Top 7 robotics stories of 2023 — Interesting Engineering

1. A new robotic catheter that will make your heart surgeries safer

Researchers at Boston University have developed a robotic catheter that can change shape to navigate through the complex and dynamic environment of the heart. The catheter can assist in cardiac procedures and aims to make them less invasive and taxing on patients. The catheter features a flexible, air pressure-operated tip that can inflate for added stability and an expandable ring that anchors the catheter in place by pushing against vein walls, enabling it to pierce beating heart tissue without being dislodged. The technology offers the required control and precision for intricate procedures.

2. ARTEMIS: ‘World’s fastest’ humanoid robot readies for RoboCup

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has created ARTEMIS, a humanoid robot that is designed to walk on uneven terrain and run with both feet off the ground. This robot is powered by specially designed actuators that function like biological muscles. ARTEMIS is set to compete in the 2023 RoboCup soccer match in France and is the fastest-walking humanoid robot in the world, according to UCLA researchers. It is also the first humanoid robot to be created in an academic environment and uses electrically driven actuators instead of hydraulic ones, making it cleaner and more efficient.

3. The world’s most advanced humanoid robot, Ameca, draws a cat

Ameca, the world’s most expressive robot, can now create drawings. Developed by Engineered Arts, Ameca is a humanoid robot with the ability to express emotions and speak multiple languages. In a recent video, Ameca was shown imagining and drawing a cat, thanks to Stable Diffusion, a deep learning text-to-image model. With its advanced capabilities, Ameca could potentially showcase its original artwork in the future, like the DALL-E exhibit at bitforms gallery.

4. Tesla’s Optimus robot gets new upgrades in Gen 2

Elon Musk has unveiled the latest version of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot on Twitter. Optimus Gen 2 is 22 pounds lighter, has a more streamlined body, and enhanced articulation in its human-inspired feet, resulting in a 30% increase in walking speed over its predecessor. The robot’s upgrades mark a significant leap forward in both capability and sophistication, hinting at a future where robots can integrate into our daily lives. In addition to its practical applications, the robot showcased its humorous side by mimicking Musk’s dance moves in a recent video.

5. Unitree unleashes Boston Dynamics’ SPOT rival robot dog

Unitree Robotics has revealed its latest creation, the B2 quadruped robot, which promises to transform various industries with its remarkable capabilities. The robot can traverse rugged terrain with ease and has a running speed of 6 meters per second, making it the fastest industrial-grade quadruped robot available. It can also leap horizontally up to 1.6 meters and conquer 40 cm high obstacles. The B2’s load-bearing capacity is impressive, with the ability to carry up to 40 kg while walking and support a maximum standing load of 120 kg, making it a strong and useful addition across industries.

6. NASA’s humanoid robot enters advanced stages of testing

NASA’s Valkyrie, the first bipedal humanoid robot designed for space exploration, is undergoing final testing at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The robot, named after a powerful Norse mythology figure, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. It can operate in degraded or damaged human-engineered environments and could potentially assist in the Artemis mission. Recently, Valkyrie underwent testing in Australia to advance remote mobile dexterous manipulation capabilities for maintaining unmanned and offshore energy facilities.

7. Scientists create water-spitting ‘flying dragon’ robot to fight fires

Japanese researchers have created a new type of firefighting robot designed to tackle hazardous fires. The robot, known as the Dragon Firefighter, has been designed in the shape of a flying dragon and is equipped to handle fires that are too dangerous for human firefighters. The blueprints for the robot have been released as Open Science, allowing roboticists worldwide to freely use the plans to construct their own Dragon Firefighters. The team collaborated with Japanese firefighting professionals throughout the development process to create a robot that meets their specific requirements.

As we have seen, 2023 was a remarkable year for robotics, with many impressive achievements and developments that demonstrate the state-of-the-art in this field. Robotics is not only a fascinating subject for engineers and enthusiasts, but also a crucial technology for solving some of the most pressing problems of our time, such as energy, health, environment, and security. We can expect more amazing robotics stories in the future, as the field continues to advance and expand. Stay tuned for more Top 7 categories of 2023 on Interesting Engineering from science, innovation, transportation, and more.