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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.
Cornell researchers have developed microscopic robots that can sense temperature and work together to alter their environment by pumping liquid between hot and cold regions. Inspired by natural systems like fireflies and cilia, these robots use synchronized motion and electronic communication to achieve collective behavior, marking a significant step toward advanced micro-robotics with potential applications in medical and agricultural settings.
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.
MIT researchers have developed a reconfigurable robotic lab that autonomously assembles, tunes, and dismantles optical experiments. The system uses robotic arms, 3D-printed component housings, and a cloud-based interface to enable remote operation. It can build and fine-tune a laser cavity in under 30 minutes, demonstrating the potential for fully automated optical experiments.
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.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a robotic platform with a magnetically controllable endoscope to improve the safety and precision of fetal surgery for twin pregnancies with shared placentas. The system uses magnetic fields to bend the endoscope, enabling better access to blood vessels, and combines panoramic imaging with real-time navigation. The technology has been tested in an animal model and is now being refined for human clinical use.
MIT researchers have developed a new technique that helps generative AI models meet strict safety and task-specific constraints without sacrificing output quality. The method, called HardFlow, reformulates constraint satisfaction as a trajectory-optim, allowing models to explore more freely during generation while ensuring final compliance with hard constraints. It is tested on robotics, control, and computer vision tasks, consistently outperforming existing methods in constraint satisfaction and solution quality.
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.
Researchers at the Shenyang Institute of Automation have developed a wireless, light-controlled robotic manta ray powered by native frog muscle tissue. The biological actuator, derived from the gracilis muscle of a bullfrog, produces contractile forces up to 9.4 N and enables untethered control through near-infrared laser stimulation. The robot achieves speeds of up to 2.7 cm/s and demonstrates maneuverability in water, with potential applications in environmental monitoring. Challenges include limited tissue lifespan and reliance on external energy sources.
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.
Researchers at MIT have developed FloatForm, a system of robotic tiles that can autonomously assemble into floating structures. Inspired by ant colony behavior, the system uses magnetic latches, sensors, and thrusters to reconfigure dynamically, addressing challenges like hydrodynamics and slipstreams. Potential applications include emergency response, public space, and infrastructure on water.
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.
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.
University of Michigan researchers have developed SPPIRO, an untethered soft robot inspired by earthworms, capable of navigating complex pipelines with varying diameters and sharp turns. Equipped with Kresling origami actuators, onboard sensors, and a self-mapping system, SPPIRO can inspect pipelines at speeds up to 9.5 mm/s vertically and 6.5 mm/s horizontally, outperforming existing untethered soft in-pipe robots. The robot uses liquid-metal-based sensors and an onboard camera to detect defects in enclosed pipes, though challenges remain in maintaining stability and accuracy in certain conditions.
Clearpath Robotics highlights research presented at ICRA 2026, showcasing how their robots are used in autonomous navigation, human-robot interaction, and agricultural applications. The papers demonstrate methods for far-field image-based mapping, social preference learning for crowd navigation, and shared control for UGVs in orchards.
Sanctuary AI has demonstrated zero-shot in-hand manipulation using their proprietary hydraulic hand, autonomously reorienting a lettered cube ten times without dropping it. This showcases successful simulation-to-reality transfer, overcoming challenges in simulating dexterous hands and highlighting the company's advanced robotic hardware and policy training capabilities.
Universal Robots and Scale AI have unveiled the UR AI Trainer, an imitation learning system designed to accelerate AI model training by capturing high-fidelity, synchronized robot and vision data. This system enables direct lab-to-factory AI training using UR robots with Direct Torque Control and force feedback, addressing challenges in data capture and hardware fragmentation. The collaboration also includes a large-scale industrial dataset and showcases real-world robotic foundation model performance.
Sanctuary AI has demonstrated advanced manipulation skills using reinforcement learning to train dexterous policies for their high-performance hydraulic hands. The system successfully reorients objects in the real world under gravity and with added weight, showcasing the effectiveness of their approach. This represents the first successful transfer of such policies to five-fingered hands, highlighting the company's proprietary technology and hardware capabilities.
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