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Technical Directions

Manipulation Latest coverage

Robotics coverage relating to manipulation.

508 selected reportsLast 30 days 439 recordsAll coverage 1,285 records

updated

Signal archive — Page 25

2026-09-30Wed481–500 records
  1. Tech Xplore — Robotics72

    Soccer-playing humanoid robots score a major robotics goal for coordination

    Researchers at Tsinghua University have developed a new control system for humanoid robots that enables coordinated soccer-playing behavior using onboard vision. The system was tested on a real robot and achieved an 80-90% success rate in scoring goals from the front half of the field, with a 64% reduction in response time compared to a rule-based system. The study was published in Science Robotics and demonstrates a significant advancement in embodied AI and robot coordination.

2026-09-28Mon
  1. New Atlas — Robotics82

    Wind-up elastic robot jumps forever when fed infrared light

    Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a soft, non-electronic robot that jumps continuously using infrared light. The 'soft ring jumper' uses elastic energy stored through torsion, with a V-shaped aluminum stopper controlling the direction of movement. By adjusting the geometry of the V-stop, the robot can crawl, jump forward, or leap vertically. The design enables autonomous jumping without external resets, opening possibilities for use in environmental navigation and unstructured terrain.

2026-09-24Thu
  1. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute — News82

    LAMP Helps Robots Find a Way Through

    Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed LAMP, a system that allows multiple robots to work together to move objects through crowded spaces. LAMP combines learned models with search-based planning to enable efficient navigation and coordination, with successful testing in complex environments and a demonstration at the 2026 IROS conference.

2026-09-22Tue
  1. NVIDIA — Robotics72

    NVIDIA Isaac ROS 5.0 Advances Agentic, Open Source Robotics Development

    NVIDIA Isaac ROS 5.0, released at ROSCon 2026, enhances open source robotics development with agentic workflows, GPU acceleration, and new skills for perception and manipulation. It supports ROS Lyrical and Ubuntu 24.04, enabling developers to build and deploy high-performance robotics applications using NVIDIA's accelerated computing and AI models.

2026-09-21Mon
  1. Michigan Robotics — Research news82

    Small robot propulsion: low-power twisting enables hopping, swimming

    Researchers at the University of Michigan and UCLA have developed a new propulsion mechanism for small robots using low-power twisting of elastic rods. This method enables hopping and swimming motions by utilizing snapping mechanics. The mechanism works on challenging surfaces such as slippery cloth and grass-covered ground, producing frog-like motion. The study, published in Science Advances, was co-led by Khalid Jawed and Xiaonan (Sean) Huang, and demonstrates the potential for miniature robots to maneuver over uneven or slippery terrain.

2026-09-17Thu
  1. International Journal of Robotics Research — Journal metadata82

    Skeleton-guided geometry-aware auto-labeling for robotic grasping: From 4-DoF learning to 6-DoF execution

    This research introduces a novel algorithm for generating grasp keypoints using straight skeletons to identify high-potential regions for stable grasping. A fully automated pipeline enables large-scale annotation without human intervention, and a new architecture, SkelGG-CNN, is introduced for 4-DoF grasping. The method is extended to 6-DoF grasping using a generalized quasi-3D skeletonization algorithm, achieving high accuracy on multiple benchmarks and real-world experiments. The framework enables efficient training of lightweight models for real-world deployment.

2026-09-09Wed
  1. New Atlas — Robotics72

    Will a cyborg cockroach paramedic save your life in the future?

    Researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales have developed 'paraborgs'—cyborg cockroaches equipped with drug-delivery systems for search-and-rescue missions. These insects can navigate through rubble, locate survivors, and administer medication using remote control and spring-loaded needles. While the technology shows promise with high success rates in tests using silicone and pig skin, human trials have not yet been conducted.

2026-09-07Mon
  1. IEEE Spectrum — Robotics82

    This Robot Will Draw Your Blood Now

    Aletta, the first autonomous blood-draw device approved for use in the U.S., uses imaging and robotics to perform blood draws with high success rates, even in challenging cases. While it addresses staffing shortages in clinical labs, concerns about skin tone bias and sample quality persist, requiring further validation.

2026-08-28Fri
2026-08-27Thu
  1. Michigan Robotics — Research news68

    Michigan Robotics at IROS 2026 in Pittsburgh

    Michigan Robotics is participating in the 2026 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) in Pittsburgh, presenting research on topics such as robotic leg prostheses, tensegrity robotics, and soft robot control. The event includes workshops, papers, and opportunities for networking and exploring Pittsburgh.

2026-08-21Fri
  1. New Atlas — Robotics78

    New controller makes operating an excavator almost instinctive

    MIT engineers have developed a new excavator control interface that translates human arm movements into machine actions, making operation nearly intuitive. The World-Space Interface (WSI) allows operators to control excavators by mimicking physical gestures, eliminating the need for traditional joysticks. This system, tested with both experts and novices, shows potential for real-world deployment and remote operation, though haptic feedback is still under development.

2026-08-20Thu
  1. NVIDIA — Robotics model repository updates72

    NVIDIA Releases SO-101 Reach Policy for Sim-to-Real Transfer

    NVIDIA has released a reinforcement learning policy called SO-101 Reach, which enables the SO-101 robot arm to reach randomly sampled 3D goal positions using delta joint actions. The policy is trained entirely in simulation and is intended for sim-to-real transfer and research purposes. It is available as an ONNX model and includes an Isaac Lab I/O descriptor.

2026-08-17Mon
  1. Skild AI — Blog75

    Introducing S1: In-Context Learning for Robotics

    Skild AI introduces S1, a robotic foundation model that leverages in-context learning to execute complex, long-horizon tasks without post-training. This marks a significant shift from traditional fine-tuning approaches, enabling rapid deployment and reducing data requirements. The model demonstrates strong performance on unseen tasks, including plant potting, pancake cooking, and kit assembly, and shows robustness to perturbations and common-sense reasoning.

2026-08-10Mon
  1. Cornell Engineering — Robotics research68

    NYS teachers take on microplastics with snail-inspired robot

    Cornell researchers and collaborators have developed a snail-inspired robot called Mollusca to filter microplastics from water. Teachers from New York State participated in workshops to build and test the robots, integrating the project into their classrooms. The initiative aims to educate students on environmental issues and robotics through hands-on learning and real-world applications.

2026-07-28Tue
  1. Robotiq — Blog68

    Physical AI: The DARPA Legacy & the Road Ahead — From Face-Plants to Foundation Models

    This article explores the legacy and impact of the DARPA Robotics Challenge, which aimed to develop robots capable of performing complex tasks in disaster scenarios. It discusses key lessons learned, including the importance of shared autonomy, mechanical design, and reliability in robotic systems. The piece also examines the long-term impact of the DRC on industry and research, emphasizing how it shaped the development of physical AI and its current applications.

2026-07-22Wed
  1. NASA — Robotics68

    Robotic Servicing Mission Launches with NASA Support

    The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) mission, supported by NASA, has launched with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) will service satellites in geosynchronous orbit using advanced robotics, including twin dexterous arms developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. NASA's support includes simulation tools, software analysis, and flight operators to enable in-orbit servicing and extend satellite lifespans.

  2. Robotiq — Blog72

    Tactile-Based Robot Centering as a Capability for Dexterous Manipulation

    This article explains how tactile sensing allows robots to detect and correct off-center grasps by analyzing force distribution across fingertips. It describes a demonstration using a 2F-85 gripper with TSF-85 tactile sensors, which repositions and regrasps objects to achieve a balanced grip. The method improves grasp stability and reduces the need for reorientation or regrasping.

2026-07-09Thu
  1. MIT — Robotics82

    New flapping robot swims and flies like a diving bird

    Engineers at MIT and EPFL have developed a flapping-wing robot, or FAAV, that can swim underwater and then flap into the air, mimicking the movement of diving birds. The robot, weighing less than 300 grams, can transition between water and air using optimized wing size, flapping frequency, and tail angle. The study, published in Science, could enable new aerial-aquatic drones for oceanographic research and environmental monitoring.

  2. 1X — Product and research announcements72

    NEO’s Hands | An API to the Physical World

    1X announces the release of its 25 Degree of Freedom (DOF), tendon-driven hands for the NEO humanoid platform, achieving near human-level dexterity, strength, safety, and reliability. These hands are designed to remove the hardware ceiling on what humanoid robots can do, enabling precise, adaptable, and gentle interaction with the real world.

2026-07-08Wed
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