Category: MAJOR Robot Companies

NASA JPL Robotic Microspines

Robotic Microspines by Nasa Neo Gripper System 11064

NASA JPL researchers present a 250-mm diameter omni-directional anchor that uses an array of claws with suspension flexures, called microspines, designed to grip rocks on the surfaces of asteroids and comets and to grip the cliff faces and lava tubes of Mars. Part of the paper, “Gravity-Independent Mobility and Drilling on Natural Rock Using Microspines,” by A. Parness et al., presented at the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

Incredible FLYING ROBOT, Festo SMARTBIRD 31003

Festo has added to its robotic menagerie with the creation of a robotic seagull that weighs just 450 g (15.87 oz) and boasts a wingspan of 1.96 m (6.4 ft). Dubbed the SmartBird, the ultralight flying robot was inspired by the herring gull and can take off, fly and land autonomously, without the help of any additional drive systems.

Festo - Molecubes

Festo – Molecubes – 11033

Molecubes could play a significant role in technical training in the near future. These cubes, fitted with computer chips, can be successively attached to each other. Each Molecube communicates with all the other cubes; the energy supply and transmission of signals from one Molecube to the next are thereby ensured. Young people can use the Molecubes to build and program their own robots.