
What is a robot? - New Scientist
The word “robot” was coined by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a 1920 play called Rossum’s Universal Robots, and is derived from the Czech robota, meaning “drudgery” or “servitude”.
Hopping gives this tiny robot a leg up - MIT News
Apr 9, 2025 · A hopping, insect-sized robot can jump over gaps or obstacles, traverse rough, slippery, or slanted surfaces, and perform aerial acrobatic maneuvers, while using a fraction of …
This fast and agile robotic insect could someday aid in mechanical ...
Jan 15, 2025 · New insect-scale microrobots can fly more than 100 times longer than previous versions. The new bots, also significantly faster and more agile, could someday be used to …
Robotics | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jun 9, 2025 · A flexible robot can help emergency responders search through rubble SPROUT, developed by Lincoln Laboratory and University of Notre Dame researchers, is a vine robot …
Robotic system zeroes in on objects most relevant for helping …
Apr 24, 2025 · MIT roboticists developed a way to cut through data noise and help robots focus on the features in a scene that are most relevant for assisting humans. The system could be …
Humanoid robot learns to waltz by mirroring people's movements
Jan 16, 2025 · Technology Humanoid robot learns to waltz by mirroring people's movements An AI trained on motion capture recordings can help robots smoothly imitate human actions, such …
Expanding robot perception - MIT News
Jan 28, 2025 · MIT Associate Professor Luca Carlone works to give robots a more human-like perception of their environment, so they can interact with people safely and seamlessly.
A flexible robot can help emergency responders search through …
Apr 2, 2025 · SPROUT is a flexible robot built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Notre Dame researchers to assist in disaster response. Emergency responders can use the robot to …
Ping pong bot returns shots with high-speed precision
May 8, 2025 · MIT engineers developed a ping-pong-playing robot that quickly estimates the speed and trajectory of an incoming ball and precisely hits it to a desired location on the table.
Eldercare robot helps people sit and stand, and catches them if …
May 13, 2025 · The robot can support the person’s full weight, lifting them from sitting to standing and vice versa along a natural trajectory. And the arms of the robot can catch them by rapidly …