliver medication and be used to clear up life-threatening cases of bacterial pneumonia. In mice, the microrobots safely eliminated pneumonia-causing bacteria in the lungs and resulted in 100% survival. By contrast, untreated mice all died within three days after infection.

3D printing is gaining momentum in the construction industry. Both on-site and in the factory, static and mobile robots print materials for use in construction projects, such as steel and concrete structures. This new approach to 3D printing uses drones, that use collective building methods inspired by natural builders like bees and wasps who work together to create large, intricate structures.

Researchers have developed soft devices containing algae that glow in the dark when experiencing mechanical stress, such as being squished, stretched, twisted or bent. The devices do not require any electronics to light up, making them an ideal choice for building soft robots that explore the deep sea and other dark environments.

A collaborative effort has installed electronic "brains" on solar-powered robots that are 100 to 250 micrometers in size - smaller than an ant's head - so that they can walk autonomously without being externally controlled.

Engineers have developed a scalable soft surface that can continuously reshape itself to mimic objects in nature. Relying on electromagnetic actuation, mechanical modeling and machine learning to form new configurations, the surface can even learn to adapt to hindrances such as broken elements, unexpected constraints or changing environments.

This premium article explores the DroneX Trade Show and Helitech Expo, summarising the main takeaways of the event.

With the innovation of lidar beam steering technologies, continuous lidar cost reduction, as well as the progress of Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) and Autonomous vehicles (AV), lidars are embracing their potential US$8.4 billion-dollar market by 2033, enabled by automotive applications, which can be further widely expanded to other areas such as robotics, industrial, smart city, and mapping.

A robotic solution that prints the most complex construction site layouts with pinpoint accuracy, in a fraction of the time it takes manually - improving productivity by as much as ten times.